AIM: To investigate the effect oferythropoietin (EPO) on the rats with heart failure (HF) in hypothermia and to explore its underlying mechanism.METHODS: The Sprague-Dawley rats (n=80) were randomly divided into five groups: control group (CON group), HF in low-temperature group (HFLT group), HF in normal temperature group (HFNT group), HF with EPO in low temperature group (HFLT+EPO group), and HF with EPO and LY2940002 in low temperature group (HFLT+EPO+LY group).All rats were housed in artifitial climate chamber.The animals in CON, HFLT, HFLT+EPO and HFLT+EPO+LY groups were under the low-temperature environment, while those in HFNT group were under normal temperature.The heart function was evaluated by echocardiography.The rats were then executed and the hearts were harvested.The apoptosis of myocytes was assessed by TUNEL method.The mRNA expression of Fas and PI3K was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) and the protein levels of HSP70, Akt and p-Akt in the myocardial tissues were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: The rat cardiac functions in HFLT group were significantly deteriorated compared with HFNT group.The cardiac functions in HFLT+EPO group were improved compared with HFLT group.The cardiac functions in HFLT+EPO+LY group were significantly pejorated compared with HFLT+EPO group.The apoptotic index of the myocardium in HFLT group and HFNT group was significantly higher than that in CON group (P<0.01).The apoptotic index of the myocardium in HFLT group was significantly higher than that in HFNT group (P<0.05).The apoptotic index of the myocardium in HFLT+EPO group was significantly lower than that in HFLT group (P<0.01).The mRNA expression of Fas in HFLT group was significantly higher than that in HFNT group, and no obvious difference of the mRNA expression level of PI3K between HFLT group and HFNT group was observed.The mRNA expression of PI3K in HFLT+EPO group was significantly lower than that in HFLT group and HFLT+EPO+LY group (P<0.05), and that in HFLT+EPO group was significantly higher than that in HFLT group and HFLT+EPO+LY group (P<0.05).The protein levels of p-Akt and HSP70 in HFLT+EPO group was also higher than those in HFLT group and HFLT+EPO+LY group (P<0.05), and no obvious difference of the protein levels of p-Akt and HSP70 in CON, HFLT and HFNT groups was found.The protein level of Akt had no significant difference in each group.CONCLUSION: The pathway of PI3K/Akt may be one of the cardioprotective ways of EPO.EPO activates the PI3K/Akt pathway, upregulates the experssion of HSP70 (an endogenous protective factor) and inhibits the apoptosis, thus protecting the cardiac functions in the rats with HF in hypothermia.

AIM:To observe the effects of infrasound on sperm quality and explore some underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Adult male SD rats were exposed to infrasound of 8 Hz at 90 dB or 130 dB for 1,7,14 or 21 d(2 h/d), whose epididymises were obtained for sperm count, abnormity and activity ratio inspection and whose testes for GSH-Px and MDA inspection. RESULTS: With prolonged exposure, sperm quality and GSH-Px in 90 dB and 130 dB groups decreased, while MDA increased, and at the same time point, the indexes of 130 dB groups changed more profoundly than those in 90 dB groups. CONCLUSION: Biological effect of infrasound on testes depends on the exposure parameters. The mechanisms of which could be unbalanced antioxidant system induced by infrasonic exposure.

AIM: To observe the changes of NO, ET-1, SOD and MDA levels in plasma of rats exposed to infrasound. METHODS: Using infrasound (frequency: 8 Hz; sound pressure level:130 dB), the rats were exposed for 1 d, 7 d, 14 d, 21 d and 28 d, 2 h daily, then the levels of NO, ET-1, SOD and MDA were measured after exposure. RESULTS: The changes of NO levels in plasma significantly declined at 7 d and 14 d (P0.05). The changes of ET-1 levels in all groups in plasma were significantly increased (P

ObjectiveTo study the effect of 8 Hz infrasound on the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in rats' hippocampus and temporal cortex.Methods140 male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, and experimental groups that exposed to infrasound of 8Hz,90dB,100dB and 130dB for 1,7,14,21,28,35,42 days. Experimental groups were exposed to infrasound for 2 hours each day. The control group was only placed in the infrasonic storehouse but without infrasound. Rats' brains were taken as soon as the exposure finished and strained by immunohistochemistry. The content of 5-HT in hippocampus and temporal cortex was detected under an optical microscope.ResultsInfrasound groups had less expression of 5-HT in hippocampus and temporal cortex than the control group (P<0.01), and the least were at the 28th day for 90 dB and 100 dB groups and the 21st day for 130 dB group. Then the expression of 5-HT had an increase in each group.ConclusionThe deceased expression of 5-HT in rats' hippocampus and temporal cortex could result from infrasound of 8 Hz. Rules of change are related to the parameter of infrasound and the 130 dB 8 Hz infrasound can induce greater changes compared with that of 100 dB and 90 dB.

