Aged ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans

AlM: To investigate the relationship among carotid atherosclerosis, homocysteine ( Hcys ) and anterior ischmic optic neuropathy( AlON) .METHODS: Sixty-five AlON patients enrolled in AlON group and 70 non - AlON controls enrolled in control group. All the participants in 2 groups were examined by carotid artery color doppler flow imaging to evaluate the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis. Plasma levels of Hcys, vitamin B12 and folate were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The incidence of carotid atherosclerosis, plasma levels of Hcys, vitamin B12 and folate were compared statistically between AlON and control group.RESULTS: Fifty - six AlON patients ( 86%) exhibited carotid atherosclerosis, which was found in 43 control subjects ( 61%) . Fifty - nine AlON patients ( 91%) exhibited increased plasma levels of Hcys compared with that in 38 control subjects ( 54%) . Lowered vitamin B12 was found in 37 patients with AlON ( 57%) and in 43 control subjects ( 61%) . Lowered folate was found in 54 AlON patients ( 83%) and in 32 control subjects ( 46%) . The incidence of atherosclerosis in carotid artery ( P =0. 001), mean Hcys level (P=0. 0005) and lowered folate ( P = 0. 0006 ) were different statistically between AlON group and control group. Mean vitamin B12 level was indifferent between AlON group and control group ( P=0. 0722). Logistic regression analysis showed that carotid atherosclerosis was an a risk factor for AlON (OR=1. 312, 95%CI:0. 927~1. 772), whereas elevated Hcys level (OR=2. 378, 95% CI: 1. 479 ~ 3. 821 ) was also shown to be significant risk factor for AlON. CONCLUSlON: Carotid atherosclerosis and elevated Hcys were related with AlON. Reducing above-mentioned risk factors related to thrombus may be crucial to the prevention and cure of AlON.

Object To investigate the effects of ultra-fine powder technique and granularity of pellets on dissolution rate in vitro. Methods The dissolution rate of ultra-fine ERMIAO PILL with different granule diameters in vitro was measured and compared with the index of berberine by UV spectro-photometry. Results The dissolution parameters T 50 and T d of four kinds of ultra-fine ERMIAO PILL are 61.60, 19.48, 17.84, 8.97 min and 102.3, 33.29, 26.98, 14.77 min, respectively. Those of general powder ERMIAO PILL with granule diameter of 2.4 mm are 89.61 and 155.68 min. Conclusion The dissolution rate of ultra-fine powder is quicker than that of general powder, and the rate increases with the granularity of PILL decreasing.

Objective To investigate the mechanism that bFGF promotes the regeneration of injured optic nerve and induces dedifferentiation of glial cells in it. Methods Fifty-five adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as normal control group, injury group and bFGF group. At day 7 post operation, optic nerves from injury group and bFGF group were detected by gene chip and real-time PCR. At day 7, 14 post operation, optic nerves were harvested and detected by HE staining and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the injury group, there were 645 genes expression up-regulated and 458 genes down-regulated including genes related neural stem cell or precursor cell neural development, proliferation, apoptosis, chromatin configuration, transcription regulation, signal transduction, neural growth and so on in the bFGF group. There were bigger nuclei, more cells, more immunoreactivity of nestin, extracellular signal-regulated kinase(Erk1/2), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), and myelin basic protein(MBP) in the distal optic nerves and more immunoreactivity of neurofilament(NF) in the proximal optic nerves in the bFGF group than that in the injury group.Conclusion bFGF could promote the proliferation of neuroglia cells, dedifferentiation of neural glias and improve the microenvironment to favour the regeneration of injured optic nerve.

Objective To investigate the dedifferentiation of neuroglial cells and its induction after optic nerve injury. Methods Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups the normal control group,the injury group,the transplantation group and the microcrush and transplantation group.Optic nerves were harvested at days 3,7,14 and 28 after the operation.HE staining was used to count the number of neuroglial cells.Immunohistochemistry,Western blotting and in situ hybridization histochemistry were employed together with computerized image analysis to evaluate the expressions of Nestin,GFAP,MBP,NF,BDNF,Nogo-A and Nogo-A mRNA.Immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the co-expression of Nestin and GFAP or Nestin and MBP. Results The number of cells only increased at day 7 after the nerve injury, the expressions of Nestin,MBP,Nogo-A and Nogo-A mRNA were up-regulated,the expressions of GFAP,NF and BDNF were down-regulated,and some Nestin-GFAP positive cells and a few of Nestin-MBP positive cells were detected in the injury group.Compared with the injury group,the number of cells was increased sometime after the nerve injury;the expressions of Nestin,GFAP,BDNF and NF were up-regulated,the expressions of MBP,Nogo-A and Nogo-A mRNA were down-regulated,and the number of Nestin-GFAP positive cells increased in the transplantation group and the microcrush and transplantation group.Conclusion After optic nerve injury,some astrocytes undergo dedifferentiation while the macroglial cells display a gene expression pattern that is unfavorable for nerve regeneration.Pre-degenerated peripheral nerves could enhance the dedifferentiation of astrocytes and induce the gene expression pattern of macroglial cells that is favorable for nerve regeneration.

Objective This is the first study to explore clinical application value of serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) detection in diagnosis of heptocellular carcinoma (HCC) by magnetic solid phase chemiluminescent immunoassay.Methods The level of serum DKK-1 and AFP in 205 cases of HCC,40 cases of liver cirrhosis,and 200 cases of healthy control were quantitatively detected by Magnetic solid phase chemiluminescent immunoassay.The area under ROC curve,sensitivity and specificity of DKK-1 and AFP for diagnosing HCC were calculated.Results The serum level of DKK-1 in HCC group was significantly higher than those of the liver cirrhosis group and healthy control group (P<0.01).DKK-1 maintained diagnostic sensitivity for patients with HCC who were alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) negative (66.3%).ROC curves showed optimum diagnostic cut-off value was 2.4 ng/mL,area under curve (AUC) was 0.822 (95% CI:0.783-0.856),sensitivity 65.9%,and specificity 87.5%).Moreover,measurement of DKK1 and AFP together improved diagnostic accuracy for HCC versus all controls compared with either test alone [AUC 0.915,95%CI:0.886-0.940),sensitivity 81.5 %(P<0.05)].Conclusion Serum DKK-1 detection has an important clinical value for diagnosis of HCC,especially for HCC with AFP negative.The combined detection of serum DKK-1 and AFP can greatly increase sensitivity and accuracy for diagnosing HCC.

Female ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Thoracic Wall ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of anxiety and anti - anxiety therapy on vascular endothelium function and platelet activation in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods One hundred and thirty -nine ACS patients were enrolled in this prospective and controlled clinical study from January 2009 through December 2010.Patients with severe heart failure,liver and renal dysfunction,infection,allergy to benzodiazepines and taking antipsychotic drugs in recent 2 weeks as well as patients unable to complete the questionnaire were excluded.All these patients were divided into the anxiety group ( n =68 ) and the non - anxiety group ( n =71 ) according to Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA).The plasma levels of NO,ET,CD62p,CD63 and flow- mediated diastolic functions (FMD) of humeral arteries were measured.The patients in anxiety group were randomly assigned to group A ( n =34 ) and group B ( n =34).Lorazepam in a dose of 0.5 mg twice a day and Vitamin B6 in dose of 10 mg twice a day as placebo were prescribed for patients of Group A and B respectively.After 2 weeks,all above variables of group A and group B were measured once again as well as the score of Hamilton Anxiety Scale.The chi - square test was used for constituent ratios,while t - test was applied to analysis of differences in above variables between two groups.Results The plasma level of NO and FMD of humeral artery in the anxiety group were significantly lower than those in the non -anxiety group (t =2.090 and 2.558,P =0.038 and 0.012,respectively),and the plasma levels of ET,CD62p and CD63 in the anxiety group were significantly higher than those in the non - anxiety group ( t =2.082,2.042 and 2.145,P =0.039,0.043 and 0.034,respectively).There were no statistical differences in all above variables as well as HAMA score between group A and group B before anti - anxiety treatment.Two weeks after treatment,the level of NO and FMD of humeral artery in group A were significantly higher than those in group B ( t =2.821 and 2.246,P =0,006 and 0.028,respectively) and the levels of ET,CD62p,CD63 and HAMA score in group A were significantly lower than those in group B ( t =2.107,3.242,2.079 and 7.779,P =0.039,0.002,0.041 and ＜0.01,respectively).Conclusions Anxiety mood markedly aggravates the disorder of vascular endothelial function and platelet activation,and both of them can be improved by anti - anxiety therapy.Consequently,the intervention in anxiety mood may improve the outcomes of ACS patients.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of UL-16 binding protein 2 (ULBP-2,macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) for pancreatic cancer.Methods The serum samples of 152pancreatic cancer patients,20 precursors of pancreatic cancer,91 chronic pancreatitis patients and 96 age/sexmatched healthy persons were collected.The serum ULBP-2 and MIC-1 levels were determined by using the ELISA kit and were compared with level of CA19-9.A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate their diagnostic values for pancreatic cancer.Results The serum levels of ULBP-2 in patients with pancreatic cancer,precursors of pancreatic cancer,chronic pancreatitis and healthy persons were (219.9 ± 182.5),(62.6 ± 11.4),(68.4 ± 36.8),(76.5 ± 40.9) μg/L,the corresponding values of MIC 1 were (3521.3±3903.4),(973.6±589.0),(959.6±879.0),(427.6±317.0) μg/L,while the corresponding values of CA19-9 were (1448.8 ± 3707.0),(12.0 ± 9.3),(38.2 ± 139.0),(7.7 ± 5.0)kU/L.The parameters in pancreatic cancer patients were significantly higher than those in control group (x2 =40.628,71.662,45.505,15.827,36.433,63.494,26.264,73.427,49.088,P ＜ 0.01).The area under ROC curves(AUC) of ULBP-2,MIC-1,CA19-9 were 0.909,0.864,0.818,and ULBP-2 was superior to CA19-9 and MIC-1,however the combined measurement of three markers produced the highest diagnostic yield(AUC =0.982).For early stage pancreatic diseases (precursors to pancreatic cancer and IA stage pancreatic cancer),AUC of ULBP-2,MIC-1,CA19-9 were 0.506,0.837,0.684,MIC-1 was superior to ULBP-2 and CA19-9,however the combined measurement of MIC-1 and CA19-9 produced the highest diagnostic yield(AUC =0.897).Conclusions Serum ULBP-2,MIC-1 levels are significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer patients.The combined measurement of ULBP-2,MIC-1 and CA 19-9 can increase the diagnostic yield for pancreatic cancer.

Objective To explore the expression of transforming growth factor ?1(TGF-?1)in the mucosa of guinea pigs with otitis media with effusion(OME)and the role of TGF-?1 in the development of OME.Methods 70 guinea pigs were randomly devided into 7 groups,each with 10 animals.OME was produced by injecting deactivated streptococcus pneumoniae into the typmpanic cavity of guinea pigs.The expression of TGF-?1 was examined by means of immunohistochemistry 6 h,1 d,3 d,7 d,14 d and 30 d after injection.Results TGF-?1 expression could be detected in the middle ear mucosa at 7 d after injection and reached maximum at 30 d.Conclusion TGF-?1 is expressed in the middle ear mucosa of the guinea pigs with OME induced by deactivated streptococcus pneumoniae,and this indicates that TGF-?1 may play a role in the chronic protraction of OME.