Objective To explore the diagnostic value of dual syringe and dual-channel direct multi-slice computed tomography venography(MSCTV) for lower extremity deep venous obstructive disease.Methods 100 patients highly suspected deep vein thrombosis by clinic wereunderwent dual syringe and dual-channel direct MSCTV.The original data processed with technology of subtraction,and put into workstation and reconstructed with maximum intensity projection(MIP),multiplanar reformation(MPR) and volume rendering (VR).Images of deep venous obstructive lesions were analysed and graded.All patients were underwent DSA in one week.Results Direct MSCTV showed that the reconstructed images and the vascular contrast were very clear.In the evaluation of deep venous,excellent proportion was 95 ％ for the inferior vena cava,94 ％ for the common iliac vein,95 ％ for the external iliac vein,95.5 ％ for the femoral vein,96.5％ for the popliteal vein and 92 ％ for the low leg vein.Direct MSCTV displayed complete and regular vein in 8 normal patients,92 cases displayed different parts and different degrees of thrombosis.On original axial images,eccentric filling defect of vascular were showed (there were 64 multiple vein occlusion cases and 28 solitary obstruction cases).The occlusion locations in deep venous were as following:3 in the inferior vena cava,67 in the common iliac vein,28 in the external iliac vein,50 in the femoral vein,26 in the popliteal vein,89 in the anterior tibial vein,35 in the posterior tibial vein and 5 in the peroneal vein.There were 7 normal patients and 93 patients with different parts and different degrees of thrombosis.Conclusion Direct MSCTV can accurately show deep vein thrombosis,which image is clear and reliable for displaying the scope and extent of lesions of the vascular and whether the collateral circulation established.Direct MSCTV has a significant clinical value in diagnosing the thrombotic disease of deep vein obstructive lesions.

Objective To explore the potential role of apolipoprotein A5 (ApoA5) on the hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)-lowering effects of statin. Methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 3 groups:(1)control group, with no special treatment. (2) HTG group, treated with 10% fructose water for 6 weeks. (3) statin 4 weeks. Body weight, fasting plasma lipids, and the hepatic expressions of ApoA5 and PPARα were determined. In separate in vitro experiments, the effects of atorvastatin on triglyceride (TG) and the expressions of ApoA5 and PPARα in HepG2 cells were tested. Results (1) Plasma TG was higher in HTG group than in controls group, which was significantly reduced in statin group (both P ＜ 0. 05). (2) Rat hepatic ApoA5expression in HTG group was significantly lower than in control group and it was significantly higher in statin group than in HTG group (both P＜0. 05). (3) Similarly, rat PPARα mRNA expression in HTG group was lower than in control group and it was higher in statin group than in HTG group (both P ＜ 0.05). (4) Statin significantly upregulated the expressions of ApoA5 and PPARα and decreased TG in HepG2 cells, which was blocked in the presence of PPARα inhibitor. Conclusion Upregulation of ApoA5 expression contributes to TG lowering effect of statin via PPARα signaling pathway.

AIM: To investigate the regulatory effects of voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel (Kv) on the tension of normal and passively sensitized human airway smooth muscle (HASM). METHODS: By using blockers of potassium channels as tools, the tension of HASM and Kv gene mRNA and protein expressions in normal and asthmatics serum sensitized HASM cells were measured with techniques of reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: (1) 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), the blocker of Kv, caused a concentration dependent constriction in normal HASM rings. The negative logarithm of the drug concentration causing 50% of maximal effect (pD_2) in normal group (2.09?0.09) was significantly different from that in the sensitized group (2.44?0.16, P0.05). (2) There were Kv1.2, Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 mRNA expressions in cultured HASM cells, but only Kv1.5 mRNA (P

Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; drug therapy ; United States

Objective To assess the correlation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels with vitamin D-binding protein (the group-specific component,GC) gene polymorphism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods In a cross-sectional case-control study,250participants,including 116 COPD patients with smoking history and 134 healthy smokers,were investigated.A questionnaire about smoking history,vitamin D intake and comorbidities was collected.General pulmonary function was done by routine.Serum 25-OHD levels were detected by ELISA.The genetic variants (rs4588and rs7041) were genotyped by real time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with TaqMan probe technology.Results The COPD patients had lower serum vitamin D level than the smoker subjects (36.58 nmol/L vs 43.80 nmol/L,P ＜0.001).In the COPD patients,vitamin D level was 39.43 nmol/L in those with percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ％ pred) greater than or equal to 80％.In other groups with FEV1 ％ pred 50％-80％,30％-50％ and lower than 30％,vitamin D levels were 35.32 nmol/L,32.21 nmol/L,26.25 nmol/L respectively (P ＜ 0.01).Moreover,there was a significant relevance of 25-OHD levels with FEV1 ％ pred in both COPD patients and healthy smokers (r2 =1.911; P ＜0.000 1).The mean 25-OHD concentration had a negative correlation with Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages.Homozygous carriers of vitamin D-binding protein gene rs7041 T allele were independently related to 25-OHD levels and susceptibility of COPD (P ＜ 0.01 ; OR =2.140,95％ CI 1.157-3.959,P =0.015 respectively).Conclusions Patients with COPD are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency and the severity of COPD is inversely correlated with vitamin D levels.Furthermore,homozygous carrier of rs7041 T allele influences 25-OHD serum levels and is related to susceptibility of COPD,which may be a potential candidate gene for screening COPD.

The effects of protein kinase C (PKC) on the tension and the activity of voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel (K(y)) were examined in normal and passively sensitized human airway smooth muscle (HASM), by measuring tones and whole-cell patch clamp techniques, and the K(v) activities and membrane potential (E (m)) were also detected. The results showed that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, caused a concentration-dependent constriction in normal HASM rings. The constriction of the passively sensitized muscle in asthma serum group was significantly higher than that of the normal group (P<0.05), and the constrictions of both groups were completely abolished by PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220 and calcium channel inhibitor nifedipine. K(v) activities of HASM cells were significantly inhibited by PMA, and the E (m) became more positive, as compared with the DMSO (a PMA menstruum)-treated group (P<0.01). This effect could be blocked by Ro31-8220 (P<0.01). It was concluded that activation of PKC could increase the tones of HASM, which might be related to the reduced K(v) activity. In passively sensitized HASM rings, this effect was more notable.

Objective To set up a three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) to investigate biomechanics of point contact locking plate (PC-LP) fixating femoral shaft fractures. Methods One intact fresh adult cadaveric femur was scanned by CT at 1 mm interval. Then, the data of CT were utilized to establish three-dimensional FEM by using software Mimics and PRO/E and simulate the different clini-cal loading conditions. The changes of theoretical stress of femur and PC-LP were analyzed under flexion, axial compression and torsion loads. Results (1) Under four-point bending load, the distribution of femur stress was in uniformity, with the largest stress of the PC-LP focused on the edge. (2) Under axial compression load of 250 N, the largest stress of the femur was focused on the screw holes on beth distal ends, with the largest stress of the PC-LP focused on the middle screw holes. (3) Under the torsion load cused on the middlepart and the middle screw holes. Conclusions Under the four-point bending, ax-ial compression and torsion loads, the distribution of femur stress is in uniformity, when the largest stress of the PC-LP focuses on edge or the middle screw holes, while that of the PC-LP on two screw holes of proximal or distal ends.

Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare mutilating and lethal single-gene genodermatosis, and places a heavy burden on society and families. Cell therapy has become a very promising method for the treatment of EB due to its excellent and stable clinical efficacy. This review summarizes progress in laboratory research and clinical application of stem cell- and somatic cell-based therapies in EB in recent years.

This study compared the efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder (spiriva) and doxofylline oral tablet (doxofylline) in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-controlled study involved 127 eligible stable moderate to severe COPD patients treated with inhaled tiotropium dry powder (18 μg/day) or oral doxofylline tablets (0.2 g/time, 2 times a day) for 12 and 24 weeks. Before and after treatment for 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively, pulmonary function, 6-min walking distance and dyspnea index were recorded. The results showed that in both tiotropium group and doxofylline groups, after 12-week treatment, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC% and 6-min walk distance were significantly higher than those before the medication, while dyspnea index decreased as compared with that before treatment. After 24-week treatment, a slight improvement in the measures was observed as compared with that of 12-weeks treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. With both 12-week and 24-week treatment, the effect of tiotropium was slightly better than that of doxofylline tablets, with the difference being statistically insignificant. The major adverse events in the tiotropium group and doxofylline group were observed in 9 cases (9.9%) and 12 cases (12.9%), respectively, and no statistically significant difference was found between them. We are led to conclude that both tiotropium at 18 μg a day and doxofylline tablets at 0.2 g/day (two times a day) are effective and safe for the treatment of COPD.

The effects of protein kinase C (PKC) on the tension and the activity of voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel (Kv) were examined in normal and passively sensitized human airway smooth muscle (HASM), by measuring tones and whole-cell patch clamp techniques, and the Kv activities and membrane potential (Em) were also detected. The results showed that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, caused a concentration-dependent constriction in normal HASM rings. The constriction of the passively sensitized muscle in asthma serum group was significantly higher than that of the normal group (P＜0.05), and the constrictions of both groups were completely abolished by PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220 and calcium channel inhibitor nifedipine. Kv activities of HASM cells were significantly inhibited by PMA, and the Em became more positive, as compared with the DMSO (a PMA menstruum)-treated group (P＜0.01). This effect could be blocked by Ro31-8220 (P＜0.01). It was concluded that activation of PKC could increase the tones of HASM, which might be related to the reduced Kv activity. In passively sensitized HASM rings, this effect was more notable.