Diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasonography in the persistent sciatic vein / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To study the clinical value of color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of persistent sciatic vein(PSV).Methods:A retrospective study was performed on 17 patients who were diagnosed with PSV by color Doppler ultrasound in the Second Hospital of Shandong University and the Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from May 2010 to December 2021. Their sonographic features were analyzed, summarized and classified.Results:In all the 17 cases, the sciatic vein showed a vein adjacent to the sciatic nerve in the pelvis or back of the thigh. According to anatomy, persistent sciatic vein could be divided into three types: complete PSV, upper PSV and lower PSV. There were 7 cases of complete PSV, 2 cases of upper PSV and 8 cases of lower PSV. Femoral vein dysplasia was found in 11 of 17 patients with PSV. In addition to 1 case of bilateral PSV, the diameter of the femoral vein on the affected side was (0.36±0.19)cm in 16 cases, and the diameter of femoral vein at the corresponding position on the healthy side was (0.61±0.11)cm, there was significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Color Doppler ultrasonography is the effective imaging method for diagnosis of the PSV.

Cytotoxic Activities of 9,10-seco-Cycloartane-Type Triterpenoids from the Chinese Liverwort Lepidozia reptans.

Ten new triterpenoids, including nine 9,10-seco-cycloartanes (1-9) and one 9,19-cyclolanostane (10), as well as one sesquiterpenoid (11) and four known compounds (12-15), were extracted and purified from the whole plant of the Chinese liverwort Lepidozia reptans. Multiple techniques (NMR, HRESIMS, IR, and X-ray crystallographic analysis) were applied to determine the structures of the isolated compounds. Bioassay determinations showed that compound 7, which contains an α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl moiety in its structure, inhibited the growth of a panel of cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 4.2 ± 0.2 to 5.7 ± 0.5 µM. Further investigation revealed that compound 7 induces PC-3 cell death via mitochondrial-related apoptosis.

The analysis of MRI findings and prognosis in meconium peritonitis prenatal / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To discuss the prenatal MRI features and the fetal outcomes of meconium peritonitis (MP).Methods The clinical data of 23 cases with MP were collected.The prenatal MRI features and fetal outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.Results Prenatal MRI features included meconium peritonitis pseudo-cyst (9/23,39.1%),fetal ascites (23/23,100.0%),bowel dilatation (9/23,39.1%), meconium leakage (3/23,13.0%),scrotal effusion (2/23,8.7%)and polyhydramnios (2/23,8.7%).Of the 23 fetuses,2 were induced and 2 1 were delivered.In 2 1 neonates,7 cases received surgical treatment,1 3 cases received conservative treatment and 1 case was dead due to treatment refusal of the family.Neonates with bowel dilatation and meconium leakage all underwent surgery,neonates with meconium peritonitis pseudo-cyst and fetal ascites underwent conservative treatment,and the rate of operation was 100%,100%,22.2% and 35.0%,respectively. Conclusion Prenatal MRI findings of MP are characteristic.Bowel dilatation,meconium leakage,growing meconium peritonitis pseudo-cyst and meconium peritonitis pseudo-cyst connectted with adjacent intestine are highly suggestive of early surgical intervention in neonate.

Correlative study between the typing of MSCT and prognosis in infant with interstitial pneumonia / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between the typing of MSCT and prognosis in infant with interstitial pneumonia (IP).Methods MSCT features of 44 infants with IP were analyzed retrospectively and classified according to the pathological pro-gress.The relationship between the MSCT typing and clinical prognosis was statistically analyzed.Results The result of the MSCT typing was as follows:the exudation in 22 cases,the proliferation in 18 cases and the ruin in 4 cases.There was significant difference for the clinical prognosis among the different MSCT groups (P＜0.01 ).And there was a significant correlation between the MSCT typing and clinical prognosis (r＝0.784,P＜0.01).The prognosis of the exudation type was better than the proliferation type,and both of them were better than the ruin type.Conclusion Based on the MSCT features,MSCT typing reveals the inflammatory patho-logical process of the infant IP,which plays an important role in treatment options decision and prognosis prediction.

Application of PDCA cycle in the hospital management of multidrug-resistant organisms / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To analyze the change in isolation rates of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) before and after adopting plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle method for management of MDROs. Methods Bacterial culture specimen submission and isolation of MDROs in a tertiary first-class hospital before the implementation of PDCA cycle (January 2013-December 2014) and after implementation of PDCA cycle (January 2015-December 2016) were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 14 889 specimens were sent for detection before the implementation of PDCA cycle, 6 345 strains were isolated, 650 of which were MDROs, isolation rate of MDROs was 10. 24％; after the implementation of PDCA cycle, 17 856 specimens were sent for detection, 7 568 strains were isolated, 476 were MDROs, isolation rate of MDROs was 6.29％; difference in MDRO detection rate before and after the implementation of PDCA was statistically significant (X2=72.567, P＜0.001). After Cochran-Armitage trend test, the isolation rates of MDROs in 2013-2016 showed a decreased trend (Z= - 7.8856). The amount and cost of hand hygiene products have increased. Conclusion By carrying out PDCA cycle for MDROs management, the isolation rate of MDROs in hospital is reduced. PDCA cycle management method can effectively promote the continuous quality improvement of hospital MDROs management.

Clinical characteristics and etiology analysis of 223 children undergoing colonoscopy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and etiology in infants undergoing colonoscopy in order to improve the understandings of lower gastrointestinal tract diseases and their endoscopic manifestations.Methods The clinical and endoscopic data of the infants aged ≤ 3 years old who underwent conoloscopy at the Department of Gastroenterology,Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University,from July 2010 to December 2014,were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 223 children were included,148 male and 75 female.The age range was from 26 d to 3 years old(＜6 months:41 cases;6-12 months:68 cases;1-3 years old:114 cases).Results A total of 235 colonoscopies were performed under deep sedation by single or double manipulators.Cecal intubation was successful in 192 colonoscopies and terminal ileal intubation was completed in 29 colonoscopies,with a high success rate of 94.0％ (221/235 colonoscopies).The main symptoms included hematochezia (124 cases,55.6％),persistent/chronic diarrhea (55 cases,24.7％),hematochezia with chronic diarrhea(22 cases,9.5％),and others(22 cases,9.5％).Of the 223 patients,clear diagnosis were established for 215 children (96.4％),with food protein-induced proctocolitis (FPIPC) (78/223 cases,35.0％),colonic polyps (50/223 cases,22.4％),colitis (29/223 cases,13.0％),antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) (19/223 cases,8.5％),FPIPC with AAD (10/223 cases,4.5％).Conclusions Colonoscopy serves as a very important tool for the accurate diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal diseases with hematochezia and/or chronic diarrhea.FPIPC and colonic polyps are the most common causes for hematochezia and/or chronic diarrhea.AAD may be another important cause of chronic diarrhea and bloody stool in infants.Moreover,ghe application of colonoscopy in combination with histopathology can also play an important role in the diagnosis of some rare diseases,such as intestinal tuberculosis,primary intestinal lymphangiectasia,Behcet's disease and primary immunodeficiency disease.

Drug resistance of colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil mediated by microRNA-21 / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE To explore downstream regulatory pathway of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in colon cancer cells (RKO) through detecting miR-21 and its target PDCD4, and the influence of miR-21 regulation on the sensitivity of RKO cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the effect of 5-FU on the viability of RKO cells with knockout of miR-21 or high expression of PDCD4. Real-time was used to determine the expression of PDCD4, ABCC5 and CD44 in RKO cell after knockout of miR-21. RESULTS MTT assay reveals that the IC50 of 5-FU in RKO-WT cells (52.82 ± 0.06 umol/L) was about 67% higher than in miR-21 knockout cells (32.23 ± 0.05 umol/L) (P < 0.05), and the apoptosis ratio elevated after knockout of miR-21. High expression of PDCD4, a target gene of miR-21, can negatively regulate the expression of ABC transporter ABCC5 and the stem cell marker CD44. CONCLUSION MiR-21 can mediate the drug resistance to 5-FU by inhibiting its target PDCD4, which can regulate the expression of ABCC5 and CD44 genes.

Stathmin for promoting cell proliferation and invasion ability in human SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 重庆医学