Objective To observe the effects of infrasound on rat myocardial cells and to study its underlying mechanism. Methods One hundred Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a normal control group and a infrasound exposure group, composed of various subgroups subject to exposure to infrasound for 2 hours daily for 1 d,7 d,14 d,21 d,and 28 d, respectively. The ultra-microstructure and apoptosis of the rat myocardial cells were observed, and SOD and MDA were measured. Results After exposure to infrasound, significant ultra-microstructural impairment and increased apoptosis of the myocardial cells were observed in the infrasound exposure group as compared to those of the normal control group,(P

Objective To explore the clinicopathological value of X-ray repair cross complementing gene 1(XRCC1) expression in colorectal carcinoma. Methods The XRCC1 gene expression in 107 cases of colorectal carcinomas, 25 cases of adjacent mucosa and 36 cases of normal colorectal mucosa was detected immunohistochemically, and the correlation between the expression and clinicopathological factors was analyzed. Results The positive rates of XRCC1 expression in colorectal carcinoma and adjacent mucosa,87.8 % (94/107) and 84.0 % (21/25) respectively, were significantly higher than that in the normal colorectal mucosa [27.8 %(10/36) (P=0.000, P =0.000)]. In colorectal carcinoma, the positive rate of XRCC1 expression in the group of poor differentiation [44.4 % (4/9)] was significantly lower than that in the groups of moderate and well differentiation [94.8 % (50/58)(P=0.000) and 87.5 %(35/40) (P=0.015)], while the positive rate of XRCC1 expression was not related to sex, age, location, infiltration depth and lymph node metastasis (P ＞0.05). Conclusion The results indicated that XRCC 1 protein can be used as a marker to diagnose colorectal carcinoma.

Objective To observe the effect of low level infrasound on neuropathic pain and explore its underlying mechanism. Methods Rats were divided into experimental and control groups after their L5 spinal nerves had been ligated to create a neuropathic pain model. The experimental group was subjected to 40 to 80 dB infra sound. The control group received no infrasound treatment. Paw withdrawal latency in response to heat radiation was measured and the average gray scale of the microglia in a slice of the L5 spinal cord was compared. Results The experimental group expressed significantly lengthened paw withdrawal latency on the 12th and 14th day. The average gray scale showed significantly weakened activation of spinal microglia in the 2nd week of infrasound treatment compared with the control group. Conclusion Low level infrasound can ameliorate neuropathic pain to a certain extent,which might be related with inhibition of spinal microglia.

Objective In the context of worldwide shortage of amytal,explore the intracarotidpropofol test for lateralizing language area and assessing hemispheric memory function.Methods Fourteen patients with refractory partial epilepsy who were candidates for surgical intervention were included in the study.With guide under a digital subtraction angiography,propofol was injected in bilateral intracarotidsequentially.Muscle power deceasing to level 0 at the contralateral limb and eyes gazing to contralateral side were used as the mark of hemispheric anesthesia completely.The immediate language alterations were recorded.To evaluate the bilateral language and memory functions,the visual and auditory memory tasks were performed sequentially once patient could concentrate his attention ; and after limb muscle power recovering to normal level,patients were required to perform a free recall test.Any abnormal responses were recorded.Results Language dominant hemisphere was determined in 14 patients.Nine patients were confirmed as left language dominance,2 patients were right language dominance.The remained 3 patients were considered as bilateral language dominance.Meanwhile,the hemispheric memory function was able be evaluated in 13 patients.More than 67％ memory function was sustained in hemisphere contralateral to mesial temporal lesions.Transient responses including eye pain,facial muscle spasms,laughers and involuntary movements were observed.Conclusion Hemispheric language and memory functions can be assessed with direct intracarotidpropofol injection,and propofol could be an alternative drug to amobarbital used in the Wada test.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with growth-hormone adenoma (GHA) and summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience.Methods The clinical data of 338 GHA cases at the General Hospital of PLA from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 2016 were collected, of which 252 cases with more complete clinical data were retrospectively analyzed including their general situation, medical history, laboratory tests and auxiliary examinations, and treatment modalities and outcomes. Parts of the patients were followed up.Results The cases of hospitalized GHA patients have increased year by year since 1990, and the number of patients admitted in the last 3 years accounted for 56.2% of the total number of cases. The sex ratio for GHA patients was nearly 1:1. Age of visiting followed Gaussian distribution while the 41-50 age group occupied the largest part. The most typical sign is hand and foot enlargement (60.7%), followed by the hypertrophy of nasal ala. The most common symptoms are headache (42.5%), hypopsia, visual field defect and diplopia. More than half of GHA patients were complicated with prediabetes and diabetes (72.6%), sleep apnea (69.5%), goiter or thyroid nodularity (56.4%), cardiac insufficiency (57.0%) and colon polyp (54.1%); while the percentages of cases undergone the relevant examination in the total number of cases were as follows: 75g OGTT test (42.1%), polysomnography (23.4%), thyroid ultrasound (37.3%), echocardiogram (47.6%) and colonoscopy (14.7%); GHA was 23.37±1.42μg/L and IGF-1 was 804.28±273.93ng/ml on average; 85.0% of somatotroph tumors are macroadenoma. Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy to GHA, while medical therapy was selected by less patients. During the follow-up, only 38.0%of GHA patients can be contacted, among them the remission rate decreased to 40.5%. The positive rate of long-term remission evaluated by early postoperative GHA level was consistent with that confirmed by the long-term follow-up (χ2=3.368,P>0.05). Conclusions The number of hospitalized GHA patients have increased recent years. The common clinical signs and symptoms are somatic enlargement and nonspecific headache. Due to uncompleted screening, GHA associated complications are always misdiagnosed; It is essential to establish a sound model of follow-up to improve patients' quality of life. The early postoperative GHA levels may predict the prognosis of surgery.

Objective To explore the application value of the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) on complications after hepatectomy.Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinical data of 121 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent hepatectomy in the Mianyang Central Hospital from January 2011 to April 2017 were collected.All 121 patients received LSM using Fibro Scan,and 81 undergoing laparoscopic liver resection (LR) and 40 undergoing open liver resection (OR) were respectively allocated into the LR and OR groups.Observation indicators:(1) comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations;(2) risk factors analysis affecting postoperative complication of HCC patients;(3) area under the curve (AUC) of LSM and postoperative complications;(4) comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations,when LSM ≤17.5 kPa;(5) comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations,when LSM ＞ 17.5 kPa;(6)comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations between patients with LSM ≤ 17.5 kPa and LSM ＞ 17.5 kPa in the LR group.Measurement data were represented as x±s,and mean comparisons between groups were done using the t test.Comparisons of count data and univariate analysis were analyzed using the chi-square test and Fisher exact probability.The multivariate analysis was done using the logistic regression model,using P＜0.01 as a inclusion criteria in the univariate analysis.The critical value of postoperative complication was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).Results (1) Comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations:all the 121 patients underwent successful surgery,including 4 with conversion to open surgery in the LR group.Cases with Pringle manner were 51 in the LR group and 17 in the OR group,with a statistically significant difference (x2 =4.555,P＜0.05).Operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,case with intraoperative blood transfusion,Ishak score of 1-3 and 4-6 scores,postoperative complications and duration of hospital stay were respectively (248±78)minutes,(292±229)mL,14,14,67,29,(12±7)days in the LR group and (221±78)minutes,(281± 194)mL,9,9,31,10,(13±6)days in the OR group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (t =1.843,0.282,x2 =0.473,0.473,1.431,t =0.075,P＞0.05).(2) Risk factors analysis affecting postoperative complication of HCC patients:39 of 121 patients had postoperative complications.Results of univariate analysis showed that retention 15-minute rate of indocyanine green (ICG R15),LSM,volume of intraoperative blood loss and Ishak score were risk factors affecting postoperative complication of HCC patients (x2 =7.161,32.490,7.725,2.863,P＜0.l).Results of multivariate analysis showed that LSM ＞ 15.0 kPa was an independent risk factor affecting postoperative complication of HCC patients [odds ratio (OR) =6.906,95％ confidence interval (CI):2.307-20.672,P＜0.05].(3) AUC of LSM and postoperative complication:when LSM of postoperative complication ＞ 17.5 kPa,sensitivity,specificity and AUC were respectively 64.1％,85.4％ and 0.749 (95％CI:0.662-0.824,P＜0.05).(4) Comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations,when LSM ≤ 17.5 kPa:duration of hospital stay was respectively (10±5) days in the LR group and (13±7) days in the OR group,with a statistically significant difference between groups (t--2.389,P＜0.05).(5) Comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations,when LSM ＞ 17.5 kPa:operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,cases with postoperative complications and hepatic dysfunction were respectively (277±76)minutes,(505±232)mL,21,17 in the LR group and (212-± 109) minutes,(328±250) mL,4,2 in the OR group,with statistically significant differences between groups (t=2.060,2.057,P＜0.05).(6) Comparisons of intra-and post-operative situations between patients with LSM ≤ 17.5 kPa and LSM ＞ 17.5 kPa in the LR group:operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,cases with postoperative complications and hepatic dysfunction and duration of hospital stay were respectively (236±76)minutes,(197± 153)mL,8,3,(10±5)days in the LR group and (277± 76)minutes,(505±232) mL,21,17,(16±9)days in the OR group,with statistically significant differences between groups (t=0.657,3.398,x2 =36.547,36.475,t=17.414,P＜0.05).Conclusion LSM is an independent risk factor affecting postoperative compfications after hepatectomy,when LSM ＞ 17.5 kPa,LR is associated with higher incidence of postoperative complications compared with OR.