Objective To compare the reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) caused by monotherapy with ramipril or losartan or the combination of these two drugs,in patients with hypertensive LVH and to evaluate the value of three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) on LVH regression.Methods Ninety-six essential hypertensive patients with LVH were enrolled in this study.All patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: ramipril group,losartan group,combination group with ramipril and losartan.Left ventricular mass(LVM) was calculated by M-mode echocardiography,two-dimensional echocardiography and 3DE at baseline and after 6 months treatment with ramipril or losartan.Results Of 96 patients enrolled,59 patients have complete follow-up datum.LVM of ramipril,losartan and combination group decreased 16.9% , 17.9% and 18.8% compared with before treatment.LVM by 3DE decreased 11.6% , 14.7% and 13.6% respectively.The difference of LVM derived from 3DE showed obviously lower than derived from M-mode echocardiography.Conclusions Applying M-mode echocardiography and two-dimensional echocardiography to evaluate the regression of LVH will overestimate the effects of drugs.Three-dimensional echocardiography may detect the changes of LVM more accurately.

Objective To evaluate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition(ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker(ARB) on coronary hemodynamics in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) by Doppler ultrasound.Methods Sixty essential hypertensive patients with LVH were enrolled in this study.All patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: ramipril group,losartan group and combination group.Left ventricular mass(LVM) was calculated by three dimensional echocardiography and coronary hemodynamics was evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography with left anterior descending artery.Coronary flow reserve(CFR) was calculated as the ratio of coronary flow velocity,after intravenous injection of dipyridamole,to rest peak velocity.All the indexes of the coronary hemodynamics were corrected by LVM.Results Fifty patients had complete follow up datum.The systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and LVM were significantly decreased in ramipril,losartan and combination group after 6 months′ treatment (All P

Objective To examine the expressions of AQP1 and VEGF in human hepatitis B associated hepatocellular c arcinoma and to investigate its relationship with the occurrence and development of hepatocellularcarcinoma. Methods AQP1 and VEGF expressionsin the cancer tissues and AQP1 and VEGF levels in the serum were detected in 62 cases of hepatocellula carcinomaby immunohistochemistry and ELISA , respectively. Results The expressions of AQP1 and VEGF in the liver cancers were significantly higher than in the normal tissues (P<0.01). The higher expression was related to pathologic type,degrees of differentiation and lymph node metastasis, but not related to sex, age and TNM stages. In the serum of liver cancer, the concentrations of AQP1 and VEGF were significantly higher than those in the control group. Conclusion High expressions of AQP1 and VEGF in the patients with liver cancer may be correlated to the occurrence and development of liver cancer. Plasma levels ofAQP1 and VEGF may be more meaningful for the evaluation of clinical prognosis.

Objective To investigate the applications of antibacterial agents to outpatients in primary hos -pitals in Hefei City of Anhui Province,and to provide reference for rational use of antibacterial agents.Methods In 2011, fourty-five primary hospitals in Hefei City were selected randomly ,including urban community health service centers (Group A) and township hospitals(Group B),and thirty or fourty outpatient prescriptions were analyzed monthly . Results In Group A, the percentage and intensity of antimicrobial usage , the proportion of the combination and injectable formulation were ( 45.36 ±20.02 )%, ( 89.73 ±25.50 ) DDDs · ( 100 cases ) -1 · d-1 , 13.34%, 23.16%,respectively,and the data in Group B were (61.36 ±17.18)%,(108.46 ±32.27)DDDs· (100 cases) -1 · d-1,29.13%,46.39%,respectively,which the former were significantly lower than the latter.Conclusion In primary hospitals,the applications of antibacterial agents to outpatiants are not rataional ,including high percentages of usage and unreasonable selection of species ,and more supervision and training need to be given to the medical staff , especially in township hospitals .

Objective To retrospectively analyze the outcomes,adverse events,and prognostic factors in elderly patients initially diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Methods From January 2004 to April 2007,202 patients (over 60 years of age) initially diagnosed with NPC received radical radiotherapy or chemotherapy.These patients included 165 males (81.7％) and 37 females (18.3％),with a median age of 65 years (range 60-86 years).Of all patients,1 had stage Ⅰ NPC,25 had stage Ⅱ NPC,120 had stage Ⅲ NPC,and 56 had stage Ⅳa/Ⅳb NPC,according to the AJCC staging system (6th edition).All patients received a radiation dose of ≥66 Gy,and 146 patients (72.3％) with locally advanced NPC also received chemotherapy.The Cox model was used for multivariate analysis.Results The follow-up rate was 100％.The 5-year local control rate,regional lymph node control rate,distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate,disease-free survival rate,and overall survival (OS) rate were 93％,94％,82％,74％,and 67％,respectively.The multivariate analysis revealed that T stage,N stage,and age were prognostic factors for OS and DMFS (P =0.006,0.002,and 0.008 ;P =0.020,0.002,and 0.022).The severe acute toxicities included grade 4 radiation dermatitis (1 patient,0.5％),grade 4 radiation mucositis (2 patients,1.0％),and grade 4 bone marrow suppression (5 patients,2.5％).Conclusions The elderly NPC patients can tolerate radiotherapy and chemotherapy well.Multimodality therapy should be adopted for the patients aged 60-74 years who have advanced-stage NPC and good general conditions.

OBJECTIVE To study the influence of glycogen synthase kinase3β (GSK3β) over expres?sion in the hippocampus on the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of total flavoids from Xiaobuxin Tang (XBXT-2). METHODS Adeno-associated virus containing GSK3β(S9A) mutation was microinjected into the hippocampus. After three weeks of recovery, GSK3βand p-GSK3βwere detected by Western blotting, and open field test (OFT) was used to evaluate the locomotor activity. Then, AAV group and GSK3β over expression group were divided into administration group and solvent group, respectively. XBXT-2 (100 mg · kg-1) and solvent were ig administered chronically. After 14 d and 16 d of administra?tion, the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) were used to investigate the influence of GSK3βover expression on the antidepressant effect of XBXT-2, respectively. After 18 d and 20 d of administration, the elevated plus maze test (EPMT) and staircase test (ST) were used to investigate the influence of GSK3β over expression on the anxiolytic effects of XBXT-2, respectively. RESULTS Western blotting analysis showed that the protein level of GSK3βincreased significantly in GSK3βover expression group (P<0.01) compared with AAV group, but there was no significant difference in p-GSK3β. In OFT, the number of crossings and rearings showed no difference between AAV group and GSK3β over expression group. The results of TST and FST showed that compared with AAV group, the immobility time was significantly reduced in AAV+XBXT-2 group (P<0.05, P<0.01), but compared with GSK3β over expression group, the immobility time showed no difference in GSK3β over expression+XBXT-2 group. In EPMT, compared with AAV group, the percentage of entrances and time into open arms in AAV+XBXT-2 group was significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), but compared with GSK3βover expression group, these indexes showed no difference in GSK3βover expression+XBXT-2 group. In ST, compared with AAV group, the number of rearings was significantly reduced in AAV+XBXT-2 group (P<0.05), but there was no difference between GSK3β over expression+XBXT-2 group and GSK3βover expression group. CONCLUSION GSK3βover expression in the hippocampus can reverse the antidepressant effects of XBXT-2 in the TST and FST, and the anxiolytic effects in the EPM and ST.

AIM: To elucidate the relationship between the intracellular calcium concentration changes and left ventricular hypertrophy and function in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Intracellular free calcium concentrations were measured by Fura 2 methodology and left ventricular function quantitated by cardiac catheterization in 20 SHR aged 10, 22, and 34 weeks and 20 age-matched Wistar-kyoto (WKY) rats. RESULTS: (1) The systolic blood pressure(SBP), intracellular calcium concentrations and left ventricular mass / body weight index ( LVM/BW) were significantly higher in all three age groups of SHR than the corresponding groups of WKY; (2) Compared with age-matched WKY groups, the peak left ventricular pressure descending rate(-d p /d t max ) decreased while left ventricular relaxation time constant (?)increased significantly in SHR aged 22 and 34 weeks. The peak left ventricular pressure ascending rate(d p /d t max ) and the left ventricular contractility index were significantly increased only in the 34 weeks SHR; (3) Intracellular calcium concentrations showed a positive correlation with LVM/BW,SBP,-d p /d t max and ?( r =0 47-0 83, P

Human tissue kallikrein-binding protein (Kallistatin, KAL), a secretory protein that participates in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by binding to the extracellular receptor, however, at present has not been reported about the intracellular activity, and whether it has the similar biological activity with extracellular activity. Here we constructed no signal peptide KAL (NSK) into the adeno-associated virus vector to explore the intracellular activity of KAL. Both the endothelial cell and lung cancer cells could express KAL, but not secreted after rAAV2-NSK transfection. The proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were inhibited, but the apoptosis rate was not affected. The proliferation rates, mobility and tubule formation of all the three tested lung cancer cells, such as NCI-H446, NCI-H460 and A549, were inhibited to different extents. This cellular study not only confirmed the intracellular activity, but also suggested it may serve as a kind of "balance factor" in multi-targeted controlling, which may provide a new train of thoughts to explain the regulatory contradiction in PI3K-Akt signaling pathways by KAL.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dependovirus ; Genetic Vectors ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Serpins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo understand the changing trend on the way of delivery since 1970s and its related factors that influencing the attitude of choice on Cesarean section (C-section) in women at child-bearing age.

METHODSA face-to-face interview was conducted anonymously in pregnant and lying-in women visited at the out-patient department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tiantan Hospital of Beijing. Totally, 415 women at child-bearing age, with a history of previous birth were interviewed on date, place and way of delivery of last birth, as well as on information that could have had impact on the choice of C-section.

RESULTSThe average rate of C-section in Tiantan Hospital had been 29% since the year of 2000, much higher than that during 1970s, 1980s and 1990s (chi(2) = 22.81, P = 0.001) which showed an increasing trend. Rate of C-section among lying-in women with native Beijing origin was 25.0%, significantly higher than 9.6% (chi(2) = 21.96, P = 0.000 002) that in the migrants. Lying-in women with education level of high school or above had higher chance to choose C-section than those with lower level of education (chi(2) = 43.64, P < 0.000 01). Workers, managerial staff or clerks had more chance to choose C-section than those with other occupations (chi(2) = 20.07, P = 0.01). As reported by the interviewees, 93% (70/75) of C-section in the hospital were performed and recommended by obstetricians.

CONCLUSIONRate of C-section in the hospital showed an increasing trend which suggested that intervention with health education be carried out for both pregnant women and obstetricians.

Adult ; Cesarean Section ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Delivery, Obstetric ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Diploidy ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Transfection