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Objective To investigate the level changes and clinical value of serum H-FABP,hs-CRP and Hcy in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)and chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods 120 patients with AF and CHF were chosen as the observation group,100 patients with sinus rhythm were chosen as the control.The levels of H-FABP,hs-CRP and Hcy of the two groups were compared.H-FABP,hs-CRP and Hcy levels were also compared in the different subgroups divided according to the cardiac function.Risults Compared with the control group,the levels of H-FABP,hs-CRP and Hcy in patients with atrial fibrillation were significantly higher(P<0.05).The lev-els of H-FABP,hs-CRP and Hcy in the observation group were higher than those in the control group in the same cardiac function subgroup(P < 0.05). Conclusion The elevation of the level of H-FABP,hs-CRP and Hcy are closely related to the occurrence and maintenance of atrial fibrillation and the damage of myocardial cells,and it was related with the severity of cardiac function.
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Objective To explore the effects of miRNA-204 targeted LC3B expression on Ang Ⅱ induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy.Methods The primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes served as the research objects and divided into the control group,AngⅡ group,combination-treated group 1 (cardiomyocytes were given Ang Ⅱ stimulation,meanwhile infected by negative control lentivirus vector),combination-treated group 2 (cardiomyocytes were given Ang Ⅱ stimulation,meanwhile infected by lentivirus carrying miRNA-204 overexpression vector) according to different treatments.About 48 h to 72 h after intervention treatment,the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy change was detected by confocal microscopy,the expression of miRNA-204 was analyzed by real time PCR,the protein expression of LC3B was measured by Western blot and targeted gene of miRNA-204 was demonstrated by dual-luciferase reporter assay system.Results Compared with the control group,the cardiomyocyte relative surface area in the Ang Ⅱ group was significantly enlarged,the protein expression of LC3B was significantly increased,the expression of miRNA-204 was upregulated,the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Whereas comparing the combination-treated group 1 with combination-treated group 2,the protein expression of LC3B in the latter was down-regulated and the cell area was reduced (P＜0.05).The further luciferase activity report gene experiment results suggested that miRNA-204 was able to bind to LC3B 3'-UTR and decreased the luciferase activities (P＜0.05),but not to bind its mutated fragment for inactivating luciferase activity(P＞0.05).Conclusion miRNA-204 is able to inhibit Ang Ⅱ induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy,its action is realized by targeting the expression of LC3B.
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Objective@#To study the epidemiological characteristics of tsutsugamushi disease, and to confirm the existence of the disease's epidemic foci in Taizhou.@*Methods@#From 2013 to 2014, Dongxing town hospital and Xingqiao town hospital were selected as specimen collection sites in Jingjiang city. Blood samples (5 ml) were collected from 40 patients with acute tsutsugamushi disease. A total of 59 rodents were captured with cage night method in the survey sites at 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11 months in 2013, from which, the spleen, liver, and kidney specimens were selected. Chigger mites were captured by small blackboard method and from the ears of the captured rodents. A total of 226 small blackboards were laid, 27 mites were captured, and the samples were grounded into suspension. Nested-polymerase chain reaction and cell and tissue culture techniques were used to test the specimen from the probable patients, host animals and chigger mites.@*Results@#Among the 40 acute tsutsugamushi disease blood samples, 29 were found to meet the test requirements, 17 were positive for orientia tsutsugamushi nucleic acid with 59% of the positive rate, and 1 stran orientia tsutsugamushi was isolated. 59 rats were captured and the density of mice was 5.5%. Among them, there were 26 Mus musculus (2.4%), 18 Rattus flavipectus (1.7%) and 15 Smelly shrew (density 1.4%). 1 Smelly shrew was tested positive for orientia tsutsugamushi nucleic acid, and the negative results were found in the other rodent specimens. 27 Chigge mites were collected by small blackboard method and the density of mites was 0.12 for each blackboard, among which 3 larvae and 24 nymphs were found. 33 Chigger mites were collected from the ears of 3 Smelly shrew, and the density of the mite was 11 per mouse. All the captured Chigger mites were identified as Leptotrombidium scutellare and 1 group of specimens of Chigger mites from the external environment were positive for orientia tsutsugamushi nucleic acid.@*Conclusion@#There was a high density of mice in the epidemic area from May to November and the species of the chigger mites were Chigger mites in Taizhou. The nucleic acid of the oriental tsutsugamushi was detected in the patients with acute scrub typhus, rodents and vectors. According to the above-mentioned results, it was considered that the scrub typhus epidemic area of Taizhou city has the natural foci of scrub typhus.
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Objective To explore the effects of miR-34a and the alteration of AMPK/mTOR signal pathway on angiotensin (Ang)Ⅱ-stimulated cardiomyocytes hypertrophy. Methods Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultrued in vitro and were divided into 3 groups:negative control for lentivirus carrying miR-34a group (NC), AngⅡplus lentivirus carrying negative control group (AngⅡ+NC) and AngⅡplus lentivirus carrying miR-34a group (AngⅡ+miR-34a). The relative cell area was detected by confocal microscopy. The expression of miR-34a and hypertrophy-related genes (ANP and β-MHC) were analyzed by real time PCR. The AMPK/mTOR signal pathway was measured by Western blot assay. Results Compared to NC group, the relative cell area was increased in AngⅡ+NC group (P<0.05). But compared with AngⅡ+NC group, the relative cell area was decreased in AngII+miR-34a group (P<0.05). Moreover, compared with NC group, the expression of miR-34a was decreased, and the expression of hyperthophy-related genes(ANP and β-MHC) was up-regulated in AngⅡ+NC group. However, the expression of miR-34a was decreased, and the expression of hyperthophy-related genes (ANP and β-MHC) was down-regulated (P<0.05). Finally, compared to NC group, the ratio of phosphop-AMPK/AMPK was significantly induced in AngII + NC group, but the ratio of phosphop-mTOR/mTOR was significantly decreased (P<0.05). However, compared to AngⅡ+NC group, the ratio of phosphop-AMPK/AMPK was significantly decreased in AngII + miR-34a group, but the ratio of phosphop-mTOR/mTOR was significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion miR-34a is able to inhibit myocardial hypertrophy of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and its mechanism is partly carried out by the alteration of the signal pathway of AMPK/mTOR.
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Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of renal denervation combined with Losartan on cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneous hypertensive rats. Methods Spontaneous hypertensive rats with cardiac hypertrophy underwent renal denervation combined with following 4 weeks drug treatments. Transthoracic two-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography was performed. The expression of hypertrophy-related gene was detected. Left ventricularmass index was calculated and histological sectionsstained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Results The characteristics of cardiac hypertrophy was observed in left ventricular tissues with HE staining in12 weeks old spontaneous hypertensive rats.The thickness was increased in those ventricular (IVSs, IVSd, LVPWs and LVPWd). After4 weeks after treatment, histological improvements were observed in both RDN and R+L groups compared with sham group. The improvement was more obvious in R+L group. Similar results were observed in histological sections, ventricular thicknesses (IVSs, IVSd, LVPWs and LVPWd), related-hypertrophy genes (ANP and β-MHC) expression, left ventricular mass idex (LVMI) and the protein expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). Conculsion Renal denervation therapy can improve hypertensive-induced cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneous hypertensive rats. The effect was more significant when combined with Losartan. The mechanism might be involved in inhibiting inflammatory cytokines.
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Objective To compare the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at various low frequencies on upper limb function after cerebral infarction.Methods Fifty patients were randomly assigned to a control group (10 cases),a sham rTMS group (10 cases) or an rTMS group which had three sub-groups treated at 0.25 Hz,0.5 Hz and 0.75 Hz with 10 cases in each.All of the patients were treated with conventional medical treatment and rehabilitation training.The sham and true rTMS groups received rTMS applied over the M1 area of the unaffected hemisphere,5 days per week for 4 weeks.Motor evoked potential (MEP) cortical latency,and central motor conduction time (CMCT) were measured and the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),motricity index (MI) and a Hong Kong functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity (FTHUE-HK) were evaluated beforehand and at Post 1 after 2 weeks of treatment and Post 2 after 4 weeks of treatment.Results The average CMCT and FMA scores of the control and sham rTMS groups both had improved significantly at Post 2.There was no significant difference in any of the indices between those 2 groups at any time point.At Post 1,the average MEP cortical latencies of the 0.25 Hz and 0.5 Hz subgroups had improved to be significantly better than those of the control and sham rTMS groups.The average CMCTs of the 0.25 Hz and 0.5 Hz rTMS subgroups were significantly shorter after treatment,and significantly better than those of the control and sham rTMS groups.At Post 2,the average MEP cortical latency of all groups except the control group showed significant improvement compared with pre-treatment.The 2 indices of the 0.25 Hz and 0.5 Hz subgroups were again significantly shorter than those of the control and sham rTMS groups,and the average CMCTs were significantly better than that of 0.75 Hz subgroup.At Post 1 the average FMA and MI scores of the rTMS subgroups had all improved significantly.In the 0.25 Hz and 0.5 Hz subgroups the average MI scores were significantly higher than those of the control and sham rTMS groups.The FTHUE-HK scores of those 2 subgroups had also improved significantly.At Post 2,the average FMA and MI scores of all groups and the FTHUE-HK scores of rTMS group had improved significantly.In the 0.25 Hz and 0.5 Hz subgroups,all of the indices were significantly better than in the control and sham rTMS groups.The average FTHUE-HK score of the 0.25 Hz subgroup was significantly superior to that of the 0.75 Hz subgroup.In the 0.75 Hz subgroup the average MI score was significantly higher than in the control and sham rTMS groups.Conclusions rTMS at either 0.25 Hz or 0.5 Hz applied to the unaffected hemisphere provides effective treatment for enhancing the excitability of the motor cortex and the motor function of a paretic upper limb after stroke.Compared with others,the total number of stimulus pulse in 0.25 Hz subgroup was the least,and priority consideration should be given to the frequency of 0.25 Hz when using rTMS in clinical treatment of cerebral infarction.
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Objective To investigate the effects of mirror therapy supplemented with motor imaging training on the upper extremity functions of hemiplegic stroke patients and on their ability in the activities of daily living (ADL).Methods Forty-four stroke patients were divided into a control group and an experimental group with 22 patients in each.All were given routine rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the experimental group was given 30 minutes of mirror therapy daily supplemented with 15 minutes of motor imaging training.The control group was given routine occupational therapy.All the patients were assessed with Brunnstrom staging,the functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity-Hong Kong (FTHUE-HK) and the Barthel index (BI) scale before therapy and after 6 weeks.Results After 6 weeks of treatment,both groups showed significant improvements in upper limb function,hand function,and ADL ability.There were significant intra-group differences and significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of Brunnstrom staging,FTHUE-HK scores and BI scores.Conclusions Mirror therapy supplemented with motor imaging training can benefit patients suffering hemiplegia in improving their upper limb functioning and their ADL ability.