Objective To construct the stable stathmin-overexpression SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and to explore the effect of stathmin-overexpression on the cell proliferation and metastasis in SMMC-7721 cells .Methods By using liposome , Flag-pcDNA3 .1 and Flag-pcDNA3 .1-stathmin plasmid were transfected into SMMC-7721 cells respectively ,the stable Flag-pcD-NA3 .1 expression cells(control group) and the stable stathmin-overexpression cells(experimental group) were established after an-tibiotic resistant gene screening ,and the cell lines were identified by Western Blot .Subsequently ,the cell proliferation was detected by cell count kit(CCK-8) and the soft agar assay ,the apoptosis and cell cycle were determined by the flow cytometry (FCM ) ,and the cell motility and invasion were analyzed by the Transwell assay in vitro .Results The stathmin protein expression of the experi-mental group was significantly increased compared with the control group (0 .76 ± 0 .12 vs .0 .16 ± 0 .05 ,P<0 .05) ,which indicated that the stathmin-overexpression human SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line was successfully constructed .CCK-8 and the soft agar assay showed that the cell proliferation of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (0 .29 ± 0 .03 vs .0 .60 ± 0 .05 ,P< 0 .01);additionally ,the apoptotic ratio of the experimental group was decreased compared with the control group[(11 .57 ± 1 .09)% vs .(5 .80 ± 0 .33)% ,P<0 .05] ,the cell cycle was arrested in the stage G2/M ;the Transwell experiment results verified that the cell motility and the invasive ability of the experimental group were obviously reinforced compared with the control group[transmenbrane cell numbers in migrant assay :(54 .03 ± 7 .21) vs .(130 .45 ± 14 .13);transmenbrane cell numbers in invasive assay :(17 .75 ± 2 .52) vs .(57 .76 ± 8 .50) respectively] ,the differences had statistical significance(P<0 .01) .Conclusion The overexpression of stathmin promotes the cell proliferation and the invasive ability in SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cells .

[Health assessment of Qi'ao Island mangrove wetland ecosystem in Pearl River Estuary].

Based on the theories of wetland ecosystem health and by using "Pressure-State-Response" model, a health assessment indicator system for Qi' ao Island mangrove wetland ecosystem in Pearl River Estuary was built, and the assessment indices, assessment criteria, indices weighted values, assessment grades, and assessment methods were established to assess the health state of this ecosystem. In 2008, the overall health index of this ecosystem was 0.6580, health level was of grade II (healthy), and the pressure, state, and response indices were 0.3469, 0.8718, and 0.7754, respectively, suggesting that this ecosystem was good in state and response, but still had definite pressure. As a provincial nature reserve, this ecosystem was to be further improved in its health level. However, the research on the health assessment of mangrove wetland ecosystem was still young. Further studies should be made on the selection of assessment indices, long-term oriented monitoring of these indices, and quantification of the relations between ecosystem health level and ecosystem services.

[Clinical characteristics of and related treatments on 1004 patients with acute myocardial infarction from March 2004 to March 2007].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of baseline clinical characteristics including prehospital delayed time (PDT), modes of transportation and treatment for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the past 3 years. METHODS: We used the same questionnaire to accurately collect and retrospectively analyze the data regarding clinical characteristics of all 1004 patients with AMI, who consecutively presented to the Emergency Unit and Emergency Intensive Care Unit (EICU) of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from March 12th 2004 to March 11th 2007. According to the time of onset of the disease, all patients were divided into 3 groups: group A (from Mar. 12th 2004 to Mar. 11th 2005), group B (Mar. 12th 2005 to Mar 11th 2006) and group C (Mar. 12th 2006 to Mar. 11th 2007). Clinical characteristics and treatment were compared. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the number of patients with histories of stroke, coronary artery disease or smoking among the three groups (P < 0.05). No obvious differences in the median of PDT were found among the three groups (P > 0.05). More patients accepted reperfusive therapy in group C compared to group A (P < 0.05), although the mortality rates of AMI among these 3 years were similar. CONCLUSION: Though more people started to have accepted reperfusion therapy, mortality failed to show an obvious decrease. Subject as how to shorten the PDT called for further study.

Clinical characteristics of and related treatments on 1004 patients with acute myocardial infarction from March 2004 to March 2007 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the change of baseline clinical characteristics including prehospital delayed time(PDT),modes of transportation and treatment for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)in the past 3 years.Methods We used the same questionnaire to accurately collect and retrospectively analyze the data regarding clinical characteristics of all 1004 patients with AMI,who consecutively presented to the Emergency Unit and Emergency Intensive Care Unit(EICU)of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from March 12th 2004 to March 11th 2007.According to the time of onset of the disease,all patients were divided into 3 groups:group A(from Mar.12th 2004 tO Mar.11th 2005),group B(Mar.12th 2005 to Mar 11th 2006)and group C(Mar.12th 2006 to Mar.11th 2007).Clinieal characteristics and treatment were compared.Results There were significant differences in the number of patients with histories of stroke,coronary artery disease or smoking among the three groups(P＜0.05).No obvious differences in the median of PDT were found among the three groups(P＞0.05).More patients accepted reperfusive therapy in group C compared to group A(P＜0.05),although the mortality rates of AMI among these 3 years were similar.Conclusion Though more people started to have accepted reperfusion therapy,mortality failed to show an obvious decrease.Subject as how tO shorten the PDT called for further study.

Sequential defunctionalization followed by thyroxine supplementation as preoperative preparation of hyperthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Preparing hyperthyroid patients for thyroid surgery with a combination of antithyroid drugs and thyroxine has long been controversial because this combination usually results in only partial inhibition of thyroid function. We therefore used large doses of antithyroid drugs to completely inhibit the synthesis of thyroxine and render the thyroid gland defunctionalized. We then administered physiologic doses of thyroxine to inhibit thyroid-stimulating hormone secretion. We have named this treatment "sequential thyroid defunctionalization followed by thyroxine supplementation."</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four hundred and seventy-one hyperthyroid patients seen at our hospital were divided into experimental and control groups. The control group was treated preoperatively with antithyroid drugs and iodine preparation. The experimental group was further divided into four subgroups and treated with "sequential thyroid defunctionalization followed by thyroxine supplementation". Each of the four subgroups received different doses of antithyroid drugs and thyroxine for differing time periods. Thyroid function was assessed at each stage of treatment, as were operative blood loss volumes and postoperative complications.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the control group, the four experimental groups showed less thyroid congestion and surface varices at surgery. Patients in subgroup A also had thyroid glands that were almost histologically normal. The mean operative blood loss volume of the experimental group was less than that of the control group (326 +/- 163) ml in the control group; (196 +/- 57) ml in subgroup A; (230 +/- 71) ml in subgroup B; (240 +/- 80) ml in subgroup C; and (312 +/- 97) ml in subgroup D). The postoperative complication rate of the experimental group was 8.64% (21/243) whereas that of the control group was 17.54% (40/228).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sequential thyroid defunctionalization followed by thyroxine supplementation is effective in reducing the bleeding volume and postoperative complication rate in selected hyperthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy.</p>

[Clinical implications of relationship between myeloperoxidase and acute coronary syndromes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical implications of relationship between myeloperoxidase and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: 176 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for coronary atherosclerosis were divided into four groups according to the quartile of MPO Level. The characters and the relationship between MPO and the elements were studied in every group. RESULTS: (1) ACS rate (36.2%) in the fourth quartile group of MPO level was 6 times higher than that (5.2%) in the first quartile group of MPO level, P < 0.01. (2) Gensini score (65.6 +/- 30.3) in the fourth quartile group of MPO level was significantly higher than that (17.3 +/- 10.2) in the first quartile group (P < 0.01). WBC [(7.7 +/- 1.6) x 10(9)/L] in the fourth quartile group was also significantly higher than that [(6.6 +/- 1.8) x 10(9)/L] in the first quartile group, P < 0.05. (3) When TnI < or = 0.05 ng/ml, MPO level had a positive correlation with Gensini score (r = 0.321, P = 0.002) and WBC (r = 0.230, P = 0.025). (4) Kaplan-meier event rate curve showed that there was a significant difference of the terminus incident (death, no causing death AMI, vessel reestablish and incidence rate of CABG add up) between the groups > or = 62.9 AUU/L and < 62.9 AUU/L of MPO serum level at 6-month follow-up visit (chi(2) = 13.5, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Activity level of MPO in human serum seems a good biomarker for diagnosing and predicting ACS, which may be especially helpful in predicting the risk of myocardial infarction in patients with acute chest pain during 6-month follow up.

Trans-coronary transplantation may be an optimal route in cellular cardiomyoplasty with stem cells.

Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of congestive heart failure and death in the industrialized world. However, the intrinsic repair mechanism of the injured heart and current therapeutic means are inadequate to regenerate lost myocardium. Recent interests focused on cellular cardiomyoplasty which is an outside intervention to support the reparative process in the heart through transplantation of stem/progenitor cells. Cellular myocardioplasty with stem cells is a possible option to reverse the adverse hemodynamic and neurohormonal imbalance after myocardial infarction. Experimental studies and clinical trials suggest that cellular cardiomyoplasty with stem/progenitor cells may improve cardiac function and prevent ventricular remodeling of the injured heart. Although the mechanisms are still in intensive debate, cellular cardiomyoplasty with stem cells has already been introduced into the clinical settings. However, it is an important challenge how donor cells are delivered to the targeted area. In early studies in animals, intramyocardial injection of stem cells after thoracotomy is the main transplantation route which is not suitable to most patients in clinical settings. Then the catheter-based infusion of stem cells is clinically introduced and rapidly developed because of its safety, convenience and micro-invasion. We hypothesize that catheter-based transplantation with stem cells may be a promising means to treat ischemic heart diseases in the future in clinical settings.

