OBJECTIVEFor heart functional parameters, we commonly used normal range. The reference values and predict formulas of heart functional parameters and their relationships with individual characteristics are still lack.

METHODSLeft ventricular (LV) volumes (end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured by cardiac CT angiography (CAT) in 1 200 healthy Caucasian volunteers, men 807 and women 393, and age 20-90yr. The results are analyzed by high-accuracy three-dimensional imaging technology, and then measured the dynamic changes of the volumes of each atriam and ventricule during their contractions and relaxations. The gender, age, height and weight were analyzed by multiple linear regression to predict LV functional parameters.

RESULTSExcept the LVEF was lower in man than in women (P < 0.001), all other LV functional parameters of EDV, ESV, SV, FE and CO were higher in man (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression indicated that age, gender, height and weight are all independent factors of EDV, ESV and SV (P < 0.001). CO could be significantly predicted by age, gender and weight (P < 0.001), but not height (P > 0.05). The predict equation for CO (L x min(-1)) = 6.963+0.446 (Male) -0.037 x age (yr) +0.013 x weight (kg).

CONCLUSIONAge, gender, height and weight are predictors of heart functions. The reference values and predict equations are important for noninvasive and accurate evaluation of cardiovascular disease and individualized treatment.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Output ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the effects of TENS on metatarsus plantar flexion and inversion in stroke patients,and to explore its mechanism.Methods Thirty-two stroke patients with gastrocnemius spasticity were randomly divided into a control group (n=16) and a TENS group (n=16).All patients were treated with foot sup- ports,neurodevelopmental and manipulation therapies.In addition,the TENS group received TENS on the anterior tibialis,peroneus longus and brevis muscles.All patients were assessed in terms of their Chinese stroke scale(CSS) and H reflex scores before and after therapy.Results Compared with those in the control group,the H reflex scores in the TENS group were obviously decreased,while H reflex latency was prolonged and H/M was reduced. Gait in the TENS group was evidently improved.Conclusion TENS is an effective therapy to decrease gastrocnemi- us spasticity and to improve the gait of stroke patients.

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) that resemble to clinical state and study the mechanical principle and change of pathophysiology of its nerve injury for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSNew Zealand white rabbits were used as the research objects. The method introduced by Wang Yi was repeated and improved. Mild and severe animal models of TON were established by reformed Wang Yi operation separately. After the spring gun struck, all animals were observed on pupils and direct light reflex and received the examinations of pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (PR-VEP). The pathophysiology of normal and injury optic nerve was observed.

RESULTSAfter recovery from anesthesia, the mydriasis and disappearance or dullness of direct light reflex happened in all injured eyes. No brain contusion, infection, orbital fracture and death were found. One optic nerve was broken with complete tunica vaginalis. The latency and amplitude of injured eyes deteriorated gradually. In group B, the waves became flat rapidly. After injury, the optic nerve underwent 3 stages: edema, hyperplasia and atrophy. The pathomorphological changes of injured eyes in group B were more serious than that in group A in any time.

CONCLUSIONSThe reformed operation can establish constant nerve injury with high success rate. In mildly injured eyes, the injury deteriorated gradually. However, part visual function remained. In severely injured eyes, the pathomorphological changes were irreversible sooner after struck, and the visual function lost completely. There is a good correlation between PR-VEP and pathomorphology. PR-VEP can guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Animals ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Optic Nerve ; physiopathology ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; physiopathology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo summarize the resectable rate of advanced gastric cancer characterized by abdominal lymph node metastases with the arteriovenous neoadjuvant FLEOX chemotherapy plus appropriate nutritional support.

METHODSArteriovenous neoadjuvant FLEOX chemotherapy was administered to 50 patients of gastric cancer with advanced abdominal lymph node metastases. Of the 50 patients, 42 had never received any previous therapy and preoperative CT scanning revealed unresectable tumors because of advanced lymph node (station No.3, 7, 9, 12) or distant lymph node (No.14,16) metastases. The other 8 were characterized with relapse of severe lymph node metastases or with unresectable lymph node metastases demonstrated by exploratory laparotomy. Arteriovenous neoadjuvant FLEOX chemotherapy was conducted as follows: from day 1 to day 5, 5-FU 370 mg/m(2) and leukovorin 30 mg/kg intravenously, at day 6 and day 20, CDDP 70 mg/m(2) and epotoside 70 mg/m(2) intraarterially. This FLEOX regimen was repeated every five weeks for two or three courses. Out of the 50 patients,12 malnutritional cases received parenteral and/or enteral nutritional support according to the nutritional condition. Arteriovenous neoadjuvant FLEOX chemotherapy was then administered after the improvement of nutritional state. Their nutritional support methods were adapted to their chemotherapy as well.

RESULTSAll the patients' general conditions and symptoms were improved significantly. For the 50 cases, the imageological and histological response rate (CR+PR) was 84.0%, and curative resection rate was 78.0%. Thus, 39 patients underwent subtotal or total gastrectomy, even combined organ resection, with D(2)+alpha or D(3) lymphadenectomy. Despite neoadjuvant chemotherapy, all malnutritional cases had significant weight gain after nutritional support, and other nutritional indexes,such as serum albumin, also resumed to normal.

CONCLUSIONArteriovenous neoadjuvant FLEOX chemotherapy proves favorable therapeutic effect for gastric cancer with advanced abdominal lymph node metastases, and downstages inoperable metastatic lymph nodes for radical operation. This combined modality regimen and nutritional support may play an important role in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; methods ; Nutritional Support ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnosis and treatment of delayed traumatic epistaxis and put forward a concept of arteriola pseudoaneurysmal epistaxis originated from maxillofacial medium-sized artery.

METHODSThe clinical data of 53 patients who had the typical symptoms of delayed traumatic epistaxis and received digital subtraction angiography examination and treated in recent 10 years were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 53 patients, 8 patients suffered from interval carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. For these 8 patients, 1 died of massive epistaxis before embolization, 7 received transcatheter arterial embolization( 6 cured and 1 died). Twenty patients suffered from traumatic carotid cavernous fistula, all were cured with endovascular occlusion by detachable balloon. Twenty-five patients suffered from maxillofacial artery hemorrhage. For these 25 patients, 21 were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization with gelatin sponge and coils, 4 by anterior ethmoidal artery ligation. The followed-up ranged from 6-72 months (median 5 years). All patients were successfully treated without serious complications and recurrent hemorrhage, except one patient who had recurred hemorrhage three weeks after transcatheter arterial embolization. This patient was again successfully treated by artery ligation.

CONCLUSIONSInterval carotid artery pseudoaneurysm, carotid cavernous fistula and maxillofacial medium-sized artery and arteriola pseudoaneurysm are the main causes of delayed traumatogenic epistaxis. Early diagnosis by digital subtraction angiography examination and transcatheter arterial embolization or artery ligation are the useful methods to treat delayed traumatic epistaxis and pseudoaneurysm.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aneurysm, False ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Epistaxis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the association of positive expression of nucleotide excision repair cross complementary group 1 (ERCC1) in the tumor tissues with platinum resistance of the tumor cells and the clinical outcomes of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSERCC1 expression was detected immunohistochemically in the tumor tissues from 113 elderly patients with NSCLC, of which 58 patients received platinum-containing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and the impact of ERCC1 expression on the outcomes of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was analyzed.

RESULTSThe total positivity rate of ERCC1 expression was 35% in these patients. The positivity rates was significantly higher in the patients receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy than in the control group (46.7% vs 21.05%, χ² = 3.770, P = 0.048). In the 39 patients positive for ERCC1, the response rate to treatment was 53.85%, as compared to the rate of 51.35% in the 74 ERCC1-negative patients. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the median survival time (MST) was 53 months in ERCC1-negative patients, as compared to 37 months in the positive patients. The ERCC1-negative and ERCC1-postivie patients showed similar 3- and 5-year survival rates (48.3% vs 44.4%, χ² = 0.033, P = 0.856; 22.5% vs 18.5%, χ² = 0.096, P = 0.757). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that ERCC1 expression level in the tumor tissue and TNM stages were independent factors that affected the prognosis of the patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeoadjuvant chemotherapy can induce ERCC1 expression in the tumor, and the objective response rate of neoadjuant chemotherapy can be low in NSCLC patients with high ERCC1 expression. ERCC1 expression is an independent factor affecting the prognosis of elderly patients with NSCLC receiving neoadjuant chemotherapy.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; methods ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Lipoplus on postoperative nutritional status and inflammatory response in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.

METHODSSixty-four patients with gastrointestinal malignancies were randomized using random digit table to receive isonitrogenous, isocaloric total parenteral nutrition for 5 days including either Lipoplus or Lipofundin with 32 patients in each group. Blood samples were obtained before the surgery, postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 6 to evaluate the nutritional status(prealbumin, retinol binding protein, and nitrogen balance) and inflammatory response [C-reaction protein(CRP), and leukotriene(LTB) 5, LTB4]. The incidence of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS), infection, postoperative complications, mortality, APACHEII score, length of hospital stay and other clinical indicators were recorded.

RESULTSOn postoperative day 1, prealbumin and retinol binding protein were significantly lower as compared to preoperative levels. These parameters increased significantly(P<0.05) on postoperative day 6 and the nitrogen balance was positive. On postoperative day 6, CRP was significantly lower in both groups as compared to postoperative day 3 (P<0.05), and the decrease was more prominent in Lipoplus than Lipofundin(P<0.05). There was a significant increase in LTB5/LTB4 as compared to postoperative day 1(P<0.05) in the Lipoplus group, however the increase was not statistically significant in the Lipofundin group(P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative infection was significantly lower in the Lipoplus group(3.1% vs. 6.3%, P<0.05), as was that of SIRS(9.4% vs. 15.6%, P<0.05). The APACHEII score was higher in the Lipoplus group but the difference was not statistically significant(3.6±2.0 vs. 3.3±2.1, P>0.05). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in Lipoplus group[(6.4±1.1) d vs. (8.2±1.3) d, P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONLipoplus can improve the postoperative nutritional status and minimize the inflammatory response in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.

Adult ; Aged ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Fat Emulsions, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fish Oils ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Inflammation ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; methods ; Postoperative Care

Objective To explore a kind of simple and high efficient approach to differentiate human embryonic stem cells(hESCs)into neural stem cells(NSCs).Methods hESCs were cultured in bacterial culture dish filled with serum free medium to gain embryoid bodies.Then the mature embryoid bodies grew in the special medium including B27 and noggin by adherent culture to differentiate into NSCs. Results The hESCs kept floating in the bacterial culture dish and growing all the time and then formed mature embryoid bodies 7 to 10 days later.The embryoid bodies could be differentiated into highly pure (96.4%)nestin positive cells.And these cells were differentiated into all kinds of neural cells if cultured further.Conclusions This kind of method is less time-consuming,cheaper,and more efficient than those of the results in literatures reported.It affords very good source of seed cells for cell transplantation therapy in the future.

Echinococcus granulosus is an important zoonotic parasite globally causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) in humans and animals. In this study, prevalence of CE and variation of cox1 gene sequence were analyzed with isolates E. granulosus collected from different areas in northern Xinjiang, China. The survey showed that 3.5% of sheep and 4.1% of cattle were infected with CE. Fragment of cox1 was amplified from all the positive sheep and cattle samples by PCR. In addition, 26 positive samples across the 4 areas were included. The isolates were all E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) containing 15 haplotypes (Hap1-15), and clustered into 2 genotypes, G1 (90.1%, 91/101) and G3 (9.9%, 10/101). Hap1 was the most common haplotype (48.5%, 49/101). Hap9 were found in humans samples, indicating that sheep and cattle reservoir human CE. It is indicate that E. granulosus may impact on control of CE in livestock and humans in the region.
Animals ; Cattle ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus granulosus ; Echinococcus ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Livestock ; Parasites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sheep

OBJECTIVETo construct an adenovirus vector containing the double-mutant hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) gene for exploring the therapeutic angiogenesis for coronary heart disease.

METHODSHuman double-mutant HIF-1alpha cDNA was obtained from PCR of pShuttle-2-HIF-1alpha containing the mutant HIF-1alpha gene (564). The recombinant adenoviral plasmid containing mutant HIF-1alpha cDNA was constructed by ligation of recombinant pShuttle2 containing double-mutant HIF-1alpha cDNA and Adeno-X viral DNA, followed by its identification and transfection into adenoviral packaging cells HEK293 via lipofectamine 2000.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe recombinant pAdeno-HIF-1alpha was correctly constructed and verified by restriction endonuclease and DNA sequencing analyseis. This recombinant adenovirus containing the double-mutant HIF-1alpha gene may facilitate further investigation of mutant HIF-1alphagene therapy for coronary heart disease.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; Plasmids