OBJECTIVE: To investigate the function of activator protein-1 (AP-1) in proliferation and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in neonatal rats induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and to explore the mechanism of Qiangxin Decoction (QXD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in reversing cardiac fibrosis. METHODS: CFs derived from neonatal rats were cultured with enzymatic dissociation, and fibrosis of the CFs was induced by TNF-alpha. The CFs were divided into normal control group, untreated group, 5% QXD-containing serum group, 10% QXD-containing serum group and 20% QXD-containing serum group. After 24-hour culture of QXD-containing serum, AP-1 mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction; proliferation and collagen synthesis of CFs were assayed by thiazolyl blue assay (MTT) and measured by hydroxyproline respectively, in order to determine the effect of different dosage decoction on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of CFs. RESULTS: After 24-hour stimulation of TNF-alpha in CFs, compared with those in normal control group, the expression of AP-1 mRNA and cardiac fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis increased significantly (P<0.05). However, Qiangxin Decoction could reduce the expression of AP-1 mRNA and decreased the proliferation and collagen synthesis of CFs significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Qiangxin Decoction can inhibit proliferation and collagen synthesis of CFs induced by TNF-alpha, and reverse cardiac fibrosis, which may be related to its down-regulation of the expression of AP-1.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the staging of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) and the expression of carcinoma metastasis associated genic in the patients with gastric carcinoma.Methods Sixty-three patients with gastric cancer were diagnosed by electric gastroscopy and EUS.The preoperative staging of gastric cancer was measured by EUS and compared by pathologic staging and MMP-9 expression.MMP9 level of peripheral serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,while the expression of MMP-9 protein was tested by immunohistochemistry and hybridization in situ in the gastric carcinoma tissue.Results The total accuracy rate of EUS in estimating invasive depth of gastric cancer was(80.95)%,while that of lymphatic metastasis was(73.02)%.The expression level of MMP-9 in serum was consistent with the expression of MMP-9 protein and MMP-9 mRNA in tissue,which was closely correlative with invasive degree,staging with EUS,lymphatic metastasis in gastric cancer(P

Objective To evaluate endoscopic ultrasonography in preoperative diagnosis and staging of gastric cancer, and to study the molecular biologic basis of its ultrasonic manifestation. Methods Gastric cancer patients were diagnosed by electric gastroscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography. Gastric cancer was preoperatively staged by EUS and results were compared with pathologic staging and VEGF expression. Results The diagnostic accuracy of gastric cancer by gastroendoscopy combined with biopsy in 63 patients was 94%,the accuracy of EUS was 92%,while that of gastroendoscopy combined with EUS was 100%.The total diagnostic accuracy of EUS in estimatating invasive deepth of gastric cancer was 81%,that for stage T_1,T_2,T_3,T_4 was 78%,79%,82%,83%,respectively.The total diagnostic accuracy of lymphaden metastasis was 73%.The positive expression rate of VEGF protein in cancer tissue was 56%,which was closely associated with EUS staging and lymphatic metastasis. Conclusions The accuracy of gastroendoscopy combined with EUS in the diagnosis of gastric cancer was high. The preoperative staging with EUS has a high correspondence with postoperative pathological staging. The VEGF protein expression is positively correlated with preoperative EUS staging.

Aim To explore the effect of naloxone on th e plasma level of ?-endorphin (?-EP) in rats with alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) and its possible mechanism. Meth ods Forty-eight Wistar male rats were divided randomly into four grou ps: Model group (n 12), low doses treatment group (n12), high doses tre atment group (n12) and normal control group (n12). By the end of the f ourth week, all the rats were weighted, narcosised, sacrificed, and got the whol e liver. The level of ?-EP in plasma and the level of superoxidized dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma and liver tissue were measured.The liv er samples were analyzed for histopathology with microscope. Results Rat models of AFL were established successfully. The level of plasma SOD i ncreased while MDA and ?-EP decreased in low doses treatment group and high do ses treatment group markedly contrast with model group (P

Objective To observed the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the early onset of severe acute pancreatitis associated with acute lung injury in rats and investigate its effection in lung injury.Methods Thirty-two healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups:Control group (n =8),Severe acute pancreatitis group(n =24).Severe acute pancreatitis model was induced by retrograde inject the 4％ sodium taurocholate sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct of rats.The severe acute pancreatitis group was detected the rate of lung water content、arterial blood gas.myeloperoxidase,matrix metalloproteinase-9,histopathology of the pancreas and lung injury score under the light microscope at 3 hours,6 hours and 12 hours.The matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression was detected by immunohistochemical and the results of immunohistochemical were analysed by the Image-Pro Plus image analysis system.Control group was detected the relevant indicators at 12 hours.Results Successfully modeling,the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 gradually increased beginning at 3 hours,at twelve hours up to the highest value(P ＜ 0.05).The degree of lung injury,lung water content,myeloperoxidase activity,PaCO2 gradually increased(P ＜ 0.05),PaO2 decreased significantly P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The high expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is important to the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis associated with acute lung injury.

The clinical manifestation,endoscopic findings and histopathological characteristics of 162 patients with gastrointestinal schistosomiasis were retrospectively analyzed.Among 162 patients,there were 29 cases of gastric schistosomiasis and 133 cases of intestinal schistosomiasis.The main clinical manifestations included stomachache,diarrhea and mucous bloody stool.Endoscopic findings:in 29 cases of gastric schistosoniasis,18 were ulcerative type,5 inflammatory type,6 proliferative type and 7 cases combined with gastric cancer.In 133 cases of intestinal schistosomiasis,17 were acute inflammatory type,81 chronic inflammatory type,33 mixture inflammatory type and 32 combined with colorectal cancer.Forty nine cases (30.25％) were misdiagnosed for various reasons; commonly misdiagnosed as ulcerative colitis,intestinal tuberculosis,chronic gastritis,and gastrointestinal tumors.There are no specific clinical manifestations or endoscopic findings of gastrointestinal schistosomiasis; epidemiological data,endoscopy combined with multi-site multi-block biopsy may improve the diagnosis.

The effect of loss-of-function of Attractin (Atrn) on the male mouse reproduction system was examined in the study. The weights and pathological changes of testes and epididymes were compared between Atrn mutant (Atrn ( mg-3J )) mice and wild-type mice (C3HeB/FeJ) at different months of age. The number and motility of sperms were measured in the mutant and control mice. Furthermore, the testicular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in these animals were detected. The fertility potential of the sperms was observed in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that the testes of 3-month-old Atrn ( mg-3J ) mice experienced no significantly different pathological changes from the control mice at the same month of age but the SDH activity was substantially reduced. In the 5-month-old mutant mice, as compared with the control mice, mild vacuolation was found in the testes, the density and motility of sperms were decreased in the epididymes, the sperm fertility was impaired and the testicular enzyme activity was reduced. It is concluded that the age-related Atrn gene progressively loses its function and can cause testis vacuolation and impaired sperm function, which may be responsible for the impairment of male reproductive ability.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)is routinely performed before endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)for treatment of upper gastrointestinal stromal tumors.However,when a miniprobe sonography (12,15 and 20 MHz)was used,the size of tumor revealed by EUS was often inconsistent with what it actually was,which might increase the difficulty of ESD and the risk of perforation and massive bleeding.Aims:To investigate the value of standard probe (5 and 7.5 MHz)EUS in detecting the size of upper gastrointestinal stromal tumors before ESD.Methods:Clinical data of patients who were suspicious of esophageal and gastric stromal tumors by gastroscopy and EUS from Jan.2012 to Oct.2014 at the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University were collected.Of them,195 cases treated by ESD were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Of 195 cases treated by ESD,37 cases diagnosed by standard probe EUS and 108 cases diagnosed by miniprobe EUS were confirmed as stromal tumors by pathology.Fourteen cases were failure for ESD and then transferred to surgical treatment,one was due to misjudgement of the origin of tumor by standard probe EUS and 9 were due to misjudgement of the size of tumor by miniprobe EUS.The misjudgement rate of standard probe EUS was lower than that of miniprobe EUS with an insignificant difference (2.7%vs.8.3%,P>0.05).In 9 cases misjudged by miniprobe EUS, the size of tumor presented by miniprobe EUS was significantly smaller than its real size [(1.22 ±0.51)cm vs.(3.97 ±1.06)cm,P<0.01].ESD was avoided or terminated in 3 cases because of the accurate estimation of tumor origin, structure and blood flow by standard probe EUS.Conclusions:For patients who are going to receive ESD for suspected upper gastrointestinal stromal tumors,it would be best to select standard probe EUS to detect the size,origin and blood flow of the tumor before ESD.It will decrease the risk and improve the success rate of ESD.

Objective To investigate the ability of locking plate construct plus fibular autograft that varies in way of augmentation to withstand varus stresses in a model of proximal humeral fracture.Methods Wedge osteotomy was conducted in the humeral surgical necks of 12 shoulders from 6 cadaveric specimens to create models of proximal humeral fracture.There were 3 males and 3 females;their average age at death was 83 years (from 75 to 87 years).The 12 left and right cadaveric humeri were randomly divided into equal groups A and B (n =6) for autogenous iliac bone graft.All the fibular autografts were harvested without distinction from the thinnest and even part of the fibular shaft.A fibular autograft of 8 cm was placed vertically in group A while a fibular autograft of 6 cm was placed slantly in group B.After the fractures were fixated with the proximal humerus internal fixation locking system (PHILOS),varus stress was repeatedly applied to the proximal humerus until the internal fixation failed in the fracture model.The 2 groups were compared in terms of number of compression,number of compression leading to 1 mm deformation,and average shape variable after each press.Results Cut-out of the lateral cortex of the humeral head by the humeral screw and plate loosening to different extents were observed in both groups.The number of compression leading to internal fixation failure was 31,338 ± 5,994 for group A and 30,608 ± 8,015 for group B;the number of compression leading to 1 mm deformation was 2,808 ± 1,501 for group A and 3,153 ±2,024 for group B;the average shape variable after each press was 0.52 ±0.39 μm/time for group A and 0.53 ±0.47 μm/time for group B.All the above comparisons between the 2 groups showed no significant differences (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion As locking plate construct plus slant fibular autograft augmentation provides no more strength to withstand repetitive varus stresses than locking plate construct plus vertical fibular autograft augmentation,it is not necessary to adopt the former way of augmentation in clinic practice for proximal humeral fracture.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of liraglutide in the treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease(NAFLD).Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that evaluated the efficacy of liraglutide for NAFLD treatment were searched in multiple databases,including Pubmed,EMBASE,the Cochrane library,CNKI,Wanfang database and VIP.Literature identification and data extraction were based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis.Results A total of 7 RCTs with 500 patients of NAFLD were included.Improved liver histology,or improved the level of alanine aminotransferase[WMD=-25.32,95％CI(-37.22,-13.41),P<0.01] and aspartate aminotransferase[WMD=-24.56,95％CI(-35.10,-14.03),P<0.01] were seen in 12-48 weeks liraglutide treatment.However,liraglutide could not decreased the level of serum cholesterol[WMD=-14.38,95％CI(-48.95,-20.20),P=0.42] and triglyceride[WMD=-15.55,95％CI(-36.20,-5.10),P=0.14].Conclusion liraglutide has the therapeutic effect of NAFLD.