Understanding heart development at a molecular level is a prerequisite for uncovering the causes of congenital heart diseases .Such knowledge can also greatly benefit therapeutic approaches that try to enhance cardiac regeneration or that involve the differentiation of resident cardiac progenitor cells .Wnt proteins have been shown to play multiple roles dur-ing cardiac development .They are extracellular growth factors that activate different intracellular signaling branches .Here, we summarize our current understanding of how these factors affect different aspects of cardiogenesis , from early specifica-tion of cardiac progenitors to later developmental steps , such as remodeling processes .

Objective To summarize the clinical features of angina pectoris after thoracotomy. Methods Eight males with a mean age of 60? 5. 4 years were reported and analyzed, of which four patients underwent esphagectomy, three patients esophagogastrectomy and 1 patient pneumonectomy. Results Three cases were attacked angina pectoris after surgery 2~4 h, three cases in 5~12 h, one case in 36 h, and one case in 72h. Acute mocardial infarction of different degrees happened in five cases, and one case died. Conclusion Angina pectorls after thoracotomy is very dangerous to the patlents and not easily distinguished from chest pain after thoracotomy. It's important for the surgeons to analysis comprensively , diagnose as early as posslble and treat immediately.

[Objective]To observe the relationship between blood uric acid(UA)level and carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)in perimenopausal women.[Methods] Two hundred and thirty-three perimenopausal women were selected.Intima media thickness(IMT)of bilateral carotid arteries were measured by colour Doppler ultrasound.They were divided into normal group(162 cases)and CAS group(71 cases)according to the results of colour Doppler ultrasound.The level of blood UA between two groups was compared and the influence factors of CAS we re analyzed.[Results] The level of blood UA in CAS group was significantly higher than that in normal group[(341 ± 86)μ mol/L vs.(293±78)μ mol/L](P ＜ 0.05).The detection rate of hyperuricemia in normal group was 10.49％(17/162),while the detection rate in CAS group was 40.85％(29/71),which had statistical significance between two groupe(P＜0.01).Pearson correlation analysis showed that CAS had positive correlation with age(r=0.233,P=0.028),body mass index(BMI)(r=0.215,P=0.044),bloodUA(r=0.249,P=0.019)and fasting plasma ghcose(r=0.214,P=0.046).AndCASwas negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol(r=-0.224,P=0.036).Logistic regression analysis showed that after the factors of age and BMI were corrected,CAS still had significantly positive correlation with the level of blood UA(OR＝4.805,95％ CI 1.700-11.673,P ＜ 0.05).[Conclusion]Hyperuricemia is a related risk factor of the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in perimenopausal women.

Objective To compare the survival effects between using electron beams (EB) and modulated X-ray beams (XB) for boosting irradiation in breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.Methods This study retrospectively included 485 breast cancer patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery at Beijing Cancer Hospital.All patients underwent either EB or XB for tumor bed boost irradiation (10-16 Gy/5-8 fractions) after whole-breast irradiation of 46-50 Gy/23-25 fractions.Results Median follow-up time for the cohort was 96.04 months.Statistically significant increase of local recurrence free Survival (LRFS) was observed in XB group than in EB group.The 5-year and 10-year LRFS was both 98.4％ in XB group,as well as 94.2％ and 93.2％ in EB group,respectively (x2 =4.190,P ＜ 0.05).But there was not statistically significant difference in 5-year and 10-year overall survival (OS) between XB group(96.7％ and 95.8％) and EB group(94.9％ and 89.4％),respectively (P ＞ 0.05).The multivariate analysis showed that LRFS was significantly correlated with age≤40,positive pathological lymph nodes and positive expression of Her-2 receptor.But boost irradiation method was not independent prognostic factor for LRFS and OS (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions For cancer patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and whole-breast postoperative radiation followed by a boost irradiation to tumor bed,XB irradiation was superior to EB irradiation in term of LRFS,yet no difference of OS was observed in both groups.

Objective To obtain the protein interacting with inhibitor of differentiation1′(Id1′). Methods The recombinant bait plasmid pHybLex/Zeo Id1′ was constructed and transformed into yeast strain EGY48/ pSH18 34 to test pHybLex/Zeo Id1′ for non specific activation. Adult human lung cDNA libraries were screened to obtain true positive library plasmid. The true positive library clone was obtained by sequencing and basic local alignment sequence tool (BLAST). Results The recombinant bait vector, named as pHybLex/Zeo Id1′, was confirmed by sequencing. pHybLex/Zeo Id1′ was transformed into yeast strain EGY48/pSH18 34 and the transformants had no autonomously activated reporter genes. One true positive clone, obtained by screening of the adult human lung cDNA libraries, was confirmed to be Fyn by sequencing and BLAST. Conclusion Id1′ can interact with Fyn.

Objective To explore the clinical features of subcutaneous fluid collection and post-operative headache after craniotomy and assess the efficacy and side effects of the millimeter wave treatment.MethodsA total of 32 neurosurgical patients with post-operative subcutaneous fluid collection were involved in this study and divided into traditional and millimeter wave treatment groups randomly. Subcutaneous fluid volume after 3 days, time for complete fluid absorption, time of hospital stay, incidence of related infections and severe headache between two groups were assessed.ResultsThe fluid reduction is 93.8% in the millimeter wave treatment group and 76.5% in the traditional treatment group 3 days after treatment (P<0.05); time for complete fluid absorption was also shorter in the millimeter wave treatment group; there is no infection in the millimeter wave treatment group and 3 cases in the traditional treatment group, millimeter wave treatment also reduced the occurrence of severe post-operative headache; there is no treatment-related side-effects in the millimeter treatment group.ConclusionMillimeter wave treatment is an efficacious and safe method for subcutaneous fluid collection after craniotomy, and can reduce the occurrences of related infections and post-operative pain.

This paper is aimed to investigate the signal source and influential factors in signals of trans-esophageal pulse oxygen saturation (SeO2). The red light of the SeO2 probe was faced directly to the descending aorta (DA) of the mongrel dogs. The readings and waveform of SeO2 signals were recorded under following conditions: before and after DA was shield; before and after the blood supply of esophagus was cut off; under the different touch pressures between the SeO2 probe and the esophageal wall. The readings and waveform of SeO2 signals were also recorded respectively at both different esophageal depth and directions when mechanical ventilation was on and off. The tongue oxygen saturation (StO2) was recorded simultaneously as control. The waveform of SeO2 signals disappeared after DA was shield (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the SeO2 signals before and after the blood supply of esophagus was cut off (P > 0.05). Compared with the StO2 readings when the SeO2 probe was placed at different esophageal depth, the waldeyer ring, cervical area and thoracic inlet,the readings of SeOz significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while mechanical ventilation was on and off. However, there was no significant difference in the readings between SeO2 signals from DA, aortic arch (AA) and left subclavian artery and the StO2 signals recorded simultaneously. Mechanical ventilation had a remarkable effect on the SeO2 signals at different esophageal depth (P < 0.05), but the StO2 signals lay in its insensitivity to its influence. The readings of StO2 signals were significantly different from that of StO2 signals when the touch pressure between the SeO2 probe and the esophageal wall below 40 mmHg (P < 0.01). The directions of the optimum SeO2 signals acquired at different esophageal depth were not the same. The SeO2 signals were primarily derived from deeper arteries around the esophagus. All of Mechanical ventilation, location of the SeO2 probe in the esophagus and the touch pressure between the probe and esophageal wall can influence SeO2 signals.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiology ; Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Blood Gas Analysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Dogs ; Esophagus ; blood supply ; Female ; Male ; Oximetry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Oxygen ; blood ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

Objective To investigate the respiratory burst function of neutrophils in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).Methods Twenty two VLBWI was divided into two groups:neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and non NRDS (11 in each).The respiratory burst function of neutrophils in the peripheral blood of VLBWI within 48 hours after birth was determined using the flow cytometrydihydrorhodamine 1,2,3 method before and after the chemical stimulation of phorbol-12-myrismte 14 acetate (PMA),and the gp91Phox was also measured in resting neutrophils by flow cytometry.Twenty healthy term neonates served as controls.Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.Results Before the stimulation of PMA,the percentage of activated neutrophils of VLBWI [(49.10±20.19) ％] producing a respiratory burst was higher than that of term neonates [(18.73 ±6.81) ％] (Z--4.911,P=0.000),however,after the stimulation of PMA,the percentage of activated neutrophils of VLBWI [(96.58 ± 3.44) ％] was lower than that of term neonates [(99.20±0.62) ％] (Z--3.186,P=0.001),and the stimulation index (SI) of VLBWI (171.40 ± 103.35) was lower than that of term neonates (306.30 ± 138.47),with significant difference (Z=-3.413,P=0.001).The geometric mean of gp91Phox in VLBWI (21.66± 19.87) was higher compared with term neonates (19.60±8.03),however,the difference was not significant (P=0.350).The percentage of neutrophils that expressed gp91Phox [(56.11 ± 29.40) ％] was lower in VLBWI than that in term neonates [(80.14± 14.87) ％],with significant difference (Z=-2.374,P=0.018).Before the stimulation of PMA,the percentage of activated neutrophils of VLBWI with NRDS (63.40± 16.45) ％] was higher than that of VLBWI without NRDS [(34.80± 11.65) ％],with significant difference (Z=-3.382,P=0.001),the SI of VLBWI with NRDS (129.46 ± 75.36) was significantly lower than that of VLBWI without NRDS (213.35 ± 113.49) (Z=-2.331,P=0.020).Conclusions Neutrophils producing a respiratory burst in both VLBWI and term neonates are active without stimulation of PMA,while the phenomenon is more obvious in VLBWI.Neutrophils in VLBWI and term infants can be activated by the stimulation of PMA,and express gp91Phox.The activation and gp91Phox expression of neutrophils in VLBWI with NRDS tend to be lower than those in VLBWI without NRDS.

