Atherosclerosis ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the clinical efficacy of micronized fenofibrate on mildly-moderately elevated LDL-C levels and reduced HDL-C levels.

METHODSDuring 1998 - 1999, 2358 patients with type IIa, IIb and IV hyperlipidemia were monitored in 16 cities in China. They were treated daily with micronized fenofibrate (micronized lipanthyl) 200 mg for 8 weeks. Lipid levels before and after the treatment were measured and analyzed.

RESULTSMicronized fenofibrate significantly increased HDL-C levels by 12.7%, the effect being inversely correlated to the baseline level of HDL-C. Out of the total patient population, a baseline level of HDL-C < 1.0 mmol/L was found in 837 patients: amongst this group, 510 patients (60.9%) were observed to have an increase in the level of HDL-C to > 1.0 mmol/L with a mean of 1.3 mmol/L, after 8-week micronized fenofibrate therapy. Furthermore, the mean LDL-C level decreased by 15.9% following an 8-week treatment of micronized fenofibrate, an effect positively correlated to the baseline level of LDL. In general, all patients tolerated the drug comfortably.

CONCLUSIONSShort-term treatment of micronized fenofibrate in patients with dyslipidemia significantly increases HDL-C level and reduces mildly-moderately elevated LDL-C level. As expected, it also reduces triglyceride levels.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Fenofibrate ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND:Surrounding structure of intracristal ventricular septal defects(IVSD) and membranous ventricular septal defects(MVSD)is complicated,and it is difficult to perform transcatheter closure treatment.Corresponding animal models should be established to define an optimal interventional therapy.OBJECTIVE:To prepare the animal models of IVSD and MVSD under echoeardiogram location.DESIGN:Animal modeling experiment.SETTING:Department of Cardiology,Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University.MATERIALS:Six healthy adult dogs,irrespective of gender,were purchased from Shanghai Experimental Animal Center.Aorta and great saphenous vein stapler-puncher(St.Jude corporation,USA)was used.The main improvement is to cut the plastic shell even,thin,or shorter in order to reduce the resistance when puncturing the"purse"in the fight ventficle and the interventficular septum.Sonos 5500 multifunction ultrasonoscope(Philips,USA)was used,and the frequency of the probe was between 2.5-3.5 MHz.METHODS:Experiments were performed at the Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University and Central Laboratory of Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Disease from April to July 2006(biosaflety level 2).After anaesthesia,6 adult dogs were fixed at decumbent position.The interventricular septum was punetured to make the preparation with the location of echocardiography(ECHO)by using the modified aorta and great saphenous vein proximal stapler-puncher.Animal intervention met the Animal Ethical Committee of Fudan University.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:One week after the surgery,transthoracic echocardiography examination was used to check the VSD site,the highest shunt flow rate,the pressure difference between both sides of the VSD,as well as pulmonary artenal pressure.RESULTS:The VSD models were successfully established in three survivals and included in the final result.Two models of IVSD and one model of MVSD were examined by ECHO one week after the surgery.The diameter of VSD ranges from 1.8 to 3.6 mm.The Peak Flow Rate of the VSD ranges between 1.8 and 4.0 m/s.The pressure difierence of both sides of the VSD ranges between 42 and 51 mm Hg.The pulmonary arterial systolic pressure ranges from 23 to 29 mm Hg.CoNCLUSION:Located by the ECHO,it is possible to establish animal models of the IVSD and MVSD with the modified aorta and great saphenous vein proximal stapler-puncher.

ive] To observe the therapeutic effects of Xiaoji Decoction (XD) in treating intermed iate and late stages of lung cancer. [ Methods] One hundred and twelve patients with lung cancer in stage ? -? were randomly allocated to Group A, Group B and Group C. Group A ( n = 49) was treated with XD alone, Group B ( n = 33 ) was treated with various chemotherapeutic regimens according to the histo-logical types of lung cancer: CAP regimen for lung squamous carcinoma, EP regimen for lung adenocarci-noma and CE regimen for small cell carcinoma of lung, In Group C, 30 patients were treated with chemo therapy combined with XD. Symptomatic relief, life quality, tumor size, distant metastasis, sub-types of T lymphocytes, survival period and side effects in the three groups were evaluated after one course of treatment. [Results] The effects of XD on tumor size were evaluated by the effective rate and stabilized rate. They were 4.08%and 53.06%, 21.21% and 48.48%, and 46.67%and 76.67%in Group A, Group B and Group C respectively. The differences between Group A and Group B were significant ( P