Objective To detect the levels of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and investigate its relationship with liver function, ascites and heart structure in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods The levels of plasma NT-proBNP and various clinical and biochemical parameters were determined in 60 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 healthy controls. Meanwhile Child-Pugh liver function was classified. All people underwent color Doppler echocardiography. Results The level of plasma NT-proBNP was significantly elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis [(38.63±36.05)pmol/L], compared with that of the controls [(7.50±8.25)pmol/L],P<0.01. There was no significant difference in different Child-Pugh class and aseites amount of liver cirrhosis. E/A < 1 and E wave decelerate time (EDT) was in-creased in liver cirrhosis. Conclusion The levels of plasma NT-proBNP in liver cirrhosis are significantly elevated, and related to early impairment of diastolic function. But it does not correlate with liver function and aseites.

0.05),but the 3-year recurrent rates were significantly different(P

Objective To explore the effects of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation in early life on hippocampus-dependent spatial reference learning and memory in rats. Methods Newborn SD rats were randomly assigned to experiment group (deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor function, n=53) and control group(n=55). Rats of postnatal day 13 (PN13) in experiment group were seleeted, and models of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation were established by microsurgical technique. Open field tests and Morris water maze tests were performed during the time periods of PN25(PN21-31), PN35 (PN31-39), PN45(PN41-50) and PN60(PN56-64) to evaluate the locomotor activity and spatial reference learning and memory, respectively. Results In open field tests, there was no significant difference in parameters of locomotor activity and exploratory behavior between the two groups (P>0.05). In Morris water maze tests, eontrol group performed significantly better than experiment group during training sessions and probe tests on PN25 and PN35 (P<0.05). While on PN45, although there was no significant difference between the two groups during training sessions, control group performed significantly better than experiment group during probe tests (P<0.05). Conclusion The deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor in early life has no signifieant effect on the locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of rats, but can impair the spatial reference learning and memory.

Objective To investigate the value of low-pressure laparoscopic technique for appendicitis surgery during early and mid-term pregnancy.Methods The clinical data of 13 pregnant women underwent low-pressure laparoscopic appendectomy from July 2007 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively.Results All the 13 cases were performed laparoscopic appendectomy successfully without laparotomy and cured completely before discharged from hospital No intestinal fistula,wound infection,abortion and other complications occurred.During follow-up,9 cases of full-term pregnancy patients gave birth to healthy babies,and there was no abortion and premature delivery on 4 patients still in their pregnancy.Conclusion For women at early or mid-term pregnancy with acute appendicitis,low-pressure laparoscopic appendectomy could reduce the stimulus of surgical operation on uterus and decrease the risk of abortion.

Objective To evaluate therapeutic results of radiofrequency endovenous obliteration (RFO) for the treatment of varicose veins of the lower limbs. Methods Fifty six cases (56 limbs) of primary greater saphenous vein tributary varicose veins were randomly assigned to RFO group (n=28) and conventional stripping operation group (n=28). In RFO group, the wall of the greater saphenous vein was treated at 85℃ with the catheter to occlude the whole length of the vein. The other 28 cases underwent stripping procedure. The scattered superficial varicose veins in calf in both groups were managed by phlebectomy. The number of surgical incision, postoperative pain, average hospital days and the short-term results were compared. Results Patients in RFO group have less surgical incisions and less postoperative pain, without subcutaneous hematoma. The average hospital stay was 2.5?1.00 days in RFO group compared to 4.14?0.85 days in stripping operation group. Conclusions RFO effectively obliterates the whole length of the great saphenous vein and is of less trauma,faster recovery, and less scars.

Objective To investigate the levels of adiponectin and the relation with insulin and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)- ? in patients with cirrhosis. Methods Adiponectin,insulin and TNF-? levels were determined in 73 patients with cirrhosis and 30 healthy controls, and were correlated with various clinical and biochemical parameters. Meanwhile Child-Pugh liver function was classified. Results Adiponectin was significantly elevated in patients with cirrhosis compared with the control. Adiponectin levels in cirrhosis was correlated positively with insulin and negatively with insulin sensitively index,and did not correlate with TNF-? and liver function.Conclusion Serum adiponectin levels in cirrhosis are significantly elevated. Adiponectin levels do not correlate with TNF-? and liver function, but exclusively insulin and insulin sensitivity index.

Objective To identify differentially expressed N-linked glycoproteins between hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues .Methods N-linked glycoproteome was extracted by multi-lectin affinity chromatography comprising concanavalin A (ConA), lentil lectin (LCH), and snowdrop lectin (GNA) and subsequently subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis ( 2DE ) and mass spectrometry ( MS ) for identification of differential glycoproteins between 10 pairs of HCC and adjacent non-cancer tissue .Western blotting was used to verify different expression of human liver carboxylesterase 1 (hCE1), haptoglobin (HP)and cathepsin D (CD).Invasion potential in vitro was examined after si-RNA mediated CD gene scilencing .Results LC-ESI-MS/MS identified a total of 28 differentially expressed glycoproteins (14 up-regulation and 14 down-regulated).Western blotting detected consistent down-regulation of hCE1 and HP, and up-regulation of pro-cathepsin D (pCD) in HCC.Up-regulation of ConA-binding CD (ConA-CD), however , was verified in HCC only after ConA-CD enrichment by ConA chromatography .Down-regulation of CD expression mediated by CD-siRNA markedly inhibited the in vitro invasive potential of SNU449 and SNU473.Conclusion Dysregulation of HP , hCE1 expression and alteration of glycans linked to CD may play crucial roles in pathogenesis of HCC.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of left ventricular myocardial perfusion after delivery of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) by using ultrasound‐targeted microbubble destruction ( UTMD ) with real‐time myocardial contrast echocardiography( RT‐MCE) . Methods Among 64 male SD rats ,52 rats were randomly selected and were induced DCM by streptozotocin through intraperitoneal injecting ,the other rats as normal control group . DCM rats were randomly divided into the DCM model group ,aFGF only group ,SonoVue‐aFGF group and the SonoVue‐aFGF+ UTMD group in this study . The aFGF only group rats were injected with aFGF solution through tail vein ,the SonoVue‐aFGF group were injected with SonoVue‐aFGF solution through tail vein and SonoVue‐aFGF+ UTMD group rats were injected with SonoVue‐aFGF solution through tail vein and using UTMD simultaneously . All rats underwent conventional echocardiography and RT‐MCE exams before and 4 weeks after intervention . Left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening( LVFS ) were measured by conventional echocardiography . The plateau intensity ( A ) ,initial slope of the curve (β) and myocardial blood flow ( A ×β) of left ventricular anterior wall at the papillary muscle level were measured in left ventricular short‐axis view by RT‐MCE . Results Before intervention , LVEF and LVFS in the DCM model group ,aFGF only group ,SonoVue‐aFGF group and the SonoVue‐aFGF+UTMD group were significantly lower than in the normal control group ( P <0 .01) .During 4 weeks after intervention ,LVEF and LVFS in the aFGF only group ,SonoVue‐aFGF group and the SonoVue‐aFGF+UTMD group were slightly increased than those in the DCM model group ,but no statistically significant differences were found ( P > 0 .05) ,however A and A × β in the SonoVue‐aFGF+ UTMD group were significantly increased than those in the DCM model group( P < 0 .01) . Compared with the same group before intervention ,A and A ×βin the SonoVue‐aFGF+UTMD group were higher ( P <0 .05) and these in the DCM model group were lower during four weeks after intervention ( P < 0 .05) . Conclusions Acidic fibroblast growth factor delivered by using UTMD can improve the left ventricular myocardial perfusion in diabetic cardiomyopathy rats .

Objective To evaluate the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in early in vivo monitoring of tumor response to cisplatin,and analyze the relationship between 18F-FDG uptake in tumor and the corresponding pathological changes.Methods Thirty VX2 rabbits were divided into 5 groups by random number table with 6 in each group,including 4 treatment groups and 1 control group.18F-FDG PET/CT were performed before and after (6,12,24 and 36 h post-injection respectively) intravenous administration of cisplatin (7 mg/kg) in the treatment groups,respectively.The control group was injected with physiological saline followed by 18F-FDG PET/CT.The ROI was drawn and the SUVmax and T/NT ratio were calculated.The tumor necrosis rate and apoptosis index were observed by histopathologic examination.Paired t test,GamesHowell test and arcuation correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.Results Significant differences were found in SUVmax and T/NT of the control group before and after injection of physiological saline (6.58±1.67 vs 9.77±2.45,52.93±3.90 vs 29.34±3.31;t=-5.480,17.593,both P＜0.05).18F-FDG uptake decreased after 6 h post-injection of cisplatin,with the mean SUVmax decrease rate of (11.83±8.89) ％ and the mean T/NT decrease rate of (59.00±8.22)％.In the 24 h treatment group,18F-FDG uptake decreased most,and the mean SUVmax decrease rate was (42.33±33.80)％,the mean T/NT decrease rate was (83.50± 7.69) ％.The SUVmax and T/NT of those 2 groups were significantly different from those of the control group,and no difference was found between the 2 treatment groups(all P＜0.05).The changes of SUVmax and T/NT were positively correlated with apoptosis index and tumor necrosis rate (r=0.750,0.794,0.804,0.874,all P＜0.05).Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT is a sensitive method for monitoring early response to tumor chemotherapy in VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits at 24 h after treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of Truview~(TM)EVO_2 optic laryngoscope by comparing it with the Macintosh laryngoscope in patients receiving cervical vertebral surgery.Methods:One hundred patients scheduled for elective cervical vertebral surgery were enrolled in this randomized crossover study.After induction,the patients'glottis in group A (n=50)was displayed by Macintosh laryngoscope and the Cormack-Lehane(C/L)grade was recorded,and then optic laryngoscope was employed to display the laryngeal structure.The order of laryngoscopy attempts was reversed in group B(n= 50).Parameters recorded included demographics,airway assessment feat ures(BMI,thyromental distance,mandibular size,mouth opening,mallampati oropharyngeal scale,and neck movement),C/L grade,laryngoscopic force applied,duration of intubation, difficulties of laryngeal view and injury of upper airway.Results:There were no significant difference in demographics,airway assessment features,C/L grade and duration of intubation between the 2 groups,whereas the laryngoscopic force in group A was significantly lower than that in group B(P