Objective To evaluate the ventricula r septal defect qualitatively and quantitatively by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE).Methods RT-3DE were performed in 10 pig hearts with 22 ventricular septal defects in multiple orientations and cross sections. The diameters and areas of ventricular septal defects were measured both in RT-3DE and anatomic view. Echo images and parameters derived by RT-3DE were compared with anatomic view. Results Technically satisfactory RT-3DE images were obtained in all preparations. The location, size, morphology, and spatial relationships with surrounding cardiac structure of ventricular septal defects were displayed instantly. No significant differences were found between RT-3DE and anatomic measurements. Conclusions RT-3DE has advantages of instantly displaying the ventricular septal defects in anyplane and has important surgical and interventional implications.

0.05 ), while defect dimensions by 2-D E were lower than those in surgical operation(P

Objective To explore the methodology of sca nning, cutting and measuring normal cardiovascular structures by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) and it's clinical applications. Methods Conventional two-dimensional echocardiography (2-DE), RT-3DE and full volume three-dimensional echocardiography (FV-3DE)were performed in 20 normal volunteers to visualize normal cardiovascular structures in multiple orientations and cross sections both in static and dynamic fashions, and all echo images derived by three techniques were compared and analyzed.Results Technically satisfactory 2-DE, RT-3DE and FV-3DE images were obtained in all subjects. Compared with conventional 2-DE technique, RT-3DE has the advantages of instantly displaying three orthogonal planes and spatial relationships of any cardiac structure within a "piece of cake" images of a regional heart, while FV-3DE has the superiority in rapidly depicting three orthogonal planes and spatial relationships of any cardiac structure within a pyramid images of a whole heart. Conclusions Both RT-3DE and FV-3DE techniques can display cardiac structures unobtainable by 2-DE and are useful in reducing the subjectivity and blindness of 2-DE studies, which may enhance the diagnostic accuracy and work efficiency of echo laboratories and produce important clinical values.

Aim Tostudytheantidepressanteffectand mechanism of Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris. Methods Themodelofdepressionwasestablishedby unpredictable chronic mild stress(UCMS),then open filed test (OFT)and tail suspension test (TST)were used to evaluate the behavioral changes.LC-MS/MS method was employed to measure blood neurotransmit-ters.mRNA expressions of IDO,IL-10 and IL-1βwere detected by quantitative PCR method.Hippocampus protein expression was detected by Western blot.Re-sults Comparedwithcontrolgroup,modelgroup's total distance,number of standing and tail suspension fixed time increased significantly (P <0. 05 ),Neuro-transmitter level of 5-HT in the blood was significantly decreased(P<0. 05 ).mRNA expression of IDO and IL-1βwas increased in hippocampus.Protein expres-sion of IDO was significantly increased in hippocampus (P <0. 05 ).Compared with model group,the treat-ment group was significantly decreased in total distance,number of standing and tail suspension fixedtime(P<0. 05).Neurotransmitter level of 5-HT in the blood and mRNA expression of IL-10 in hippocampus were significantly increased after treatment (P <0. 05 ).mRNA and protein expression of IDO were ob-viously down-regulated in hippocampus (P <0. 05 ). Conclusions GrosssaponinsofTribulusterrestriscan obviously improve rat behavior and show antidepressanteffect,which can increase neurotransmitter level of 5-HT in the blood,down-regulate mRNA expression of IDO and IL-1β,and obviously increase protein expres-sion levels of IDO in hippocampus(P<0. 05 ).

OBJECTIVETo determine the interaction between miR-21 and DNA methylation in different breast cancer cells.

