Objective To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone (RSG) on the levels of serum HbA1c, interleukin-6(IL-6) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in type 2 diabetic patients who were inadequately controlled only with insulin therapy. Methods 40 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), whose blood glucose was poorly controlled (HbA1c≥7 5%) after 4 weeks of standardized insulin therapy, were additionally given 4mg daily PSG. The levels of serum HbA1c, IL-6, hsCRP, total cholesterol (Tch), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were measured before and after 12 weeks treatment with RSG. hsCRP was measured by high-sensitivity immunoturbidimetric method, and IL-6 by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Results ⑴ RSG 4mg daily significantly improved glycemic control, treatment with RSG 4 mg plus insulin resulted in a mean 1 59% reduction of HbA1c from baseline (P

benign,of which,there were significan differences in PV and PE value between any two of the three lesions. There were significant differences in BV value only between benign and inflammatory pulmonary lesions(P0. 05). Conclusion CT perfusion imaging is of important value in differentiating inflammatory,malignant and benign masses of the lung and estimating the degree of malignancy of lung cancer.

Objective To evaluate the expression of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (Egfl7) in atherosclerotic plaques and effects of its small interference RNA (siRNA) on angiogenesis gene expression in human endothelial cell line (HUVEC). MethodsEgfl7 expression in atheroscleroticplaquesweredetectedinhumaniliacarteryandmousearteriaeusing immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence stainings.The siRNA targeting Egfl7 was transfected into HUVEC by lipofectamine with non-transfected cells and unconcerned siRNA as controls.At 0 h,12 h,24 h and 48 h after intervention,the levels of mRNA and protein of Egf17,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),platelet derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A),platelet derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B),vascular cell adhesion molecule(VCAM) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively. ResultsThe expressions of Egfl7 in human iliac artery and mouse arteriae were increased.The expressions of Egfl7 in HUVEC at the levels of mRNA were[(0.14±0.02),(0.09±0.01),(0.02±0.01)]and the levels of protein[(0.71±0.11),(0.39±0.09),(0.07±0.01)]at 12 h,24 h and 48 h after siRNA intervention,respectively,which were decreased as compared with 0 h intervention [(0.31 ±0.05) and (0.93±0.08) ].Other genes such as VEGF,PDGF-A and PDGF-B were reduced or silenced at the levels of protein and mRNA in HUVEC with siRNA longer interventions(all P＜0.05).ConclusionsThe expression of Egfl7 in atherosclerotic plaques is increased.The siRNA inhibiting Egfl7 gene expression results in silence of other factors involved in angiogenesis.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of ~(99m)Tc-MIBI myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) with adenosine triphosphate in patients aged 80 years or older. Methods A total of 265 patients [ mean age (84. 2 ±3.6) years old ] who underwent adenosine triphosphate and rest ~(99m)Tc-MIBI myocardial SPECT imaging were followed-up for (36. 7 ± 22. 8 ) months. Results During the period of follow-up, 57 patients (20. 4% ) suffered from cardiac events, including 20 major events: 5 cardiac death and 15 acule non-fatal myocardial infarction, 14 unstable angina pectoris,7 heart failure and 16 cases undergoing PCI. The cardiac event rate in patients with fixed or mixed perfusion defects (n = 54) was 50%, which was significantly higher lhan that in patients with reversible perfusion defects(n=67, 31. 3% ,P<0. 05) and normal perfusion imaging( n = 144, 6. 2% ,P <0. 01 ) . The major cardiac event rate in patients with fixed or mixed perfusion defects was 27. 8% , which was significantly higher than that in those with reversible perfusion defects ( 6. 0% , P < 0. 05) and normal perfusion imaging (0.7%, P < 0. 01 ) . Cox multivariate analysis revealed that an abnormal MPS was the most important independent predictor of major or total cardiac events. Conclusions ~(99m) Tc-MIBI MPS with ATP is demonstrated to be a powerful tool for the prognostic evaluation in octogenarian population. Octogenarians with a normal MPS have a low risk of major or total cardiac events, but when an abnormal MPS is present, the risk is significantly higher, being highest in patients with fixed or mixed perfusion defects.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of endourologic treatment of benign uret-erointestinal anastomotic strictures in patients with urinary diversion. Methods Nine cases of benign ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures with a length of 1-3 cm following radical cystectomy and uri-nary diversion accepted endourologic treatment. 8 cases were treated by antegrade percutaneous ap-proach, 1 case by retrograde ureteroscopic approach. The strictures received balloon dilation, and ure-teral stents indewelled. Results In a follow up of 0.5-5.0 years, 1 case received percutaneous ne-phrostomy for complete ureterointestinal anastomotic atresia and refused to open operation reconstruc-tion. 5 cases had no recurrence after 2-3 endoscopic sessions. 3 cases needed long time ureteral stents indwelled. Conclusion Endourological technique for ureterointestinal strictures following urinary di-version avoided the disadvantages of open operation.

Objective To investigate the renal pelvic pressure(RPP) during minimally invasivepereutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL),and inspect its influence to postoperative fever. MethodsThe RPP was measured by baroeeptor,and these data about pressure and postoperative fever wereevaluated statistically. Results The mean RPP was 14.72 mm Hg,the mean accumulative time of RPP≥30 mm Hg was 116.06 s. Fifteen cases(18. 75%)had a postoperative fever. Logistical analysissuggested that postoperative fever did not correlate to sex(P=0.195),age(P=0.641),urinary tractinfection (P=0.663),white blood cell≥10 × 109/L in blood routine examination postoperatively (P=0.751),once an occurrence of RPP≥40 mm Hg(P=0.662),while infection calculi (P=0.000),percutaneous tract size(P=0.029),mean RPP(P=0.036) ,mean RPP≥20 mm Hg(P=0.013),accumulative time of RPP≥30 mm Hg(P=0.010) and RPP≥30 mm Hg longer than 50 s(P=0.024)contributed to postoperative fever. Conclusions Renal pelvic pressure generally remains lower than alevel to back flow (30 mm Hg) during MPCNL. A transient renal pelvic pressure≥30 mm Hg don'tcountribute to postoperative fever,while a temporary high pressure status(50 s)would had an accumulated effect which means an enough back flow to bring a fever.

0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum Cys C is significantly increased in ARF and correlated well with the severity of ARF. Serum Cys C can be one of the detectable markers of ARF, but it is independent of the mortality and does not predict the prognosis of these patients.

Objective To study the role of nitiric oxide (NO) in the liver ischemic precondition (IP) in rats. Methods 131 rats were randomly assigned to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)group, IP group and sham-operation(S) group. The plasma NO, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), the pathological change of liver and rat mortality were observed at 2 hours, 24 hours and 1 week after operation. Results (1) The plasma NO level grew soon after operation in group IP, and was significantly higher than that in group S in all three time points (P0.05), and higher at 1 week (P

AIM: To investigate the effects of homocysteine (Hcy) on apoptosis and expression of caspases-3 in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs). METHODS: HVSMCs were cultured in vitro. The rate of apoptosis in HVSMCs was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of caspases-3 mRNA in HVSMCs was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The rates of apoptosis in HVSMCs incubated with 500 ?mol/L Hcy for 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were 2.39%?0.47%, 2.45%?0.64%, 7.58%?1.02%, 13.37%?4.71% and 17.69%?3.13%, respectively. The ratio of the absorbance of caspases-3 mRNA/GAPDH was 0.24?0.08, 0.29?0.10, 0.89?0.26, 1.37?0.24 and 1.82?0.53,respectively, suggesting that Hcy induces the apoptosis and expression of caspases-3 mRNA in HVSMCs in a time-dependent manner. The rates of apoptosis in HVSMCs incubated with 0, 100, 200, 500 or 1 000 ?mol/L Hcy for 24 h were 2.68%?0.23%, 2.79%?0.12%, 8.45%?2.41%, 13.37%?4.71% and 23.75%?5.56%, respectively, revealing that Hcy induced the apoptosis in HVSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Hcy induces the apoptosis in HVSMCs by regulating the expression of caspases-3, which may be one of the mechanisms involved in atherosclerotic effects of Hcy.

BACKGROUND:Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a good scaffold material, and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) possesses a strong osteogenic ability, therefore, by which preparing a novel composite material wil be helpful for bone repair. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of the hol ow HA/rhBMP-2 microspheres on the osteogenesis and biomechanics of rabbit bone defects. METHODS:Forty-eight male healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n=16 per group), including composite, single and control groups. Radical defect models were prepared, and the hol ow HA/rhBMP-2 and hol ow HA scaffolds were implanted into the composite and single groups, respectively. The control group received no treatment. At the 1st day of 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after implantation, the level of serum alkaline phosphatase was detected, and the bone healing was assessed through X-ray, three-dimensional CT, radionuclide bone scan and biomechanics testing, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The level of serum alkaline phosphatase, X-ray scale scores, osteogetic effect, region of interest volume, three-dimensional CT and biomechanical strength in the composite group were superior to those in the single group. In the meanwhile, the bone healing was unsatisfactory in the control group. Our findings indicate that the hol ow HA/rhBMP-2 artificial bone exhibits a good osteogenic ability and mechanical strength, contributing to bone healing.