Objective To establish the method of depict ing the left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume loop automatically by computer which incorporates LV catherization simultaneous with LV acoustic quantification echocardiography and to assess echocardiography non-invasive evaluation LV chamber stiffness. Methods Thirteen patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) underwent LV catherization simultaneously with echocardiography. LV pressure and volume curves were sent to computer, and LV pressure-volume loop was depicted automatically and modulus of LV chamber stiffness (Kc) was obtained. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography of mitral intraventricular flows was obtained in patients with HCM. Results Patients with HCM had significantly higher Kc obtained from LV pressure-volume loop ( 0.43 ? 0.11 vs 0.27 ). R-E 3/R-E 0, (R-E 2)-(R-E 1), (R-A 3)-(R-A 2) were correlated to Kc(r= 0.61 , 0.57 , 0.58 ,respectively). Conclusions This method provides a simple and reliable technique for automatically tracing pressure-volume loop and should facilitate further investigation of the left ventricular diastolic function in clinical practice. R-E 3/ R-E 0, (R-E 2)-(R-E 1), (R-A 3)-(R-A 2) offer new non-invasive indices in evaluating LV chamber stiffness.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Adenoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cell Nucleus ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Thyroid Gland ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Thyroid Nodule ; diagnosis ; Thyroiditis ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate the independent factors associated with the apex of left atrial appendage(LAA) spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation (VAF). Methods Seventeen normal subjects and 21 patients with VAF were included. Plasma fibrinogen (Fg),vov Willebrand factor (vWF),D-dimer (DD),P-selectin,thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) were measured. The apex of LAA SEC was assessed quantitatively by integrated backscatter (IBS). LAA flow and pulmonary venous flow were detected by transesophageal echocardiography. Results Fg,vWF,DD,TAT and PAI-1 were increased significantly in patients with atrial fibrillation compared with control ( P

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of furanodiene(FDE),a diterpene derived from the medicinal plant Zedoary,on apoptosis of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells induced in vitro. METHODS MGC-803 cells were treated with FDE 46.29~740.74μmol·L-1 for 24,48 and 72 h,and the cell viability was detected with MTT assay. Cell morphology was observed by light microscopy and Hoechst33342 staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptotic rate and cell cycle. Rh123 staining and fluorescence probe DCFH-DA were employed to detect the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species(ROS). RESULTS MTT Results showed that FDE 46.29-740.74μmol · L-1 exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity to gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. IC50 for MGC-803 of 24,48 and 72 h treatment was 347.91,257.41 and 101.01μmol·L-1,respectively. Treatment with FDE 92.58-370.32μmol·L-1 for 24 h also caused significant morphological changes in MGC-803 cells. AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI double staining showed that the apoptotic rate increased after FDE 92.58-370.32μmol·L-1 treatment for 24 h(P<0.05). FDE enabled MGC-803 cell cycle arrest in S phase. DCFH-DA staining showed that FDE resulted in an increase in intracellular ROS levels(P<0.05) when PDE concentration was 370.37μmol·L-1(P<0.05). MMP decreased after FDE treatment when PDE concen?tration was 370.37μmol·L-1(P<0.05). CONCLUSION FDE Possesses potent tumor selected toxicity and can induce apoptosis of MGC-803 cells through cell cycle arresting,which is related to inhibition of DNA biosynthesis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of intranasal administration of low dosage recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) on seizure in rats.

METHODSAfter intranasal or intraperitoneal administration of r-HuEPO, the behavioral and electroencephalographic changes were observed in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) induced seizure or electrical amygdaloid-kindled seizure of rats.

RESULTIntranasal administration of low dosage r-HuEPO increased the seizure latency, and decreased the seizure grade and duration, and the number of convulsive episodes in PTZ induced seizure, with the most potential dosage of 2.4 IU. Intraperitoneal administration of r-HuEPO (3 000, 4 000 IU/kg) only decreased the seizure duration and number of convulsive episodes. The seizure grade, forelimb or hindlimb extension duration were decreased in MES-induced seizure by intranasal administration of 2.4 IU r-HuEPO. In addition, intranasal administration of 2.4 IU r-HuEPO decreased the seizure grade, generalized seizure duration and afterdischarge in electrical amygdaloid-kindled rats stimulated with generalized seizure threshold.

CONCLUSIONIntranasal administration of low dosage r-HuEPO can inhibit the seizure in rats.

Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; administration & dosage ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Erythropoietin ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Pentylenetetrazole ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins

Objective To investigate the independent echocardiographic pathogenesis associated with left atrial spontaneous echo contrast(SEC) formation in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods Twenty-one patients with valvular AF and twenty-three patients with nonvalvular AF undergoing transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography(TTE/TEE) were studied.Morphological and functional parameters of the heart in patients with AF were detected by TTE,while the sizes of the left atrial appendage(LAA),its Doppler flow patterns,Doppler flow patterns of the left upper pulmonary vein and integrated backscatter(IBS) values of left atrial SEC relative to those of the left ventricle were measured by TEE.Results There were the following 10 variables significantly associated with the left atrial SEC,some of which associated positively with SEC were left atrial diameter(r=(0.40252),P=(0.0061)),diameter of the open mouth of LAA to the left atrium(r=(0.37816),P=(0.0161)),while the others of which associated negatively with SEC were antegrade/retrograde blood flow velocity peak,integrate(RVi) and retrograde blood flow velocity mean(RVm) values,and S/D wave peak,S wave integrate(Is) and D wave mean(Md) values,their r values ranged from(-0.40379) to(-0.32832),their P values between(0.0018) and(0.0386).Collinearity analyses suggested that RVi,RVm,Is,Md represented completely all the blood flow velocity parameters of LAA and the left upper pulmonary vein,respectively.Multivariate analyses demonstrated that RVm and Md were the independent predictors of the left atrial SEC in patients with AF(both P

AIM: To elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying calcium handling protein in diastolic heart failure (DHF) from mRNA level and protein expression, including calcium adenosine triphosphatase (Ca 2+ -ATPase), phospholamban, ryanodine receptor, calsequestrin and L-type calcium channel. METHODS: The mRNA of these calcium handling genes were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein levels were analyzed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Compared with sham-operated rabbits, the steady-state levels of mRNA encoding the SR Ca 2+ -ATPase and cardiac L-type calcium channel were decreased significantly in rabbits with DHF, and protein level of SR Ca 2+ - ATPase was greatly reduced, whereas the mRNA and protein levels of other calcium handling protein were unchanged. CONCLUSION: L-type calcium channel and the sarcoplasmic reticular Ca 2+ -ATPase were down regulated in DHF. These changes may be a contributory factor for DHF.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of the calpain system mRNA and protein expression on the progress of atrial structural remodeling in fibrillating canine.METHODS: 17 dogs were randomly divided into 2 groups: normal control group(SR,n=6) and atrial fibrillation(AF,n=11) group.AF was induced by rapid pacing for 8 weeks and all dogs underwent transthoratic echocardiography before and after rapid pacing.The mRNA and protein expression of calpainⅠ,calpainⅡand calpastatin were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting,respectively.RESULTS: Compared with SR group,the left atrial diameters and the content of calcium in atrial myocardium increased significantly in AF group(P0.05) between two groups.The expression of calpastatin mRNA was upregulated significantly in AF group(P

OBJECTIVETo summarize application of rafting K-wires technique for tibial plateau fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2013 to January 2015,45 patients with tibial plateau fractures were treated by locking plate with rafting K-wires, including 33 males and 12 females with an average of 44.2 years old ranging from 22 to 56 years old. According to Schatzker classification, 6 cases were type II, 8 were type Ill, 4 were type IV, 4 were type V, and 5 were type VI. Allogeneic bone graft were performed for bone defects. All patients were fixed with two to five K-wires. Part of weight loading were encouraged at 3 months after operation,and full weight-loading were done at 5 months after operation. Postoperative complications were observed,and Rasmussen clinical and radiological assessment were used to evaluate clinical results.

RESULTSAll Patients were followed up from 10 to 23 months with average of 14 months. According to Rasmussen clinical and radiological assessment, clinical scores 23.58 ± 6.33, radiological scores were 14.00 ± 6.33; and excellent and good rates were 82.2% and 77.8% respectively. Four patients occurred severe osteoporosis and collapse of articular surface; 5 patients occurred traumatic arthritis.

CONCLUSIONRafting K-wires technique with anatomized armor plate could effective fix and support platform collapse and joint bone fragments, increase support surface area and reduce postoperative reduction loss rate.

Adult ; Bone Wires ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

In order to investigate the mechanism, the correlation between the odor change in Crataegi Fructus stir-fried process and 5-HMF were studied. Required samples were retrieved from Crataegi Fructus stir-fried process. Statistical quality control (SQC) was used to analyze the response values acquired by the electronic nose. At the same time, the content of 5-HMF was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the above two. Experimental results showed that SQC model established by response values of all samples could show the change law of odor in Crataegi Fructus stir-fried process and changes of 5-HMF content was dropped after the first increase. Correlation analysis showed that the odor change in Crataegi Fructus stir-fried process and 5-HMF were significantly correlated (P < 0.05). Sugar degradation reaction and the Maillard reaction may be one of the mechanisms of the odor change in Crataegi Fructus stir-fried process.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Furaldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Odorants ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods