Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Biology

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of vitrectomy and pan-retinal photocoagulation followed with Ahmed implantation in management of neovascular glaucoma ( NVG) retrospectively.
METHODS: Vitrectomy combined with pan retinal photocoagulation and Ahmed implantation was performed on 15 cases ( 15 eyes ) with NVG. All patients were followed up for 12 ~ 36mo. The change of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, neovascularization of iris, complications were observed.
RESULTS: The visual acuity of 10 eyes was improved postoperative. IOP of postoperative 1, 6 and 12mo were decreased significantly compared with preoperative ( P<0.01 ) . Neovascularization of iris was reduced dramatically. No serious complications occurred.
CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy combined with pan retinal photocoagulation followed Ahmed implantation can manage NVG effectively.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of spiral CT in composition changes of pediatric urinary.Methods A total of 25 pediatric patients with urinary stones were investigated.Eighteen patients with renal stones were stratified into two groups:an alkalization therapy alone group ( n =9 ) and a comprehensive therapy group (n =9).Flame atomic absorption spectrum (AAS) was employed to measure calcium level of the pediatric urinary stones.Spiral CT was employed to measure the peak CT number in vitro of all the pediatric urinary stones and 61 adult urinary stones,which served as controls.Results All pediatric urinary stones contained calcium ( 0.11％ - 26.30％ ).A positive correlation was observed between the CT number of pediatric urinary stone and its stone calcium level ( r =0.855,P ＜ 0.01 ).Compared to the alkalization therapy alone group,the CT number and stone calcium level of pediatricrenal stones in the comprehensive therapy group were significant higher (stone CT number:162 ± 60 HU VS.783 ±476 HU,P ＜ 0.01 ; stone calcium level:1.30 ± 1.52％ VS 19.83 ± 7.48％,P ＜ 0.01 ).Compared to ≤400 HU pediatric renal stones,＞ 400 HU renal stones contained more calcium (21.71 ± 5.27％,1.65 ±1.82％,P ＜ 0.01 ) and failed to dissolve by alkalization therapy alone ( x2 =11.455,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions CT could be a predictive tool for composition changes of pediatric urinary stones.In clinical CT scanning setting,＞400 HU pediatric urinary stones probably will contain more calcium and not be suitable for alkalization therapy alone.

ObjectiveTo investigate the neuropsychological impairments and risk factors that caused cognitive disturbance in patients with silent brain infarction (SBI). Methods36 SBI subjects and 25 normal controls were compared on a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Logistic regression was used to analysis the risk factors. ResultsThe SBI group scored lower on the visual retention test (VRT), the WAIS RC full scale IQ, standard scores of the perceptual organization factor and memory/attention factors than did the control group. The score of self rating depression scale (SDS) was higher in SBI group. Hypertension and leukoaraiosis (LA) were correlates of cognitive impairment in logistic regression analyses. Conclusions SBI has some degree of neuropsychological impairment, especially deficits of visuospatial ability, disturbance of perceptual organization, memory and attention, and some degree of depression. Hypertension and LA independently contribute to the risk factors of cognitive disturbance.

Objective To study the protective role of pre-resolving mediator lipoxin A4(LXA4) in the NA+ -K+-ATPase in alveolar type Ⅱ (AT Ⅱ ) epithelial cells of rats exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Method The AT Ⅱ cells were isolated and purified, and divided randomly into control group (PBS), vehiculum (alcohol 0.7 μL/mL) group, LPS (1 μg/mL) group, LXA4(1/10 mol/mL) group and LPS (1 μg/mL LPS) + LXA4(1/10 mol/mL) group. After exposure to LPS and/or LXA4 for4 hours, NA+-K+ -ATPase and β1-subunits mRNA in AT Ⅱ epithelial cells were detected by using RT-PCR, and ATP, ADP, AMP, total adenine nucleotides (TAN) and energy charge (EC) were measured by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and then the activities of Na+-K+-ATPase were calculated accordingly. Results The NA+-K+-ATPase α-subunit and β-subunit mRNA were significantly decreased in LPS group ( P ＜ 0.05 vs. control group). However, the expressions of NA+ -K+-ATPase mRNA were significantly enhanced by application of LXA4 to AT Ⅱ epithelial cells exposed to LPS (P ＜0.05 vs. LPS group). The activities of NA+ -K+ -ATPase were enhanced in LPS group (P ＜0.05 vs. control group). Compared with control group and LPS group, the activities of NA+-K+-ATpase in LPS + LXA4 group were significantly increased (P ＜0.01 vs. control group; P ＜0.05 vs. LPS group). The EC of AT Ⅱ epithelial cells were higher in LPS group ( P ＜ 0.01 vs. control group). There were no significant differences in EC between control group and LPS + LXA4group(P ＞0.05). Conclusions The pro-resolving mediator LXA4 can enhance the expressions of NA + -K + -ATPase α-subunit and β-subunit mRNA, and the activities of NA + -K + -ATPase in AT Ⅱ epithelial cells or rats exposed to LPS, and ca also balance the metabolism of AT Ⅱ epithelial cells. These findings suggest that LXA4 plays an important role in lung edema clearance in lung injury induced by endotoxin, and the role is likely associated with the enhancement of the expressions of Na+ -K+ -AT-Pase α-subunit and β-subunit, and the activities of Na+ -K* -ATPase, maintaining the balance of metabolism of AT Ⅱ epithelial cells.

Aim To ascertain whether defibrase has the protective effect against reperfusion injury after cerebral ischemia.Methods 70 renovascular hypertensive rats(RHR) were randomly divided into defibrase group, control group and sham-operated group.Reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) models were produced by the modified. Longa's method,and reperfusion was begun 2 hours after occlusion.Rats in the defibrase group were given defibrase 10 U?kg-1 body weight via femonal intraveneous injection, and in the control group with the same amount of saline. The brain pieces were processed by TTC and HE staining and the infarct size,brain microvessels damage and secondary bleeding were compared between the two groups. Results The volume of infarction in the defibrase group was obviously smaller than in the control group, the damage of brain microvessels was less severe, and the bleeding lesions under optical microscope were less than in the control group. Conclusion Defibrase has protective effect against reperfusion injury post cerebral ischemia.

In this study, nattokinase gene was amplified by PCR using bacillus subtilis chromosomal DNA as template and cloned into expressed vector pBV220. After transforming recombinant plasmid into E.coli HB101, the recombinant strain was yielded. It was proved that expression products was secretive and expression protein was 12% of total cell protein by SDS-PAGE. Optimum culture time and inducing time was determined as 6h and 5h respectively. The plasmid stability studies showed that recombinant plasmid has excellent segregational stability but the structural stability was not good in the host cell.

Objective To explore serum levels of visfatin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as their clinical significance. Methods Ninety patients with PCOS and 30 ovulating healthy women with body mass index (BMI) less than 25 as controls were recruited. PCOS patients were divided to two groups, 48 in obese group with BMI≥ 25 and 42 in non-obese group with BMI<25. Serum level of visfatin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and that of Hs-CRP was assayed by immunoturbidimetry in all participants. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin sensitivity were assessed in PCOS patients only. Results ①Obese and non-obese patients with PCOS beth presented markedly higher serum levels of visfatin and Hs-CRP than those in controls (t=11.35, 8.46, 10.43 and 8.25, respectively, P<0.05), and levels of visfatin and Hs-CRP were higher in obese group than those in non-obese group (t=7.74 and 6.38, respectively, P< 0.05 ). ②Univariate analysis revealed that serum levels of visfatin and Hs-CRP positively correlated with BMI and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance, respectively (P<0.05) and serum level of visfatin positively correlated with that of Hs-CRP (P<0.05). Conclusions Chronic inflammation possibly exists in patients with PCOS, which may cause their serum visfatin and Hs-CRP levels increased.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of maternal prenatal education on promoting breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods Gravidas who were admitted to Peking University First Hospital for any risk of preterm delivery from November 2013 to December 2014 and preterm infants admitted to the NICU (length of stay ≥ 5 d) of the same hospital during the same period were involved.All the gravidas received prenatal education and completed questionnaires.Two hundred and ninety-five preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups including education group (n=125) and non-education group (n=170) according to whether their mothers received prenatal education or not.Conditions of the preterm infants during hospitalization and after discharge and breastfeeding rates were comparatively analyzed between the two groups.T test,Chi-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) There were 380 gravidas received questionnaires.Among them,346 (91.1％)completed the questionnaires and were recruited in this study.Only 31.8％ (110/346) of these gravidas were active in learning more about breastfeeding and 46.2％ (160/346) of them lacked confidence in breastfeeding after the appearance of preterm delivery signs.There were significant improvements in their attitudes towards considering breastfeeding seriously and discussing with their family,confidence in breastfeeding,the importance of colostrum and how to breastfeed a preterm infant in hospital after maternal prenatal education (all P＜0.001).Prenatal education was thought to be helpful in 77.5％ (268/346) of the gravidas.(2) The two groups of preterm infants showed good homogeneities in gestational age,gender,birth weight and other basal conditions as well as in incidences of in-hospital complications and conditions after discharge (all P＞0.05).Proportions of breast milk intake (breast milk intake over total dairy intake) in preterm infants were higher in education group than those in non-education group within 5 d after birth [0.0 (0.0-16.5)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-2.5)％,Z=-3.422],＞5-≤ 7 d [33.7 (0.0-82.8)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-50.3)％,Z=-3.070],＞7-≤ 14 d [75.2(23.5-96.4)％ vs 47.6(0.0-92.2)％,Z=-2.345] and during hospitalization [58.4 (21.0-78.8)％ vs 31.9 (0.0-71.7)％,Z=-3.902] (all P＜0.05).Breastfeeding rates were higher in education group than those in non-education group at the age of 5 d [47.2％(59/125) vs 27.1％ (46/170),x2=12.747],7 d [70.4％ (88/125) vs 51.2％ (87/170),x2=11.031],three months [83.3％(65/78) vs 56.1％ (60/107),x2=15.297] and six months [64.5％ (49/76) vs 49.1％ (53/108),x2=4.282] (all P＜0.05).Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the first,third and sixth months after birth were higher in education group [45.7％(53/116),42.3％ (33/78) and 36.9％ (28/76)] than those in non-education group [21.3％ (32/150),28.0％ (30/107)and 22.2％ (24/108)] (22=17.847,4.091 and 4.703,all P＜0.05),respectively.Conclusions Most gravidas with risk factors of preterm delivery have no confidence on breastfeeding.Prenatal maternal education is an effective and feasible intervention to improve breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in NICU from early hospitalization till six months after birth.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of connexin (Cx) 40-formed gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) on Photofrin- photodynamic therapy (PDT) phototoxicity in Cx40- transfected HeLa cells and its potential mechanisms. METHODS HeLa cell line stably transfected to express Cx40 was seeded at high and low cell density, respectively, to assess in vitro photosensitivity using CCK8 assay. Western blot assay was performed to detect the expression of Cx40. The intracellular ROS and Ca2 +concentrations were determined using flow cytometer. 4-HNE and ceramide were measured using ELISA assay. RESULTS Cx40-composed GJ formation at high density enhances the phototoxicity of Photofrin-PDT. When the Cx40 is not expressed or Cx40 channels are blocked, the phototoxicity in high-density cultures substantially reduces, indicating that the enhanced PDT phototoxicity at high density is mediated by Cx40-composed GJIC. The GJIC-mediated increase in PDT phototoxicity was associated with ROS and calcium-mediated stress signaling pathways. CONCLUSION The work uniquely presents the ability of Cx40-composed GJIC to enhance the sensitivity of malignant cells to PDT, and indicates that mainte?nance or increase of Cx40-formed GJIC may be a profitable strategy towards the enhancement of PDT therapeutic efficiency.