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The purpose of this paper is to study the convergence of the Ishikawa and Mann iterative sequences with mixed errors to approximate solutions of nonlinear operator equations with perturbed m-accretive mappings in arbitrary Banach spaces. The results presented in this paper extend and improve some recent results in Jung and Morales [Nonlinear Anal. TMA 46 (2001) 231–243], Jung et al. [Applied Math. Comput. 133 (2002) 389–406] and Kartsatos and Liu [Nonlinear Anal. TMA 24 (1995) 469–492].

Objective: To investigate the effects of ligustrazine (Li) on myocardial fibrosis in rats with pressure overload.Methods: Pressure overload rat models were established by constricting the abdominal aorta. Sixty-three SD rats were divided into 3 groups: Sham operated group (SOG, n = 21), operated group (OG,n = 21) and operated combined with ligustrazine group (OG+Li,n = 21). Each group was randomly assigned to seven time points: The 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 14th, 21st and 30th day after operation. Three rats were included in each time point. Serial sections of cardiac tissues were examined and the morphological or morphometric analysis of the SOG, OG and OG+Li done by histopathological and computer image analyzer technique.Results: (1) It showed that there were reactive fibrosis (from the 4th day on after operation) and reparative fibrosis (from the 21st day on after operation) in the OG, while myocardial fibrosis in the OG+Li was alleviated. Though reactive fibrosis (from the 21st day on after operation) was shown, reparative fibrosis wasn’t seen. (2) Perivascular collagen area (PVCA) in the OG (2. 09 ± 0. 45) was significantly higher than SOG (0.83 ± 0.06) from the 1st day on after operation and then steadily increased, while in the OG+Li (1.16 ± 0.06), it was significantly lower than OG at the same time; collagen volume fraction (CVF) in the OG (3.08 ± 0. 56) significantly increased compared with the SOG (2. 78 ± 0. 64) from the 2nd day on after operation and showed a trend of rapid ascending from the 21st day on after operation; and in the OG + Li (4.69 ± 0.85), it was significantly decreased compared with the OG (7.56 ± 0.88) from the 21st day on after operation, with allP

An 82-year-old female patient undergoing cardiogenic shock caused by atrioventricular junctional rhythm immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is described. Pharmacotherapy was invalid, and subsequent application of atrial pacing reversed the cardiogenic shock. PCI-related injury of sinuatrial nodal artery leading to acute atrial contractility loss, accompanied by atrioventricular junctional arrhythmia, was diagnosed. We recommend that preoperative risk evaluation be required for multi-risk patients. Likewise, emergent measures should to be established in advance. This case reminds us that atrial pacing can be an optimal management technique once cardiogenic shock has occurred.

CHF is a common cardiovascular complication, and also is a result of all kinds of cardiopathies. Common cardiotonic and diuretic treatment don’t have a good effect and patients could easily get digitalism because of poor tolerance of digitalis. Recently, good curative effects have been achieved by the therapy of integrative Chinese and western medicine. Especially in recent few years, Chinese medicine has reached a fairly depth and achieved positive results in studying CHF with the raising level of medical research. Even so, because of lacking n a great many controlled observation, further research of the effect on CHF with Chinese medicine is remained to be studied from biochemical and biomolecular level, or from clinical practice.

Objective: To explore the effective isolation method for preantral follicles from human frozen-thawed ovarian tissue. Methods: The ovarian cortical tissue was frozen by direct cover vitrification (DCV). The frozen-thawed ovarian tissue was used for isolation of preantral follicles with collagenase combined with mechanical method and mechanical method alone, respectively. Results: 1. There was no statistical difference in the survival rates of follicles in various stages between before and after freezing (P > 0.05). 2. The survival rate of secondary follicles was higher, but the survival rate of primordial follicles was lower in mechanical method alone than in collagenase combined with mechanical method (all P < 0.05). 3. The diameters of follicles were larger and E2 levels were higher in mecha-nical method alone than that in collagenase combined with mechanical method (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: After the frozen-thawed ovarian tissue was cultured for 6 days, compared with collagenase combined with mechanical method, mechanical method alone can obtain higher survival rate of secondary follicles, greater follicular diameter and higher E2 level, which are conducive to follicular subsequent development.

Background. Myocardial bridging (MB), a common benign coronary anomaly, may bring about some unwanted complications such as angina-like chest pain. The only way of MB detection is coronary arteriography or coronary computed tomographic angiography, which is costly and invasive. This study intended to profile a panel of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of MB. Methods. Using TaqMan Low-Density Array followed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) validation, we analyzed the expression of miRNAs in serum samples from 90 MB patients and 50 non-MB controls. Results. The Low-Density Array data showed that 196 miRNAs were differentially expressed in MB patient sera in comparison with controls. After qRT-PCR validation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, a list of five miRNAs (miR-29b, miR-151-3p, miR-126, miR-503-3p and miR-645) showed the ability to distinguish MB patients from controls. The area under curve (AUC) values range from 0.722–0.938. Conclusions. We have demonstrated that this panel of five serum miRNAs is expected to become potential non-invasive biomarkers for detection of MB.

A Comment on the Letter by P. K. Shukla and K. Avinash, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 135002 (2011).

Background Coronary atherosclerosis, the most common form of coronary artery disease (CAD), is characterized by accumulation of lipid in the walls of coronary arteries. Recent data from clinical trials have showed that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has causal role in the pathogenesis and development of coronary atherosclerosis. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is an important regulator of plasma HDL-C. Several genetic mutations in the CETP gene were found to be associated with HDL-C levels. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the association of HDL-C-related CETP polymorphisms and risk of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods We investigated the association of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (rs1800775, rs708272, rs5882, rs1532624, rs1864163, rs7499892, and rs9989419) in the CETP gene with the risk of coronary atherosclerosis and levels of HDL-C in a case–control study in China. Included in the study were 420 patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 424 healthy controls. SNP genotyping was performed by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay and serum lipid levels were measured by standard laboratory methods. Results Carriers of the AA and GA + AA genotypes of rs708272 had significant lower risks of coronary atherosclerosis (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36-0.85, p = 0.003; OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.50-0.90, p = 0.007, respectively) compared to those with GG genotype. These relations remained significant after adjustment for confounding effects of age, smoking, diabetes and hypertension. The rs1800775 polymorphism was significantly associated with serum levels of HDL-C in healthy controls (p = 0.04). Besides, rs708272 was in close linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs1800775 in this study. Conclusions Our findings indicated that CETP rs708272 may be associated with the risk of coronary atherosclerosis and rs1800775 may influence serum HDL-C levels in healthy controls in Chinese.

To predict the difficulty of testing a wire stuck-at fault, testability analysis algorithms provide an estimated testability value by computing controllability and observability. In most common previous work such as COP and SCOAP, signal correlation between controllability and observability is not well handled. As a result, the estimated values can be quite inaccurate, On the other hand, some previous work can take into account signal correlation but may require more CPU time. This paper discusses an efficient method for testability analysis improvement. Our algorithm starts with results obtained from conventional testability analysis such as COP. For each stuck- at fault, we gradually refine these results by recursively applying some simple signal correlation rules. Experimental results show that, with reasonable run-time overhead, significant improvement for testability analysis can be achieved.

Purpose: This study was to investigate whether high pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume is related to the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Consecutive patients (310 patients) who underwent both dual-source 64-slice CT and percutaneous coronary angiography were recruited into this study. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), blood biochemical variables, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and Gensini score were measured. Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume was determined by dual-source CT. Results: PAT volume was positively correlated with BMI, WC, gender (male), hypertension, diabetes, age, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. PAT volume in CAD patients was significantly higher than that in patients without CAD (238.36 ± 81.21 cm3 vs. 200.13±72.34 cm3). PAT volumes in patients with multi-vessel lesions were significantly higher than those with one-vessel lesions (P < 0.001). A significant correlation between PAT volume and CAC score (r=0.305, P < 0.001) was found. PAT volume was an independent factor affecting Gensini score. Conclusion: PAT volume was significantly correlated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the number of stenotic coronary vessels. Thus, PAT volume may be a reliable marker to evaluate the presence and severity of CAD.

Objective: To describe a case with acute myocardial infarction caused by gastric carcinoma-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 79-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain and pyrexia. He later developed cardiac complications and microangiopathy that indicated worsening progression. Manifold evidence confirmed the diagnosis of myocardial infarction caused by thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The patient was treated mainly with plasma transfusion incorporated with steroids. Conclusion: This case should remind physicians to consider microangiopathy as a differential diagnosis in patients with unexplained cardiac symptoms or atypical presentation. Early diagnosis and treatment are helpful in decreasing the sequelae of this syndrome.

