Objective To explore the change of proportion of peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with stroke. Methods 56 patients (30 cases of cerebral infarction and 26 cases of cerebral hemorrhage) in Beijing Bo'ai hospital from June to September, 2014 and 14 healthy controls were investigated. The severity of stroke was assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Flow cy-tometry analysis was employed to detect the proportion of DCs subtypes in the peripheral blood. Results No obvious difference was found in DCs between the stroke patients and the controls. Compared to the control group, the percentages of peripheral blood myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) decreased in the cerebral hemorrhage and the cerebral infarction subgroups (P<0.001). The percentages of plasmacytoid den-dritic cells (pDCs) reduced significantly in the cerebral hemorrhage and the cerebral infarction subgroups (P<0.05). The stroke patients were divided into NIHSS≤7 subgroup and NIHSS>7 subgroup. The percentages of pDCs in the cerebral hemorrhage and the cerebral infarction patients were significantly lower in the NIHSS>7 subgroup than in the NIHSS≤7 subgroup (P<0.05). While there was no statistical differ-ence between NIHSS≤7 subgroups and NIHSS>7 subgroups in the percentages of mDCs in the cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction patients. Conclusion The proportion of DCs subtypes in the peripheral blood in stroke patients changed significantly, indicating inflamma-tion responds play a role in stroke.

Objective To evaluate the diffuse myocardial fibrosis of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) by cardiac MR (CMR) T1 mapping methods.Methods Totally 60 subjects (30 paroxysmal AF patients and 30 persistent AF patients) and 59 normal control underwent MR cardiac cine,late gadolinium enhancement,and LV T1 mapping.For T1 mapping,modified Look-Locker inversion recovery sequence was used.Compared with control,pre-contrast ventricular T1 times were quantified and extracellular volume (ECV) was calculated.Results All subjects completed the CMR exam,no myocardial delay enhanced lesion was found.Pre-contrast ventricular T1 time in healthy controls was lower than that in patients with persistent and paroxysmal AF,and the pre-comrast ventricular T1 time in persistent AF patients was higher than that of paroxysmal AF patients (all P＜0.05).The mean LV myocardial ECV had no statistical difference between healthy controls and paroxysmal AF patients (P＞ 0.05),while lower than persistent AF patients (P ＜ 0.05).The mean LV myocardial ECV in patients with persistent AF was larger than that in patients with paroxysmal AF (P＜0.05).LV functional indexes were positive correlated with pre-contrast ventricular T1 time and ECV in patients with AF (all P＜0.05).Conclusion There is LV myocardial fibrosis in patients with AF,and the degree in patients with persistent AF is more severe than that in patients with paroxysmal AF.

This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in obese patients.Totally,153 obese patients who underwent EVH (n=81) or standard bridging technique (SBT,n=72) in CABG surgery from May 2012 to October 2014 in our hospital were enrolled in this retrospective non-randomized controlled study.The general situation of operation,postoperative complications and short medium-term outcomes were analyzed.The baseline characteristics were similar between these two groups (P＞0.05).There were no statistical differences in total operation time (226±28 min vs.224±30 min,P＞0.05),number of damaged vessels (0.12±0.05 vs.0.16±0.06,P＞0.05) and short medium-term outcomes including revascularization rate (1.25％ vs.2.78％,P＞0.05),vessel dysfunction rate (11.25％ vs.11.11％,P＞0.05) and mortality (0.00％ vs.0.00％,P＞0.05).Use of EVH was associated with significant reduction of total harvesting time (41±6 min vs.63±11min,P＜0.05),incision length (4.4±1.1 cm vs.18.2±4.5 cm,P＜0.05) and postoperative lower extremity complications (P＜0.05).EVH can reduce the risk of wound complications,whereas does not influence short-and medium-term outcomes in obese patients.It can be considered a reliable procedure of harvesting vessel conduits for obese patients undergoing CABG.

Objective To observe the management and outcome of the cardiac tamponade patients during the ablation procedure using two different anticoagulation strategies. Methods All the patients developed tamponade during the ablation procedure were enrolled from January 2007 to December 2013 in our center. In group 1, warfarin was discontinued 3 to 5 days before the procedure and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was administered subcutaneously until ablation procedure day. In group 2, warfarin was not discontinued and the international normalized ratio INR was to maintained between 2 and 3. Results There were 27 patients (0.6%) developed cardiac tamponade out of a total 4487 patients received ablation in our center. The baseline clinical characteristics including age, left atrium, the heparin dose and ACT during the procedure had no signiifcant difference between the groups, except that the INR was higher in the group 2 (0.9±0.1 vs. 2.3±0.5, P<0.001). There was no signiifcant difference in the amount of pericardiac drainage between the two groups (365±222 ml vs. 506±300 ml, P=0.137). Two patients in group 1 patient (11.1%) and 1 in group 2 (11.1%) needed emergency surgical repair (P>0.999). The median hospital day was similar in the 2 groups [(9.6±3.3) d vs. (12.1±4.5) d, P=0.167]. There were no other serious complications and no hospital death. Conclusions Non-discontinuation of warfarin during peri-procedural catheter ablation of AF is not signiifcantly different to bridging with LMWH in the management and outcome of acute cardiac tamponade.

Background and Objective Increased transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) has been shown to contribute toinitiation and maintenance of ventricular arrhythmia in long QT syndromes(LQTS).Intercellular uncoupling through gap junctions isan important mechanism for maintaining TDR in both intact and diseased heart.The present study was to test the hypothesis thatimproving gap junction communication reduces TDR and prevents ventricular arrhythmia in rabbit LQT2 model.Methods Anarterially perfused rabbit left ventricular preparation and E-403 (0.5μmol/L)were used to establish a model of LQT2.Preparationswere randomly assigned to control(n=10),AAP-100nmol/L(n=10),AAP-500nM(n=10)groups.Transmural ECG as well as actionpotentials from both endocardium and epieardium was simultaneously recorded. Resuits In LQT2 model.presence of 500nmol/LAAP10 reduced endocardial action potential and TDR and prevented ventricular arrhythmia comparing with the control and AAP 100nmol/Lgroups(P＜0.05).Conclusions The presence of 500 nmol/LAAP10 reduces TDR and prevents ventricular arrhythmia in rabbitventricular model of LOT2.This study suggests a possible role of GJs in TDR in rabbit LQT2 model and indicates a new clinicalapproach to the management of LQTS.

OBJECTIVETo constitute a model of B immunoblastic lymphomas in the Hu-PBL-SCID mice.

METHODSThe SCID mice were reconstituted by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 5 x 10(7) human lymphocytes from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seronegative individuals. After one week, the SCID mice were inoculated with EBV by i.p. injection, and subjected to the investigation of whether there was any tumor in the abdomen of such SCID mice four weeks later. The characteristics of the found tumor was observed by the methods of Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain, immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the control groups, all the EBV-infected Hu-PBL-SCID mice had abdominal solid tumors [(32 +/- 12.5) mm3] developed, often located in the liver. HE staining and immunohistochemical staining showed the tumors were human B cell lymphomas. EBV DNA could be detected in the tumors by the PCR.

CONCLUSIONSThe model of B immunoblastic lymphomas in the Hu-PBL-SCID mice is successfully constituted, and may well be useful to the human tumor immunological study.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; physiology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic ; Mice ; Mice, SCID

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and improve the diagnosis and surgical treatment of the retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF).

METHODSThe medical records of 26 patients with the RPF (21 men and 5 women with mean age 54 years) were analyzed retrospectively. They were been treated from January 1996 to May 2007. Fourteen cases received double-J inter-ureter drainage or pricking pyelostomy and 9 of 15 cases who received open surgery were performed bilateral ureterolysis with their ureters translocated intraperitoneally.

RESULTSFor masses in retroperitoneal space, the diagnostic rate of B mode ultrasonography, CT and MRI was 12% (3/26), 86% (18/21) and 57% (8/14) respectively. The patients were followed up from 1 to 106 months. After drained by double-J inter-ureter stent or pricking pyelostomy, the mean serum creatinine level decreased from 373.9 micromol/L to 157.1 micromol/L of 14 patients. Those patients who underwent ureterolysis with ureteral intraperitoneal translocation had good results and their mean serum creatinine level decreased from 171.0 micromol/L before operation to 139.6 micromol/L after operation. Four patients had normal B-ultrasound and intravenous urogram findings with at least 24 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSCT scan has better accuracy for diagnosis of the RPF than B mode ultrasonography and MRI. Prompt and appropriate relief of urinary obstruction with surgical intervention can effectively protect the renal function in patients with the RPF, and the ureterolysis with ureteral intraperitoneal translocation is an effective surgical procedure to treat this disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate cell apoptosis induced by survivin ASODN and clarify the precise mechanism of anti-apoptotic action of survivin.

