Objective To establish a human monocytic THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cell model and analyze the role of the α subunit of coatomer protein Ⅰ(α-COP)in apolipoprotein A-1(apoA-1)-mediated cholesterol efflux from foam cells.Methods THP-1 cells were induced to adhere using PMA(PMA group),followed by treatment with acetylated low-density lipoprotein(Ac-LDL)to generate macrophage-derived foam cells(Ac-LDL group).Subsequent incubation with apoA-1 formed the apoA-1 group.Cholesterol efflux rates mediated by apoA-1 and intracellular lipid accumulation were quantified through liquid scintillation counting and oil red O staining.The expression patterns of α-COP were systematically analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR),Western blotting,and laser scanning confocal microscopy.THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells mediated by apoA-1 were transduced with scrambled shRNA(Scr group)or α-COP-specific shRNA lentivirus(α-COP shRNA group)to assess the effects of α-COP knockdown on cholesterol efflux efficiency and total cellular cholesterol content.Subcellular localization of adipopoilin(ADFP)and cholesterol probe Fil-ipin Ⅲ staining patterns were visualized via laser scanning confocal microscopy.Bioinformatics analysis of α-COP expression profiles in carotid atherosclerotic plaques was performed using datasets from the GEO data-base.Results Compared with the Ac-LDL group,the cholesterol efflux rate in the apoA-1 group was signifi-cantly increased[(9.77±0.79)%vs.(2.74±0.37)%,P＜0.001].Oil red O staining demonstrated reduced lipid accumulation in foam cells of the apoA-1 group compared with the Ac-LDL group.The relative mRNA expression level of α-COP in the apoA-1 group was significantly higher than that in the Ac-LDL group(P＜0.001),with corresponding elevation in protein expression(P＜0.001).Fluorescence intensity analysis re-vealed increased mean fluorescence intensity of α-COP in the apoA-1 group compared with the Ac-LDL group.Following α-COP knockdown by shRNA,the apoA-1-mediated cholesterol efflux rate was significantly de-creased(P＜0.05)and total intracellular cholesterol levels were increased(P＜0.001)in the α-COP shRNA group compared with the Scr group.The α-COP shRNA group exhibited enhanced red fluorescence intensity of ADFP(P＜0.05)and increased blue fluorescence intensity of Filipin Ⅲ(P＜0.01)compared with the Scr group.Database analysis indicated that α-COP mRNA expression was lower in carotid atherosclerotic plaques than in normal arterial tissues,with reduced expression in advanced-stage plaques compared with early-stage plaques(P＜0.05).Conclusion α-COP participates in apoA-1-mediated cholesterol efflux from foam cells,and interference with α-COP expression results in reduced cholesterol efflux and increased intracellular lipid accumulation.

ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness and safety of Yiqi Huoxue Formula （益气活血方， YHF） in the adjuvant treatment of chronic pulmonary heart disease （CPHD） and heart failure （HF）with qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern. MethodsOne hundred and twenty patients with CPHD and HF with qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern were allocated randomly into treatment group and control group， with 60 case in each group. The control group was given conventional basic western medicine， while the treatment group was given oral administration of YHF granules in addition， one dose per day. The treatment course for both groups was 8 weeks. The TCM symptom scores， Minnesota Life Quality Scale （MLHF-Q） scores， echocardiographic indicators including right ventricular end-diastolic diameter （RVEDD）， left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD）， left atrial end-diastolic diameter （LAEDD） and pulmonary artery mean pressure （PAMP）， six-minute walking distance （6MWD）， and plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-ProBNP） level were compared between the groups. The effectiveness regarding cardiac function and TCM syndromes were compared between the two groups after treatment， and the occurrence of adverse events was observed. ResultsWith two drop-outs both in the treatment group and control group， and 58 cases in each group were included in the outcome analysis. The total effective rate regarding cardiac function and TCM syndromes in the treatment group were 91.38% （53/58） and 96.55% （56/58）， respectively， significantly higher than the corresponding 70.69% （41/58） and 48.27% （28/58） in the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， the TCM symptom scores and RVEDD level were significantly reduced in the treatment group， and MLHF-Q score， plasma NT-ProBNP level and PAMP level decreased significantly， while 6MWD increased in both groups （P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the control group， the TCM symptom scores， MLHF-Q score， plasma NT-ProBNP level and PAMP level significantly decreased， while 6MWD increased in the treatment group （P＜0.01）. There were no obvious abnormalities in the blood， urine， stool routine and liver and kidney function indicators in both groups. One adverse reaction each occurred in both groups， and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence rates（P＞0.05）. ConclusionYHF combined with conventional western medicine can significantly improve the clinical efficacy， improve the clinical symptoms and cardiac function， increase the quality of life and exercise tolerance， and is relatively safe.

Breathing pattern parameters refer to the characteristic pattern parameters of respiratory movements, including the breathing amplitude and cycle, chest and abdomen contribution, coordination, etc. It is of great importance to analyze the breathing pattern parameters quantificationally when exploring the pathophysiological variations of breathing and providing instructions on pulmonary rehabilitation training. Our study provided detailed method to quantify breathing pattern parameters including respiratory rate, inspiratory time, expiratory time, inspiratory time proportion, tidal volume, chest respiratory contribution ratio, thoracoabdominal phase difference and peak inspiratory flow. We also brought in "respiratory signal quality index" to deal with the quality evaluation and quantification analysis of long-term thoracic-abdominal respiratory movement signal recorded, and proposed the way of analyzing the variance of breathing pattern parameters. On this basis, we collected chest and abdomen respiratory movement signals in 23 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and 22 normal pulmonary function subjects under spontaneous state in a 15 minute-interval using portable cardio-pulmonary monitoring system. We then quantified subjects' breathing pattern parameters and variability. The results showed great difference between the COPD patients and the controls in terms of respiratory rate, inspiratory time, expiratory time, thoracoabdominal phase difference and peak inspiratory flow. COPD patients also showed greater variance of breathing pattern parameters than the controls, and unsynchronized thoracic-abdominal movements were even observed among several patients. Therefore, the quantification and analyzing method of breathing pattern parameters based on the portable cardiopulmonary parameters monitoring system might assist the diagnosis and assessment of respiratory system diseases and hopefully provide new parameters and indexes for monitoring the physical status of patients with cardiopulmonary disease.
Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiration ; Tidal Volume ; Wearable Electronic Devices

Objective To discuss rationality of the three-link model used in analysis on interactive dynamics of deep squatting, and clarify the source of differences in calculation of joint torque by three-link model and Visual 3D. Methods Eight subjects were selected to obtain kinematic data of the squat motion through Vicon. The second Lagrangian equation was used to establish the three-link dynamic equation. The joint torque was calculated based on the Mathematica programming. The results were compared with the calculation results of lower limb chain segment model by Visual 3D, and the similarity between the two results was evaluated by the coefficient of complex correlation (CMC). Results The CMC of hip joint and knee joint from 8 subjects was larger than 0.85, and the CMC of ankle joint was between 0.50-0.85. The joint torque calculated by three-link dynamic equation and Visual 3D was highly similar in hip joint and knee joint, and there was only a moderate similarity in ankle joint. Conclusions The three-link model can be used in further analysis on interactive dynamics of deep squatting, but the influence of interactive moment caused by ground reaction force (external moment) on ankle torque should be considered.

During the treatment of neurosurgical patients, the changing of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is the main monitoring objects, while most of the clinical equipment are wireline. With the rapid development of transducer and wireless network, miniaturization, micromation and wireless transmission become one of the research hotspots. This paper designed a wireless ICP monitoring system based on ZigBee technology, which can continuously measure the patient's intracranial pressure and temperature, and send monitoring data of patients of different ward to nurse station through the wireless network, and save it. Then we can inquiry the intracranial pressure and temperature using the intracranial pressure monitoring and management software we designed. The wireless system can be instaled in the hospital very conveniently, which can reduce the work intensity of medical staff. The system is very useful in clinical work.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES and PNET) in sacrum.Methods Imaging data were retrospectively collected and reviewed in 17 patients with ES and PNET confirmed by pathology.X-ray was performed in all patients,CT scans in 13 patients,and MR scans in 10 patients.Results All lesions were detected solitary and lateral.X-ray and CT features were lytic bone destruction in 12 cases,2 of them with bone sclerosis; one patient showed diffuse sclerosis.Soft tissue mass in pelvic cavity can be seen in 11 cases,9 of them with adjacent large blood vessels invasive and 4 patients with sacroiliac joints invasive.On post-contrast images,mild enhancement was found in 8 cases,and 5 patients with marked enhancement.MR images showed intermediate signal intensity on T1WI in 8 cases and heterogeneous moderate to high signal intensity on T2WI/fat suppression in 10 cases.DWI showed high signal intensity in 4 cases.Unlike CT scan,contrastenhanced MR images showed significant enhancement in 7 cases.Conclusions Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES and PNET) in sacrum have some specific imaging features.Imaging examination could provide reliable evidence for clinical diagnosis.