Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathological feature in various advanced cardiovascular diseases, and progressive fibrosis is the pathological basis for the development and progression of many cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. There are no effective reversal drugs for myocardial fibrosis, which is related to the lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms. Noncoding RNAs are a class of RNAs that do not function as coding proteins, and have been found to be intimately involved in the life cycle of cardiomyocyte differentiation, transcription and apoptosis, and are important regulators of cardiovascular diseases. An increasing number of studies have shown that noncoding RNAs regulate the proliferation and transformation of cardiac fibroblasts through related signaling pathways and can be used as potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for cardiac fibrosis. This article reviews the relationship between noncoding RNAs and cardiac fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic debridement combined with platelet rich plasma(PRP)in treatment of supraspinatus calcified tendinitis.Methods 23 patients in the experimental group were treated with shoulder arthroscopic calcification clearing with PRP injection,while 23 patients in the control group were treated with simple arthroscopic clearing,and the curative effects were observed and compared.Results All the patients were followed up effectively.Of the 23 cases in the experimental group,5 cases were treated with rotator cuff repair(3 cases were diagnosed rotator cuff tear before operation,2 cases were diagnosed with large calcification,and rotator cuff repair was performed after cleaning),and 3 cases were treated with rotator cuff repair(2 cases were diagnosed with rotator cuff tear before operation,1 case was diagnosed with large calcification,and rotator cuff repair was performed after cleaning).The visual analogue scale(VAS)of the two groups one month after surgery was significantly lower than that before surgery,and the American Association of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons(ASES)score of the two groups one month after surgery was significantly higher than that before surgery,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).The VAS of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group one month after surgery,and the ASES score was significantly higher than that of the control group one month after surgery,with statistically significant differences(t =-5.52,t = 8.73,P = 0.001).Conclusion Arthroscopic debridement combined with PRP is an effective and minimally invasive method for the treatment of supraspinatus calcified tendinitis.The calcium salt can be removed as much as possible under arthroscopy,and the scope of rotator cuff injury can be accurately evaluated.For the obvious rotator cuff injury with large damage,the rotator cuff repair with thread anchor nail can be performed.At the same time,combined with PRP,it can accelerate the repair of rotator cuff injury,relieve pain,and accelerate the functional recovery of shoulder joint.

Humans ; Spinal Diseases/surgery* ; Spine/surgery*

Objective:To observe the effect of Shaoyaotang on the contents of cell adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） and transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁） in serum of large intestine damp-heat syndrome of ulcerative colitis （UC） in rats， and the gene and protein expressions of leukocyte differentiation antigen14 （CD14）， Fas-related death domain protein （FADD） and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-8 （Caspase-8） in the focal colon tissue. Method:A total of 80 SPF Wistar rats were randomly divided into the blank group （n=10） and modeling group （n=70）. The large intestine damp-heat syndrome of UC rats was replicated by the combination of disease and syndrome， which was high-fat， high-sugar and spicy diets combined with 2， 4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid （DNBS） and ethanol. After successful modeling， the modeled groups were divided into model group， sulfasalazine （SASP）control group， and low， medium and high-dose Shaoyaotang groups by the method of random number table， with14 rats in each group. Low， medium and high doses of Sulfasalazine 0.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1 and Shaoyaotang （6， 12， 24 g·kg^-1·d^-1）were given by gavage. The blank group and the model group were given equal volume of normal saline for 21 days. The contents of serum ICAM-1 and TGF-β₁ were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， the expressions of CD14， FADD and Caspase-8 mRNA in colon tissues were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the expressions of CD14， FADD and Caspase-8 protein in colon tissues were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with the blank group， the serum ICAM-1 level in the model group were significantly increased， whereas the content of TGF-β₁ were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The relative expression levels of CD14， FADD， Caspase-8 mRNA and protein were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the content of ICAM-1 in the serum of the rats in the medium， high-dose Shaoyaotang groups and the SASP group were significantly decreased， while the content of TGF-β₁ in the serum of the rats in the low， medium， high-dose Shaoyaotang groups and the SASP group were significantly increased （P<0.05）. The expression levels of CD14， FADD， Caspase-8 mRNA and protein in each intervention group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， especially in the high-dose Shaoyaotang group and the SASP group. Conclusion:Shaoyaotang has a certain intervention effect on UC rats with large intestine damp-heat syndrome， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of CD14， FADD and Caspase-8 genes and proteins expression.

Induced by a variety of retinopathy, visual loss has become the most serious form of disability, which influences the quality of human life. With the rapid development and crossing among the information science, microelectronics, material science and biomedical disciplines, the visual prosthesis makes reparation possible for the visual blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and other eye, retina, optic nerve and visual cortex lesions. With technology innovation, the prosthesis design, manufacturing and surgical technique are no longer the biggest obstacles to the future development of the visual prosthesis, but how to construct effective transmission of information between the brain and the prosthesis. However, due to the complex structure of the human visual system, the visual prosthesis manufacturing and visual information signal mapping are facing some difficulties. Thus, we can only study the representation strategy of image information and micro-electrode array stimulation basing on limited pixels of simulated prosthesis visual information. By studying the visual information processing of the visual prosthesis, we propose a visual prosthesis design which is based on biological, mechanical, and electronic integration.
Blindness ; rehabilitation ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Humans ; Prosthesis Design ; Visual Perception ; Visual Prosthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes in apoptosis-related ligands in serum in rats with severe scald and the effect of intensive insulin therapy on the changes.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham burn (SB), scald (S) and treatment (T) groups. Rats in S and T groups were inflicted with 40% TBSA full-thickness burn, followed by intraperitoneal injection with 40 mL/kg of isotonic saline for resuscitation. Rats in T group were subcutaneously injected insulin in a dose of 0.25 U/100 g 24 hours after burn injury, and every 12 hours for 5 days (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 U/100 g each day, respectively) to control the level of blood glucose between 3 and 6 mmol/L. Rats in SB group were sham scalded at 37 degrees C without resuscitation. Blood was drawn from abdominal aorta on 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 post burn day (PBD) for determination of serum levels of TNF-alpha, soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and soluble Fas receptor (sFas) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and insulin by radioimmunity assay (RIA).

RESULTSThe serum level of TNF-alpha in S group peaked on 1 PBD (30.9 +/- 8.7) ng/L, which showed statistically significant difference when compared with that of SB and T groups (12.7 +/- 2.8) ng/L, (16.8 +/- 4.7) ng/L, respectively, P < 0.01), then lowered gradually to become similar to that of SB group on 7 PBD. The level of TNF-alpha in T group increased gradually, but was obviously lower than that of S group on 1, 4, 7 PBD (P < 0.01). The level of sFasL in S (on 7-14 PBD) and T (4-10 PBD) groups was significantly higher than that in SB group (P < 0.05), then lowered to normal level. The levels of sFas on 4-10 PBD in T group were obviously higher than that in S and SB group (P < 0.05). Ratio of sFasL to sFas in serum of S group was higher than that in SB group on 7, 10 PBD, which was higher than that in T group on 7 PBD (P < 0.05). There was significant decrease in serum level of insulin in S group compared with that of SB group on 4-10 PBD (P < 0.05). The level of insulin in T group increased on 1 PBD, peaked on 4 PBD (327 +/- 15 microU/mL), which was significantly higher than that in SB and S groups (42 +/- 15, 28 +/- 10 microU/mL, respectively, P < 0.01), then decreased gradually to normal level.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin may inhibit apoptosis after burn by down-regulating secretion of apoptotic ligands.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Burns ; blood ; drug therapy ; Fas Ligand Protein ; blood ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; fas Receptor ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes in proliferative activity of myoblasts in skeletal muscle and potential role of phosphorylated Akt on it, so that a better understanding in mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy after burn injury will be got.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: control and severe thermal injury group. Rats in severe thermal injury group were subjected to a 40% total body surface area full-thickness scald injury, and Tibialis Anterior (TA) muscles were collected on 0, 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 days post-injury. After muscle mass determined, immunohistochemical double staining was used for detection of Proliferative Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) of myoblasts. Protein expression of total Akt and phosphorylated Akt was determined by Western Blot.

RESULTSBurn injury induced significant reduction of TA muscle mass and maximal reduction of it appeared by 4 days after injury (P < 0.01). Proliferative activity of myoblasts decreased significantly from the first day post-injury (P < 0.01) and increased slowly to basal level of controls after 7 days post-injury. The phosphorylated Akt was undetectable in both of controls and injured samples before 4 days but increased significantly after 7 days post-injury (P < 0.01), though total Akt expression had no significant alteration at any time points (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDecrease in proliferative activity of myoblasts may be one of the contributors of significant atrophy of skeletal muscle after burn injury. Effect of phosphorylated Akt on proliferation attenuated in early stage and increased significantly in later stage after burn injury may partly explain the changes in proliferative activity of myoblasts.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myoblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on Du Meridian on the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) expression and hind limbs function recovery in experimental spinal cord injured rats.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty SD rats were divided into the normal group, the model group and the EA group, with 50 rats in each group, modified Allen method was used to establish spinal cord injury model in the model and EA group. Rats in the EA group was EA on Dazhui and Ming men acupoints after modelling successfully. At the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21th day after injury, the hind limbs function of rats was evaluated by BBB scales respectively, and the AQP-4 expression in spinal cord tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry technique and quantity analysed with image analyzer.

RESULTSAt the 1st day after spinal cord injury, the AQP-4 expression was significantly increased in gray matter and white matter of spinal cord in the model group and the EA group, which reached the peak at the 3rd day, but showed significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), and the difference at the 7th, 14th and 21th day became more significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEA on Du Meridian can down-regulate AQP-4 expression after spinal cord injury, inhibit spinal cord edema for alleviating secondary spinal cord lesion, so as to protect the residual normal spinal cord tissues and promote the rebuilding of nervous tissues.

Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Extremities ; physiopathology ; Female ; Male ; Meridians ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; therapy

BACKGROUNDPortasystemic shunts, especially total shunts, are effective tools for reducing portal pressure and controlling variceal bleeding but lead to high risk of encephalopathy and accelerating liver failure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical effects of small-diameter expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) H-graft portacaval shunts in the treatment of portal hypertension.

METHODSThirty-one patients with portal hypertension were treated with ePTFE small-diameter H-graft portacaval shunts from December 1995 to April 2002. Twenty-one had externally ringed grafts and 10 had non-ringed grafts; 20 had 10 mm diameter grafts and 11 had 8 mm grafts. The left gastric artery and coronary vein were ligated in 22 patients. Additionally, 6 patients underwent pericardial devascularization, and splenectomies were performed on 30 patients.

RESULTSAn average decrease of free portal pressure (FPP) from (32.13 +/- 4.86) cmH2O before shunting to (12.55 +/- 5.57) cmH2O after shunting was observed. Portal blood flow was reduced by 1/3 compared with the levels measured before shunting. Twenty-eight patients survived after the operation, and no upper gastrointestinal rebleeding occurred in the follow-up period (40.2 months on average). We lost contact with one patient. Color Doppler ultrasonography and/or portography revealed the shunts to be patent in 28 cases and occluded in 2 (6.4%) cases. Encephalopathy developed in 4 patients (12.9%).

CONCLUSIONSmall-diameter ePTFE H-graft portacaval shunts can effectively reduce portal pressure. Moreover, the majority of the hepatopetal flow from the portal vein can be adequately maintained. The reinforced shunts may achieve a higher rate of patency. Morbidity from encephalopathy was less frequent than in patients receiving total shunts. Small-diameter H-graft portacaval shunts are also effective in preventing recurrent variceal bleeding.

Adult ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Portacaval Shunt, Surgical ; methods ; Treatment Outcome