OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of different loading doses of atorvastatin calcium on the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSA total of 120 CHD patients aged over 80 years were randomly assigned into 3 equal groups to receive intensive pretreatment with statin at the doses of 20, 40, or 60 mg prior to PCI performed within 48 to 72 h after admission. The changes of postoperative cardiac biochemical markers including creatine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB), troponin I (cTNI) and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were observed and the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization) were recorded within 30 days after PCI.

RESULTSThirty-four patients in 20 mg statin group, 40 in 40 mg statin group, and 38 in 60 mg statin group completed this study. In all the 3 groups, hs-CRP level significantly increased at 12 and 24 h after PCI compared with the preoperative levels (P<0.05). The patients in 60 mg statin group showed significantly lower levels of CKMB, cTNI, and hs-CRP at 24 h after PCI than those in 20 mg statin group (P<0.05), and had also a significantly lower incidence of total MACE within 30 days after PCI (2.6% vs 26.5%, P=0.003) resulting primarily from significantly reduced myocardial infarction associated with PCI (2.6% vs 20.6%, P=0.016). The adverse drug reactions were comparable among the 3 groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIntensive pretreatment with 60 mg/day atorvastatin calcium can significantly reduce myocardial infarction related to PCI with good safety in elderly patients with CHD.

Aged, 80 and over ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Myocardial Infarction ; prevention & control ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of mTOR signal transduction pathway and down-regulating anti-oncogene PTEN on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

METHODSMCF-7 cells were transfected with the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1-mTOR and non-loaded plasmid, and the expression of mTOR in the cells was detected using Western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of the transfected cells, and the expression of PTEN was detected after transfection.

RESULTSThe cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-mTOR showed a increased growth rate than those transfected with the non-loaded plasmid and those without transfection. The expression of the protein PTEN decreased obviously in the cells after mTOR trasnfection.

CONCLUSIONmTOR can regulate the expression of PTEN via PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathways through a negative feedback mechanism. Increased mTOR expression promotes MCF-7 cell growth, suggesting the potential value of mTOR specific inhibitor in the treatment of breast cancer.

Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and feasibility of domestically made endoscopic stapling instrument in laparoscopic assisted rectal cancer resection (Dixon).

METHODSSixty-four patients with rectal cancer were randomly divided into the research group (35 cases) to receive laparoscopic assisted rectal cancer resection using ENDO RLC general endoscopic linear cutter and single-use loading unit and circular staplers with staples (from REACH medical equipment co.LTD) and the control group (29 cases) to receive surgery with the corresponding products widely used (fom Johnson and Johnson Medical Euipment C.Ltd). The clinical data of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSSatisfactory therapeutic effects were obtained in all the cases. The two groups showed no significant differences in the operative time, intraoperative anastomosis success rate, or postoperative complications (anastomotic bleeding, leakage, or stricture) between the two groups (P>0.05), but the average cost of endoscopic stapling instrument was significantly lower in the research group (6604.31 ± 699.95 vs 7822.28 ± 576.98 RMB Yuan, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe domestic endoscopic stapling instrument is safe, effective and less costly for laparoscopic assisted rectal cancer resection.

Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Postoperative Complications ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Surgical Stapling ; instrumentation

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) in a mouse model of ozone-induced lung inflammation and explore its role in lung inflammation.

METHODSIn a mouse model of lung inflammation established by ozone exposure, the expression of TRPC1 in the inflammatory lung tissues was detected by RT-PCR, Wstern blotting and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared to the control mice, the mice exposed to ozone showed significantly increased expression level of TRPC1 mRNA and protein in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed increased TRPC1 protein expressions in the alveolar epithelial cells, bronchial epithelial cells, and inflammatory cells in the inflammatory lung tissues (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPC1 were positively correlated with the counts of white blood cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the exposed mice (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONTRPC1 may play a role in ozone-induced lung inflammation in mice.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Ozone ; adverse effects ; Pneumonia ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; TRPC Cation Channels ; metabolism

OBJEVTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of lentiviral vector-mediated short hairpin RNA targeting survivin (LV-survivin shRNA) on the growth of human endometrium xenograft in the abdominal cavity of nude mice.

METHODSThe endometrium xenografts from 8 women with endometriosis were injected into the peritoneal cavities of 45 nude mice. The mice were then randomly assigned to receive intraperitoneal injection of LV-survivin shRNA, pGCL-NC-GFP (negative control) or PBS (blank control). Two weeks later, the number and morphometry of endometriotic lesions were quantified and the expression of survivin protein were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe formation of endometriotic lesions was significantly suppressed in mice receiving LV-survivin shRNA injection as compared with those in the two control groups (P/0.001). The mice in LV-survivin-shRNA group showed significantly down-regulated expression levels of survivin protein compared with those in the negative and blank control groups, presenting also necrosis in the endometriosis-like lesions in microscopic observation.

CONCLUSIONLentiviral vector-mediated shRNA can effectively inhibit the expression of survivin in human endometrium xengrafts and suppress the formation and growth of endometriotic lesions in the abdominal cavities of nude mice.

Animals ; Endometriosis ; prevention & control ; Endometrium ; drug effects ; growth & development ; transplantation ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Heterografts ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; RNA, Small Interfering

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of a Gold Belt (GB, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine) combined with methyl-prednisolone (MP) on the motor function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in rats with contusive spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSThirty adult female SD rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups, namely the sham-operated group, SCI group, SCI with MP treatment group (MP group, with intramuscular injection of 50 mg/kg MP within 8 hours after SCI and then dosage reduced 10 mg/kg daily), SCI with GB treatment group (GB group, with intragastric gavage of GB 50 mg/kg once daily for 7 days), and combined GB and MP treatment group. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale was used to evaluate the hindlimb motor function of the rats on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after the injury. After the last evaluation the rats were sacrificed for immunohistochemistry to observe the localization of BDNF in the ventral and dorsal horn of spinal cord.

RESULTSBDNF were distributed mainly in neurons in the spinal cord grey matter ventral horn and dorsal horn of the rats. The number of BDNF-positive neurons and BBB scores in the combined treatment group were significantly higher than those in the other 4 groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONGB combined with MP produces better therapeutic effects for treating SCI than GB or MP used alone, and such effects are probably related with enhanced BDNF expression in the spinal cord.

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Methylprednisolone ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a prognostic model for predicting extracorporeal circulation clotting in patients with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

METHODS425 patients with CRRT were involved in the study. We built a predictive risk model of extracorporeal blood clotting with the 302 participants, and 103 participants were used to validate the model. The primary endpoint of CRRT was extracorporeal circulation pipe blockage.

RESULTSWe used a score of 0-5 point evaluating system to predict the risk of 24 hours CRRT integral model of cardiopulmonary bypass clogging. The area under the CRRT predictive model of cardiopulmonary bypass clogging integral system ROC curve was 0.790 (95% CI 0.719-0.826) (P<0.001). The evaluating system can determine the blockage of 24 hours CRRT extracorporeal circulation. The results showed that CRRT extracorporeal plugging prediction fitted the integral model and could predict the chance of plugging. The actual plugging rate showed no significant difference from the predicted rate (R² = 0.301, P=0.232). The cardiopulmonary pipe survival time between the 3 groups(low risk, intermediate risk, and high risk) showed a significant difference (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONWe established a continuity extracorporeal blood purification plugging risk score model, to predict plugging risks during CRRT treatment.

Blood Coagulation ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo characterize the property of uricase loaded in uricase-catalase liposomes (BUCLPs) prepared using borate buffer.

METHODSBUCLPs were prepared using reverse-phase evaporation, and the physicochemical properties of uricase in the prepared BUCLPs were examined.

RESULTSThe optimal temperature of BUCLP and URI was 40 degrees celsius, their optimal pH values were 8.0 and 8.5, and their Michaelis-Menten constants were 14.207 µmol/L and 13.623 µmol/L, respectively. Fluorescence intensity of nanoliposome-loaded uricase-catalase that bound to FITC was higher than that of uricase-catalase binding directly with FITC; the fluorescence intensity of BUCLP was higher than that of free uricase-catalase at 280 nm.

CONCLUSIONUricase activity is enhanced after loading in uricase and catalase liposomes.

Borates ; Catalase ; Liposomes ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Temperature ; Urate Oxidase ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEThis clinical study was conducted to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) combined with propofol on vital signs and anaesthetic depth in patients.

METHODSNinety patients with ASA 1-2 requiring painless colonoscopy for colonic polyps resection were randomized to receive DEX 0.3 micro;g/kg (group D, n=45) followed by propofol 1 mg/kg or propofol 2 mg/kg (group C, n=45), and according to the body activity and operation time, additional doses of propofol (0.2-0.5 mg/kg) were given. The full recovery time, operation time, consumed dose of propofol, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), hemoglobin oxygen saturation levels(SPO₂) and NTI were recorded.

RESULTSThe SPO₂recover time and the consumed dose of propofol in group D were decreased compared to those in group C (P<0.01). The rate of the body activity in group D was lower than that in group C (P<0.05). The NTI in group C was lower than that in group D (P<0.05). The HR and MAP were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONUnder Narcotrend monitoring, the value of DEX combined with low dose of propofol in colonoscopy for colonic polyps resection is to reach more reasonable depth of anesthesia to reduce adverse responses and the dose of propofol.

Anesthesia ; methods ; Arterial Pressure ; Colonic Polyps ; surgery ; Colonoscopy ; Dexmedetomidine ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Propofol

OBJECTIVETo study the correction of algorithm for Varian enhanced dynamic wedge(EDW) factors and compare the dose/monitor unit (MU) deviation measured at the central axis of EDW field with that obtained by manual calculation or using the treatment planning system.

METHODSEDW factors and dose were measured with Thimble ion chamber at 10 cm depth under the water for 6 MV and 10 MV photon on Varian linear accelerator. The corresponding calculations were done with the radiation treatment planning system. An analytic formula, namely the MU Fraction model, was used to calculate the EDW factor, which was corrected with a constant factor. The MU of conventional 2-D planning derived from manual calculating, treatment planning system, and actual measurements were compared.

RESULTSWith the measured results as the standard, the corrected manual calculation deviation of EDW factors was significantly reduced. For photon 6 MV, the maximum deviation reduced from 4.2% to 1.3% for 60° symmetry fields was, and from -4.7% to -1.8% for asymmetric fields. For photon 10 MV, the maximum deviation for all EDW fields was reduced from -3.0% to 1.1%. Comparison of the manual calculations with the measured results showed a MU deviation for symmetric fields within 2%, and more than 5% for some asymmetric fields. The deviation between the calculations of the treatment planning and the measured results was less than 1.5%.

CONCLUSIONConstant factor correction can effectively reduce the deviation of manual calculation. For MU calculation of EDW field in conventional 2-D dimensional treatment planning, the corrected results of symmetric fields meet clinical requirements. While the minimum distance between the field edge and the central axis was less than 4 cm in asymmetric fields, the corresponding special method, measurement or the treatment planning system should be used to calculate the dose/MU.

Algorithms ; Models, Theoretical ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted