OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of low molecular weight heparin calcium (LMWHC) combined Compound Danshen Injection (DI) on nephrotic syndrome patients with early onset severe preeclampsia.

METHODSTotally 80 nephrotic syndrome patients with early onset severe pre-eclampsia were randomly assigned to four groups voluntarily, i.e., Group A (22 cases, treated by magnesium sulfate), B (19 cases, treated by magnesium sulfate plus LMWHC), C (21 cases, magnesium sulfate plus DI), D (18 cases, magnesium sulfate plus LMWHC and DI). Umbilical arterial S/D ratios, amniotic fluid index (AFI), prolonged gestational age, placenta weight, neonatal weight, and Apgar score were compared among the four groups.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, umbilical arterial S/D ratios decreased in the four groups (P <0. 05). AFI decreased in Group A, while it increased in Group B, C, and D (P<0. 05). Compared with Group A at the same time point, umbilical arterial S/D ratios decreased, and AFI increased in Group B, C, and D (P <0. 01 , P <0. 05). Prolonged gestational age and neonatal weight were increased in Group B, C, and D (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). Placenta weight were increased in Group B and D (P <0. 05). Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min were improved in Group D (P <0. 05). Compared with Group B and C at the same time point, umbilical arterial S/D ratios decreased, and AFI increased in Group D (P<0. 05). Compared with Group B, prolonged gestational age and placenta weight were decreased in Group C, but prolonged gestational age and placenta weight were increased in Group D (P <0.05). Compared with Group C, prolonged gestational age, placenta weight, and neonatal weight were increased in Group D (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of nephrotic syndrome patients with early onset severe pre-eclampsia by LMWHC combined DI could prolong gestational ages, obviously improve prenatal outcomes, with better effect obtained than using any of them alone.

Calcium ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Phenanthrolines ; Pre-Eclampsia ; drug therapy ; Pregnancy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

This paper introduced a new structure of MRI guided P-HIFU therapy system and software implementation based on the current P-HIFU system and interface provided by MRI vendor. The tests showed that the system's software can achieve the appropriate form of treatment need.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Software Design ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in pulmonary vascular remodeling of pulmonary hypertensive rats, and investigate the regulation of CTGF expression by simvastatin in this animal model.

METHODSEighty male Sprague-Dawley rats (350 to 400 g) were randomized to 7 groups. The rats in group PM(1 - 21) (n = 10) and PM(1 - 35) (n = 12) were treated with pneumonectomy + monocrotaline (MCT), and sacrificed at the 21st or 35th experimental day;those in groups PMS(1 - 35) (n = 12), PMS(21 - 35) (n = 12), PMV(1 - 35) (n = 12) and PMV(21 - 35) (n = 12) were given daily lavage of simvastatin (or vehicle) as intervention measure which began from the 1st and 21st experimental days, respectively; additional 10 rats were used as control without any intervention. The animals were sacrificed at the end of experiment (35 th day) as hemodynamic measurements and study on the morphological parameters relevant to pulmonary vascular remodeling were performed on each group of rats. The expression of ET-1 mRNA, CTGF mRNA and protein, and synthesis of collagen in these pneumonectomized, MCT-treated rats were compared between control and rats treated with simvastatin.

RESULTSRats in PM(1 - 35) Group developed severe PAH (mPAP = 39.75 +/- 3.62 mm Hg) (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), right ventricular hypertrophy [RV/(LV + S) ratio = 0.627 +/- 0.040], and arterial medial hypertrophy (WT% = 61.73 +/- 5.39), these parameters of the control animals were 17.10 +/- 1.20 mm Hg, 0.262 +/- 0.018 and 14.71 +/- 1.16, respectively. CTGF mRNA and protein were mainly located in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells and interstitial macrophage shown by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The expression of ET-1 mRNA and CTGF mRNA detected by fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR in Group PM(1 - 35) were significantly increased in comparison with controls, and so did the CTGF protein expression determined by Western blotting in these diseased rats. The content of hydroxyproline (1.30 +/- 0.19 microg/mg wet lung) was remarkably higher than that of control animals (0.56 +/- 0.10 microg/mg wet lung). The up-regulation of ET-1 and CTGF gene expression, and elevated synthesis of hydroxyproline were reversed in rats intervened with simvastatin. The pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy and medial hypertrophy were attenuated in all simvastatin-treated rats no matter the intervention was initiated from the beginning or midway of the study.

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of CTGF gene expression may play an important role in the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH. Simvastatin can prevent and, to some extent, reverse the vascular remodeling via down-regulation of CTGF gene expression.

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEBased on establishment of four rat models of experimental pulmonary hypertension (PH), the authors examined the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by doxycycline and its effect on the development of PH and associated pulmonary vascular remodeling.

METHODHealthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight 350 g to 400 g) were randomly divided into nine groups: Normal control group (N), four model groups (H, M, P, PM) and their corresponding drug intervention groups (HD, MD, PD, PMD) in which doxycycline was given by gavage at a 20 mg/kg daily dosage. On day 28 (day 35 for PM and PMD models), the animals were catheterized to record mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and then sacrificed. Fulton Index [RV/(LV + S)] was measured immediately. Morphometric parameters, including percent vascular wall thickness and muscularization of non-muscularized peripheral pulmonary arterioles were determined microscopically. The activity of MMPs was measured by gelatin zymography in the lung tissue.

RESULTS(1) Rats in all model groups (H, M, P, PM) developed significant pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy in comparison with their corresponding drug intervention groups (HD, MD, PD, PMD) and normal control group (N) (P < 0.01). For example, mPAP (mm Hg)(1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa):N: 18.10 +/- 1.45, H: 27.20 +/- 1.55, HD: 23.90 +/- 2.13; Fulton Inedx(%):N: 23.41 +/- 1.84, H: 34.44 +/- 2.70, HD: 27.55 +/- 2.45. (2) The percent vascular wall thickness (WT%) and percentage of muscularization of non-muscular pulmonary arterioles were significantly increased in all model groups compared with drug intervention groups and normal group (P < 0.01). For example, WT%:N: 10.90 +/- 3.11, H:41.41 +/- 5.21, HD: 17.73 +/- 3.12; Muscularization(%):N: 13.83 +/- 3.72, H: 44.93 +/- 2.43, HD: 29.89 +/- 4.45. (3) The activity of MMPs was inhibited by doxycycline effectively as assessed by gelatin zymography (P < 0.01). For example, the activity of MMP2 (A x 10(3)):N: 1.43 +/- 0.24, H: 3.58 +/- 0.28, HD: 2.29 +/- 0.31.

CONCLUSIONDoxycycline attenuated PH and associated pulmonary vascular remodeling in all rat PH models. The study suggests that high expression and enhanced activity of MMPs may play a brutial role in the development of PH. Such phenomenon seems to be common in a variety of PH models of different etiology.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess the results of multi-technique with intact canal and scute rebuild operation for middle ear cholesteatoma.

METHODSAnalysis of 113 cases (males 60, females 53, with mean 42.7 years old), of which with double ears of 11 cases, and totally 124 ears (11 ears for one review, an ear for third time review, and totally 137 operations) was retrospectively performed. Ten cases less than 19 years old were operated from September 2001 to January 2006 for middle ear cholesteatoma as well as ossiculoplasty with intact canal and scute rebuild etc multi-technique. All cases were followed up for a mean (36.58 +/- 20.47) months.

RESULTSThere were 118 ears (95.2%) without cholesteatoma recurrence. Six ears were found cholesteatoma recurrence. Other 6 post-operation ears with drum re-perforation and hearing drop were re-operated. The pre-operation air-bone gap (ABG, average of 0.5, 1, 2 kHz) of 124 ears, with in initial 112 ears, was (33. 61 +/- 12.35) dB, while that of post-operation ABG was (13.58 +/- 9. 27) dB, by partnership t test, t = 18.35, P < 0.01. The pre-operation ABG in reviewed 12 ears at the first pre-operation was (38.83 +/- 12.43) dB, but post-operation ABG (10.38 +/- 8.99) dB, by partnership t test, t = 5.38, P = 0.00022. The ABG closure to within 20 dB was tested in 100 ears while ABG over 20 dB but air conduct (AC) in 40 dB was in 6 ears, and then as succeed was in 106 ears (85.5%). ABG closure within 10 dB was in 50 ears and though ABG over 10 dB but ABG reduced over 30 dB was in 9 ears (59/124, 47.6%) as which as best result. Bone conduct (BC) threshold was tested of 21 ears (16.93%) with raise 1-9 dB, of 42 ears (33.9%) with no change and of 61 ears (49.2%) with descend 1-28 dB. Of 10 cases less than 19 years old post-operation ABG was (8.80 +/- 5.27) dB, which indicated that all cases was as succeed.

CONCLUSIONSUsing intact canal and scute rebuild etc multi-technique a normal canal, hearing improvement and very low recurrent could be gained for middle ear cholesteatoma, especially in juvenile and children. The multi-technique should be almost no damage for hearing bone conduct.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) combined with Tongdan: Decoction () on immunological indices and histopathological changes in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) of IIor III histological stage.

METHODSSixty PBC patients were assigned randomly and equally: to the control group treated with UDCA alone and the treatment group treated with UDCA combined with Tongdan Decoction. The immunological indices and histopathological changes were detected before and after 24-week treatment, and the follow-up lasted for 1-3 years.

RESULTSAfter 24-week treatment, CD4(+)CD28(-) in the peripheral blood was lowered and CD4(+)CD25(+) was increased in both groups, and better effect was shown in the treatment group (P<0.01). The levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA decreased markedly after 96-week treatment in the treatment group (P< 0.05, P< 0.01), while in the control group, only the latter two showed significant decrease after 148 week (all P<0.05). At the end of the 3-year follow-up, the medians of histopathological

CONCLUSIONCombined therapy of Tongdan Decoction and UDCA showed a better therapeutic effect: than UDCA monotherapy on PBC, especially in improving immunological indices and histopathological hepatic changes.

Antigens, CD ; blood ; Biomarkers ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Inflammation ; blood ; complications ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the estrogen receptors (ER)alpha and ERbeta expression and their relationship with clinicopathological parameters in human breast carcinoma.

METHODSSamples were obtained from 30 breast carcinoma, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta mRNA.

RESULTSERalpha mRNA level was up-regulated in breast carcinoma tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue (t = 7.399, P < 0.01) while down-regulated in ERbeta. The relative ratio of ERalpha and ERbeta was decreased in normal tissue vs. carcinoma (t = 6.385, P < 0.01), in patients with lymph node metastasis vs. those without lymph node metastasis (t = 2.602, P < 0.05), in late stage carcinoma vs. early stage (t = 3.754, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONERalpha and ERbeta play divergent role in the development of human breast carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Adolescent ; Fucosyltransferases ; genetics ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Male ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the short-term and long-term effect of Er-yttrium aluminum garnet (Er-YAG) laser in stapes surgery.

METHODSThere were 86 patients operated by the Er-YAG laser stapedotomy from 2001 to 2007 were analyzed retrospectively, with 23 male, 63 female and 13 double ears and with the average age of 48 years old, ranging from 12 to 78. All of 99 ears suffered deafness of conduction. The average air-bone-gap (ABG) of all patients before surgery was (37.4+/-9.0) dB HL (ranging from 13.7 to 58.7 dB). The patients followed-up over 6 weeks after the surgery was regarded as the short-term result, while over one year follow-up as the long-term effect (according to the standard of the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery). The followed-up average time was (26.3+/-15.8) months (range from 14 to 73 months). The pre-post-operation average bone conduction auditory threshold of 2 kHz and 4 kHz were observed. The data of the patient whether or not has the symptoms of tinnitus and dizzy and the lasted days were also recorded.

RESULTSAfter surgery, short-term ABG of 99 ears was (15.7+/-8.7) dB, matched-pairs t test with the numbers of before surgery, t=22.79, P<0.01. The results of 45 ears (45.5%) with ABG<10 dB or air conduction improved more than 30 dB were regarded as excellence. The air conduction of 88 ears (88.9%) improved more than 15 dB was regarded as utility. With 82 ears (82.8%) followed-up more than 1 year, the average ABG was (11.7+/-6.8) dB, matched-pairs t test with the numbers of before surgery, t=23.37, P<0.01, compared with the short-term visit result [(15.3+/-9.2) dB, 82 ears], t=4.82, P<0.01, both of which were considered statistically extremely significant. Among them, 50 ears (61.0%) have the excellent effect while 74 ears with (90.2%) ABG<20 dB. The average bone conduction auditory threshold in 2 kHz was (34.5+/-15.0) dB before surgery, matched-pairs t test with short-term visit result (33.4+/-15.9) dB, t=1.96, P=0.026 14, with long-term visit result (32.7+/-15.2) dB, t=3.24, P=0.000 87, all of which had the significant difference, manifest that the Cohort's notch had been improved after the surgery. The data of bone conduction auditory threshold of 4 kHz with long-term following-up result matched-pairs t test with that of surgery before, t=0.76 (P>0.05), which showed the change of the bone conduction had no statistics difference. There were 55 ears had the persistent tinnitus before surgery, in which 42 ears (76.4%) with no the tinnitus, 13 ears with same to that of preoperative, and 3 ears (3.0%) with remaining tinnitus after surgery but who had not it preoperation and all disappeared after 2 - 3 days. There were 12 ears (12.1%) with light dizzy after surgery, but their live could deal with himself and the average dizzy lasted 2.3 days.

CONCLUSIONSEr-YAG laser stapes surgery is safe to the inner ear, and it primal free from the imminent risk in stapes surgery, so the effect can be affirmed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otosclerosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Stapes Surgery ; methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMyocardial tissue-level perfusion failure is associated with adverse outcomes following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) despite successful epicardial recanalization. We have developed a new quantitative index-thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) myocardial perfusion frame count (TMPFC)--for assessing myocardial tissue level perfusion. However, factors affecting this novel index of myocardial perfusion are currently unknown.

METHODSA total of 255 consecutive STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty were enrolled. Myocardial tissue level perfusion was assessed by TMPFC, which measures the filling and clearance of contrast in the myocardium using cine-angiographic frame counting. We differentiate three groups with two cut off values for TMPFC: a TMPFC of 90 frames was the upper boundary of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the TMPFC observed in normal arteries, and a TMPFC of 130 was the 75th percentile of TMPFC.

RESULTSSTEMI patients with TMPFC > 130 frames (68 patients, 26.7%) had higher clinical and angiographic risk factor profiles as well as a higher 30-day MACE rate compared with those with TMPFC ≤ 90 frames and those with TMPFC > 90 and ≤ 130 frames. Multivariable analysis identified that the independent predictors of TMPFC > 130 frames were age ≥ 75 years (OR 2.08, 95%CI 1.21 to 3.58, P = 0.007), diabetes (OR 1.37, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.86, P = 0.042), Killip class ≥ 2 (OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.05 to 2.21, P = 0.027), and prolonged pain-to-balloon time (OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.07 to 2.79, P = 0.013). TMPFC > 130 frames was identified as the strongest independent predictor of 30-day major adverse cardiac event (MACE) (OR 2.77, 95%CI 1.21 to 6.31, P = 0.008), along with age ≥ 75 years (OR 2.19, 95%CI 1.11 to 4.33, P = 0.016), female gender (OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.03 to 2.70, P = 0.038), and Killip class ≥ 2 (OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.07 to 3.14, P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONSSTEMI patients with poor myocardial perfusion assessed by TMPFC had higher risk factor profiles. Advanced age, diabetes, higher Killip class, and longer ischemia time were independent predictors of impaired TMPFC after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. These results emphasize that particular attention should be paid on myocardial microvascular reperfusion in STEMI patients with these risk factors.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology