ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and the characteristics of heart failure (HF) in medical intensive care unit (ICU) so as to explore the factors contributing to HF.Methods A retrospective analysis of the data of HF was carried out in 887 HF patients (54. 2％ ) males; age (69.83± 13.57) years oldadmitted to the medical ICU from October 2006 through June 2010. Clinical variables were systematically reviewed for all enrolled patients. HF as either major or additional diagnosis was recorded and the potential risk factors for HF were explored. Left ventricular systolic function was evaluated in HF patients by using ejection fraction (EF) measured by echocardiography. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent factors contributing to HF in medical ICU patients. Results Of the 887 patients, 74. 1％ aged 65 years or over, and 53％ had organ dysfunction. The prevalence of HF in medical ICU patients was 22. 8％. Echocardiography measurement revealed that left ventricular systolic function was preserved in 62. 5％ of HF patients with an EF ＞ 50％. Underlying heart diseases were identified in 72. 8％ of the HF patients, and coronary artery disease accounted for the vast majority (52. 5％ ), followed by valvular heart disease ( 17. 8％ ). Structural heart diseases were not identified in 27. 2％ of the HF patients. 4) After the adjustment of age and gender, multivariate regression analysis showed that coronary artery disease ( OR =7. 364, 95％ CI: 4. 979 ～ 10. 890, P ＜0. 01 ), valvular heart disease ( OR =18. 023, 95％ CI: 9. 280 ～ 35. 002, P ＜ 0. 01 ), diabetes mellitus ( OR =2. 154, 95％ CI: 1. 227 ～ 3. 784, P =0. 0076), respiratory failure ( ( OR =1. 527, 95％ CI: 1. 045 ～ 2. 229, P =0. 0285 ), and renal dysfunction ( OR =2. 638, 95％ CI: 1. 621 ～ 4. 294, P =0. 0001 ) were associated with risk increased for HF in medical ICU. ConclusionsHF is highly prevalent in medical ICU and its etiology is multi-factorial. The high rate of HF with preserved EF highlights the importance of enhanced alertness for HF with preserved systolic function in ICU.

Objective To investigate the relationships between Cyclooxygenase(COX-2) and angiogenesis and expressions of COX-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in thyroid cancer and its clinical significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF in 60 thyroid cancer,(15 thyroid)adenomas and 10 normal thyroid tissues.Results The expression rates of COX-2 and VEGF in thyroid cancer were higher than those in thyroid adenomas and normal tissues(P

Objective:To assess capacity of cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment service in primary health care (PHC) in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.Methods:From September to December 2016, document acquisition and abstraction and in-person interviews were conducted on 327 PHC institutions and their medical staff from 43 districts/counties in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to comprehensively assess their infrastructure and services, human resources, health information system and drug availability related to cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment.Results:⑴ Infrastructure and services: 30.0% Community Health Center (CHC) and 100.0% Township healthcare center (THC) provided inpatient services, 20.5%, 98.1% village clinic (VC) could not provide blood glucose tests and lipid tests, respectively; ⑵ Human resources: in CHC, THC or CHS, 19.6% doctors' educational levels were below the requirement for a licensed assistant doctor, and in VC, 32.4% doctors' educational levels were below the requirement for village doctors. 56.3%CHC、THC and CHS, 99.5% VC could not provide government-funded " four insurances and one allowance" for non-registered staff, and 30.0% village doctors had exceeded 60 years old; ⑶ Health information system: 40.0% CHC, 41.7% THC, and 0 VC had electronic medical record (EMR), respectively; ⑷ Drug availability: 71.9% PHC institutions stored all four types of antihypertensive drugs [angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockors (ACEIs/ARBs), β-blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBS), diuretics], and 2.1% did not have any.Conclusions:The capacity of cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment services in PHC institutions in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are fair in general, but efforts should still be made to enhance the infrastructure construction, improve the remuneration packages of PHC doctors, promote the comprehensive ability of PHC doctors, optimize the layout of urban and rural health resources, strengthen the information construction, and improve the joint development of medical system in the three cities and provinces.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of cold- and hot-property herbs and effects of hot and cold constitutions on the tumor growth of tumor bearing rats, and to observe the effect of Cinobufacini Injection (CI) on the tumor growth of tumor bearing rats of different constitutions.

METHODSEighty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups, i.e., the tumor bearing control group, the tumor bearing heat syndrome group, the tumor bearing cold syndrome group, the heat syndrome tumor bearing group, the cold syndrome tumor bearing group, the tumor bearing CI group, the heat syndrome tumor bearing CI group, and the cold syndrome tumor bearing CI group, respectively. The weight and volume of rats' subcutaneous tumor were measured 14 days after tumor inoculation.

RESULTSThe weight and volume of tumor in the heat syndrome tumor bearing CI group [(3.55 +/- 1.12) g, (2864.44 +/- 1430.51) mm3] and the tumor bearing CI group [(4.29 +/- 1.14) g, (3397.19 +/- 1701.13) mm3] were significantly lower than those of the tumor bearing control group [(6.01 +/- 2.45) g, (6218.91 +/- 3837.64) mm3] and the cold syndrome tumor bearing CI group [(6.90 +/- 1.57) g, (6168.42 +/- 2457.03) mm3], showing statistical difference (P<0.05). There was insignificant difference among other groups.

CONCLUSIONSCI showed better tumor inhibition effects on tumor bearing rats of heat syndrome constitution, which indicated CI was of cold property. It might be possibly used in tumor bearing rats of heat syndrome constitution.

Animals ; Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; Male ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Astragalus Injection (ASI) combined with rat's mesenchymal stem cells transplantation (rMSCs) for repairing spinal cord injury in rats.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, named respectively by letters from A-F. they were treated respectively with none, PBS solution, ASI, rMSCs, and ASI + rMSCs, with the ASI administered via intraperitoneal injection and the rMSCs given by local injection to the spinal cord, on the 3rd day of operation. The condition of nerve function recovery was assessed on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day after treatment by scoring according to the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. Besides, the pathological change of the injured spinal cord was observed and expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament-M (NF-M) in the BrdU-labeled rMSCs in the spinal cord tissue were examined by immune histochemistry.

RESULTSThe recovery of spinal cord in Group D, E and F was better than that in Group B and C, showing higher BBB scores. As compared with Group E, Group F showed a higher score of nerve function and a milder inflammatory cell infiltration with lessened tissue edema in the spinal cord and more active proliferation of gliacyte. Double-labelled immunohistochemical examination showed that the transplanted rMSCs were alive in the host's spinal cord, revealing the expressions of GFAP and NF-M from the 7th day after transplantation, which were migrating to the injured site. The amount of GFAP and NF-M positive cells in Group F was much more than that in Group E (P < 0.05)

CONCLUSIONTransplantation of rMSCs is an effective method in treatment of the spinal cord injury; ASI has the capacity for inducing rMSCs differentiated into neurons, and could synergize with rMSCs to promote the repairing of the spinal cord from injury.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Nerve Regeneration ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy

This study aims to detect early changes of kidney in patients with primary hypertension by 3.0 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). 26 patients with primary hypertension (hypertension group) and 33 healthy volunteers (control group) underwent conventional and functional magnetic resonance scans, which included blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We measured renal cortical thickness (CT), parenchymal thickness (PT), and functional values of renal cortex and medulla including R2* value, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and fractional anisotropy (FA) value in each group, and then calculated the cortical/parenchymal thickness ratio (CPR). Compared with those in the control group, CT and CPR in hypertension group were larger (P < 0.01), cortical and medullar R2* values increased (P < 0.01) whereas medullar FA values decreased (P < 0.05). It could be well concluded that noninvasive 3.0 T functional MRI would have important clinical significance in identifying early abnormalities of kidney in hypertension patients.
Anisotropy ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Essential Hypertension ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Exercise fatigue is a physiological phenomenon not only for athletes, but also for astronauts. It is vital for athletes with hard training and astronauts with the heavy exercises for the mission in manned space flight to know how to solve the exercise fatigue. This article reviewed current commonly used TCM protective measures against fatigue.

Objectives To investigate the prevalence of animal plague in Horqin Right Front County and provide scientific bases for prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods Plague surveillance was carried out according to the requirements of National Plague Monitoring Programme at 3 monitoring points in Horqin Right Front County in 2012.Squirrel density,the number of small rats,rat fleas,pathogenic and serological surveillance of Yersinia pestis were included in the study.Results A total of 356 dauricus were captured,the average density was 0.88 rats/hm2; female and male ratio was 1 ∶ 1.31 and the female embryo rate was 96.46％.The captured 13 small nocturnal mice belonged to 2 species,which included 10 cricetulus barabensis and 3 cricetulus longicaudatus,and the capture rate of small nocturnal mouse was 4.33％ (13/300).A total of 98 rat fleas were collected from 25 rats; rat flea carrying rate was 100％(25/25) and flea index was 3.92.Eighty rat burrows were detected,and flea index was 0.188.Pathogen test results were negative.Indirect hemagglutination test was used to examine 356 rat sera and 1 serum was positive.Conclusions Detection of positive rat sera has proved the existence of plague epidemic in Horqin Right Front County.Therefore,the work on plague prevention and control has a long way to go.

AIM: To study the effect of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) on icariin (ICA) induced mouse embryonic stem cells ( mESCs) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro.METHODS:mESCs were cultured to embry-oid bodies ( EBs) by direct suspension method and the differentiation of EBs into cardiomyocytes was induced by ICA.The expression of cardiac specific proteinsα-actinin and cardiac troponin-I ( cTnI) was analyzed by Western blot and immuno-fluorescence.The differentiation rate was determined by flow cytometry.The ultrastructure of the derived cardiomyocytes was further characterized by transmission electron microscopy.The expression of cardiac-specific transcription factors Nkx2.5 and GATA-4,as well as CaSR was detected by Western blot.RESULTS: After induction with ICA, the positive characteristics of myocardial cells appeared in the EBs cultured for 2 d.The expression of cardiac-specific sarcomeric pro-tein actinin (α-actinin) and cTnI showed an overall upward trend by Western blot in different phases of ICA induced differ-entiation.The expression of CaSR, Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 was the highest at an early stage of ICA-induced differentiation. Neomycin (an activator of CaSR) up-regulated CaSR, NKx2.5 and GATA-4 expression in the EBs at early stage of ICA-in-duced differentiation, all of which were reversed by NPS2390 ( an inhibitor of CaSR) .CONCLUSION:CaSR is function-ally expressed in mESC-derived cardiomyocytes, and activation of CaSR is involved in the differentiation of mESCs into car-diomyocytes by facilitating the expression of NKx2.5 and GATA-4.

Objective To explore the effects of acupoint application of midnight-noon ebb-flow with hour-prescription of points on dysfunction for sufferers with senile osteoporosis(SOP).Methods In this study,76 patients with SOP in clinic in this hospital were recruited and randomly divided into the experimental group(n=38) and the control group(n=38) in accordance with random number table.Both were on the basic treatment of Caltrate D.The experimental group performed acupoint application of midnight-noon ebb flow with hour-prescription of points,while the control one performed common acupoint application.Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) was used to evaluate the dysfunction before,after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of intervention.SF-36 was adopted to evaluate the patients' quality of life before and after 8 week's intervention.Results The ODI scores of the experimental group after 4 weeks and 8 weeks were lower than those of the control group(P＜0.01).Repeated ANOVA indicated that the scores of ODI in group effect,time effect and interaction effect were of statistical significance(P＜0.01).Further comparison showed that the scores of ODI in three different time sections suggested that the latter time point were lower than those of the former time point(P＜0.01).The scores of eight dimensions of SF-36 after the intervention of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The acupoint application of midnight noon ebb flow-with hour-prescription of points can effectively improve the dysfunction whose curative effect enhanced with time increasing and improve the quality of life.