Objective: To study clinical characteristics and anatomical distributions of pulmonary embolism (PE) in suspicious PE patients and to explore if CT coronary angiography (CTCA) may simultaneously exclude PE. Methods: A total of 403 consecutive patients with suspicious PE admitted to cardiology department of our hospital from 2013-01 to 2014-10 were retrospectively studied. According to embolus distribution by CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and CTCA, the patients were divided into 2 groups: PE group,n=261 and Non-PE group,n=142. The clinical symptoms and imaging characteristics were analyzed and compared between 2 groups. Results: The overall prevalence of PE was 64.8% (261/403), suspicious PE patients were all with chest distress, palpitation, chest pain and syncope. Compared with Non-PE group, the patients in PE group were with more female gender and palpitation, while less chest pain,P<0.05; the symptoms of syncope and chest distress were similar between 2 group,P>0.05. In PE group, the sign of emboli were found in 245/261 patients (93.9%) at CTCA scanning area, the rest 16 patients (6.1%) had the small area of PE, and the emboli were only located at both upper pulmonary arteries. Conclusion: In patients with dififculty of breath, palpitation, chest pain and syncope, coronary artery disease (CAD) and PE should be simultaneously considered for accurate diagnosis. CTCA may meanwhile ifnd PE during CAD diagnosis.

Objective To explore the role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) during renal senescence by using human TIMP-1 transgenic mice.Methods Renal histological changes of wild type mice and transgenic mice at the age of 3,12,24 months were observed by periodic acid-schiff(PAS)staining of paraffin sections.The numbers of F4/80 positive cells were detected by immunofluoreseence.The protein expressions of TIMP-1,TIMP-2,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9,MMP-2,intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1),transforming growth factor?1(TGF-?1),collagenⅢand collagenⅣwere detected by Western blot.The activities of gelatinases and TIMP-1 were examined by gelatin zymography and reverse zymography respectively.Results Focal renal fibrosis was found in two genotypes with aging.At the age of 24 months,compared with wild type,in kidneys of transgenic type,the expressions and activities of gelatinases were dowregulated (MMP-2:2.08?0.20 vs.3.39?0.43;MMP-9:4.02?0.82 vs.6.72?1.40,all P＜0.05);the expressions of collagenⅢ,collagenⅣ,ICAM-1,and TGF-?1 were upragulated(0.72+0.11 vs.0.57?0.09;0.84?0.13 vs.0.6?0.11,0.72?0.12 vs.0.53?0.07; 0.69?0.12 vs.0.45?0.09,all P＜0.05),and the numbers of F4/80 positive cells were increased (18.8?4.4 vs.12.7?3.6,P＜0.05)with the upregulated expression and activity of TIMP-1(1.10?0.18 vs.0.62?0.09;50.75?7.25 vs.20.64?3.50,P＜0.05).Conclusions TIMP-1 could promote age-related renal fibrosis through enhancing inflammation reaction by ICAM-1 upregulation.

OBJECTIVETo research molluscicidal effect activity, active components and stable passage of endophyte JJ18 from Pseudolarix amabilis and examine the possibility for practical application.

METHODMolluscicidal effect test was performed according to the immersion test method suggested by WHO.

RESULTImmersion test with JJ18 broth showed that the active components were extracellular moiety of the broth and that 10% concentration solution could kill nearly 90% snail immersed after 72 h, the salified broth has favourable thermostabily and photostability and showed that JJ18 has stable passage and its active components concentrate in the extract of n-butanol.

CONCLUSIONThe metabolite of endophyte JJ18 has activity for molluscicidal effect and potential for application.

Animals ; Bacteria ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Bacterial Proteins ; pharmacology ; Molluscacides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Pinaceae ; microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; pharmacology ; Snails ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) on nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs).

METHODSMPMs were incubated in the absence or presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with AOPP-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) prepared by exposure of BSA to hypoclorous acid or pre-treated with AOPP-BSA and subsequent stimulation with LPS. NO production in the supernatants of the culture media was determined spectrophotometrically using Griess method. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay.

RESULTSBSA induced significant NO production in MPMs. AOPP modification of BSA significantly inhibited NO production, and AOPP-BSA exhibited time- and dose-dependent inhibition of NO production induced by LPS in MPMs incubated together with LPS or pre-treated before LPS stimulation.

CONCLUSIONAOPP-BSA is capable of inhibiting inducible NO production in MPMs.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; chemistry ; Lipopolysaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) in different phases of alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) in a rat model and to study the possible association between DDR2 and collagen deposition in ALF.

METHODSAfter an ALF rat model was established by alcohol gastrogavage and an olive oil diet, the liver histopathology was observed in different phases of the development of fibrosis. The expressions of DDR2 mRNA and protein were also detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively to make a dependability analysis with the index of ALF.

RESULTS(1) The expressions of DDR2 mRNA and protein increased gradually along with ALF aggravation. In the normal control group, they were respectively 1.023+/-0.132 and 0.321+/-0.027; in the model 1 group (week 12) they were 3.644+/-1.686, 0.476+/-0.046; in the model 2 group (week 16) they were 8.337+/-2.387, 0.738+/-0.057; and in the model 3 group (week 20) they were 15.730+/-4.569, 0.997+/-0.049. The differences of DDR2 mRNA (F = 21.74, P less than 0.01) and protein (F = 10.38, P less than 0.01) among these four groups were significant. (2) The expressions of DDR2 had a positive correlation with collagen type I, III, IV contents and the serum index of ALF, especially with type III and IV collagen and serum hexadecenoic acid.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of DDR2 in this ALF model correlates closely with collagen deposition in the liver, suggesting that it may play an important role in ALF pathogenesis.

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Discoidin Domain Receptors ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptors, Mitogen ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the results of malaria focus investigation and disposal in Tengchong City,Yunnan Prov-ince between 2015 and 2016,so as to provide evidences for interrupting potential malaria transmission. Methods The malaria foci were investigated and disposed according to the malaria cases reported from"China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention"in Tengchong City between 2015 and 2016. The mosquitoes were captured by mosquito-lured lamp overnight to investigate the malaria vector in local. The peripheral blood samples were collected from the local residents with a febrile history in the foci within two weeks and the accompanists of the cases,and then the rapid malaria diagnosis tests were used to screen the malaria carriers. Results Totally 145 imported malaria cases were reported in Tengchong City between 2015 and 2016,and the focus investigation and disposal rate within 7 d was 100%(145/145). A total of 16186 mosquitoes of 12 species of Anopheles were captured,among which An. sinensis was the predominant,accounting for 64.31%(10410/16186),followed by An. kun-mingensis and An. minimus,with the constituent ratios of 14.15%(2291/16186)and 11.66%(1887/16186),respectively. One person(1.96%,1/51)in the 51 accompanists of the cases was positive in the malaria rapid diagnosis test. Conclusions The malaria transmission vectors such as An. sinensis,An. kunmingensis,An. minimus etc. are still distributed in Tengchong City,and An. sinensis is the predominant species. Therefore,the relevant authorities should continue to strengthen the focus in-vestigation and disposal to interrupt the potential introduced malaria transmission by imported cases in the future.

Rituximab is currently used as a first-line therapy for phospholipase A 2 receptor-associated membranous nephropathy due to its good efficacy and safety. Although the remission rate after rituximab treatment is more than 60%, nearly 40% patients still do not respond to treatment. We used obinutuzumab to treat 3 cases of rituximab resistant PLA 2R-associated membranous nephropathy. After the first dose of 1 000 mg with or without additional dose, the amount of anti-PLA 2R antibody and urinary protein decreased significantly and the adverse reactions were mild. The results show that obinutuzumab has a certain therapeutic effect on rituximab resistant PLA 2R-associated membranous nephropathy, but the time of follow-up observation is short and can only be used as individual cases, which needs to be confirmed by a large sample and high-quality prospective cohort study.

In order to explore the transfection and expression of hRI gene on human umbilical blood stem cells, and observe it's effect on the tumor growth. After enriching human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells with a high-gradient magnetic cell sorting system (MACS), transfected them with supernatant of retrovirus containing human Ribonuclease inhibitor (hRI) cDNA. Hematopoietic progenitor clonogenic assay and PCR were used to evaluate transfection efficiency, and Western-blot and immune fluorescence were used to evaluate the expression quantity of hRI gene after transfection. Observe the effect of RI on the growth of melonoma in B16C57BL mice. The results showed that human umbilical blood CD34+ cells were highly purified by MACS, which made the purity of human umbilical blood CD34+ cells average 96.15%. hRI can be transfected on umbilical blood CD34+ cells, and the transfection efficiency was 35%. The positive expression of hRI gene on transfected CD34+ cells is identified by Western-blot and immune fluorescence assay. Mice injected with transfected CD34+ cells show a significant restraint of the tumor growth, a lower efficiency of tumor formation, a lower weight of the tumor and a longer incubation period of tumor formation with respect to the control groups. The results demonstrated the capacity of RI to inhibited the tumor growth by blocking the vasculature in tumor.
Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Genetic Therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Melanoma ; pathology ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Tongguan Capsule (TGC) on post-myocardial infarction ventricular remodeling and heart function in rats.

METHODSA rat model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was established by coronary ligation. Experimental rats were randomized to 4 groups including three model groups (Group A: captopril 5 mg/kg * day, n=7; Group B: TGC 10 g/kg * day, n=7; and Group C: placebo, n=8), and a sham-control group (Group D: blank control, n=6). Animals were treated for 4 weeks. The cardiac function of rats was assessed at the end of the experiment based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular short axis fractional shortening (LVFS) detected by colored echocardiography; meanwhile, the condition of ventricular remodeling was observed through the levels of left ventricular mass (LVM), plasma aldosterone (ALD), myocardial angiotensin II (Ang II) and myocardial collagen measurements.

RESULTSAt the end of the experiment, LVEF and LVFS in Group A and B were improved significantly, while those in Group C were unchanged, the LVEF in Group A, B, C, and D was 0.57+/-0.46, 0.61+/-0.08, 0.36+/-0.55 and 0.76+/-0.02, respectively; and their LVFS was 0.31+/-0.52, 0.34+/-0.04, 0.23+/-0.57 and 0.45+/-0.03, respectively. The difference was statistically significant when comparing the two indexes in Group A and B with those in Group C and D (P<0.05). LVM, levels of plasma ALD and myocardial Ang II were lower in Group A and B than in Group C, but a comparison between Group A and B showed an insignificant difference in lowering LVM and ALD, while the lowering of Ang II was more significant in Group B than in Group A (754.7 +/- 18.7 pg/mL vs 952.6+/-17.6 pg/mL, P<0.05). Morphological examination showed that in Group A and B the swollen myocardial cells had shrunk, with regularly arranged myocardial fibers and decreased collagen proliferation, but the improvements in Group B were more significant.

CONCLUSIONTGC could markedly improve the post-infarction ventricular remodeling and cardiac function in rats, showing that the efficacy was better than or equal to that of captopril.

Angiotensin II ; blood ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Capsules ; Captopril ; pharmacology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on large-conductance Ca2 + -activated K+ ( BKCa ) channels and voltage-dependent K+ ( Kv ) channels in rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells ( CASMCs ),and evaluate the vasorelaxation mechanisms of DHA.Methods BKCa and Kv currents in individual CASMC were recorded by patch-clamp technique in whole-cell configuration.Effects of DHA at various concentrations (0,10,20,40,60 and 80 μ mol/L) on BKCa and Kv channels were observed.Results ( 1 ) DHA enhanced IBKCa and BKCa tail currents in a concentration-dependent manner while did not affect the stably activated curves of IBKCa+ IBKCa current densities were (68.2±22.8),(72.4 ±24.5),(120.4 ±37.9),(237.5 ±53.2),(323.6 ±74.8) and (370.6 ±88.2 )pA/pF respectively (P ＜ 0.05,n =30) with the addition of 0,10,20,40,60 and 80 μmol/L DHA concentration,and half-effect concentration ( EC50 ) of DHA was (36.22 ± 2.17 ) μmol/L.(2) IKv and Kv tail currents were gradually reduced,stably activated curves of IKv were shift to the right,and stably inactivated curves were shifted to the left in the presence of DHA.IKv current densities were (43.9 ±2.3),(43.8±2.3),(42.9±2.0),(32.3±1.9),(11.7±1.5) and (9.6 ±1.2)pA/pF respectively(P＜0.05,n =30) post treatment with 0,10,20,40,60 and 80 μmol/L DHA under manding potential equal to +50 mV,and EC50 of DHA was (44.19 ±0.63) μmol/L.Conclusion DHA can activate BKCa channels and block Kv channels in rat CASMCs,the combined effects on BKCa and Kv channels lead to the vasodilation effects of DHA on vascular smooth muscle cells.