Objective To study induction of myocardial fibrosis by high-cholesterol diet and its mechanism in rat. Methods Nineteen Wister rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into control group, high-cholesterol diet group and spironolactone treatment group. Collagen in left ventricular tissues was determined by oxyproline assay, contents of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) and aldosterone (Ald) and in left ventricular tissue their plasm concentration were determined by radioimmunoassay. Serum nitrite level was measured by Griess assay. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) was assessed by radioisotope labeled assay. Results The contents of collagen, cardiac Ald and plasma Ang Ⅱ in the myocardium of the left ventricle were increased 1.2, 1.1 and 3.0 fold, respectively, while serum level of nitrite (NO - 2) was significantly decreased in high-cholesterol diet group compared with control group. The contents of myocardial collagen and Ald, and plasma Ang Ⅱ and the activities of MAPK were decreased in high-cholesterol diet group treated with spironolactone for 8 weeks (P

Objective To compare the mandibular advancement appliance(MAA) with mandibular advancement and left-leaning appliance (MALA) in the treatment of mild or moderate obstructive sleep ap-nea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods Twenty-two cases of mild or moderate OSAHS were treated with MAA, and 19 cases with MALA. After 1-3 months, they were examined again with Epworth score and polysonmography (PSG). Results After 1-3 months of the MAA or MALA treatment, the Epworth score was improved evidently. The apnea -hypopnea index, max apnea time, mean apnea time, oxygen desaturatian index, and the longest time of oxygen desaturation were all lowered after the treatment, and the lowest SaO2 and the mean SaO2 were higher after the treatment. The differences were all distinctive (P<0.05 or<0.01). When patients treated with MAA were compared with those treated with MALA,only the max apnea time [(35.5±6.9),(31.3±6.0) s, respectively] and the longest time of oxygen desaturation [ (41.0±18.9), (29.9±9.3) s, respectively] had significant difference. Conclusion MALA may be helpful for shortening max apnea time and the longest time of oxygen desaturation, thus MAA is an effective alternative to patients of OSAHS. Further research should be done.

Objective: To investigate the effects of fosinppril on myocardial cell apoptosis and apoptosis-associated gene expression in chronic heart failure (CHF) rats.
Methods: CHF model was established by partially banding of abdominal aorta superior to renal artery. The experimental rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Sham operation group and CHF group, the rats in both groups received stomach normal saline; Fosinopril group, the rats received stomach fosinopril 10 mg/kg?d.n=10 in each group and all animals were treated for 8 weeks. LVEDP, ±dp/dtmax and LVMI were examined, left ventricular myocardial cell apoptotic index (AI) was measured by TUNEL method, Bcl-2 and Bax protein levels were detected by immunohistochemistry and caspase-3 protein expression was assessed by Western blotting.
Results: Compared with Sham operation group, CHF group had increased LVEDP, LVMI, AI, elevated protein expressions of Bax and Caspase-3,P<0.01; while decreased ±dp/dtmax, reduced protein expression of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax,P<0.01. Compared with CHF group, Fosinopril group presented decreased LVEDP, LVMI, AI, reduced protein expressions of Bax and Caspase-3,P<0.01; while increased ±dp/dtmax, elevated protein expression of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, P<0.01.
Conclusion: Fosinopril may inhibit myocardial cell apoptosis which occurred during CHF, by up-regulating Bcl-2 expression and down-regulating expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 in CHF rats, therefore improve the cardiac function.

Objective To investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1（IGF-1）on the cell proliferation of human non-small-cell lung cancer（NSCLC） and the possible molecular mechanism.Methods MTT assay was used to examine the effects of IGF-1 （0.1,1,10,100 ng/mL）on the cell proliferation of NSCLC cell lines（A549,LK2,H460）,Flow cytometry（FCM）and Western blot to ana-lyze the cell cycles and the protein expression of S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins 2（Skp2）and CDC20 homolog 1（CDH1）,respectively.Results The cell proliferation of NSCLC cell lines（A549,LK2,H460）could be promoted by the IGF-1 at different concentrations and the proliferation rate peaked when the cells were treated with 1 ng/mL IGF-1.Compared with control,the percentage of the S-phase cell population was significantly increased after the treatment of IGF-I（P 〈 0.01）and the protein expression of SKP2 also increased obviously（P 〈0.05）.However,there was no change in the CDH1 protein expression（P 〉 0.05）.Conclusion IGF-1 may accelerate the cell-cycle pro-gression of NSCLC cells by negatively modulating p27 protein via the up-regulation of SKP2 protein expression.

Objective:To investigate the effect of vitamin E, selenium and quercetin on the expression of zf-9 mRNA of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) during early acute liver injury in rats. Methods:90 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, pathological control, VE 20 mg/(kg bw﹒d) + Se 16 ?g/(kgbw﹒d) supplement, and quercetin 50 mg/(kg bw﹒d) supplement through intragastric way for 15 d respectively. The normal control group was injected with normal saline, the others were given intraperitonal CCl4 once to induce acute liver injury model. The serum levels of MDA, SOD, ALT and AST were determined at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after CCl4 injection respectively. The pronase-collagenase perfusion of liver was used to isolate HSC, and the expression of zf-9 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Results: Serum levels of MDA were lower in VE+Se supplement group and quercetin supplement group than pathological group. Supplementation with VE+Se and quercetin could decrease the level of ALT and AST and down-regulate the expression of zf-9 mRNA. Conclusion:Dietary supplementation of VE,Se and quercetin could effectively down-regulate the expression of zf-9 mRNA in HSC during early acute liver injury in rats.

AIM: To investigate the cardioprotective effects of monophosphoryl lipid A(MLA) and its molecular mechanisms.METHODS: In the ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) model of porcine hearts, the effect of MLA on myocardial infarct size was observed. The protein levels of extracellular signal regulatory kinases (ERKs) and heat shock protein (HSP) 86 were detected by using western blotting method. RESULTS: MLA pretreatment significantly limited the infarct size in the porcine hearts subjected to I/R. It is also found that MLA pretreatment upregulated the protein levels of HSP86 and ERKs. CONCLUSION: MLA pretreatment can attenuate I/R injury in porcine hearts. The protective mechanism might be associated with ERKs-induced upregulation of HSP86 synthesis.

Objective To explore the risk factors,the distribution of etiology and drug resistance status of patients with early infection (3 months) after liver transplantation,and to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods The clinical data of 112 recipients from February 2014 to December 2015 were collected,and logistic regression analysis was performed on the risk factors of early postoperative infection in liver transplant patients.The independent risk factors of infection after liver transplantation were screened out.At the same time,the results of pathogen culture and drug sensitivity test were statistically described.Results The independent risk factors for infection at 3th month after liver transplantation included the operative time ≥600 min [P =0.003,odds ratio (OR) =9.996,95 ％ confidence interval (95 ％ CI),2.221-44.981],intensive care unit (ICU) ≥6 days (P =0.010,OR =6.306,95％ CI =1.563-25.437),Child-Pugh grade of C (P =0.023,OR =6.298,95％ CI =1.294-30.659).Of the 112 liver transplant recipients,59 had an infection (52.68％),and 168 stains of pathogens were isolated.The positive rate of the specimens was highest in sputum,followed by bile,ascites,drainage and catheter end,blood,deep vein catheter,middle urinary,pleural effusion and peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).The detectable rate of gram-negative bacteria,gram-positive bacteria,fungi and viruses was 46.43％ (78 strains),29.76％ (50 strains),18.45％ (31 strains),and 5.36％ (9 strains) respectively.Infection occurred mainly within 1 month after surgery,accounting for about 80.36％ (135 strains),especially at 1st week after surgery,accounting for about 34.52％ (58 strains).Gram-positive bacteria had a higher drug resistance rate,including penicillins,macrolides,aminoglycosides,quinolones,linamides,etc.especially in the highest rate of Enterococcus faeciurr.Gram-negative bacteria were individualized based on the different strains of the bacteria,and they were relatively low in the resistance of the carbapene.Conclusion Infection is one of the most common complications after liver transplantation.To reduce the incidence of infection after liver transplantation,efforts should be made to shorten the duration of operation and ICU stay time,improve the basic nutritional status of recipients,and enhance monitoring of the recipient's infection after liver transplantation,to further increase the survival rate of postoperative liver transplantation recipients and improve the quality of life.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of the Valpar system combined with computer-aided technology in treating early vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).Methods Forty patients in the early stage of VCI were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,each of 20.Regular and computer-aided cognition training were applied in both groups,while training using the Valpar system was additionally used in the treatment group.Patients in both groups were assessed using the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) and the modified Barthel Index (MBI) before,and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment.Results Before the treatment,there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in LOTCA and MBI scores (P＞0.05).After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment,the average total LOTCA score in the observation group was significantly better than before the treatment,as were the average scores on the various dimensions,and the average MBI score (P＜0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment the control group showed significant improvement in the patients' orientation (3.50±0.89),visual perception (13.50± 1.43),spatial perception (2.40±0.50),visuomotor construction (24.00± 1.17) and attention (2.30±0.87).However,after both 4 and 8 weeks of treatment,all the measurements of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group at the same time point (P＜0.05).Conclusion The Valpar system can significantly improve the recovery of cognitive function and ability in the activities of daily living of patients in the early stage of VCI.It is worth applying in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the effect of two different venous drainage patterns on the prognosis of fetal pulmonary sequestration( PS) . Methods Sixty cases of fetal PS with confirmed venous drainage diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound were retrospectively analyzed . Changes of the volumes of PS lesions and the clinical outcomes were compared between two different venous drainage patterns . Results Among the total 64 cases ,34 cases were pulmonary venous drainage and 30 cases were systemic venous drainage . There was no case combined with any abnormality in pulmonary venous drainage group;whereas , 6 cases combined with other abnormalities in systemic venous drainage group ,between which significant difference was noted( P =0 .02) . In pulmonary venous drainage group ,there was no significant difference in the volumes of PS lesions between at 20-24 weeks′gestational age(WGA) and at 24+1 -30 WGA( P >0 .05) ;but not between at 24+1 -30 WGA or at 20 -24 WGA and at 30+1 -39 WGA ( P < 0 .05) . However ,in the systemic venous drainage group ,the volumes of PS lesions were stable at these three stages ( P > 0 .05) . Postnatal respiratory symptoms and postnatal surgery rates were similar between the two groups( P > 0 .05) . Conclusions PS with systemic venous drainage is more likely combined with other abnormalities than PS with pulmonary venous drainage . The lesion volumes of PS with pulmonary venous drainage decreas remarkably during the middle‐late pregnancy . Nevertheless ,the clinical postnatal outcomes are both favorable in the two groups .

Objective:To observe the effects of All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the immune functions of AChR-specific lymphcytes via in vitro assays,and investigate the possibility of ATRA in the clinical treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods:CFA control group and EAMG experimental rats were established to obtain single lymphocytes suspension and cells were followed by AChR97-116 peptide with or without ATRA stimulation for 72 h,and then viable cell population,cell apoptosis,cell cycle and the distribution of Th cells were determined by flow cytometry.CCK-8 assay was selected to evaluate the effects of ATRA on proliferatory ability of lymphocytes.ELISA was used to detect the antibody secretion of B cells affected by ATRA.Results:Compared with CFA group,lymphocytes obtained from EAMG rats had higher ratios of living cells,and this ratio was obviously decreased after ATRA treatment,P＜0.001.Different concentrations of ATRA promoted the apoptosis of AChR-specific cells (P＜0.001),and the promoted effects were ATRA dose-dependent,however,cell cycles were not changed.ATRA markedly inhibited the proliferation of cells from both CFA and EAMG groups,moreover,AChR-specific cells were more sensitive to ATRA treatment (P＜0.01) than that of cells from CFA rats (P＜0.05).The ratio of AChR-specific CD4+T cells was reduced by ATRA (P＜0.01),and ATRA incubation significantly promoted the percentages of Th2,(PCD4+-4IL-4+＜0.001),Treg (PCD4+-Foxp3+＜0.001) cell types,but markedly inhibited the percentages ofThl7 (PCD4+-IL-17+＜0.05),Thl (PCD4+-IFN-γ+＜0.001) cells.ELISA data showed us that ATRA obviously down regulated the antibody secretion of AChR-specific B cells,P＜0.01.Conclusions:ATRA not only inhibited the functions of AChR-specific T cells,but also suppressed the roles of AChR-specific B cells,predicating a therapeutic effect of ATRA on myasthenia gravis therapy.