Objective To investigate the relationship of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP?3 and MMP?9)and the tissue inhibitor TIMP?1 with left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)in patients with primary hypertension. Methods Totally 140 patients with primary hypertension and 132 healthy controls were included. Matrix metalloproteinase?3(MMP?3),matrix metalloproteinase?9(MMP?9)and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase?1 (TIMP?1)were measured. All subjects were taken echocardiography examination ,then left ventricular mass index(LVMI)was calculated. Re?sults MMP?3,MMP?9,TIMP?1(488.32±100.32 vs 314.59±99.78;340.56±43.21 vs 290.15±33.98;389.16±57.53 vs 243.45±62.31;P<0.001) and LVMI(113.7±9.9 vs 88.3±10.4,P<0.001)in patients with primary hypertension were significantly higher than those in controls. In a multiple stepwise regression analysis with LVMI as the variable,it was found that age,SBP,MMP?3,MMP?9 and TIMP?1 were main determinants for LVMI (r2=0.78,P<0.001). 3. Patients with primary hypertension were divided into two subgroups according to LVMI,i.e.,hypertension with LVH (group A)and hypertension without LVH(group B). SBP,MMP?3,MMP?9 and TIMP?1(178±31 vs 166±25;490.14±99.13 vs 405.56±53.12;340.56±43.21 vs 290.15±33.98;393.45±47.69 vs 301.58±39.57;P<0.05)of group A were significantly higher than those of group B. Conclusion MMP?3,MMP?9 and TIMP?1 are influencing factors for LVH in patients with primary hypertension.

Objective To investigate the effects of sensorimotor therapy on patients with knee osteoarthritis.Methods Ninety-two patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided into a treatment group and a control group by using random digits table. Both groups received conventional rehabilitation therapy, including knee isometric and isotonic contraction training, ultrashort wave diathermy as well as aerobic exercise. The treatment group was also administered with sensorimotor training, in addition to the conventional training,including the muscle strengthening and control training of quadriceps and hamstring muscle using sling exercise therapy system and on the Thera-band mattress. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, manual muscle testing and knee range of motion as well as the Japanese Orthopedic Association knee function evaluation form were used to evaluate the patients. Results There was no statistic difference between the 2 groups before treatment, with regard to the evaluation parameters used in this study. After 2 months of treatment, both groups improved significantly (P ＜0.05),with the treatment group improved to a significantly greater extent (P ＜0.05). Conclusions Sensorimotor training in addition to the conventional rehabilitation treatment can further relieve the pain of patients with knee osteoarthritis joints arthritis and improve the function of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mobility Limitation ; Stents

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) in the patients with severe heart failure (HF). Methods A prospective multicenter study was conducted. Patients whose age > 18 years old, and with the New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function grade overⅢ - Ⅳ , acute cardiac insufficiency and the acute exacerbation of chronic cardiac insufficiency admitted to intensive care unit/cardiovascular care unit (ICU/CCU) of 58 Hospitals in China were enrolled. On the basis of the conventional treatment, all patients would be given rhBNP (neo adjuvant) with a loading dose of 1.5 μg/kg for 3-5 minutes, and followed by a maintenance dose of 0.010-0.015 μg·kg-1·min-1 for 3-7 days. Before the treatment and 1, 3, 7 days after treatment, researchers detected indexes of cardiac and renal function, the levels of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac output (CO), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), central venous pressure (CVP), urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), and urine output; the renal function index was re-evaluated at 30 days after administration, and the time entering ICU again, re-admission, cardiovascular events were recorded. Results 408 patients were enrolled, with 241 males and 167 females. Age range was 28-95 years, the average age was (63.0±15.8) years, and 50-70 years old accounted for 46.8%. Compared with the data before treatment, NT-proBNP, PCWP and CVP significantly decreased at 6 hours after treatment [NT-proBNP (μg·kg-1·min-1): 4378.58±4082.29 vs. 6403.41±5759.48, PCWP (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa):12.41±2.21 vs. 14.26±2.85 , CVP (mmHg): 10.63±2.62 vs. 11.45±3.45, all P < 0.05], and with the prolongation of injection, NT-proBNP, PCWP and CVP were gradually declined; CO 1 day after treatment (mL: 4.89±0.81 vs. 4.40±0.92) and LVEF 3 days after treatment (0.465±0.100 vs. 0.431±0.107) were significantly increased (both P < 0.05), and with the prolongation of injection, CO and LVEF were gradually increased. There were no obvious changes in BUN and SCr during the treatment, but 30 days after treatment, SCr was significantly lower than that pre-treatment (μmol/L: 110.98±47.40 vs. 132.62±75.60, P < 0.01). Compared with the data pre-treatment, urine output per hour was significantly increased at 3 hours after treatment (mL: 129.59±82.16 vs. 89.60±53.49, P =0.000); urine output every 24 hours was significantly increased at day 1 and day 2 after administration (mL: 2676.54± 1006.83, 2678.74±975.97 vs. 2150.36±283.76, both P < 0.01). In 7 days, the re-entry ICU rate was 2.7%, and the re-hospitalization rate was 2.88% within 30 days, re-cardiac failure rate was 1.43% in 30 days, and the overall fatality rate was 9.55% in 30 days. Conclusions The rhBNP can significantly improve heart function in patients with HF. And, it has a certain effect on renal function. The rhBNP is effective and safe for the treatment of cardiac insufficiency.

Objective: To observe the effect of Ginkgo Biloba extract (EGb) on Form deprivation Myopia (FDM) in the chick. Methods: 30 two day chicks were divided into three groups (Control Group, Drug Group Ⅰ, Drug Group Ⅱ). All of them were monocularly deprived by suturation of eyelids. Axial length was measured by A Scan ultrasonograph, the posterior cartilaginous sclera, the sclera fibrous and retina were observed under the light microscope. Results: Both refraction and axial eye length were changed by form deprivation in control group. refraction change ( P

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of acupuncture for premature ovarian failure (POF).

METHODSAccording to prospective cohort study design, 30 cases were included. Based on theory of regulating Chong and Conception Vessels as well as soothing the liver and calming the nerves, acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Dahe (KI 12), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) was applied, three times per week and 3 months were considered as one session. Totally two sessions were performed. The menstruation condition, estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and scores of the clinical perimenopausal symptoms were taken as treatment outcomes.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) and the cured rate was 16.7% (5/30). The recovery rate of menstruation was 16.7% (5/30) and the regain rate of menstruation was 56.7% (17/30). After the treatment, the level of E2 was significantly increased from (45.41 +/- 18. 09) pmol/L to (59.07 +/- 24.21) pmol/L (P < 0.05), and the score of perimenopausal symptoms was obviously reduced from 14.28 +/- 8. 30 to 4.04 +/- 3.28 (P < 0.01). However, no statistical differences could be seen in FSH before and after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has certain effect on improving menstruation and perimenopausal symptoms in POF patients, which is likely to he related with increasing the level of E2.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo examine the role of lactoferrin (LF) on Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs).

METHODSPrimary hPDLCs were cultured by tissue block enzymolytic method. Cells obtained from four passages were identified and used in this experiment. Cells without stimulation served as the controls and cells treated with LPS (0.1 microg x mL(-1)) comprised the LPS group. The LPS + LF group was pretreated with LPS (0.1 microg x mL(-1)) for 2 h, and then treated with LF (10 microg x mL(-1)). Four hours after LF stimulation, the mRNA expression levels of TLR4 were examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression of TLR4 was observed by cell immunofluorescence staining after LF stimulation of 24 hours.

RESULTSTLR4 mRNA expression in the LPS + LF group was significantly more decreased than that in the LPS group (P < 0.05), but exhibited no difference with that in the control group (P > 0.05). Cell immunofluorescence staining showed that the protein expression of TLR4 in the LPS + LF group was significantly more decreased than that in the LPS group (P < 0.05), but exhibited no difference with that in the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLF can decrease the expression of TLR4 stimulated by LPS in hPDLCs, thus presenting potential application for controlling the TLR4 immune pathway of periodontitis.

Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Periodontal Ligament ; Periodontitis ; Toll-Like Receptor 4

The theoretical basis of the alcohol precipitation process control was provided, the alcohol precipitation was optimized and the relationship equation was got. The monod glycoside, loganin and paeoniflorin were used as the evaluation indexes to determine the impact factors of alcohol precipitation techniques of Liuwei Dihuang decoction by the Plackett-Burman experimental design and the levels of non-significant factors were identified. Then, Box-Behnken response surface methodology was used to research and discuss the critical process parameters influence the effect of alcohol precipitation and draw interaction between key process parameters and the correlation equation with index components. Through the establishment and solving the quadratic regression model of composite score, the optimum preparation conditions of alcohol precipitation techniques of liuwei were as follows: stirring speed was 580 r x min(-1), standing time was 17 hours, alcohol concentration was 34%, the density of Liuwei Dihuang decoction was 1.13. The response surface methodology for optimized alcohol precipitation techniques of Liuwei Dihuang decoction is. reasonable and feasible.
Chemical Precipitation ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the osseointegration and corrosion of different kind of coatings on pure titanium.

METHODSBy plasma spraying technology, nitrogen silicon zirconium-hydroxylapatite (ZrSiN-HA) compound coating was prepared on the surface of pure titanium and the pure titanium was implanted with the mandible of the experimental animal. The superficial appearance of the compound coating was observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The ZrSiN-HA, nitrogen silicon zirconium (ZrSiN), hydroxylapatite (HA) and pure titanium were compared and examined. In the four groups, the bone binding force of coatings were detected, and the superficial appearance of the break regions were observed by the electronic multipurpose material testing aircraft. In the four groups, the anticorrosive of coatings were compared and examined on the electrochemistry corrosion testing system.

RESULTSExperimental results indicated that the implant surface sprayed with the ZrSiN-HA was more compact than that sprayed with HA. The crystallization was obvious. Compared with the other coatings, the bone binding force of the ZrSiN-HA coating was the highest, and its anticorrosive performance was the strongest.

CONCLUSIONThe application of ZrSiN-HA coating is advantageous to the long-term retention of implant, and it has huge latent application value to dental dummy.

Animals ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Durapatite ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nitrogen ; Osseointegration ; Prostheses and Implants ; Silicon ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; Zirconium