Clinical implications of relationship between myeloperoxidase and acute coronary syndromes / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical implications of relationship between myeloperoxidase and acute coronary syndromes (ACS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>176 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for coronary atherosclerosis were divided into four groups according to the quartile of MPO Level. The characters and the relationship between MPO and the elements were studied in every group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) ACS rate (36.2%) in the fourth quartile group of MPO level was 6 times higher than that (5.2%) in the first quartile group of MPO level, P < 0.01. (2) Gensini score (65.6 +/- 30.3) in the fourth quartile group of MPO level was significantly higher than that (17.3 +/- 10.2) in the first quartile group (P < 0.01). WBC [(7.7 +/- 1.6) x 10(9)/L] in the fourth quartile group was also significantly higher than that [(6.6 +/- 1.8) x 10(9)/L] in the first quartile group, P < 0.05. (3) When TnI < or = 0.05 ng/ml, MPO level had a positive correlation with Gensini score (r = 0.321, P = 0.002) and WBC (r = 0.230, P = 0.025). (4) Kaplan-meier event rate curve showed that there was a significant difference of the terminus incident (death, no causing death AMI, vessel reestablish and incidence rate of CABG add up) between the groups > or = 62.9 AUU/L and < 62.9 AUU/L of MPO serum level at 6-month follow-up visit (chi(2) = 13.5, P = 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Activity level of MPO in human serum seems a good biomarker for diagnosing and predicting ACS, which may be especially helpful in predicting the risk of myocardial infarction in patients with acute chest pain during 6-month follow up.</p>

[Upregulation of adrenomedullin system in left ventricular hypertrophy of severe hypertension rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathophysiological role of the cardiac adrenomedullin (AM) system, including the ligand and amidating activity in the hypertrophied heart in severe hypertension. METHODS: The following four groups were studied: control Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY), spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHR-SP), 8 weeks captopril-treated SHR-SP, and 8 weeks trichlormethiazide-treated SHR-SP. AM precursor was converted to inactive glycine-extended AM (AM-Gly) and subsequently AM-Gly was converted to active mature AM (AM-m) by enzymatic amidation. AM-m, AM-total (AM-T; AM-T = AM-m + AM-Gly), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the plasma and left ventricle (LV) by immunoradiometric assay, and gene expression of AM and ANP were measured. RESULTS: SHR-SP had increased blood pressure, LV weight, plasma and LV ANP levels and mRNA levels of ANP compared with WKY. AM-m and AM-T levels in the plasma (AM-m: +31%; AM-T: +56%) and in the LV (AM-m: +84%; AM-T: +31%) were significantly higher in SHR-SP than those in WKY. The LV tissue AM-m/AM-T ratio was significantly higher in SHR-SP (93.2%) than that in WKY. The mRNA levels of AM in the LV were significantly higher in SHR-SP than those in WKY. Captopril and trichlormethiazide similarly decreased blood pressure and LV hypertrophy with the reduction of the LV AM-m and AM-T levels and mRNA abundance of AM. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that cardiac AM system was upregulated in the hypertrophied heart in this hypertension model. Considering that AM being as an antiremodeling autocrine and(or) paracrine factor, upregulation of the AM system may modulate the pathophysiological course in LV hypertrophy.

Upregulation of adrenomedullin system in left ventricular hypertrophy of severe hypertension rats / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathophysiological role of the cardiac adrenomedullin (AM) system, including the ligand and amidating activity in the hypertrophied heart in severe hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The following four groups were studied: control Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY), spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHR-SP), 8 weeks captopril-treated SHR-SP, and 8 weeks trichlormethiazide-treated SHR-SP. AM precursor was converted to inactive glycine-extended AM (AM-Gly) and subsequently AM-Gly was converted to active mature AM (AM-m) by enzymatic amidation. AM-m, AM-total (AM-T; AM-T = AM-m + AM-Gly), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the plasma and left ventricle (LV) by immunoradiometric assay, and gene expression of AM and ANP were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SHR-SP had increased blood pressure, LV weight, plasma and LV ANP levels and mRNA levels of ANP compared with WKY. AM-m and AM-T levels in the plasma (AM-m: +31%; AM-T: +56%) and in the LV (AM-m: +84%; AM-T: +31%) were significantly higher in SHR-SP than those in WKY. The LV tissue AM-m/AM-T ratio was significantly higher in SHR-SP (93.2%) than that in WKY. The mRNA levels of AM in the LV were significantly higher in SHR-SP than those in WKY. Captopril and trichlormethiazide similarly decreased blood pressure and LV hypertrophy with the reduction of the LV AM-m and AM-T levels and mRNA abundance of AM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results suggested that cardiac AM system was upregulated in the hypertrophied heart in this hypertension model. Considering that AM being as an antiremodeling autocrine and(or) paracrine factor, upregulation of the AM system may modulate the pathophysiological course in LV hypertrophy.</p>