Aim To investigate the effects of monocrotaline pyrrole on production of nitric oxide and expression of eNOS protein of cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells and on contractility of cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.Methods DAF-2 fluorescence technique was used to determine NO level,Western blot analysis was performed to determine the level of eNOS protein,and collagen gel contraction system was adopted to analyze muscle contractility.Results NO production induced by ACh and expression of eNOS protein were obviously inhibited by monocrotaline pyrrole compared with those of control group and gel contraction area in MCTP-treated cells induced by Thapsigargin obviously decreased.Conclusions monocrotaline pyrrole could inhibit the level of the ACh-induced production of NO and expression of eNOS protein,and enhance the contractility of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,which may be one of the possible mechanisms of MCTP-induced pulmonary artery hypertension.

The lumber ligaments play an important role in spinal bsomechanics. The results of three-dimensional finite element analysis showed that one of functions of lumbar ligaments is transmission of the tensile load between the lumbar vertebrae. The anterior longitudinal ligament is loaded in extension of lumbar spine and the resistance to the tensile load in flexion is provided by other ligaments. These ligaments are subject to much more tension with degsneration of the intervertebral disc so that a series of pathological changes occur. Relevant significance in clinical aspect is also discussed.

Objective To study the effect of the extract of total flavonoids of Chrysanthemum indicum(TFC) on adjuvant arthritis(AA) synoviocytes.Methods Totally 0.1ml of the complete Freund's adjuvant was subcutaneously injected into the right hind feet pads of 20 SD rats.24 days after immunity synoviocytes in the knee joint were treated with TFC.Cell morphology was examined with electron microscopy.Protein level of caspase-3 cleaved fragments was analyzed by Western blotting.The annexin V stain assay was applied to explore the effect of caspase-3 inhibitor on the amelioration in synovial cells apoptosis of AA rats.Results Typical morphology and biochemical feature of apoptosis in synovial cells of AA rats were observed with TFC.The protein level of caspase-3 cleaved fragments increased obviously and was related with the concentration of TFC in synovial cells of AA rats.The apoptotic cells positively stained with annexin V were markedly reduced by caspase-3 inhibitor.Conclusion TFC can induce apoptosis in AA rats synoviocytes,which may achieve therapeutical effects in AA.The activation of caspase-3 may be one of the main causations.

Aim To study the immunomodulatory activity of total flavonoids of Litsea Coreana Leveille (LCTF) on cyclophosphamide(CY)-induced immunosuppressive mice. Methods CY (50 mg?kg-1) was administered by intraperitoneal(ip)injection for 2 consecutive days to induce immunosuppressive model. Carbon clearance, quantitative hemolysis and DNFB-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity(DTH) were applied to assay effects of LCTF on nonspecific immunity, humoral immunity and cellular immunity. Results In carbon clearance test, the clearance index (K) and values of phagocytic index (?) were elevated by LCTF (200 and 400 mg?kg-1), indicating the phagocytosis of macrophages was enhanced in immunosuppressive mice.In quantitative hemolysis, productions of IgM and IgG in serum and hemolysin in splenocytes were enhanced in immunosuppressive mice by LCTF (100 and 200 mg?kg-1). LCTF (200 and 400 mg?kg-1) obviously increased DTH reactivity in immunosuppressive mice. LCTF not only increased percentages of T cells expressing CD4+ and CD8+,but also enhanced the ratio of the two subset of T lymphocyte,and LCTF (200 and 400 mg?kg-1) could also improve IL-2 production of spleen lymphocytes. Conclusion LCTF showed significant immunomodulatory property on immunosuppressive mice through specific and nonspecific immunity.

Objective To investigate the value of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT-3DTEE) in mitral valve repair. Methods RT-3DTEE was performed in six patients[5 male,1 female,mean age (45.7±12.6)years] with mitral valve prolapse by using Philips IE33 with X7-2t probe.Preoperative RT-3DTEE studies were compared with surgical findings in patients undergoing surgical repair. Results RT-3DTEE could display dynamic morphology of mitral valve,the location of prolapse,and spatial relation tO the surrounding tissues.It could provide surgical views of the valves and the valvular apparatus.RT-3DTEE results were consistant with surgical findings.Conclusions RT-3DTEE is a unique new modality for rapid and accurate evaluation of mitral prolapse and mittal repair.

Objective To evaluate the application valve of intraoperative device closure secundum atrial sepetal defect (ASD) associated with deficient rims inducted by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Methods Twenty-three patients with ASD were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) ,and underwent an attempted intraoperative device closure through a right antierior minithoraetomy. The positon, type and size and rim of ASD were defined by TEE in preoperation, the placement of the device inducted and evaluated by TEE intraoperation,and followed by TTE after one week. Results Twenty-three patients with ASD were closed excellently. There were not shunt of atrial level in 20 patients, trivial shunt in 3 patients. However,follow-up after one week TTE indicated that all patients had no shunt,and the diameter of right atrium and right ventricle was decrease significantly (P <0.05), and pulmonary artery pressure was less than before (P <0.05). Conclusions It is very important that TEE induct the closure of ASD associated with deficient rims in micro-operative room.

Objective To evaluate the effect of edge-to-edge technique of anterior mitral valve prolapse using transthoraeic echocardiography(TTE). Methods Nineteen patients with anterior mitral valve prolapse underwent randomized operation using edge-to-edge technique. The grade of mitral regurgitation(MR),mitral valve are (MVA), the diameter of left atrial(LAD) and left ventricle(LVD), left ventricular ejection fracion(LVEF) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP) were evaluated. Results All the patients with anterior mitral valve prolapse had severe MR before the operation whereas the degree of MR changed into absence to mild degree after the procedure. There were significant statistic differences between pre- and post edge-to-edge procedure:LAD(51.63±10.03)mm vs (44.79±9.22)mm, P = 0.000, LVD(59.37±8.29)mm vs (52.68±7.31)mm, P = 0.000 ; PASP (45.37±18.34)mm Hg vs (33.00± 9.43)mm Hg, P = 0.002,1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa;MVA(4.13±0.24)cm<'2> vs (2.90±0.28)cm<'2>, P = 0.000,while LVEF changed little[(66.0±9.0)% vs (67.0±6.0) %, p = 0.751]. Conclusions The edge-to-edge technique is a simple and effective surgical method which can remain subvalve structure,restore the normal morphology of left atria,left ventricle and maintain the function of left ventricle.

Objective To investigate the expressions and significances of SIRT1 and p53 in endometrial carcinoma with diabetes mellitus.Methods Immunohistochemistry was carried out to examine the expressions of SIRT1 and p53 in 39 cases of endometrial carcinoma with diabetes mellitus and 40 cases of endometrial carcinoma without diabetes mellitus and 25 cases of normal endometrium,and the correlations between these indexs were analysed.Results The positive rate of SIRT1 and p53 in experimental group was 64.1％,59.0％ respectively,and 85.0％,52.5％ in control group.The positive rate of SIRT1 in experimental group was lower than that of control group (x2 =4.561,P =0.033).The positive rates of SIRT1 and p53 in control group were higher than that of normal endometrium (x2 =21.462,P＜ 0.001; x2 =6.771,P =0.009).Expression of SIRT1 was positively correlated with p53 (r =0.360,P =0.024).Conclusions Hyperglycemia deregulates SIRT1 in endometrial carcinoma.SIRT1 may promote tumorigenesis by silence of p53.

Objective To study on imagination features of tumor thrombi in the portal vein of primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods We established a new type system of tumor thrombi, with Ⅰ 0 to Ⅳ, a total of 5 types and 8 sub-types in the portal vein of PLC based on normal intrahepatic portal vein anatomy and growing features of the tumor thrombi. The relationship between the types and the imaging diagnosis of 130 PLC cases with tumor thrombi in the portal vein was studied. Results 85%(110/130) cases of PLC with tumor thrombi in the portal vein belongs to type Ⅱ or Ⅲ when being first diagnosed in the hospital. The resectability rates for type Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ were 62%(5/8), 16%(10/62), 10%(5/48), 0 (0/12), respectively, and chemoembolization therapy (TACE) was given in 38%(3/8), 40%(25/62), 27%(13/48), 16%(2/12), respectively. Conclusions The new types of tumor thrombi are helpful for diagnosis and treatment of PLC with tumor thrombi in the portal vein.

Objective To study the relationship between gastroesophageal varices and bleeding and portal venous tumor thrombi in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods From Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2003, 84 HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombi were divided into Ⅰ～Ⅳ groups according to Ⅰ～Ⅳ types of tumor thrombi. The grade of gastroesophageal varices, the median survival time and the death cause for group Ⅰ～Ⅳ were retrospectively analyzed. Results Mild grade of gastroesophageal varices accounted for 64.7%, 6.0%, 85.7%,100%, respectively in group Ⅰ(n=17), Ⅱ(n=26),Ⅲ( n=35) and group Ⅳ(n=6),respectively. Severe varices were found in less than 5% in all four groups. The median survival periods were 10.1, 7.2, 5.7 and 3.0 months, respectively (P=0.0001). Most cases died from esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding and hepatic failure, with each accounting for about 50% of the mortality in all the 4 groups. Conclusions Portal venous tumor thrombi of HCC patients was not the major cause leading to esophageal and gastric varices and bleeding.