Objective To compare the point-of-care testing (POCT) and laboratory testing of myocardial damage markers in the diagnosis and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods A total of 3467 patients with ACS who were treated in the Emergency Department Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University between January 1,2006 and June 30,2010 were retrospectively reviewed.The patient demographics (age,sex,past medical history and smoking history) and laboratory testing results (myocardial damage markers,D-dimer,NTproBNP,and ejection fraction [EF]) were analyzed.The patients who received POCT or laboratory testing of myocardial damage markers were compared with regard to emergency department stay (i.e.,the time from the emergency visit to interventional or conservative treatment),cardiovascular events during hospitalization (congestive heart failure,ventricular fibrillation,and cerebrovascular disease),and 28-day mortality rate.Results The emergency department stay,incidence of a cardiovascular event,and 28-day mortality in the POCT group were all lower than that in the laboratory testing group (P =0.000).A prolonged emergency department stay result in an increased incidence of 28-day mortality.The higher level of D-dimer and decreased EF prompted an increased incidence of 28-day mortality.Conclusions Compared with conventional laboratory testing,POCT can significantly shorten the length of an emergency department stay for an ACS patient,decrease the incidence of a cardiovascular event,and improve the prognosis.

Objective To study the in-vitro anti-tumor activities of physalin B (PhB) extracted from Physalis angulata L.. Methods Th e effect of PhB on the cell proliferation and the morphology changes of tumor cell strains HepG2 and SGC7901 was observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and by phase contrast microscopy respectively, and the results were compared to positive control anti-cancer drug hydroxycamptothecine (HCTP) . Apoptosis of HepG2 and SGC7901 cells induced by PhB was determined by 4’ , 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole ( DAPI) staining method. Results MTT results showed that the growth of HepG2 and SGC7901 was significantly inhibited by PhB in dose-and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory effect of high concentration of PhB was better than the positive control medicine HCTP. Phase contrast microscopy results showed that the cellular morphology was improved by PhB, which was accorded with the results showed by MTT assay. DAPI staining results showed that the apoptosis of HepG2 and SGC7901 was enhanced by PhB. Conclusion PhB extracted from Physalis pubescens L. exerts certain inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HepG2 and SGC7901 cells.

Objective To investigate clinical significance of D-dimer and other easily-obtained laboratory parameters in rapid screening for acute aortic dissection ( AAD). Methods Data of general health, clinical symptoms, white blood cell (WBC) count, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP),cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTn Ⅰ ) and D-dimer in patients with confirmed AAD and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were retrospectively analyzed. Significance of varied parameters in clinical diagnosis for AAD was evaluated by logistic regression model and their diagnostic values were evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Results Serum level of D-dimer increased significantly in patients with type Ⅰ AAD, as compared with that in those with type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ (P = 0. 111 and 0. 002, respectively). D-dimer, WBC and CRP all were independent risk factors for type Ⅰ AAD by logistic regression model fitted,with the largest effect of D-dimer. Analysis by ROC curve with sensitivities and specificities of serum levels of D-dimer and CRP, and WBC count also showed the same results. Conclusions Determination of serum level of D-dimer had significantly diagnostic value for AAD, and can be sued as rapid screening for it if combined with determinations of WBC and CRP.

Objective To investigate the impacts of long cold ischemic preservation time on the ultrastructural changes of donor heart and to provide the data for expanding the heart donor pool. Methods Heart was obtained from brain dead donor and preserved in the the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution at 4℃. Cardiac tissues were harvested at different time points of cold ischemic preservation (6, 8, 10, 12, 14 h) and observed under electron miscroscope. Results Donor heart did not have significant pathologied and ultrastructural changes when cold ischemic preservation time was 6 h. After that, time related impairment of myocardia and endothelium of coronary artery was seen.When ischemic time was longer than 12 h, focal myocardial necrosis and complete loss of the endothelium were detected. Conclusions Myocardial ultrastructure is an important index to evaluate the donor heart quality. Heart, which underwent 10 h of cold ischemia preservation time, causes no significant irreversible and pathological ultrastructural changes, and could be used for heart transplantation. When ischemia time was over 10 h, the donor heart presented with irreversible change and was nolonger unsuitable for transplantation.

BACKGROUND:Neural stem cel (NSC) transplantation is a common method for various ischemicencephalopathies, but inability to survive in the transplantation region limits its further use in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of vascular endothelial progenitor cel s (VEPCs) on the proliferation and apoptosis of co-cultured NSCs as wel as vascular remodeling in rats with ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS:125 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, 25 rats in each group, including sham operation, ischemia, NSCs, co-culture, and VEPCs groups. Rat models of ischemia reperfusion injury were made in al groups except for the sham operation group, fol owed by corresponding interventions. The proliferation and apoptosis of neural stem cel s were detected, and vascular remolding in the ischemic region was observed in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At different time points after transplantation, BrdU positive cel s were not observed in VEPCs, ischemia and sham operation groups;the number of BrdU positive cel s in the co-culture group was significantly higher than that in the NSCs group (P<0.05);BrdU+/Caspase-3+cel were observed in both co-culture and NSCs groups, and the apoptosis rate of the co-culture group was significantly lower than that in the NSCs group (P<0.05);there were new blood vessels in al the groups except for the sham operation group, and the number of new bone vessels was highest in the co-culture group. To conclude, our experimental results show that VEPCs promotes the proliferation of co-cultured NSCs, inhibits cel apoptosis and and promote angiogenesis in the ischemic penumbra of rats with ischemia reperfusion injury.

Objective To investigate the effect of paclitaxel on the intimal proliferation in rat aortic allografts and the possible mechanism on preventing graft arteriosclerosis.Methods Thirty-two inbred(Wista)r rats and 16 SD rats were divided into three groups:the isografts control group(Wistar/Wistar),the(allografts) control group ((Wistar)/SD) and test group(Wistar/SD) randomly(16 rats each groups).The rat abdominal aortic allograft model was used.The rats in test group were treated with paclitaxel after operation and those in control group with(0.9 %) normal saline.The grafts were removed and measured by means of pathology and immunohistochemistry 30 days later.Results The results showed that the thickness of the(aortic) intima,the degree of inflammatory cells infiltration in adventitia,stenosis ratio and the expression of(PCNA) were decreased in test group as compared with the allografts control group.Conclusions Paclitaxel can inhibit intimal proliferation in aortic allografts and prevent the graft arteriosclerosis.The mechanism is related to inhibition of vascular smooth(muscle) cell proliferation and alleviation of aortic allografts rejection.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expressions of glucose transporter protein-1 ,vascular endothelial growth factor in pancreatic cancer and the clinical indicators.Methods Im-munohistochemical staining was done in glucose transporter protein-1,vascular endothelial growth factor in pancreatic cancer and normal pancreas tissues.Results Glucose transporter protein-1,vascular endothelial growth factor of pancreatic cancer were expressed higher than that in normal tissue.The difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05).VEGF expression was related with lymph node metastasis,not with tumor grade,clinical stage(P<0.05).Glut-1 expression was related with tumor size,clinical stage and lymph node metastasis,not with pathological grading(P< 0.05).Conclusions Glucose transporter protein-1 ,vascular endothelial growth factor in pancreatic cancer are highly expressed .Both of them may participate in occurrence and development in pancreatic cancer.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by inflammatory demyelinating lesions and axonal degeneration in optic nerve and spinal cord. It has high relapse rate and high disability rate. In recent years, as the studies on mechanisms of NMOSD, related immune therapy strategies have been developed rapidly. These immunologic interventions are collectively called the disease modifying therapy, which are helpful in improving the course and outcome of the disease. In this review, the latest treatment progress in NMOSD is summarized to guide clinical choice and application of the medication.

OBJECTIVETo explore the cerebral function laterality of acupuncture at left and right Hegu (LI 4) by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and provide objective evidences for side selection of Hegu (LI 4) in the clinical application.

METHODSEighty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into a left-acupoint group and a right-acupoint group, and they were treated with acupuncture at left Hegu (LI 4) and right Hegu (LI 4) respectively. After the arrival of qi, the task-state fMRI data in both groups was collected, and analysis of functional neuroimages (AFNI) software was used to perform intra-group and between-group comparisons. After acupuncture, acupuncture feelings were recorded and MGH acupuncture sensation scale (MASS) was recorded.

RESULTSThe difference of MASS between the two groups was not significant (P>0. 05). The result of left-acupoint group showed an increased signal on right cerebral hemisphere, while the right-acupoint group showed extensive signal changes in both cerebral hemispheres. The analysis between left-acupoint group and retroflex right-acupoint group showed differences in brain areas.

CONCLUSIONSThe central effect of acupuncture at left and right Hegu (LI 4) is dissymmetry, indicating right hemisphere laterality. The right lobus insularis and cingulate gyrus may be the key regions in the acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Sensation ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate changes in the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) from peripheral blood and pathological feature in the development of transplant arteriosclerosis in mouse abdominal aortic allografts, and discuss their correlations. Methods A segment of abdominal aorta was transplanted orthotopically from C57BL/6 to Balb/c mice. The grafts were harvested at 3rd day, 2nd week, 4th week and 6th week after the operation and studied by light and electronic microscopy. Regional changes in the lumen and intima were measured with computer imaging analysis system. EPC from peripheral blood were quantified by flow cytometry. Results Endothelium injury and inflammatory cells infiltration were seen in the aortic allografts at 3rd day after transplantation.Neointimal lesions and acute rejection were observed as early as 2nd week after surgery. The lumen of allografts was significantly narrowed due to neointima hyperplasia and had progressed at 4th and 6th week postoperatively. The number of circulation EPC was increased from 1 st day after operation and reached the peak at 3rd day. Thereafter the number of EPC was decreased rapidly and significantly less at 14th and 28th day postoperation than that pre-operation. Conclusion Abdominal aortic transplantation from C57BL/6 to Balb/c mice presents typical pathological feature of transplant arteriosclerosis. The number of EPC from peripheral blood is related to the process of injured endothelial repair and neointima formation of aortic grafts. EPC count may be considered a novel biological marker and therapeutic intervention for transplant arteriosclerosis.