Objective To investigate the correlation between brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and left ventricular diastolic function in the elderly patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.Methods 128 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus were divided into diabetes without hypertension (n=63)and with hypertension(n=65),and other 62 normal subjects were selected as control group.Plasma BNP levels and indexes of echocardiography,including left ventricular mass index(LVMI),the mitral peak flow velocity during early(E)and late diastole(A),ratio of E/A,average peak velocities at mitral annuluses of six sites in left ventricular wall during early(MEm)and late diastole (MAm),and relative E/MEm were measured in all patients.Results LVMI,E/MEm and the levels of BNP were significantly higher in groups of diabetes without and with hypertension[(91.6 ±17.3)g/m2 and(116.7±20.5)g/m2,(10.3±1.8)and(12.5±1.4),(47.7±29.4)ng/L and(105.7±32.5)ng/L]than in control group[(78.7±19.5)g/m2,(8.9± 1.6)and(20.8±11.63)ng/L,respectively](F=11.54,13.83 and 9.75,all P＜0.05),while MEm in two diabetes groups[(6.8±1.0)and(5.4±0.9)cm/s]were decreased as compared with control group[(8.0± 1.1)cm/s,F=11.26,P＜0.05].The BNP levels were negatively correlated with E/A and MEm(r =-0.42 and -0.51,all P＜0.01),and positively correlated with LVMI and E/MEm(r=0.48 and 0.58,all P＜0.01).Conclusions Left ventricular diastolic function is impaired in diabetes mellitus and more severely impaired in diabetic patients with hypertension.A combination of plasma BNP and echocardiography parameter may be helpful to accurately evaluate left ventricular diastolic function in the elderly patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

OBJECTIVETo establish a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model by passive cigarette smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats.

METHODSFifteen male SH rats were randomly divided into control group, cigarette smoking exposure (CS) group and CS+LPS (cigarette smoking exposure plus intratracheal instillation of LPS) group. After 8 weeks' treatment, the COPD model was validated by inspecting the general condition and examining lung function and pulmonary pathological changes. The expressions of surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A), NF-κB, histone, p-Iκ-Kα/β, Iκ-Kα/β, and IκB-α were determined with Western blotting, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA were measured using qRT-PCR.

RESULTSThe rats in both CS and CS+LPS groups were marantic with intermittent cough and tachypnea. Lung function test showed increased RI and lowered peak expiratory flow in CS group, which were more prominent in CS+LPS group (P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated typical chronic bronchitic inflammation and emphysema in the lungs of the two model groups with significantly decreased mean alveolar number and significantly increased mean lining intermittent and destruction index. The emphysema level was more serious in CS+LPS group than in CS group. Western blotting showed markedly decreased expressions of SP-A and IκB-α in CS group and CS+LPS , especially the latter group. The protein levels of NF-κB, Iκ-K phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 increased obviously in the two model groups.

CONCLUSIONCOPD model can be established by passive smoking and (or) intratracheal instillation of LPS in SH rats, and the model induced by combined exposures is optimal.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

The mechanical properties of tumor cells adhering to extracellular matrix (ECM) are closely related with their invasion and metastesis. In this study we investigated the adhesive mechanical properties between hepatocellular carcinoma cells(HCC) and the collagen I coated surfaces from the viewpoint of cell cycle by coupling cellular biology and cellular mechanics, using micropipette aspiration and cell synchronization technique. The results showed that the synchronous G1 and S phase HCC cells were achieved by use of thymine-2-desoryriboside, colchicines sequential blockage method and double thymine-2-desoryriboside blockage method, and that the synchronous rates of G1 and S phase HCC amounted to 74.09% and 90.39% respectively. Within the ranges of dosing and timing in this study, the adhesion of HCC cells to collagen I displayed dose dependent and time dependent patterns. S phase cells had small force of adhesion to collagen I as compared with G1 phase and controlled cells(P<0.001), which suggested that G1 phase HCC may play an important role in the step of invading interstitial connective tissue in the metastasis pathway of HCC through blood circulation. These are of significance to unveiling the mechanism of HCC metastasis.
Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Cycle ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rats ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of nutrition intervention combined with rehabilitation exercise in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) complicated by sarcopenia.Methods:In this randomized controlled trial, seventy CHF patients with sarcopenia, aged 80 years or older, who had received standard CHF medication treatment and had stable conditions with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) from June 2021 to October 2022 at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital outpatient clinic were continuously selected. The patients were randomly divided into a test group ( n=35) and a control group ( n=35) using a random number table. The test group continued the original heart failure medication treatment, and on the basis of daily meal, supplemented with whey protein powder [37 g per serving (including 16.2 g of whey protein, 145 kcal), twice a day]; they were given resistance exercise primarily focused on resistance training (5 sets of exercises, progressively increasing to 3 days per week, twice a day, 5 sets per session, 20 repetitions per set). The control group maintained the original heart failure medication treatment plan and lifestyle. The body mass index, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), grip strength, Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test, 6-meter walking speed, 6-minute walk test, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction, ratio of early mitral flow peak velocity to early mitral annulus diastolic peak velocity (E/e′), serum albumin, hemoglobin, and serum creatinine were compared between the two groups before and after 3 months of intervention using t-tests and chi-square tests to analyze the efficacy of nutrition intervention combined with rehabilitation exercise in elderly patients with CHF complicated by sarcopenia. Results:Among the 70 patients, there were 42 males and 28 females. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the test group and the control group (all P>0.05). After 3 months of intervention, ASMI, grip strength and 6 min walking distance in the test group were all significantly higher than those in the control group [(6.43±1.07) vs (6.09±0.86) kg/m 2, (27.75±2.13) vs (23.45±0.47) kg, (361.51±58.71) vs (273.50±69.85) m], and significantly higher than those before intervention [(5.99±1.45) kg/m 2, (23.55±9.64) kg, (273.50±69.86) m]. The time of Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test, BNP and E/e′ in the test group were both significantly lower than those in the control group [(11.20±2.09) vs (15.36±0.46) s, (278.80±58.69) vs (400.80±87.86) ng/L, (11.10±0.81) vs (14.66±1.90)], and significantly lower than those before intervention [(18.51±2.90) s, (407.50±122.74) ng/L and (14.00±1.15)]. There was no significant difference in remaining indicators between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Nutritional intervention combined with rehabilitation exercise primarily focused on whey protein supplementation and resistance training can significantly improve limb muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle function, and cardiac function in elderly patients with CHF complicated by sarcopenia on the basis of heart failure medication treatment.