Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using Amplatzer occluder. Methods Routine cardiac catheterization and angiography were performed in 50 patients (23 male, 27 female, age ranging from 3 to 64 years old), including 19 cases of ASD and 31 cases of PDA under local or general anesthesia. After balloon sizing of the ASD, the optimal Amplazter septal occluder (ASO) was transmitted into the left atrial, and the left and right disks were released in turn. The Amplatzer occluder was completely released after transthoracic echocardiography confirmed that there was no residual shunts or new onset mitral valve regurgitation. The Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) size was selected according to the narrowest point of PDA measured by angiography, and the occluder was released after the repeated angiography showed no residual shunts. Results ① The mean diameter of the ASD measured by balloon was 13-31 (23?6) mm and the diameter of ASO was (17-40) mm. The immediate closure rate was 100%. ② Angiography confirmed that closure of the ductus using ADO was achieved in 30 patients, and closure of the large size (12 mm) was achieved in 1 case of PDA patient using ASO (17 mm). No complications were encountered. Conclusion Transcatheter closure of ASD and PDA using Amplatzer device, with the advantages of simple operation, confirmative occlusion efficacy, minimal invasiveness, wide indications, and less complications, has a bright future of clinical application.

OBJECTIVETraditional detection approaches for non-O157 STEC are both time and labour consuming in diseases surveillance. Virulence genes detection based on multiplex PCR could not only improve the detection efficiency but also increase the accuracy.

METHODSSix virulence genes of non-O157:H7 (stx1, stx2, eae, hly, etpD, katP6) were detected by two groups of trebling PCRs. The multiplex PCRs were optimized by melting curve analysis in SYBR Green I real-time PCR. Testing result of multiplex PCR was consistent with serological testing.

RESULTSThe sensitivity limits of the multiplex PCR for stx1, stx2, eaeP, etpD, katP, and hly were 10 ng/ml, 120 ng/ml, 110 ng/ml,165 ng/ml, 85 ng/ml, and 15 ng/ml, respectively, which is similar with that of single PCR. When the multiplex PCR was applied in 120 adults and 90 children diarrhea samples detection, 13 cases were detected for non-O157 positive.

CONCLUSIONThe method we established can be used for non-O157 STEC virulence genes detection and screening with high efficiency and accuracy.

Escherichia coli Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Virulence Factors ; genetics

Clinical evidence of hematopoietic restoration with umbilical cord blood (UCB) grafts indicates the UCB can be a useful source of hematopoietic stem cells for routine bone marrow reconstitution. Considering (10 +/- 5) x 10(8) nucleared cells per cord blood unit, there is a potential limitation for the use of cord blood in adults, which, however, can be overcome by ex vivo expansion of cells. A prerequisite for expansion is the significantly higher recovery of MNC, CD34+ cells and colony-forming cells (CFC) by thawing cryopreserved MNC. Cooling rate always acts as a critical factor that can affect the recovery of cells. Although the rate of - 1 degrees C/min is adopted in most of the cryopreservations, no data has been reported about the detailed effects of different cooling rates. The aim of the study was to reveal the different effects of cooling rates on cryopreservation of hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood. UCB samples were collected, and cryopreserved as mononuclear cells (MNC) with different cooling rates of - 0.5 degrees C/min, - 1 degrees C/min, - 5 degrees C/min, and the recovery and viability of MNC and CD34+ cells, the clonogenic capacity and the ex vivo expansion potential of UCB progenitor cells were evaluated after thawing. With - 1 degrees C/min cooling rate, the recovery of MNC reached 93.3% +/- 1.8% , viability 95.0% +/- 3.9% , recovery of CD34+ cells 80.0% +/- 17.9% , and clonogenic recovery were 87.1% +/- 5.5%, 88.5% +/- 8.9%, 86.2% +/- 7.4% for BFU-E CFU-GM CFU-MK, respectively. After 14 days of liquid culture, no significant difference was detected in CFC expansion between fresh and cryopreserved MNC cells with - 1 degrees C/min cooling rate, but this was not the case with - 0.5 degreesC/min and - 5 degrees C/min. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that controlling the rate at - 1 degrees C/min is more suitable for cryopreservation of hematopoietic stem cells than - 0.5 degrees C/min and - 5 degrees C/min.
Cell Survival ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; cytology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment status of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in our hospital.

METHODSMedical records of 252 patients with neuroendocrine tumors diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009 were collected and retrospectively reviewed in this study. The clinicopathological data including age of onset, initial symptoms, primary site, pathological conditions (Sny, CgA, Ki-67), disease stage at diagnosis, treatment, and follow up were analyzed.

RESULTSThe gender ratio M/F of the 252 cases was 1.9:1, with mean age of 55.2 years, and the high incidence was in age of 60-69 years. The tumors were located in the gastrointestinal tract (117 cases, 46.4%), broncho-pulmonary system (74 cases, 29.4%), other sites (61 cases, 24.2%) and unknown primary site (2 cases, 0.8%). Their first clinical symptoms vary, depending on the primary site. The common symptoms of primary rectal NETs were changes in bowel habits (29.3%) and diarrhea or constipation (17.5%), and most gastric NETs presented epigastric discomfort (86.4%). Most patients (71.4%) were diagnosed with stage I, II, III disease. Among the 252 cases, there were 110 carcinoids (43.7%), 108 neuroendocrine carcinomas (42.9%), 23 atypical carcinoids (9.1%), five neuroendocrine tumors (2.0%), four Merkel cell tumors (1.6%), and two composite carcinoids (0.8%). 206 patients (81.7%) received surgery, 39 (15.5%) received chemotherapy, and 31 cases (12.3%) were treated by palliative radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSThis single-center retrospective analysis of data demonstrated that males have a higher incidence rate than females. The most common primary sites of NETs are the digestive tract and lungs. The initial symptoms of NETs are different depending on their primary sites. Good prognosis can be achieved in the majority of patients after surgery, chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoid Tumor ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Palliative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

Kv4.3 channel is present in many mammalian tissues, predominantly in the heart and central nervous system. Its currents are transient, characterized by rapid activation and inactivation. In the hearts of most mammals, it is responsible for repolarization of the action potential of ventricular myocytes and is important in the regulation of the heart rate. Because of its central role in this important physiological process, Kv4.3 channel is a promising target for anti-arrhythmic drug development. Jingzhaotoxin-V (JZTX-V) is a novel peptide neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the spider Chilobrachys jingzhao. Whole-cell patch clamp recording showed that it partly blocked the transient outward potassium channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons of adult rats with an IC(50) value of 52.3 nmol/L. To investigate the effect of JZTX-V on Kv4.3 channel, JZTX-V was synthesized using the solid-phase chemical synthesis and separated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The purity was tested by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MOLDI-TOF mass spectrometry). Two-electrode voltage-clamp technique was used to characterize the action of JZTX-V on Kv4.3 channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. As a result, JZTX-V displayed fast kinetics of inhibition and recovery from inactivation. Furthermore, it could inhibit Kv4.3 channel current in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 425.1 nmol/L. The application of JZTX-V affected the activation and inactivation characteristics of Kv4.3 channel and caused a shift of the current-voltage relationship curve and the steady-state inactivation curve to depolarizing direction by approximately 29 mV and 10 mV, respectively. So we deduced that JZTX-V is a gating modifier toxin of Kv4.3 channel. Present findings should be helpful to develop JZTX-V into a molecular probe and drug candidate targeting to Kv4.3 channel in the myocardium.
Animals ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neurotoxins ; pharmacology ; Oocytes ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Shal Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Spider Venoms ; pharmacology ; Xenopus laevis

BACKGROUNDPalliative chemotherapy has been shown to have a survival benefit for patients with recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer. We conducted a Phase II trial to determine the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX regimen) as first-line chemotherapy for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer.

METHODSEligible patients had measurable lesions and no previous history of chemotherapy (except adjuvant chemotherapy). Oxaliplatin was administered intravenously at a dose of 130 mg/m(2) on day 1. S-1 was administered orally in doses of 80, 100, or 120 mg/d according to body surface areas of <1.25 m(2), 1.25-1.5 m(2), or >1.5 m(2) respectively; the total dose was divided into two daily doses on days 1-14. Treatments were repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or intolerable toxicity occurred.

RESULTSForty-three patients were enrolled in the study. All were assessable for efficacy and adverse events. The objective response and disease control rates were 55.8% and 76.7% respectively. The median follow-up time was 16.5 months. The median progression-free survival time was 7 months (95% CI, 5.8-8.2 months) and the median overall survival time was 16.5 months (95% CI, 9.7-23.3 months). The one-year survival rate was 54.2%. Major adverse reactions were grade 3/4 neutropenia (9.3%) and thrombocytopenia (20.9%).

CONCLUSIONThe SOX regimen with oxaliplatin at a dose of 130 mg/m(2) was found to be effective and safe as a first-line chemotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in patients with early breast cancer by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) combined with preoperative ultrasound.Methods From Jun 2014 to Oct 2018,340 patients with early breast cancer were enrolled in the 5th Department of General Surgery of Second Hospital of Lanzhou University.113 cases were grouped into ultrasound examing,75 patients in the SLNB,and 152 patients in the SLNB combined with preoperative ultrasound.Using the results of axillary lymph node dissection as gold standard,the 3 groups were compared.Results The sensitivity of SLNB,ultrasound and SLNB combined with ultrasound for suspicious axillary lymph node biopsy were 90.1％,85.7％,and 96.4％,respectively.The specificity was 84.0％,76.3％,and 100％,and the accuracy was 91.6％,83.0％,and 97.4％,respectively.The false negative rates were 8.6％,14.3％,and 3.6％,respectively.Conclusion Preoperative ultrasound diagnosis of axillary lymph node status combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy can significantly improve the diagnosis rate of axillary lymph node metastasis in early breast cancer.

BACKGROUNDRepeat percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease, but there is a current lack of related systematic cross-sectional studies in China. The survey was to investigate a real world of repeat PCIs and their associated factors during the drug eluting stent era in a Beijing high volume center.

METHODSA comprehensive review of the institution's database between January 2006 and July 2009 was conducted. Demographic information, concomitant diseases, peri-procedure laboratory examinations and angiographic features were collected consecutively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was undertaken to explore the risk factors associated with repeat PCIs.

RESULTSA total of 13 404 patients were included in the analysis. Of which, 1946 patients (14.5%) had prior PCI procedure. More males patients had previous PCI than the females (15.7% vs 10.9%, P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, gender, concomitant diseases, angiographic and procedural factors, a multivariate model showed that male, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and previous myocardial infarction, left main disease were identified as independent risk factors of repeat PCIs. Of which, previous myocardial infarction (odds ratio: 2.58, 95% confidence interval: 2.27 - 2.92) was highly related with repeat PCIs.

CONCLUSIONThe frequency of repeat PCIs was 14.5% in this cross-sectional investigation, and their associated factors included male, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and previous MI and left main disease during drug eluting stent era.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDThe metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients treated with upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy combined with α-interferon yields additional overall survival (OS) benefits. It is unclear whether mRCC patients treated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR-TKI) will benefit from such cytoreductive nephrectomy either. The aim of the study was to identify variables for selection of patients who would benefit from upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy for mRCC treated with VEGFR-TKI.

METHODSClinical data on 74 patients enrolled in 5 clinical trials conducted in Cancer Hospital (Institute), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2006 to January 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparisons between patient groups were performed by Chi-square test. A Cox regression model was adopted for analysis of multiple factors affecting survival, with a significance level of α = 0.05.

RESULTSFifty-one patients underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy followed by targeted therapy (cytoreductive nephrectomy group) and 23 patients were treated with targeted therapy alone (noncytoreductive nephrectomy group). The median OS was 32.2 months and 23.0 months in cytoreductive nephrectomy and noncytoreductive nephrectomy groups, respectively (P = 0.041). Age ≤45 years (P = 0.002), a low or high body mass index (BMI <19 or >30 kg/m2) (P = 0.008), a serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration >1.5 × upper limit of normal (P = 0.025), a serum calcium concentration >10 mg/ml (P = 0.034), and 3 or more metastatic sites (P = 0.023) were independent preoperative risk factors for survival. The patients only with 0-2 risk factors benefited from upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy in terms of OS when compared with the patients treated with targeted therapy alone (40.0 months vs. 23.2 months, P = 0.042), while those with more than 2 risk factors did not.

CONCLUSIONSFive risk factors (age, BMI, LDH, serum calcium, and number of metastatic sites) seemed to be helpful for selecting patients who would benefit from undergoing upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; mortality ; surgery ; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Proportional Hazards Models

OBJECTIVE: To study the differential metabolites in urine and the characteristics of metabolic pathway of middle school students with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) before and after exercise, and then explain the metabolic mechanism of CFS. METHODS: Eight male middle school students (age:17-19) with CFS were selectedas the CFS group according to CFS screening criteria of the U.S. centers.At the same time, 8 male health students of the same age from the same school were selected as the control group. They were administrated to do one-time exercise on the improved Harvard step (up and down steps 30 times/min for 3minutes). Their urinewascollected before and after exercise, and the differential metabolitesin urine were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The multidimensional statistical methods were used to analyze the metabolites by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Finally, MetPA database was used to analyze the metabolites and to construct the correlativemetabolic pathways. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the creatine, indoleacetaldehyde, phytosphingosine and pyroglutamic acid were selected as differential metabolites and the contents of those were decreased significantly (<0.05 or <0.01) in CFS groupbefore the step movement. However, 11 differential metabolitesin CFS group were selected out after exercise, which were nonanedioic acid, methyladenosine, acetylcarnitine, capric acid, corticosterone, creatine, levonorgestrel, pantothenic acid, pyroglutamic acid, xanthosine and xanthurenic acid in sequence, the contents of methyladenosine and creatinewere significantly increased (<0.05) and the contents of the other 9 differentialmetabolites were significantly decreased (<0.05 or <0.01)compared with the control group.The 15 differential metabolites mentioned above were input MetPA database in order to analyze the metabolic pathways weighted score.The results showed that the arginine-proline metabolism pathway disordersweredetected in theCFS group before exercise, the marker metabolite wascreatine. And 3 metabolic pathwaysdisorder weredetectedin the CFS groupafter exercise, which were arginine-proline metabolism, biosynthesis of pantothenic acid and CoA, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and the marker metabolites, in turn, werecreatine, pantothenic acid and corticosterone. CONCLUSIONS The disorder of arginine-proline metabolic pathway is detected in CFS middle school students before exercise intervention. After exercise, it can be detected that the steroid hormone biosynthetic metabolic pathway, pantothenic acid and CoA metabolic pathways also have metabolic disorders.
Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; Exercise ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Students ; Young Adult