Endocardial Cushion Defects ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; abnormalities ; Lung Diseases ; complications ; congenital

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paint ; poisoning ; Solvents ; poisoning ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the correlation between the serum resistin level and carotid artery atherosclerosis in elderly Chinese males. Methods The study enrolled 235 elderly Chinese males [median age 76 (range 60-97) years] scheduled for ultrasound examination of carotid artery plaque and determination of carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). They were divided into carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) and carotid atherosclerotic plaque-free (CAP-free) groups according to the ultrasound results. Their clinical profiles were col-lected, and the serum resistin and other blood biochemistry levels were determined.Results The CAP group was older and had a thicker mean CIMT than the CAP-free group. However, there was no difference in the serum resistin level between the groups. CIMT was positively correlated with age (r = 0.299,P< 0.001). The serum resistin level was not correlated with CIMT, even after controlling for age. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (β = 0.001,P< 0.001) and body mass index (β = 0.002,P= 0.015) were significantly and posi-tively correlated with the mean CIMT. Only age [odds ratio (OR): 1.159; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.078-1.183,P< 0.001] was associ-ated with the presence of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque. The serum resistin level was not correlated with the mean CIMT or associated with the presence of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque.Conclusion The results suggest that resistin might not be a risk factor for atherosclerosis in elderly Chinese males.

BACKGROUNDMedical consortium is a specific vertical integration model of regional medical resources. To improve medical resources utilization and control the health insurance costs by fee-for-service plans (FFS), capitation fee and diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), it is important to explore the attitudes of doctors towards the different health insurance payment in the medical consortium in Shanghai.

METHODSA questionnaire survey was carried out randomly on 50 doctors respectively in 3 different levels medical institutes.

RESULTSThe statistical results showed that 90% of doctors in tertiary hospitals had the tendency towards FFS, whereas 78% in secondary hospitals towards DRGs and 84% in community health centers towards capitation fee.

CONCLUSIONSThere are some obvious differences on doctors' attitudes towards health insurance payment in 3 different levels hospitals. Thus, it is feasible that health insurance payment should be supposed to the doctors' attitudes using the bundled payments along with the third-party payment as a supervisor within consortium.

BACKGROUND:The study confirmed that adding tricalcium phosphate or pearl powder in polylactic-co-glycolic acid can complement the performance of both, which provides a good environment for cels and makes a faster and better growth of cels. OBJECTIVE:We used polylactic-co-glycolic acid as matrix, composited with pearl powder or tricalcium phosphate to prepare scaffolds by low-temperature deposition manufacturing. METHODS:Low-temperature deposition manufacturing was utilized to prepare composite scaffold of polylactic-co-glycolic acid/pearl powder or polylactic-co-glycolic acid/tricalcium phosphate at the ratio of 10:0, 5:2, 7:3 and 6:4. Microstructure, contact angle and compression modulus of elasticity of scaffolds were detected. MC3T3-E1 cels basicaly fused at 1×104/cm3 were seeded in the pure nonporous polylactic-co-glycolic acid scaffold, pure polylactic-co-glycolic acid scaffold with holes, polylactic-co-glycolic acid/pearl powder at 5:2 and polylactic-co-glycolic acid/tricalcium phosphate at 5:2 separately for 1 and 3 hours. Cel adhesion rate was detected using flow cytometry. After incubation for 1, 4 and 7 days, cel proliferation was measured using Alamar Blue method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Pure polylactic-co-glycolic acid scaffold had cross-linked microporous structure, with pore size of 3-15 μm. Scaffolds ofpolylactic-co-glycolic acid/pearl powder at 5:2 or polylactic-co-glycolic acid/tricalcium phosphate at 5:2 had good continuous porous structure, with pore size of 10-25 μm. With increased content of pearl powder or tricalcium phosphate, the hydrophilicity of the composite scaffold increased. The addition of pearl powder or tricalcium phosphate could elevate compressive mechanical properties of the composite scaffold. With increased content, the mechanical property of the scaffold enhanced and then reduced. The addition of pearl powder or tricalcium phosphate improved the celular affinity of polylactic-co-glycolic acid and the biocompatibility of the scaffold. The biocompatibility of polylactic-co-glycolic acid/pearl powder scaffold at 5:2 was the best.

