Animal models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF): from metabolic pathobiology to drug discovery.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is currently a preeminent challenge for cardiovascular medicine. It has a poor prognosis, increasing mortality, and is escalating in prevalence worldwide. Despite accounting for over 50% of all HF patients, the mechanistic underpinnings driving HFpEF are poorly understood, thus impeding the discovery and development of mechanism-based therapies.

Value of quantitative analysis of left ventricular systolic function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis based on myocardial work technique.

Background: This study aimed to determine the left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) using the myocardial work (MW) technique and investigate the clinical value of the MW technique for the quantitative analysis of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in MHD patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Methods: A total of 68 MHD patients and 35 controls were registered in this study. The MHD patients were divided into the non-left ventricular hypertrophy (NLVH) group (n = 35) and the LVH group (n = 33) according to the LV mass index (LVMI).

[Mortality trend on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Liaoning province, 1984-2010].

Objective: To evaluate the mortality trend of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among residents in Liaoning province during the period of 1984-2010.

Methods: The cut-points were ascertained by Monte Carlo Permutation test in COPD mortality trend lines of Poisson regression with Joinpoint Regression Program. The annual percent changes (APC) before and after the cut-points and the average annual percent change (AAPC) of COPD mortality were examined during the period.

[Decomposition of life expectancy at birth by age and causes of death among residents of Liaoning province, 1975 - 2005].

Objective: To analyze the impact of mortality by age and causes of death on life expectancy at birth among residents of Liaoning province.

Methods: The study included mortality data of urban and rural residents in two periods (1973 - 1975 and 2004 - 2005). Both Abridged Life Table and Arriaga method were used to calculate and to decompose life expectancy changes by age and causes of death.

The preparation of an elastomer/silicate layer nanocompound with an exfoliated structure and a strong ionic interfacial interaction by utilizing an elastomer latex containing pyridine groups.

A great variety of polymer/layered silicate (PLS) nanocomposites have been reported, however, there are few exfoliated PLS nanocomposites and their inorganic-organic interfaces are still a great problem, especially for the elastomers. In this research, a kind of exfoliated elastomer/silicate layer nanocompound was prepared and proved by XRD and TEM, in which 10 phr Na(+)-montmorillonite was dispersed in butadiene-styrene-vinyl pyridine rubber by latex compounding method with acidic flocculants. Moreover, a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA) suggested a strong interfacial interaction (interaction parameter B(H) = 4.

RETRACTION: Effects of Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution on Respiratory Health of Children from Kindergarten in Northern China.

RETRACTION: The paper entitled "Effects of Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution on Respiratory Health of Children from Kindergarten in Northern China" by Guang-hui Dong et al, which was published online on 02 May 2007, has been withdrawn at the authors' request.

[Advances in diabetic erectile dysfunction].

Erectile dysfunction is common complication of diabetes mellitus. The incidence of diabetes mellitus induced erectile dysfunction (DMED) is 20% - 75%. DMED appears to be due to vascular-neuropathic and corpus cavernosum smooth muscular damage.

[Three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis implantation for the treatment of penile erectile dysfunction].

Objectives: To introduce the method and experience of three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: Both AMS700CX/CXM and MENTOR ALPHA I three-piece inflatable prosthesis were used for 48 cases of ED.

Results: There were no rejection, mechanical problems, urethral injury and penile skin necrosis after surgery.

[Microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy with delivery of testis].

Objectives: To investigate the effect of microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy with delivery of testis.

Methods: We use microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy with delivery of testis to treat 48 patients with varicocele.

Results: After six months the 30 patients' sperm concentration and motility were significantly improved.