Objective To explore the levels of blood N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) and homocysteine(HCY) and their clinical significance in the patients with essential hypertension(EH) complicating left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH).Methods One hundred and fifty cases of HE were divided into the EH-LVH group and simple EH group according to the results of cardiac ultrasound.One hundred individuals undergoing physical examination were selected as the control group.The levels of blood NT-proBNP and HCY were compared among three groups and the correlation analysis were analyzed with LV was performed.Results The levels of blood NT-proBNP and HCY in the EH-LVH group were obviously higher than those in the EH group and control group,the EH group was significantly higher than the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The levels of blood NT-proBNP and HCY had significantly positive correlation with left ventricular mass index(LVMI),while negative correlation with mitral flow velocity E/A(P<0.05).Conclusion The NT-proBNP and HCY levels can be used as the indicators for monitoring the development and progress of EH and has some predictive value for its complicating LVH.

Objective: To assess the values of conventional vascular ultrasound (US) and superb micro vascular imaging (SMI) for diagnosing carotid artery stenosis in relevant patients. Methods: A total of 37 patients of extra cranial carotid stenosis (with 70 blood vessels) treated in our hospital from 2014-08 to 2015-03 were retrospectively studied. Digital subtraction angiography (DAS) examination was used as golden standard, the diagnostic efifcacies for carotid artery stenosis by US and by SMI were compared. Results: The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing carotid stenosis by US were 81.42%, 83.33% and 80.95%; by SMI were 91.43%, 92.16% and 89.47% respectively. Conclusion: US and SMI showed good agreement for diagnosing carotid artery stenosis, while SMI was superior to US for accurately assess the degree of carotid stenosis, it might be used as a more reliable method for evaluating carotid plaque and stenosis in relevant patients.

Nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, digestive system and other physiological activities, is an important biological substance with activity. Under normal physiological conditions, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) can precisely regulate the nervous system NO production, release, diffusion and inactivation processes. But an excess of NO associates with the development of cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's psychosis nervous system diseases, while inhibition of nNOS activity can regulate the content of NO in vivo, and produce a therapeutic effect on some of the nervous system diseases. This review mainly describes the structure and regulation of nNOS and recent developments of small molecule inhibitors of nNOS.

Objective To study the influence of Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction on pulmonary tissue and lung function in mouse model of lung injury induced by PM2.5, and to provide an idea of clinical prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases induced by PM2.5. Methods Totally 30 clean level male ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, model group and Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group, with 10 mice in each group. Model of PM2.5-induced respiratory disease in mice was reproduced by instilling nasal cavity drip PM2.5 suspension 40 mg/kg once a day for 6 weeks. In the treatment group, the mice were fed with the Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction twice a day from the 4th week of instilling PM2.5 suspension until the end of experiment. In the normal control group, the mice were fed as usual. At the end of the experiment, the total protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was determined. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in lung tissue under light microscope. The inflammatory mediators levels in lung tissue were determined by antibody-sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Respiratory system damage model was successfully reproduced by dripping of PM2.5 suspension in nasal cavity. Compared with normal control group, inflammatory changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in model group were significant, and lung W/D ratio (4.71±0.33 vs. 3.13±0.12), total protein content in BALF (mg/L: 363.98±18.24 vs. 82.13±12.78), tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α (ng/L): 185.72±0.23 vs. 31.03±0.16], interleukin-8 [IL-8 (ng/L): 531.85±37.83 vs. 72.64±16.72], and leukotriene B4 [LTB4 (ng/L): 931.74±48.64 vs. 483.81±41.74] in lung tissue were significantly increased (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the inflammatory changes of lung tissue in Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group were significantly reduced, lung W/D ratio (3.92±0.41 vs. 4.71±0.33), total protein content in BALF (mg/L: 213.21±19.62 vs. 363.98±18.24), TNF-α (ng/L: 124.15±0.27 vs. 185.72±0.23), IL-8 (ng/L: 238.42±35.82 vs. 531.85±37.83) and LTB4 (ng/L: 582.85±31.00 vs. 931.74±48.64) levels in lung tissue in Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction can improve PM2.5-induced damage and pathological inflammatory changes in lung tissue, which provided some new ideas for the treatment of PM2.5-induced respiratory diseases.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of surgical strategies for Shang Ring circumcision in the treatment of short frenulum praeputii in patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis.

METHODSTotally, 130 cases of short frenulum praeputii with redundant prepuce or phimosis were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group of equal number to receive Shang Ring circumcision, the former by transverse incision in the distal penis foreskin and pull-up of the interior board, and the latter by conventional transverse incision and longitudinal suture of the frenulum praeputii. Comparisons were made between the two groups in the surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, 24 h postoperative pain visual analog score (VAS), postoperative complications, satisfaction with the penile appearance, and the quality of sexual life.

RESULTSThe surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, 24 h postoperative VAS, postoperative sexual satisfaction, and satisfaction with penile appearance were (4.60 +/- 1.20) min, (2.61 +/- 1.81) ml, 1.73 +/- 0.76, 98.5%, and 98.5%, respectively, in the experimental group, as compared with (21.60 +/- 6.30) min, (11.10 +/- 3.40) ml, 5.37 +/- 1.84, 70.3% and 69.8% in the control, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The incidence rates of such major complications as wound dehiscence, infection, and moderate to severe edema were 1.5% (1/65), 3.1% (2/65), and 4.6% (3/65), respectively, in the experimental group in comparison with 12.3% (8/65), 15.3% (10/65), and 30.7% (20/65) in the control, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). None of patients had any serious complications.

CONCLUSIONShang Ring circumcision by transverse incision in the distal penis foreskin and pull-up of the interior board, with its advantages of shorter operation time, less blood loss, mild pain, fewer complications, and higher satisfaction and acceptance of the patients, can be used as an safe and effective approach to the treatment of short frenulum praeputii.

Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; statistics & numerical data ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Edema ; epidemiology ; Foreskin ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Operative Time ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; diagnosis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Surgical Wound Dehiscence ; epidemiology ; Surgical Wound Infection ; epidemiology

Nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, digestive system and other physiological activities, is an important biological substance with activity. Under normal physiological conditions, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) can precisely regulate the nervous system NO production, release, diffusion and inactivation processes. But an excess of NO associates with the development of cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's psychosis nervous system diseases, while inhibition of nNOS activity can regulate the content of NO in vivo, and produce a therapeutic effect on some of the nervous system diseases. This review mainly describes the structure and regulation of nNOS and recent developments of small molecule inhibitors of nNOS.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical risks for elderly patients with gastric cancer. Methods The clinical data from 607 patients, who received surgical therapy for gastric cancer between January 2006 and December 2009, were retrospectively analyzed.Among them, 267 patients were over 65 years of age, and the other 340 patients (≤65 years of age)were served as control. Complete surgical resection was done by doctors in same group. The preoperative complications such as cardiopulmonary disease and post-operative complications as well as pathologic patterns were compared between two groups. Results Coexisted diseases were found more in elderly patients than in controls (68.91% vs 31.63 %, P＜0.01). Whereas there was no significant difference between two groups with respect to post-operative complication [28. 19% (75/267)vs 25.59 % (87/340)]. However, the incidence of cardiopulmonary complications, especially pulmonary infection, was higher in elderly patients than in controls (17.23% vs 5.29% ,P＜0.01). The digestive tract complications were related to the pattern of radical operation. Post-operative complication occurred less in patients treated with D1 radical operation than those with D2 and D3 radical operation.Conclusions The incidence of post-operative complication in elderly patients with gastric cancer was closely related to the surgical method. The elderly patients may has less complications if they were operated with D1 radical method which can reduce risk of complication and improve the quality of life.

