Objective To describe the psychological experience of the patients with end-stage cardiopathy in China. Methods Phenomenology method was used in the study. Fifteen end stage cardiopathy patients received a non-structured interview. Results Four themes were extracted including heavy psychological burden about the disease and the selection of treatment options; complex psychological responses to families and relatives; wishing of social support;lose heart to personal future and prospects. Conclusions The patients on the end stage cardiopathy have complicated and intensive psychological responses. Medical staff should focus on the emotional of these patients, and provide effective strategies to promote patients'physical and psychological rehabilitation.

Objective To explore the effect of carvedilol on ACE2 gene and protein expression in chronic heart failure rats after myocardial infarction.Methods The heart failure model was induced by acute myocardial infarc- tion (AMI) through ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery.One month after operation,rats were randomized to receive placebo or carvedilol 2 mg/(kg?d),by gavage.Sham-operated rats were used as the control group.Hemodynamies,body mass and left ventrieular mass index,plasma and myocardial level of angiotensin Ⅱ were determined.ACE2 gene and protein expression was assessed by using RT-PCR and Western Blot.Results The mortality of placebo and Carvedilol groups were 20%,compared with 0% in sham operated rats.Carvedilol significantly improved LVEDP,LVSP,+dp/dt_(max) and-dp/dt_(min) in CHF rats but all the hemodynamics data were still inferior than that of controls.Plasma and myocardial angiotensin Ⅱ level were increased significantly in CHF placebo rats than those of control rats (plasma Ang Ⅱ:CHF:194?19 vs controls:132?15 ng/L,myocardium Ang Ⅱ:CHF:6.7?0.4 vs control:3.8?0.3 ng/g,P

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of adenovirus-mediated VEGF-siRNA on transplanted osteo- sarcoma in nude mice.Methods: VEGF-siRNA gene was cloned into the genome of replication-deficient adenovirus to construct Ad-VEGF-siRNA;the latter was then used to infect osteosarcoma MG63 cell line in vitro;and the expression of VEGF gene was detected by RT-PCR.Osteosarcoma transplantation model was established in nude mice;VEGF expression in tumor tissue was analyzed and the inhibitory effect on tumor growth and lung metastasis were also observed.Results: The recombinant adenovirus vector Ad-VEGF-siRNA was successfully constructed.In vivo and in vitro experiment both showed that Ad-VEGF-siRNA significantly downregulated VEGF expression in MG63 cells and transplanted tumor tissue. It was found that Ad-VEGF-siRNA significantly inhibited transplanted osteosarcoma growth(P

Objective To investigate the effects of aging on procollagen α polypeptide gene transcription and protein expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.Methods Vascular smooth muscle cells from thoracoabdominal aorta in neonate and 9 months old healthy Wistar rats were cultured in vitro.Results Transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect type Ⅰ and Ⅲ pro-collagen α polypeptide mRNA and protein.The RT-PCR displayed that type Ⅰ procollagen α polypeptide mRNA expression had no significant difference between young group and adult group [(76.62±1.05) vs.(78.37±2.42),P＞0.05].Type Ⅲ procollagen α polypeptide mRNA expression was (105.40 ± 2.66) in young group and (123.10 ± 3.81) in adult group(P＞0.05).Type Ⅰ procollagen α polypeptide mRNA expression was (3.13 ±0.54) in young group and (4.63 ± 1.03) in adult group (P=0.05).Type Ⅲ procollagen α polypeptide mRNA expression had no significant difference between the adult and young groups[(6.86 ±0.41) vs.(7.68±0.63),P＞0.05].Type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ procollagen α polypeptide protein expressions were increased significantly in adult group as compared with the young group [(0.10 ± 0.03) vs.(0.06±0.03),(0.58±0.06) vs.(0.40±0.02),both P＜0.05].Conclusions Aging increases the procollagen α polypeptide level in vascular smooth muscle cell,which may involve in the development of vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis.

More than 80 strains producing lipases were screened from oily soil of vegetable oil plant, meat processing factory and dairy factory in Jinan city, Shandong Province, which included bacteria, moulds and yeast. Conditions for lipase production and properties of some enzymes were studied. One drug-resistant mutant strain Y-11 with higher lipase activity was from Trichosporon sp. Y-1. In addition, Optimization of lipase production and characterization of enzymes were carried out. On the basis of above experiments, a characteristic library of stains producing lipases was established.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hypoxia on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF).

METHODSHPDLF were cultured in α-minima essential medium (α-MEM) and subcultured at confluence. In the hypoxic groups, cells were incubated in a humidified atmosphere of 1%O(2), 5%CO(2), 94%N(2) at 37°C for 12, 24 and 48 h, respectively. In the normoxic control group, cells were incubated under normoxic conditions of 20%O(2), 5%CO(2), 75%N(2). The mRNA expression of MMP and TIMP was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The data was analyzed by Student's t test, one-way ANOVA and LSD test with SPSS 13.0 software package.

RESULTSThe expression of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA in the hypoxia groups was higher than that in control. The expression of MMP-2 mRNA in hypoxic groups showed a significantly increasing trend. There was significant difference between the hypoxic group and the normoxic control group in the expression of MMP-2 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.01). The expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA in hypoxic groups of 12 h was momentarily increased. There was significant difference between the hypoxic 12 h group and the normoxic control group in the expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.05). However, with prolonged hypoxia time, the expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA in hypoxic groups showed a significantly declining trend, there were significant differences between the hypoxic 12, 24 and 48 h group and the normoxic control group in the expression of TIMP-2 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-1 mRNA in hypoxic groups of 12 h was momentarily decreased and then increased after 24 h of hypoxia. There were significant differences between the hypoxic 48 h group and the normoxic control group in the expression of MMP-1 mRNA in HPDLF (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between the hypoxic 12 h group and the normoxic control group in the ratio of MMP-1/TIMP-1 mRNA (P < 0.05). The ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 mRNA in the hypoxia group significantly increased compared with normoxic group. There were significant differences between the hypoxic group and the normoxic control group in the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 mRNA (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHypoxia could change the expression of MMP and TIMP mRNA and other relevant growth factors and also lead to the imbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-2 mRNA expression. It is suggested that the imbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-2 expression may be closely correlated with the occurrence and development of periodontal disease and play an important role in the process of periodontal tissue destruction in periodontitis.

Adolescent ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo produce poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres, containing a staphylokinase variant (K35R, DGR) with reduced immunogenecity and antiplatelet aggregation activities, which allowed the preservation of protein stability during both particle processing and drug release.

METHODSDGR-loaded microspheres were fabricated using a double emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The effects of preparative parameters, such as stirring rate, polymer concentration, and the excipients of both internal and external aqueous phase (W2), on DGR encapsulation efficiency and microsphere characteristics were investigated. In vitro and in vivo release of DGR were conducted and the cause for instability of DGR during release was also investigated.

RESULTSModerate ultrasonic treatment of aqueous DGR/dichloromethane mixtures caused approximately. Eighty four per cent DGR denaturation. However, the activity recovery of DGR almost amounted to 100% when 2% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was addled into the aqueous phase. It was found that NaCl in the external water phase significantly increased DGR encapsulation efficiency. Furthermore, NaCl in the external water phase played a role in determining size and surface morphology of microsphere. In vitro release test showed a burst release of DGR from microspheres, followed by sustained release of 50% total activity over 15 days. In vivo experiments showed that DGR released from microspheres sustained 5 days. Denaturation of DGR within microspheres might be resulted from acidic microclimate.

CONCLUSIONThe stability of DGR was effectively protected during microencapsulation and a relatively high encapsulation efficiency of DGR was obtained. PLGA microspheres could be an effective carrier for DGR.

Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; pharmacokinetics ; Genetic Variation ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Metalloendopeptidases ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; pharmacokinetics ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Rabbits

Large epiglottic cysts can block the glottis, leading to serious consequences. This condition presents a challenge in terms of airway management for anesthesiologists during induction of anesthesia. We report the use of a Shikani™ Seeing Optical Stylet combined with a Macintosh laryngoscope to aid tracheal intubation in seven patients with large epiglottic cysts. Use of this technique can avoid cyst rupture and allow smooth, safe intubation.
Epiglottis ; pathology ; Female ; Fiber Optic Technology ; methods ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; methods ; Laryngeal Diseases ; pathology ; Laryngoscopes ; Male ; Middle Aged

The first genetic linkage map of Salvia miltiorrhiza was constructed in 94 F1 individuals from an intraspecific cross by using simple sequence repeat (SSR), sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 93 marker loci in the linkage map, consisting of 53 SSR, 38 SRAP and 2 ISSR locus were made up of eight linkage groups, covered a total length of 400.1 cm with an average distance of 4.3 cm per marker. The length of linkage groups varied from 3.3 -132 cm and each of them included 2-23 markers, separately. The result will provide important basis for QTL mapping, map-based cloning and association studies for commercially important traits in S. miltiorrhiza.
Chromosome Mapping ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Markers ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics