OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in a rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group and treatment group( n = 10). Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was utilized to establish a rat model of DCM. The rats with DCM in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS solution. After treated for 12 weeks, the hearts isolated from rats were perfused on a langendorff apparatus. The ventricular hemodynamic parameters were measured. The ultrastructures of myocardium were observed using electron microscopy. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in myocardial tissue were determined by spectrophotometry. The expressions of C/EBP homologous protein( CHOP), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and Caspase 12 at mRNA level in myocardium were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the cardiac function and myocardial ultrastructure were damaged obviously in diabetic rats. In myocardial tissue, the content of MDA was increased, while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased. CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase 12 mRNA expressions were increased significantly. Compared with diabetes group, cardiac function and myocardial ultrastructure damage were improved in treatment group. The content of MDA was decreased, while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased significantly. The mRNA levels of CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase 12 were increased.

CONCLUSIONH2S can protect myocardium in diabetic rats, maybe it is related to reduce oxidative stress damage and inhibition of the ERS-induced apoptosis pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; ultrastructure ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Streptozocin ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDIncreased renal sympathetic nerve activity can result in diuretic resistance in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. We investigated the effect of regional renal nerve blockade on the patients with chronic refractory heart failure and diuretic resistance.

METHODSEighteen patients with chronic refractory heart failure were enrolled (mean age (64 ± 11) years). The patients were randomly divided into two groups (renal nerve blockade group and standard therapy group, n = 9 each). Renal nerve blockade was performed by percutaneous injection of local anaesthetic under computed tomographic guidance. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, plasma and urine electrolytes, neurohormones, factional excretion of sodium (FENa), 24-hour urine volume were monitored at baseline and the first 24 hours after therapy. Dyspnea and oedema were also evaluated. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared between the two groups during the 3 - 12 months follow-up period.

RESULTSNo complication was observed during the acute phase of renal nerve blockade. After renal nerve blockade, the 24-hour urine volume and FENa were significantly increased, while the level of plasma rennin, angiotensin II, aldosterone, BNP and atrial natriuretic peptide as well as dyspnea and oedema were significantly reduced in renal nerve blockade group compared with baseline and standard therapy group. During three to 12 months of follow-up, the rate of MACE and plasma BNP level were significantly lower, while LVEF was significantly higher in renal nerve blockade group than those in standard therapy group.

CONCLUSIONRegional renal nerve blockade may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with chronic refractory heart failure.

Aged ; Amides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Anesthetics, Local ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Nerve Block ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To analyse the relative factors of the linear growth velocity(GV)in girls with central precocious puberty(CPP)during gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog(GnRHa)therapy,and to investigate the factors affecting the height gain during two-year GnRHa treatment.Methods In 86 girls aged (8.04?1.28)years with CPP treated with GnRHa for more than 2 years,the data including target height,age of onset,pubertal course,chronological age,bone age,linear GV,serum estradiol level and mature index of vaginal smear were analyzed,then the correlations and stepwise regression were performed.Results During GnRHa therapy,GV decreased year by year.The GV in the second year(GV_(2nd))was negatively correlated with the age of onset,bone age(BA_0,BA_2)and chronologic age(CA_0,CA_2)at the onset and by the end of the first year of GnRHa therapy(r=-0.37,-0.59,-0.57,-0.51 and-0.52,respectively,all P

Background Macular edema following phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is a main factor to influent visual function.The administration of traditional medicine can relieve tissue edema,but its preventive and treatment efficacy on macular edema after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation remaines unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the protective effect of huoxuehuayu decoction on macula after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation.Methods A case-controlled observational study was designed.One hundred and eighty eyes of 150 patients with age-related cataract were randomized into operation group and operation + medicine group.Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation was performed in both groups,but huoxuehuayu decoction was orally administered for 14 days in operation+medicine group.The best corrected visual acuity,inflammatory reaction of the ocular anterior segment,and macular edema were recorded before operation and 1 week,2,4,6,8 and 12 weeks,and the central macular thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography.Results Twelve weeks after surgery,the ratio of visual acuity ≥ 1.0 was in significantly higher in operation+medition group than that of in operation group (x2 =1.066,P＞0.05).One week after surgery,the eyes of the aqueous flare were much nore in the operation group than that of operation+medicine group(x2 =9.341,P＜0.05).The thickness of the central fovea was significantly increased in both groups at 1 week,2,4,6,8 and 12 weeks after surgery,showing significant differences in comparison with preoperation (operation group:P ＜ 0.01 ; operation + medicine group:P ＜0.05).Macular edema occurred in 13 eyes in operation group during the following-up duration,including 11 eyes with thickened fovea and 2 eyes with cystoid macular edema.Maeular edema disappeared in 10 eyes 12 weeks later.In the operation+medition group,3 eyes happened macular edema,including thickened fovea in 2 eye and cystoid macular edema in 1 eye.Four to six weeks after surgery,macular edema disappeared in 3 eyes 12 weeks later.The fovea thickness in the operation+medicine group was statistically significantly lower from 2 through 8 weeks after surgery than that in the operation group(t=2.315,2.323,3.104,2.470,P＜0.05).Conclusions Oral administration of huoxuehuayu decoction is helpful for the restoration of the anterior ocular segment.Huoxuehuayu decoction can protect macula from the edema induced by phacoemulsification.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of huoxuehuayu decoction on macula after phacoemulsification. Into A, B groups. The 80 eyes of A group were treated by conventional phacoemulsification; the patients (60 eyes) of B group were given huoxuehuayu decoction orally for two courses after phacoemulsification. Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), corneal and aqueous conditions ,thickness of macular central fovea and changes of macular retinal tissue in A, B groups were observed before surgery, 1 day; 1 week,2,4,6,8 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Was significantly higher than that of group A. One week after surgery the ratio of mild aqueous flare in group B was significantly lower than that of group A. The thickness of central fixation was significantly increased in both groups 1 week, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks and 3 months after phacoemulsification; the difference between 2 to 8 weeks after surgery and pre-operation showed statistical significance in both groups. 11 eyes in A group had macular edema during 2 to 6 weeks after surgery, including 9 eyes with fovea thickened and 2 eyes with cystoid macular edema, and seven eyes' edema disappeared in 3 months. 2 eyes in B group had macular edema, including 1 eye fovea thickened and 1 eye cystoid macular edema, during 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, and the two eyes' edema disappeared 3 months after surgery. The fovea thickness in group B during 2 to 8 weeks after surgery was statistically lower than group A. Phacoemulsification.

Four-stage selected random samples were used to analyze the prevalence and distributing feature of hyperuricemia and gout in 13 559 Han,Uighur,and Hazakh adults in Xinjiang. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 11.00%,3.27%,and 3.94% respectively in Han,Uighur,and Hazakh populations,and 1.32%, 0.65%,and 0.70% for gout,with statistically significant difference among three groups(all P＜0.05). No-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that nationality,body mass index,renal function,and serum lipid were risk factors of hyperuricemia,while female and physical activity were protective factors. Eating seafood and animal visceral organs were independent risk factors of hyperuricemia in Han population. Eating animal visceral organs and drinking alcohol were independent risk factors of hyperuricemia in Hazakh population.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare and difficult entity. Here we represented the clinical and pathological features of a patient with little response to steroid before definite diagnosis. The 50-year-old male had a fluctuating disease course for more than 3 years. He presented visual disorders, seizure, cognitive impairment, hypersomnia, unsteady gait, dysphasia, dysphagia, and incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple, supratentorial and infratentorial abnormal signals, while cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral angiography were normal. Magnetic resonance spectrum showed a decrease of N-acetyl-aspartate. Brain biopsy revealed nongranulomatous lymphatic vasculitis with reactive gliosis, cicatrization, demyelination and focal hemorrhages.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System ; diagnosis

Objective The aim is to investigate the association between coronary heart disease (CHD) and c.553G＞T polymorphism of apolipoprotein A5 (ApoA5) gene and the influence of serum lipid level in the Hah ethnic population of Xinjiang. Methods The polymorphism of ApoA5 gene in 486 patients with CHD and 501 controls was analyzed by methods of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Level of serum lipid in each patient was detected at the same time. Results There was significant difference in the distribution of genotypes between CHD group and controls group ( x2 = 8.757, P= 0.013 ). Non-conditioned logistic regression analyses, after adjusted for age, gender, smoking, total serum cholesterol, presence of hypertension and diabetes, revealed that individuals who carried T allele (TT + GT genotype) had an increased risk of CHD, compared to GG genotype (OR= 1.753,95%CI: 1.030-2.983, P＜0.05 ). There was also a remarkable difference noticed in the level of serum triglyceride by genotypes in CHD group and control group (t=5.242, P＜0.01; t=-3.499, P=0.001 ). Individuals in the two groups who carried T allele had higher level of serum triglyceride than those carried GG genotype. Individuals in CHD group who carried T allele had higher level of serum total cholesterol than those carried GG genotype (t=-2.465, P=0.014). Conclusion It seemed that the c.553G＞T polymorphism of ApoA5 gene had influenced on the level of serum triglyceride and the total cholesterol among Han population in Xinjiang. c.553G＞T polymorphism was associated with the development of CHD, while T allele might be an influencing risk factor on CHD.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of combined use of stanazolol (ST) on the final adult height (FAH) in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) and apparently decreased linear growth during gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) therapy.

