Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hexanones ; urine ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To compare the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and GRACE score in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods A total of 246 patients with chest pain to hospital time < 24 hours were followed up to 30 days. Admission plasma B-type natriuretic peptide was measured by point-of-care. Endpoints included death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia and new onset of congestive heart failure. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate prognostic value of BNP and GRACE score. The logistic regression models were used to assess the prognostic contribution of BNP level and GRACE score. Results The mean age was (67. 6 ± 12. 0) years (61. 8% males) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was diagnosed in 135 patients (54.9% ). During the follow up, 34 endpoints ( 13. 8% ) were recorded including 9 deaths (3.7%). The systolic blood pressure [(121 ±29)mm Hg vs. (130±23)mm Hg, P=0.034; 1 mm Hg=0. 133 kPa] was significantly lower while the heart rate and plasma creatinin were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group. TNI and CRP levels were similar between the two groups. The BNP level at admission (median 883.5 ng/L vs. 216.5 ng/L) and GRACE score (median 164.5 vs. 142.0) were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group (all P <0. 05). The prognostic criteria for BNP level (area under cure, 0.704) was 194.5 ng/L determined by ROC(P=0. 043). For GRACE score, the predictive value for endpoints was 0. 742 ( P = 0. 003 ) and the cut-off point was 158. In the logistic regression model, BNP concentration ( > 194.5 ng/L, OR =3. 174) and GRACE score ( > 158, OR = 4. 031) were independent predictors of endpoints in patients with ACS. Conclusion Both BNP level at admission and GRACE score were independent predictors for endpoints at 30 days in patients with ACS.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) in hippocampus of rats with aging.

METHODSParaffin sections of brain tissue of rats at the age of 3, 18, 24, 30 months were stained by immunohistochemistry, the expression of VEGF and MVD was quantitatively analyzed.

RESULTSInnunohistochemical staining showed that the VEGF-positive cells were mainly pyramidal neuron in hippocampus; the intensity of VEGF-positivity in neuron cells was decreased with the aging (P<0.05). The MVD in hippocampus was also decreased with the aging of rats (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncreasing VEGF contents and improving blood circulation in brain tissue may prevent or treat vascular dementia and cerebrovascular diseases.

Aging ; Animals ; Capillaries ; pathology ; Hippocampus ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in different brain regions in aged rats and investigate the role of HIF-1alpha in the aging process of the nervous system.

METHODSThe Nissl bodies and HIF-1alpha expression in different brain regions were observed in rats aged 3 and 30 months using Nissl staining and immunohistochemical method, respectively.

RESULTSIn the 30-month-old rats, the neural cells in 4 different brain regions presented with large cell body and loose alignment, containing reduced Nissl bodies in the cytoplasm. Compared with the 3-month-old rats, the aged rats showed greater number of HIF-1alpha-positive cells in the brain (P < 0.01), and the number varied significantly between the different brain regions (P < 0.01). The CA3 region contained the greatest number of positive cells, which were fewer in the motor cortex and cerebellum.

CONCLUSIONThe capacity for protein synthesis in the neural cells is weakened but the expression of HIF-1alpha increased in aged rats, suggesting the important role that HIF-1alpha may play in the aging process of the nervous system, especially in hypomnesis.

Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in the expression of glucose transporter-3 (GLUT3) in the cerebral cortex of rats during aging and investigate the role of GLUT3 in the aging process of the nervous system.

METHODSThe cerebral tissues were collected from rats of 3, 18, 24, and 30 months old (10 in each age group), and the expression of GLUT3 in the cerebral cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSUnder optical microscope, GLUT3-positive cells were found in every group. Within the age range of 3 to 8 months, GLUT3-positive cells increased significantly with age (P<0.01), but at 24-30 months of age, the number of GLUT3-positive cells reduced significant with age (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression changes of GLUT3 ir the cerebral cortex of rats during aging indicate that GLUT3 plays an important role in the maturation and aging of the nervous system.

Aging ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 3 ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) on platelet activation and coagulation function in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

METHODSSixty-six patients with acute cerebral infarction and 50 health individuals were enrolled in the study. Hp antibody,expression of CD62p on platelets and clotting indexes were measured and compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe positive rate of Hp-IgG and Hp-CagA in cerebral infarction patients were higher than that in controls (P<0.05). The positive rate of CD62p in patients with positive Hp-IgG and Hp-CagA was significantly higher than that in negative patients and also controls (P<0.05). The APTT and TT were lower and FIB was higher in patients with positive Hp antibody than those in patients with negative Hp antibody (P<0.05),but there was no difference in PT,PTR and INR (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONHp infection can activate platelets and affect coagulation function,which may be involved in the development of cerebral infarction.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Antigens, Bacterial ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Blood Coagulation ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; microbiology ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; blood ; complications ; Helicobacter pylori ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Platelet Activation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of microglial activation of hippocampus in experimental epileptic rats.

METHODSMorphological changes and proliferation of OX-42 positive cells were compared at different time points after status of epilepticus (SE) in lithium-pilocarpine induced epileptic rats.

RESULTSOX-42 positive cells were activated after SE, which increased to a peak at 3-7 d and in a relatively stable state at 7-14 d; then gradually decreased after 14d and returned to slightly higher level than previously at 21 d.

CONCLUSIONInflammatory injury, microglial activation and cell proliferation are closely related after seizures, microglial activation may be an important mechanism in the inflammatory injury of epilepsy.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; pathology ; Male ; Microglia ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Status Epilepticus ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of puerarin on the learning-memory disorder after global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, and to explore its mechanism of action.

METHODSThe global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established using the modifified Pulsinelli four-vessel occlusion in Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin (100 mg/kg) 1 h before ischemia and once every 6 h afterwards. The learning-memory ability was evaluated by the passive avoidance test. The dynamic changes of the cell counts of apoptosis and positive expression of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus CA1 region were determined by the TUNEL and immunohistochemical methods, respectively.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the reperfusion group, the step through latency (STL) in the passive avoidance test in the puerarin group was prolonged signifificantly (P<0.01). (2) The apoptotic neurons were injured most severely on the 3rd day in the hippocampal CA1 region after global ischemia and reperfusion. In the puerarin group, the number of apoptotic cells decreased at respective time points after ischemia-reperfusion (P<0.01). (3) The level of positive expression of Bcl-2 varied according to the duration of reperfusion and the peak level occurred on day 1 in the hippocampal CA1 region after global cerebral ischemia. Compared with the reperfusion group, the expression of Bcl-2 in the puerarin group was up-regulated at the respective time points after ischemia reperfusion (P<0.01), reaching the peak on day 1.

CONCLUSIONSPuerarin could improve the learning-memory ability after global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats. The protective mechanism might be related to the effect of inhibiting or delaying the cell apoptosis through up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 after ischemia and reperfusion.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; complications ; drug therapy ; Models, Biological ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reaction Time ; drug effects ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia on immune function in patients with extracorporeal circulation undergoing cardiac surgery.

METHODSThirty cases undergoing cardiac surgery which included atrial septal defect neoplasty, ventricular septal defect neoplasty, mitral valve replacement and pulmonary valve coarctotomy were randomly divided into group A and group B, 15 cases in each group. Group A was given general anesthesia plus acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6), Lieque (LU 7) and Yunmen (LU 2), and group B was given simple general anesthesia. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels before and after surgery were compared.

RESULTSThe level of TNF-alpha was increased and the levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the serum were decreased in both groups after extracorporeal circulation for 2 h and 24 h, and the ranges of all changes were more less in group A (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with simple general anesthesia, acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia can improve immune suppression partially in the perioperative periods under the same conditions of controlling anesthesia degree.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; blood ; immunology ; surgery ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult