Astragaloside IV improves podocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by high glucose and inhibits Notch pathway activation / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To investigate the protection of astragaloside IV from high glucose induced podocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction and its molecular mechanisms. 【Methods】 The model of podocyte injury induced by high glucose (30 mmol/L glucose) was established, and the model cells were treated with low, medium and high doses of astragaloside IV respectively; cell activity was detected by CCK-8. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 fluorescence probe. ATP content was detected by the kit. The expression levels of apoptosis and podocyte injury related proteins and Notch pathway related proteins were detected by Western blotting. 【Results】 Compared with the control group, cell activity was decreased, apoptosis level was increased (P<0.05), anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl2) expression was decreased, and apoptosis protein (Bax, cleaved-caspase 9, cleaved-caspase 3) expressions were increased (all P<0.05) in HG group. Compared with HG group, HG+AS-IV improved cell activity and apoptosis level induced by high glucose (P<0.05), increased expression of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl2), and decreased expressions of apoptotic protein (Bax, cleaved-caspase 9, and cleaved-caspase 3) (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, mitochondrial dysfunction occurred in HG group, JC-1 monomer content increased, and ATP content decreased (all P<0.05). Compared with HG group, HG+AS-IV improved mitochondrial dysfunction, increased JC-1 polymer content and ATP content (P<0.05). In addition, compared with the control group, the expression of Notch pathway-related protein was decreased in HG group (P<0.05). Compared with HG group, Notch pathway-related protein expression was increased in HG+AS-IV group (all P<0.05). Molecular docking results showed that AS-IV could bind Notch1. 【Conclusion】 Astragaloside IV can improve podocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by high glucose, possibly by inhibiting Notch pathway activation.

Clinical Application of Whole Aorta and Coronary CT Angiography Combined with Low Radiation Dose, Low Contrast Medium Injection Rate and Dose Protocol / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective] To investigate the clinical value of using prospective ECG-gating Helical protocol in whole aorta and coronary arteries CT angiography combined with low tube voltage,low contrast medium injection rate and dose technology.[Methods]A total of 60 patients (heart rate≤ 75 bpm and normal heart rhythm) with suspected aortic disease or post-operation were randomly divided into 2 groups:G1 (n =30;tube voltage:80 kV;contrast medium injection rate:3 mL/s;contrast medium dose:0.65 mL/kg)and G2 (n =30;tube voltage:120 kV;contrast medium injection rate:4 mL/s;contrast medium dose:1.2 mL/kg).The two groups underwent aorta angiography with prospective ECG-gating Helical protocol by using 320-detector CT.The mean CT values and standard deviation of aorta,coronaries and adjacent adipose tissue were measured,signal to noise ratio (signal-to-noise ratio,SNR)and contrast to noise ratio (contrast-to-noise ratio,CNR) were calculated.The subjective quality scoring of 3-d post-processing images were evaluated independently by 2 senior radiologists.The mean CT values and standard deviation of aorta,coronaries and adipose tissue,SNR,CNR,subjective quality scoring,contrast medium dose and radiation dose were compared and analyzed.[Results] The abnormal and normal rate of aorta in two groups were 83.33％ (25/30),16.67％ (5/30) and 86.67％ (26/30),13.33％(4/30);while the abnormal and normal rate of coronary arteries in two groups were 43.33％ (13/30),56.67％ (17/30) and 53.33％(16/30),46.67％ (14/30).SNR values of ascending aorta,descending aorta,abdominal aorta,superior mesenteric artery,bilateral renal artery,left main coronary artery,left anterior descending branch,left circumflex branch,right coronary artery and CNR values of abdominal aorta,superior mesenteric artery,bilateral renal artery,left anterior descending branch,left circumflex branch had no statistical significance,while the other indicators were significant differences between the two groups.The radiation dose and the contrast medium dose of G1 was significantly lower than G2 (P ＜ 0.05).There was no difference in the subjective image quality of 3D post-processing images between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).[Conclusions] Using prospective ECG-gating Helical protocol in whole aorta and coronary arteries CT angiography combined with low tube voltage,low contrast medium injection rate and low contrast medium dose technology can help to reduce radiation and contrast medium dose without impacting on the imaging quality satisfactorily.

Species identification of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex by matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the ability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-offlight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in identifying species of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex,and investigate the species distribution of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex isolated in our hospital.Methods A total of 502 nonduplicate clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex were retrospectively collected from the second affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University between January 2012 and July 2012.All strains were re-identified by MALDI-TOF MS and were also verified by sequence analysis of 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer region.Results Among all the 502 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex,identificaion results provided by MALDI-TOF MS were A.baumannii (431,85.9％),A.pittii (68,13.5％),A.calcoaceticus (3,0.6％).Sequence analysis of 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer region was used to identify all the 502 strains:403 (80.3％) were identified as A.baumannii,68 (13.5％) as A.pittii,28 (5.6％) as A.nosocomialis and 3 (0.6％) as A.calcoaceticus.MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified all the strains but erroneously identified all 28 strains of A.nosocomialis as A.baumannii,compared with sequence analysis of 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer region.Conclusions MALDI-TOF MS can be used as a fast,simple,reliable and excellently reproducible method to identify members of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex at low costs.MALDI-TOF MS is expected to be an ideal technique for routine clinical microbiology testing in the future.

The relationship between endothelial microparticles in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction and myocardial injury / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To observe the level of circulating CD31 +/CD42b-endothelial microparticles in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI),and discuss the correlation between CD31 +/CD42b-and traditional myocardial injury index.Methods A total of 22 healthy subjects and 44 patients with angiographically confirmed coronary atherosclerotic lesions collected from January 2010 to December 2010 were studied prospectively.The patients were divided into SAP (stable angina pectoris,Canadian Cardiovascular Society,CCS Ⅱ to Ⅲ ) group (n =22) and STEMI group (n =22).The level of circulating CD31 +/CD42b-endothelial microparticles was detected by flow cytometric device after admission; creatine kinase (CK) and its isoenzymes (CK-MB) were detected by using biochemical analyzer; C-reactive protein was determined by a highly sensitive latex-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay with a low detection limit of 0.25 mg/dl (IMMAGE,Beckman Coulter; Reagent from Orion Diagn Co.Ltd.,Vantaa,Finland).Cardiac troponin I was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay (ACCESS2 from Beckman Coulter).In 22 STEMI patients,blood sample was taken not only after admission but subsequently at 4-hour intervals during the first 48 hours.Peak levels of myocardial enzymes after injury ( creatine kinase,CK; creatine kinase MB isoenzyme,CK-MB; c troponins I,cTnI) and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) values were determined.The correlation between circulating level of CD31 +/CD42b(-) and peak levels of myocardial biomarkers after injury were analyzed.Results The endothelial micro-particles were significantly higher in STEMI patients than those in either SAP group or normal group ( P ＜ 0.01 ),whereas there was no difference between the latter two groups.In STEMI patients studied in these cross sectional study,circulating CD31 +/CD42b-microparticles were positively correlated with peak level of myocardial biomarkers after injury.Moreover,the correlations between myocardial biomarkers after injury ( CK,CK-MB,cTnl and hs-CRP) and circulating CD31 +/CD42b-microparticles were r =0.489,P =0.021; r =0.501,P=0.018; r=0.491,P=0.02; r=0.612,P=0.002.Conclusions The level of circulating blood CD31 +/CD42b-endothelial micro-particle was expected to become a predictive marker in STEMI.

Clinical research on the effect of hyperbaric oxygen for insulin resistance in diabetes complicated with acute cerebral infarction / 中国医师进修杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in treatment of diabetes complicated with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and its effect on insulin resistance (IR).Methods One hundred and twenty-eight patients with diabetes complicated with ACI were divided into control group and treatment group with 64 cases each by table of random digit.The control group was treated with routine medication,while the treatment group was treated with HBO besides routine medication.The two groups were treated for 14 days.The neural function defect degree score,fasting blood glucose(FPG),fasting insulin (FINS) and insulin action index(IAI) were assessed before and after treatment in each group.Correlation between the difference value of IAI and neural function defect degree score was analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis.ResultsThe total effective rates in treatment group and control group were 87.50％ (56/64) and 70.31％(45/64) respectively,with a significant difference between two groups (P＜ 0.05).IAI after treatment in control group and treatment group showed significant difference compared with that before treatment(P＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ),but IAI after treatment in treatment group and control group had significant difference (-4.03 ± 0.51 vs.-4.22 ± 0.55,P ＜ 0.05).There was negative correlation between the difference value ofIAI and neural function defect degree score(r =-0.696,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionHBO may increase the clinical efficacy in treatment of diabetes complicated with ACI,and also it improves IR significantly.

Rapid diagnosis of acute dyspnea using the combined test of NT-pro-BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction / 中国综合临床

Objective To investigate the value of N-termind pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-pro-BNP)in differential diagnosis of dyspnea in emergency department, and to investigate the rapid diagnosis cutoff of dyspnea due to acute congestive heart failure. Methods Ninety. one cases of dyspnea in emergency department recruited from January to June ,2008 were divided into two groups: acute cardiac dyspnea group and none acute cardiac dyspnea group. To evaluate the value of different parameters in differential diagnosis of dyspnea in emergency department and analysis the area under the receiver-operating characteristic of different parameters for the diagnosis of acute cardiac dyspnea. To achieve the best cutoff of different parameters for the diagnosis of dyspnea due to acute congestive heart failure finally. Results Among two groups, NT-pro-BNP (acute cardiac dyspnea vs. none acute cardiac dyspnea,6203.50 ng/L vs. 1410.00 ng/L,P ＜ 0.01), Troponin Ⅰ (acute cardiac dyspnea vs. none acute cardiac dyspnea,0.12 μg/L vs. 0.03 μg/L,P ＜0.01) ,left ventricular ejection fraction(acute cardiac dyspnea vs. none acute cardiac dyspnea,46.25% vs. 65.60%, P ＜ 0.01), left atrial diameter (acute cardiac dyspnea vs. none acute cardiac dyspnea,42.75 mm vs. 36.00 mm,P ＜0.01) had significant difference. NT-pro-BNP at cutoff of ≥3715 ng/L was highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of acute cardiac dyspnea. Receiver-operating characteristic analyses demonstrated that NT-pro-BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction was the best diagnostic indices of acute cardiac dyspnea. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of Nt-pro-BNP was 0.828 ± 0.045 (P ＜ 0.01),and left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.829 ± 0.049 (P ＜ 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that NT-pro-BNP was correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (P ＜ 0.01). The combined test of NT-pro-BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction was performed. Specificity increased to 96.50%, total consistent rate increased to 83.50% ,positive predictive value increased to 91.30%, positive likelihood ratio 17.60, faulse diagnostic rate decreased to 3.50%. Conclusions NT-pro-BNP examination in emergency department was helpful to rapid differential diagnosis of dyspnea. It helped to differentiate the patients with acute congestive heart failure and none acute congestive heart failure causes of dyspnea.

CT diagnosis of cardiac rhabdomyoma in childhood / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the CT findings of cardiac rhabdomyoma in childhood. Methods Five children with cardiac rhabdomyoma confirmed by operation was retrospectively analysed. Enhanced electron beam CT (EBCT) was performed in 4 children and enhanced 64-slice helical CT (MSCT) scan was performed in 1 infant. Three dimensional reconstruction was applied for the full display of the lesions based on the transverse section images. Results ( 1 ) Multiple masses or nodules originated from atrioventricular septum were observed in 4 children including 1 nodule from the anterior walls of the left and right ventricles. A mass was derived from the mitral valve in 1 infant (2) The CT value of the lesions after enhancement ranged from 80 to 180 HU and was similar to neighbouring left ventricular myocardium. (3) The ventricular outlet obstruction was found in 3 children including 1 infant with pericardial effusion and pulmonary inflamation of the right lower lobe. Conclusion The rhabdomyoma should be considered first when masses or nodules originated from atrioventricular septum and with the enhancement similar to neigbouring left ventricular myocardium in children.

A clinical analysis of the inducing factors in 221 emergency cases with acute left heart failure / 中国实用内科杂志

Objective To analyze inducing factors of acute left heart failure(AHF) of emergency case.Methods According to different age and gender,the inducing factors of AHF of 211 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results Infection(42.99%) was the most important inducing factors of AHF in all the four age-groups,but as for patients elder 80,the arrhythmias was also play an important part in inducing factors of AHF.The difference of inducing factors was found among the four age-groups.but the difference of inducing factors was not found between the two gender-groups. Conclusion Since the most important inducing factors of AHF of emergency case was infection,anti-infectives is important for preventing and controlling AHF.