[ABSTRACT]AIM:TodeterminetheeffectsofShensongyangxincapsule(SSYX)ontheventricularelectrical properties, structural remodeling and cardiac function in the rats with diabetes mellitus (DM).METHODS:Male SD rats (n=45) were randomly divided into control group (n=15), DM group (n=15) and SSYX group (n=15).The rats in DM group and SSYX group were injected with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, ip), while the rats in control group were given normal saline (1 mL/kg, ip).The blood samples were collected 72 h after treatment for determining the blood glucose lev-els in DM group and SSYX group .The model rats in SSYX group were administered with SSYX (1 g· kg-1 · d-1 , ig) for 6 weeks, while the other rats received normal saline (2 mL· kg-1· d-1, ig).The echocardiography was used to assess the cardiac function , and the lead II electrocardiogram was also recorded in all the animals .The radioimmunoassay and Masson trichrome staining were used to measure the plasma levels of endothelin -1 (ET-1) and the collagen deposition in the ventricles, respectively.A whole Langendorff-perfused heart model was used to conduct the electrophysiologic study .The monophasic action potential ( MAP) and the ventricular effective refractory period ( VERP) were recorded in the left anteri-or free wall ( LAF) , and the burst pacing was used to induce ventricular arrhythmia ( VA) .RESULTS: Compared with control group, the VERP, action potential duration (APD), QT interval, incidence of VA, degree of myocardial fibrosis and plasma level of ET-1 were increased , while the cardiac function was declined in DM group .Compared with DM group , the VERP, APD, QT interval, incidence of VA, degree of myocardial fibrosis and plasma level of ET-1 were all de-creased, while the cardiac function was improved in SSYX group .CONCLUSION: SSYX attenuates the electrical and structural remodeling and improves the cardiac function in DM rats .

AIM:To determine the effects of Tongxinluo (TXL) on connexin 43 (Cx43) remodeling and ven-tricular arrhythmia ( VA) after myocardial infarction ( MI) in rats .METHODS:Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated (sham) group (n=25) and operation group (n=75).The left anterior descending (LAD) was ligated in operated group , while the rats in sham group only underwent pericardiotomy .The rats in operation group which survived for 3 d after operation were randomly assigned to TXL group and MI group .The rats in TXL group was administrated with TXL (2 g? kg-1? d-1, intragastric administration) for 4 weeks, while normal saline was applied to the rats in sham group and MI group.The levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the tissue from the border zone were measured by ELISA after treatment .The distribution and the mRNA and protein expression of Cx 43 were detected by immunohisto-chemical staining , RT-PCR and Western blotting , respectively .The burst pacing was used to induce ventricular arrhythmia ( VA) .RESULTS:Compared with sham group , the levels of IL-1βand ET-1 and the incidence of VA were significantly increased , while the mRNA and protein expression of Cx 43 was markedly reduced with irregular distribution in MI group (P<0.05).Compared with MI group, the levels of IL-1βand ET-1 and the incidence of VA were significantly reduced , while the expression of Cx 43 at mRNA and protein levels was markedly increased with augmented linear distribution in the myocardial cell intercalated disc in TXL group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:TXL reduces the incidence of VA after MI via inhibiting the Cx43 remodeling .

Objective To analyze the effect of antibiotic treatment on prostate specific antigen (PSA) derivations in patients with and without prostate cancer and to further determine if the changes of PSA values after antibiotic treatment could help to exclude inflammation in the differential diagnosis of an abnormal PSA.MethodsA total of 100 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms,a PSA level of 4 to 10 μg/L,free PSA/total PSA (fPSA/tPSA) ratio ＜ 0.25,and a negative digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography were enrolled in this study.All patients received 500 mg of ciprofloxacin twice a day for 3 weeks.Free and total PSA values were measured before and after antibiotic treatment.All the patients were then scheduled for 12-core prostate biopsy.Results The mean tPSA value was (6.5 ± 1.2) and (5.1 ± 1.2) μg/L respectively before and after antibiotic treatment ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Ninety-one patients (91.0％) showed tPSA reduction after antibiotic therapy,of which 13 ( 14.3％ ) had prostate cancer on biopsy.In 17 cases (18.7％) post-treatment tPSA was less than 4 μg/L.Three of the 17 cases (17.6％)had prostate cancer on biopsy.In 6 of the 100 men post-treatment tPSA was between 4 and 10 μg/L and the fPSA/tPSA ratio was above 0.25.One of these cases had prostate cancer on biopsy.Seven cases had a ＞50％ reduction in PSA levels with no positive biopsy results.Although mean total PSA and PSAD decreased after treatment in both groups,the reductions within these parameters were not significantly different between patients with and without prostate cancer (P ＞ 0.05).Furthermore,no differences emerged in terms of the changes of other PSA derivations including fPSA and fPSA/tPSA ( P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionsThe PSA levels may change with long-term antibiotic treatment in patients with elevated PSA values.A decrease in PSA after antibiotic treatment does not rule out the presence of prostate cancer even if PSA decreases to a normal level.But a ＞ 50％ reduction in PSA levels may be associated with a decreasing risk of prostate cancer,which may allow a postponement of prostate biopsy in selected patients.

Sepsis is a critical illness with high morbidity and mortality. Anaerobic glycolysis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) serves as a key regulator during sepsis. With PDHC dephosphorylation and deacetylation, PDHC activity is upregulated, allowing pyruvate translocate to mitochondria in aerobic condition, preceding the production of acetyl-CoA to accelerate aerobic oxidation. Activation of PDHC improves the prognosis of sepsis through regulating the balance of lactate, release of inflammatory factors and energy metabolism. A variety of remedies can improve the prognosis of patients with sepsis by up-regulating the activity of PDHC, including dichloroacetate (DCA), vitamin B1, milrinone, tumor necrosis factor binding protein, and ciprofloxacin.This article reviews the role and the regulatory mechanism of PDHC and signal pathway in the sepsis metabolism, in order to innovate treatment for sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction.