Objective To compare the diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and 64 multi-slice spiral CT (64-MSCT) for coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Fifty-two patients with suspected or known CAD were included in the study. Each patient underwent both stress and rest MPI,MSCT as well as conventional coronary angiography (CAG) within 1 month. The stress and rest MPI were scored by a 5-grade criteria (0 ～ 4) based on 17 coronary artery segments. The difference between summed stress and rest scores ＞ 1 was defined as myocardial ischemia. Stenosis in one main vessel or one main branch of the main vessel ≥50% was defined as myocardial ischemia by MSCT. CAG was used as the reference for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13. 0 software. Kappa value was used to test the accordance of MPI and MSCT results. X2 test was used to evaluate the difference between MPI and MSCT results. Results The patient-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT for the diagnosis of CAD were 86.7% (26/30), 77.3% ( 17/22),83.9% (26/31), 81.0% ( 17/21), 82.7% (43/52) and 83.3% ( 25/30), 86.4% ( 19/22), 89.3%( 25/28), 79.2% ( 19/24), 84.6% (44/52), respectively. The vessel-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT were 74.5% (38/51), 81.0% (85/105 ), 65.5% (38/58), 86.7% ( 85/98), 78.8% ( 123/156 ) and 90.2% (46/51 ), 88.6% ( 93/105 ),79.3 % (46/58), 94.9% (93/98), 89.1% ( 139/156), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between MPI and MSCT for either patient or lesion-based diagnosis (X2 =0.44, 0.21, both P ＞0.05 ). 96.0% (24/25) patients with both abnormal MPI and MSCT positive were valified by CAG while 83.3% (15/18) patients with both MPI and MSCT negative were excluded by CAG. Conclusions Both MPI and MSCT are reliable diagnostic modalities for CAD. They also provide complementary diagnostic value to each other.

OBJECTIVETo detect the level and dynamic change of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus-specific IgG antibody in conavalescent SARS patients, and to provide information for prevention and vaccine development.

METHODSIgG antibody against coronavirus was detected by ELISA in the blood of 311 convalescent SARS patients for every 2 - 4 weeks. Stata 7.0 statistics software was used to analyse the results.

RESULTSIgG antibody was detected positive on each testing of all the convalescent patients and its peak appeared 35 days after recovery. IgG antibody level showed a 35.8% decrease within one year.

CONCLUSIONData showed that all the SARS convalescent patients had generated high level of specific IgG antibody against coronavirus in the early stage of recovery, but the antibody level declined along with the progress of convalescence, suggesting that the detection of the IgG antibody should go on until it disappeared.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Convalescence ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Bushengzhuyang Fang (Yangjing Capsule, YJC) on penile erectile function and its action mechanisms in rats.

METHODSFifty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups of equal number: blank control, daidzein, daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + low-dose YJC, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC. The rats in the blank control group were treated intragastrically with normal saline and those in the other groups with daidzein at the dose of 100 mg per kg per day for 30 days. Then the last five groups received additionally testosterone (4 mg per kg per day), sildenafil (2.5 mg per kg per day), low-dose YJC, (0.315 mg per kg per day), medium-dose YJC (0.63 mg per kg per day), and high-dose YJC (1. 26 mg per kg per day), respectively. At 0, 30 and 60 days of treatment, we observed the apomorphine-induced spontaneous erectile response and pathological changes in the corpus cavernosum of the rats, recorded the number of penile erection and erectile incubation period, and determined the serum levels of testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

RESULTSAt 30 days of treatment, the number of apomorphine-induced erections was decreased, the erectile incubation period prolonged, and the serum levels of T and LH reduced remarkably in all groups of rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the findings at 30 days, the number of penile erections was significantly decreased at 60 days in the daidzein group (1.39 ± 0.42 vs 2.67 ± 0.33, P < 0.05) and daidzein + low-dose YJC group (1.33 ± 0.49 vs 2.83 ± 0.61, P < 0.05); the erectile incubation period was markedly ex- tended ([16.33 ± 3.11] vs [8.50 ± 0.93] min and [15.50 ± 3.21] vs [8.63 ± 1.54] min, P < 0.05); and the serum levels of T ([5.34 ± 0.89] vs [1.24 ± 0.30] ng/ml and [5.28 ± 1.12] vs [2.07 ± 0.76] ng/ml, P < 0.05) and LH ([3.62 ± 0.37] vs [2.09 ± 0.12] ng/ml and [3.79 ± 0.28] vs [2.17 ± 0.33] ng/ml, P < 0.05) were significantly reduced in the daidzein and daidzein + low-dose YJC groups, respectively. Pathological examination revealed slightly decreased cavernous sinuses and blood vessels in the corpus cavernosum of the rats in the daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC groups as compared with those in the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONHigh-dose Yangjing Capsule is efficacious for the recovery of erectile function in rats, especially for phytoestrogen-induced erectile dysfunction.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; physiology ; Penis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Phytoestrogens ; Phytotherapy ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Purines ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo establish the processing method of Cistanche tubulosa decoction pieces.

METHODThe orthogonal test of four factors and three levels was used to optimize the main factors in the process of fresh C. tubulosa decoction pieces processing, including the thickness, temperature, and the time for inactivation of the enzyme in the plant. The result showed that the optimized condition was that fresh C. tubulosa was cut into 4 mm thickness, and heated at 70 degrees C for inactivation the enzyme in the plant for 6 min. Moreover, the optimized method was compared with the method of insolation and traditional dried method.

RESULTThe content of echinacoside in the C. tubulosa decoction piece by the optimized method was 7.3 times of that dried by insolation, and 12.8 times of that by traditional dry method; the content of verbascoside was 6. 5 and 14. 9 times of that dried by insolation and by traditional dry method, respectively; the content of galactitol was 7.1 and 13.2 times of that dried by insolation and by traditional dry method, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe quality of C. tubulosa decoction pieces could be improved by this method, and its crud drug could be saved, which would protect the source of the mild Herba Cistanche, and produced the better economic and ecological benefits.

Cistanche ; chemistry ; Desiccation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Galactitol ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Phenols ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo apply fluorescent real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in detecting influenza viruses.

METHODSA total of 207 oral swab samples were obtained in 16 collections from SARS patients and suspected influenza outbreak cases. They were subjected to influenza virus detection by fluorescent real-time RT-PCR, MDCK cell culture, and hemagglutinin inhibition assay.

RESULTSOut of 207 samples, 79 (38.16%) were positive for influenza viruses when tested by fluorescent real-time PCR, and 62 (29.95%) positive when tested by MDCK cell culture. There was a statistically significant difference between them (chi square=8.64, P less than 0.005). From 104 cases in 9 collections dual serum samples were obtainable. When tested with hemagglutinin inhibition assay, 64 cases (61.54%) showed a 4-fold increase against H3N2 antigen.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that fluorescent real-time PCR is a reliable, sensitive, and fast method for detecting influenza viruses.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; isolation & purification ; Influenza A virus ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; virology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of EBMT score system in patients with hematological malignancies received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSA total of 144 consecutive patients were analyzed retrospectively. According to the EBMT score system, including age, disease status before transplantation, interval between diagnoses to transplantation, donor/recipient sex match and donor type, patients were divided into 3 risk groups: low risk (score 0-1), intermediate risk (score 2-3) and high risk (score 4-7).

RESULTSThe median follow-up duration were 413 (10-1827) days for all patients and 837 (166-1827) days for alive patients. The estimated 4-year overall survival (OS), transplant-related mortality (TRM) and relapse rate (RR) were (57.5±4.6)%, (21.6±3.7)% and (42.7±6.1)%, respectively. The 4-year OS, TRM and RR were (72.2±9.0)%, (8.1±4.5)% and (27.3±8.7)% in the low-risk group, significantly superior to both intermediate-risk group [(57.7±6.0)%, (23.1±5.1)% and (44.9±8.3)%] and high-risk group [(36.9±10.2)%, (33.5±9.2)% and (51.5±11.8)%] (P<0.01, 0.02 and 0.009 for OS, TRM and RR respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe EBMT score system provides prognostic significance for OS, TRM and RR in patients with hematological malignancies received allo-HSCT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Convalescence ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) accompanies the development of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness through the activation of eosinophils. Therefore, interference of IL-5 expression in lung tissue seems to be an accepted approach in asthma therapy. In this study, we designed a small interfering RNA (siRNA) to inhibit the expression of IL-5. The siRNAs against IL-5 were constructed in a lentivirus expressing system, and 1.5x10(6) IFU (inclusion-forming unit) lentiviruses were administered intratracheally to ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized murine asthmatic models. Our results show that lentivirus-delivered siRNA against IL-5 efficiently inhibited the IL-5 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and significantly attenuated the inflammation in lung tissue. Significant decrease of eosinophils and inflammatory cells were found in peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissue. In addition, significant inhibition of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was found in the mice treated with siRNA against IL-5. These observations demonstrate that siRNA delivered by means of the lentivirus system is possibly an efficacious therapeutic approach for asthma.
Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Interleukin-5 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pneumonia ; immunology ; prevention & control ; RNA ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo screen for factor VIII inhibitor in patients with hemophilia A (HA) and explore the environmental risk factors for inhibitor development.

METHODSTotally 265 patients with HA were enrolled, including 107 consecutive inpatients and outpatients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2003 to April 2007 and 158 patients newly recruited from other hospitals. FVIII: C activity was measured by one-stage coagulation assay. FVIII inhibitor was determined using Bethesda method.

RESULTSIn 265 HA patients, FVIII inhibitor was detected in 22 patients (8.3%). Nine of them (86.4%) were low responders (inhibitor titers < or = 5 000 BU/L), 3 (13.6%) were high responders (the titers > 5 000 BU/L). The frequency of FVIII inhibitor was 50% in the patients aged over 50 years, which was significantly higher than those in other age groups (P = 0. 000). Among 158 newly recruited patients with full clinical data, the frequency of FVIII inhibitor was 12.8% in patients who had received infusion of FVIII products for more than 12 doses on average each year, while it was 5.8% in whom the infusion doses were less than 12 (P = 0.156). The frequency of FVIII inhibitor was 28.5% in patients with a history of continuous infusion of FVIII products whereas it was only 1.6% in patients without such history (P = 0.000). In patients who exposed to multiple-branded or single-branded FVIII products, the frequencies of FVIII inhibitor were 9.3% and 3.9%, respectively (P = 0.229).

CONCLUSIONThe development of factor VIII inhibitor in patients with hemophilia A may be related to the age and the history of continuous infusion of FVIII products.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Environment ; Factor VIII ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Hemophilia A ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

The Chinese herbal medicine Tianma (Gastrodia elata) has been used for treating and preventing primary headache over thousands of years, but the exact pharmacological mechanism of the main bioactive ingredient gastrodin remains unclear. In present study, the effects of gastrodin on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (pERK1/2) expression were observed in rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) after in vitro organ culture to explore the underlying intracellular mechanism of gastrodin on primary vascular-associated headache. CGRP-immunoreactivity (CGRP-ir) positive neurons count, positive area, mean optical density and integrated optical density by means of immunohistochemistry stain were compared at different concentrations of gastrodin, which was separately co-incubated with DMEM in SD rat TG for 24 hours. Only at 5 or 10 mmol L(-1) concentration, gastrodin demonstrated significantly concentration-dependent reduction of CGRP-ir (+) expression and its action closed to 1.2 mmol L(-1) sumatriptan succinate. While at 2.5, 20, and 40 mmol L(-1) concentration, gastrodin did not show remarkable effects on CGRP-ir (+) expression. The optimal concentration of gastrodin (5 and 10 mmol L(-1)) similarly inhibited CGRP-mRNA expression level separately compared with 1.2 mmol L(-1) sumatriptan succinate and 10 micromol L(-1) flunarizine hydrochloride, which was quantitatively analyzed by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). pERK1/2 level was examined by Western blotting after co-cultured with optimal concentration of gastrodin and effective specific ERK1/2 pathway inhibitors PD98059, U0126. The result indicated that gastrodin significantly reduced pERK1/2 protein actions similarly to ERK1/2 pathway specific blockade. It suggests ERK1/2 signaling transduction pathway may be involved in gastrodin intracellular mechanism. This study indicates gastrodin (5 and 10 mmol L(-1)) can remarkably reduce CGRP-ir (+) neuron, CGRP-mRNA and pERK1/2 expression level in cultured rat TG, with its actions similar to the effective concentration of sumatriptan succinate, flunarizine hydrochloride and specific ERK1/2 pathway blocker. The intracellular signaling transduction ERK1/2 pathway may be involved in the gastrodin reducing CGRP up-regulation in rat TG after organ culture.
Animals ; Benzyl Alcohols ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Flunarizine ; pharmacology ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sumatriptan ; pharmacology ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; metabolism ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; pharmacology ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology