Objective To summarize the efficacy and safety of diuretic mixture in the treatment of refractory heart failure.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with refractory heart failure were randomized into treatment group and control group.All the patients were treated with digitalis,diuretics,ACEI,nitrates,and strategies to control infection and correct water and electrolyte disorders.The treatment group was given additional diuretic mixture and was monitored for 7 days.Results In the treatment group and control group,the overall response rates were 91.7 ％ ( 55/60 ) and 71.7％ ( 43/60 ),respectively.The difference was significant (x2 =8.541,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The patients with heart failure and gefractory to conventional treatment will benefit from diuretic mixture treatment,with the advantages of safety and economy.

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in several pathological processes of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the effects of XCT790, a potent and selective inverse agonist of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha), on rat VSMCs proliferation and related signal pathways were investigated. The proliferative activity of VSMCs was determined by CCK-8 assay. The mRNA levels of ERRalpha, PGC-1alpha, OPN and MCAD were assayed by RT-PCR. The protein levels of ERRalpha, ERK2 and p-ERK1/2 were evaluated by Western blotting. ELISA was used to assess the protein expression of VEGF. The results showed that XCT790 (5-20 micromol x L(-1)) inhibited rat VSMCs proliferation, and the expression of ERRalpha and its target genes, as well as p-ERK1/2, were also inhibited. XCT790 inhibited VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner at the dose range from 5 to 20 micromol x L(-1) and in a time-dependent manner at the dose range from 10 to 20 micromol x L(-1). These findings demonstrate that XCT790 inhibits rat VSMCs proliferation by down-regulating the gene level of ERRalpha and thus inhibiting the ERK signal pathway, suggesting that ERRalpha may be a novel potential target for therapeutic approaches to inhibit VSMCs proliferation, which plays an important role in several cardiovascular diseases.
Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

In this article we built formula database of health food containing Gardeniae Fructus with Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (V2.0). And on this basis, use data mining method such as association rules of the software, to analyze commonly used formula raw materials or materials combination of formula containing Gardeniae Fructus and raw material application having assisted function formula to protect chemical liver injury. The result shows that of the 71 health food formulas containing Gardeniae Fructus, most used materials are Gardeniae Fructus, Lycii Fructus, Angelica Sinensis Radix, Poria and so on. Commonly used materials combination mostly are Gardeniae Fructus and Lycii Fructus, Gardeniae Fructus and Angelica Sinensis Radix, Gardeniae Fructus and Poria, Gardeniae Fructus and Paeonia. There are nearly 18 healthcare functions of the health food containing Gardeniae Fructus, and most of these are assisted functions to protect chemical liver injury, and then immune modulating function. Of 23 formulas containing Gardeniae Fructus having assisted function formula to protect chemical liver injury, Gardeniae Fructus usually combined with traditional Chinese medicine which nourishs blood and liver such as Pueraria, Lycii Fructus, Hawthorn, Paeonia and Turnjujube. Analyzing formula raw materials application of health food containing Gardeniae Fructus contributes a lot to the further development and utilization.
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Data Mining ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Food, Organic ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective To examine the reliability and validity of the Rating Scale of the Reliability in Mental Disorder Medical History (RSRMDMH) in order to develop a reliable measure to determine the reliability in mental disorder medical history.Methods RSRMDMH was conducted by concept,clinical feature in mental disorder medical history and assessment scales for malingering and compensationneurosis.Final 14 items was decided after initial usage and modification.It was administered to 600 subjects including the cases involved forensic problems,patients in general psychiatric clinic.Results ①The Cronbach' s α coefficients of RSRMDMH was 0.901.The split-half reliability was 0.803-0.924.The test-retest reliability and scorer reliability were more than 0.588 (P＜0.01).②The cut score of assessing different degree of the reliability in mental disorder medical history separately was ≤ 11,12-22,≥23.③Based on the experts diagnosis,the accuracy rate of RSRMDMH for evaluating different degree of the reliability in mental disorder medical history were more than 86.1％,and total accuracy rate was 94.8％.④Correlation analysis showed significantly correlation between RSRMDMH and assessment scales for malingering(self-report scale of brief psychopathological symptoms,SBPS).Conclusion The RSRMDMH has acceptable psychometrics properties on reliability and validity.It is a clinically reliable measure to determine the reliability in mental disorder medical history.

Brain-computerinterface(BCI) is a kind of direct channel for information communication and control established between the human brain and computer or other electronic equipment.BCI is a novel information communication system which does not depend on the conventional brain information pathways.The asynchronous brain-computer interface technology is based on alpha wave control,and can automatically switch system mode between working and idle and select the larger EEG signal associated with motion imagination.In this paper,the basic knowledge of BCI and alpha wave-based asynchronous BCI technology were introduced.The key technology and application prospect of the novel alpha wave-based asynchronous BCI technology were summarized,and the status and existing problems were analyzed.

Objective To explore the role of transforming growth factor (TFG)-? and matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)in the development of frozen shoulder. Methods Twenty-four patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy were included,and were divided into frozen shoulder group ( n =12) and control group ( n =12; n =2 for shoulder instability,n =5 for rotator cuff tear and n =5 for subacromial impingement). Joint capsule tissues at the rotator cuff interval were obtained,and the expression of TGF-?,MMP-1,MMP-2,MMP-3,MMP-9 and MMP-12 mRNA and protein was detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively. Results The expression of TGF-? mRNA in frozen shoulder group and control group was 3.36?10 4?2.18?10 3 and 1.85?10 4?3.31?10 3,respectively,the expression of TGF-? protein was 1.55?0.33 and 1.13?0.21,respectively,and there were significant differences between these two groups ( P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of clinical and EEG features in children with febrile seizures which are prone to epilepsy four years after antiepileptic drugs valproate and/or topiramate treatment.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-two children with febrile seizures between 2004 and 2005 and who had the indications of antiepileptic drugs treatment were administered with oral valproate and/or topiramate treatment. The children were followed up for four years. Routine blood tests, liver and renal function tests were performed twice a year. Sleeping activation EEG examination was performed once a year.

RESULTSDuring the follow-up of 1 to 10 years, 108 (98.2%) out of 110 children with valproate monotherapy were seizure-free. In the 110 cases, 95 were in the drug withdrawl and 10 were in the drug reduction. All of 13 cases receiving topiramate monotherapy were seizure-free and were in the drug withdrawl. None of the patients showed abnormalities in routine blood tests, liver and renal functions tests. Sleeping activation EEG showed normal in 102 cases, focal discharges in 8 cases, bilateral synchronized spikes in 4 cases and 3Hz spikes and polyspikes in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONSEarly use of antiepileptic drugs valproate or topiramate is effective and safe in children with febrile seizures which are prone to epilepsy. The majority of the children have a normal sleeping activation EEG after antiepileptic drug therapy.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Seizures, Febrile ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Sleep ; physiology

To study the genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients from Chongqing district and determine the prevalence of autoantibodies in these patients. HBV genotyping was carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of venous blood serum samples from 252 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 25 healthy controls. Indirect immunofluorescent assay was used to detect autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibody, anti-mitochondrial antibody, anti-smooth muscle (SM) antibody, and anti-liver and kidney microsomal antibody. Immunospot assay was used to detect anti-ribonucleoprotein/anti-SM antibodies, anti-SS-A antibody, anti-SS-B antibody, anti-scl-70 antibody, and anti-Jo-1 antibody. Correlations between the production of autoantibodies and patient age and sex and various genetypes of HBV were analyzed by the Chi-squared test. The most frequent HBV genotype in CHB patients was B (67.3%), followed by genotype C (32.7%). Genotypes A, D, E, F, G and H were not detected in any of the CHB patients. The positive rate of autoantibodies was higher in the CHB patients than in the healthy group (76.98% vs. 12.00%, X2 = 44.60, P less than 0.05). There was no significant differences in the autoantibodies profiles of CHB patients carrying the B or C genotypes ( X2 = 0.0016, P more than 0.05). The main HBV genotypes in CHB patients in the Chongqing district are B and C. Autoantibodies are prevalent among these CHB patients, and are correlated with patient age and course of liver disease but not HBV genotype or patient sex.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the inhibitory effect of tumor suppressor PTEN on cell growth of endometrial carcinoma.

METHODSThe exogenous wild PTEN cDNA via an adenoviral vector (Ad-PTEN) was introduced into Ishikawa cells. The expression of PTEN protein was detected by Western blot. The growth of Ishikawa cells was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion method and MTT.

RESULTSThe expression of PTEN protein was induced on day 1, and greatly increasing on day 3 - 5 after Ad-PTEN infection. The expression of PTEN significantly inhibited the growth of Ishikawa cells, and also significantly inhibited the growth of Ishikawa cells induced by IGF-II.

CONCLUSIONAdenovirus-mediated introduction of exogenous PTEN into human endometrial carcinoma cells can induce growth suppression. PTEN gene may be a novel therapeutic agent for endometrial carcinoma.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; pharmacology ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Recombination, Genetic ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the role of mast cells in the differential diagnosis of cellular leiomyoma and endometrial stromal sarcoma of uterus and its mechanism.

METHODSUsing SP immunohistochemical technique, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and mast cells in 25 cellular leiomyoma (CL) and 26 endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) of uterus were examined. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and CD44v3 in cellular leiomyoma was also studied.

RESULTSThe expression of PCNA was not significantly different from CL or ESS (P > 0.05), while mast cell count was statistically different between them (P < 0.01). Using a value of less than 7 mast cells per high power field was useful for the diagnosis of ESS, yielding 100% sensitivity and 92.0% specificity. There was a positive correlation between the mast cell count and CD44v3 in CL (r(s) = 0.589, P < 0.01), though no correlation was observed between mast cell count and PCNA or ER.

CONCLUSIONNumber of mast cells is valuable for the discrimination of CL from ESS in the uterus. The mechanism and the role of higher quantity of mast cells in CL need further study.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; analysis ; Leiomyoma ; chemistry ; pathology ; Mast Cells ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal ; chemistry ; pathology ; Uterine Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology