Objective To investigate the clinical value of non-invasive atherosclerosis detection technology for the early diagnosis of young type 2 diabetic patients with lower extremity vascular disease .Methods 78 young patients with type 2 diabetes( T2DM group) and 80 cases in the healthy control group were detected some indicators , including upstroke time(UT)%,mean artery pressure(%MAP),the pulse wave speed(baPWV) and ankle-brachial index(ABI) by Omron arteriosclerosis detector.Those items were comprehensively used to evaluate the diabetes patients of lower extremity vascular disease .Results There were statistically significant differences in UT ,%MAP, baPWV and ABI between the T2DM group and the control group(t=4.218,8.798,-3.392,5.136,all P<0.01). ABI of 6 patients was less than 0.9.Moreover,five of these 6 patients examined by color Doppler ultrasound had arte-rial plaque formation.As to patients of ABI >0.9,2 cases of them were promoted lower extremity arterial stenosis and occlusion,and then they were certified by color Doppler ultrasound .Conclusion Non-invasive atherosclerosis detec-tion technology has better accuracy to the diagnosis of young type 2 diabetes patients with atherosclerosis ,and may find patients with blocked arteries earlier ,provide better value for early clinical intervention .

0.05),while there were significant differences in VEGF mRNA expression among the rest of groups(P

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect and application value of retroperitoneal laparoscopic combined with resectoscopic radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma Methods From Jan.2006 to Jul.2009,fifteen upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients underwent excision of bladder cuff with resectoscope at first,and then retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy.All tumors were confirmed to be localized,stage T1-T3.Clinical outcomes of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results Mean operative time was 150 (range:120-180) minutes and blood loss volume was 200 (range:100-400)ml.The function of intestinal canal recovered after 24-48 hours,the drainage tube could be removed after 3-4 days.Catheter was kept for 7-10 days.During the follow up for 1-40 months,all the 15 patients survived with one retroperitoneal lymphatic metastasis.There were no severe complications in perioperative and postoperative period.Conclusions Retroperitoneal laparoscopic combined with resectoscopic radical nephroureterectomy may be a practical surgical procedure for upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients with less intraoperative blood loss and early recovery.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of astragaloside (Astr), one of the active components of the Chinese medical herb Astragulus membranaceus, on cardiac fibrosis in chronic myocarditis and its relevant mechanisms.

METHODSEighty mice were randomized into 3 groups, the control group (n=20), the model group (n=30) and the Astr group (n=30). Mice in the model group and the Astr group were monthly intraperitoneally inoculated with CVB3, but to the control group equal amount of culture fluid was given instead. Mice in the control and the model group were fed with drinking water while those in the Astr group with drinking water containing Astr-sodium carboxymethycellulose at a concentration of 300 mg/L. All the survived mice were sacrificed 3 months later. Heart tissue of mice was stained by picrosirius red for calculating collagen volume fraction (CVF) with an automatic image analysis system. Expressions of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), MMP-13 and MMP-14 in heart tissue were detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSAs compared with the model group, in the Astr group, the mortality and CVF were significantly lower (53.3% vs. 23.3%, chi2 = 4.23, P < 0.05), and (17.4 +/- 1.2% vs. 8.6 +/- 0.9%, chi2 = 5.38, P < 0.05), respectively. As compared with the control group, Western blot analysis showed that expression of TGF-beta1 was decreased, MMP-1 and TIMP-1 were down-regulated, while expressions of MMP-13 and MMP-14 were up-regulated after Astr treatment.

CONCLUSIONAstr could lower the mortality and alleviate the myocardial fibrosis of mice with chronic myocarditis. Its antifibrotic effect might be realized by way of inhibiting TGF-beta1 expression and up-regulating the expressions of MMP-13 and MMP-14 in the heart tissues.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Chronic Disease ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endomyocardial Fibrosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; complications ; drug therapy ; virology ; Random Allocation ; Saponins ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hypoxia on the human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 and the regulation of non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src in this process.

METHODSThe cultured human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs) were divided into: normal group, hypoxia 30 minute group, hypoxia 6 hours group and hypoxia 48 hour group, and hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group, hypoxia 48 hour + PP3 group, hypoxia 48 hour + bpV group. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle, RT-PCR and Western blot technique were carried out to detect the expression changes of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in different groups.

RESULTS(1) Cell Cycle Show: Compared with normal control group, with prolonged hypoxia, the percentages of hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were increased. While compared with hypoxia 48 hour group, the percentages of hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were decreased. The expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in acute hypoxia 6 hour group was increased, while the expression of TASK-1 protein on hPASMCs in the acute and chronic hypoxia group was decreased, and the expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in the chronic hypoxia group was decreased; After pre-incubation of a potent and selective inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases PP2, the expression of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was increased, however after pre-incubation of the inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine phosphatase bpV, the expression of TASK-1 protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was decreased.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia promotes human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, and non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src may participate in the expression of two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 regulated by hypoxia. Therefore, we hypothesized that TASK-1 channels and c-Src participatein the acute and chronic hypoxic human pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; Vasoconstriction ; src-Family Kinases ; metabolism

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation Exposure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Bai Xiao moxibustion plus electroacupuncture in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH). Method Ninety-six LIDH patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 48 cases each. The treatment group was intervened by Bai Xiao moxibustion plus electroacupuncture, while the control group was intervened by electroacupuncture alone. Before and after the treatment, the lower back pain scores of Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were evaluated, and the clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared. Result The JOA and VAS lower back pain scores were changed significantly after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, the JOA and VAS lower back pain scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05). The pain release time was (2.95±0.59)d after the intervention in the treatment group versus (4.26±0.68)d in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.7％ in the treatment group versus 91.7％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Bai Xiao moxibustion plus electroacupuncture is an effective method in treating LIDH and it can reduce the lower back pain.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays important roles in anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulative activities. The aim of this study was to observe if HO-1 transfection could inhibit the damage of osteoblasts induced by ethanol. HO-1 was transfected into osteoblasts via constructed plasmid. After exposure to ethanol for 24 h, cytoactivity and apoptosis of osteoblasts were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, the oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in osteoblasts were measured. Compared to positive control group, the cytoactivity of transfected osteoblasts was significantly increased, and the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased (P<0.05). At the same time, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was increased (P<0.05) in the transfected osteoblasts as compared with positive controls. These results suggest that HO-1 plays a protective role in osteoblasts, and HO-1 transfection can effectively inhibit bone damage induced by ethanol.
Cells, Cultured ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in combination with bicyclol for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in seniors.

METHODS96 senior patients with CHB were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group and the control group. On the basis of routine liver protective treatment, patients in the treatment group received ADV (10 mg/d) and bicyclol tablets (25 mg, tid.) orally, and those in the control group were orally administrated ADV tablets (10 mg/d) only. The treatment course for both groups was 24 weeks. Serum ALT, AST, and alterations of virological parameters were observed before and after the treatment.

RESULTSBefore and at the end of the 24 weeks treatment, ALT level for the treatment group was (208.44 +/- 94.22) and (34.47 +/- 12.79) U/L, and those for the control group was (205.73 +/- 96.48) and (44.20 +/- 21.96) U/L, respectively (difference between groups P < 0.01). At the end of the 24 weeks treatment, ALT normalization rates for the treatment group and the control group were 76.6% and 54.5%, respectively, and AST normalization rates for them were 76.6% and 54.5%, respectively (both differences between groups P < 0.05); HBV DNA loads for the treatment group and the control group were decreased by (3.1 +/- 1.40) lgIU/ml and (2.98 +/- 1.17) lgIU/ ml, respectively (difference between groups P > 0.05). The incidence rates of adverse events between two groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONIt suggested that the treatment of ADV in combination with bicyclol for senior patients with CHB is effective and safe.

Adenine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Biphenyl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; virology ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects