OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Kanli Granule (KG) on myocardial mechanics in pressure overload induced diastolic heart failure (DHF) rats.

METHODSTotally 60 male Wistar rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the KG group, and the Valsartan group according to random digit table, 15 in each group. The pressure overload induced DHF model was established in all groups except the sham-operation group using abdominal aortic constriction surgery. Totally 7 rats died after modeling (with the mortality of 10. 67%) , and the rest 53 finished the following test. Rats in the KG group were administered with KG extract (calculated as 6. 75 g crude drug/kg) by gastrogavage. Rats in the Valsartan group were administered with Valsartan (7.2 µg/g) by gastrogavage. Equal volume of double distilled water was administered to rats in the model group and the sham-operation group by gastrogavage. All rats were intervened for 32 weeks. The response of isolated heart papillary muscle tonus to isoprenaline (ISO) and adenylate cyclase (Forskolin) was respectively observed. The enhancement phenomenon after resting development force (DF) of isolated heart papillary muscle tonus, and changes of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations were observed.

RESULTS(1) In the ISO response test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF, ±df/dt, -df/dt were obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt were obviously lowered in the KG group (P < 0.01), and the amplification of ±df/dt was also reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.01). (2) In the Forskolin response test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplifications of DF and ±df/dt were obviously reduced in the KG group (P < 0.01), and the amplification of DF was also reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.05). (3) In post-resting DF enhancement test: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplification of DF showed gradually decreasing tendency along with prolonged resting time in the model group, and they were obviously lowered at all time points (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the amplification of DF was gradually increasing along with prolonged resting time in the KG group. The amplification of DF at post-resting 240 s was obviously larger in the KG group than in the model group (P < 0.05). The amplification of post-resting DF still showed gradually decreasing tendency along with prolonged resting time in the Valsartan group, with increased amplifications of DF at post-resting 60 s and 120 s (P < 0. 05) (4) The amplifications of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations: Compared with the sham-operation group, the amplifications of DF were significantly elevated in different Ca²⁺ concentrations (1.75, 3.5, 7.0 mmol/L ) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, there was no statistical difference in amplification of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations in the KG group (P > 0.05). The amplifications of DF in different Ca²⁺ concentrations were significantly reduced in the Valsartan group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe ISO response and the Forskolin response were enhanced in isolated heart papillary muscle tonus of pressure overload induced DHF rats; enhanced post-resting DF was reduced; DF in different supra-physiologic levels of Ca²⁺ was still enhanced. KG could significantly improve excessive enhancement of pressure overload induced DHF rats in ISO response and Forskolin response, and improve enhancement of post-resting myocardium.

Animals ; Colforsin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Heart Failure, Diastolic ; drug therapy ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of composite material of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and PLGA/TCP in repair of peri-porous-titanium bone defects in adult rabbits.Meth- otis The composite of PLGA/TCP scaffold with bovine BMP was made and implanted in distal bone de- fects peri-porous-titanium in femur of adult rabbits.The effect of BMP with PLGA/TCP on peri-prosthesis was evaluated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM),energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and biomechanics.Results BMP with PLGA/TCP showed obvious peak of Ca and P of EDX in the pores of titanium in experiment group six weeks after operation and higher than that in control group (P＜0.05).Push-out test demonstrated that the bonding strength between the composite of HA coating/ porous titanium and bone was increased significantly with time (P＜0.05).In experiment group,at 6 and 12 weeks,peri-porous-titanium had higher shearing force compared with control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion BMP loaded with PLGA/TCP is a promising bone graft for bone defects in revision arthro- plasty,as indicates that bone induction of BMP plays an important role in biological stabilizaiton.

Objective To investigate the drug resistance genes of extended-spectrum beta- lactamase-producing bacteria in 49 strains.Methods Extended-spectrum ?-lactamase -producing strains were detected by the disc diffusion test.The techniques of polymerase chain reaction,sequence analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were used to analyze the genotype and homology of extended-spectrum ?- lactamase-producing strains.Results The incidence of ESBL-producing strains from E.coli,K pneumoniae,K oxytoca,was 20% in 2000,and 40% in 2003.Among the 49 ESBLs producers the most common genotype was CTX-M-14( n=33).The others were CTX-M-3,CTX-M-9,CTX-M-12,CTX-M-15, CTX-M-24 and SHVSa.Both two CTX-M subtypes,CTX-M-3 and CTX-M-14,were detected in one strain. However,4 ESBL-producing strains confirmed by phenotype remained untyped.The results showed that the ESBLs producers were not closely related,except for two strains of E.coli and two strains of K.pneumoniae which were homgenic respectively.Concolusions The incidence of ESBL-producing strains increases with years.The most common genotype of ESBLs is CTX-M.There is no evidence for epidemiologic spread of ESBL-producers by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Objective To discuss the correlation between aortic elasticity and coronary artery calcification by CT.Methods Totally 111 patients who were diagnosed of coronary artery disease underwent coronary artery CTA.The images were qualified for aortic elasticity measurement.All patients were divided into calcification negative group (n=43) and calcification positive group (n =68).The calcification positive group was further divided into light,medium,and serious groups according to their calcification scores.The ascending aortic images were reconstructed every 5 ％ R-R intervals.The cross-sectional areas and diameters of aortic in each R-R interval were measured automatically,then diameter variation rate (％ A0),aortic distensibility (A0D),aortic compliance (A0C) and aortic stiffness (A0SI) were calculated to evaluate aortic elasticity.Correlation between aortic elasticity and coronary artery calcification were analyzed.Results ％ A0,A0 D,A0C were lower and A0SI was higher in calcification positive group than those in calcification negative group (all P＜0.05).There was no significant differences in the four reference indexes of aortic elasticity among light,medium,and serious groups in calcification positive group (all P＞0.05).Correlation analysis demonstrated negative correlations between ％ A0,A0 D,A0 C and calcification scores,and a positive correlation between A0SI and calcification scores.Conclusion Aortic elasticity is correlated with coronary artery calcification,and the combination of them will be beneficial for the early diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

The influence of low tube voltage in dual source CT (DSCT) coronary artery imaging on image quality and radiation dose and its application value in clinical practice were investigated. Totally, 300 cases of chest pain with low body mass index (BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)) subjected to DSCT coronary artery imaging were prospectively enrolled. The heart rate in all patients were greater than 65/min. The retrospective ECG gated scanning mode and simple random sampling method were used to assign the patients into groups A, B and C (n=100 each). The patients in groups A, B and C experienced 120-, 100-, and 80-kV tube voltage imaging respectively, and the image quality was evaluated. The CT volume dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) were recorded, and the effective dose (ED) was calculated in each group. The image quality scores and radiation doses in groups were compared, and the influence of tube voltage on image quality and radiation dose was analyzed. The results showed that the excellent rate of image quality in groups A, B and C was 95.69%, 94.72% and 96.33% respectively with the difference being not statistically significant among the three groups (P>0.05). The CTDIvol values in groups A, B and C were 51.35±12.21, 21.28±7.13 and 6.34±3.34 mGy, respectively, with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). The ED values in groups A, B and C were 9.27±1.63, 4.56±2.29 and 2.29±1.69 mSv, respectively, with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). It was suggested that for the patients with low BMI, the application of DSCT coronary artery imaging with low tube voltage can obtain satisfactory image quality, and simultaneously, significantly reduce the radiation dose.

This study is to investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Uygur medicine bugloss (BTF) on rats with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and to explore the mechanisms by which it acts. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in rats was occluded for 30 min followed by 4 h reperfusion. Meanwhile, BTF dissolved in saline was administered intraperitoneally at dosage of 10, 30 and 50 mg x kg(-1). Electrocardiograph, infarction index, serum myocardial enzymes and heart function were determined to evaluate the effect of BTF. Some other observations were carried out to explore whether inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis is involved in the mechanisms underlying BTF. Our results showed that in ischemia/reperfusion injured rats BTF could dose-dependently reduce myocardial infarction index and myocardial enzyme leakage, and enhance heart function, indicating that it possesses significant cardio protection. ELISA analysis showed that BTF could decrease the content of myocardial inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Western-blotting confirmed that BTF could increase the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and reduce the expression of proapoptosis protein Bax. Further more, the phosphorylation level of PI3K and Akt was upregulated by BTF treatment. BTF can protect rat against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Anti-inflammation and inhibition of apoptosis through upregulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway may contribute to the protective effect of BTF.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart ; Interleukin-6 ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Myocardium ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Protective Agents ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

OBJECTIVETo explore surface roughness of bone cement and surround tissue on histological characteristic of induced membranes.

METHODSBone cements with smooth and rough surface were implanted in radius bone defect, intramuscular and subcutaneous sites of rabbits, and formed induced membranes. Membranes were obtained and stained (HE) 6 weeks later. Images of membrane tissue were obtained and analyzed with an automated image analysis system. Five histological parameters of membranes were measured with thickness,area,cell density,ECM density and microvessel density. Double factor variance analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the two factors on histological characteristics of induced membranes.

RESULTSMembranes can be induced by each kind of bone cement and at all the three tissue sites. In histological parameters of thickness,area and micro vessel,there were significant differences among the membranes induced at different tissue sites (P = 0.000, P = 0.000, P = 0.000); whereas, there were no significant differences in histological parameters of cell density and ECM density (P = 0.734, P = 0.638). In all five histological parameters of membranes, there were no significant differences between the membranes induced by bone cements with different surface roughness (P = 0.506, P = 0.185, P = 0.883, P = 0.093, P = 0.918).

CONCLUSIONSurround tissue rather than surface roughness of bone cements can affect the histological characteristics of induced membranes. The fibrocystic number, vascularity, mechanical tension and micro motion of the surround tissue may be closely correlated with the histological characteristics of induced membranes.

Animals ; Bone Cements ; Female ; Membranes ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Radius ; cytology ; Surface Properties ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thymus Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo report the postmortem findings of a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus occurring in human beings.

METHODSPostmortem examination was carried out in a deceased caused by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Detailed light microscopy of major organs, including heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and brain, was performed. The lung tissue was further investigated by histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

RESULTSMajor histopathologic changes in lungs secondary to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus included diffuse alveolar damage, hyaline membrane formation and focal hemorrhage. Some of the alveolar spaces contained lightly eosinophilic liquid, lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells and small number of neutrophils. Congested capillaries were commonly seen in the alveolar septa which were focally rimmed by hyaline membrane. Immunohistochemical study showed that the lymphocytes were mainly of T lineage and macrophages were also demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONSHighly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus causes pathologic changes mostly in lungs, including diffuse alveolar damage and acute exudative changes (involving mainly T lymphocytes and macrophages). The resulting parenchymal destruction, consolidation, pulmonary edema and hemorrhage eventually lead to respiratory distress and death.

Adult ; Autopsy ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; analysis ; Lung ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Microscopy, Electron

Prawn white spot syndrome is caused by the pathogen prawn white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). VP19 is a vesicle membrane protein of WSSV. HyNPV (Hybrid of AcNPV and BmNPV) constructed by the recombination of BmNPV and AcNPV is a new hybrid virus having both of their advantages. The recombinant transfer vector pBlueBicHisC-vp19 and recombinant baculovirus HyNPV-VP19 were constructed on the basis of the successful cloning of VP19. Newly-molted silkworms Bombyx mori of fifth instar were inoculated by the recombinant virus. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis showed a specific band, about 21kD, which was consistent with the expectation suggesting that the WSSV-VP19 gene was successfully expressed in silkworm bodies.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bombyx ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Genetic Vectors ; Penaeidae ; virology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Replication ; White spot syndrome virus 1 ; genetics