Objective:To explore the difference and clinical significance of paraspinal muscle degeneration between single-segment degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.Methods:From January 2014 to October 2020, a retrospective analysis of 30 patientswere diagnosed with L 4,5 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, aged 61.63±8.42 years old (range 44 to 82 years old), body mass index 24.07±3.17 kg/m 2 and 30 patientswere diagnosed with L 4,5 degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, aged 59.67±12.89 years old (range 31 to 80 years old), body mass index 25.29±3.48kg/m 2, both of them went on surgery in department of spine surgery, shengjing hospital, China Medical University.30 healthy people were selected from outpatient physical examination in the control group, aged 58.33±7.36 years old (range 52 to 83 years old), body mass index 25.72±2.58 kg/m 2. These three groups were all male. Select all patients with L 3,4, L 4,5 and L 5S 1 disc level axial MRI images, and use the deep learning automatic segmentation measurement system developed by our hospital and Shenyang Institute of Automation Chinese Academy of Sciences to measure multifidus muscle cross sectional area (MMCSA), erector spinae cross sectional area (ESCSA), multifidus muscle fatty infiltration rate (MMFIR) and erector spinae fatty infiltration rate (ESFIR). One-way ANOVA was used to test the imaging parameters of multifidus and erector spinae of the three groups, and LSD- t test was used to compare the imaging parameters in each segment of paraspinal muscles. Results:The gender of three groups were male, there was no significant difference in age ( H=5.303, P>0.05), and there was no significant difference in body mass index ( F=2.267, P>0.05). Multifidus muscle cross-sectional area in L 3,4: degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis groupincreased 189.11 mm 2 compared with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group ( P=0.010). Multifidus muscle cross-sectional area in L 4,5: compared with healthy people group, degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group decreased 205.52 mm 2 ( P=0.002), while degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group decreased 184.14 mm 2 ( P=0.006). Multifidus muscle cross-sectional area in L 5S 1: compared with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group, degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group decreased 174.93 mm 2 ( P=0.018); compared with healthy people group, degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group decreased 406.06 mm 2 ( P<0.001), while degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group decreased 231.13 mm 2 ( P=0.002). Erector spinae cross sectional area in L 4,5: compared with healthy people group, degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group decreased 398.70 mm 2 ( P=0.006). Erector spinae cross sectional area in L 5S 1: compared with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group, degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group decreased 500.02 mm 2 ( P<0.001); compared with healthy people group, degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group decreased 455.37 mm 2 ( P<0.001). Compared with healthy group, the multifidus muscle fatty infiltration rate of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group in L 3,4 increased 4.96% ( P=0.001). Compared with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group, the erector spinae fatty infiltration rate of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group in L 5S 1 decreased 5.41% ( P=0.004). Compared with healthy group, the erector spinae fatty infiltration rate of degenerative lumbarspinal stenosis group in L 5S 1 increased 5.02% ( P=0.008) . Conclusion:Paraspinal muscle cross sectional area of each segment in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group and degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group decreased in different degrees. In degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis group, the degree of multifidus muscle fat infiltration was more significant, while indegenerative lumbar spinal stenosis group,the degree of erector spinal fat infiltration was higher.

Objective To establish a reliable unstable pelvic fracture model with sacral plexus stretch injury in goats and to detect electrophysiological signals when pelvis is shifted in different orientations and distance.Methods Twenty-four goats were divided into three groups of 8 animals each:pelvic longitudinal displacement was induced in group A,pelvic lateral displacement in group B,and pelvic dorsal displacement in group C.Animal left L6 and S1 nerve root and initial segment of sciatic nerve were exposed to connect stimulating and receiving electrodes respectively.Left pelvis was shifted at the speed of 0.25 mm/s to produce the model of unstable pelvic fracture with sacral plexus stretch injury.Electrophysiological signals of L6 and S1 were recorded when the placement of pelvis was 0,0.5 and 1.0 cm respectively.Results With pelvic displacement,the threshold potential,maximum stimulus potential and incubation period were gradually increased,but the peak-to-peak value became smaller gradually.When the pelvis displaced 0.5 cm at different orientations,group A showed improved threshold potential and incubation period (P ＜0.05),decreased peak-to-peak value (P ＜0.05),and no significant change in maximum stimulus potential(P ＞0.05);group B only showed lowered peak-to-peak value with no significant variations in other electrophysiological signals (P ＜ 0.05);group C had no significant variations in all electrophysiological signals (P ＞ 0.05).When the pelvis displaced 1.0 cm at different orientations,groups A and B showed improved threshold potential,maximum stimulus potential and incubation period (P ＜ 0.05) and lowered peak to peak value (P ＜ 0.05);group C showed higher incubation period with no significant variations in other electrophysiological signals(P ＜0.05).Between groups,the amplitude of variation in electrophysiological signals was the most in group A and the least in group C.Conclusion After unstable pelvis fracture in goats,sacral plexus stretch injury is the most serious in longitudinal displacement of the pelvis.