Steroid pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma high molecule adiponectin concentration in patients with IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Decreased plasma adiponectin is associated with impaired endothelial function and, thereby, increased risk for cardiovascular events. Glucocorticoid (GC) affects vascular endothelial cells either favourably or harmfully depending upon the dosages and duration. We examined the effect of GC pulse therapy on vascular endothelial function. METHODS: Fourteen young patients with IgA nephropathy were evaluated for flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), plasma levels of adiponectin both in high molecular weight (HMW adiponectin) form and in single molecular form (total adiponectin), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein, before and after a course of GC pulse therapy. RESULTS: GC pulse therapy significantly decreased FMD (from 7.2 +/- 2.6 to 5.7 +/- 2.5%, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, plasma adiponectin levels were significantly augmented (total adiponectin: from 10.2 +/- 4.0 to 12.1 +/- 6.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05; HMW: from 6.5 +/- 3.2 to 7.7 +/- 3.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05). In parallel, elevated concentrations of serum HGF (from 0.28 +/- 0.12 to 0.63 +/- 0.38 ng/ml, P < 0.01) and plasma ADMA (from 0.45 +/- 0.07 to 0.53 +/- 0.04 nmol/ml, P < 0.05) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: GC pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma adiponectin levels, which may in turn restore the endothelial function in patients with IgA nephropathy.     

多普勒组织成像技术在评价高血压左室舒张功能中的应用

目的 :应用多普勒组织成像 (DTI)技术检测二尖瓣环舒张期运动速度来评介原发性高血压左室舒张功能 ,探讨DTI的临床应用价值。方法 :2 0例原发性高血压和 2 0例年龄相似的健康者 ,应用DTI技术对二尖瓣环室间隔侧的运动速度进行测定 ,并与常规二尖瓣血流脉冲多普勒 (PW)检测结果对照分析。结果 :PW高血压组与对照组比较 ,峰值速度E、A及E/A明显低于对照组 ,差异显著 (P <0 0 1) ;DTI高血压组与对照组比较 ,峰值速度Ea、Aa及Ea/Aa明显低于对照组 ,差异非常显著 (P <0 0 0 1)。PW、DTI两组相同部位间比较 ,高血压组低于对照组。结论 :DTI技术评价高血压左室舒张功能比常规脉冲多普勒二尖瓣血流参数更敏感     

Diastolic function in children and adolescents on dialysis and after kidney transplantation: an echocardiographic assessment

Thirty-seven children and adolescents on renal replacement therapy (11 on haemodialysis, 14 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 12 after renal transplantation) were studied by echocardiography, echo-Doppler and phonocardiography. Right and left ventricular (R/L V) diastolic functions were measured by transmitral and transtricuspid flow velocities and by LV isovolumic relaxation time (LVIRT). Thirty-seven age- and sex-matched healthy subjects served as controls. R/L V diastolic dysfunction was only observed in the dialysis patients. In these patients LVIRT was prolonged. LV and RV peak inflow velocities were increased both in early (E) and late (A) diastole with a reduction in the E/A ratios. This pattern of diastolic dysfunction is compatible with the combined effects of a hypercirculatory state (volume overload, anaemia, arteriovenous fistula) and an abnormality of cardiac relaxation. The transplant patients showed no major cardiac abnormalities.     

A Clinical Study of Reversing Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertensive Patients by Adalat

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Effects of bile acids on ventricular muscle contraction and electrophysiological properties: studies in rat papillary muscle and isolated ventricular myocytes

Summary The effects of sodium salts of various bile acids on the contractile force and the electrophysiological properties of rat ventricular muscle were studied in vitro. Primary, conjugated, and secondary bile acids were studied in a concentration range of 10^–9–10^–6 mol/l, which corresponds to concentrations found in the plasm of patients with cholestatic jaundice. In general, the bile acid induced a negative inotropic effect which was manifested as a reduction in active tension, maximum rate of tension activation, and maximum rate of tension relaxation. Twitch duration and time to peak tension were unaffected by the bile acids. The negative inotropism was associated with a reduction in ventricular action potential duration. Resting potential, action potential amplitude, and maximum upstroke velocity of phase 0 depolarization were unaffected. Voltage clamp experiments in rat ventricular myocytes demonstrated that sodium taurocholate decreased the slow inward current and slightly increased the outward potassium current. Hence, these effects on the membrane currents are probably responsible for the negative inotropic effect. Send offprint requests to O. Binah at the above address     

前列腺素E1和一氧化氮联合治疗室间隔缺损并肺动脉高压的疗效观察

目的 :观察静脉应用前列腺素E1(PGE1)、吸入一氧化氮 (NO)及二者小剂量联合应用对室间隔缺损 (VSD)并肺动脉高压的治疗作用。方法 :将 2 4例VSD并肺动脉高压的病人随机分为 3组 ,观察静脉注射PGE16 0ng/ (kg·min)、吸入NO 2 0ppm及静脉注射PGE130ng/ (kg·min)联合吸入NO 10 ppm对病人的血流动力学及血氧饱合度的影响。结果 :静脉注射PGE16 0ng/ (kg·min)使肺动脉平均压 (MPAP)明显下降 ,体动脉平均压 (MSAP)亦有所下降 ,心指数 (CI)明显增加。吸入NO 2 0 ppm组MPAP明显下降而MSAP无明显变化 ,CI有所升高 ,但差别不显著。静脉注射PGE130ng/ (kg·min)同时吸入NO 10 ppm组MPAP明显下降 ,但不显著 ,CI明显升高。 3组血氧饱合度均明显升高。结论 :联合应用小剂量PGE1和NO不仅能有效降低MPAP ,又能适当轻度降低MSAP ,改善心功能 ,减轻了NO的毒副作用 ,是一种较理想的治疗方案     

8—2岁市区学龄儿童感觉统合失调与不良行为及家庭因素调查分析

目的：调查本市区小学儿童感觉统合失调现状与不良行为及家庭因素的关系。方法：用感觉统合诊断量表和自制儿童生长发育调查表对1775名学龄儿童进行心理行为问题调查。结果：感觉统合轻度失调23．4％，重度失调13．5％，男童失调发和率（42．86％）明显高于女童（31．36％）P＜0．0），前庭功能失衡发生率最高（21．30％）；统合失调组儿童不良行为发生率高达64．38％明显高于统合正常组（31．11％）P＜0．01，失调组不良行为各因子的发生率亦明显高于统合正常组P＜0．01；学习能力不足儿童与父母文化程度和不同职业有关P＜0．01。结论：儿童感觉纺合失调现状易成为成人心理障碍的潜在因素，应引起重视。     

创伤后肝细胞凋亡与坏死的检测及其意义

目的 探讨严重创伤后肝细胞凋亡及坏死在急性肝功能障碍发病机制中的作用。方法复制多发性骨折合并休克的大鼠创伤模型,采用 Annexin－V－Flous、碘化丙锭(propidium iodid,PI)双标法经流式细胞仪检测创伤后各时间点肝细胞凋亡与坏死的数量变化,结合光镜、电镜和电泳观察细胞凋亡与坏死,并与肝功能变化相比较。结果创伤后早期肝细胞即发生凋亡和坏死,坏死肝细胞的数量进行性升高,与肝功能变化显著呈正相关;凋亡肝细胞在创伤后3h达高峰,部分凋亡肝细胞发生继发性坏死,其数量与肝功能变化显著正相关。结论肝细胞坏死与凋亡是严重创伤后肝功能损害的重要原因,坏死肝细胞是肝功能损害的直接因素,凋亡肝细胞通过发生继发性坏死加重肝功能损害。     

Characteristics of Bifocal Pacing:

Bifocal RIGHT ventricular stimulation (BRIGHT) is an ongoing, randomized, single-blind, crossover study of atrial synchronized bi-right ventricular (RV) pacing in patients in New York Heart Association heart failure functional class III, a left ventricular ejection fraction <35%, left bundle branch block and QRS complexes ≥120 ms. This analysis compared the electrical and handling characteristics, and the complications of pacing at the RV apex (Ap) with passive, versus RV outflow tract (OT) with active fixation leads. A mean of 1.6 ± 0.9 and 2.2 ± 2.0 attempts were needed to position the Ap and OT leads, respectively (ns). R-wave amplitudes at Ap versus OT were 23 ± 13 mV versus 14 ± 8 mV (n = 36, P < 0.001). R-wave amplitudes at the Ap remained stable between implant and M7. R-wave amplitudes at the OT could not be measured after implantation. In two patients, atrioventricular block occurred during active fixation at the OT. Conduction recovered spontaneously within 4 months. Ventricular fibrillation was induced in one patient during manipulation of an Ap lead in the RV. Marked differences were found between leads positioned in the OT versus Ap, partly related to the difference in lead design. Mean R-wave amplitude was higher at the Ap that at the OT. Ease and success rate of lead implant was similar in both positions.     

No Correlation Between Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations and Echocardiographic Measurements of Left Atrial Size or Left Ventricular Size and Function in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with activation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). The exact trigger for the release of ANP is still being debated. Atrial volume, pressure, and wall stretch are considered to be the main determinants of ANP activation. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma ANP concentrations in patients with persistent AF and to analyze the echocardiographic determinants of ANP concentration in this group. The study population included 67 patients, 59 ± 7 years of age, with a median AF duration of 5.5 months (range 0.1–12). The relationship between plasma ANP concentrations and echocardiographic left atrial (LA) diameter and volume, and left ventricular (LV) diameter and ejection fraction (EF) was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The median baseline plasma ANP concentration was 63 pg/mL (range 21–126) in the study group versus 34 pg/mL (range 16–73) in a control group. The mean left antero-posterior atrial dimension, LA volume, LV enddiastolic diameter, and LVEF were 48 mm, 104 mL, 52 mm, and 54%, respectively. A significant linear positive correlation was found between plasma ANP concentration and maximal LA volume (r = 0.62, P < 0.01). A negative correlation was found between LVEF and plasma ANP concentration (r =−0.42, P = 0.01). However, by multivariate regression analysis, no echocardiographic parameter was an independent predictor of plasma ANP concentration. Plasma ANP concentrations were independent of echocardiographic measurements of LA size or LV size and function in patients with persistent AF.