Serum secreted phosphoprotein 1 level is associated with plaque vulnerability in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Vulnerable plaque was associated with recurrent cardiovascular events. This study was designed to explore predictive biomarkers of vulnerable plaque in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: To reveal the phenotype-associated cell type in the development of vulnerable plaque and to identify hub gene for pathological process, we combined single-cell RNA and bulk RNA sequencing datasets of human atherosclerotic plaques using Single-Cell Identification of Subpopulations with Bulk Sample Phenotype Correlation (Scissor) and Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). We also validated our results in an independent cohort of patients by using intravascular ultrasound during coronary angiography. Results: Macrophages were found to be strongly correlated with plaque vulnerability while vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC), fibrochondrocyte (FC) and intermediate cell state (ICS) clusters were negatively associated with unstable plaque. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed that Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) in the turquoise module was highly correlated with both the gene module and the clinical traits. In a total of 593 patients, serum levels of SPP1 were significantly higher in patients with vulnerable plaques than those with stable plaque (113.21 [73.65 - 147.70] ng/ml versus 71.08 [20.64 - 135.68] ng/ml; P < 0.001). Adjusted multivariate regression analysis revealed that serum SPP1 was an independent determinant of the presence of vulnerable plaque. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve was 0.737 (95% CI 0.697 - 0.773; P < 0.001) for adding serum SPP1 in predicting of vulnerable plaques. Conclusion: Elevated serum SPP1 levels confer an increased risk for plaque vulnerability in patients with coronary artery disease.

Efficacy of Bleomycin-Lauromacrogol Foam in Pediatric Macrocystic Lymphatic Malformations With and Without Intracapsular Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Sclerotherapy is purportedly less effective in patients with hemorrhagic than with non-hemorrhagic lymphatic malformations (LMs). We aimed to compare the efficacy of bleomycin-lauromacrogol foam (BLF) sclerotherapy in the treatment of macrocystic LMs with and without intralesional hemorrhage. METHODS: Fifty-five children with macrocystic LMs admitted to the Pediatric Surgery Department were retrospectively included. The patients were allocated into a hemorrhage group (23 cases) or a non-hemorrhage group (32 cases) based on the occurrence of an intracapsular hemorrhage. The diagnosis was confirmed by physical examination, color ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and puncture findings. BLF was injected into the capsule after draining the cystic fluid under color ultrasound guidance. Patients whose lesions were unchanged or showed minor change after 1 month were treated again using the same method. Changes in lesion size and the number of treatments were recorded. Effectiveness was classified as excellent (volume reduction ≥90%), good (50%≤volume reduction<90%), or poor (volume reduction <50%). RESULTS: In the hemorrhage group, 17, 6, and 0 patients' outcomes were classified as excellent, good, and poor, respectively. The overall efficacy rate was 100%. In the non-hemorrhage group, 23, 7, and 2 patients' outcomes were classified as excellent, good, and poor, respectively. The overall efficacy rate was 93.8%. There was no significant difference in efficacy rate between groups (P = 0.767). CONCLUSIONS: BLF is an effective and safe treatment for macrocystic LMs with bleeding. The results were similar in patients with and without bleeding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Treatment, Level III.

NLRP3 activation in macrophages promotes acute intestinal injury in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages are involved in various immune inflammatory disease conditions. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of macrophages in regulating acute intestinal injury in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS: CD68, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), cysteine aspartate-specific protease-1 (caspase-1), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in paraffin sections of intestinal tissues from NEC and control patients were detected with immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blot. Hypertonic pet milk, hypoxia and cold stimulation were used to establish a mouse (wild type and Nlrp3-/-) model of NEC. The mouse macrophage (RAW 264.7) and rat intestinal epithelial cell-6 lines were also cultured followed by various treatments. Macrophages, intestinal epithelial cell injuries, and IL-1ß release were determined. RESULTS: Compared to the gut "healthy" patients, the intestinal lamina propria of NEC patients had high macrophage infiltration and high NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1ß levels. Furthermore, in vivo, the survival rate of Nlrp3-/- NEC mice was dramatically improved, the proportion of intestinal macrophages was reduced, and intestinal injury was decreased compared to those of wild-type NEC mice. NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1ß derived from macrophages or supernatant from cocultures of macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells also caused intestinal epithelial cell injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Macrophage activation may be essential for NEC development. NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1ß cellular signals derived from macrophages may be the underlying mechanism of NEC development, and all these may be therapeutic targets for developing treatments for NEC.

Case report: Catastrophic event: neonatal gastric perforation and complication of capillary leak syndrome.

Neonatal gastric perforation (NGP) is a rare, but life-threatening condition that can lead to serious conditions, such as capillary leak syndrome (CLS). Here, we present the case of a preterm male infant with NGP complicated by CLS after stomach repair. The patient was born at 33 2/7 weeks, weighed 1,770 g, and was diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome. On the fourth day of life, the patient presented with distention and an unstable cardiovascular system. Routine blood tests revealed a white blood cell count of 2.4 × 109/L. Chest and abdominal radiography revealed a pneumoperitoneum, suggesting a gastrointestinal perforation. The patient was urgently transferred to a tertiary hospital for exploratory laparotomy, where a 2 cm diameter perforation was discovered in the stomach wall and subsequently repaired. Pathological findings indicated the absence of a muscular layer in the stomach wall. The patient unexpectedly developed CLS postoperatively, leading to multiorgan dysfunction and eventual death. The underlying pathological mechanism of NGP-induced CLS may be related to severe chemical peritonitis, sepsis, endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction, enhanced systemic inflammation, and translocation of the gut microbiota, causing endothelial hyperpermeability. Notablely, abdominal surgery itself can be a significant triggering factor for CLS occurrence. Complications of NGP and CLS are extremely dangerous. Investigating the mechanism by which NGP triggers CLS could potentially improve the prognosis. Conservative treatment for pneumoperitoneum secondary to gastric perforation may be a reasonable option, especially when the condition of the patient is unstable.

DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity of New Phenolics from the Fermentation Broth of Mushroom Morehella importuna.

In recent years, wild morel mushroom species have begun to be widely cultivated in China due to their high edible and medicinal values. To parse the medicinal ingredients, we employed the technique of liquid-submerged fermentation to investigate the secondary metabolites of Morehella importuna. Two new natural isobenzofuranone derivatives (1-2) and one new orsellinaldehyde derivative (3), together with seven known compounds, including one o-orsellinaldehyde (4), phenylacetic acid (5), benzoic acid (6), 4-hydroxy-phenylacetic acid (7), 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (8), N,N'-pentane-1,5-diyldiacetamide (9), and 1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (10), were obtained from the fermented broth of M. importuna. Their structures were determined according to the data of NMR, HR Q-TOF MS, IR, UV, optical activity, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. TLC-bioautography displayed that these compounds possess significant antioxidant activity with the half DPPH free radical scavenging concentration of 1.79 (1), 4.10 (2), 4.28 (4), 2.45 (5), 4.40 (7), 1.73 (8), and 6.00 (10) mM. The experimental results would shed light on the medicinal value of M. importuna for its abundant antioxidants.

Laparoscopic approach for managing intussusception in children: Analysis of 65 cases.

BACKGROUND: Intussusception can be managed by pneumatic reduction, ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction, open or laparoscopic surgery, but laparoscopy in such cases remains controversial. AIM: To explore the clinical characteristics, effectiveness, and complications of surgical reduction for intussusception using laparoscopy in children. METHODS: This study was a retrospective case series of pediatric patients with intussusception who underwent surgical reduction by laparoscopy from May 2011 to April 2016 at Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province. Clinical characteristics (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, conversion rate of laparotomy, reasons for conversion, postoperative hospital stay, and adverse events) were described. RESULTS: The 65 patients included 45 boys and 20 girls. The average age was 2.3 years (27.5 ± 24.5 mo). Of the 65 patients, 61 underwent surgical reduction by laparoscopy after a failed enema reduction of intussusception, and four underwent the procedure directly. All patients were treated successfully and 57 (87.7%) patients underwent successful laparoscopic surgery, two of which had a spontaneous reduction. Among the remaining cases, one was converted to open surgery via right upper quadrant incision, and seven required enlarged umbilical incisions. Intestinal resection was performed in 5 patients because of abnormal bowel lesions. There were no complications (intestinal perforations, wound infections, or intestinal adhesions) during the follow-up of 3 years to 8 years. Two patients experienced a recurrence of intussusception; one was resolved with pneumatic reduction, and the other underwent a second laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic approach for pediatric intussusception is feasible and safe. Bowel resection if required can be performed by extending umbilical incision without the conventional laparotomy.

Single-Site Umbilical Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy Using a Pyloric Electrocoagulation Chisel Combined with a Left-Handed Main Operation for Congenital Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis.

Background: Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy has become a gold standard for the treatment of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS). There have been recent reports on the use of transumbilical single-site laparoscopic surgery for congenital HPS; however, using transumbilical single-site laparoscopic surgery in pediatric cases is still controversial due to the difficulty with manipulation. In this study, some preliminary experience with the application of a novel transumbilical single-site laparoscopic approach in congenital HPS is described. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 25 patients with congenital HPS treated in our hospital from August 2016 to August 2019. A pyloric electrocoagulation chisel combined with a left-handed main operation was completed in all of the patients and the operative times, postoperative length of stay, and operative complications were recorded. Results: The laparoscopic operation was completed in 25 patients with an average operative time of 21.9 ± 5.5 minutes, average postoperative length of stay of 2.5 ± 0.9 days, and no perforations of the pyloric mucosa, recurrent obstruction, surgical incision infections, and incision hernias. All of the patients had at least 3 months of follow-up, good growth and development, and the parents were satisfied with the postoperative scars. Conclusion: A pyloric electrocoagulation chisel combined with a left-handed main operation in the treatment of congenital HPS by a single-site umbilical laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is safe and effective, and can achieve a satisfactory cosmetic effect.

The Application of Pyloric chisel in the Treatment of Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis by Single-Site Umbilical Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy.

OBJECTIVE: The feasibility and perspective of pyloric chisel were discussed through the comparison of pyloric chisel and knife in the treatment of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in single-site umbilical laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (SSULP). METHODS: Fifty-eight cases of HPS treated in our hospital from February 2011 to March 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, in which 30 patients underwent pyloric chisel (Pyloric chisel Group) and 28 patients underwent knife (Knife Group). Operative time, estimated blood loss, and complications between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The operative time was shorter in Pyloric chisel Group than Knife Group (P < .05). The estimated blood loss was lower in Pyloric chisel Group than Knife Group (P < .05). The complication was less in Pyloric chisel Group than Knife Group (P < .05). There were 2 cases of mucosal perforations requiring conversions to open in Knife Group. Five cases of serous tearing occurred in the Knife Group. There was 1 case of serous tearing in the Pyloric chisel Group. All patients were followed up for 3 months, and there was no distinct scar in the umbilical. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were satisfied with no distinct scars in abdominal wall by pyloric chisel or knife to treat HPS in SSULP, but pyloric chisel is more effective and safer.

Intravitreous Delivery of Αb-Crystallin Ameliorates N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea Induced Photoreceptor Degeneration in Mice: An in vivo and ex vivo Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: αB -crystallin (αBC) belongs to the family of small heat shock proteins that are necessary for maintaining oxygen homeostasis. This study was designed to explore the possible effects of αBC on N-methyl- N-nitrosourea (MNU) induced retinal degeneration and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The αBC was injected into the vitreous bodies of MNU administered mice. The retinal morphology and visual function of experimental animals were analyzed by electroretinography (ERG), Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus photographs, optokinetic testing and immunohistochemistry assay. RESULTS: Optokinetic behavioural tests and ERG examination suggested that the visual impairments of the MNU administered mice were ameliorated effectively by αBC treatment. OCT analysis showed that the major retinal architecture of the MNU administered mice was efficiently rescued by αBC treatment. Fundus examination suggested that the lesion size of the MNU administered mice was decreased by αBC treatment. MNU induced photoreceptor loss was also mitigated by αBC treatment as shown by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In particular, the immunostaining study suggested that M-cone photoreceptors, rather than the S-cone photoreceptors, were preferentially rescued, indicating that the photoreceptor populations have different sensitivities to αBC. The mechanism study suggested that the anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative and neurotrophic function of αBC collectively contributed to these therapeutic effects. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal delivery of αBC could alleviate MNU induced photoreceptor degeneration and visual impairment. Further refinement of the αBC induced protection would afford a novel therapeutic strategy for retinitis pigmentosa.

The Comparative Efficiency of Intraperitoneal and Intravitreous Injection of Hydrogen Rich Saline against N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea Induced Retinal Degeneration: A Topographic Study.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a heterogeneous group of inherited retinal diseases leading to blindness. The present study explored the protective effects of hydrogen rich saline (HRS) against the photoreceptor degeneration in the N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) administrated rat, a pharmacologically induced RP model. The therapeutic effects of intraperitoneal (IP) and intravitreous (IV) injections of HRS on regional retina was quantified via topographic measurements. The MNU administrated rats received IV or IP injections of HRS, and then they were subjected to electroretinography, multi electrode array, histological and immunohistochemistry examinations. The concentrations of the retinal malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the mRNA levels of apoptotic-associated genes were quantified. The IP and IV delivery pathways of HRS were both effective to ameliorate MNU induced photoreceptor degeneration. Moreover, the IV acted as a more efficient delivery method than the IP in terms of therapeutic effects. Particularly, the topographic measurements suggested that the IV delivery of HRS could alleviate MNU induced photoreceptor degeneration in the posterior retina. The immunostaining experiments also verified the comparative efficiency between IV and IP delivery of HRS on regional cone photoreceptors. Focal cone photoreceptors showed different susceptibilities to HRS and exhibited as a distinct spatial disequilibrium: cone photoreceptors in the ST quadrant were preferentially rescued; meanwhile, HRS induced protection was feeblest in the IN quadrant. Furthermore, the HRS treatment increased the level of retinal SOD, while reduce the level of retinal MDA in MNU administered rats. The expression levels of sever apoptotic -associated genes were significantly altered by HRS treatment. Collectively, these findings suggest that the IV space is an excellent target for HRS delivery. The IV delivery of HRS can efficiently alleviate the photoreceptors (especially these locate at the posterior retina) from MNU toxicity and act as a candidate treatment for RP.

A clinical study of Timolol Maleate Eye Drops for the treatment of superficial infantile hemangiomas / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To dicuss the clinical efficacy of Timolol Maleate Eye Drops in the treatment of superficial infantile hemangiomas. Methods From April 2012 to May 2014, 210 patients with superficial infantile hemangiomas were included. According to the parents' choice, a total of 176 cases were treated with Timolol Maleate Eye Drops as the treatment group, and the 34 cases who received the treatment of "wait and see" was included in the control group. In the treatment group, the gauzes were dipped into the eye drops and putted evenly on the surface of the hemangioma, 3-4 times daily and lasted for more than 20 minutes. The gauze should completely cover the surface of the tumor. The follow-up periods were 3 weeks and 6 months after treatment with the pictures to record the treatment effect. The therapeutic effect was graded as: grade I (unable to control the growth of the hemangioma), II (the growth of the hemangioma stagnated), III (hemangioma significantly subsided), IV (the hemangioma completely disappeared). The effective rate included the cases with grade II and above grade II . The cure cases included the cases with grade IV. The data was analyzed with the statistical software SPSS 17.0 and the Chi-square test (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>3 cases in the treatment group showed eczema action. Tumor ulcer happened in 1 case in treatment group. The side effect rate was 2.3% . The results at 3 weeks following in the treatment group showed that the growth of the hemangioma were stagnated in 154 cases. The color of hemangioma became darker in different degrees than before, and the texture of the hemangioma became soft in majority of children, and the thickness of hemangioma became thinner in some cases. However, only 4 cases showed the hemangiomas were subsided, 18 cases showed the color of the part of the hemangiomas were brighter than before, and 12 cases of the hemangiomas remained original state in the control group. The results of 6 weeks following the treatment showed that 18 patients in the treatment group reached the standard of the grade IV, 84 patients reached the standard of the grade III, 60 patients achieved in the standard of grade II, and only 14 patients showed the volume of hemangiomas were increased as grade I. The effective rate was 58. 0% , and the cure rate was 10. 2% in treatment group. In control group, no children reached the standard of the grade IV, 4 cases reached the standard of grade III, 13 cases who remained original state reached the standard of grade II, and 17 cases showed the volume of hemangiomas continued to increase as grade I . The effective rate was 11. 8% , and the cure rate was 0. By comparison, the effective rate and the cure rate in the control group were relatively lower than those in the treatment group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The efficacy of Timolol Maleate Eye Drops in the treatment of superficial infantile hemangioma is exact, especially in the proliferative phase of the infantile hemangioma. It is safe and easy to perform with mild side effect. It should be selected as first-line treatment.</p>

Treatment of superficial infantile hemangiomas with timolol: Evaluation of short-term efficacy and safety in infants.

Timolol has been demonstrated to be efficacious in the topical treatment of superficial infantile hemangiomas (IHs). We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of timolol in the treatment of superficial IH in Chinese infants. From March to November 2012, 124 patients with superficial IHs were included in the prospective study. The patients were divided into two groups: treatment (101 patients, the timolol drops were administered on the surface of the lesions three times daily, and erythromycin ointment was applied around the lesions) and observation (23 patients, without treatment). The results were categorized into three grades: class 1 (ineffective), class 2 (controlled growth) and class 3 (promoted regression). Within one week of the initiation of timolol treatment, a number of the lesions became softer and lighter in color. Four months following the initiation of timolol treatment, the overall response was class 1 in eight patients (7.9%), class 2 in 36 patients (35.6%) and class 3 in 57 patients (56.4%). Complete tumor regression was observed in 12 patients. No adverse effects were recorded during the treatment period. Among the patients in the observation group, there were 15 class 1 patients (65.2%), seven class 2 patients (30.4%) and only one class 3 patient (4.3%). In conclusion, timolol is an effective and safe treatment for superficial IH. In addition, it may be used in the treatment of proliferative superficial IH, particularly in infants within 6 months of age.

Association analysis of the SOX10 polymorphism with Hirschsprung disease in the Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Hirschsprung disease (HSCR, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man 142623) is a typical developmental disorder of the enteric nervous system in which ganglion cells fail to innervate the lower gastrointestinal tract during embryonic development. SOX10 gene is involved in the normal development of the enteric nervous system. Heterozygous SOX10 mutations have been identified in patients with syndromic HSCR. However, no mutations have been reported to date to be associated to isolated HSCR patient. We thus sought to investigate whether mutations in the SOX10 are associated with isolated HSCR in the Chinese population. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing were used to screen 4 exons of the SOX10 gene for mutations and polymorphisms in 104 patients with sporadic HSCR and 96 ethnically matched controls in Han Chinese populations. RESULTS: In this study, 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified: SNP1: c.18C>T (GAC→GAT) in exon 2; SNP2: c.122G>T (GGC→GTC) in exon 2; SNP3: IVS2+10 (C→G) in intron 2; and SNP4: c.927T>C (CAT→CAC) in exon 4. SNP1 and SNP2 were novel described polymorphisms in the Chinese population. No SOX10 mutations were found in Han Chinese with isolated HSCR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that there was no association between the 4 SNPs of the SOX10 gene and HSCR. This study showed that the SOX10 gene is unlikely to be a major HSCR gene in the Chinese Han population.

[Angiotensin II induced cardiac hypertrophy is blocked by PTEN via suppressing Ca2+/Calcineurin pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of PTEN on Ang II induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and subsequent Ca(2+)/Calcineurin pathway changes. METHODS: Primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured and were treated with phosphate-buffered saline, empty adenovirus (Ad-GFP), or adenovirus encoding for PTEN (Ad-PTEN-GFP) for 48 h and Ang II (10(-7) mol/L) was added to the medium for another 24 h. Cells were harvested and intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)] i) was determined by Fura-2/AM ratio imaging analysis; PTEN, ANF, beta-MHC and CaNAbeta mRNA evaluated with RT-PCR; PTEN and CaNAbeta protein by Western blot; CaN phosphatase activity by CaN detecting kits. RESULTS: PTEN at mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in Ad-PTEN-GFP treated cardiomyocytes than that of Ad-GFP treated cardiomyocytes. Ang II stimulation upregulated [Ca(2+)] i, CaNAbeta at mRNA and protein levels and CaN phosphatase activity in Ad-GFP treated cardiomyocytes but not in Ad-PTEN-GFP treated cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac hypertrophy induced by Ang II could be blocked by PTEN overexpression via suppressing Ca(2+)/Calcineurin pathway.

[PTEN negatively regulates isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy and effects of captopril on PTEN expression].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the negative regulation role of PTEN in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by testing the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein and to explore the effects of captopril (Cap) on PTEN expression. METHODS: Twenty four rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, ISO group, and ISO+Cap group. The following parameters were examined:body weight (BW), heart weight (HW), left ventricular weight (LVW), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP) and +/- dp/dt(max). The ratio of HW/BW and LVW/BW was calculated. PTEN mRNA and protein were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the control group, the ratio of HW/BW and LVW/BW, LVEDP and LVESP were all increased in ISO group and ISO+Cap group (P < 0.05), but +/- dp/dt(max) was decreased (P < 0.05); (2) compared with the ISO group, the ratio of HW/BW and LVW/BW, LVEDP, LVESP were all decreased in ISO+Cap group (P < 0.05), but +/- dp/dt(max) was increased (P < 0.05); (3) compared with the control group, PTEN mRNA and protein were up-regulated in ISO group and ISO+Cap group; (4) compared with the ISO group, PTEN mRNA and protein were up-regulated in ISO+Cap group. CONCLUSIONS: PTEN mRNA and protein are up-regulated in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Captopril can up-regulate PTEN expression in cardiac hypertrophy. There is a negative regulative mechanism in cardiac hypertrophy process, in which PTEN is probably an endogenous negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy.

[The relationship between expressions of beta1-, beta2-, beta3-adrenoceptor mRNA of myocardium and cardiac function in patients with heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the alteration of expressions of beta(1)-, beta(2)-, beta(3)-adrenoceptor mRNA in human myocardial tissue and the relation between their expressions and cardiac function in patient with heart failure. METHODS: The mRNA expressions of beta(1)-, beta(2)- and beta(3)-adrenergic receptors in myocardial tissue were analyzed by using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in 24 patients with heart failure of valvular heart disease and 5 control subjects. RESULTS: Beta(1)-adrenergic receptor mRNA expressions in myocardium were significantly lower in patients with heart failure than those in control subjects, and progressively reduced with aggravation of heart function. By contrast, beta(3)-adrenoceptor mRNA expressions were significantly higher in patients with heart failure than those in controls, and progressively elevated with aggravation of cardiac function. No difference was observed in beta(2)-adrenergic receptor among all groups. CONCLUSION: The changes of beta-adrenergic receptor mRNA expression are associated with the severity of heart failure.

[CaN-NFAT3 signal pathway: a crucial hinge relates Ca2+ signal with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of [Ca2+]i from different origins in the course of myocardial hypertrophy mediated by CaN-NFAT3 signal transduction. METHODS: The primarily cultured cardiomyocyte were irritated with angiotensin (Ang) II and ryanodine (RY) which cause Ca2+ inflow and release respectively. Then to observe the changes of CaN-NFAT3 pathway were then observed. Western blotting was employed to semi-quantify CaN, NFAT3 and GATA4. The distribution of NFAT3 was shown with immunocytochemistry, (3)H-Leu incorporation was used as an index of myocyte hypertrophy. Cyclosporin A (CsA) was applied to restrain CaN-NFAT3 pathway as a kind of CaN-selective antagonist. RESULTS: CaN, NFAT3, GATA4 expression significantly increased 1 and 3 days after the stimulation of cardiomyocytes with Ang II and RY (10(-7) mol/L) as compared with that of a control group (P > 0.05) and (3)H-Leu incorporation distinctly increased after Ang II and RY (10(-7) mol/L) stimulation (P > 0.05 versus control group). On the first day of Ang II and RY stimulation, NFAT3 was shown mainly as intra-nuclear expression rather than cytoplasmic expression as seen in the control group. All of the above effects were suppressed by CsA administration, but they were rarely suppressed if CsA was not administered (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is shown that both Ca2+ inflow and release may activate CaN-NFAT3 signal pathway, which responds to increase of [Ca2+]i and is independent of its origin, indicating the augment of [Ca2+]i may trigger CaN-NFAT3 signal transduction and consequently induce myocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, CsA may restrain the expression and activation of CaN-NFAT3 and protein synthesis of myocytes in response to Ang II and RY stimulation.