Animals ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxides ; antagonists & inhibitors

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy

Objective To compare the results of surgical repair for congenitally corrected transposition of the great arter-ies(ccTGA) with pulmonary stenosis(PS), and to analyze the risk factors that may affect early results and surgical technique. Methods From Aug. 2001 to Dec. 2008, 21 patients with ccTGA and PS were treated in our hospital. They aged 3.5 months to 6.3 years [(31 ± 18) months], weighted 6.28 kg [(13.1± 6.5) kg]. Fifteen cases had paramembranous ventricular sep-tal defect (VSD), 1 noncommitted VSD and 5 subpulmonary VSD. The repairs comprised of Senning and Rastelli operation. RV-PA reconstruction was done by xenopericardial conduit in 13 patients. RV-PA direct anastomosis plus pericardial patch in 6 patients and homograft patch with autopulmonary valve in 2 patients. Results All the patients were alive. During 2 - 5 years follow-up, blood flow rate in superior vena cava increased to 1.8 - 2.2 m/s in 3 cases. One of them needed reoperation to re-lease the stenosis and the rest 2 were in follow-up. Tow patients had right ventricular outlet obstruction with a pressure gradient of 30 -45 mmHg were in follow-up. There was no other stenosis and valve insufficiency. Conclusion Double-Switch opera-tion is practical and impressive in treating of CCTGA with PS. It is important to evaluate the size of VSD and the reconstruction of RV-PA. But it still need more cases and longer time to evaluate the long-term effects.

We developed a rehabilitation system by using the virtual reality technique and the Kinect in this paper. The system combines rehabilitation training with HMI and serious game organically, and provides a game and motion database to meet different patients' demands. Extended interface of game database is provided in two ways: personalized games can be developed by Virtools and Flash games which are suitable for patients' rehabilitation can be download from the Internet directly. In addition, the system provides patients with flexible interaction and easy control mode, and also presents real time data recording. An objective and subjective evaluation method is proposed to review the effectiveness of the rehabilitation training. According to the results of short questionnaires and the evaluation results of patients' rehabilitation training, the system compared with traditional rehabilitation can record and analyze the training data, which is useful to make rehabilitation plans. More entertainment and lower cost will increase patients' motivation, which helps to increase the rehabilitation effectiveness.
Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Internet ; Rehabilitation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Upper Extremity ; physiopathology ; User-Computer Interface ; Video Games

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yangjing Zhongyu Decoction (YZD) on mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR in ovarian granulose cells (GCs) cultured by excess androgen.

METHODSOvarian GCs from porcine follicles were isolated and cultured in vitro. Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) or YZD was added in the GCs treated by excess testosterone propionate. Totally 48 h later mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSExcess androgen inhibited mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR of GCs. FSH and YZD could antagonize inhibition of excess androgens, and promote mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR, and FSHR in GCs.

CONCLUSIONYZD could antagonize the inhibition of excess androgen on mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR and FSHR in GCs. Thus, we inferred that YZD could improve the follicle dysplasia by promoting mRNA and protein expression of PCNA, StAR and FSHR in GCs.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; pharmacology ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ovarian Follicle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; metabolism ; Swine

Our previous data demonstrate that impairment of arterial baroreceptor reflex (ABR) plays an independent role in hypertension target organ damage. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the dysfunction of ABR associated organ damage, sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats were used as an animal model of ABR dysfunction. Twenty-four-hour continuous blood pressure (SBP and DBP), blood pressure variability (BPV), heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) were measured in conscious and unrestrained rats. Angiotensin II (Ang II) in plasma, heart and kidney was assayed by raio-immunological assay (RIA) 1 or 18 weeks after denervation. In short-term SAD rats, twenty-four-hour mean SBP and DBP increased compared with that of sham-operated rats and long-term SAD rats. No significant difference in SBP, DBP or HR was found between long-term SAD rats and sham-operated ones. Compared with the sham-operated rats, long-term SAD rats had elevated BPV. No significant change in Ang II levels of caridiac and renal tissues was found in short-term SAD rats. In long-term SAD rats, Ang II level of plasma was not increased while the Ang II content in the heart and kidney increased. Ang II contents of plasma and tissues in long-term SAD rats exposed to chronic stress were higher than those in the control rats. These results show (1) in short-term SAD rats blood pressure increased, while in long-term SAD rats 24 h mean blood pressure did not increase, although BPV elevated in long-term SAD rats; (2) in long-term SAD rats, secretion of Ang II in cardiac and renal tissues was enhanced and more Ang II released when the animals were exposed to chronic stress. These results suggest that elevated BPV and secretion of Ang II may be related to the development of organ damage induced by ABR dysfunction.
Angiotensin II ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta ; innervation ; metabolism ; Autonomic Denervation ; Baroreflex ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Carotid Sinus ; innervation ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to detect the expression of bcl-2 and p53 proteins in colorectal carcinomas and to determine their association with the patient survival and stage of the diseases.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of bcl-2 and p53 proteins in 93 cases of colorectal carcinoma. The stain results were obtained by analyzing the clinic-pathological characteristics of patients.

RESULTSFifty-seven percent (53/93) of the colorectal carcinomas were bcl-2 protein positive. The positive rate of bcl-2 protein in lymph node involvement cases was lower (15/37) than the cases without node involvement (38/58, P<0.01). The positive rate of p53 protein was 43% (40/93) in colon-rectum carcinomas. No significant correlation was observed between p53 protein expression and clinic-pathological manifestations (P>0.05) but the survival was significantly worse (P=0.0001) in the p53 protein positive cases. Neither bcl-2 nor p53 alone was correlated with stage of the disease. When combined bcl-2/p53 status was analyzed, a group with bcl-2(+) and p53(-) had the best prognosis. This group was significantly associated with earlier Dukes' stages (P=0.1763). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, lymph node involvement and p53 protein expression were two independent factors correlated with survival time.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of bcl-2 and p53 represent biological characteristics of colorectal carcinomas. Assessment of both bcl-2 and p53 status may be valuable in predicting the prognosis of patients.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; China ; epidemiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnostic value of 8 equations using different variables for determining the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

METHODSGFR was estimated in 208 patients with cardiovascular diseases by (99m)Tc-DTPA dynamic renal imaging, and the eGFR was derived from 8 equations using different variables.

RESULTSIn patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1-3, the eGFR calculated suing serum creatinine (SCr)-based equation was better correlated to GFR estimated by (99m)Tc-DTPA renal imaging than that derived from cystatin C (Cys C)-based equations, whereas in patients with CKD stages 4 and 5, the estimates by the latter equation showed a better correlation to GFR. Compared with (99m)Tc-DTPA renal imaging, MDRD-based equation and simple MDRD equation resulted in a higher eGFR in patients with CKD stages 4 and 5, the Rule equation had a lower eGFR in CKD stages 1 and 2, the Macisaac equation yielded a higher eGFR in CKD stages 2-5, and the Tan equation showed a higher eGFR in CKD stages 2 and 3. In patients with mild renal dysfunction, the Scr-based equation had a higher AUC(ROC) than Cys C-based equation, which was reversed in patients with severe renal dysfunction; the AUC(ROC) of the two equations were comparable in patients with moderate renal dysfunction. Compared with (99m)Tc-DTPA renal imaging, the modified MDRD equation and Arnal-Dade equation showed no significant difference in the eGFR in patients with CKD stages 1-5.

CONCLUSIONModified MDRD equation (or simple MDRD equation) and Arnal-Dade equation are superior to other calculation methods for estimating the GFR in Chinese patients with cardiovascular disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Creatinine ; blood ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence, MRI characteristics and invasion route of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) infiltrating the cavernous sinus.

METHODSThe data of 141 patients with histologically proven NPC collected from May 2003 to June 2004 were reviewed. All patients were examined by 1.5-tesla superconducting MR unit to evaluate the tumor extent. MR FSE technique was used for T1 WI and T2WI images in the axial plane, followed by FSPGR fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhancement for T1WI images in the axial and coronal sections. All MR images were interpreted and evaluated by two diagnostic radiologists, paying particular attention to the nasopharynx and cavernous sinus infiltration.

RESULTSMR imaging showed infiltration of 49 cavernous sinuses in 39 patients (27.7%). The most common MRI features were enlargement of cavernous sinus with unconventional enhancement (22/49, 44.9%), even with formation of mass inside the sinus (9/49, 18.4%). The other MRI image features were local or diffuse dura mater thickening of cavernous sinus and presence of obscure structure as intra-sinus blurs and hazies inside. The most common infiltration route is through the foramen ovale (18/49, 36.7%), or through both the foramen ovale and foramen lacerum (6/49, 12.2%).

CONCLUSIONIn NPC patients, MRI invasion is characteristically and clearly shown as changes in the cavernous sinus. Possession of this information is crucial for giving correct treatment. The main infiltrtion route is through foramen ovale.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cavernous Sinus ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Reproducibility of Results ; Vascular Neoplasms ; pathology

BACKGROUNDIncreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which in turn promotes cardiomyocytes apoptosis, is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of various cardiac diseases such as ischemia and heart failure. Recent studies have shown that over expression of heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) confers resistance to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, not much is known about the regulation of myocyte survival by Hsp27.

METHODSThe rat cardiac cell line H9c2, with a stable overexpression of Hsp27, was established, with empty vector transfected H9c2 cells as controls. Following the cells challenged by Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, apoptosis, intracellular ROS, cell morphology, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the activation of serine/threonine kinase Akt were determined.

RESULTSAlong with marked suppression of H2O2-induced injury by Hsp27 overexpression in H9c2 cells, ROS generation and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were also significantly depressed. Furthermore, augmented Akt activation was observed in Hsp27 overexpressed H9c2 cells following H2O2 exposure.

CONCLUSIONSHsp27 inhibits oxidative stress-induced H9c2 damage and inhibition of ROS generation and the augmentation of Akt activation may be involved in the protective signaling.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism