Animals ; Antibodies ; chemistry ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; genetics ; Immunohistochemistry ; Protein Engineering

Objective To investigate the correlations of body mass index (BMI) with plasma apelin, waist-hip ratio (WHR), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), biochemical indicator, blood fat and ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG) figures in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).Methods A total of 41 elderly CHF patients (20 males and 21 females, aged 66.0±12.3 years) were divided into 3 groups according to BMI: normal group (n= 16), overweight group (n=13) and obese group (n= 12).And they were also divided into 2 subgroups: grade Ⅲ heart function group (n=22) and grade Ⅳ heart function group (n= 19).Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of plasma apelin, and BMI, WHR, C-reactive protein (CRP), FPG, creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, blood fat, electrolyte and UCG of all patients were detected .Results There were significant differences in waist circumference, hip circumference and WHR among the 3 groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01).But there were no significant differences in high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), FPG, HbAlc, CK, CK-MB, potassium, sodium, CRP, left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (LVIDd), left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (LVIDs), interventricular septal thickness at end diastole (IVSd) and left ventrieular ejection fraction (LVEF) among the 3 groups (all P> 0.05).The apelin level was higher in obese group than in normal group and in overweight group ((0.48±0.15) mg/L vs.(0.18±0.15) mg/L and (0.27±0.06) mg/L, both P<0.01].And the plasma apelin level was higher in grade Ⅳ heart function group than in grade Ⅲ heart function group [(0.35±0.16) mg/L vs.(0.26±0.13)mg/L, P<0.05].The level of plasma apelin was positively correlated with BMI, white blood cell, CK, hemoglobin and TG, and was negatively correlated with cardiac function and LVEF.The influencing factors for the plasma apelin were BMI (β=0.672, P<0.01), age (β=0.244, P<0.05) and HDL (β=-1.000, P<0.01).Conclusions The plasma apelin level is closely correlated with the development of heart failure.Cardiac dysfunction is more severer when the level of plasma apelin is higher.The high level of plasma apelin may be one of factors for the higher survival rate of the obese CHF patients.Plasma apelin level may be used as an indicator of state of illness.

Objective To evaluate the regional long-axis systolic function of left ventricular in patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects by two-dimensional strain rate imaging (2D-SRI). Methods During October 2011 to August 2012 , 53 inpatients with coronary artery disease in the department cardiology from the Afifliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University were enrolled. Twenty-nine patients with anterior wall infarction induced by left front-descending coronary artery disease (group LCA) and twenty-four with interior wall infarction induced by right coronary artery disease (group RCA) proved by coronary angiography and echocardiography were enrolled into the study and thirty healthy volunteers in the control group. High frame rate two-dimensional dynamic images were recorded in apical four-chamber view and two-chamber view of the left ventricle. Using two-dimensional strain software, peak systolic longitudinal strain rate (PSRs) of interventricular septum, anterior wall, lateral wall and interior wall of left ventricle were measured. All data of 3 groups were analyzed using One-Way analysis of variance, and LSD-q test used to compare the 2 groups. Results The PSRs were (4.61±0.60) s-1, (5.18±0.87) s-1, (5.60±0.70) s-1, (6.05±0.74) s-1 from interventricular septum, anterior wall, lateral wall to interior wall in the control group. There were signiifcant differences among the groups (F=20.95, P=0.00), and there were signiifcant gradient changes from intervetrivular septum, anterior wall, lateral wall to interior wall in the control group. The PSRs were (4.31±0.85) s-1, (1.96±0.93) s-1, (5.54±0.83) s-1, (5.93±0.80) s-1 from interventricular septum, anterior wall, lateral wall to interior wall in the LCA group respectively. There were signiifcant differences among the different walls (F=127.25, P=0.00), which was signiifcant lower in ischemic anterior wall than interventricular septum, lateral wall and interior wall, and the significant differences were identified in anterior wall with lateral wall and interior wall (q=22.62, 25.04, both P<0.01). The PSRs were (4.51±0.62) s-1, (4.99±1.13) s-1, (5.31±0.81) s-1, (2.84±0.85) s-1 from interventricular septum, anterior wall, lateral wall to interior wall in RCA group respectively. There were signiifcant differences among the different walls (F=38.12, P=0.00), which were signiifcant lower in ischemic interior wall than interventricular septum, anterior wall, and lateral wall, and the signiifcant differences were identiifed in interior wall with lateral wall and interior wall (q=13.88, 12.08, both P<0.01). Comparing the same part among 3 groups, signiifcant differences were identiifed as following:the PSRs of anterior wall in group LCA vs control group (q=20.17, P<0.01), the PSRs of interior wall in group RCA vs control group (q=19.98, P<0.01). Conclusions Longitudinal systolic function changes of left ventricular regional myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects could be accurately analyzed by 2D-SRI. The early changes in ischemic myocardium would be assessed quickly in patients with coronary artery disease using 2D-SRI.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristic and the predicting value of plasma Apelin in elderly patients with sepsis.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 26 sepsis patients aged (72.9±9.7) years in average and 30 healthy controls.Serum Apelin level was measured by ELISA.Body mass index (BMI) and C-reaction protein (CRP) were detected.Patients were divided into survival group (n=18) and death group (n 8).According to acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ,patients were divided into subgroup A (n=14,APACHE Ⅱ score≤20) and subgroup B (n=12,APACHE Ⅱ score＞20).Results The Apelin concentration was higher in sepsis patients than in healthy controls [(0.38±0.15)ng/L vs.(0.19±0.12)ng/L,t=2.011,P＜0.05].The Apelin concentration was lower in survival group than in death group[(0.21 ± 0.29)ng/L vs.(0.49 ± 0.32) ng/L,t =2.094,P＜0.05].The Apelin level was increased with APACHE Ⅱ scores increment in sepsis patients (P＜0.05).Multivariable logistic analysis showed that when taking survival/death as the dependent variable and Apelin as the independent variable,the ()R value was 4.162 with 95％ CI:1.115-15.535(P＜0.05).Conclusions Increased serum Apelin level reflects the severity of illness in patients with sepsis,which is a risk factor for death in prognosis of sepsis.

Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ; genetics ; Methoxsalen ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Retinoids ; pharmacology ; Skin ; cytology ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Ultraviolet Rays

Objective Excision repair cross-complementing gene-1(ERCC1) are key regulatory enzymes whose expression patterns are associated with overall survival(OS) in several malignancies.Their expression patterns and prognostic value in resected gastric adenocarcinoma(GAC) are not known and need to investigate.Methods A total of 109 patients who underwent resection for GAC in Liu′an People′s Hospital from January 2010 to June 2013 had tissue available for analysis.The primary objective was to assess for the differential expression of ERCC1 using by immunohistochemistry.The secondary objective was to assess for the association between OS and the expression of ERCC1.Results The median follow-up was 21.2 months,and the median OS was 28.8 months.Resected GAC exhibited differential expression of ERCC1(high expression,n=25(23%)).ERCC1 expression was not associated with OS(18.9 months vs.27.7 months,P=0.72).In a subset analysis of patients who received chemotherapy(n=73),high ERCC1 expression was associated with decreased OS(16.7 months vs.53.8 months,P=0.03).After controlling for known adverse pathologic features,high ERCC1 expression persisted as a negative prognostic factor in multivariate Cox regression analysis(HR=2.22,95% CI1.05-4.98,P<0.05).Conversely,in patients who underwent resection only(n=35),high ERCC1 expression demonstrated a trend toward improved OS(40.4 months vs.12.7 months,P=0.10).A positive prognostic influence also was present on multivariate analysis(HR=0.20,95% CI0.05-0.84,P=0.03).Conclusion Resected GAC exhibited differential expression of ERCC1.Among all patients,ERCC1 expression levels were not associated with OS.High ERCC1 tumor expression is associated with decreased OS in the patients who received chemotherapy but is associated with increased OS in those who underwent surgery alone.ERCC1 expression have prognostic value in resected gastric cancer,and further investigation is needed.

To get high cell density,pH-stat fermentations of L.casei Zhang were carried out in the medium optimized previously under different cultural conditions.The influences of neutralizing agents,the concen-tration of buffer salts and glucose in the medium,pH,aeration and fed batch fermentation on the growth of L.casei Zhang were investigated.Based on the values of maximum specific growth rate,biomass and viable cells count in different cultural conditions,the optimal growth condition was regarded as follows:Glucose level of the medium was 80 g/L ～100 g/L;The pH was kept constant at 5.9 with aqua ammonia and anae-robic condition was kept by sparged with nitrogen periodically;The temperature was set at 37?C and cul-tured for 10 h ～12 h.The biomass and viable cells' number of L.casei Zhang under this culture conditions were 7 g/L and 3.5?1010 CFU/mL respectively,and were 7 times as high as that before optimized,which can meet the requirements of probiotics.

0.05).At different time points after ischemia-reperfusion,the expression of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-3 were lower in the transgen mice than that in the wild type rats.Conclusions Under standard condition,overexpression of bcl-xl could significantly reduce the infarct area and improve neurological function in transgene mice than those in the wild type rats.The effect of overexpression of bcl-xl might be realized through inhibiting the apoptosis of neuron,and the mechanism might be that the overexpression of bcl-xl inhibit the release of cytochrome C and the activation of caspase-3.

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a molecular genotyping method based on nucleotide sequencing. The procedure of this method characterizes isolates of bacterial species using the DNA sequencing of multiple housekeeping genes(usually seven). For each housekeeping gene, the different sequences present within a bacterial species are assigned as distinct alleles.For each isolate, the alleles at each of the loci define the allelic profile or sequence type (ST). MLST has the advantages of being robust (based on genetic data) and electronically portable to generate data that allow rapid and global comparisons between different laboratories. In this paper, the principle, method, data analysis, application, advantages and flaws of MLST are introduced.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of ~(99)Tc~m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) SPECT scintigraphy combined Iocalizable CT in the localization of ectopic parathyroid glands in hyperparathyroidism.Methods Retrospective data of surgery,pathology and imaging were collected from 28 patients with hyperfunctioning ectopic parathyroid glands.All cases underwent CT studies.Twenty-five patients had ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI planar imaging first:SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT was performed for the patients with abnormal radionuclide foci immediately.The fusion images obtained after reconstruction showed the exact location of the ectopic foci.Operative histopathologic results were regarded as "gold standards".Presuming 4 parathyroid glands as normal findings,findings confirmed by operation and pathology were regarded as positive,otherwise negative.The results of CT and radionuclide imaging were compared by X~2-test of four-foId table.Results Twenty-eight ectopic parathyroid glands were found in 28 patients,all pathologically confirmed as adenomss.CT found 22 foci,of which 17 were true positive,5 false positive,11 false negative,and 79 true negative.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT found 23 foci,no false positive,2 false negative,and 75 true negative.The results showed that the sensitivities were 61% (17/28),92%(23/25),specificities 94%(79/84),100%(75/75),accuracies 86%(96/112),98% (98/100),positive predictive values 77%(17/22),100%(23/23),and negative predictive values 88% (79190),97%(75/77),respectively,for CT and radionuclide imaging.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT was therefore significantly higher than CT in sensitivity(X~2=6.98,P＜0.01),specificity (X~2=4.61,P＜0.05),accuracy (X~2=10.30,P＜0.01),positive predictive value(X~2=5.88,P＜0.05) and negative predictive value (X~2=5.36,P＜0.05).Conclusion ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT is superior to CT alone in the localization of ectopic parathyroid glands in hyperparathyroidism,but false negative can be found in some patients.