Objective To evaluate the short term outcome after mitral valve replacement with the Perimount bovine pericardial valve. Methods Eighty-eight patients underwent mitral valve replacement with the bovine pericardial valve in hospital were included in this study. Postoperative general condition including mortality and cerebral hemorrhage was observed. The hemodynamic and New York heart disease association (NYHA) heart function classification were recorded by Doppler echocardiograms before operation, postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after mitral valve replacement. Values of the different time points of NYHA, left atrial diameter (LA), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVSD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were compared. The hemodynamic parameters were also compared including the peak cross valve pressure (PG), mean cross valve pressure (MG), peak cross valve velocity (PV) and effective orifice area (EOA) 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Results There were two cases (2.3%) dead in one year (one died of cerebral hemorrhage and another one died of thromboembolism). There was 1 perivalvular leakage (1.2%). There was no endocarditis or structural valve deterioration. NYHA cardiac function was improved at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P < 0.05). The values of LA, LVDD and PAP were significantly decreased at postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year compared with those before operation (P<0.05). Values of LVSD and LVEF were significantly decreased at postoperative 1 week compared with those before operation (P<0.05). The value of LVEF was significantly increased at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P<0.05). Compared with postoperative 1 week, the values of LA and LVEF were significantly increased at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in PG, MG, PV and EOA between postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year. Conclusion With the excellent performance of cardiac function recovery, left ventricular restoration and hemodynamic, the Perimount bovine pericardial valve remains a reliable choice as a mitral tissue valve.

Xanthine oxidase (XOD), catalyzing purine metabolism, is the key enzyme in uric acid (UA) biosynthesis, and becomes an important target for hyperuricemia treatment. The inhibition on XOD plays an important role in the treatment of hyperuricemia-related diseases, such as gout, as well as oxidative stress-induced tissue injury. Here, studies on the natural products with XOD inhibition are reviewed.

Objective To evaluate the MUC1 promoter's role in driving gene expression in pancreatic cancer and its therapeutic significance.Methods Two plasmids were made.The plasmid pEGFP-MUC1N1 contained MUC1 promoter fragment connected to the pEGFP-N1 vector with the EGFG reporter gene.The pShuttle-MUC1-EGFP plasmid contained MUC1 promoter fragment and EGFP reporter gene connected to pShuttle plasmid.Lipofectamine 2000 was used to transfect the two plasmids into cells of MUC1-positive human pancreatic cell line Panc-1 and MUC1-negative human cervical carcinoma Hela.Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry compared the specificity and activity of the MUC1 promoter and CMV promoter.Results Reporter gene EGFP-positive cells 48 hours after transfection with pEGFP-MUC1-N1 and pShuttleMUC1-EGFP plasmid were 69.6％ and 63.6％ respectively,in Panc-1 cells,and 4.2％ and 3.7％ respectively,in Hela cells.Conclusions MUC1 promoter can drive reporter gene activity in MUC1-positive tumor cells targeting functional expression.There is potentially a use of targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer at the genetic level.

Objective To explore the role of VEGF positive expression in tumor tissue in the prognosis of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Method Fifty cases of liver transplant recipients with HCC confirmed immunohistochemically were enrolled in this study.The MaxVisionTM two-step method was applied to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and the microvessel density (MVD) was measured in para-cancerous tissues by using DAB staining.The correlation of the VEGF tumor tissue in tumor tissue with Child-Pugh,MELD,tumor diameter and number,differentiation,MVD,Milan criteria and UCSF criteria for HCC liver transplantation was analyzed.Result In the HCC tissue,the VEGF positive expression rate was 52％(26/50).The one-year survival of recipients positive and negative for VEGF was 78％ and 100％,respectively,and one-year recurrence rate was 32％ and 12％,respectively,with the difference being significant (P =0.043 and P =0.048 respectively).The expression of VEGF was associated with Child-Pugh,tumor diameter,MVD,Milan criteria and UCSF criteria (P＜0.05 for all).Logistic regression analysis showed that low differentiation and VEGF positive expression were independent prognostic factors for HCC recurrence after liver transplantation.Conclusion VEGF has a certain reference value to judge HCC invasiveness and prognosis of liver transplantation.

Untargeted metabolomics analysis of rhubarb and stewed rhubarb samples shows that the determined samples clearly clustered in to two groups, indicating that the processing procedures caused changes in the composition and/or content of components in rhubarb. Ten components were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and references, which intensity declined in rhubarb after processing. Targeted metabolomics analysis of rhubarb and stewed rhubarb samples indicated that aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin and physcion were detected with lower intensity in stewed rhubarb samples than in rhubarb samples. Metabolomics analysis of rhubarb and stewed rhubarb indicated the various components of rhubarb changed after processing.
Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Food Handling ; methods ; Food Preservation ; methods ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rheum ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

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

ObjectiveTo explore the application and significance of assisted laparoscopic hepatectomy (ALH) in living-donor-hepatectomy.MethodsWe successfully performed 7 cases of ALH of right hepatectomy on living donor from 30/5/2011 to 1/9/2011.ResultsThe donors recovered well with ratio of remnant lver:32.10％ ～38.31 ％,good liver fuction,little pain and no surgical complications.All the wound sutured intracuteneously was taken out stitches 7 days after operation and healed perfectly.Liver function got normal 2 weeks after operation.Conclusions ALH,which gives the consideration to both the minimal invasion of laparoscopic surgery and safe of open surgery,can be applied safely in hepatectomy of living donor and highly acceptible for donor and receptor.

Objective To study the differentiation and proliferation ability of the spinal neural stem cells (NSCs) at different gestational ages in fetal rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley fetal rats were divided into group A (12 days of pregnancy), group B (14 days of pregnancy) and group C (16 days of pregnancy). NSCs were separated with enzyme-assisted microdissection. The diameter and numbers of NSCs balls were measured at different time. The cell growth curve was drawn with CCK8 colorimeter. NSCs were identified with BrdU/Nestin immunohistochemical staining. They were induced with 10% fetal bovine serum for 10 days, and the expression of β-tubulinⅢ and glial fibrillary acidic protein was detected with immunocytochemistry. Results There were cells expressed BrdU, Nestin, β-tubulinⅢ and GFAP in all the group. The most cells (22.74±0.79%) expressed β-tubulinⅢ in the group B, but no significant difference between group B and group C. The cell vitality on the 5th day of third-generation neural stem cells was the most in group B. Conclusion For enzyme-assisted microdissection, it may obtain more neurons to isolate the neural stem cells from 14 days of pregnancy pregnant rats.

OBJECTIVEStudy the effects of β-glucan in highland barley on blood glucose and serum lipid in high fat diet induced C57 mouse.

METHODSUsing table of random number, 40 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 mice in each group) by weight: high dosage group (4% β-glucan and high fat diet), low dosage group (2% β-glucan and high fat diet), high fat diet group and normal control group. Food-intake and body weight of C57 mouse were observed. Glucose tolerance tests and examinations of fasting blood glucose were performed at the end of 11 weeks of intervention. Mice were sacrificed after 12 wk of treatment, and serum specimens were obtained to test relevant biochemical indicators.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks raise, among high dosage group, low dosage group, high fat diet group and normal control group, the weight was (32.8 ± 1.5), (40.4 ± 1.9), (40.7 ± 2.1) and (33.5 ± 1.3) g, respectively (F = 55.26, P < 0.05); average food intake was (3.48 ± 0.56), (3.69 ± 0.76), (3.66 ± 0.81) and (3.54 ± 0.61) g/d respectively (F = 0.26, P > 0.05); fasting blood-glucose was (5.29 ± 1.59), (6.13 ± 1.75), (7.63 ± 1.09) and (4.24 ± 0.98) mmol/L respectively (F = 9.54, P < 0.01); serum insulin level was (1.97 ± 0.10), (2.44 ± 0.24), (3.02 ± 0.36) and (1.48 ± 0.28) ng/ml respectively (F = 47.58, P < 0.01); the area under blood glucose concentration curve was (25.81 ± 1.44), (30.42 ± 2.01), (35.17 ± 1.20) and (21.03 ± 1.24) mmol×L(-1)×h(-1), respectively (F = 64.98, P < 0.05); insulin resistance index was (9.84 ± 3.78), (13.69 ± 4.48), (21.54 ± 3.27) and (5.81 ± 1.59) respectively (F = 30.18, P < 0.01); serum total cholesterol (TC) level was (4.05 ± 0.88), (4.30 ± 0.48), (4.73 ± 0.66) and (3.37 ± 0.40) mmol/L respectively (F = 6.70, P < 0.01); serum triglyceride (TG) level was (0.90 ± 0.09), (0.98 ± 0.09), (1.05 ± 0.06) and (0.76 ± 0.26) mmol/L respectively (F = 6.75, P < 0.01); serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was (2.91 ± 0.59), (3.34 ± 0.46), (4.89 ± 0.42) and (3.24 ± 0.37) mmol/L respectively (F = 31.73, P < 0.01); serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was (0.25 ± 0.15), (0.42 ± 0.19), (0.72 ± 0.12) and (0.32 ± 0.11) mmol/L, respectively (F = 17.27, P < 0.01); free fatty acids (FFA) level was (1.06 ± 0.03), (1.05 ± 0.05), (1.18 ± 0.32) and (1.04 ± 0.02) mmol/L, respectively (F = 1.36, P > 0.05); HDL-C/LDL-C was (13.77 ± 5.51), (9.11 ± 3.53), (7.04 ± 1.65) and (11.21 ± 3.31), respectively (F = 5.24, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe β-glucan in highland barley reduced the serum glucose and serum lipid, as well as insulin resistance and the risk of arterial sclerosis in high-fat induced C57 mouse.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hordeum ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Triglycerides ; blood ; beta-Glucans ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in pressure overload induced failure myocardium in rats.

METHODSMale SD rats were randomized into 3 groups (n = 15 each): abdominal aorta constriction (AC) 20 weeks group (H20w group), sham operation group (SH20w group) and normal control group (N group). Twenty weeks later, myocardial function was evaluated by echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements. Mitochondria in ventricular tissue were isolated by centrifugation. Adenine nucleotide pools (ATP, ADP, AMP, PCr) in myocardium were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The expression of UCP2 in mitochondria was detected by PT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSMyocardial function was significantly decreased 20 weeks post-AC compared to SH20w group and N group. Myocardial ATP, ADP, AMP and PCr contents were also significantly decreased in H20w group than the other 2 control groups. The expression of UCP2 in myocardial mitochondria was significantly increased in H20w group and negatively correlated with ATP contents (r = -0.929, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of UCP2 was upregulated in pressure overload induced failure heart and might be responsible for decreased myocardial adenine nucleotide and energy metabolism disturbance in this model.

Adenine Nucleotides ; analysis ; Animals ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Ion Channels ; metabolism ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uncoupling Protein 2