Activation of natriuretic peptide receptor-C attenuates the enhanced oxidative stress in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats: implication of Gialpha protein

We have recently shown that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit enhanced expression of Giα proteins, which was attributed to the enhanced oxidative stress. Since C-ANP_4-23 that specifically interacts with natriuretic peptide C (NPR-C) receptor has been shown to decrease the expression of Giα protein in VSMC, the present study was undertaken to examine if C-ANP_4-23 can also decrease the enhanced expression of Giα protein in VSMC from SHR and whether it is attributed to its ability to attenuate the enhanced oxidative stress. Aortic VSMC from 12-week-old SHR and their age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used for the present studies. VSMC from SHR exhibited enhanced expression of Giα-2 and Giα-3 proteins, different subunits of NADPH oxidase such as Nox⁴ and p^47phox proteins but not of p^22phox, enhanced production of superoxide anion as well as NADPH oxidase activity as compared to age-matched WKY rats. Treatment of VSMC from SHR with C-ANP_4-23 decreased towards control levels the enhanced expression of Giα proteins, enhanced superoxide anion production and enhanced NADPH oxidase activity as well as the enhanced expression of Nox⁴ and p^47phox. However, C-ANP_4-23-induced attenuation of the enhanced level of O₂⁻ and NADPH oxidase activity occurs at 4 h before the decrease in the enhanced expression of p^47phox that occurs at 16 h of C-ANP_4-23 treatment. The decreased expression of NADPH oxidase in SHR was also associated with further decrease in O₂⁻ and NADPH oxidase activity. Furthermore, treatment of VSMC from SHR with pertussis toxin (PT) decreased the enhanced levels of superoxide anion as well as NADPH oxidase activity; however, the enhanced levels of different subunits of NADPH oxidase were not attenuated by PT treatment. These results suggest that C-ANP_4-23 decreases the enhanced oxidative stress in SHR by attenuating the enhanced expression of Giα proteins and also the enhanced levels of NADPH oxidase.     

孕中期孕妇凝血功能检测的临床意义

目的探讨孕中期孕妇凝血酶原时间(PT)、活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、凝血酶时间(TT)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)、抗血酶Ⅲ(ATⅢ)、蛋白C(PC)、蛋白S(S)、纤维蛋白降解产物(FDP)和D二聚体(DD)检测的临床意义。方法PT、APTT、TT、Fib测定均为凝固法,所有指标均由SYSMEXCA-1500全自动血凝仪进行测定。结果对55例孕中期孕妇(实验组)与55例正常非妊娠妇女(对照组)的凝血功能进行比较分析。孕中期孕妇组PT、APTT、TT、Fib、ATⅢ、PC、PS、FDP和DD值与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论在妊娠中期孕产妇凝血功能发生了显著变化,表现为妊娠相关的高凝血状态和存在血栓并发症风险,孕产妇需要监测凝血功能。     

不同型号仪器测定凝血酶原时间的可比性研究

目的探讨不同型号血凝仪检测凝血酶原时间（PT）的检测结果是否具有可比性。方法分别采用不同水平STAGO质控物、DADE质控物和75例不同浓度的患者新鲜血浆，在2个不同的检测系统（STA—R、CA7000）测定PT，并对其检测结果进行相关的统计学分析。结果5个水平的质控物测定结果经t检验，各组间的差异均有显著性（P〈0．01）。各检测系统间不同浓度的患者新鲜血浆测定结果差异有非常显著性（P〈0．01）；相关系数均=0．975。以STA—R作标准检测系统对其他检测系统作临床可接受性能评价，CA7000可接受。结论2个检测系统测定PT精密度和临床可接受性能评价均符合临床要求，应定期对以上的检测系统进行比对实验，以保证检验结果间的可比性。     

PT、APTT、Hb、Plt监测评估心瓣膜手术CPB后成分输血的可行性

目的探讨血浆凝血酶原时间(PT)、部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、血红蛋白(Hb)、血小板(Plt)监测用于评估心瓣膜手术体外循环(CPB)后成分输血的可行性。方法瓣膜置换术患者64名,随机分为2组,每组34名。即依据PT、APTT检测输注血制品组(Ⅰ组)和根据临床经验决定成分输血组(Ⅱ组)。分别于麻醉诱导平稳后肝素化之前(T1)、鱼精蛋白充分拮抗肝素后(T2)、输注血制品后(T3)测定以下指标:血浆凝血酶原时间(PT)、部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、激活全血凝固时间(ACT)、国际标准化比值(INR)、血红蛋白(Hb),血小板(Plt)。记录各个时点出血量:关胸期间(Q0),术后1h(Q1)、6h(Q6)、12h(Q12)、24h(Q24)及总出血量(Q总)。记录CPB后输入血制品的种类和数量:少白细胞红细胞(LPRC),机采血小板(PC-2),新鲜冰冻血浆(FFP),悬浮红细胞(CRCS),冷沉淀(Cryo)。结果CPB后2组PT、APTT、INR、ACT均较T1延长(P<0.05),Hb、Plt则明显下降(P<0.05)。输注血制品后与Ⅰ组相比,Ⅱ组PT、APTT明显缩短(P<0.05),其他指标差异无统计学意义。Ⅱ组Q0和Q6明显多于Ⅰ组(P<0.05),但2组总出血量比较并无统计学差异。Ⅰ组各种血制品用量明显少于Ⅱ组(P<0.05)。结论CPB后PT、APTT、Hb、Plt监测可用于明确FFP、Cryo输注指征,初步推断PC-2输注指征,有利于科学管理围术期输血问题。     

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Randomized Control Trial of a Tailored,Multifactorial Program to Prevent Falls Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly

Objective

To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of a multifactorial, tailored intervention to reduce falls among a heterogeneous group of high-risk elderly people.

Self-Report of Outpatient Therapy Dose at 6 and 12 Months After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective

Determine agreement between self-reported dose and dose reflected in administrative records of outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies at 6 and 12 months after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), for the purpose of examining accuracy and predictors of accuracy of self-reported health care utilization in this population.

Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Combined With Epidural Steroid Injection for Individuals With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Parallel-Group Trial

Objective

To examine the effectiveness of epidural steroid injection (ESI) and back education with and without physical therapy (PT) in individuals with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Development of a rapid semi-quantitative immunochromatographic assay for serum hepatocyte growth factor and its usefulness in acute liver failure.

Measurement of serum human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is useful for the early diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of patients with acute liver failure (ALF). This ELISA methodology, however, is neither rapid nor convenient for use at the bedside. In this study, we have developed a rapid semi-quantitative immunochromatographic (IC) assay and evaluated its usefulness in assessing patients with acute hepatic injury. Only 100mul of serum is required; the assay can be easily completed in 20min. The values obtained using this novel assay correlated well with the values obtained using the standard ELISA protocol. In addition, the values obtained in the IC assay correlated with clinical course; increased serum HGF levels were associated with an increased frequency of ALF and death. These results indicate that this rapid semi-quantitative IC assay for HGF is useful for the early diagnosis of ALF and prediction of clinical outcome in acute hepatic injury.     

Gliadin effect on the oxidative balance and DNA damage: An in-vitro,ex-vivo study

Background

Gliadins are involved in gluten-related disorders and are responsible for the alteration of the cellular redox balance. It is not clear if the gliadin-related oxidative stress can induce DNA damage in enterocytes.

Oral Anticoagulation in Patients With Liver Disease

Patients with liver disease are at increased risks of both thrombotic and bleeding complications. Many have atrial fibrillation (AF) or venous thromboembolism (VTE) necessitating oral anticoagulant agents (OACs). Recent evidence has contradicted the assumption that patients with liver disease are “auto-anticoagulated” and thus protected from thrombotic events. Warfarin and non–vitamin K–antagonist OACs have been shown to reduce thrombotic events safely in patients with either AF or VTE. However, patients with liver disease have largely been excluded from trials of OACs. Because all currently approved OACs undergo metabolism in the liver, hepatic dysfunction may cause increased bleeding. Thus, the optimal anticoagulation strategy for patients with AF or VTE who have liver disease remains unclear. This review discusses pharmacokinetic and clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of OACs in patients with liver disease and provides a practical, clinically oriented approach to the management of OAC therapy in this population.