OBJECTIVETo study the effect of medicines for activating blood and reinforcing Qi on the number of new micro-vessels and the protein expressions of VEGF and bFGF in the infarcted myocardium edge area of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model in rats.

METHODThe AMI model of rats was established. After the successful model establishment, rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group, the model group, the Danshen-Huangqi (1 : 2) group, the Danshen-Huangqi (1 : 1) group, the Chuanxiong-Huangqi (1 : 2) group, the Danshen group, the Chuanxiong group, the Chishao group and the Shexiang Baoxin pill group, with five rats in each group. Rats in each medicated group were orally administered with drugs as per 13.5 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) once everyday for three weeks. The immunohistochemical SP method was adopted to detect the expression of vWF in myocardial tissues, and count the number of micro-vessels (MVC). The protein expression of VEGF and bFGF in myocardial tissues were determined by Western blot.

RESULTThe new micro-vessels stained by vWF factor could be found in the infarcted myocardium edge area of the sham-operated group, the model group and all of medicated groups. The sham-operated group show unobvious new micro-vessels in myocardial tissues. A small amount of new micro-vessels could be seen in the infarcted myocardium edge area of the model group. Whereas a larger number of micro-vessels could be seen in the infarcted myocardium edge area of all of medicated groups. The differences between the sham-operated group and the model group had statistical significance (P < 0.05). The differences between each medicated group and the model group had statistical significance as well (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The lowest protein expression of VEGF and bFGF was found in myocardium of the sham-operated group, with the statistical significance compared with the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, each medicated group showed significant increase in the protein expression of VEGF and bFGF, with the statistical significance between them (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe Danshen group, the Chuanxiong group, the Chishao group, the Danshen-Huangqi (1 : 2) group, the Danshen-Huangqi (1 : 1) group and the Chuanxiong-Huangqi (1 : 2) group show the effect in promoting angiogenesis. Their mechanism for promoting angiogenesis may be related to the improvement of the protein expressions of VEGF and bFGF, so as to increase the contents of VEGF and bFGF and promote the angiogenesis of new vessels.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Microvessels ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical effects of internal fixation in treating displaced clavicle fracture combined with coracoid process.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to July 2012, 9 patients with displaced clavicle fracture combined with coracoid process were treated by internal fixation. Among them, there were 6 males and 3 females with an average age of 40.1 (ranged from 20 to 57) years old. According to Eyres classification: 3 cases were type II B, 1 case was type II A, 3 cases were type III B, and 2 cases were type V A. All patients had history of injury, and diagnosed as coracoid fracture X-ray and CT before operation. Herscovici criteria was used to evaluate function of shoulders joint after operation.

RESULTSSeven of 9 patients were followed up from 6 to 18 (averaged 11) months. The incisions were healed at stage I, coracoid process obtained bony healing, and reduction of acromioclavicular joint well. According to Herscovici criteria, 6 patients got excellent results and 1 in good.

CONCLUSIONInternal fixation for the treatment of displaced clavicle fracture combined with coracoid process could restore physiological anatomical position of coracoid process, and benefit for recovery of limb function.

Adult ; Clavicle ; injuries ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recovery of Function ; Scapula ; injuries ; Shoulder Joint ; injuries

Adolescent ; Brain Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial ; diagnostic imaging ; Hernia ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Plasmacytoma ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is an important metabolism regulator, however, whether FGF-21 has effects on cardiovascular remains unclear. In this study, H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells was used as a cell model, the anti-apoptosis potential and mechanism of FGF-21 against oxidative injury were evaluated by MTT assay, flow cytometry assay and real-time PCR. The results showed that FGF-21 could increase the cell survival of H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells and prevent H9c2 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, FGF-21 can elevate SOD activity and regulate Bcl-2/Bax expression in H9c2 cells. The results suggest that FGF-21 have protective effect against the H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the variations of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) gene and its relation to endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in Chinese population.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-five endogenous hypertriglyceridemics and 214 healthy subjects from a population of Chinese Han nationality in Chengdu area were studied using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs) amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The polymorphic sites studied included Taq IB and -629 C/A polymorphism in CETP gene.

RESULTSThe frequencies of B(2) allele at Taq IB site in normal group and HTG group were 0.418 and 0.382, respectively. The frequencies of A allele at -629 C/A site in the two groups were 0.479 and 0.489, respectively. No significant difference between normal control and HTG groups were found in both allele frequency of the two polymorphism. Linkage disequilibrium was observed between Taq IB and -629 C/A polymorphic sites (D'=0.881). In the normal control group, subjects with genotype B(2)B(2) of Taq IB site had a higher serum mean concentration of HDL-C and lower LDL-C when compared with that of genotype B(1)B(1) and B(1)B(2), respectively (both P< 0.05), while those with genotype CC of -629 C/A site had a lower LDL-C level and higher Apo A II level when compared with that of genotype AC (P< 0.01 and P< 0.05, respectively). The changes of the lipid and lipoprotein levels were only observed in normal male subjects when male and female groups were further separated. No significant changes of lipid and lipoprotein levels were observed in both polymorphism in HTG group. Combined genotype analysis of the two sites, subjects with genotype B(2)B(2)CC in normal controls had higher HDL-C levels but lower serum triglyceride (TG) when compared with B(1)B(1)CC.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that Taq IB and -629 C/A polymorphisms in CETP gene are associated with healthy control subjects to some extent in Chinese population, but not with endogenous hypertriglyleridemia in the population group.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apolipoproteins ; blood ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; genetics ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; DNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; blood ; ethnology ; genetics ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo find an objective index to describe the severity of hypernasality in cleft palate patients through speech spectroanalysis.

METHODS60 audio records of cleft palate patients were analyzed by spectroanalysis, the relative energy in low frequency area (REL) was calculated in the LPC spectrogram. One experienced speech therapist and two nonprofessionals made perceptual judgments of the same records. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to test if the 3 groups of data have significant correlations.

RESULTSREL had significant correlation with professional judgments (correlation coefficient was 0.272, P < 0.05) and nonprofessional judgments (correlation coefficient was 0.274, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONREL can be used as one objective reference in the judgment of the severity of hypernasality.

Adult ; Cleft Palate ; Female ; Humans ; Speech

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic factors in treating primary liver cancer (PLC) patients by Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating method (PSQRM), thus providing evidence and optimizing Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating program.

METHODSClinical data of 151 PLC patients treated by PSQRM at Oncology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2007 to March 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The univariate analysis was determined to analyze possible prognostic factors. Selected key factors were introduced into the COX proportional hazard model, and multivariate analysis was carried out.

RESULTSThe 1-year survival rate was 21.85%, the median survival time was 6.80 months, and the mean survival time was 8.98 months. The univariate analysis showed that Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types, clinical symptoms at the initial diagnosis, ascites, tumor types, ratios of foci, portal vein tumor thrombus, intrahepatic metastasis, a-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, total bilirubin classification, albumin classification, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were significant prognostic factors (P < 0.05). The statistic data of multivariate analysis indicated that CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were independent factors influencing prognosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prognosis of PLC treated with PSQRM is determined by multiple factors including CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the variations of ATP binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) gene and its relation to endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in Chinese population.

METHODSA total of three hundred and nine subjects (one hundred and nine endogenous hypertriglyceridemics and 200 healthy controls) from a population of Chinese Han nationality in Chengdu area were studied using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSThe frequency of K allele at R219K site 0.472 and 0.436 in normal and HTG group, respectively. No significant difference between normal control and HTG group was found in both allele and genotype frequencies. In both normal and HTG groups, subjects with genotype KK had a higher serum mean concentration of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) when compared with those with genotype RR, respectively (1.48+/-0.45 mmol/L vs 1.27+/-0.29 mmol/L, P<0.05; 1.07+/-0.30 mmol/L vs 0.87+/-0.19 mmol/L, P<0.05). In normal group, subjects with genotype RK had a lower triglyceride (TG) level compared with those with genotype RR (1.22+/-0.37 mmol/L vs 1.41+/-0.84 mmol/L, P<0.05). In addition, the subjects carrying K allele in HTG group had a decreased total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio compared with those with genotype RR (KK vs RK vs RR: 4.82+/-1.28 vs 5.42+/-1.62 vs 6.33+/-1.70, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that R219K polymorphism in ABCA1 gene is not only associated with serum HDL-C and TG levels in healthy Chinese subjects in Chengdu area, but also with HDL-C level and TC/HDL-C ratio in subjects with endogenous HTG.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; blood ; ethnology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluated the bonding strength between pure titanium and Solidex after deposition by magnetron sputtering TiSiN with different content of Si (9%, 19%) and analyzed the surface component by electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA).

METHODSAll pure titanium samples divided into 3 groups according to different surface treatment, then bonded with Solidex light-cured composite. Material test machine was used to measure bonding strength and the surface was analyzed by EPMA.

RESULTSThe bonding strength of deposition with TiSiN groups were higher than unfilming group, increasing the content of Si could enhance the bonding strength between pure titanium and Solidex in TiSiN groups (P < 0.05). EPMA showed amorphous materials like TiN, SiN gathered on the surface in TiSiN groups. There were obvious interspaces between unfilming pure titanium and Solidex, contrary no interspaces was observed in TiSiN groups.

CONCLUSIONThe bonding strength of filming groups was higher than unfilming group, amorphous material like TiN, SiN gathering on the surface may prevent the microleakage and stop metal ion leaking.

Composite Resins ; Crowns ; Dental Bonding ; Materials Testing ; Surface Properties ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo establish an artificial somatic-autonomic reflex arc in rats and observe the following distributive changes of neural fibers in the bladder.

METHODSAdult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, spinal cord injury (SCI) group, and reinnervation group. DiI retrograde tracing was used to verify establishment of the model and to investigate the transport function of the regenerated efferent axons in the new reflex arc. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the DiI-labeled neurons was detected by immunohistochemistry. Distribution of neural fibers in the bladder was observed by acetylcholine esterase staining.

RESULTSDiI-labeled neurons distributed mainly in the left ventral horn from L3 to L5, and some of them were also ChAT-positive. The neural fibers in the bladder detrusor reduced remarkably in the SCI group compared with the control (P < 0.05). After establishment of the somatic-autonomic reflex arc in the reinnervation group, the number of ipsilateral fibers in the bladder increased markedly compared with the SCI group (P < 0.05), though still much less than that in the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efferent branches of the somatic nerves may grow and replace the parasympathetic preganglionic axons through axonal regeneration. Acetylcholine is still the major neurotransmitter of the new reflex arc. The controllability of detrusor may be promoted when it is reinnervated by the pelvic ganglia efferent somatic motor fibers from the postganglionic axons.

Acetylcholinesterase ; biosynthesis ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Animals ; Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic ; physiology ; Cholinergic Fibers ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Motor Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Neural Pathways ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex ; physiology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; surgery ; Urinary Bladder ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; surgery