Objective To explore the mediating role of self-esteem in optimism and suicidal risks,and the moderate effect of life events in optimism,suicidal risk and self-esteem.Methods 1 750 college students were surveyed with the life orientation test-revised (LOT-R),the suicidal behaviors questionnaire-revised (SBQ-R),rosenberg self-esteem scale(SES) and adolescent self-rating life events check list (ASLEC).Results The total scores of SBQ-R,LOT-R,SES and ASLEC of college students were (4.78±2.10),(23.17±3.22),(29.58±4.43)and (36.54±21.73).Optimism scores were negatively correlated with suicidal risk scores(r=-0.23,P＜0.01),optimism scores were positively correlated with self-esteem (r=0.50,P＜0.01).Scores of self-esteem scales were negatively correlated with suicidal risk scores(r=-0.35,P＜0.01).A structure equation model consists of optimism,self-esteem,suicidal risk and it had a better degree of fitting (the path form optimism to suicidal risk were r =-0.05,P＜0.05,RMSEA =0.05,GFI =0.90,NFI =0.92,CFI =0.93).The relationship between optimism and suicide risk were mediated by self-esteem(P＜0.01),which accounted for 76％of the total effects.The life events' moderating effects between self-esteem and suicide risk were significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion Self-esteem has a significant correlation with optimism and suicidal behaviors,self-esteem plays an intermediary role between optimism and suicidal behaviors,and life events play an regulation role between self-esteem and suicidal behaviors.

Objective To evaluate the impacts of the two different gastrectomy methods on the quality of life,complication and prognosis in proximal gastric cancer.Methods One hundred and two cases of proxi-mal gastric cancer in Tung Wah Hospital were collected for retrospective analysis.They were divided into proxi-mal gastrectomy/gastroesophagostomy (PG)group (n =50)and total gastrectomy/esophagojejunostomy (TG) group (n =52),according to the methods of gastrectomy and reconstruction.The postoperative complications, nutritional status and prognosis of the two groups were compared.Results The incidence of reflux esophagitis was obviously higher in PG group than that in TG group (38.0% vs 1 9.2%,χ2 =4.464,P =0.035).No sig-nificant differences were found between the two groups in the incidences of postoperative infection,bleeding and anastomotic leakage (χ2 =0.063,P =1 .000;χ2 =0.001 ,P =0.978;χ2 =0.31 1 ,P =0.577).There were no significant differences between PG and TG group in total plasma protein [(65.26 ±4.1 0)g/L vs (65.33 ± 3.75)g/L,t =-0.402,P =0.688],albumin [(39.76 ±2.1 7)g/L vs (39.59 ±2.04)g/L,t =1 .778,P =0.076],hemoglobin [(1 07.33 ±1 1 .1 0)g/L vs (1 08.09 ±1 1 .1 7)g/L,t =-1 .502,P =0.1 33]and weight loss [1 .00 ~8.00 kg vs 0.50 ~8.20 kg,t =-1 .622,P =0.1 05]in one year postoperatively.All cases were followed-up for 7 months to 1 0 years.No significant differences were found between PG and TG group in the incidences of anastomotic tumor recurrence (4.0% vs 5.8%,χ2 =0.1 71 ,P =0.679),metastasis (24.0% vs 28.8%,χ2 =0.308,P =0.579)and median survival time (53.6 months vs 49.8 months,χ2 =2.564,P =0.1 09).Conclusion Compared with PG group,the incidence of postoperative reflux esophagitis is effectively reduced,and the incidences of malnutrition,tumor recurrence and metastasis and death are not increased in TG group.Hence,TG should be a safe and effective surgery strategy.