Objective To investigate the clinical value of evaluation of fetal cardiac function in congenital heart disease by brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and velocity vector imaging (VVI). Methods Fetuses who came from Shenzhen Maternity & Child healthcare Hospital were divided into the congenital heart disease group and the control group. At the same time we collected amniotic fluid and assayed BNP concentration. Using the VVI software, the velocity, strain and strain rate of the global and segmental of the left ventricle were measured. Comparison and correlation were made between the two groups. Results There was significantly difference of BNP concentrations in amniotic fluid between two groups. The gestational age had significant positive correlation with BNP concentrations in disease group. The comparison of global velocity, strain and strain rate of left ventricle between the two groups showed significant differences. All of the left ventricular dynamic parameters in disease group were lower than those of the control group. Conclusions Compared with the control group, the disease group had a high level of BNP in amniotic fluid and a lower level of dynamic parameters of left ventricular. There was a positive correlation between BNP concentration and gestational age in disease group. So we can conclude that theBNP concentration can be a biological parameter for evaluating the latent impairments of fetal cardiac function.

Objective:To investigate the effects of interleukin-34(IL-34)on the expression of CC chemokine ligand 28 (CCL28) by fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients.Methods:FLS were isolated from 6 RA patients and stimulated with IL-34,IL-34 receptor antagonist /IL-34,inhibitors of signaling pathway/IL-34 in vitro respectively.CCL28 mRNA expression was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The level of CCL28 in the supernatant of RA FLS culture was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Statistical analysis between groups was performed by t test.Results:Compared with unstimulated FLS,CCL28 expression was increased obviously in IL-34-stimulated group(P<0.05).The level of CCL28 was significantly decreased when anti-IL-34 antibody was added into IL-34-administrated RA FLS(P<0.05).While after adding of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase38(p38 MAPK) signaling pathway inhibitors into the cell culture system,CCL28 expression was remarkably reduced (P<0.05).Conclusion: The secretion of CCL28 by RA FLS can be promoted by the binding of IL-34 with its specific receptor via the activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathways,which suggests that CCL28 might be involved in the pathogenesis of RA.

Objective To explore the epidemiological status of abnormal glucose metabolism and its influential factors among middle and aged population with hypertension in Chengdu area. Methods In 2008, after adopting the methods of stratified cluster sampling, the authors investigated 4685 subjects of the middle and aged population between the age of 40-79 in Chengdu urban and rural area by checking blood pressure and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTY). Patients with previously known diabetes mellitus (DM) were only asked to perform fasting glucose and to carry out a questionnaire. Comparison of the prevalence rates of abnormal glucose metabolism in hypertensive and non-hypertensive subjects was carried out. The prevalence rates of isolated impaired glucose tolerance (I-IGT) and isolated postprandial hyperglycemia (IPH) among middle and aged subjects with hypertension were acquired and the influential factors of abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged subjects with hypertension were analyzed. Results The prevalence rate of abnormal glucose metabolism in the hypertensive subjects was obviously higher than that in the non-hypertensive subjects; without using OGTT, 72.9% of the pre-diubetic and 54. 4% of the new diagnosed DM patients would remain undiagnosed if fasting plasma glucose detection was used alone. Age, diabetic history of first degree relatives ,overweight or obesity were the risk factors for the development of abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged male subjects with hypertension in Chengdu area. Exercise training and high education level were the protective factors. Age, diabetic history of first degree relatives,abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia were the risk factors for the development of abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged female subjects with hypertension in Chengdu area. Conclusions More than 50% of middle and aged subjects with hypertension in Chengdu area has accompanying abnormal glucose metabolism. OGTT easily discloses the abnormal status and should be a routine procedure in the diagnosis of pre-diabetes or DM in such population. Appropriate exercise, learning diabetes-related knowledge to take reasonable lifestyle, and intervention of metabolic factors such as overweight or obesity are advised. Abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia play important roles in leading to abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged population with hypertension.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, and its features of insidious onset, rapid development, and high recurrence bring great challenges to the long-term survival of HCC patients. Molecular-targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have become the research hotspots in the treatment of HCC, and a large number of clinical trials have found that combined therapy has achieved a good clinical effect. This article mainly introduces the application of combined therapy with molecular-targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors and other combined therapies in HCC and points out that combined therapy related to systemic therapy or local therapy has become the latest research hotspot in HCC treatment.

OBJECTIVEInflammation plays a critical role in secondary brain damage after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the mechanisms of inflammatory injury following ICH are still unclear, particularly the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome, which are crucial to sterile inflammatory responses. In this study, we aim to test the hypothesis that NLRP3 signaling pathway takes a vital position in ICH-induced secondary inflammatory damage and detect the role of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1 (NMDAR1) in this progress.

METHODSICH was induced in mice by microinjection of hemin into the striatum. The protein levels of NMDAR1, NMDAR1 phosphorylation, NLRP3 and IL-1b were measured by Western blot. The binding of NMDAR1 to NLRP3 was detected by immunoprecipitation.

RESULTSThe expression of NMDAR1, NMDAR1 phosphorylation, NLRP3 and IL-1b were rapidly increased after ICH. Hemin treatment enhanced NMDAR1 expression and NMDAR1 phosphorylation, as well in cultured microglial cells treated by hemin. Hemin up regulated NLRP3 and IL-1b level, which was reversed by MK801 (NMDAR antagonist) in vitro. Hemin also promoted the binding of NMDAR1 to NLRP3.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that NMDAR1 plays a pivotal role in hemin-induced NLRP3-mediated inflammatory damage through synergistic activation.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; complications ; Hemin ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Objective:To investigate the application value of a new internal cold circula-tion bipolar radio frequency device in open hepatectomy.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 85 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent open hepatectomy at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2017 to January 2020 were collected. There were 48 males and 37 females, aged from 32 to 74 years, with a median age of 52 years. Of 85 patients, 45 cases undergoing hepatectomy assisted by the new internal cold circulation bipolar radio frequency device were allocated into new internal cold circulation bipolar radio frequency device group, and 40 cases undergoing hepatectomy assisted by Habib-4X bipolar radio frequency device were allocated into Habib-4X group, respectively. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative situations; (2) postoperative situations; (3) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient, inpatient reexamination and telephone interview to detect the postoperative complications and death of patient within postoperative 30 days up to May 2020. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and independent sample t test was used for comparison between groups. Measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M(range), and nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. Count data were represented as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Repeated measurement data were anlyzed by the repeated ANOVA. Results:(1) Intraoperative situations: the time of crosscutting process for liver parenchyma, average area transection speed, coagulation tissue width, cases with needle bleeding rate and electrode needle charring were (55±16)minutes, (4.8±1.2)cm 2/minute, (1.4±0.2)cm, 6, 10 for the new internal cold circulation bipolar radio frequency device group, versus (64±15)minutes, (3.6±1.0)cm 2/minute, (1.8±0.2)cm, 14, 25 for the Habib-4X group, respectively, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=2.665, 4.973, 9.204, χ2=5.525, 14.184, P<0.05). (2) Postoperative situations: for the new internal cold circulation bipolar radio frequency device group, the total bilirubin (TBil) was (20±12)μmol/L, (25±12)μmol/L, (20±14)μmol/L at postoperative 1, 3, 7 days, the prothrombin time (PT) was (15.4±2.2)seconds, (14.2±2.1)seconds, (12.7±0.8)seconds, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was (288±248)IU/L, (132±61)IU/L, (67±32)IU/L, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was (279±114)IU/L, (50±22)IU/L, (30±13)IU/L. For the Habib-4X group, the TBil was 1(22±15)μmol/L, (23±10)μmol/L, (19±8)μmol/L at postoperative 1, 3, 7 days, PT was (15.8±2.8)seconds, (14.3±2.0)seconds, (13.6±1.3)seconds, the ALT was (369±269)IU/L, (133±99)IU/L, (54±30)IU/L, the AST was (345±125)IU/L, (60±36)IU/L, (32±11)IU/L. There were significant differences in the time effect of PT, ALT, AST between the two groups ( F=18.364, 23.020, 93.786, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the time effect, between-group effect, interaction effect of TBil or between-group effect, interaction effect of PT, ALT, AST between the two groups ( F=2.421, 1.424, 0.522, 1.593, 0.312, 0.121, 0.267, 1.027, 0.600, P>0.05). (3) Follow-up: 85 patients were followed up for 4 to 39 months, with a median follow-up time of 16 months. There were 5 patients in the new internal cooling circulation bipolar radiofrequency device group and 8 patients in the Habib-4X group with complications, respectively, showing no significant difference in overall complications between the two groups ( χ2=1.292, P>0.05). The number of deaths in the new internal cooling circulation bipolar radio frequency device group and Habib-4X group was 0 and 1, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The new internal cold-circulating bipolar radio frequency device for open hepatectomy is safe and effective, which cuts the liver parenchyma faster, has lower carbonization rate at the tip of electrode needle, and has more accurate coagulation range.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury in China in 2018.Methods:Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to randomly select hospitals capable of treating patients with spinal cord injury from 3 regions，9 provinces and 27 cities in China to retrospectively investigate eligible patients with traumatic spinal cord injury admitted in 2018. National and regional incidence rates were calculated. The data of cause of injury，injury level，severity of injury，segment and type of fracture，complications，death and other data were collected by medical record questionnaire，and analyzed according to geographical region，age and gender.Results:Medical records of 4，134 patients were included in this study，with a male-to-female ratio of 2.99∶1. The incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury in China in 2018 was 50.484 / 1 million （95% CI 50.122-50.846）. The highest incidence in the Eastern region was 53.791 / 1 million （95% CI 53.217-54.365）. In the whole country，the main causes of injury were high falls （29.58%），as well as in the Western region （40.68%），while the main causes of injury in the Eastern and Central regions were traffic injuries （31.22%，30.10%）. The main injury level was cervical spinal cord in the whole country （64.49%），and the proportion of cervical spinal cord injury in the Central region was the highest （74.68%），and the proportion of lumbosacral spinal cord injury in the Western region was the highest （32.30%）. The highest proportion of degree of injury was incomplete quadriplegia （55.20%），and the distribution pattern was the same in each region. A total of 65.87% of the patients were complicated with fracture or dislocation，77.95% in the Western region and only 54.77% in the Central region. In the whole country，the head was the main combined injury （37.87%），as well as in the Eastern and Central regions，while the proportion of chest combined injury in the Western region was the highest （38.57%）. A total of 32.90% of the patients were complicated with respiratory complications. There were 23 patients （0.56%） died in hospital，of which 17（73.91%） died of respiratory dysfunction. Conclusions:The Eastern region of China has a high incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury. Other epidemiological features include high fall as the main cause of injury cervical spinal cord injury as the main injury level，incomplete quadriplegia as the main degree of injury，head as the main combined injury，and respiratory complications as the main complication.