ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to establish a stable animal model of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to provide theoretical and experimental basis for understanding the development of LVH. The abdominal aorta of male Wistar rats (80-100 g) was constricted to a diameter of 0.55 mm between the branches of the celiac and anterior mesenteric arteries. Echocardiography using a linear phased array probe was performed as well as pathological examination and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement at 3, 4 and 6 weeks after abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). The results showed that the acute mortality rate (within 24 h) of this modified rat model was 8%. Animals who underwent AAC demonstrated significantly increased interventricular septal (IVS), LV posterior wall (LVPWd), LV mass index (LVMI), cross-sectional area (CSA) of myocytes, and perivascular fibrosis; the ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), and cardiac output (CO) were consistently lower at each time point after AAC. Notably, differences in these parameters between AAC group and sham group were significant by 3 weeks and reached peaks at 4th week. Following AAC, the plasma BNP was gradually elevated compared with the sham group at 3rd and 6th week. It was concluded that this modified AAC model can develop LVH, both stably and safely, by week four post-surgery; echocardiography is able to assess changes in chamber dimensions and systolic properties accurately in rats with LVH.
ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to establish a stable animal model of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to provide theoretical and experimental basis for understanding the development of LVH. The abdominal aorta of male Wistar rats (80-100 g) was constricted to a diameter of 0.55 mm between the branches of the celiac and anterior mesenteric arteries. Echocardiography using a linear phased array probe was performed as well as pathological examination and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement at 3, 4 and 6 weeks after abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). The results showed that the acute mortality rate (within 24 h) of this modified rat model was 8%. Animals who underwent AAC demonstrated significantly increased interventricular septal (IVS), LV posterior wall (LVPWd), LV mass index (LVMI), cross-sectional area (CSA) of myocytes, and perivascular fibrosis; the ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), and cardiac output (CO) were consistently lower at each time point after AAC. Notably, differences in these parameters between AAC group and sham group were significant by 3 weeks and reached peaks at 4th week. Following AAC, the plasma BNP was gradually elevated compared with the sham group at 3rd and 6th week. It was concluded that this modified AAC model can develop LVH, both stably and safely, by week four post-surgery; echocardiography is able to assess changes in chamber dimensions and systolic properties accurately in rats with LVH.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Aorta, Abdominal , Pathology , Constriction, Pathologic , Disease Models, Animal , Echocardiography , Methods , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Heart , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular , Blood , Pathology , Myocardium , Pathology , Natriuretic Peptide, Brain , Blood , Rats, Wistar , Time FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the duration of enterovirus (EV) nucleotides positive in feces samples of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) patients after recovery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A consecutive 6-week follow up were carried out towards 49 cases of laboratory-diagnosed HFMD patients. A total of 5 - 8 g feces sample was collected from each patient once a week. The common EV nucleotides of HFMD were detected by RT-PCR method and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier Survival Analysis Method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The subtypes of the 49 HFMD patients included 16 enterovirus 71 (EV71), 15 coxsackievirus A16 (CoxA16) and 18 EV; a six-week follow up was carried out among all of them. In the first week, one EV71 patient and two EV patients were lost; in the fourth week, one CoxA16 were lost; and in the fifth week, one EV71 patient was lost. During the consecutive 6-week follow-up, the positive rates of EV nucleotides among EV71 patients were 81.3%, 60.9%, 47.4%, 33.9%, 27.1% and 18.1% separately; and the positive rates in CoxA16 group were 93.3%, 73.3%, 53.3%, 33.3%, 16.7% and 8.3% respectively. In EV group, the positive rates of EV nucleotides were 44.4% and 7.4% in the first two weeks and then turned to negative in the next 4 weeks. There was significant statistical difference in positive rates of EV nucleotides among different patients (χ(2) = 11.78, P = 0.001); however, each group of HFMD patients showed a declined trend with the extension of time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The duration of EV nucleotides positive in feces samples of HFMD patients lasted for a long period since their recovery; and the positive results in EV71 and CoxA16 patients might last for 6 weeks.</p>
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Enterovirus , Genetics , Feces , Virology , Follow-Up Studies , Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease , Virology , NucleotidesABSTRACT
Seventy-two endophytic fungi isolated from Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li were screened for antitumor and antimicrobial activities. The results showed that 9 strains presented cytotoxic activities to at least one of the tested tumor cells, five strains exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, one strain had inhibitory effect on Phytophthora parasitica. It was evidently that the endophytic fungi of C. hainanensis are potential resources to find valuable bioactive components.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the correlativity of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with traction on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc with the three-dimensional location.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the three-dimensional location developed by HU You-gu, the position of the prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc in the spinal canal was located from the sagittal plain, frontal plain and horizontal plain. One hundred and thirty patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc and completion of clinical data were treated with acupuncture, and the therapeutic effects were analyzed with three-dimensional location.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 98 cases in the effective group, 73 cases had the prolapse at the I plane in sagittal location, accounting for 74.49%, 82 cases had the prolapse at the 1, 2 zone in horizontal location, accounting for 83.68%, 52 cases had the prolapse at the a area in frontal location, accounting for 53.06%; among the 32 cases in the ineffective group, 10 cases had the prolapse at the I plane, accounting for 31.25%, 12 cases in the 1, 2 zone, accounting for 37.50%, 3 cases in the a area, accounting for 9.38%. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the location.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The three-dimensional location can objectively show the size, direction, position, and the characteristics of the protruded discs, and correctly infer the pathological changes of the affected nerve root. Acupuncture combined with tract has a better effect on I plane, 1-2 zone, and a area.</p>