The mechanism of the interaction of singlet excited dibenzoyl(methanato)boron difluoride (*DBMBF2 = *A) with olefins and substituted benzenes (SB) was investigated by the determination of effective quenching distances (Reff) from fluorescence monitors in acetonitrile as analyzed by the Smoluchowski−Collins−Kimball equation and by solvent effects on the dichotomy of the formation of cycloadducts and [4 + 2] dimers from 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) and 1,3-cyclooctadiene (1,3-COD). The correlation of Reff with directly demonstrates that the reactants have to get closer to affect electron transfer from these substrates as the driving force become more positive and coalesce on exciplexes. Both photophysical and photochemical probes converge on the partition of encounter pairs to the SSRIP (the ket pathway which leads to radical ion reactions and nonfluorescent) and exciplexes (the kex pathway which leads to cycloadducts and fluorescent species); the former pathway was promoted by low redox energies of donor−accep...

The photolysis of dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride (DBMBF2) in the presence of vinyl ethers in acetonitrile gave dimers of the latter from acid catalysis or electron transfer sensitization, but, it contrast, gave cycloaddition products in an efficient reaction in less polar solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and benzene.

Suicide attempts constitute a serious clinical problem. People who have attempted suicide are at an elevated risk for additional suicide attempts, but there is limited evidence regarding the predictors of suicidality of suicide attempters following case management services. In the present study the indicators of suicidality after case management were examined. A total of 1,056 subjects who had recently attempted suicide were recruited from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2011. The suicide prevention center of Kaohsiung City in Taiwan provided case management services and followed up on suicide attempt cases for 6 months. The salient factors for repeat suicide attempts were estimated using a logistic regression analysis. The results showed that multiple factors, including a "willingness to receive mental health services during a crisis," "social support," "a history of mental disorders," and "a history of suicide," could predict repeat suicide attempts with hazard ratios (0.58, 0.54, 3.84, 1.51) and 95% confidence interval (0.39-0.86, 0.36-0.83, 2.41-6.10, 1.03-2.21). The four factors mentioned above were the most accurate predictors of subsequent suicidality when case management services were utilized after 6 months of follow-up. The findings of our study could help clarify future strategies for suicide prevention. Language: en

Background Suicide attempts constitute a serious clinical problem and have important implications for healthcare resources. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of case management using crisis postcards over a 6-month follow-up period. Method A randomised controlled trial was conducted in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Prevention of further suicide attempts was compared between two groups with and without the postcard intervention. The intervention group consisted of 373 participants (139 males, 234 females; age: 39.8 ± 14.0 yrs.). The control group consisted of 388 participants (113 males, 275 females; age: 40.0 ± 16.0 yrs.). A survival analysis was used to test the effectiveness of the crisis postcard intervention for the prevention of suicide reattempts. Per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. Results The intention-to-treat analysis indicated that the crisis postcard had no effect (hazard ratio = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.56 – 1.29), whereas the per-protocol analysis showed a strong benefit for the crisis postcard (hazard ratio = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.21 – 0.72). Conclusion Although the results of the present study indicated that the postcard intervention did not reduce subsequent suicide behaviour, our study provides an alteration to the postcard intervention. Further studies need to be conducted to clarify whether this type of intervention can reduce subsequent suicidal behaviour, with a particular focus on reducing the rate of loss to follow-up.

The pattern of the photoreactions of DBMBF2 with a cyclic diene is highly dependent on solvent nature, giving mainly the dimers of dienes in polar solvents but cycloadduct in non-polar solvents. The quantum yields of the adduct (ΦA) correlate smoothly with an empirical polarity constant (ETN) in spite of exciplex formations with aromatic solvents.

1. The aim of the present study was to determine whether ligustrazine (2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine; TMP) exerts a cardioprotective effect during myocardial ischaemia reperfusion (IR), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms and the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cardioprotection. 2. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a sham group and five IR groups: IR control, TMP pretreated, TMP + wortmannin (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor), N(G) -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; a NOS inhibitor) and TMP + L-NAME. IR was produced by 35 min of regional ischaemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Myocardial infarct size, oxidative stress, myocardial apoptosis, nitric oxide (NO) production, and expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) and eNOS were measured. 3. TMP markedly decreased infarct size and attenuated myocardial apoptosis, as evidenced by a decrease in the apoptotic index and reduced caspase-3 activity. TMP treatment caused a marked increase in NO production. Cotreatment with wortmannin or L-NAME completely blocked the TMP-induced NO increase. TMP induced phosphorylation of Akt at Ser 473 (1.61 ± 0.18 vs 0.79 ± 0.10 in the IR control group) and phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1177 (1.87 ± 0.33 vs 0.94 ± 0.22 in the IR control group). Wortmannin abrogated the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS induced by TMP. 4. These data suggest that ligustrazine has anti-apoptotic and cardioprotective effects against myocardial IR injury and that it acts through the PI3K/Akt pathway. In addition, the phosphorylation of eNOS with subsequent NO production was found to be an important downstream effector that contributes significantly to the cardioprotective effect of TMP.

Ore flotation had been widely employed in sulphide ores selection. However, large amount wastewater produced by flotation processes had caused major problem to mine environment. Biofiltration was a cost effective and environmental friendly technology combining biodegradation and physical scrubbing that had become an outstanding alternative for decentralized area wastewater treatment. In this study, a benchscale anoxic-aerobic biofilter was utilized to remove xanthate from synthetic beneficiation wastewater. Volcanic stone with diameter between 4mm to 6mm was applied as packing media for aerobic section. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of volcanic stone based biofilter for the treatment of xanthate. The running conditions were investigated to reach the maximum removal efficiency. Experimental data showed when HRT was 6h, air water flow ratio was 10/1 with an influent xanthate concentration below 250mg/L, the average COD removal efficiency was 88.7% and effluent COD concentration ranged 12mg/L to 43mg/L. The biofilter could well accustom to high pH influent while low pH influent would cause detrimental impact to biofilm and lead to system failure.

Network planning technology could simplify and represent many difficult problems in project management, and make them could be solved by using correlative method easily. But it also has some obvious defects, for example, (1) direction character of network illuminates that dynamic programming is effective algorithm to resolve it in many circs, but non-phases of network in generally makes the algorithm couldn't be used directly; (2) network which founded arbitrarily may be intricate easily in presentation, which is difficult of being studied; (3) in network planning, problem of how to found activity-on-arc representation network with the least dummy activities is NP-hard, therefore many different networks may be founded for one activity system, which blocks study on scheduling and planning management, etc. It could help to resolve above problems if network could be transformed to multi-phases network which named criterion network. In this paper, properties of criterion network are analyzed, and problem of how to found criterion network of any network by founding linear programming model is solved, and problems of how many dummy activities need be added at most and how to add them are also solved, and then scale of criterion network is estimated.

To construct the eukaryotic expression vector of human gene Smac pcDNA3.1-Smac and express it in the lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.The Smac was amplified from human testis tissue by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Then recombined eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-Smac was constructed. After the reconbinant plasmid was proved to be constructed correctly by endonucleases digesting and DNA sequencing, we trasfected it into lung adenocarcinama cells A549 through liposome inducing. The expression of Smac in transfectant A549 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. And the cell growth inhibition ratio after trasfection was detected by MTT.The amplified fragment by PCR was coincident with the anticipated result, and its sequence was in concordance with that published on GenBank.Therefore, the gene Smac was cloned successfully, and the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-Smac was also constructed successfully. Both on the mRNA level and the protein level, the expression of Smac gene was increased obviously in the transfected A549 detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The cell growth inhibition ratio in the group transfected pcDNA3.1-Smac was significantly higher compared with the pcDNA3.1 group after 72 hours.The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-Smac was constructed, and it could be obviously expressed in lung adenocarcinoma cells A549. It is also proven that Smac has the function of growth inhibition.

Dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride (DBMBF2), the BF2 complex of dibenzoylmethane, reacted from its singlet excited state with α,β-unsaturated ketones and esters to give 1,5-diketones by a [2+2] cycloaddition and ring-opening sequence in an analogous pathway to that observed in the photocycloaddition to olefins and dienes. The present photoreaction is unexpected since conjugated enones and en-esters are poor electron donors to comply with the previously proposed charge transfer requirement in DBMBF2 photoreactions. The photocycloaddition to these substrates was highly regioselective and stereoselective, giving the head-to-head orientation, which could be enhanced by α-methyl substitution; β-methyl substitution increased the alternate head-to-tail orientation. The photolysis of a mixture of DBMBF2 and a cyclic enone also caused the latter to dimerize to give head-to-head and head-to-tail dimers in significant yields. These photodimerizations were apparently caused by DBMBF2 sensitization. The mechanism of the sensitization is discussed.

To investigate the effects of depside salt from salvia miltiorrhizae (DSSM) in repairing advanced glycation end products (AGE)-induced late endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) dysfunction, and its possible molecular mechanism.Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were separated using density gradient centrifugation from human umbilical cord blood, and cultured with EGM-2-MV culture fluid to late EPCs. Then the EPCs were divided into 5 groups: Group A incubated with 200 microg/mL AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-albumin) alone (A), Groups B, C and D with equal dosage of AGE-albumin plus DSSM at different dosages (0.1 microg/mL, 1 microg/mL, and 10 microg/mL), Group E with 200 microg/mL of unmodified-AGE. The late EPCs apoptosis was detected by Annexin V+/PI double-stain, angiogenic capacity was detected by ECMatrix-gel, mRNA expressions of the receptor for AGE (RAGE) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein expressions of RAGE, eNOS and protein kinase (Akt) were measured by Western blot.Compared with Group E, in Group A, the Annexin V+/PI- ratio and expression of RAGE in EPCs increased, the angiogenic capacity, mRNA and protein expressions of eNOS, and protein expression of Akt decreased significantly. These abnormal changes in Groups C and D were significantly smaller than those in Group A (P0.05 or P0.01). And all the indices in Group D were adjacent to those in Group E, showing insignificant difference between the two groups (P0.05).AGE could injure the function of EPCs, revealing increase of cell apoptosis and migration, deprivation of angiogenic capacity in vitro. DSSM could repair the EPCs dysfunction induced by AGE-albumin. Up-regulation of eNOS and Akt in these cells may be involved in the mechanism.

Dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride (DBMBF2), the BF2 complex of dibenzoylmethane, reacted from its singlet excited state with α,β-unsaturated ketones and esters to give 1,5-diketones by a [2+2] cyc...

Background: Dual-source CT coronary angiography (CTCA) has been used to detect coronary artery disease; however, the factors with potential to affect its diagnostic accuracy remain to be defined. Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of dual-source CTCA in diagnosing coronary artery stenosis according to conventional coronary angiography (CAG), and the effect of average heart rate, heart rate variability, and calcium score on the accuracy of CTCA. Material and Methods: A total of 113 patients underwent both dual-source CTCA and CAG. The results were used to evaluate the findings in dual-source CTCA to assess the accuracy in the diagnosis of ≥50% (significant stenosis) and >75% (severe stenosis) of coronary artery according to those by CAG. Patients were divided into subgroups according to their heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), and calcium score, and the accuracy of CTCA was further evaluated. The chi-square test was used to analyze the difference in sensitivity and specificity for the detection of ≥50% and >75% coronary stenosis among subgroups. The generalized estimation equation method was used in per-vessel analysis to adjust for within-patient correlation. Results: In all, 113 patients had 338 vessels and 1661 segments evaluated by CAG. Dual-source CTCA displayed 1527 segments (91.9%). Among them, 1468 segments (calcium score by CAG score 1, n=1018; score 2, n=270; score 3, n=180) were assessable in CTCA. On a per-patient analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of CTCA were 93.9% and 93.5% for significant stenosis and 86.9% and 98.1% for severe stenosis. On a per-vessel basis, the sensitivity and specificity were 90.2% and 97.1% for significant and 83.3% and 98.1% for severe stenosis. On a per-segment analysis, the sensitivity and specificity were 90.2% and 97.1% for significant and 83.3% and 98.1% for severe stenosis. Average HR had no effect on the sensitivity and specificity of CTCA ( P>0.05); whereas HRV and calcium score had some effect on the sensitivity and specificity of CTCA ( P Conclusion: On a per-patient, per-vessel, and per-segment basis, dual-source CTCA has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis. Average HR has no effect on the diagnostic accuracy of CTCA, while HRV and calcium score have a statistically significant effect on the sensitivity and specificity of CTCA.

To determine the presence of membrane testosterone receptors in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and investigate their relationship with classical intracellular androgen receptors (iAR).VSMCs were cultured from the thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats by the explant method. Subconfluent VSMCs were incubated with serum-free medium for 24 h to obtain quiescent non-dividing cells, and then treated with the indicated agents. The aliquots of VSMCs were labeled with testosterone-BSA-FITC (T-BSA-FITC) and analyzed by flow cytometry. Classical iARs in intact- and permeabilized-cells were detected with anti-iAR antibodies and FITC-labeled secondary antibodies by immunofluorescence, followed by flow cytometry analysis.Incubation of VSMCs with T-BSA-FITC obviously increased their relative fluorescence intensity at 10 sec as compared with the untreated controls (P0.01), and so did it at 10 min in comparison with the treatment with BSA-FITC alone or together with free testosterone (P0.01). Pretreatment with iAR antagonist flutamide exhibited no significant influence on the relative fluorescence intensity of VSMCs (P = 0.318). Traditional iARs were not detectable on the surface of intact VSMCs, although permeabilized cells contained iARs.VSMCs contain testosterone receptors in the plasma membrane, and these membrane receptors are not identical to classical iARs.

Clinical studies have shown decreased levels of sexual hormones, particularly testosterone deficiency, in men with chronic heart failure (CHF). The authors aimed to investigate the effect of testosterone on cardiac function and the possible mechanism of androgen protecting the heart in male rats.Forty-three male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: right heart failure (RHF, n = 15), physiologic testosterone treatment (TT, n = 15) and control (n = 13). The RHF group was given intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline at 60 mg/kg to make RHF models; the TT group was injected with testosterone at 5 mg/kg 3 days after monocrotaline administration; and the control group received equal volume of saline. The CD34+ cells in the peripheral blood of each rat were counted by flow cytometry. The levels of serum testosterone and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The hearts, lungs and livers of all the surviving rats were excised at 6 weeks for pathological and immunohistochemical examinations.The level of serum testosterone was gradually decreased, while that of TNF-alpha obviously increased in the RHF group. After testosterone treatment, the TT group showed a remarkable improvement of cardiac performance and a significant decrease in the level of serum TNF-alpha as compared with the RHF group. Statistically significant differences were observed neither in the CD34+ cell count in the peripheral blood nor in the CD34+ expression of the myocardial cells between the TT and RHF groups.Physiological supplementation of testosterone can improve the cardiac function of RHF male rats, probably through its inhibition of TNF-alpha rather than by autologous mobilization of bone marrow stem cells.

This paper describes the characterization of some atmospheric dusts collected in Chengdu and Dukou of Sichuan Province, China, and compares them with samples from Tokyo and its vicinity. The samples were fractionated with heavy liquids, followed by ordinary x-ray diffraction and fluorescence analyses. Individual particles were further analyzed using an x-ray microdiffractometer with a position sensitive proportional counter. Dukou's dust fall was characterized by high-temperature products and by large amounts of magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ). Chengdu's sample was characterisized by large contents of gypsum (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O) and the lightest fraction of 3 including carbonaceous substance and some epsomite (MgSO 4 ·7H 2 O). It resembled the sample of Chiba (Japan) in the amounts of gypsum and epsomite, and it was similar to the samples to Tokyo in the large proportion of the 3 fraction. In addition to quartz and iron oxides, kaolin mineral and mica were detected in Chengdu, while plagioclase, chlorite, mica, and sodium chloride were detected in Japan. The origins of the pollutants are discussed.

To investigate the effects of resveratrol (RES) on apoptosis of human periodontal ligament cells (HPLC).HPLC were subjected to oxidative injury induced by H2O2 for 24 h after pretreatment with different concentration of RES. HPLC were then divided into the control, model, vector, RES 1, 10, 30, 50 micromol/L treatment group. The viability of the HPLC was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) rate and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the culture medium, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the HPLC homogenate were evaluated by spectrophotometry. The apoptotic HPLC was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and calculated by relative apoptosis rate. Bax and Bcl-2 protein levels were detected by Western blotting.RES increased the cell survival rate after H2O2 injury. The survival rate of RES 30 micromol/L group was (86.1 +/- 4.1)% and the model group was (54.6 +/- 4.0)%, which was significantly different between the two groups (P0.01). The LDH leakage rate and MDA content of the RES 30 micromol/L group were (32.6 +/- 2.0)% and (1.70 +/- 0.21) micromol/L, which were significantly different with that in the model group (P0.01). At the same time RES could remarkably restore the vitality of SOD in the HPLC. RES increased Bcl-2 and reduced the expression of Bax protein. The apoptosis rate of the RES 30 micromol/L group and model group was (14.84 +/- 1.36)% and (64.37 +/- 2.34)%, respectively (P0.01). The protective effect of RES on the cell apoptosis was in a dose-dependent manner, reaching peak at a concentration of 30 micromol/L (P0.01).RES reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis in an experimental HPLC injury model induced by H2O2. RES plays a key role in the HPLC protection against oxidative injury.

To explore the acute effects of testosterone at the physiological level on PGF2alpha-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).VSMCs from the thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured using the explant method. The subconfluent VSMCs were incubated with serum-free medium for 24 hours to obtain quiescent non-dividing cells and then treated with the indicated agents. For the measurement of [Ca2+]i, the VSMCs were loaded with fura-2. Changes of [Ca2+]i were determined ratiometrically with a Nikon TE-2000E system.The resting level of [Ca2+]i was around 100 nmol/L in the VSMCs. Exposing cells to perfusate containing 10 micromol/L PGF2alpha triggered an immediate and transient peak in [Ca2+]i, which gradually decreased afterwards. Interference at the peak with the physiological concentration (40 nmol/L) of testosterone significantly decreased the peak-to-baseline time of [Ca2+]i, compared with ethanol vehicle (104.9 +/- 27.0 s vs 153.5 +/- 40.4 s, P0.01). Pretreatment with testosterone at 40 nmol/L for 2 minutes also reduced the peak-to-baseline time of [Ca2+]i significantly in comparison with the ethanol control (120.6 +/- 32.0 s vs 151.4 +/- 27.4 s, P0.01), but it had no significant effect on the peak level of PGF2alpha-induced intracellular Ca2+ (390.0 +/- 126.0 nmol/L vs 403.4 +/- 160.7 nmol/L, P0.05).Testosterone at physiological concentration inhibits PGF2alpha-induced Ca2+ fluxes, probably via receptor-operated calcium channels by a non-genomic mechanism in VSMCs, which may be involved in the vasodilatory effect of testosterone.

To compare coronary lesion characteristics by coronary angiography (CAG) between yellows and whites.CAG results of 3021 Chinese patients, defined as yellows, from Nanjing and 3230 Australian patients, defined as whites, from Sydney were analyzed. The coronary artery lesion was evaluated by the number and location of coronary lesion and Gensini scores.(1) Coronary stenosis was diagnosed in 69.4% Chinese patients and 75.5% in Australians. The involved coronary arteries were left anterior descending branch, right coronary artery, left circumflex branch and left main coronary artery in a descending order in both Chinese and Australians. (2) The incidences of three-vessel disease and left main disease of yellows were significantly lower than that of whites in both male (29.8% vs. 34.0% and 9.6% vs. 14.2%) and female patients (15.8% vs. 26.2% and 4.9% vs. 11.6%) respectively, all P0.05. (3) There was an age-dependent Gensini scores increase in both yellows and whites patients and Gensini scores at age 40 and more of whites were significantly higher than those of yellows in comparable age groups.The incidences of three-vessel disease and left main disease as well as Gensini score were significantly higher in Australian patients than those of Chinese patients.

To investigate the effect of hemorrhagic shock without resuscitation on expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) in myocardium of rats and its significance.Forty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: hemorrhagic group, sham operation group and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, with 15 mice in each group. The hemorrhagic shock mouse model was reproduced by heart puncture. Expression levels of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP) was determined and adopted as an index of left ventricle contractile function.(1)Both hemorrhagic shock and LPS challenge led to a reduction in arterial blood pressure in mice when compared with sham operation group. Both hemorrhagic shock and LPS challenge could result in left ventricle contractile dysfunction when compared with sham operation group. (2)Expression levels for TLR2 and TLR4 genes were upregulated in myocardium to various extents after hemorrhagic shock and LPS challenge, while in contrast the changes were absent in sham operation group.(1)The up-regulation of TLR2 and TLR4 genes is closely related with hemorrhagic shock and LPS-induced left ventricle contractile dysfunction, and there may exist a difference in signal transduction pathway between the two pathological conditions. (2)The host ability of innate immune response may be reinforced by the up-regulation of TLR2 and TLR4, whereas overexpression of them may also impair the function of tissues or organs.

To investigate the efficacy of adaptive pressure support servo-ventilation (APSSV) on Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) in congestive heart failure (CHF).14 patients with CHF and CSR were recruited. During sleep, oxygen therapy and APSSV were separately performed. Comparison before and after each treatment was made for the following items: a) parameters of sleep respiration, sleep structure and quality; b) cardiac function index such as left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and 6 minutes' walking distance; c) plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels.Compared with the baseline level before treatment, the apnea hypopnea index significantly decreased during oxygen therapy (P0.05) and further declined during APSSV (P0.01); on the contrary, the lowest pulse oxygen saturation increased during oxygen therapy (P0.05) and further elevated during APSSV (P0.01). Compared with arousal index before treatment, it was significantly lower during oxygen therapy (P0.05) and the lowest during APSSV (P0.01). Compared with both during oxygen therapy and before treatment, during APSSV the percentage ofI + II stage sleep time/total sleep time was significantly lower while the percentage of III + IV stage sleep time/total sleep time was significantly higher. The above percentages during oxygen therapy and before treatment showed no significant difference (P0.05). LVEF was significantly higher during APSSV than during oxygen therapy and before treatment (P0.05). Six minutes' walking distance was the shortest before treatment and the longest during APSSV. There was a significant difference among that before treatment, during oxygen therapy and APSSV (all P0.01). The plasma ET-1 level showed significantly lower during APSSV than that before and during oxygen treatment (P0.05), but no significant difference between the levels before and during oxygen treatment (P0.05).APSSV, more effective than oxygen therapy, is of great clinical significance in improvement of CHF and its prognosis by a better sleep and breathing.

An estuarine two-dimensional vertical finite-element model of suspended sediment transport has been established by the sediment conservation equation. The primary objective of the present paper is to develop and verify a 2DV estuarine tidal flow and sediment transport model derived by the moving grid FEM. To this end, finite-element method has been used. An arbitrarily shaped quadrilateral element has been selected. This model has been compared with analytical solution. The tidal flow model was developed by Li and Shi. This represents a step towards developing a general 2DV estuarine model.Copyright © 2006 by ASME

When the strength of wave traveling over sandy bed reaches a certain condition, the bed form will be changed, to form the sand ripple bed. The formation mechanism of the bottom shear stress on ripple bed differs from that on plane bed. However investigation on the bottom shear stress on ripple bed is foundation of the investigation on the wave damping with traveling and the sediment transport. Therefor, this investigation is significant. The present paper measured the bottom shear stress directly and gave formulas to calculate the bottom friction factor and shear stress on the ripple bed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME

Tyrophagus curvipenis Fain & Fauvel, 1993 (Acari: Acaridae) has been reported from a very broad range of plant and animal hosts in various habitats in Australia, France, Portugal and New Zealand. However, except host/habitat records, there have been no reports of its life history and other aspects of biology. In this laboratory study conducted at 25°C, T. curvipenis were kept individually and fed three different diets. The time from egg to adult mite was recorded and size of resulting adult mites was measured. T. curvipenis completed development on dry yeast in 10 days, about half of time needed when fed rolled oats and 42% of time needed when fed wheat flour. The length and width of the prodorsal shield was used to determine adult size. Adult females fed yeast were 18% larger than those fed on oats and 25% larger than those fed on wheat flour. Adult males were 14% larger on yeast than on oats, and 27% larger on yeast than on wheat flour. Faster development and larger size at maturity on yeast are correlated with the higher protein content of yeast compared to that in oats and wheat. Males were smaller and developed faster than females on all three diets.

To investigate the effects of testosterone exposure on androgen receptor (AR) mRNA expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).VSMCs were cultured from the thoracic aorta of male SD rats using explant method. The total RNA was extracted by one-step guanidine isothiocyanate method and subjected to Northern blotting analysis for determining AR mRNA level. The effect of testosterone on the viability and growth of VSMCs were studied by means of cell counting and tritiated thymidine incorporation assay.Testosterone treatment of the synchronized VSMCs for 24 h increased intracellular AR mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, with relative mRNA level of 97.67+/-7.22, 98.00+/-13.58, 143.33+/-10.99, 177.67+/-14.62 and 185.67+/-19.97 corresponding to testosterone doses of 0, 4 nmol/L, 40 nmol/L, 400 nmol/L and 4 micromol/L, respectively. Incubation of synchronized VSMCs with testosterone at a physiological level of 40 nmol/L for 24 h resulted in a mean of 30% up-regulation of AR mRNA level, compared with that of untreated cells. During AR up-regulation, testosterone had no significant effects on the cell number and DNA synthesis of VSMCs as measured by cell counting and tritiated thymidine incorporation assay.Self-initiated up-regulation of AR mRNA expression occurs in synchronized VSMCs, which is independent of testosterone that influences apoptosis or growth rate of the cells, suggesting the involvement of AR in androgen regulational at the transcription level in VSMCs.