Objective To explore the sensitivity and constancy of BNP in evaluating the therapeutic effect of congestive heart failure.Methods 80 patients made a definite diagnosis of congestive heart failure were selected and whose cardiac functional grading of NYHA,BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were determined respectively pre-treatment,one week,one month and three months after-treatment.Statistical analysis on the difference of therapeutic effect was performed for each case.Results No statistical difference was found between the amplitude of BNP and LVEF in one week and on one month, three months pro-treatment by the scheme of captopril combining with metoprolol (P>0.05 ).But between the BNP and the cardiac functional grading,statistica difference was found in the fitst week pro-treament(P<0.05),when on one month and three months after treatment the statistical difference still not found(P>0.05).Conclusion BNP dynamic measuring had the hige sensitivity and constancy in quantitatively analysing the therapeutic effect of congestive heart failure which could be used as a reliable tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of congestive heart failure.

Objective To investigate correlation between cystatin C (Cys C) and target organ damage (TOD) in elderly hypertension and its clinical significance.Methods One hundred patients with TOD in elderly hypertension were selected as an observation group.One hundred patients without TOD in elderly hypertension were recruited as the controll group.And sixty healthy aged persons were recruited as healthy group.Serum concentration of Cys C in all cases was measured by the particle enhanced nephelometric immunoassay.At the same time,serum creatinine (Scr),urine albumin (mALB) and left ventricle mass index (LVMI) via ultrasonography were also detected.Correlation of Cys C with the above measurements were analyzed.Results The Cys C concentration was significantly higher in observation group [(1.84±0.32) mg/L] than in contrast [(0.92±0.36) mg/L] and healtbygroups [(0.85±0.34) mg/L],F=88.43,P=0.000.However,the difference in level of Cys C was not statistically significantly different between controll group and healthy group (P ＞0.05).In observation group,serum concentration of Cys C was positively correlated with Scr,mALBand LVMI (r=0.420,0.526,0.470,P=0.021,0.019,0.034) after adjusting age.Conclusions Serum level of Cys C is markedly elevated and is positively correlated with Scr,mALB and LVMI in patients with TOD in elderly hypertension.It can be considered as one of the useful factors for evaluating TOD in elderly hypertension.

Objective To study the effects of fluoride on longitudinal growth and pathological changes of cultured rat metatarsal bone rudiments.Methods Twenty-four neonatal SD rats were divided into four groups according to the random number table,then the second,third and fourth metatarsal bone rudiments were surgically isolated.The left metatarsal bone rudiments were cultured in α-MEM without F-as control group and the right metatarsal bone rudiments from the same rat were cultured in α-MEM with 1 × 10-7,1 × 10-6,1 × 10-5 and 1 × 10-4 mol/L F-.The length and width of the mineralized area of metatarsal were measured on day 0,day 1,day 4 and day 7,respectively,and the pathological changes of metatarsal bone rudiments were observed by the routinely paraffin-embedded sections method on day 7.Results On day 7,the length of the mineralized area was significantly lower of right metatarsal bone [(240.5 ± 139.3)μm] than the left metatarsal bone [(394.1 ± 173.9)μm,t =4.37,P ＜ 0.01] in the 1 × 10-4 mol/L F-group,but the width of the mineralized area [(239.9 ± 119.4)μm] was not different significantly compared to the left metatarsal bone [(223.3 ± 99.9)μm,t =0.44,P ＞ 0.05].The relative vertical growth rate of the mineralized area on day 4 was significantly lower of right metatarsal bone [(2.43 ± 1.44)％] than left metatarsal bone [(8.34 ± 1.74)％,t =3.21,P ＜ 0.01] in 1 × 10-4 mol/L F-group,and the difference was also significant on day 7 [(16.16 ± 2.87)％ vs.(26.52 ± 4.46)％,t =3.13,P ＜ 0.01].Toluidine blue staining results showed that the thickness of cartilage cells of proliferation and hypertrophic layers was significantly lower of right metatarsal bone [(111.33 ± 27.29),(125.33 ± 30.08)μm] than left metatarsal bone [(127.33 ± 38.36),(160.50 ± 42.73)μm,t =4.82,5.81,all P ＜ 0.01] in 1 × 104 mol/L F-group.The ratio of proliferative and hypertrophic layers was significantly higher of right metatarsal bone (0.93 ± 0.36) than left metatarsal bone (0.83 ± 0.32,t =4.42,P ＜ 0.01) in 1 × 10-4 mol/L F-group.Conclusions Our findings indicate that excessive fluoride could cause longitudinal bone growth inhibition.Such growth inhibition is mediated by decreased chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation and the disproportion of proliferation and differentiation.

Objective To investigate the changes of plasma adrenomedullin(ADM) and C-type natriuretic peptide(CNP) levels with elderly hypertension(HPE).Methods The plasma levels of ADM and CNP were measured by radioimmunoassay in 136 cases of the HPE(group A) compared with that of in 40 cases healthy elders(group B).Results The plasma levelsof ADM and CNP increased significantly in group A compared with group B(P

Objective To investigate the serum C-reactive protein(CRP) concentrations in elder patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) and the change of serum CRP concentrations in patients with CHD treated with aspirin.Methods Ninety elder patients with CHD were administered aspirin at the dose of 100mg/d(CHD1 group),150mg/d(CHD2 group),200mg/d(CHD3 group).Normal subjects were selected as control(control group),there were thirty subjects in each group.The detected parameters included serum CRP concentrations for 0 and 12 weeks.Results CRP concentration in patients with coronary heart disease was significantly higher than that of the normal subjects(P

Objective To observe the changes of plasma adrenomedullin(ADM) and endothelin-1(ET-1),angiotension Ⅱ(Ang-Ⅱ) levels and their clinical significance in the patients with elderly hypertension(HPE).Methods The plasma levels of ADM and ET-1,Ang-Ⅱ were measured by radioimmunoassay in 136 patients with HPE compared with that of in 40 casers of health elders.Results The plasma levels of ADM and ET-1,Ang-Ⅱ were increased significantly in HPE compared with health elders(P

AIM:NLRP3 inflammasome was identified as the cellular machinery responsible for activation of inflammatory processes .The present study investigated whether the activation of NLRP 3 inflammasomes contributes to hyperhomocysteinemia ( HHcy)-induced in-flammation and atherosclerosis .METHODS:ApoE-/-mice were fed regular diet , high fat ( HF) diet or HF plus high methionine (HM) diet for 10 weeks.NLRP3 shRNA or scramble shRNA viral suspension was injected twice at the 2nd and the 6th weeks after HFHM treatment.The whole aortas and aortic root sections were stained with Oil Red O for atherosclerotic lesion .Plasma lipids, ho-mocysteine ( Hcy) , IL-1βand IL-18 levels were measured .We also examined the effect of Hcy on NLRP 3 inflammasomes activation in THP-1 differentiated macrophages in the presence or absence of NLRP 3 siRNA, caspase-1 inhibitor Z-WEHD-FMK, or antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine ( NAC) .RESULTS:HFHM treatment induced HHcy in ApoE-/-mice.Increased plasma levels of IL-1βand IL-18, aggravated macrophage infiltration into atherosclerotic lesion , and accelerated development of atherosclerosis were detected in HHcy mice, which were associated with the activation of NLRP 3 inflammasomes.Silencing the NLRP3 gene significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasomes activation , reduced plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines , attenuated macrophage infiltration , and improved HHcy-induced atherosclerosis .Moreover, we found that Hcy activated NLRP3 inflammasomes and promoted subsequent production of IL-1βand IL-18 in macrophages, which were blocked by NLRP3 gene silencing, Z-WEHD-FMK, or NAC.CONCLUSION:These data suggest that the activation of NLRP 3 inflammasomes contributes to HHcy-induced inflammation and atherosclerosis .Hcy activates NLRP3 inflammasomes in reactive oxygen species dependent pathway in macrophages .

Objective:To establish the quality standard for Sinapis Semen( stir-baked) formula granule. Methods:TLC was used to identify Sinapis Semen; an HPLC method was applied in the content determination of Sinapine thiocyanate in Sinapis Semen ( stir-baked) formula granule with Hibar Purospher STAR C18 (250 mm × 4. 6 mm,5 μm ) column and with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0. 08 mol·L-1 potassium dihydrogen phosphate (10 ∶90) at the flow rate of 1. 0 ml·min-1 ,the column temperature was 35℃ and the detection wavelength was set at 326 nm. Results:The characteristic spots of Sinapis Semen( stir-baked) formula granule were clearly detected by the established TLC chromatography. Sinapine thiocyanate had a good linear relationship within the concentra-tion range of 0. 012 2-3. 912 3μg(r=0. 999 9). The average recovery was 100. 4% (RSD=0. 6%, n=6). The water content, dis-solution and particle size of Sinapis Semen formula granule all met the related requirements. Conclusion:The methods are simple and accurate with good reproducibility,which can be used to control the quality of Sinapis Semen( stir-baked) formula granule.

BACKGROUND:Administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(rhG-CSF) is known to diminish cerebral edema and to enhance the new vascularization by mobilizing endothelial progenitor cells in cerebral infarction, then to promote the neurofunctional recovery.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of rhG-CSF on brain edema and new vessels after intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) in rats.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING:The randomized controlled animal study was performed at the Central Laboratory, Luzhou Medical College from March to November 2006.MATERIALS:A total of 144 healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were equally and randomly assigned into a sham operation group, a ICH group and a treatment group.rhG-CSF(Xinpeng, Shenzhen, China) was used in this study.METHODS:Rat models of ICH were made by the method of cutting off the tail of each rat to obtain autoblood in the ICH and treatment groups.Rats in the sham operation group were injected with saline.Rats in the treatment group were administered with rhG-CSF(60 ?g/kg) by intraperitoneal injection after 1 hour.Eight rats from each group were studied at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours and 7 days.Brain water content of rats was measured by dry-wet method.CD34+ vessel expression was detected by SP and DAB coloration, immunohistochemical method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Dynamic changes in brain water content;immunohistochemical results of CD34+ vessels.RESULTS:The water contents were significantly higher in the ICH group than in the sham operation group(t=4.49, P

Objective To observe the effect of transplantation of telomerase immortalized human neural progenitor cells to acute injured canine spinal cord by using MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods Telomerase immortalized human neural progenitor cells with expression of green fluorescent protein were prepared for transplantation. Eight adult canines with left spinal cord hemisection at the level of T13 were examined by MR diffusion tensor imaging four times sequentially: prior to injury, one week after injury, one week after transplantation (two weeks after injury), and four weeks after transplantation. Results The ADC values of the injured spinal cord were (1.00?0.15)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.65?0.45)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.44?0.48)?10 -3 mm2/s, and (1.43?0.26) ?10 -3 mm2/s, respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times (F=6.038, P=0.005). The FA values of the injured spinal cord were 0.59?0.11, 0.30?0.17, 0.36?0.25, and 0.34?0.11, respectively. There was also statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times ( F=5.221,P=0.009). The ADC values of the intact spinal cord were (1.01?0.17)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.32?0.06)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.10?0.24)?10 -3 mm2/s, and (1.14?0.22) ?10 -3 mm2/s, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times ( F=1.303,P=0.306). The FA values of the intact spinal cord were 0.60?0.09, 0.38?0.25, 0.46?0.15, and 0.50?0.21, respectively. There was also no statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times (F=2.797,P=0.072).Conclusion DTI can provide useful information for spinal cord injury and regeneration in experimental spinal cord injury.