METHODSixty-three girls with ICPP and decreased velocity of growth of height (HV<4 cm/yr) during GnRHa therapy were divided into 3 groups based on the following types of interventions:group 1 (n = 20), GnRHa+ST [25-30 µg/(kg·d) every 3-month followed by 3-month discontinuation], group 2 (n = 21), GnRHa+recombinant human growth hormone [rhGH, 1-1.1 U/(kg·w)], group 3 (n = 22), GnRHa alone.HV, the advancement of bone age (BA) for chronological age (CA) (ΔBA/ΔCA) and FAH were compared among groups.

RESULT(1)Total duration of ST combination therapy was (12.22 ± 3.62) months, while total duration of combination of rhGH was (13.22 ± 6.80) months. (2)HV increased significantly in both group 1 [ (2.79 ± 0.60) cm/yr vs. (6.27 ± 1.98) cm/yr, P < 0.01] and in group 2 [(2.80 ± 0.50) cm/yr vs. (6.25 ± 1.98) cm/yr, P < 0.01] during combined therapy, but maintained at low levels in group 3 [(3.95 ± 1.10) cm/yr vs. (3.34 ± 0.95) cm/yr, P > 0.05].No significant differences of ΔBA/ΔCA were found among the three groups [0.25(0.11∼0.28), 0.22(0.15∼0.31),0.19(0.10∼0.32), P > 0.05]. (3)FAH was significantly higher than predicted adult height (PAH) before combined therapy, as well as higher than target height (THt) in both group 1 [(156.25 ± 2.90) cm vs. (150.78 ± 3.70) cm, P < 0.01, (156.25 ± 2.90) cm vs. (153.94 ± 2.62) cm, P < 0.01], and in group2 [ (157.33 ± 4.69) cm vs. (152.61 ± 3.92) cm, P < 0.01, (157.33 ± 4.69) cm vs. (154.39 ± 4.72) cm, P = 0.01].In group 3, FAH was similar to PAH [(153.88 ± 2.6) cm vs. (152.54 ± 5.86) cm, P > 0.05], and was less than THt [(153.88 ± 2.6) cm vs. (155.60 ± 4.52) cm, P = 0.02]. (4)In girls treated with ST, no hirsutism, clitorism or hoarse voice was recorded.No polycystic ovary syndrome was found by B-mode ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONIntermittent combined use of low dose ST therapy can increase HV and thus improve FAH in girls with ICPP and apparently decreased linear growth during GnRHa therapy.

Body Height ; drug effects ; Bone Development ; Child ; Child Development ; drug effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Growth Disorders ; drug therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Puberty, Precocious ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Stanozolol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pattern of pubertal development in healthy Cantonese schoolgirls.

METHODFrom 1992 to 2001, 311 normal Cantonese schoolgirls, ages from 6.25 to 8.83 yrs (7.24 +/- 0.38) at baseline, were followed up until they reached their final adult height (age 15.72 +/- 0.84 yrs, n = 238). Annual physical examinations including height and weight measurement were performed. From the 3rd visit, pubertal maturations (breast and pubic hair development) were also assessed annually until they were 14.5 years. Age of menarche was recorded.

RESULT(1) Median age at the entry of puberty (age at reaching B2) was 9.83 years (9.33-10.33). Median age at initiation of pubic hair development (PH2) was 10.67 (9.92-11.38) years. Menarche occurred at (12.35 +/- 1.30) years. The age at reaching B2, age at reaching PH2 and age of menarche were all later than that observed in the cross-section study performed in 2003, Guangzhou, China. Peak height velocity (PHV) was reached at (10.52 +/- 1.07) years, 1.00 (0.50-1.50) years after B2 was reached. Interval between "age at onset of breast development" and "age at menarche" was 2.92 (2.08-3.67) years. Duration of pubertal growth (defined as the time from age at B2 to age at which adult height was attained) was (4.80 +/- 0.85) years. (2) Average final adult height (FAH) was (158.74 +/- 5.74) cm. As compared with the cross-section studies held in Guangzhou, China, the FAH in our study was higher than that observed in 1985 but was lower than that observed in 2003. (3) Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the age reaching B2 was an independent factor associated with the age of menarche. (4) Durations of breast stages, interval between B2 and menarche and duration of pubertal growth were similar to that reported in the longitudinal studies in the United Kingdom (1969), Senegal (1995-2000), the United States (1986-1996).

CONCLUSIONIn healthy Cantonese schoolgirls, the timing of sexual maturation was in a trend of decline in the past 20 years, however it may have no significant impacts on the tempo of pubertal development and FAH.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Development ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Puberty ; Sexual Maturation ; Students