Our previous studies have suggested that angiopoietin-related protein 2 (Arp2) may improve rat cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by accelerating angiogenesis.We want to study the efficacy of the adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer of Arp2 (Ad.Arp2) in inducing angiogenesis and in improving the myocardial perfusion and function in a porcine acute myocardial ischemic model.Methods The minipigs underwent ligation of the proximal circumflex coronary artery (LCx) and were randomly assigned to treatment with Ad.Arp2,adenoviral vectors with no transgene (Ad.Null) or PBS.Four weeks later,the animals were evaluated using echocardiography,cardiac perfusion imaging and pathologic observation.Results Four weeks after treatment,the Arp2 protein was revealed in the myocardium of Ad.Arp2 animals,but was not found in the Ad.Null or PBS animals.Also,a significant revival of myocardial perfusion was found in the ischemic area in Ad.Arp2-treated animals,whose global and regional myocardial function was greatly improved.The quantitation of new capillaries was much greater in the Ad.Arp2 group than in the Ad.Null or PBS groups.Conclusion Treatment with Ad.ARP2 offers the obvious advantage of greatly improving the blood supply and the heart function.(J Geriatr Cardiol 2008;5:230-234)

Objective To investigate the effect of massage on quadriceps femoris repair after injury by external force and the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and collagen-Ⅰ (COL-Ⅰ) mRNA.To explore the molecular mechanisms inhibiting scar tissue formation and promoting muscle repair.Methods Forty New Zealand white rabbits weighing (2.0 ±0.5) kg were randomly divided into a normal control group (A) (n =4),a selfrepair group (B) (n =20,further divided into the 3rd,7th,11th,15th and 19th day time points),and a massage group (C) (n =16,further divided as in group B).In group A the rabbits were not treated,as normal controls.In groups B and C rabbit models of quadriceps femoris injury were prepared using a self-made beater.In group B no massage therapy was given as a natural recovery control; in group C,massage therapy was given after 5 days.Realtime quantitative PCRs were used to detect TGF-β1 and COL-Ⅰ mRNA expression.Resnlts There was no significant difference between groups B and C in the expression of TGF-β1 or COL-Ⅰ mRNA on day 7.At the later time points,expression of both mRNAs in group C was significantly less than in group B.Conclusion Massage can effectively reduce the expression of TGF-β1 and COL-Ⅰ mRNA,inhibit excessive scar formation and promote repair of injured tissue.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of electronic data capture (EDC) system in large-sample size studies on Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODThe clinical data of 602 KD cases from 2007 to 2012 admitted to Shanghai Children's Hospital with EDC system connected with hospital information system (HIS) were retrospectively analyzed. Age, gender, acute symptoms, laboratory results, echocardiography, therapy were collected. The differences in parameters were compared between KD with and without coronary artery lesion (CAL). Furthermore, the difference between intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistant group and sensitive group were compared. Multi-factor logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the risk factors. The sensitivity and specificity of IVIG resistance parameters were detected with receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis.

RESULTThe male to female ratio of KD cases was 1.85: 1. The median age of KD cases was 2.0 years (one month to 11.7 years old); 20.1% cases (121/602) exhibited CAL. Compared with KD without CAL (n = 481), the incidence of bright red cracked lips (71.1% vs. 88.6%, P = 0.001), peeling of the skin of the toes (28.1% vs. 41.6%, P = 0.021) and perianal skin peeling (29.8% vs. 38.9%, P = 0.031) were statistically lower in KD with CAL (n = 121). The incidence of CAL in KD IVIG resistant group was significantly higher than KD IVIG sensitive group (34.6% (9/26) vs.21.3% (112/525), P = 0.05 ). Male ratio (80.8% vs. 63.4%, P = 0.05), time of IVIG ( (6 ± 2) vs. (8 ± 5) d, P = 0.009), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) ( (81 ± 2) vs. (66 ± 30) mm/1 h, P = 0.014), C-reactive protein ((107 ± 51) vs. (87 ± 52) mg/L, P = 0.017), blood platelet ( (599 ± 178) vs. (489 ± 182) ×10(9)/L, P = 0.003), hemoglobin ( (96 ± 13) vs. (102 ± 19) g/L, P = 0.032) and albumin ((34 ± 6) vs. (37 ± 6) g/L, P = 0.020) were significantly different between IVIG resistant group and sensitive group. Logistic regression analysis showed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 80 U/L was the independent risk factor of IVIG resistance (P = 0.012). C-reactive protein = 104 mg/L (sensitivity 61.5%, specificity 62.7%), ESR = 106 mm/1 h (sensitivity 26.9%, specificity 93.6%) and blood platelet = 187×10(9)/L (sensitivity 76.9%, specificity 53.1%) of KD in acute phase were predictive for IVIG resistance with receiver operate characteristic curve analysis.

CONCLUSIONEDC system can acquire KD clinical data quickly and accurately. It is helpful for multicenter retrospective analysis of KD.

Blood Platelets ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography ; Electronic Health Records ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors