Objective To observe the feasibility of cardiac MR tissue tracking(CMR-TT)technique for quantitatively evaluating myocardial strain of patients with myocardial amyloidosis(CA).Methods Cardiac MRI were collected from 20 patients of immunoglobulin amyloid light-chain CA(AL-CA,group A),20 cases of transthyretin CA(ATTR-CA,group B)and 20 healthy subjects(group C),and myocardial strain parameters were obtained using CMR-TT technique.Left ventricular cardiac function parameters were compared among 3 groups,so were strain parameters of each myocardial segment of left ventricle and global myocardium,including 3D longitudinal strain(LS),3D radial strain(RS)and 3D circumferential strain(CS).Results Compared with those in group C,significant differences of left ventricular cardiac function parameters were found in both group A and B(all P＜0.01),while no statistical difference was found between group A and B(all P＞0.05).Except for apical segment RS(P=0.81),strain parameters in group A and B were both lower than those in group C(all P＜0.01),while no significant difference was detected between group A and B(all P＞0.05).Conclusion CMR-TT technique could be used to quantitatively evaluate left ventricular myocardial strain of CA patients.

Tibetan medicine is an essential part of Chinese medicine and has unique theoretical experience and therapeutic advantages. According to the development principle of inheriting the essence, sticking to the truth, and keeping innovative, the supervision department should give clear and reasonable guidance considering the characteristics of Tibetan medicine, establish a standard system for quality control, clinical verification and evaluation, and accelerate the research and commercialization of new drugs. In view of the needs of drug supply-side reform and the current situation of Tibetan medicine and new pharmaceutical research, we ponder and provide suggestions on the confusion faced by the current supervision of Tibetan drug registration, hoping to contribute to the supervision strategy of Tibetan drug registration and the high-quality development of Tibetan medicine industry.
Tibet ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Quality Control ; Pharmaceutical Research ; Drug Industry

Ferroptosis is distinct from apoptosis,autophagy,necrosis,cornification and other cell deaths from morphological,biochemical as well as genetic aspects.Ferroptosis plays a critical role in neurological diseases and cancers.Neurological diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,Huntington's disease,stroke,periventricular leukomalacia and so on,are characterized by multiple etiologies and mechanisms,and are potentially correlated with ferroptosis.Based on the recent researches on ferroptosis and neurological diseases,this review investigates ferroptosis and its role in neurological diseases.

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Xinling Wan on patients with stable angina pectoris, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo parallel-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted. A total of 232 subjects were enrolled and randomly divided into experiment group and placebo group. The experiment group was treated with Xinling Wan (two pills each time, three times daily) for 4 weeks, and the placebo group was treated with placebo. The effectiveness evaluation showed that Xinling Wan could significantly increase the total duration of treadmill exercise among patients with stable angina pectoris. FAS analysis showed that the difference value of the total exercise duration was between experiment group (72.11±139.32) s and placebo group (31.25±108.32) s. Xinling Wan could remarkably increase the total effective rate of angina pectoris symptom score, and the analysis showed that the total effective rate was 78.95% in experiment group and 42.61% in placebo group. The reduction of nitroglycerin dose was (2.45±2.41) tablets in experiment group and (0.50±2.24) tablets in placebo group on the basis of FAS analysis. The decrease of symptom integral was (4.68±3.49) in experiment group and (3.19±3.31) in placebo group based on FAS analysis. Besides, Xinling Wan could decrease the weekly attack time and the duration of angina pectoris. PPS analysis results were similar to those of FAS analysis. In conclusion, Xinling Wan has an obvious therapeutic effect in treating stable angina pectoris, with a good safety and a low incidence of adverse event and adverse reaction in experiment group.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Methods The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in vitro. The levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The plasma norepinephrine level of severe group was significantly higher than the mild group in children with EV71 infection in HFMD (P < 0.05); however, the levels of plasma adrenaline in two groups had no statistical differences (P > 0.05); There was no significant difference in the distribution of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C genotype and allele between EV71 infection group and healthy control group (P > 0.05). Further analysis of EV71 infection group by dividing it into mild and severe groups showed that there was no significant difference in the distribution of genotype and allele between these two groups as well (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in different genotypes of EV71 infection group (P > 0.05), and in the levels of plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine in the mild and severe groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions As the disease gets worse, the plasma norepinephrine level has a rising trend in children with EV71 infection in HFMD, which is an important indicator to evaluate the progress of the disease. However, the gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C have no significant correlation, not only with the susceptibility and severity of EV71 infection in hand, foot and mouth disease, but also with the levels of catecholamine.

Objective To determine whether atorvastatin will induce depressive symptoms in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods The clinical data of 404 patients with large artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction, admitted to our hospital from June 2009 to December 2010, were clinically analyzed; these patients were divided into common treatment group (atorvastatin ([7.72±3.01])mg/d,n=151) and intensive lipid lowering group (atorvastatin [18.58±9.93] mg/d,n=201) and control group (n=52); 189 males and 163 females accepted lipid-lowering treatment.Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was employed before treatment and 3 months after the treatment and statistical analysis was performed on their scores. Results No significant deviation in scores of HAMD before and after treatment was noted in these patients (P＞0.05).No significant deviation in scores of HAMD was noted neither between intensive lipid lowering group and control group,nor between common treatment group and control group (P＞0.05). No significant deviation in HAMD was observed between the treatment groups with mild/no depression symptoms and control group (P＞0.05).The scores of HAMD in female patients were significantly higher than that in male patients 3 months after treatment (P＜0.05),but no significant deviations in the level of cholesterol, the lowering degree of cholesterol and the dosage of atorvastatin were observed between female and male patients (P＞0.05). Conclusion The lipid-lowering treatment with atorvastatin will not induce depressive symptoms in patients with cerebral infarction.The depressive symptoms of female is not related with the level of cholesterol,the lowering degree of cholesterol and the dosage ofatorvastatin.

BACKGROUNDGeneralized glucocorticoid resistance syndrome is a rare familial or sporadic condition characterized by generalized, partial, target-tissue insensitivity to glucocorticoids. This syndrome is partially caused by mutations in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene. The clinical spectrum of generalized glucocorticoid resistance is broad, ranging from fatigue or no symptoms to severe hypertension with hypokalemic alkalosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the genetic disorder of glucocorticoid resistance syndrome.

METHODSWe identified a 56-year-old male patient diagnosed with generalized glucocorticoid resistance syndrome accompanied with an adrenocortical adenoma. This asymptomatic patient referred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital for treatment of his adrenal incidentaloma. Endocrinological evaluation consistently revealed his elevated serum cortisol level. Total RNA was extracted from the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMLs) and entire coding region of hGR alpha was amplified by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. To confirm the possible mutation identified by sequencing RT-PCR products, genomic DNA sequence of hGR gene from the patient and 50 healthy controls was analyzed by PCR and directly sequencing.

RESULTSA heterozygotic (C→T) substitution at nucleotide position of 1667 (exon 5) in GR alpha gene was found in this patient by sequencing of RT-PCR products of hGR gene. This substitution was also identified at genomic DNA level and it was absent in 100 chromosomes from 50 unrelated health controls. This substitution resulted in a threonine to isoleucine substitution (ACT→ATT) at amino acid 556 in the ligand-binding domain of GR alpha.

CONCLUSIONGeneralized glucocorticoid resistance in this patient might be caused by a novel heterozygotic mutation in the ligand-binding domain of the GR alpha.

Adrenocortical Adenoma ; genetics ; Drug Resistance ; genetics ; Endocrine System Diseases ; genetics ; Glucocorticoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDResection of petroclival meningioma (PCM) is difficult for neurosurgeons and usually brings poor performance status. In this study, we evaluated the possible risk factors for unfavorable clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of PCM, and tried to explore the optimal surgical strategies for better postoperative quality of life.

METHODSWe recruited 57 patients (14 male, 43 female, mean age, 50.5 years) who underwent surgical resection of PCM in Huashan Hospital during 2002 - 2006. The primary outcomes including postoperative neurological deficits, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score and recurrence rate were evaluated, and all potential risk factors were assessed by the χ(2) test. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated by univariate Logistic regression. The mean follow-up time was 34 months.

RESULTSGross total resection was achieved in 58% of patients. One patient died during the perioperative period because of intracranial hemorrhage. Sixty-seven percent of patients experienced new postoperative neurological deficits and 26% had a higher mRS score at follow-up assessment. Postoperative complications were observed in 24 patients. Within the follow-up period, radiographic recurrence occurred in 12.3% of patients at a mean follow-up of 42 months. Postoperative radiosurgery was administered to 19 patients who had residual tumors or recurrence and no further progression was found. Tumor adhesion, hypervascularity and engulfment of neurovascular structures were three risk factors for increased mRS score (P = 0.0002; P = 0.0051; P = 0.0009). Tumor adherence to adjacent structures clearly affected the extent of resection (P = 0.0029). The risk of postoperative cranial nerve deficits increased with tumor engulfment of neurovascular structures (P = 0.0004).

CONCLUSIONSIntraoperatively defined tumor characteristics played a critical role in identifying postoperative functional status. An individual treatment strategy after careful preoperative evaluation could help improve quality of life.

Adult ; Aged ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; psychology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; physiopathology ; psychology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Yinian Jiangya (YNJY) Decoction contained serum on cell proliferation of primary cultured endothelial cells of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) mRNA expression in the cells.

METHODSSD rats were fed with high-lipid diet and different doses (high, medium and low, containing crude drug of 5.2 g/mL, 2.6 g/mL, 1.3 g/mL respectively) of YNJY respectively and the serum contained different doses of YNJY (S-YNJY) was prepared by collecting the rats' serum after 20 days of feeding. The serum obtained from SD rats fed with normal diet, i.e. drug free serum (S-free) was taken for control. Primary cultured endothelial cells of SHR were treated respectively with S-YNJY in different doses (treated groups) and S-free (control group), the cell activity and the mRNA expression of PPAR-gamma in cells of all groups were detected by MTT and RT-PCR respectively at different time points: 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h after treatment.

RESULTSMTT test showed that at time points of 4 and 8 h, the OD value raised in the treated groups with insignificant difference among them (P>0.05), but was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05); at 16 h, it increased but showed a smaller increment in the medium-dose treated group (P<0.05); at 24 h, it decreased in all groups, but the decrement in the high- and medium-dose treated groups was more remarkable (P<0.05); at 48 h, it decreased continuously, with the decrement more significant in the high-dose group than in the control group (P<0.05). RT-PCR detection showed that at 4 h, the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA was not changed significantly in all groups (P>0.05); at 8 h, it was remarkably lower in high-dose group than in others (P<0.05); at 16 h, it was higher in the three treated groups than in the control group (P<0.05), with a highest level shown in the high-dose treated group (P<0.01); at 24 h, the expression decreased in all groups, but the level in the low-dose treated group was still higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYNJY Decoction shows a two-way regulation on endothelial cells proliferation, and which is negatively dose-dependent in the late stage. The regulation is perhaps relevant to the regulating of the PPAR-gamma mRNA expressions. The PPAR-gamma mRNA expression up-regulating and maintaining effects of YNJY Decoction may be one of the mechanisms for its vascular endothelial cell protection and blood pressure suppressing.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum

OBJECTIVETo analyze the spontaneous decline of HBV DNA in chronic hepatitis B patients in 12 weeks.

METHODSChronic hepatitis B patients not receiving antiviral treatment from 2003 to 2005 were divided into two groups according to the baseline value of ALT and TBil. Spontaneous decline of HBV DNA were retrospected, and the influence of the baseline value of ALT and TBil on spontaneous decline of HBV DNA was analyzed.

RESULTSTotal of 213 chronic hepatitis B patients (male 174, female 39, aged from 18 to 65) were recruited in this study, including 124 mild and moderate type of hepatitis B, 89 severe type of hepatitis B, and 19 patients (8.92%) were lost at the end of the 12th week. The mean baseline value of HBV DNA of all the patients was (6.66+/-1.03) log10 copies/ml, at 12 week the mean value of HBV DNA of all the patients was (5.98+/-1.53) log10 copies/ml (compared to baseline P<0.01), the decline value of HBV DNA was (0.68+/-1.46) log10 copies/ml. The mean baseline value of HBV DNA of patients with the severe type of hepatitis B was lower than that with the mild or moderate type of hepatitis B patients [(6.45+/-0.99) log10 copies/ml and (6.81+/-1.04) log10 copies/ml respectively] (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the mean and the declined value of HBV DNA between these two groups at the 12th week (P<0.05). At the 12th week, the baseline values of ALT and TBil were higher in patients with HBV DNA3 log10 copies/ml (P>0.05); And there were no significant difference in the baseline values of ALT and TBil between patients with the declined value of HBV DNA>or=2 log10 copies/ml and patients with declined value of HBV DNA less than 2 log10 copies/ml. At the 12th week, the mean and the declined value of HBV DNA were similar between the patients with ALT5xULN at baseline. The mean baseline value of HBV DNA of patients in the group of patients whose baseline value of ALT5xULN while TBil>5xULN, ALT5xULN, ALT>5xULN while TBil0.05 respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThere is spontaneous decline of HBV DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B in 12 weeks, but the level of liver injury is not correlated with the level of spontaneous decline of HBV DNA in chronic hepatitis B patients in 12 weeks.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Viral Load ; Young Adult