Objective To evaluate the effects of mechanical stretch on pentraxin-3(PTX-3)mRNA and protein expression in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549 cells).Methods The human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cells A549(A549 cells)were purchased from cell biology laboratory,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology.The cultured A549 cells were inoculated on collagen Ⅰ BioFlex plates and divided into 5 groups(n=3 wells each):group Ⅰ normal control;groupⅡsham mechanical stretch;group Ⅲ mechanical stretch;groupⅣsiRNA and groupⅤ siRNA+mechanical stretch.In group Ⅲ the cells underwent square cyclic mechanical stretch for 4 h using the Flexercell Systcm.In group Ⅳ the cells were transfected with chemosynthetic PTX-3 specific siRNA by RNAi technique.In group Ⅴ at 24 h after being transfected with PTX-3 siRNA the cells underwent mechanical stretch for 4 h.In groupⅡ mechanical stretch of the cells were prevented by Flexstep.The expression of PTX-3 mRNA in the cells was detected by real-time PCR and the expression of PTX-3 protein in the culture media was determined by Western blotting.Apoptosis of the cells was measured bv flow cytometry(Beeten-Dickinson,USA).Results PTX-3 mRNA and protein expression was signlficantly up-regulated by mechanical stretch in groupⅢand decreased by transfection with siRNA in group Ⅳand Ⅴ as compared with group Ⅰ andⅡ(P＜0.05 or 0.01).The apoptosis ratio was significantly higher in group Ⅲ and Ⅴ than in groupⅡ and was significantly lower in group Ⅴ thanin group Ⅲ(P＜0.01).Conclusion Mechanical stretch can up-regulate PTX-3 mRNA expression in A549 cells.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and P wave dispersion (Pd) in patients with lone atrial ifbrillation (AF), and to explore the effect of inlfammation on atrial electrophysiological remodeling.
Methods: Our research included 2 groups. AF group, containing 71 consecutive paroxysmal lone AF patients, and Control group, containing 71 paroxysmal supra ventricular tachycardia patients with the matched age and gender. The clinical characteristics, electrocardiographic Pd assessment and plasma hs-CRP levels were compared between 2 groups. The relationship between hs-CRP and Pd was studied by linear and multi linear regression analysis.
Results: Compared with Control group, AF group showed increased left atrial diameter, Pd and hs-CRP, all P<0.05. multilinear regression analysis indicated that hs-CRP was positively related to Pd in both groups, P<0.01. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that hs-CRP was an independent risk factor for AF occurrence (HR=15.430, 95%CI 6.031-39.476, P<0.001), with adjusted Pd, multiple logistic regression analysis presented that both Pd and hs-CRP were the independent risk factors for AF occurrence, both P<0.001, while the HR for hs-CRP predicting AF occurrence was attenuated from 15.430 to 6.246.
Conclusion: Plasma hs-CRP level and electrocardiographic Pd were the important risk factors for paroxysmal lone AF, the interaction between hs-CRP and AF occurrence could be mediated by Pd, suggesting that inlfammation might be involved in atrial electrophysiological remodeling.

Objective To study the effect of mechanical stretch on the expression of human beta-defensin-3 (HBD-3) in alveolar epithelial cells(A549 cells) elicited by interferon-gamma(IFN-γ) and to investigate the role of HBD-3 in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) . Method A549 cells cultured in vitro were treated with mechanical stretch (group S), 10 ng/ml IFN-γ (group I) ,and 10 ng/ml IFN-γ with mechanical stretch (group IS), respectively. Cells without treatment served as controls (group C). Cells were stretched by 20% amplitude of stretch at 30 cycles/mm by Flexercell-4000[TM]Unit for 2 h, 4 h, and 6 hours. The HBD-3 mRNA expression was determined by real-time RT-PCR after treatment. After 6 hours, treatment, cells were cultured for 24 hours and the expression of HBD-3 was examined by laser scanning confocal microscope. The experimental data were statistically analyzed by using one-way ANOVA analysis and q-test. Results The expression of HBD-3 mRNA in A549 cells could not significantly be changed by mechanical stretch alone. Compared with group C,the HBD-3 mRNA expression after treatment with 10 ng/ml IFN-γ for 2 hours,4 hours and 6 hours increased significantly by (2.63 C,the HBD-3 mRNA expression after treatment with 10 ng/ml IFN-γ and mechanical stretch for 2 hours,4 hours and 6 hours increased by (1.54 were significantly lower than those in group I (P < 0.01). The HBD-3 expression in group IS after mechanical stretch for 6 significantly different from than in group C. Conclusions Mechanical stretch can significantly suppress the up-regulation of HBD-3 in alveolar epithelial cells elicited by IFN-γ, and this may be one of the explaina-tions that patients under mechanical ventilatiori(MV) have a higher risk of VAP.

Objective: To study the safety and efifcacy of hematoma aspiration with manual compression for treating the patients of femoral pseudoaneurysm after cardiac catheterization under ultrasound guidance. Methods: A total of 27 patients suffering from post-catheterization iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysm were analyzed including 14 male and 13 female at the mean age of (53.5±11.4) years. The body, neck and blood supply area of pseudoaneurysm were located by ultrasonography; 18 gauge needle was punctured into the center of pseudoaneurysm to aspirate blood, meanwhile the neck and body of pseudoaneurysm were manually compressed to block blood supply for relevant artery under ultrasound guidance. Manual compression was conducted for 15 min followed by bandage compression; the patients were lie on the back and kept lower extremity straight for 12 hours. Ultrasonography was performed at 24 hours and 1 month after the operation in all patients respectively. Results: There were 24/27 (88.9%) patients having successful aspiration with manual compression at ifrst time; 2 (7.4%) having incomplete occlusion at ifrst time and the success was obtained by second time; 1 having incomplete occlusion due to coexisted femoral arteriovenous ifstula, while the body of pseudoaneurysm was obviously decreased. The overall success rate was 96.3% (26/27), no procedural complication occurred. Conclusion Ultrasonography guided hematoma aspiration with manual compression has been safe and effective for treating the patients of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysm.

In this study, the rapid resolution liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-QTOF/MS) was used to profile the metabolites of urine samples from chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and healthy controls to find the differential metabolites which could provide the scientific evidence to explain the pathogenesis of the disease and supply a better therapy plan.Urine samples from 15 CHF patients (age (62.27±3.14) years) and 15 healthy controls (age (65.41±4.63) years) were analyzed by RRLC-QTOF/MS.After processing the data, the multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis, PCA) was performed to find the potential biomarkers.Result showed that urine samples of CHF patients were successfully distinguished from those of healthy controls.Two significantly differentially expressed metabolites, uridine and alanyltryptophan, were found and identified as potential biomarkers.The result showed that the LC-MS based metabolomics approach had good performance to identify potential biomarkers, and the disorder of uracil metabolism and Tryptophan metabolism may play an important role in the mechanism of CHF.

Background One of the major challenges in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) ablation is ventricular tachy-cardia (VT) non-inducibility. The study aimed to assess whether fast rate (≥ 250 beats/min) right ventricular burst stimulation was useful for VT induction in patients with ARVC.Methods Ninety-one consecutive ARVC patients with clinical sustained VT that underwent electro-physiological study were enrolled. The stimulation protocol was implemented at both right ventricular apex and outflow tract as follows: Step A, up to double extra-stimuli; Step B, incremental stimulation with low rate (< 250 beats/min); Step C, burst stimulation with fast rate (≥ 250 beats/min); Step D, repeated all steps above with intravenous infusion of isoproterenol.Results A total of 76 patients had inducible VT (83.5%), among which 49 were induced by Step C, 15 were induced by Step B, 8 and 4 by Step A and D, respectively. Clinical VTs were induced in 60 patients (65.9%). Only two spontaneously ceased ventricular fibrillations were induced by Step C. Multivariate analysis showed that a narrower baseline QRS duration under sinus rhythm was independently associated with VT non-inducibility (OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0–1.1;P = 0.019).ConclusionFast rate (≥ 250 beats/min) right ventricular burst stimulation provides a useful supplemental method for VT induction in ARVC patients.

Objective: To explore the safety and efficacy of left atrial (LA) endocardial vagal denervation catheter ablation for treating the patients with refractory vasovagal syncope (VVS).
Methods: A total of 57 consecutive refractory VVS patients with severe symptom and positive response to head-up tilt test (HUT) were enrolled. There were 22 male at the mean age of (43 ± 13) years. The patients had no response or couldn’t tolerate routine treatment. LA model was re-established by three-dimensional mapping system, 10 patients received high-frequency stimulation technique for ganglionated plexi (GP) ablation and 47 received regional catheter ablation at 5 anatomic sites of GP for LA endocardial vagal denervation treatment. In-operative vagal response including hypotension, sinus bradycardia or asystole were observed, the endpoint of ablation was abolition of evoked vagal relfexes. Periodical follow-up was conducted to record the syncope recurrence and to re-examine ECG and HUT in all patients.
Results: There were 52/57(91.2%) patients had positive vagal response by radiofrequency application and reached the endpoint of ablation; 4 patients couldn’t receive obvious evoked vagal relfexes. During (36 ± 22) months follow-up period, there were 52 (91.2%) cases without syncope recurrence, 11 cases still having palpitation, amaurosis and dizziness as the precursors of syncope while the symptoms were much better then they were before. No complication occurred.
Conclusion: LA endocardial vagal denervation catheter ablation is a safe and effective method for treating the patients with refractory VVS, it may also effectively prevent VVS recurrence.

Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) experience a significant decrease in their living quality, due to the limitations imposed by the disease as well as the demands of the treatment that they receive. Some side effects contribute to the morbidity of these patients. Among them, erectile dysfunction (ED) is notable. This article reviews recent advances in etiological factor study and treatment of ED in CRF patients, which may guide the clinic practices in a considerable scale.
Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; Male

Background The diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is mainly dependent onfluorescine fundus angiography (FFA). However, the combination of optical coherence topography (OCT) with FFA offers a new approach to the research of the pathogenesis of CSC. Objective This clinical study was designed to study the combined application of the FFA and OCT for the research of the pathogenesis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods Forty-four eyes of 44 patients with CSC were included in this study with 36 cases of males and 8 cases of female. The patients were aged 39.3 ± 5.3 years and the visual acuity was 0. 64 ±0. 27. FFA and OCT examinations were performed in all patients and the FFA images were imported into the Topcon 3D OCT 1000 device to locate the conformity of OCT lesions with the leakages of FFA. The neuroepithelial layer thickness at the fovea and the height of the neuroepithelial layer detachment were measured using 3-D OCT. Results OCT showed serous REP detachment in 34 eyes (77.3%) and rough surfaces of RPE in 10 eyes (22. 7% ). In thirtyfour eyes with RPE detachment, the OCT lesions and FFA leakage spots conformed to the same locations in 31 eyes, but the other three eyes did not. The mean foveal neuroepithelial thickness was (138.5±19.4) μm in CSC eyes and that of normal eyes was ( 131.35±5. 01 ) μm ,showing a significant difference between them( t=0. 39 ,P＞0. 05 ). The mean height of neuroepithelial detachment was (263.3 ± 126.7 ) μm in CSC eyes. Conclusion RPE detachment occurs in CSC eyes and further induces macular neuroepithelial detachment. Leakage lesion of fluorescine corresponds to RPE detachment. CSC without RPE detachment may be related to the increase in RPE permeability. OCT can accurately measure the thickness of the macular neuroepithelial layer and the height of the neuroepithelial detachment.

Purpose To investigate the difference of expression of autophagy-related gene (Beclin1,LC3,mTOR) in the development of esophageal squamous cell cancer.Methods Immunohistochemical EnVision method was adopted to detect the expression of autophagy-related gene Beclinl,LC3 and mTOR in 30 cases of normal esophageal mucosa,32 cases of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN),34 cases of highgrade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN),35 cases of early carcinoma and 126 cases of advanced esophageal carcinoma,respectively.The correlation between their expression with clinicopathologic factors was also analysed.Results The expression of Beclin1 in advanced esophageal carcinoma was obviously higher than that in another four groups (P ＜ 0.005).LC3 expression in advanced esophageal carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal mucosa,LGIN and early carcinoma (P ＜ 0.005).The expression of mTOR in advanced esophageal carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal mucosa,LGIN and HGIN (P ＜ 0.005).In advanced esophageal carcinoma group,the expression of Beclin1,LC3 and mTOR was related to tumor TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P ＜ 0.05).Beclin1 expression was positively associated with LC3 and mTOR expression in advanced squamous cell carcinoma (P ＜ 0.05).Positive correlation was also observed between the expression of mTOR and LC3 in advanced esophageal carcinoma and HGIN (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion In the carcinogenesis and development of esophageal cancer,Beclin1,as a tumor suppressor gene,activates autophagy and leads to excessive self consumption and death of tumor cells.mTOR promotes tumor growth by inhibiting autophagy and promoting angiogenesis.The combined detection of Beclinl,LC3 and mTOR may be beneficial to evaluate the progression and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell cancer.