Objective To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.Methods We analyzed the clinical data of 47 patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation between March 2013 and January 2008,in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.In the average 32 months’follow-up,Holter monitering and echocardiography were reviewed for the left atrial diameter.Results The immediate success rate of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation was 82.6%.The long-term success rate was 65%,the rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was 69.7%,and the rate of longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation was 42.9%.After ablation,the left atrial diameter were markedly reduced compared with that before treatment [(36.3 ± 4.3 )mm vs .(38.1 ± 5.9 )mm)(P < 0.001 ).The patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation were older than those without recurrence,their left atrial diameter was bigger,and the prevalence rate of hypertension was higher (P <0.05).The average atrial fibrillation load was 14.9% after ablation compared with 46.1% before (P <0.05).Conclusion Radiofrequency catheter ablation is an effective and safe treatment of atrial fibrillation,especially for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.The left atrial diameter was significantly decreased after radiofrequency catheter ablation compared with that before the ablation.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of cognitive rehabilitation on patients with mild vascular dementia. Methods60 patients with mild vascular dementia were randomly divided into cognitive rehabilitation group(Group A,30 cases) and non-cognitive group (Group B,30 cases).All patients in those groups received medical treatment and PT, OT and ST exercise,and Group A received cognitive rehabilitation exercise additionally. Before and after treatment, the cognitive ability was evaluated with Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment Battery (LOTCA) and activity of daily living (ADL) with Functional Independence Measure (FIM).ResultsGroup A significantly improved cognitive ability (P<0.01), ADL (P<0.05) and general subjective impression compared with Group B. Conclusions The cognitive rehabilitation exercise is effective on patients with mild vascular dementia.

Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) is a thiamine (vitamin B1) derivative and an essential cofactor in oxidative metabolism of the sugars,fatty acids and amino acids in living cells.By now,numerous TPP-dependent artificial riboswitch systems have been developed to regulate target gene expression but limited in bacteria,fungi or plant cells.Herein,the activating (switch-on) and inhibiting (switch-off) TPP-depended hammerhead ribozyme switches,which are from previous reported structures of prokaryotes screening,were investigated in mammalian cells.These ribozyme switches were inserted into the 3'UTR of the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene to construct the efficient ribozyme-based artificial switches through overlap extension PCR cloning.The HEK293 cells were transfected with the engineered ribozyme switches at increasing concentration of TPP.The EGFP gene-regulatory ability was analyzed with fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry.These TPP-inducible gene regulation devices showed the obvious ligand dose-dependency and excellent specificity.Two switch-on and one switch-off constructs demonstrated 3.1-fold or 1.9-fold increment and 2.3-fold reduction of EGFP level respectively with 150 μ mol/L TPP.The ligand-responsive ribozyme switches,by tuning the change of TPP concentration into the visual reporter genetic expression in cells,enable an efficient development of label-free,noninvasive and high-specific biosensors in living mammalian cells.

Objective To reveal the role of serum ACE2/Ang (1-7)in the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF)and find new targets for the prevention and treatment of AF by analyzing the correlation between the serum concentration of ACE2/Ang (1-7 )in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and the occurrence of AF. Methods We collected the basic clinical information and peripheral venous blood of patients with rheumatic heart valve disease (totally 46 patients,including 24 with AF and 22 with SR).ELISA method was used to detect the serum concentration of ACE2,Ang (1-7)and AngⅡ in the serum samples.Then the differences and correlation between the two groups were analyzed.Results In the AF group ① the diameter of the left atrium was significantly greater than that in the SR group [(60.70±3.08 vs.48.15±2.16)mm,P<0.05];② the serum concentration of AngⅡ was significantly higher than that in the SR group [(45.88±2.87 vs.35.78±1.08)pg/mL, P<0.05],AngⅡ and left atrium diameter were positively correlated (Pearson test,P<0.05);③ the serum concentrations of ACE2 [(7.87±0.74 vs.11.65±0.57)U/L,P<0.05]and Ang (1-7)[(146.05±17.61 vs. 321.71±36.50)pg/mL,P<0.05]were significantly lower than those in the SR group,and negatively correlated with left atrium diameter (Pearson test,P<0.05);④ the serum concentration of Ang (1-7)was negatively correlated with AngⅡ concentration (Pearson test,P<0.05).Conclusion For patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease,ACE2/Ang (1-7 )may play a protective role in the occurrence of AF via antagonizing AngⅡ and inhibiting atrial remodeling.

Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia after radiofrequency catheter ablation treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University based on the follow-up and retrospective analysis.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 63 patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation during January 2008 and March 2014 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University.In the follow-up,Holter moniterings were reviewed to evaluate ventricular arrhythmia and echocardiography to assess the ejection fractions and left ventricular end-diastolic diameters.Results The immediate success rate of catheter ablation for the treatment of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia was 89.29% and the long-term success was 82.14%.The ejection fractions and left ventricular end-diastolic diameters were not obviously improved after radiofrequency ablation (P > 0.05 ). The ventricular premature contractions were significantly reduced after radiofrequency ablation (P <0.05).In postoperative care, one case was found with ruptured sinus valsalva tumor and another patient was found with the complication of hematoma in femoral artery puncture.Conclusion Radiofrequency ablation for idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia is safe and effective.

Objective To investigate antimicrobial resistance among gram-positive cocci in China in 2009. Methods From June to December 2009, 1169 consecutive and non-repetitive gram-positive cocci were collected from 12 teaching hospitals at 9 cities. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibacterial agents was determined by agar dilution method. Results The prevalences of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci (MRCoNS) were 45.3% (211/466) and 89. 5% (214/239), respectively. The isolation rate of MRSA was 33. 3%-68. 1% from different samples. All Staphylococci isolates were susceptible to vacomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid. Five point five percent (7/128) E. faecium strains were resistant to vacomycin. All E.faecalis strains were susceptible to vacomycin. About 99. 1% (108/109) of E. faecalis and E. faecium were susceptible to linezoild. The prevalence of penicillin-intermediate Streptococcus pneumoniae (PISP) was 21.6% (48/222). Only 1 (0. 5%, 1/222) Streptococcus pneumoniae strain was resistant to penicillin.Teicoplanin, vancomycin, linezolid and tigecycline were the most active agents against Streptococcus pneumoniae (susceptible rate 100% ). Conclusions The high prevalence of methicillin-resistance is among Staphylococcus strains. Different samples show a different MRSA prevalence. Teicoplanin, vancomycin and linezolid show very high activity to Staphylococci,E. faecalis, E. faecium and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Objective To investigate antimicrobial resistance among gram-positive cocci in China in 2008.Methods From June 2008 to December 2008,1171 consecutive and non-repetitive gram-positive cocci were collected from 12 teaching hospitals.The MICs of antibacterial agents was determined by agar dilution method.Results The prevalence of MRSA and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci(MRSCoN) was 49.9%(232/465) and 74.0%(179/242),respectively.The MRSA prevalence ranged from 33.3% to 65% in different regions.About 71.1%(108/152) of Staphylococcus aureus from respiratory tract specimens,48.3%(28/58) of Staphylococcus aureus from blood samples,and 36%(68/189) of Staphylococcus aureus from the pus,wound and sterile body fluid samples were resistant to methicillin.The susceptible rates of MRSA to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole(SXT) and chloramphenicol were 81.5%(183/232) and 89.7%(208/232).Susceptibility to gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracyclines,rifampicin,and quinolones were from 3.9% to 35.0%.All Staphylococci isolates were susceptible to vancomycin,teicoplanin,and linezolid.Three vacomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains were found in this study.About 96.2%(101/105) of Enterococcus faecalis and 97%(130/134) of Enterococcus faecium were susceptible to linezoild.Fifty-one out of 105 of Enterococcus faecalis(48.6%)and 101 out of 134 Enterococcus faecium(75.4%)were resistant to high concentration gentaroicin.The susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis to all the antibiotics except for chloramphenicol and tetracycline was higher than that of Enterococcus faecium.Enterococcus faecium isolates showed a high resistant prevalence to most of antibiotics except glycopeptides and linezolid.The prevalence of PISP among 225 isolates was was 36.6%(15/41),and the prevalence of PNSSP from the other patients ranged from 15.4% to 26.6%.The susceptible rates of PSSP to cefprozil,cefuroxime and cefaclor were 67.5%(114/169),66.3%(112/169) and 61.5%(104/169),respectively.All the PISP isolates were resistant to the above three antibiotics.Teicoplanin,vancomycin and linezolid were the most active agents against Staphylococcus pneumoniae(susceptible rate,100%).About 96.9%,97.8% and 98.2% Staphylococcus pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to gatifloxacin,levofloxacin,and moxifloxacin,respectively.The susceptible rates of Staphylococcus pneumoniae to ceftriaxone,chloramphenicol and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were 81.3%,77.3%,and 68.0%,respectively.The susceptibility of Staphylococci pneumoniae to macrolides,SXT and tetracycline ranged from 11.6% to 23.6%.Conclusions The prevalence of VRE is low in China.However,methicillin-resistance among Staphylococci isolates was high.The prevalence of PNNSP isolated from (≤)3 years children is higher than in the other age population.Teicoplanin,vancomycin,and linezolid remain high activity against Staphylococci,Enterococcus faecalis,Enterococcus faecium,and Staphylococcus pneumoniae.

Objective To analyze the distribution of clinically isolated pathogenic bacteria in Xi′an area during 2014 and their drug resistant characteristics in order to provide the data of pathogenic bacterial drug resistance for medical pharmaceutical adminis ‐tration departments and clinical rational use of antibacterial drugs .Methods The pathogenic bacteria of nosocomial infections were cultured and isolated by using the routine method .The bacterial species was identified by using the semi‐automatic or full‐automatic bacterial identification and analysis systems .The drug susceptibility test was conducted according to CLSI standards .The data sta‐tistics and analysis were performed by using the WHONET 5 .6 software .Results 31 013 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isola‐ted in 2014 ,including 20 029 strains (64 .58% ) of Gram‐negative bacilli ,9 888 strains (31 .88% ) of Gram‐positive cocci and 1 096 strains (3 .54% ) of fungi ;the top bacteria was E .coli(20 .29% ) ,vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was not be found ;the resistance rates of Enterococcus faecium and faecalis against Vancomycin were 3 .00% ,1 .00% ,which against to linezolid was 1 .00% ;the generation rates of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase(ESBLs) in E .coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 65 .0% and 56 .0% respectively .Conclusion The important pathogenic bacteria ,including MRSA ,vancomycin resistant enterococcus ,carbapen‐em resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria ,pan‐drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii ,in nosocomial infection should be performed the intensive monitoring and the communication with clinic should be strengthened in order to make the detection results serve the clinic well .

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound extracted from olea europaeal, a traditional Chinese medicine herb. OA has been used in the clinic as a hepatoprotective medicine in China since 1970s. In our previous study, we observed that OA could ameliorate hyperlipidemia in animal models. In the present study, we conducted a small-scale clinical trial to evaluate the hypolipidemia effect of OA in hyperlipidemic patients. Hyperlipidemic patients were administrated with OA for four weeks (4 tablets once, three times a day). The blood samples of the patients were collected before and after OA treatment. The biological parameters were measured. Furthermore, three patients' blood samples were studied with DNA microarray. After OA administration, the TC, TG, and HDLC levels in serum decreased significantly. DNA microarray analysis results showed that the expressions of 21 mRNAs were significantly changed after OA treatment. Bioinformatics analysis showed 17 mRNAs were up-regulated and 4 mRNAs were down-regulated significantly after OA treatment. Five mRNAs (CACNA1B, FCN, STEAP3, AMPH, and NR6A1) were selected to validate the expression levels by qRT-PCR. Therefore, OA administration differentially regulated the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. The data showed a clinical evidence that OA could improve hyperlipidemia and also unveiled a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacological effect of OA on hyperlipidemia.
China ; Computational Biology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oleanolic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Treatment Outcome