BACKGROUNDDilation resistance to stenting in non-calcified coronary plaques was compared in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in order to confirm the clinical usefulness of multislice computed tomography in examining coronary plaque type and to provide information pertaining to the effects of plaque type on dilatation resistance.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of 64-slice computed tomography coronary imaging data collected in the month prior to coronary stenting in 93 patients (65 male and 28 female, mean age of (57.22±7.22) years) was conducted. Non-calcified coronary plaques were divided into lipid-rich (lipid content >25% of plaque volume) and fibrous plaques according to the Hammer-Hansen S method: where lipids, fiber, and intraluminal components were indicated by contrast using Hu values of -100-49, 50-129, and >130, respectively. Clinical features, pre-dilatation balloon specifications and filling pressure, and stent size and release pressure were compared.

RESULTSHigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were higher in the lipid-rich plaque group. In patients with typical symptoms, unstable angina was more commonly observed in the lipid-rich plaque group. No significant differences in low density lipoprotein, pre-dilatation balloon specifications, pre-dilatation pressure, or stent specifications were observed. Stent release pressure in the lipid-rich plaque group ((1130.16±202.04) kPa), was significantly lower than that observed in the fibrous plaque group ((1240.61±193.29) kPa, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONSofter, lipid-rich plaques exhibit lower dilation resistance during stenting in PCI patients.

C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus ; diagnosis ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve

Aged ; Carotid Artery, Common ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Tunica Intima ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of artesunate (ART) on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of SKM-1 cells in vitro and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSAfter SKM-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of ART, the cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8 method. Apoptosis and distribution of cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Both DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and Fluo-3-Am fluorescent probe were used to detect the changes of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium ion concentration. Western blot was used to measure the protein levels of BCL-2, BAX, BAD, P-BAD, survivin and XIAP.

RESULTSART obviously inhibited the growth of SKM-1 cells in time and dose-dependent manners (r = -0.841; r = 0.-786). The antioxidant trolox-pretreatment significantly decreased the growth inhibition effect of ART on SKM-1 cells. Caspase inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO partially reduced the growth inhibition effect of ART on SKM-1 cells. After treatment with ART for 24 hours, the apoptosis of SKM-1 cells was found, the cell cycle of SKM-1 was arrested in G0/G1 phase, ART could elevate the levels of calciumion and reactive orygen. ART could significantly down-regulate the protein expression levels of P-BAD and survivin in SKM-1 cells, and showed a highly negative correlation with ART dose (r = -0.909; r = -0.849). On the contrary, ART had no significant effect on expression levels of BAD and XIAP in SKM-1 cells, and after ART treatment, although BCL-2 protein expression was not significantly different when compared with control group, but the BCL-2/BAX ratio significantly decreased and highly negatively correlated with ART dose (r = -0.866).

CONCLUSIONThe ART significantly suppresses the cell proliferation, induces the apoptosis and promoted cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in SKM-1 cells. The mechanisms of ART anti-MDS is associated with the increase of intracellular calciumion concentration and ROS levels. In addition, the pro-apoptotic activity of ART may be involved in the regulation of BCL-2 /BAX ratio and the expressions of P-bad and survivin.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine among children aged 5-24 months old.

METHODSFrom July 2011 to June 2012, a total of 34 411 children aged 5-24 month-old who voluntarily vaccinated meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in Zhongshan city were included. The adverse effects within 72 hours were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS34 411 children were recruited, including 18 708 boys (54.36%), whose mean age were ( 11.4 ± 3.9 ) months old.Within 72 hours, the incidence rates of local adverse effects were 0.76% (261/34 411) for erythema,0.57% (197/34 411) for sclerosis,0.56% (191/34 411) for swelling,0.42% (143/34 411) for pain,0.15% (53/34 411) for pruritus, and 0.15% (50/34 411) for rash on the injection site. The overall incidence rate of local adverse effects was 1.61% (554/34 411; 95%CI:1.48%-1.74%). The incidence rates of systemic adverse effects were 0.98% (312/34 411) for fever,0.48% (164/34 411) for anorexia,0.31% (108/34 411) for diarrhea,0.29% (100/34 411) for malaise,0.20% (70/34 411) for nausea and vomiting, and 0.08% (26/34 411) for headache. The overall incidence rate of systemic adverse effects was 1.64% (565/34 411; 95%CI:1.51%-1.78%).25 children (0.07%) had hyperpyrexia ( > 39°C), and the time of duration lasted less than 48 hours.16 children (0.05%) had symptoms of cold, such as cough and catarrh.No accident and other serious events were reported. The incidence rate of systemic adverse effects among boys was 1.79% (334/18 708), which was higher than that of girls (1.47%, 231/15 703), the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 5.22, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of systemic adverse effects among children aged 5-12 month-old was 1.78% (411/23 113), which was higher than that among children aged 13-24 month-old (1.36%, 154/11 298), the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 8.10, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of local adverse effects in children vaccinated the first dose was 1.72% (536/31 129), which was higher than that in children vaccinated the second or third dose (0.55%, 18/3282), the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 25.81, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of systemic adverse effects in children vaccinated the first dose was 1.73% (539/31 129), which was higher than that in children vaccinated the second or third dose (0.79%, 26/5282), whose difference also showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 16.22, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine among children aged 5-24 months old is relative good.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup A ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; immunology ; Vaccines, Conjugate ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology

We report a complete genomic sequence of rare isolates (minor genotype) of the SARS-CoV from SARS patients in Guangdong, China, where the first few cases emerged. The most striking discovery from the isolate is an extra 29-nucleotide sequence located at the nucleotide positions between 27,863 and 27,864 (referred to the complete sequence of BJ01) within an overlapped region composed of BGI-PUP5 (BGI-postulated uncharacterized protein 5) and BGI-PUP6 upstream of the N (nucleocapsid) protein. The discovery of this minor genotype, GD-Ins29, suggests a significant genetic event and differentiates it from the previously reported genotype, the dominant form among all sequenced SARS-CoV isolates. A 17-nt segment of this extra sequence is identical to a segment of the same size in two human mRNA sequences that may interfere with viral replication and transcription in the cytosol of the infected cells. It provides a new avenue for the exploration of the virus-host interaction in viral evolution, host pathogenesis, and vaccine development.
Base Sequence ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Components ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Viral ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; genetics

ObjectiveTo further study the pathogenic role of different types of Chlamydia trachomatis （CT） proteins in tubal factor infertility， evaluate the clinical detection value of Chlamydia trachomatis protein antibody in predicting tubal factor infertility. MethodsA total of 58 cases of tubal factor infertility （TFI）， 41 cases of fertile controls （FC） and 18 cases of infertile controls （IFC） were included. For serum detection， first， CT-IgG ELISA kit was used to detect the expression of CT-IgG in serum of three groups of people； then， 6 kinds of Chlamydia trachomatis proteins were expressed and purified in the early stage to establish the antibody test for these proteins， and ELISA detection method was used to detect the expression of their antibodies in the serum of TFI group， FC group and IFC group， respectively； and finally， the antibody OD value of the 6 kinds of Chlamydia trachomatis proteins in the three groups of subjects were statistically described， and CT-IgG was used as the reference standard to draw the receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC curve） of each CT antibody. The Youden Index determines the cutoff value for each antibody. Taking TFI as the reference class， two disordered multiple classification logistic regression models were established with the FC and IFC groups， respectively； and the reference class was used to explore the value of various antibodies and age in predicting TFI， FC and IFC of Chlamydia trachomatis. The back-off method was used to screen the variables. ResultsThe OD value of CT376 antibody in the TFI group was higher than that in the FC group （0.86 vs. 0.60， P=0.026）. The CT376 antibody OD value in the TFI group was higher than that in the IFC group （0.86 vs. 0.64， P=0.026）. The CT443 antibody OD value in the IFC group was higher than that in the TFI group （0.59 vs. 0.34， P=0.036） and higher than that in the FC group （0.59 vs. 0.30， P=0.02）. The multiple classification logistic regression analysis established between TFI and FC showed that CT-IgG ［P<0.001， OR=0.084， 95%CI （0.025， 0.284）］， CT376 antibody ［P=0.068， OR=0.359， 95%CI （0.120， 1.078）］. CT-IgG is an independent risk factor for tubal infertility， and CT376 antibody cannot be an independent risk factor for tubal infertility. The multiple classification logistic regression analysis established between TFI and IFC showed that among infertile patients， CT-IgG ［P<0.05， OR=0.194， 95%CI （0.046， 0.817）］， CT376 antibody ［P<0.05， OR=0.176， 95%CI （0.038， 0.818）］ and CT381 antibody ［P<0.05， OR=0.112， 95%CI （ 0.016， 0.796）］ were independent risk factors for tubal infertility. ConclusionThe expression of CT376 antibody in tubal infertility patients is higher than that in fertile and infertile controls， suggesting that CT-induced tubal factor infertility may be related to CT376. CT-IgG， and CT376 antibodies are meaningful in predicting CT-induced tubal factor infertility.