Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factor-?_1 (TGF-?_1)and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)in the pathogenesis of early renal impairment in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods The serum levels of TGF-?_1 and HGF of 44 patients with CHB and 20 healthy people were measured by specific-ELISA,and the urine levels of ?_1-microglobulin (?_1-MG)and microalbumin (mALB)were tested by RIA.Results The serum levels of TGF-?_1 and HGF in the patients with CHB were significantly higher than those in the control (P

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize a new drug delivery system of polyaldehyde Dex coupled with SA-10-HCPT and to study the HCPT release in vitro and the anti-tumor activity in vivo. METHODS: The new drug delivery system was prepared by polyaldehyde Dex coupled with SA-HCPT, grafted with mPEG-adipic dihydrazide monohydrazone and cross-linked with adipic dihydrazide. RESULTS: The conjugate formed micelle with a diameter of 100 nm in water,which could achieve passive targeting of tumor tissue concentration. The drug loading efficiency achieved 5.63%. The drug release processes accorded with kinetic equation Rc=Atn1/(B+Ctn2) in the buffer solution. The release rate of HCPT from this conjugate in pH 5.4 buffer was much higher than that in the environment of pH 7.4 and pH 4.5. The tumor inhibition of the conjugate was similar to that of HCPT while the toxicity in vivo was significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: The structure of the conjugate is unstable in acidic environment, and the drug is released pH-sensitively. The mice survival rate is significantly improved because of the significant slow-release property. Therefore, the conjugate can be developed as a novel prodrug.

Objective To create a three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3DSTI) multiparameter analysis model to improve the diagnostic efficiency of obstructive coronary artery stenosis.Methods One hundred and four patients with chest pain were divided into two groups:coronary heart disease(CHD) group (61 patients) and control group (43 patients) according to the result of selective coronary angiography (SCA).The two groups' clinical data and echocardiographic parameters were aquired,including mitral flow E and A velocities,E peak deceleration time,isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT),mitral annulus velocity e' and a' peak in diastolic and s' peak in systolic by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI),and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).The global longitudinal peak strain (2D-GLPS) by two dimensional speckle tracking,global longitudinal peak strain (3D-GLPS),circumferential peak strain(3D-GCPS),radial peak strain (3D-GRPS) and area peak strain (3D-GAPS) were acquired.Results For conventional parameters,there were no significant difference between the two groups.Compared with control group,TDI e' peak,3D-GRPS decreased,significantly E/e',2D-GLPS,3D-GLPS,3D-GAPS,3D-GCPS increased significantly (P ＜0.01).For single parameter,area under the ROC curve (AUC) were successively 3D-GAPS(0.766) ＞ 3D-GLPS(0.746) ＞ 2D-GLPS(0.746) ＞3D-GRPS(0.727) ＞ s' (0.703) ＞E/e' (0.688)＞3D-GCPS(0.686).AUC for single and multi technology were successively p-Union(0.856)＞p-3DSTI(0.772) ＞ p-TDI (0.757) ＞ p-2DSTI (0.746).Conclusions 3DSTI together with multi-parameter analysis model can significantly improve the diagnostic efficiency of obstructive coronary artery stenosis.Area strain is an independent predictor of obstructive coronary artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND:A large number of studies have confirmed that anterior approach and posterior approach for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy were effective, but there is stil no conclusion in which one is better.
OBJECTIVE:To systematical y assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of anterior approach versus posterior approach for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
METHODS:The databases such as The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2013), PubMed (from 1966 to March 2013), OVID (from 1950 to March 2013), EMbase (from 1966 to March 2013), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (from 1978 to March 2013), WanFang Database (from 1998 to March 2013), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (from 1999 to March 2013) were electronical y searched and five relevant journals were searched by hand to col ect the randomized control ed trials or non-randomized control ed trials about the clinical effectiveness and safety of anterior approach versus posterior approach for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Two reviewers independently screened the literature according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then the meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan5.2 software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 11 control ed trials involving 814 patients were included. Meta-analysis results showed that, compared with posterior approach, postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were better (P<0.000 01), improvement rate of neurological function was higher (P=0.000 3), the incidence of C5 root palsy was lower (P=0.007), but operation time was longer (P<0.000 01), amount of intraoperative bleedin g was larger (P=0.000 7), incidence of adjacent segments degeneration was higher (P=0.01), incidence of postoperative complications was higher (P<0.000 01) and the rate of secondary surgical procedures was higher (P=0.003) after anterior approach. Additional y, there were no differences between the two groups in the cervical range of motion (P=0.56). For quantity limitation and low methodological quality of included studies, this conclusion stil needs to be further proved by performing more high-quality and large-scale randomized control ed trials.

Objective To study the value of magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging in assessing the atherosclerotic plaque burden of rabbit model.Methods We built up abdominal atherosclerotic animal model in 30 New Zealand rabbits by high lipid diet combined with abdominal artery denudation.The animals were divided into 3 groups randomly,which were the 1-week group,1-month group and 2-months group.The MRI and histology examination were carried out at relative time points.The correlations of area or thickness of vessel wall by MRI with histology examination were analyzed.Results Among the 30 rabbits,3 died due to anesthesia or surgery,one rabbit model failed because of the thin vessel,and another 3 died of diarrhea or inflammation during the high lipid diet feeding.Eventually,totally 23 rabbits fulfilled the examinations (7 in 1-week group,7 in 1-month group and 9 in 2-months group).The vessel wall area of histology examination grew larger along with the post-surgery duration,from 1.7663 mm2of 1-week group to 2.4371 mm2 of the 1-month group till 3.5978 mm2 of 2-months group,with statistic significant difference among 3 groups (F=5.052,P=0.017).There were strong correlations of area or thickness vessel wall resulted from MRI with histology examination(r=0.688,0.642;P=0.001,0.002).Conclusions High resolution MR vessel wall imaging technique may evaluate and follow up the plaque burden in the early stage of atherosclerosis.

AIM:Toinvestigatetheeffectsofcalcitoningene-relatedpeptide(CGRP)onmyocardinexpres-sion and phenotypic switch in vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) .METHODS:VSMCs were obtained by aortic tissue adherent culture and treated with angiotensin Ⅱ( AngⅡ) , AngⅡ+CGRP or AngⅡ+CGRP +CGRP8-37 .The protein expression of myocardin and the phenotypic proteins of the VSMCs was detected by Western blot .RESULTS:The expres-sion of myocardin in cultured VSMCs showed downregulation along with time expansion .The protein level of myocardin was higher at 48 h and 72 h than that at baseline in the cultured VSMCs (P<0.05).However, the myocardin was lower at 48 h and 72 h than that at baseline after treatment with CGRP in cultured VSMCs (P<0.05).Furthermore, at 48 h in cul-tured VSMCs, the myocardin decreased along with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (P<0.05), and osteopontin (OPN) increased (P<0.05) in AngⅡ group compared with control group .After treatment with CGRP, the levels of myocardin andα-SMA become higher ( P <0.05 ) but OPN was lower ( P <0.05 ) in CGRP group than those in AngⅡ group. CGRP8-37 abrogated CGRP-induced increase in myocardin and α-SMA and decrease in OPN in CGRP 8-37 group compared with CGRP group .CONCLUSION: CGRP may regulate the phenotypic switch of the VSMCs and maintain the cells in contractile phenotype through the upregulation of myocardin protein , which may be accomplished by the combination of CGRP and its receptor .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of meatoplasty with the pedicle flap in the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis treated by meato- plasty with the pedicle flap. All the patients had a history of chronic balanitis and had received meatal dilatation or simple ventral mea- totomy without significant effect. Their mean maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was (4.3 ± 2.4) ml/s. During the operation, A "/\"-shaped incision was made in the healthy epidermis and a flap was harvested from the frenulum. After complete removal of the scar, the flap was placed into the urethral wall, followed by reconstruction of the external urethral orifice.

RESULTSThe patients were fol- lowed up for 6 to 30 months, which revealed smooth urination in all the patients with Qmax of (26.7 ± 4.5) ml/s and normal erectile function and uresiesthesis.

CONCLUSIONWith little invasiveness and few complications, meatoplasty with the pedicle flap is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis. However, there might be some change in the normal appearance of the balanus postoperatively, and its long-term effect needs further observation.

Balanitis ; complications ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; surgery ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; surgery ; Urination

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with duloxetine in treatment of depression. Methods Sixty-nine cases of depression were randomly divided in?to study group (n=35 patients) and control group (n=34 patients). The study group received duloxetine combined with 1Hz rTMS treatment on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex area for 6 weeks whereas the control group received duloxetine combined with pseudo-rTMS treatment for 6 weeks. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) were used to assess the clinical efficacy and the adverse reactions before, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the treatment, respectively. Results Four patients (two from each group) dropped out of the study. The main effects of time (P<0.001) and groups (P=0.029) were significant and so was the interactive effect of time and group (P<0.001). The clinical curative effect of the study group were significantly better compared with the control group at the 2, 4, 6 weeks following treatment (P<0.001). The adverse reactions were mild in these two groups. Conclusions The combi?nation of 1 Hz rTMS with duloxetine is superior to either medication alone for the treatment depression.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; virology ; Male ; Serum

OBJECTIVEto explore the value of in vivo dynamic monitoring of abdominal aortic atherosclerosis (AS) by high field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) in apoE-/- mice fed a high fat diet or infused with angiotensin.

METHODShigh fat diet or angiotensin II infusion was applied to apoE-/- mice for establishment of abdominal aortic atherosclerosis model. Abdominal aorta MRI was performed at 3 time points (baseline, 3 and 6 months) in 13 high fat diet fed apoE-/- mice aged 10-12 months and 3 wild-type control mice; 10 apoE-/- mice aged 6 months were infused with angiotensin II (1000 or 500 ng × kg(-1)× min(-1), n = 5 each) or saline for 14 d through Osmotic minipump. The abdominal aortic artery MRI was performed at baseline and 14 d after infusion. Black blood sequences of FLASH T1 weighted images and Proton density weighted-T2 weighted dual echo images were obtained. At each observation time post MRI, mice (n = 3, 5 and 5 for high fat diet group and n = 5 and 5 for angiotensin II infusion group) were sacrificed for pathological examination of the abdominal artery.

RESULTS(1) the abdominal aorta atherosclerosis was identified in both high fat diet and angiotensin II treated apoE-/- mice but in WT controls. Lesion progression was documented in high fat diet fed apoE-/- mice characterized by significantly increased vessel wall (a marker of atherosclerotic burden, F = 29.94, P < 0.05) and gradually increased plaque signal in PDW and T2W images. Results derived from MRI corresponded histopathology findings in high fat diet fed apoE-/- mice (correlative coefficient = 0.84, 0.95, 0.90, P < 0.05, respectively). Both MRI and histology showed increased lipid composition and decreased fibrotic composition in these mice. (2) The vessel wall area increased significantly [(1.21 ± 0.21) mm(2) vs. (2.65 ± 0.48) mm(2), P < 0.05] and the abdominal aortic dissection aneurysms was identified in apoE-/- mice infused with high angiotensin II. The vessel wall area also increased [(0.85 ± 0.11) mm(2) vs. (1.01 ± 0.17) mm(2), P < 0.05] in low angiotensin II infused apoE-/- mice and the coefficient between MR and histopathology is 0.934.

CONCLUSIONabdominal aortic unstable plaque model could be established by both high fat diet and angiotensin II infusion in apoE mice, angiotensin II infusion can transiently accelerate the progression of AS and can induce abdominal aortic dissection. Serial MR black blood sequences could demonstrate the development and progression of atherosclerosis in mouse abdominal aorta with excellent agreement to histopathology finding in terms of atherosclerotic burden and plaque composition. Thus, MRI appears to be a useful tool for in vivo AS plaque dynamic monitoring in mice.

Angiotensin II ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Apolipoproteins E ; Arteriosclerosis ; Diet ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout