ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of heart-regulating and mind-calming acupuncture on the expression of gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in myocardial cells in a rabbit model of ventricular arrhythmia.MethodA rabbit model of ventricular arrhythmia was made by injecting barium chloride into the marginal ear vein. Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomized into control, model, acupuncture and medication groups. The acupuncture group received heart-regulating and mind-calming acupuncture[at Lingtai(GV10), Shendao(GV11), bilateral Neiguan(PC6)and Baihui(GV20)]and the medication group, oral gavage of propafenone. Rabbit left ventricle was taken after the completion of the experiment. Cx43 expressions were compared and analyzed usingan immunohistochemical staining technique and a computer image processing system.ResultCx43 expression decreased significantly in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.01) and increased in the acupuncture and medication groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Cx43 expression between the acupuncture and medication groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Adjusting Cx43 expression in myocardial cells may be one of the target points for this acupuncture treatment of arrhythmia.

Endemic dental fluorosis has been reported in some regions of the world. China seemed to have high prevalence of endemic dental fluorosis, especially in southwest China. It is now most likely that excessive fluoride intake during enamel development play a key role in the pathogenesis of dental fluorosis. However, excessive intake of fluoride-induced cellular and molecular mechanisms of dental fluorosis are not entirely conclusive. Scholars at home and abroad have made a lot of research on pathogenesis of enamel fluorosis by using various experimental techniques. More recent studies mainly suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress and calcium overload-associated apoptotic pathway may participate in fluoride excess-evoked pathogenesis of dental fluorosis. Furthermore, the functional changes of enamel matrix protein and protease activity may be involved in the pathological event. This paper summarized the recent research progress on this topic.

Objective To investigate the significance of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin(MCV)an- tibody in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and study the correlation among anti-CCP,other antoantibodies and clinical manifestations of RA.Methods Anti-MCV antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)in 166 serum samples including 74 from RA(18 cases with early RA and 56 cases with late RA),50 from non-RA rheumatic diseases and 42 cases of healthy blood donors.At the same time,other antuoantibod- ies were detected by different techniques,and their clinical meaning was investigated with the corresponding clinical data.Results Anti-MCV was found in 78%(58/74)of RA.The sensitivity and specificity of Anti- MCV in RA were 78% and 95%.The positive and negative predictive value was 97% and 71%.The average cut off concentration of Anti-MCV was(552?380)U/ml in RA,(162?63)U/ml in non-RA and(63?46)U/ml in healthy control.Anti-MCV was strongly correlated to anti-CCP(r=0.502,P=0.000),then AKA(r=0.408)anti APF(r=0.369).No differences was found between Anti-MCV and other clinical/laboratory parameters(P＞0.05). Conclusion Anti-MCV antibody may be a valuable diagnostic parameter for RA.Anti-MCV is more strongly correlated to anti-CCP than APE and AKA.It may not relate to disease activity and/or severity.

Photodynamic therapy ( PDT ) is a new technique to diagnose and treat diseases with photodynamic effect produced by photosensitizer and light, and is now a main method of treating exudative age - related macular degeneration ( AMD ) . ln recent years, with the development of science and technology, combinations of PDT have become a research hot spot. ln this paper, we reviewed the research status of treatments on exudative AMD with PDT combined anti-VEGF drugs.

Objectlve investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) on polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) during perioperative period in the development of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).Methods Twenty patients (18 male and 2 female, aged 33-58 yr and weighing 52-73 kg) with ASA Ⅲ or Ⅳ (NYHA Ⅱ or Ⅲ )undergoing OLT were studied. Blood samples were collected from the central vein for determination of TLR2 expression on PMN and plasma TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 concentrations before induction of anesthesia (T1, baseline), at 25 min of anhepatic phase (T2), 3 h (T3) and 24 h after beginning of reperfusion of the allograft (T4). The expression of TLR2 was measured by flow cytometry and the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The patients were divided into SIRS and non-SIRS group depending on whether the patients developed SIRS or not within 7 days after operation. The diagnosis of SIRS was based on the criteria laid down by ACCP and SCCM in 1992.Results Ten patients developed SIRS within 7 days after operation. There was no significant difference in Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores between the two groups. Compared with non-SIRS group, the TLR2 expression on PMN and the serum IL-1β concentration were significantly increased at T4 and the serum IL-8 concentration was significantly increased at T3 in SIRS group.There was positive correlation between serum TNF-α concentration and TLR2 expression on PMN in SIRS group ( r= 0.607, P ＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of TLR2 on PMN increases significantly at 24 h after beginning of reperfusion of allograft and may play an important role in the development of postoperative SIRS.

To promote bilingual teaching reform and explore a proper bilingual teaching mode in China,we studied the bilingual teaching of the course “Biochemistry on special subjects”.The present paper mainly designs and discusses the object of the course,teaching materials,contents and methods as well as the building of feedback and evaluation system of the course.

Objective To study the process of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) inclusion techniques for osthol. Methods The inclusion complex of osthol and HP-β-CD was prepared by unsaturated water solution and freeze-drying technique. Inclusion techniques were selected by screening on quadratic orthogonal rotation combination design method, and the entrapment efficiency was identified by HPLC. Results The optimal technical conditions were as follows:the ratio of HP-β-CD and drug was 4.5∶1;temperature for electric mixer was 35 ℃;the stirring time for thermostatic waterbath was 210 min. Conclusion This method is reasonable and it may have a prosperous future of development and application.

Objective To evaluate the correlation of epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV)with coronary plaques in patients with a coronary artery calcium score of zero.Methods 183 patients with a coronary artery calcium score of zero were selected.They were divided into plaque group and control group according to the findings of CT coronary angiography.Independent t test was used to analyze the difference of EATV between two groups.Results ①EATV was significant higher in plaque group than that in control group (P <0.05).②EATV was non-significant higher in plaque group than that in control group for female individuals (P >0.05), while it was significant higher in plaque group than that in control group for male individuals (P <0.05).③EATV was significant higher in plaque group than that in control group for the individuals with age< 50 years (P <0.05 ),meanwhile it was significant higher in plaque group than that in control group in age≥50 years(P <0.05).Conclusion EATV is correlated with coronary plaques in male patients with a coronary artery calcium score of zero while there is no correlation with female patients.EATV is correlated with coronary plaques in different age patients with a coronary artery calcium score of zero.

Objective To assess the cardiovascular events after percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI) and the influence of fluvastatin on inflammation factors and prognosis of PCI patients.Methods One hundred and eighty-seven patients whose coronary stenosis ≥ 70% diagnosed through coronarography and underwent PCI from Jun.2005 to Feb.2008 were recruited in the current study.These patients were divided into two groups,the control group (n =91) was treated regularly and the treat group (n =96) was treated with additionally fluvastatin(40 mg/d).Fasting venous blood was obtained before and after medicine treatment,12,24 hours and two weeks after PCI.IL-18,IL-6 and TNF-α were measured through ELISA.Results Before medicine treatment,there were no difference of IL-18 ,IL-6 and TNF-α between the two groups( P ＞ 0.05 ).After medicine treatment,IL-18,TNF-α and IL-6 decreased significantly compared to those before treatment in both groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ),and these measurements decreased more in the treatment group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).At the 12th hours after PCI,IL-18,TNF-αand IL-6 in the control group increased to (423.5 ± 298.7 ),( 316.1 ± 72.6 ) and (42.3 ± 10.1 ) ng/L,respectively,and arrived the peak at the 24th hour,which were significantly higher than those before medicine treatment( P ＜ 0.01 ).In the treatment group,these measurements at the 12th and 24th hour after PCI were slightly higher than those before medicine treatment without significant difference ( P ＞ 0.05 ).After 12 hours ofPCI,IL- 18,TNF -αand IL-6were (276.5 ± 189.4 ),( 175.3 ± 51.9) and ( 10.1 ± 8.1 ) ng/L,which were significantly lower than those in the control group(P ＜ 0.01 ).Two weeks after PCI,IL-18,TNF-α and IL-6 in the treatment group were (137.0 ±34.2),(35.1 ± 21.6) and ( 8.7 ± 3.2 ) ng/L,which were significantly lower than before medicine treatment ( P ＜0.01 ).Conclusions PCI may aggravate the inflammation response of coronary artery.Statins may alleviate the inflammation response.IL-18,TNF-α and IL-6 are sensitive indices of early inflammation response after PCI,their changes might have prediction value for adverse cardiovascular events.Therefore these indices might be used as a target in the statins treatment in the primary prevention,as well as the evaluation of the effectiveness of PCI,statins and joint PCI and statins.

Benzodiazepines ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism ; drug therapy