For effective inhalable dry-powder drug delivery, tetrandrine-PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid) nanocomposite particles have been developed to overcome the disadvantages of nanoparticles and microparticles. The primary nanoparticles were prepared by using premix membrane emulsification method. To prepare second particles, they were spray dried. The final particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dry laser particle size analysis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared analysis (IR) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The average size of the primary particles was (337.5 ± 6.2) nm, while that second particles was (3.675 ± 0.16) μm which can be decomposed into primary nanoparticles in water. And the second particles were solid sphere-like with the drug dispersed as armorphous form in them. It is a reference for components delivery to lung in a new form.

To propose an equipment and technology package for oxygen preparation and supply under hypoxia conditions in order to meet the requirements of populations on the plateau .Different populations were analyzed in terms of their oxygen supply requirements, and the modes, schemes and equipment for oxygen supply were explored accordingly and then applied.Efforts in the past 20 years have resulted in the advances in the equipment for centralized, mobile and portable oxygen preparation and supply, though the equipment for individual use hads to be improved and the diffused oxygen supply scheme also needs to be further evaluated .

AIM:To observe the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on calcium, sodium and potassium ion channel currents of the ischemic atrial myocytes in guinea pig by whole-cell patch clamp technique.METHODS:The guinea pig atrial myocytes were obtained by enzymolysis.Under ischemia and hypoxia condition, whole-cell patch clamp was used to observe the effects of G-CSF at various concentrations on the changes of the I-V curve, activation curve and availability of L-type calcium channel current (ICa,L) and voltage-dependent sodium channel current (INa), as well as I-V curve of delayed rectifier potassium channel current (IK).RESULTS:Under ischemic condition, the I-V curves of ICa,L were changed by acute G-CSF intervention in a dose-dependent fashion.Except for G-CSF at dose of 300 μg/kg, the other concentrations of G-CSF did not change the activation curve and availability of ICa,L, indicating that the effects of G-CSF on ICa,L were in a voltage-independent fashion.The I-V curves of ICa,L under ischemic condition were gradually approaching the normal levels by the higher dose of G-CSF, while the effect of 300 μg/kg G-CSF on ICa,L was similar to 100 μg/kg G-CSF.Acute G-CSF intervention at different doses did not change I-V curve, activation curve, and availability or steady-state availability of INa.As a part of IK, the rapid activating component (IKr) was improved by 100 μg/kg and 300 μg/kg G-CSF intervention with the similar effects, while the slowly activating component (IKs) was not changed by G-CSF.CONCLUSION:G-CSF affects ion channel electrophysiological properties of ischemic atrial myocytes in a voltage-independent but concentration-dependent manner, thus reducing the incidence of atrial arrhythmia.

Objective:To investigate the role of transcription factor SP1 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides(ODN) on expression of ? Gal in SV-40-PED cells.Methods:Immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cells of the PED line were cultured and transfected with ?1,3galactosyltransferase(?1,3GT) specific decoy ODN.Cells transfected with mismatch ODN was used as negative controls.Twenty-six hours later the cells were collected.The expression of ? Gal was determined with fluorescence microscope and Western blot.The expression of ?1,3GT mRNA was examined by RT-PCR.Results:Fluorescence microscopy observed the decreased fluorescence of ? Gal after decoy ODN transfection.Western blot showed that the average absorbance of the PED cells transfected with decoy ODNs was(48.2?0.9).It is 52.6% of the mock group(P0.05).Conclusion:?1,3GT gene reduce actually occurs following transfection of decoy ODN.Porcine endothelial cells can be the targets of decoy ODN.

The binding function of EGF1 domain peptide with tissue factor (TF) and its ability of triggering coagulation were explored. The TF expression model in vitro was established by lipopolysaccharide induction. The affinity of EGFP-EGF1 and TF expressing cells was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry (FCM). The affinity of EGFP-EGF1 and rat soluble TF was quantitated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The ability of EGFP-EGF1 in triggering coagulation was tested by prothrombin time assay. The FCM results showed recombinant factor VII (rFVII) could definitely depress the integration of EGFP-EGF1 with recombinant TF (rTF) (68.65%+/-3.86% vs 57.98%+/-4.71%, P<0.01). The SPR results indicated the association constant ka of EGFP-EGF1 proteins was higher than rFVII (8.29+/-1.39 vs 3.75+/-0.32, P<0.01). However, the EGFP-EGF1 protein lost the activity of triggering coagulation as compared with blood plasma of normal SD rats (56.8+/-3.2 s vs 17.8+/-3.4 s, P<0.01). It was concluded that the rat EGF1 peptide could specifically bind to TF without the ability of triggering coagulation. EGF1 peptide may be a good target head for delivering drugs to TF in anticoagulation therapy.