METHODSFluorescence tagged miR-21 inhibitor and its negative control (NC) were transient transfected into MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell, the transfection efficiency was observed using fluorescence microscopy, and the miR-21 expression level and genome DNA methylation status before and after transfection were assessed by real-time PCR and bisulfite-qMSP respectively. To investigate the regulation effect of DNA methylation on miR-21, cells were treated with 5-AZA (2.5 µmol/L) for 72 h, with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment as its negative control (NC), and the expression level of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and AKT(also known as Protein Kinase B), two downstream genes of miR-21 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe expression of miR-21 in MCF-7 cell was significantly knocked down (P < 0.01) by miR-21 inhibitor, with the genome DNA methylation level (P < 0.05) and all the three Dnmts: Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b unregulated. In contrast, the miR-21 expression in MDA-MB-231 cell was elevated ( P < 0.01) by miR-21 inhibitor, meanwhile, down- regulated of genome DNA methylation (P < 0.05) and Dnmt3b expression, upregulation of Dnmt3a were also observed. In addition, treated with 5-AZA resulted in significant increases of miR-21 expression in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (P < 0.01), with the protein level of PTEN increased in MCF-7 cell, which was further involved in the downregulation of AKT.

CONCLUSIONThe regulation effects of DNA methylation by transient transfection of miR-21 in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells are almost opposite, whilst the expression of miR-21 in two cell lines were all upregulated by decreased DNA methylation level and our results may provide some experimental evidences for the future development of rational therapy for different breast cancer.

Azacitidine ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Up-Regulation

Chronic Disease ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; Humans

Objective To investigate the risk factors and prognosis of no-reflow phenomenon in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods Retrospectively analyzed 524 patients with acute coronary syndrome after PCI of which 427 patients had detailed record.Angiographic no-reflow phenomenon was designated as TIMI≤2 flow without mechanical obstruction of embolism,thrombus,dissection and spasm.Normal flow designated as TIMI 3 flow.Using random count table of Excel,70 patients were randomized from 393 patients with coronary flow TIMI 3 after PCI as the control normal flow group.Results The no reflow group enrolled 34 patients.Compared with the normal flow group,their incidence of AMI and diabetes,the blood insulin level and mean leukocyte count were significantly higher.The incidence of MACE in and out of hospital was higher in the no reflow group than the normal flow group.Within the no reflow group,the EF decreased while the LVEDD increased significantly PCI.Conclusion History of diabetes,blood insulin level and leukocyte count may be the risk factors of no-reflow.On the other hand,the no reflow phenomenon maybe a prognostic factor of MACE,ventricular remodeling and heart function for patients after PCI.

Objective To observe the effect of estrogen on H2O2-induced apoptosis and to explore the mechanism of protection by estrogen.Methods Setting up the experimental model of apoptosis induced by H2O2 in PC12 cells. The viability of cells was assessed by MTT assay. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase was detected by colorimetry. Hoechst 33258 was used as indicator of apoptosis. Apoptotic cells were measured by flow cytometry (FCM) with propidium iodide stain. The activity of caspase-3 was detected by colorimetry. Results H2O2 significantly decreased the viability of cell, increased LDH release and promoted apoptosis as well as caspase-3 activity in PC12. Estrogen markedly reduced these changes. Conclusion Estrogen reduces apoptosis induced by H2O2, and its mechanisms may be explained by inhibition of activation of caspase-3.

Child ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Pediatrics

AIM: To investigate the role of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the growth of Müller cells using a co-culture system in vitro . METHODS: Müller cells were cocultured with RPE cells under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in Transwell chamber culture system. Müller cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. The number of cells which migrate through micropores and stay on the outer bottom side of insert systems were observed and counted. RESULTS: The activities of proliferation and migration of Müller cells when cocultured with RPE cells were significantly higher than those of the Müller cells when cultured alone at all time points under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. However, for both the coculture and control groups, there is no significant difference between the measurements at 3 and 6 hours. CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that RPE, when co-cultured with Müller cells, can stimulate migration and proliferation of Müller cells under both hypoxic and normoxic conditions in a time-dependent manner; how-ever, there is no evidence to support the synergetic interaction of RPE and Müller cells co-cultured under hypoxic conditions.