Objective To investigate the relationship between red cell distribution (RDW) and serum inflammatory factor in di‐lated cardiomyopathy (DCM ) patients .Methods 47 dilated cardiomyopathy patients and 40 healthy volunteers were chosen .Ac‐cording to NYHA classification ,12 patients in NYHA class Ⅱ ,15 patients in NYHA class Ⅲ and 20 patients in NYHA class Ⅳ . RDW ,High sensitivity C‐reaction protein (hs‐CPR) ,tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) were detected in all the DCM patients and healthy volunteers .The correlation between RDW and serum inflammatory factors were analyzed . Results Compared to healthy volunteers ,RDW ,hs‐CRP ,TNF‐α and IL‐1β were elevated significantly in DCM patients (all P<0 .05) .Comparisons among the DCM patients groups ,RDW ,hs‐CRP ,TNF‐α,IL‐1β in NYHA class Ⅲ and NYHA class Ⅳ were higher than those in NYHA class Ⅱ(all P<0 .05) .There were positive correlation between RDW and hs‐CRP ,RDW and TNF‐α, RDW and IL‐1β(r=0 .422 ,0 .390 ,0 .325 ,P<0 .05) .Conclusion RDW is one of the indicators evaluating cardiac functions ,and there is a significant correlation between RDW and serum inflammatory factors in DCM patients .

Collagen (Coll), as the basic material of matrix scaffolds for cell growth, has been widely used in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this study, collagen protein was modified by L-lysine (Lys), and cross-linked by genipin (GN) to prepare the L-lysine-modified collagen (Lys-Coll-GN) scaffolds. Microstructure, pore size, porosity, stability and biocompatibility of Lys-Coll-GN scaffolds were observed. The results showed that the bond between L-lysine and collagen protein molecule was formed by generating amide linkage, and mouse embryo fibroblasts proliferation was not inhibited in the Lys-Coll-GN scaffolds. In the multiple comparisons of Coll-scaf- folds, Coll-GN scaffolds and Lys-Coll-GN scaffolds, Coll-scaffolds was the worst in mechanical characteristics while the highest in biodegradation rate. Compared to Coll-GN scaffolds, Lys-Coll-GN scaffolds had more fiber structure, higher interval porosity (P<0. 01). Although the tensile stress of Lys-Coll-GN scaffolds reduced significantly, its e- longation length extended when the scaffolds was fractured (P<0. 01). The percentage of Lys-Coll-GN scaffolds residual weight was lower than that of Coll-GN scaffolds after all the scaffolds were treated by collagenase for 5 days (P<0. 01). This study suggested that Lys-Coll-GN scaffold had good biocompatibility, and it improved the mechanical property and degradation velocity for collagen-based scaffold. This study gave a new predominant type of tissue engineering scaffold for the regenerative medicine.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; Lysine ; chemistry ; Mice ; Porosity ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVE To observe the incidence of facial nerve injury and its relationship to the types of operation. METHODS The clinical data of 116 patients who underwent parotid surgery from 1999 to 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS The facial injury rate in total parotidectomy(66.7 %) was significantly higher than that in superfacial parotidectomy(39.2 %) and partial parotidectomy(12.5 %). The facial nerve injury rate in the mandibular branch(31.9 %) was higher than that in the buccal branch(9.2 %) and the zygomaticofacial branch(2.9 %). CONCLUSION The injury of facial nerve branches was correlated with the surgical managements. A proper surgical managements and operative extent would reduce the incidence of facial nerve injury and decrease the complications of the operation.

Objective To examine the effectiveness of HGF in blocking TGF-β1 induced α-SMA and extracellular matrix production in fibroblasts of the flexor tendon sheath. Methods Seven adult male New Zealand white rabbits (3.75-4.00 kg) were used for this study. Both of their front feet were sterilised and the middle digit flexor digitorum profundus tendon equivalents were identified and isolated. These specimens were used to establish primary cell cultures. Sheath fibroblasts were obtained from rabbit flexor tendons. After the cells reached confluence, cells were detached with trypsin/ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid. All experiments were performed using the cells at the third passage. At 70% confluence the medium was supplemented with 5 ng/ml of TGF-β1 along with increasing doses of HGF (10-40 ng/ml). After 72 hours incubation, the productions of α-SMA were assayed by Western-Blot. The productions of collagen Ⅰ and fibronectin in supernatants culture were examined using ELISA. Results Evaluation of protein expression revealed that TGF-β1 markedly induced α-SMA expression in cultured rabbit flexor tendon sheath fibroblasts. TGF-β1 treated fibroblasts expressed 1.8-fold more protein compared to non-treated fibroblasts (P ＜ 0.05). However, simultaneous incubation of HGF significantly abrogated TGF-β1 induced α-SMA expression in a dose-dependent manner (P＜ 0.05). Treatment with TGF-β1 significantly stimulated collagen Ⅰ and fibronectin production in flexor tendon sheath fibroblasts (P ＜ 0.01). Remarkably, the addition of HGF reduced productions of all components induced by TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion HGF antagonizes TGF-β1 induced α-SMA, collagen Ⅰ, and fibronectin production in flexor tendon sheath fibroblasts. The findings provide a cellular and molecular basis for HGF's acting as a therapeutic agent for adhesions in flexor tendons.

A series of phthalazine ketone compounds were synthesized and the structures were confirmed by H NMR and HR-MS spectrum. All target compounds were obtained through 7 steps, including selective reduction, nitration, bromination, ring enlargement, reduction, Knoevenagel and acylated reaction. The compounds were evaluated for their immunosuppressive effects of T-cell proliferation and inhibitory activity of IMPDH type II in vitro, as well as their structure-activity relationship were assessed. Several compounds exhibited strong immunosuppressive properties, especially compounds 7f and 7h, with IC50 values of 0.093 micromol x L(-1) and 0.14 micromol x L(-1) respectively, which were superior to mycophenolic acid. The information obtained from the studies may be useful for further research on the immunosuppressive agents.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; IMP Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phthalazines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects

Glucose is the basic metabolic substrate and main source of energy for the body. A complex neuroendocrine system regulate blood glucose concertration to keep it at a constant level. Thyroid hormones participate in the regulation of glucose metabolism through the PI3K/ERK and other signaling pathways. At the same time, abnormal glucose metabolism can cause the abnormal regulation of hypothalamus pituitary thyroid axis. In this paper, we review the change and molecular mechanism of thyroid hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid releasing hormone in Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted percutaneous screw implantation and free-hand open screw implantation by Wiltse approach in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed to analyze the clinical data of 71 patients with thoracolumbar fracture admitted to Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from May 2018 to May 2020. There were 52 males and 19 females, with age range of 22-54 years［(41.0±7.8)years］. Of all, 33 patients were treated with robot-assisted percutaneous screw implantation (Group A) and 38 patients were treated with free-hand open screw implantation by Wiltse approach (Group B). Following parameters were measured, including frequency of radiation exposure, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, incidence of complications, rate of fracture healing at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) at 3 days, 3 months, 6 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up, anterior vertebral body height ratio and sagittal Cobb angle preoperatively, at 3 days postoperatively and at the last follow-up, and rate of screw implantation of grade A and B and rate of facet joint violation at 3 days postoperatively.Results:All patients were followed up for 10-24 months［(15.2±4.4)months］. Frequency of radiation exposure and operation time showed no statistical differences between the two groups (both P>0.05). Intraoperative blood loss was 100(100, 135)ml in Group A, less than 160(120, 200)ml in Group B ( P<0.01). Length of hospital stay was 8(7, 11) days in Group A, shorter than 12(10, 16)days in Group B ( P<0.01). There were no complications such as infection, spinal nerve injury or cerebrospinal fluid leakage in both group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the rate of fracture healing at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (all P>0.05). VAS and ODI in Group A was 3(2, 4)points and 21(18, 23)points at 3 days postoperatively, lower than 4 (3, 5)points and 27(20, 32)points in Group B ( P<0.05 or 0.01), and the two groups showed no significant differences in VAS and ODI at other time points (all P>0.05). There were no significant difference in the anterior vertebral body height ratio or sagittal Cobb angle between the two groups at 3 days postoperatively and at the last follow-up (all P>0.05). Rate of screw implantation of grade A and B was 96.5% (191/198) in Group A, higher than 90.4% (206/228) in Group B ( P<0.05). Rate of facet joint violation was 4.0%(8/198) in Group A, lower than 11.8% (27/228) in Group B ( P<0.01). Conclusion:For thoracolumbar fracture, robot-assisted percutaneous screw implantation is superior to free-hand open screw implantation by Wiltse approach in terms of less bleeding, shorter hospitalization, earlier pain alleviation, higher accuracy of screw implantation and lower risk of facet joint violation.

This study investigated the relationship between serum thyrotrophin levels and dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroid and euthyroid subjects. A total of 110 subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism and 1,240 euthyroid subjects enrolled in this study. Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had significantly lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels than those who were euthyroid. The lipid profiles were each categorized and mean thyrotrophin levels were higher in subjects in the dyslipidemia subclasses than subjects in the normal subclasses. Thyrotrophin was positively associated with serum triglyceride and negatively associated with serum HDL-C in women. Thyrotrophin was also positively associated with total cholesterol (TC) in the overweight population along with TC and LDL-C in overweight women. In the euthyroid population, thyrotrophin was positively associated with TC in the overweight population. In conclusion, serum thyrotrophin was correlated with dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroid and euthyroid subjects; the correlation was independent of insulin sensitivity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholesterol/blood ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Dyslipidemias/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyrotropin/*blood ; Triglycerides/blood ; Young Adult