Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Risk Assessment

Six kinds of elicitors were prepared respectively from Neurospora crassa, Monascus purpureus, Sporobolomyces roseus, Rhodotorula rubra, Nocardia sp. N89 and Actinoplanes sp. A05. When Penicillium sp. PT95 was incubated in Czapek's agar plates containing appropriate amounts of elicitors, both its sclerotia biomass and carotenoid content accumulated in sclerotia were enhanced significantly (P < 0.01). Among tested elicitors, the elicitors from the fungi N. crassa, M. purpureus, S.-roseus and R. rubra were more effective than those from the actinomycetes Nocardia sp. N89 and Actinoplanes sp. A05; the elicitor from M. purpureus gave the highest carotenoid yield of 599 micrograms/plate, 2.76 times higher than that of control. Every one of elicitors except that from M. purpureus could increase significantly the proportion of beta-carotene in total carotenoids (P < 0.01).
Actinomycetales ; physiology ; Biomass ; Carotenoids ; biosynthesis ; Neurospora crassa ; physiology ; Nocardia ; physiology ; Penicillium ; metabolism ; Rhodotorula ; physiology

This study was aimed to investigate the distribution of chromosomal aberrational karyotype in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subgroups, the characterizations of numerical and structural aberration. The chromosome was prepared with simple culture of bone marrow, and the karyotype was analysed by G banding technique. The results showed tht 54 out of 127 patients (42.5%) had clonal chromosome aberrations, and the abnormal rates were different in subgroups: 30% (3/10) in MDS-RA, 35.9% (23/64) in MDS-RCMD, 22.2% (2/9) in MDS-RAS, 45% (9/20) in MDS-RAEB-I, 66.7% (14/21) in MDS-RAEB-II, 100% (3/3) in 5q-syndrome, respectively. Among 54 abnormal chromosome patients, 21 patients showed numerical aberration, 14 patients showed structural aberration, and the other 19 patients showed both numerical and structural aberration. The order of frequent aberrations was as follows complex karyotype (11.02%, 14/127), single +8 (10.24%, 13/127), -7/7q- (3.9%, 5/127), 1q+ (3.15%, 4/127), -X/-Y (3.15%, 4/127), 20q- (2.36%, 3/127), 5q- (2.36%, 3/127). The frequency of complex karyotype in MDS-RAEB (including RAEB-I and RAEB-II) was higher than that in non MDS-RAEB (including RA, RCMD, RAS, 5q-syndrome) (P < 0.05), and the frequency of balanced translocation was lower than that in non-balanced translocation (P < 0.05), and both of the two balanced translocation patients were found in MDS-RAEB. It is concluded that MDS is highly heterogeneous clonal disorder, a great majority of cytogenetic changes can be detected and most of which are recurrent aberrations, balanced translocations are rare, and only found in MDS-RAEB. The frequency of complex karyotype in MDS-RAEB is higher, and the patients with dup (1) (q21q32) recurrent abnormality is common in this study.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in the detection of ex vivo coronary plaques with different compositions compared with histology results.

METHODSOCT and IVUS were performed in 15 autopsied heart specimens and the isolated coronary artery was assessed by routine histological processing thereafter. Coronary plaques were classified into 3 types (lipid-rich plaque, calcified plaque and fibrous plaque) according to standard criteria respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of different types of plaque by OCT and IVUS were calculated according histology results.

RESULTSSeventy seven coronary plaques were analyzed. OCT demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 69% and 88% for lipid-rich plaque, 93% and 92% for calcified plaque, 88% and 98% for fibrous plaque. IVUS demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 61% and 92%, 98% and 97%, 68% and 90% respectively. The agreement between OCT and IVUS in assessment of coronary plaque was 0.831 (Kappa = 0.72, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBoth OCT and IVUS correctly detected ex vivo coronary plaques and there was a good agreement in assessment of coronary plaques between OCT and IVUS. OCT is superior to IVUS in assessment of fibrous plaque and is similar as IVUS in assessment of calcified plaque.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUNDEdge dissections after coronary stent implantation are associated with increased short-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. The incidence and outcome of edge dissections after coronary stent implantation were reportedly different using different imaging techniques. We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the incidence, morphological findings and related factors of edge dissections after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

METHODSTotally 42 patients with 43 de novo lesions in 43 native arteries undergoing DES implantation with OCT imaging were enrolled in this study.

RESULTSNine edge dissections were detected in 43 arteries after DES implantation. There were four morphological patterns of stent edge dissections indentified in this study: (1) superficial intimal tears (n = 3), (2) subintimal dissections (n = 4), (3) split of media (n = 1), (4) disruption of the fibrotic cap of plaque (n = 1). Stent edge expansion and stent expansion were both higher in the group with dissections than those in the group without dissections (1.682 ± 0.425 vs. 1.229 ± 0.285, P = 0.0290; 1.507 ± 0.445 vs. 1.174 ± 0.265, P = 0.0072).

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of stent edge dissections detected by OCT was 21%. Stent edge dissection is related with stent edge expansion and stent expansion.

Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; diagnosis ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Coronary Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; methods

BACKGROUNDThrombosis following plaque rupture is the main cause of acute coronary syndrome, but not all plaque ruptures lead to thrombosis. There are limited in vivo data on the relationship between the morphology of ruptured plaque and thrombosis.

METHODSWe used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to investigate the morphology of plaque rupture and its relation to coronary artery thrombosis in patients with coronary heart disease. Forty-two patients with coronary artery plaque rupture detected by OCT were divided into two groups (with or without thrombus) and the morphological characteristics of ruptured plaque, including fibrous cap thickness and broken cap site, were recorded.

RESULTSThe fibrous cap of ruptured plaque with thrombus was significantly thinner compared to caps without thrombus ((57.00 ± 17.00) µm vs. (96.00 ± 48.00) µm; P = 0.0076).

CONCLUSIONSPlaque rupture associated with thrombosis occurs primarily in plaque covered by a thin fibrous cap. Thick fibrous caps are associated with greater stability of ruptured plaque.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; complications ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; methods

BACKGROUNDThe prognostic values of the coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) score for predicting future cardiovascular events have been previously demonstrated in numerous studies. However, few studies have used the rich information available from CCTA to detect functionally significant coronary lesions. We sought to compare the prognostic values of Gai's plaque score and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) of CCTA for predicting functionally significant coronary lesions, using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as the gold standard.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 107 visually assessed significant coronary lesions in 88 patients (mean age, 59.6 ± 10.2 years; 76.14% of males) who underwent CCTA, invasive coronary angiography, and invasive FFR measurement. An FFR <0.80 indicated hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis. Lesions were divided into two groups using an FFR cutoff value of 0.80. We compared Gai's plaque scores and CACS between the two groups and evaluated the correlations of these scores with FFR. The statistical methods included unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Spearman's correlation coefficients.

RESULTSCoronary lesions with FFR <0.80 had higher Gai's scores than those with FFR ≥0.80. Gai's score had the strongest correlation with FFR (r = -0.48, P < 0.01) and had a greater area under the curve = 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.82; P < 0.01) than the CACS of whole arteries and a single artery.

CONCLUSIONSBoth CACS in a single artery and Gai's plaque score demonstrated a good capacity to assess functionally significant coronary artery stenosis when compared to the gold standard FFR. However, Gai's plaque score was more predictive of FFR <0.80. Gai's score can be easily calculated in daily clinical practice and could be used when considering revascularization.

Aged ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Calcification ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid ([characters: see text], HSR) on retarding the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS).

METHODSA total of 52 ARAS patients with the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis, phlegm and dampness retention were recruited and randomly assigned into the treatment group (36 cases) and the control group (16 cases). Both groups received a basic treatment (high-quality low-protein diet, blood pressure control, lipid-lowering, correcting the acidosis, etc.). In addition, the treatment group received 20 mL HSR and the control group received placebo, 3 times a day for 6 months. Renal function (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid) and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein) were examined monthly. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CM syndrome score were compared between groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, compared with the control group, the serum creatinine level, uric acid level and CM syndrome score of the treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the eGFR in the treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHSR can effectively improve the renal function and clinical symptoms of ARAS patients.

Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney Function Tests ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome