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Objective To study the effect of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) on TGFβ1/Smad/CTGF signaling pathway.Methods A rabbit heart failure (HF) model was established by ligating the ascending aortic root.Thirty rabbits were divided into sham operation group (n=10),HF group (n=10) and CCM group (n=10).Myocardial tissue collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ were analyzed with Sirius red staining,myocardial tissue hydroxyproline level was measured by chromometry,and expressions of TGFβ1,Smad3,Smad7,CTGF were detected by Western blot in 3 groups.Results Collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ and hydroxyproline content were highcr in HF group than in sham operation group,while collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ and hydroxyproline conten were lower in CCM group than in sham operation group (0.69±0.05 μg/mg vs 0.98±0.04 μg/mg,P＜0.05).The expression levels of TGFβ1,Smad3,CTGF were higher while those of Smad7 were lower in HF group than in sham operation group (P＜0.05).The expression levels of TGFβ1,Smad3,CTGF were lower while those of Smad7 were higher in CCM group than in HF group (0.49±0.03 vs 0.67±0.04,0.43±0.06 vs 0.59±0.06,0.45±0.08 vs 0.75±0.09,P＜0.05;0.43±0.08vs 0.26±0.04,P＜0.05).Conclusion CCM can improve the myocardial fibrosis in HF rabbits by downregulating the expression of TGFβ1,Smad3,CTGF and upregulating the expression of Smad7.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the applicability of EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level questionnaire (Chinese Version 1.0) (EQ-5D-3L) in the assessment of life quality of patients with idopathic sudden hearing loss.@*METHOD@#In this retrospect study, the EQ-5D-3L was assigned to 60 patients with idopathic sudden hearing loss before and after drug therapy. Audiometry examinations were undertaken and concomitant symptoms were recorded. A Wilcoxon rank sum test was applicated to the comparisons of results of EQ-5D-3L before and after the treatment, a t-test for results of EQ-VAS and a Kappa measurement for the consistency of certain dimension correlated with the symptoms.@*RESULT@#Sixty patients completed the five questions and visual analog scale of the EQ-5D. A statistically significant changes of pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression before and after the treatment were observed (P 0.05). The dimension of pain/discomfort was in agreement with the concomitant symptoms. And the result of EQ-VAS was in agreement with the therapeutic outcome.@*CONCLUSION@#It is suitable for the EQ-5D to be a general health measure with sensitivity to clinical change in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which monitors the patients' outcomes.
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Humans , Depression , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural , Diagnosis , Quality of Life , Self Care , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome , Visual Analog ScaleABSTRACT
[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the different dose of perindopril on cardiac function in the rabbits with ische-mic cardiac dysfunction .METHODS:Male rabbits weighing 2.5~3.0 kg ( n=30) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10):high dose perindopril group (HD group), low dose perindopril group (LD group) and cardiac dysfunction group (CD group).The Left anterior descending coronary artery of the rabbits was ligatured for model preparation .In HD group, the rabbits were treated with perindopril split normal saline solution (1 g/L)2 mL· kg-1 · d-1 .In LD group, the rabbits were treated with perindopril split normal saline solution (0.33 g/L)2 mL· kg -1 · d-1.In CD group, the rabbits were treated with normal saline solution 2 mL· kg-1 · d-1 .Four weeks after treatment , the cardiac function was measured via echocardiography , the mRNA expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( ACE2 ) and angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) was analyzed by real-time PCR, serum angiotensin (Ang)-(1-9) and Ang-(1-7) levels were detected by ELISA. RESULTS:Compared with CD group , the cardiac function of the 2 groups treated with perindopril was significantly im-proved (P<0.01), and more improvement in HD group was observed than LD group (P<0.05).The serum angiotensin ( Ang)-(1-9) and Ang-(1-7) level and the mRNA expression of ACE 2 and AT2R in the 2 groups treated with perindopril were significantly improved (P<0.01).Compared with LD group, the mRNA expression of ACE2 and AT2R and the ser-um levels of Ang-(1-9) in HD group were significant improved (P<0.05), while no difference of serum Ang-(1-7) level was observed.Correlation analysis revealed that the improvement of the cardiac function was associated with serum Ang -(1-9) level, mRNA expression of ACE2 and AT2R (P<0.01), but has no significant correlation with serum Ang-(1-7) lev-el.CONCLUSION:High dose of perindopril may improve more cardiac function in ischemic cardiac dysfunction model in rabbits.The mechanism may relate to increasing serum Ang-(1-7) level to activate AT2R.
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[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effects of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( BMSCs) modified by bcl-2 gene on myocardial cell apoptosis, angiogenesis and cardiac function in the rabbit after acute myocardial in-farction ( MI) .METHODS:The rabbit BMSCs were isolated, cultured and purified in vitro.The BMSCs were transfected with adenovirus or adenovirus-Bcl-2.The rabbit model of MI was established by ligation of left anterior descending branch. The rabbits were injected with Ad-Bcl-2-BMSCs ( MI+Bcl-2-BMSCs group) , Ad-BMSCs ( MI+BMSCs group) and DMEM ( MI group) in infarction marginal zone 2 weeks after ligation.The cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography.The apoptosis of myocardial cells was measured by TUNEL.The mRNA expression of VEGF was detected by real-time PCR.The expression of CD31 was examined by immunohistochemical staining, and new blood capillaries were counted at 4 weeks after BMSCs transplantation.The correlation of the above values with cardiac function was analyzed.RESULTS: The cardiac function was better, the apoptotic rate was lower, the mRNA expression of VEGF and the capillary density were higher in both MI+Bcl-2-BMSCs group and the MI+BMSCs group than those in MI group, and those in MI+Bcl-2-BMSCs group in-creased more obviously .The left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) had a negative correlation with the myocardial cell ap-optosis rate.A positive correlation with the mRNA expression level of VEGF and the capillary density was also observed. CONCLUSION:The transplantation of BMSCs modified by bcl-2 gene significantly reduces the myocardial cell apoptosis, promotes angiogenesis, improves heart function of the rabbits with MI.
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Objective: To investigate the inlfuence of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) protein expression and to explore the protective effect of ACE2 on vascular endothelial cells. Methods: Our work includedin vitro andin vivo studies. For in vitro experiment, the human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) were cultured and transfected with replication deficient recombinant adenovirus of ACE2 (Ad-ACE2), and LOX-1 protein expression stimulated by angiotensin 2 was examined by Western blot analysis. Forin vivo study, atherosclerosis plaques were induced in 20 apolipoprotein E-deifcient (ApoE-/-) mice, and then randomly divided them into 2 groups: ACE2 group, the mice received Ad-ACE2 (2.5×109 pfu/ml) injection through caudal vein, EGFP (enhanced green lfuorescent protein) group, the mice received equal replication deifcient recombinant adenovirus of EGFP (Ad-EGFP) injection through caudal vein.n=10 in each group. The animals were executed after 1 month treatment to collect abdominal aorta. Lipid content in atherosclerosis plaque was evaluated by Oil red O staining and LOX-1 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Results: Bothin vitro andin vivo experiments conifrmed that endothelial cell LOX-1 protein expression was signiifcantly inhibited by ACE2 transfection. The lipid content in ACE2 group was obviously lower than that in EGFP group byin vivo study. Conclusion: ACE2 may inhibit LOX-1 protein expression and therefore reduce the progress of atherosclerosis.