Fusaric acid (FA) protects heart failure induced by isoproterenol (ISP) in mice through fibrosis prevention via TGF-ß1/SMADs and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Fusaric acid (FA) is a novel compound derived from a class of nicotinic acid derivatives, exhibiting activity against cancers. However, its role in regulating cardiac injury is limited. Our study was aimed to investigate the role and the underlying molecular mechanism of FA in heart fibrosis and hypertrophy. Isoproterenol (ISP) was used to induce cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo. FA administration ameliorated hypertrophy by reducing atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and ß -myosin heavy chain (ß-MHC) in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, FA reduced collagen accumulation and fibrosis-related signals, including α- smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Collagen type I and Collagen type III. Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)/SMADs and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including p38, extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), signalling pathways were highly activated for ISP induction, which were prevented due to FA administration. Further, FA suppressed ISP-induced PI3K/AKT activity in a dose dependent manner. Of note, FA-reduced MAPKs phosphorylation was associated with phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (AKT) activity caused by ISP. However, PI3K/AKT activation showed no effects on TGF-ß1/SMADs expression in FA-treated cells after ISP exposure. Together, FA might be an effective candidate agent for preventing cardiac fibrosis by modulating TGF-ß1/SMADs and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways.

The Diagnostic Value of Transvaginal Sonograph (TVS), Color Doppler, and Serum Tumor Marker CA125, CEA, and AFP in Ovarian Cancer.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the diagnostic value of transvaginal sonograph (TVS), color Doppler, and serum tumor marker CA125, CEA, and AFP in ovarian cancer. From June, 2011 to May, 2013, 102 cases with adnexal mass were recruited in this study (32 cases of malignant ovarian cancer and 70 cases of benign ovarian tumor according to pathological diagnosis). TVS, color Doppler, and serum tumor markers were used for tumor diagnosis. The sensitivity, specifity, positive prediction, negative prediction, and Youden's index were analyzed. Of the 102 patients, 32 were diagnosed with malignant ovarian cancer and 70 were diagnosed with benign ovarian tumor according to pathological diagnosis. Based on TVS results, 37 cases were malignant while 65 cases were benign. Based on color Doppler results, 34 cases were malignant while 68 cases were benign. Based on TVS and color Doppler results, 35 cases were malignant while 65 were benign. Based on CA125 test results, 34 cases were malignant while 68 cases were benign. Based on CEA test results, 8 cases were malignant and 94 cases were benign. Bases on AFP test results, 9 cases were malignant while 93 cases were benign. Based on the results of combination tumor marker test, 38 cases were malignant while 64 cases were benign. The combination of TVS, color Doppler, and tumor marker test showed optimal diagnostic value with a sensitivity of 90.63 %, specificity of 97.14 %, positive prediction of 93.94 %, negative prediction of 98.55 %, and Youden's index of 94.02 %. The combination of TVS, color Doppler, and tumor marker test is of great diagnostic value, which should be widely used in clinical practice.

Analysis of the relationship between ultrasound of breast cancer DOT-SDI and the expression of MVD, VEGF and HIF-1α.

Ultrasonic light scattering tomography system is a new imaging technique for breast function, which associates with diffused optical tomography (DOT) with ultrasonic examination. It locates breast neoplasm with ultrasonic examination and measures the total hemoglobin concentration inside the tumor with DOT photon emission to reflect the metabolic state of tumors and then comes to synthesis diagnostic index to judge benign and malignant tumors. This diagnosis method has significant affection on diagnosis of benign and malignant tumors at home and abroad. In the development of breast cancer, local tissue hypoxia leads to a large number of new blood vessels when the tumor grows faster than the rate of angiogenesis. A recent study found microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) play a major role in angiogenesis of breast cancer. This study analyses the relationship between breast cancer ultrasound synthesis diagnostic index (SDI) and the expression of MVD, VEGF and HIF-1α by testing the expression level of the breast cancer gene MVD, VEGF and HIF-1α.

[Echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation features in patients with left ventricular noncompaction].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation features in patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). METHODS: Echocardiographic characteristics of 9 patients with LVNC were analyzed and the localization of lesions were determined according to the standardized myocardial segmentation (SMS) recommended by American Heart Association (AHA). RESULTS: Loose trabeculation in the myocardial lesions were evidenced in all LVNC patients. Communication between deep intertrabecular recess and LV cavity was evident with color flow imaging. According to SMS of AHA, noncompaction of ventricular myocardium was localized in apical segment in all 9 patients, in apical segment of the inferior wall (IW) in 9 patients, in apical segment of the lateral wall (LW) in 7 patients, in middle segment (MS) of IW in 7 patients, in MS of LW in 6 patients. One NC segment was also evidenced in apical segment and MS of septal ventricular wall, basal segment of IW and LW and right ventricular apex, respectively. NC was not found in left ventricular anterior wall. CONCLUSION: Echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation is helpful to diagnose LVNC and NC was mostly localized in the apical segments of LVNC patients.