OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of bridging therapy with fondaparinux versus low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSAF patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation between January, 2009 and June, 2013 in Nanfang Hospital were analyzed. The patients received subcutaneous injection of either fondaparinux or LMWH as a bridging therapy during warfarin discontinuation 5 days before the ablation until a post-ablation international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0-3.0 was achieved. Anticoagulant-related complications, identified and classified as thromboembolic and bleeding events, were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSA total of 465 patients (68% male; mean age 52.3∓15 years, range 25 to 80 years) were enrolled in the study, including 265 in fondaparinux group and 200 in LMWH group. Anticoagulation-related complications were observed in 3 patients in fondaparinux group, as compared with 13 in LMWH group (P=0.002), but the thromboembolic rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.111). Two patients in fondaparinux group and 8 in LMWH group showed bleeding complications (P=0.039). No cardiovascular death occurred in these patients during a mean follow-up period of 3 months.

CONCLUSIONSFondaparinux as the bridging therapy during catheter ablation for AF does not increase the risk of thromboembolic complications but slightly reduces the risk of bleeding compared to LMWH, suggesting its safety and effectiveness for periprocedural anticoagulation management in AF patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysaccharides ; therapeutic use

ObjectiveTo understand the state of low vision and blindness and vision parameters of the elderly in a town in the suburbs of Shanghai， and analyze the factors that affect the weakened vision of the elderly. MethodsA total of 5 243 community residents who participated in a community physical examination in Sijing Town of Songjiang District of Shanghai were selected as the subjects. Their eyesight was examined for low vision and blindness using the international standard visual acuity chart. At the same time， medical vision examinations were carried out on the subjects， including eye acuity， spherical degree， axial position， horizontal corneal curvature， vertical corneal curvature and cylinder degree. ResultsThe increase in age has an impact on the incidence of low vision and blindness in the elderly community in Sijing Town， with an increased proportion of monocular low vision （χ²=112.545， P<0.05）， binocular low vision （χ²=21.006， P<0.05） and monocular blindness （χ²=9.418， P<0.05）. P<0.05）， a significant downward trend of cylindrical power （F=20.358， P<0.05） and a significant upward trend of spherical power （F=50.274， P<0.05）， axial position （F=7.934， P<0.05） and corneal curvature vertical data （F=7.351， P<0.05）. ConclusionThe incidence of low vision and blindness among elderly community residents in Sijing Town is related to the increase of age. Systematic visual inspection is helpful for early detection and treatment of low vision and blindness among elderly residents in the community.

Objective To examine the anticancer effect of a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), JZ004, on colon cancer cells HCT-8 and HT-29, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction of cancer cells treated by JZ 004.Methods Colon cancer cells were treated with a series of concentrations of JZ004 .MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of cancer cells .The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were deter-mined by flow cytometry .Rhodamine 123 and DCFH-DA were applied to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and reactive oxygen species ( ROS) production.The protein expressions of acetyl-histone H3, p21, cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK)4, Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and Bax were assayed by Western blotting .Results JZ004 was found to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner , accompanied by a dose-dependent hyperacetylation of histone H3.JZ004 induced the cancer cell arrest in G 0/G1 phase by increasing the expres-sion level of p21 while CDK4 was downregulated .JZ004 also increased cellular ROS production and reduced ΔΨm by regu-lating the expressions of Bcl-2 family proteins .Conclusion As a novel HDACi , JZ004 effectively inhibits proliferation and increases ROS production to induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells .The results indicate that JZ004 is a potential compound to be developed as an anti-colon cancer agent for clinic application .