METHODSCells of lung cancer cell line NCI-H446 were treated with survivin ASODN at different concentrations. The changes of survivin mRNA and protein expression were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot assay. The apoptosis index (AI) and proliferation index (PI) were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). After 500 mmol/L survivin ASODN treatment, cells were stained with Rh123 to detect changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim) by FCM. The concentration of cytoplasmic cytochrome c (cyt-c) was continuously determined by ELISA. Relative activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were assessed by colorimetric assay. The expression of caspase-8 protein was measured by Western blot assay. The apoptotic rates of lung cancer cells induced by survivin ASODN with or without mitochondrial permeability transition pole (MPTP) inhibitor CsA treatment were assessed by FCM.

RESULTSDown-regulated survivin mRNA was shown to be in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. Its maximal effect was achieved at a concentration of 500 nmol/L for 72 h, at which mRNA was down-regulated by 62.7%, the expression of survivin protein in NCI-H446 cells was also obviously decreased. After treatment with survivin ASODN at concentration of 500 mmol/L for 72 h, AI was 48.35%, higher than that of control, lipofectin, NSODN, survivin ASODN 100 mmol/L and 300 mmol/L groups (3.75%, 3.41%, 4.69%, 19.85% and 34.39%, respectively). PI was 24.38%, lower than that of control, lipofectin, NSODN, survivin ASODN100 and 300 mmol/L groups (75.74%, 73.12%, 71.76%, 51.03% and 38.94%, respectively). Deltapsim was decreased in 9.54% of NCI-H446 cells treated with survivin ASODN for 3 h and 97.06% for 24 h. Following it, release of cyt-c from mitochondria to cytosol and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 increased significantly. The above mentioned indicators changed with a time-dependent and time diversity relationship. In the presence of CsA, the apoptotic rate of lung cancer cells induced by survivin ASODN was decreased significantly. No up-regrulation and activation in caspase-8 protein was observed.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin inhibits apoptosis via regulation of mitochondrial-dependent pathway. survivin ASODN can not only induce apoptosis but also inhibit cell proliferation through blocking the expression of survivin mRNA and protein.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Cytosol ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

Effects of the effective components group of Xiaoshuantongluo formula (XECG) on rat acute blood stasis model were studied under the guidance of the concept of effective components group. Rat acute blood stasis model was induced by subcutaneous injection of epinephrine combined with ice water bath. Hemorheology indices such as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation index and platelet aggregation rate; coagulation parameters including PT, APTT, TT and FIB; 6-keto-PGF1alpha, TXB2 and D-dimer levels were determined to evaluate the effects of XECG. The results showed that XECG significantly reduced ADP-induced platelet aggregation, but showed little influence on the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation rate. XECG extended PT and TT slightly, but had no effects on APTT and FIB content. D-dimer levels significantly decreased after administration of XECG with a little decrease of TXB2, but the content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha did not change significantly. The results suggest that the role of XECG of anti-aggregation is more prominent.
6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ; blood ; Animals ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Blood Coagulation Disorders ; blood ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Erythrocyte Aggregation ; drug effects ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Male ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Prothrombin Time ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombin Time ; Thromboxane B2 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the method of predicting the stage of prostate cancer with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and pathological grade.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-seven patients were studied retrospectively with prostate cancer diagnosed by systemic biopsy in our hospital. The rank correlation analysis, rank sum test and stepwise discriminant multivariate analysis were used to assess the correlation of serum PSA level, ratio of free PSA to total PSA (FPSA/TPSA ratio) with Gleason score (GS) and stage.

RESULTSSerum PSA level increased with GS for prostate cancer patients (r = 0.369, P < 0.001). With increasing stage, serum PSA level and GS increased (r = 0.398, 0.530, P < 0.001). Overall, FPSA/TPSA ratio was not correlated with stage (P > 0.70), but a significant negative correlation was demonstrated between them when serum PSA < or = 10 microg/L (r = -0.600, P < 0.05). When serum PSA > 20 microg/L, 67% - 87% patients with prostate cancer may be stage C or D. The equation using serum PSA and GS to predict the stage of patients with prostate cancer was: x = -3.488 + 0.041 x PSA + 0.428 x GS.

CONCLUSIONSSerum PSA level is positively correlated with GS for prostate cancer patients. Serum PSA level and GS are positively correlated with stage. A negative correlation between FPSA/TPSA ratio and stage is demonstrated when serum PSA < or = 10 microg/L. The combination of serum PSA and GS may predict the stage of patients with prostate cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity