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Objective:To investigate the expression of fibrillin-1 (FBN-1) in the atrium tissue of the patients with rheumatic heart valve disease complicated with atrial fibrillation(AF), and to explore its relationship with atrial fibrosis in the patients with valvular atrial fibrillation.Methods:Eighty-four consecutive patients with rheumatic heart valve disease underwent cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study.The patients were divided into AF group(n=39) and sinus rhythm group(SR group, n=45).The clinical data of patients were collected before operation.The right atrium tissue (0.3-0.5 mm3) was disserted during operation.The degrees of right atrial fibrosis of the patients in two groups were observed by Masson staining.Western blotting method was used to measure the protein expressions of FBN-1 in atrium tissue of the patients in two groups.Results:There were no significant differences in the gender ratio, age, blood pressure, blood biochemical indicators and other aspects of medical history between two groups(P>0.05);the diameters of left and right atrium of the patients in AF group were significantly larger than those in SR group(P<0.05).The Masson staining results showed that there was obvious fibrosis in AF group, and the collagen volume fraction and collagen level in AF group were significantly higher than those in SR group (P<0.05).The expression level of FBN-1 in right atrium tissue in AF group was obviously higher than that in SR group(P<0.05).The expression level of FBN-1 protein in right atrium tissue of the patients with valvular atrial fibrillation was positively correlated with the collagen level(r=0.544,P=0.021).Conclusion:There is obvious atrium fibrosis in the patients with valvular atrial fibrillation;it is closely related to the up-regulation of the expression of FBN-1 gene.
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Objective To investigate the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation and study the relationship betweenα-SMA and atrial fibrosis in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods For this study we enrolled 84 consecutive patients with rheumatic heart disease who were to receive cardiac surgery.The patients were divided into AF group (AF,n=39)and sinus rhythm group (SR, n=45).Their clinical data including baseline demographics,routine laboratory test and echocardiographics were collected before surgery.The right atrial tissue (0 .3-0 .5 cm3 )was disserted during the surgery.Right atrial fibrosis was observed by Masson staining.The mRNA expression ofα-SMA in atrial tissue were determined by Real-time quantitative PCR.Western blot was used to measure the protein expression ofα-SMA in atrial tissue.Results The two groups did not significantly differ in sex ratio,age,blood pressure,blood biochemical indicators or other aspects of medical history (P>0.05).However,left and right atrium diameters in AF group were significantly larger than those in SR group (P<0 .05 ).Masson staining suggested that collagen volume fraction and collagen content were significantly higher in AF group than in SR group (P<0 .05 ).The mRNA and protein expressions ofα-SMA in right atrial tissue were obviously higher in AF group than in SR group (coefficients P<0 .05 ).The mRNA and protein expressions ofα-SMA from right atrial tissue in the 84 patients were positively correlated with collagen content (coefficients of 0.587 and 0.607;P=0.029,0.014,respectively).Conclusion There is significant atrial fibrosis in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation,which is closely related to up-regulated expression ofα-SMA gene.
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Objective To reveal the role of serum ACE2/Ang (1-7)in the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF)and find new targets for the prevention and treatment of AF by analyzing the correlation between the serum concentration of ACE2/Ang (1-7 )in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and the occurrence of AF. Methods We collected the basic clinical information and peripheral venous blood of patients with rheumatic heart valve disease (totally 46 patients,including 24 with AF and 22 with SR).ELISA method was used to detect the serum concentration of ACE2,Ang (1-7)and AngⅡ in the serum samples.Then the differences and correlation between the two groups were analyzed.Results In the AF group ① the diameter of the left atrium was significantly greater than that in the SR group [(60.70±3.08 vs.48.15±2.16)mm,P<0.05];② the serum concentration of AngⅡ was significantly higher than that in the SR group [(45.88±2.87 vs.35.78±1.08)pg/mL, P<0.05],AngⅡ and left atrium diameter were positively correlated (Pearson test,P<0.05);③ the serum concentrations of ACE2 [(7.87±0.74 vs.11.65±0.57)U/L,P<0.05]and Ang (1-7)[(146.05±17.61 vs. 321.71±36.50)pg/mL,P<0.05]were significantly lower than those in the SR group,and negatively correlated with left atrium diameter (Pearson test,P<0.05);④ the serum concentration of Ang (1-7)was negatively correlated with AngⅡ concentration (Pearson test,P<0.05).Conclusion For patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease,ACE2/Ang (1-7 )may play a protective role in the occurrence of AF via antagonizing AngⅡ and inhibiting atrial remodeling.
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AIM:To study the effects of extracellular potassium on the protein expression of wild-type HERG and its mutant L539fs/47.METHODS:Wild-type HERG (WT) or its mutant HERG-L539fs/47 (MT) were transfected into HEK293 cells for 36 h.The cells were incubated in different media containing 0.8, 4.3 or 10 mmol/L potassium.Af-ter 6 h of incubation, the protein expression of HERG was detected by flow cytometry.After 12 h of incubation, the locali-zation and quantity of the proteins were detected by laser confocal imaging and Western blot.RESULTS: Different from the retention of mutant protein in cytoplasm, wild-type HERG protein was mainly distributed in the cell membrane.The 2 proteins both increased with the changes of extracellular potassium.Flow cytometry showed that the fluorescence in the 2 groups both increased with the changes of extracellular potassium ( P<0.01 ) .The fluorescence in WT group was signifi-cantly higher than that in MT group (P<0.01).Western blot showed that mutant HERG protein included only one 60 kD band, different from the 135 kD and 155 kD bands in wild-type HERG, which were affected by the changes of extracellular potassium (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The retention of HERG mutant L539fs/47 protein in the cytoplasm is more than wild-type HERG.Chronic high extracellular potassium keeps the stability of wild-type and mutant HERG proteins on the cell membrane.Chronic low potassium reduces the expression of HERG channel proteins in a time-dependent manner.
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Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia after radiofrequency catheter ablation treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University based on the follow-up and retrospective analysis.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 63 patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation during January 2008 and March 2014 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University.In the follow-up,Holter moniterings were reviewed to evaluate ventricular arrhythmia and echocardiography to assess the ejection fractions and left ventricular end-diastolic diameters.Results The immediate success rate of catheter ablation for the treatment of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia was 89.29% and the long-term success was 82.14%.The ejection fractions and left ventricular end-diastolic diameters were not obviously improved after radiofrequency ablation (P > 0.05 ). The ventricular premature contractions were significantly reduced after radiofrequency ablation (P <0.05).In postoperative care, one case was found with ruptured sinus valsalva tumor and another patient was found with the complication of hematoma in femoral artery puncture.Conclusion Radiofrequency ablation for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia is safe and effective.
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Objective To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.Methods We analyzed the clinical data of 47 patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation between March 2013 and January 2008,in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.In the average 32 months’follow-up,Holter monitering and echocardiography were reviewed for the left atrial diameter.Results The immediate success rate of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation was 82.6%.The long-term success rate was 65%,the rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was 69.7%,and the rate of longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation was 42.9%.After ablation,the left atrial diameter were markedly reduced compared with that before treatment [(36.3 ± 4.3 )mm vs .(38.1 ± 5.9 )mm)(P < 0.001 ).The patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation were older than those without recurrence,their left atrial diameter was bigger,and the prevalence rate of hypertension was higher (P <0.05).The average atrial fibrillation load was 14.9% after ablation compared with 46.1% before (P <0.05).Conclusion Radiofrequency catheter ablation is an effective and safe treatment of atrial fibrillation,especially for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.The left atrial diameter was significantly decreased after radiofrequency catheter ablation compared with that before the ablation.
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Objective: To explore the effects of preoperative administration of conventional doses of atorvastatin plus trimetazidine on the myocardial injury of patients during the perioperative period of percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]
Methodology: 475 cases of acute coronary syndrome patients before PCI were randomly divided into the control group [238 cases] and experimental group [237 cases].The control group was treated with conventional doses of atorvastatin calcium [20 mg each time, once a night], and the experimental group was treated with conventional doses of atorvastatin calcium plus trimetazidine hydrochloride [20 mg each time, tid] for 3 d. After PCI, preoperative and postoperative 24 h concentrations of serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme [CK-MB], cardiac troponin I [cTnI] and high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] as well as activity of myeloperoxidase [MPO] were investigated. Left ventricular ejection fractions of the patients were then examined 4 weeks later
Results: Postoperative 24 h cTnI concentration and elevated MPO activity of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group [P < 0 05]. CK-MB activities and hs-CRP concentrations of the two groups did not differ significantly [P > 0 05]
Conclusion: The administration of conventional doses of atorvastatin plus trimetazidine three days before PCI is able to protect the perioperative patients from myocardial injury
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Objective Large-conductance culcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channel modulates vascular smooth muscle tone. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that salt, one of the factors which significantly influence bleed pressure (BP), can regulate BKCa activity and then elevate blood pressure. Methods Male Spragne-Dawley rats aged 6 weeks were randomized into high salt diet group (HS) and control group, fed with high salt diet (containing 5% NaCi) and standard rat chow (containing 0.4% NaCl) respectively for 16 weeks. Tail systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight (BW) and 24-hour urinary output were tested every 4 weeks. Content of urinary Na+ was detected using flame spectrophotometrical method. At the end of 16 weeks, all the rats were killed, the mesenteric arteries were obtained, and single mesenteric smooth muscle cells were isolated at once. The resting membrane potential (Em), the total potassium currents and the currents after perfusion with TEA solution of the cells were all recorded by whole cell patch clamp. The transcriptions of BKCa channel α and β1 sobunits in mesenteric arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of each group were calculated by real-time RT-PCR. Results There was no difference in SBP and BW at each stage between control group and HS group; the urinary Na+ level in HS animals was elevated significantly after 4 weeks.The negative values of Em in HS group VSMCs were reduced compared with these in the control group. Transcriptions of β1 subanit of BKCa channels were decreased in HS group, but α subunit transcriptions did not differ between the two groups. Whole cell potassium currents did not differ hetween HS and control groups, but BKCa currents of HS group VSMCs were lower than these of control group ones. Conclusion Even without elevating SBP, salt-loading can still modulate the expression and activity of BKCa channel in the mesenteric arterial VSMC and elevate vascular tone.
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Objective To study the clinical role of the variation of serum matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8)concentration in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods ELISA method was adopted to detect serum MMP-8 concentration and to observe concentration's differences and features among 80 selected ACS cases (43 acute myocardial infarction and 37 unstable angina pectoris), 43 stable angina pectoris (SAP) cases and 37 control cases.And meanwhile the atherosclerosis risk factors of each case, such as age, sex, hypertension, body mass index, smoking,family history, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were collected and analyzed as a whole. Results First, serum MMP-8 concentration reached the highest point in ACS, and there was significant difference between SAP and control groups (P<0.01). Second, sermn MMP-8 in AMI was much higher than that in UAP with significant difference (P<0.01). There was no difference between UAP and SAP groups (P>0.05). Third, Logistic regression analysis revealed that serum MMP-8 concentration might be the indicator of ACS (B=4.493, P=0.000), particularly, that of AMI (B=9.961,P=0.000). Fourth, linear correlation and linear regression analysis found that only neutrophil was likely to influence serum MMP-8 concentration (r=0.274, P=0.001). Fifth, in the diagnosis of ACS, the area under ROC curve of MMP-8 was 0.785, the sensitivity and specificity were 68.6% and 76.5%, respectively. Conclusion ① Serum MMP-8 concentration has close relationship with the occurrence of ACS, particularly with AMI;② Serum MMP-8 concentration may be one of the predicting indicators of ACS and particularly of AMI;③ Neutrophil may be correlated with serum MMP-8 concentration;④ MMP-8 is of somewhat valuable in diagnosing ACS.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the gene mutation in a Chinese family with congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) and predict the changes of the secondary structure of the protein.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to screen for KCNH2 mutation in the proband. After the mutation was identified, KCNH2 gene of the family members was screened by multiplex PCR with site-specific primers. Network analysis software was used to predict the secondary structure of the KCNH2 protein.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A novel heterozygous missense mutation of F463L(GenBank accession no.EU218526) located at the transmembrane domain S2 of KCNH2 was detected. The mutation did not result in the change of the transmembrane domain, but altered the hydrophobicity and secondary structure of the protein.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The novel mutation identified in this study has enriched the GenBank data of ion channel gene mutation in LQTS. The changes of the secondary structure caused by the gene mutation were analyzed by Mfold and TMHMM software, which may help to understand LQTS.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Amino Acid Sequence , Asian People , Genetics , Base Sequence , DNA Mutational Analysis , ERG1 Potassium Channel , Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels , Chemistry , Genetics , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Long QT Syndrome , Genetics , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutation, Missense , Pedigree , Protein Structure, Secondary , Protein Structure, TertiaryABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of pioglitazone on blood pressure,blood glucose and beta cell function and the mecha- nism of oxidative stress in hypertensive patients with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT). Methods:One hundred and sixty patients were divided into two groups:pioglitazone group and control group.The levels of fasting plasma glucose(FPC),2 hours postprandial glucose(2hPG),blood pressure,Homa I3,Homa IR,blood malondiahtehyde (MDA)and superoxide dismutase before and after pioglitazone treatment were compared. Results:After pioglitazone treatment for 8 weeks,FPG,2hPG,FInS,2hPInS,GHbAlc,mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure,Homa IR and blood MDA were significantly decreased(P
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Objective To investigate the clinical effects of Alprostadil combined with Shuxuetong treatment on patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy,and its influence on malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD) and total antioxidative capability(TAOC).Methods Totally 160 patients with DPN were divided into two groups: treatment group(100 cases) and control group(60 cases).The levels of blood SOD activity,serum MDA and serum TAOC were determined before and after treatment.Results The symptoms in both groups were significantly improved,but the total effective rate in treatment group was significantly better than that in control group(80.0% vs.41.7%,P