Objective To analyze and compare the differentially expressed plasma proteins between patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and search for the biomarkers that maybe used for early diagnosis of UAP. Methods Sixty plasma samples were collected respectively from normal controls group (N group), SAP group and UAP group during Jun. 2014 to Apr. 2015 from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University. Ten samples (100μl) of each group were selected randomly to pool into 3 groups severally. After removing high-abundance proteins from plasma, two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) was used to isolate the total proteins, and then the protein spots with more than 2-fold changes between UAP and SAP were picked up after the differential software analysis. Afterward, the varied proteins were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Finally, 40 plasma samples were collected respectively from N, SAP and UAP group, and the UAP specific differential proteins were selected to be verified by ELISA. Results A total of 10 varied protein spots with more than 2-fold changes in UAP and SAP were found including 9 up-regulated proteins and 1 down-regulated one. MS identification indicated that the up-regulated proteins included fibrinogen gamma chain (FGG), complement C4-B (C4B), immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa chain C region (IGKC) and hemoglobin subunit alpha (HBA1), whereas the down-regulated one was haptoglobin (HP). After comparing the varied proteins with that in N group, 2 specifically UAP-related proteins, IGKC and HP, were detected totally. IGKC was selected to validate by ELISA, and the corresponding results showed that IGKC was increased specifically in UAP plasma (P<0.05) when compared with N and SAP group, which was consistent with DIGE. Conclusion IGKC and HP have been detected as specifically related proteins to UAP, and IGKC might serve as a potential specific biomarker for screening and early diagnosis of UAP.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among circadian blood pressure rhythm, autonomic nervous system and myocardial energy expenditure (MEE) level in patients with primary hypertension.

METHODSA total of 102 hypertensive and 45 normotensive subjects were recruited. According to blood pressure reduction rate at night, the hypertensive patients were divided into non-dipper group (NDH group, n=54) with a reduction rate of <10% and dipper group (DH group, n=48) with a reduction rate of ≥10%. The circadian blood pressure rhythm and heart rate variability were measured with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and 24-hour electrocardiograph monitoring, respectively, and MEE was measured by Doppler echocardiography to analyze their correlations.

RESULTSSDNN, SDANN, SDNNindex, RMSSD, PNN50, and HF were significantly lower in the hypertensive patients than in the control group (P<0.05); these parameters, except for PNN50, were all significantly lower in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). The hypertensive patients had significantly higher MEE than the control group (P<0.05), and MEE was significantly higher in NDH group than in DH group (P<0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed significant correlations of MEE with SDANN in the hypertensive patients (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONPatients with primary hypertension, especially those in NDH group, have impaired autonomic nervous system function. The hypertensive patients in NDH group show a more prominent increase in MEE in relation to sympathetic activation, suggesting the importance of restoring circadian blood pressure rhythm in the treatment of hypertension.

Autonomic Nervous System ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Case-Control Studies ; Circadian Rhythm ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Energy Metabolism ; Essential Hypertension ; Heart ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of applying (1)H-NMR-based pattern recognition in the studies of serum metabonomics in chronic heart failure (HF).

METHODS(1)H-NMR technique was applied for examination of the serum samples from 9 patients with chronic heart failure and 6 healthy individuals. The data were analyzed for pattern recognition through principal component analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Square (OPLS) to determine the differences in serum metabolites between the two groups. The recognition ability of the two analysis methods were compared.

RESULTSThe serum (1)H-NMR spectra of heart failure patients and healthy individuals were significantly different. The PCA method failed to distinguish the patterns between the two groups, but OPLS clearly differentiated the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS(1)H-NMR technique is effective in the study of serum metabolomics in chronic heart failure. The serum metabonomics of patients with chronic heart failure and the healthy individuals are significantly different. OPLS pattern recognition method is superior to PCA method in that the former can remove the influence of non-experimental factors and provide an improved characterization.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Principal Component Analysis ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the structure and function of the carotid artery and their relationship with subclinical inflammation in patients with H-type hypertension.

METHODSSixty patients with H-type hypertension and 49 with non-H-type hypertension were enrolled in this study, with 20 healthy volunteers as the control group. All the subjects underwent color Doppler ultrasound examination of the carotid artery, and their blood levels of hyper-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured to investigate the correlation between the structural and functional changes of the carotid artery and the inflammatory factors.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in the blood pressure level between the H-type and non-H-type hypertension groups (136.0∓10.1 vs 131.9∓7.0 mmHg for systolic blood pressure, P>0.05; 80.9∓8.9 vs 73.2∓7.9 mmHg for diastolic pressure, P>0.05). The intima-media thickness, distensibility of the common carotid artery, carotid artery stiffness, and blood homocysteine level all showed significant differences between patients with H-type and non-H-type hypertension (1.52∓0.08 vs 1.09∓0.06 mm, 0.23∓0.14 mmHg(-1)×100 vs 0.46∓0.14 mmHg(-1)×100, and 15.37∓5.89 vs 8.19∓4.53 µmol/L, respectively, P<0.05). The H-type hypertensive patients showed significantly higher hs-CRP, FIB, and TNF-α levels than the non-H-type hypertensive patients, and these inflammatory factors were positively correlated with the structural and functional changes of the carotid artery.

CONCLUSIONThe patients with H-type hypertension are more likely to have carotid artery structure and function impairments, which closely correlate with the subclinical inflammatory factors. These changes might be attributed to the synergism of subclinical inflammation and hyperhomocysteinemia, for which active intervention may prove beneficial.

Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; classification ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDThere are no clear guidelines on implant removal. Few have assessed the long-term outcomes of patients with implants left in-situ, or removed. Therefore, removal of implants after fracture fixation remains controversial.

METHODSIn this retrospective study, we reviewed 53 patients with implant for fracture fixation in-situ for more than 3 years. All patients were younger than 60 years. Quality of life of each patient was assessed with the Chinese (Hong Kong) validated Short Form-36 and the pain was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS). All patients were clinically examined and plain radiographs were taken.

RESULTSThe total SF-36 score of the patients was not statistically different from the Hong Kong norm (P > 0.05). Mean score of VAS was 2.08. Thirty-three patients (62.3%) reported limited range of movement, 9 patients (17%) complained of cosmetic problems, and 10 patients (18.9%) complained of weakness. Clinically, 82.6% of patients had no scarring, 84.7% of patients had full range of movement and all had no tenderness on assessment. Radiologically, no abnormality was detected except for one patient with known avascular necrosis of the femoral head after screw fixation.

CONCLUSIONAs most patients were clinically and radiologically normal with quality of life scores comparable to the norm, removal of implants is not advisable as a routine practice.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Elbow Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedics ; methods ; Prostheses and Implants ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Tarsal Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome