Objective To evaluate the movement function of the left ventricular short-axis with parameters (velocity, acceleration and relatively force) measured with improved anatomical M-mode ultrasound. Methods Sixteen patients with myocardial ischemia coronary heart disease who had taken percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled. All patients were divided into two groups: group A, single major vascular stenosis (n=8);group B, more major vascular stenosis (n=8). M-mode curves of short-axis sections at mitral valve level, papillary level and apical level were recorded, then the peak myocardial velocities, acceleration and force of the systolic phase, early-diastole phase and end-diastole phase were measured at the post processing station. Results The variety ranges of average velocity and acceleration of the three levels during systolic phase were higher than that during diastole phase. The changing rate of velocity and acceleration in group B was higher than that in group A. Conclusion The new parameters that are measured and calculated with anatomical M-mode ultrasound can reflect the movement functions of coronary heart disease patients taken PCI.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect mechanism of warm acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking therapy and its efficacy on insomnia by monitoring the level of brain neurotransmitters in the insomnia patients.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty patients with insomnia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each one. In the observation group, based on the treating principle of warming yang and benefiting qi, acupuncture was applied to Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7). Warm acupuncture was supplemented at Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3). The treatment was given once every day. In the control group, estazolam tablets, 0. 5 to 1 mg were prescribed for oral administration, 30 min before sleep at night. The treatment of 14 days was taken as one session and 2 sessions were required in the two groups. The encephal of luctuograph technology was used to observe the sleep quality and brain neurotransmitters before and after treatment in the two groups and the efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 83.1% (54/65) in the observation group and 87.7% (57/65) in the control group. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the observation group, after treatment, 5-HT and GABA/Glu were all increased compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and norepinephrine (NE) was reduced compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). The level of each index did not change significantly before and after treatment in the control group (all P > 0.05). The regulations of 5-HT, GABA/Glu in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of warm acupuncture and auricular point sticking method for warming yang and benefiting qi effectively improves brain neurotransmitters and essentially improves sleep quality of the patients with insomnia differentiated as yang deficiency pattern.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; metabolism ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Young Adult ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

Objective There are a few reports on rats with spontaneous congenital cataract in China .The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological changes of lens in rats with spontaneous congenital cataract . Methods 24 d, 1-year rats with cataract and microphthalmos cataract and normal rats (n=5) were selected as research objects .Their lens were observed by a slit lamp microscope and taken photos in front of them , followed by examination through light micrograph and transmission electron micros-copy. Results Rats with microphthalmos cataract showed narrowed palpebral fissure and broaden nucleus while rats with cataract showed normal palpebral fissure and narrowed nucleus .As for 24 d,1-year rats with microphthalmos cataract , the fibers of their lens showed derangement and vacuole-like degeneration by light microscope , in addition, the abnormal connection between fiber cells were observed by electron microscopy .As for 1-year normal rats , the fibers were in consistent structure and regular arrangement without cell ingredient . Conclusion The appearance and morphological changes of the lens in rats with spontaneous congenital cataracts are in consistence with the pathological changes of cataracts , which is appli-cable in further research on the pathogenesis of cataract .

Objective To evaluate the safety,feasibility,and clinical outcome of anterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD).Methods The study involved 28 patients undergone PECD.Visual analogue scale (VAS) and MacNab scale were recorded before operation and at 3 days,1,3,6,12 and 18 months after operation.In addition,MRI examination was conducted at postoperative l month,3 months and 12 months.After data collection,single-factor T test with SAS software was performed.Results Follow-up (range,18-24 months,mean 19 months) was achieved in 25 patients.When compared to the preoperative score,VAS and MacNab scale presented improvement at postoperative 3 days (P ＞ 0.05) and great improvement at postoperative 1,3,6,12,18 and 24 months (P ＜ 0.01).VAS and MacNab scale at postoperative 3 days presented statistical differences as compared to those at postoperative 3,6,12 and 18 months (P ＜0.05),but the differences were not statistically insignificant at postoperative 3,6,12,and 18 months (P ＞ 0.05).Moreover,VAS and MacNab scale showed significant improvement at postoperative 24 months as compared to those before operation (P ＜0.01) and those at postoperative day 3 (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Anterior PECD is effective in treatment of cervical soft or partial hard disc herniation.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the quantitative results,the semi-quantitative scores from ultrasound elastography and the distribution of myofibroblasts (MFS)in breast tumor,and to analyze the value of quantitative results and the semi-quantitative score from ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of breast tumor.Methods Thirty eight patients with breast lesions underwent ultrasound elasticity examinations,tissue dispersion quantitative analysis technique was used to assess the 11 characteristic quantities and the corresponding strain ratios in all lesions,and the score of ultrasonic elastography was evaluated.38 cases were divided into benign and malignant group according to pathological diagnosis results.The expression levels of CD34 andα-SMA protein in breast tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry.The distribution patterns of MFS in breast tumor were analyzed. The correlation between the quantitative results, the semi-quantitative scores from ultrasound elastography and the distribution of MFS in breast tumor was studied.Results The expression level of CD34 in malignant group was significantly higher than that in benign group, while the expression level of α-SMA was significantly higher than that in benign group;the differences in the expression levels of CD34 andα-SMA between benign and malignant breast tumor patients were statistically significant (P < 0.01 ).The masses observed in malignant group by elastography were shown in blue,while most of the masses in benign group were shown in green.There were statistically significant differences between two groups in elastography scores (P < 0.05 ). There was a anegative correlation between the CD34 expression in tumor tissue and the score of ultrasound elastography (r=-0.423 7,P =0.027 3).There was a negative correlation between the CD34 expression and the score of ultrasound elastography (r=-0.423 7,P =0.027 3),while the positive correlation was found between theα-SMA expression and the score of ultrasound elastography (r=0.397 0,P =0.014 2).The CD34 expression was significantly correlated with the average relative strain value,entropy,area ratio of low-strain region,kurtosis, skewness and inverse difference moment (P <0.05).Among the 11 characteristics,CD34 was positively correlated with the average relative strain value (r=0.385 6,P =0.016 8)and entropy (r=0.380 5,P =0.018 5);CD34 was negatively correlated with area ratio of low-strain region (r = - 0.351 7,P = 0.030 4),kurtosis (r =-0.427 7,P =0.007 4),skewness (r=-0.394 6,P =0.014 2),inverse difference moment (r = -0.344 3, P =0.034 3),angular second moment (r = - 0.484 9,P = 0.002 0)and strain ration (r = - 0.379 0,P =0.047 5);CD34 was not correlated with standard deviation,complexity and contrast (P > 0.05).The α-SMA espression was positively correlated with kurtosis (r = 0.356 9,P = 0.027 8),skewness (r = 0.323 0,P =0.047 9),area ratio of low-strain region (r=0.382 0,P =0.021 6)and strain ratio (r=0.403 3,P =0.012 0). Conclusion The features and its scores of ultrasound elastography are correlated with the distribution of MFS in breast tumor,suggesting that the ultrasound elastography is very informative and helpful in the diagnosis of breast tumor.

BACKGROUNDLeft atrial enlargement has been suggested as a more robust marker of diastolic dysfunction. We hypothesize that the ratio of left atrial volume to left ventricular volume (LAV/LVV) may be more reasonable to reflect left atrial enlargement in the patients with hypertension, because hypertensive patients have a characteristic of concentric remodeling of the left ventricle which is often accompanied with diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine if the LAV/LVV can be used as a new parameter to assess left atrial size in hypertensive patients and the relationship between the LAV/LVV and diastolic dysfunction.

METHODSNinety-one patients with hypertension and forty-three normal controls were studied. The hypertensive patients were assigned to the normal wall (NW) and hypertrophic wall (HW) groups. The left atrial diameter (LAD), LAV, left atrial volume index (LAVi), LVV and LAV/LVV were measured and calculated by 2-dimensional echocardiography and real time 3-dimensional echocardiography. All of the above parameters were used to evaluate the size of the left atrium. The ratio of peak E velocity of mitral valve inflow to peak E' velocity of lateral mitral annulus (E/E') was measured by pulse Doppler and tissue Doppler. This parameter was used to evaluate diastolic function.

RESULTSThe LAD, LAV, LAVi, LAV/LVV and E/E' in hypertensive groups were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05 or 0.01), and those in the HW group were significantly higher than those in the NW group (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The E/E' had a positive correlation with LAV, LAVi and LAV/LVV. The correlation coefficient between E/E' and LAV/LVV was relatively higher than that between E/E' and LAD or LAVi.

CONCLUSIONLAV/LVV may be used as a new index to evaluate left atrial size in hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction.

Aged ; Diastole ; Female ; Heart Atria ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective To investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor?2 ( VEGFR?2) on proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis after radiotherapy in lung cancer cell line Calu?1, and to explore the probable mechanisms. Methods Small interference RNA ( siRNA )?mediated silencing of VEGFR?2 gene was performed on Calu?1 cells, and the mRNA and protein expression of VEGFR?2 was determined by quantitative real?time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The cells were divided into control group, vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) group, VEGFR?2 specific siRNA (siKDR) group, and siKDR+VEGF group. The changes in proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated by the CCK8 assay, cell scratch wound?healing assay, and transwell migration assay, respectively. The protein expression of VEGFR?2 and proteins in the related downstream signaling pathway was measured by Western blot. Apoptosis in each group was determined after radiotherapy. Results After RNA interference?mediated silencing of VEGFR?2, the mRNA and protein expression of VEGFR?2 was significantly reduced ( P=0. 001,P=0. 000);the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Calu?1 cells were also significantly reduced ( P=0. 000,P=0. 000,P=0. 000);the phosphorylation levels of AKT, ERK 1/2, and p38 were significantly reduced in Calu?1 cells ( P=0. 336,P=0. 986,P=0. 553);the apoptosis in Calu?1 cells was significantly elevated ( P=0. 0012);the protein expression of HIF?1α was significantly inhibited ( P= 0. 016 ) . Conclusions The VEGFR?2 gene silencing significantly inhibits several physiological functions of Calu?1 cells and elevates the apoptosis rate after radiotherapy.

Objective To determine the effects of endostatin on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor?2 ( VEGFR?2 ) in non?small cell lung cancer cells ( human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells and human Calu?1 lung carcinoma cells) , and to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying its radiosensitizing effect. Methods The CCK8 method was used to determine the inhibitory effect of endostatin on cell proliferation and calculate the drug concentration that caused a 20% reduction in cell proliferation within 24 h ( IC20 ) . RT?PCR and Western blot assays were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression of VEGFR?2, proteins within its related signaling pathways, and HIF?1α, respectively. The radiosensitivity of cells in each group was determined by colony formation assay;cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were determined by flow cytometry. Comparison of mean values between multiple samples was made by one?way analysis of variance, and comparison of mean values between two samples was made by t test. Results Endostatin significantly inhibited the proliferation of Calu?1 cells ( F=50?36,P<0?01) with an IC20 of 296?5 μg/ml;the mRNA and protein expression of VEGFR?2 and HIF?1α was also significantly inhibited in endostatin?treated Calu?1 cells ( F=25?43,10?44, all P<0?05) . Moreover, the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK 1/2, and p38 was significantly reduced in endostatin?treated Calu?1 cells ( F=2?89,0?24, 1?09, all P<0?05) . The radiosensitivity enhancement ratios for Calu?1 cells and A549 cells were 1?38 and 1?09, respectively. Endostatin significantly induced apoptosis ( F=44?15, P<0?01) and G2/M blockage ( F= 104?24, P< 0?01 ) in Calu?1 cells. Conclusions Endostatin induces apoptosis and enhances radiosensitivity in Calu?1 cells with high expression of VEGFR?2, but it has a limited impact on A549 cells with low expression of VEGFR?2.

ObjectiveTo investigate the methylation status in the promoter region of secreting frizzled related protein 2 (SFRP2) gene in patients with myelodyplastic sydrome (MDS) and to initially explore the relationship between the methylation of this gene and prognosis/survival time.MethodsMSP method was applied to examine the promoter methylation of SFRP2 gene in 43 bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of MDS patients.As controls,70 normal peripheral blood samples from volunteers of general outpatients were examined.Then some of the patients were followed up.ResultsIn 43 patients of MDS,10 samples (23.3 ％)showed SFRP2 gene methylation,and all of them were semi-methylation status.In 70 controls,no sample showed SFRP2 gene methylation.The frequency of SFRP2 gene methylation in MDS patients was significantly higher than that in controls (x2 =17.86,P ＜0.0001).Of the 10 SFRP2 gene methylation samples,5 were bone marrow samples and 5 were peripheral blood samples.In this group of patients,3 patients were diagnosed as RA,1 patient was diagnosed as RAS,2 patients were diagnosed as RCMD,3 patients were diagnosed as RAEB and 1 patient was diagnosed as MDS-U.There was no significant difference between the different sample source (bone marrow or peripheral blood) for the results of the methylation status (x2 =0.912,P ＞0.05).Either no significant difference between the different sex,age,type,chromosome and WPSS score (all P ＞0.05).The progress of disease didn' t influence the methylation rate (P ＞0.05).16 patients accepted follow-up and 11patients died,3 patients went to AML.2 died patients showed SFRP2 gene methylation.The survival analyses showed no relationship between the methylation of this gene and survival time(x2 =0.022, P ＞0.05).ConclusionIn this MDS group,there is a high level of methyl-modification in SFRP2 gene.The methylation of SFRP2 may be one of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the progress of patients with MDS.The peripheral blood sample maybe a better substitute in detection of SFRP2 with MDS.

Objective To study the effects of toys for laboratory animals on reproductive performance and growing development of experimental mice.Methods ICR mice were fed with toys, the informations of reproductive performance and growing development were recorded.Results All the data of reproductive performance of the test group were higher than the control group except the number of newborn mice, and showed significant difference ( P <0.05 ) .The data of growing development of the test group were higher than the control group too, but showed no significant difference ( P >0.05).Conclusion Toys for laboratory animals have good effects on reproductive performance and growing development of mice, and suggested to be used into the process of experimental mice raising.