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Objective To investigate the correlation between myocardial fibrosis evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)T1 mapping and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in elderly patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).Methods The 56 hospitalized patients with ICM(ICM group)and 20 healthy volunteers(control group)were recruited in cardiology department of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from April 2014 to June 2017.Clinical data,serum NT-proBNP detection,CMR T1 mapping and contrast-enhanced scan were determined,retrospectively collected and compared between two groups.The differences in myocardial extracellular volume fraction(ECVF)and NT-proBNP levels were compared among the control group,the ICM group and the ICM subgroups with different degree of cardiac dysfunction.The correlation between ECVF and NT-proBNP level was analyzed.Results The levels of ECVF and NT-proBNP were significantly higher in ICM group than in control group[(35.1t6.2)％ vs.(25.3±2.2)％ for ECVF,and(3 902.7± 1 670.3)ng/L vs.(280.5± 140.5)ng/L for NT-proBNP,t =6.917 and 9.645 respectively,both P＜0.01].Along with NYHA Functional Class upgrade of Ⅱ to Ⅲ] to Ⅳ of the ICM subgroups,the levels of ECVF and NT-proBNP were significantly increased (F =18.372 for ECVF,61.82 for NT-proBNP,all P＜0.01).There was a positive correlation between ECVF and NT-proBNP level in ICM patients (r =0.666,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Serum NT-proBNP level is correlated with the degree of myocardial fibrosis,which might be used as an indicator of myocardial fibrosis in ICM patients.
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Objective To observe the effectiveness and mechanism of Xiaoyao San (Xiaoyao Powder for Soothing Liver and Relieving Depression) in improving depression-like behavior of rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomized into normal group, model group, Xiaoyao San (1.9 g·kg-1·d-1) group, and fluoxetine (2 mg·kg-1·d-1) group. The rats were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress ( CUMS) to induce rat depression-like behavior. Field test was performed for the observation of effect of Xiaoyao San on rat depression-like behavior, Luminex liquid chip system was applied to detect the serum cytokines, and the amount and size of rat hepatic sinusoidal endothelial window were examined under electron microscope, and hepatic indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase ( IDO) and tryptophan 2, 3 -dioxygenaes ( TDO) expression levels were detected by immunohistochemical and Western blot methods. Results Xiaoyao San showed obvious effect on increasing sugar water consumption, the number of crossing the blocks and erection frequency in rats, decreasing serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) and interleukin 6 ( IL-6) , increasing the amount of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial window, promoting hepatic sinusoidal endothelial vascularization, and reducing TDO and IDO expression ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Xiaoyao San exerts obvious effect on improving rat depression-like behaviors, and the mechanism is probably related with the decrease of inflammatory factors, inhibition of IDO pathway, and improvement of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial function.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the temporal changes of serum interleukin-37 (IL-37) concentration following acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI) and the relationship between IL-37 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with ASTEMI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This analysis was conducted in a cohort of 20 patients with an established diagnosis of ASTEMI and 26 patients admitted for chest pain but with normal findings in coronary angiography (control) between June 2012 and December 2013. Venous blood was collected at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after myocardial infarction for measurement of serum IL-37 and CRP levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the patients in ASTEMI group showed a significant acute elevation of IL-37 level on day 1 following myocardial infarction; IL-37 level reached the peak on day 3 and began to decrease on day 5, followed by a significant decrease on day 7. The time course of post-infarction CRP changes was consistent with that of IL-37 variations and showed a positive correlation the latter (r=0.63, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-37 may participate in the inflammatory responses in ASTEMI.</p>