microRNA-665 silencing improves cardiac function in rats with heart failure through activation of the cAMP signaling pathway.

Heart failure (HF) is a disease with high mortality and morbidity rate. Previous studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) may be implicated in the pathogenesis of HF, potentially being able to improve the cardiac function in an HF rat model. The present study was designed to define the role of miR-665 in the cardiac function of the HF rats.

DUSP14 knockout accelerates cardiac ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury through activating NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways modulated by ROS generation.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are significantly involved in the progression of a variety of diseases, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR). In the present study, we hypothesized a protective role of dual-specificity phosphatase 14 (DUSP14) in myocardial IR, as well as the underlying molecular mechanism. The results indicated that DUSP14 was down-regulated following cardiac IR injury.

[Analysis of death characteristics and its potential mechanisms in rats with endotoxin- induced cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To approach the changes in heart failure and dying regularity of rats with endotoxin-induced cardiomyopathy, and to offer some help for clinical diagnosing and further investigation.

Methods: Injecting refined endotoxin (10 mg/kg) via vein of Wistar rats. The first experiment: antidromic observing the endotoxic rats from death to the beginning to discover the performance of clinic heart function which could forecast death.

[Changes of thyroxin and monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR expression in senior patients with sepsis].

Objective: To investigate the changes of thyroxin and monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR expression in senior patients with sepsis and explore their clinical significance.

Methods: According to the 2001 SCCM/ESICM/ACCP/ATS/SIS international sepsis definitions, 125 senior patients with sepsis free of thyroid conditions were divided into non-severe sepsis group (n=86) and severe sepsis group (n=39), with another 30 healthy subjects as the control. Thyroid function was assayed by chemoluminescence method in these patients and monocyte HLA-DR expression was determined by flow cytometry.

[Therapeutic effect of low-dose thyroxin in elderly patients with refractory heart failure and euthyroid sick syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of low-dose thyroxin in elderly patients with refractory heart failure (RHF) and euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS).

Methods: Fifty-four elderly patients with RHF and ESS were randomized into conventional treatment group (n=32) and L-thyroxine group with additional oral L-thyroxine at the daily dose of 6.25-25 microg (n=22).

[Changes in the mRNA expressions of myocardial cytoskeletal proteins in endotoxemic rats].

Objective: To investigate the changes of the mRNA expressions of myocardial cytoskeletal proteins in endotoxemic rats.

Methods: Thirty-seven Wistar rats were randomized into two groups with injection of 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or normal saline through the femoral vein. The cardiac function of the rats was monitored continuously for 24 h, and the morphological changes of the cardiac myocytes were observed with HE staining and electron microscope.