Objective: To compare the early and long-term outcomes between on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in elder female patients.
Methods: A total of 763 female patients elder than 65 years of age received isolated CABG in our hospital from 1999-01 to 2008-12 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to operational method: On-pump group,n=331 and Off-pump group,n=432. The mortality at 30 days post-operation, in-hospital clinical indexes and long term mortality with MACCE as all cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and repeated revascularization were compared between 2 groups.
Results: Compared with On-pump group, the patients in Off-pump group had the elder age (P<0.01), with the higher rate of cerebral vascular accident (P=0.023); less family history of coronary artery disease (P=0.012), angina (P<0.001) and emergent operation (P=0.015), less venous distal anastomoses (P<0.001) ; while higher incomplete revascularization (P<0.001). Logistic regression model comparison indicated that Off-pump group had the lower mortality at 30 days post-operation (P=0.038), less application of blood products (P<0.001), lower rate of >24h mechanical ventilation (P<0.001), less renal failure (P=0.022), pulmonary complications (P<0.001) and re-exploration for bleeding (P=0.021). The morbidity of all post-operative complications were similar between 2 groups (P=0.110). Cox regression model comparison showed that long-term all cause mortality (P=0.477) and occurrence of MACCE (P=0.265) were similar between the two groups.
Conclusion: Off-pump CABG would reduce the mortality at 30 days post-operation, have less application of blood products, shorter post-operative mechanical ventilation, less early post-operative renal failure, pulmonary complications and re-exploration for bleeding. While it could not reduce the long-term mortality and MACCE occurrence.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in displaying the parotid gland segments of the facial nerve.

METHODSSixteen volunteers (9 males and 7 females) and 132 surgically confirmed patients with parotid tumors locating in the deep or shallow lobe of the parotid gland (including 89 with benign and 43 with malignant tumors) underwent MRI using T1WI and T2WI. The transverse images were obtained with the plane tilted 35 degrees to the foot, and the coronal images were acquired using conventional scanning.

RESULTSOn transverse T1WI, the parotid gland segments of the facial nerve displayed low signal with arc-shaped curve in the cross-section, showing a symmetrical dot-like low signal in the coronal plane. The facial nerve in 63% of the patients with parotid tumors in the cross-section could be displayed, but in the coronal plane the proportion reached 83%. MRI could accurately reveal the position of the parotid tumors in the deep or shallow lobe of the parotid gland.

CONCLUSIONMRI can show the major portion of the parotid gland segments of the facial nerve and has important value in locating the parotid tumors and displaying the relationship between the tumor and facial nerve.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Nerve ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Gland ; innervation ; pathology ; Parotid Neoplasms ; pathology ; Young Adult

In past decade, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as a novel gasotransmitter, covered many fields in biological and medical research. However, there is no effective, convenient and high-throughput method for determination of circulatory H₂S until now. Here, we aim to develop an easy method for measurement of circulatory H₂S by modified methylene blue method. In the present study, we added Zn²⁺ to plasma sample to deposit H₂S, HS⁻ and S²⁻, as well as plasma protein, then used NaOH to re-dissolve plasma protein. ZnS deposition was re-dissolved by the addition of N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, and the remnant protein was deposited by trichloroacetic acid. After centrifugation, ferriammonium sulfate was added to the supernatant fluid to generate methylene blue, which was analyzed by spectrophotometer at 665 nm. Using the present method, we found that most ions including sulfate and thiosulfate did not affect detection of H₂S concentration, but albumin (physiological concentration) reduced the detection value, which suggested the binding of serum albumin and a certain amount of H₂S. The relative recovery ratio of present method is 81.9%, which implies that the method is relative accurate for the determination of H₂S concentration in plasma or serum. H₂S levels of frozen plasma samples from 65 healthy volunteers detected by the present method were (13.93 ± 4.98) µmol/L. There was no obvious difference between the detection values of fresh and frozen samples from the same SD rats. These results suggest the modified methylene blue assay is stable, sensitive, convenient and high-throughput. The method can be used to analyze the circulatory H₂S in clinical and basic research.
Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; methods ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Methylene Blue ; chemistry ; Phenylenediamines ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfides ; chemistry ; Zinc Compounds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo measure breast basic dimension by using computer-aided projection fringe system.

METHODSA system has been developed for measuring breast basic dimension based on computer-aided projection fringe measurement and programming software. Plastic manikins breast's SN-N (sternal notch to nipple distance), N-ML (nipple to midline distance), N-N (internipple distance), MBW (base width of breast) and N-IMF (nipple to inframammary fold distance) are measured with this system. At the same time, these items are also measured with routine ruler.

RESULTSThis study indicate that the system has some merits: (1) non-touching measurement; (2) it is very rapid, the patient measured need hold his breath only 0.5 second, and all the time it takes is about 2.5 minutes; (3) the measurement's sensitivity is as high as to 0.6 mm, which meets the clinic requirement entirely; (4) the measurement's accuracy of the system is not significantly when comparing to the routine ruler's.

CONCLUSIONSComputer-aided projection fringe system for measuring breast basic dimension is feasible and advanced.

Breast ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Tomography, Optical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc (PSZ) extract on methuosis of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 and CNE2 cells and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODSCNE1 and CNE2 cells were treated with 1 mg/mL PSZ extract and the expressions of Rac1 mRNA and Rac1 protein were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results CNE1 and CNE2 cells showed obvious morphological changes typical of methuosis following treatment with PSZ extract characterized by cell merging, accumulation of large cytoplasmic vacuoles, and membrane rupture without obvious changes in the nuclei. PSZ treatment resulted in up-regulated Rac1 mRNA and Rac1 protein expressions in the cells. Application of EHT 1864 obviously blocked the effect of PSZ extract in inducing methuosis in CNE1 and CNE2 cells.

CONCLUSIONPSZ extract can induce methuosis in CNE1 and CNE2 cells by inducing the overexpression of Rac1.

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutation of low density lipoprotein receptor(LDLR) gene in a large Chinese family with familial hypercholesterolemia(F H) and make a discussion on the pathogenesis of FH at the molecular level.

METHODSInvestigations were made on a patient with the clinical phenotype of homozygous FH and his parents for mutations of promoter and all 18 exons of LDLR gene. Screening was carried out using Touch down PCR and a g arose gel electrophoresis, combined with DNA sequence analysis. The results were compared with the normal sequences in GenBank and FH database (www.ucl.uk/fh) t o find the mutation. Then the mutation was identified in other members of the family. In addition, the authors screened the apolipoprotein B(100) (apoB(100)) gene f or known mutations (R3500Q) that cause familial defective apoB(100) (FDB) by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSA novel homozygous IN III 5' GT --> AT mutation in the splice donor of LDLR intron 3 was detected in the homozygote propositus with FH. The mutation was also identified in four heterozygous carriers in his family. No mutations R3500Q of apoB(100)were observed.

CONCLUSIONA homozygous G --> A splice mutation in LDLR gene was first reported. The change of the splice donor in LDLR intron 3 may cause skipping of exon 3, which is responsible for FH. Perhaps it is a particular pathogenesis for Chinese people.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alternative Splicing ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, LDL ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the synergetic effect of norcantharidin (NCTD) and adriamycin (ADR) on the proliferation and apoptosis of multiple myeloma (MM) cells.

METHODSHuman MM cell line U266 cells were treated with NCTD alone (10 µmol/L) or in combination with ADR (0.25 µmol/L). MTT and Annexin V/PI staining were used to determine cell viability and apoptosis. The protein expression of nuclear factor-κB P65 (NF-κB P65), phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65), NF-κB P65 inhibitor IκBα, phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα), survivin, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

RESULTS(1) NCTD potentiated the cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effects induced by ADR. The combination of NCTD and ADR had synergistic anti-proliferation effect. (2) Combination of ADR and NCTD downregulated the expression of nuclear NF-κB P65 and cytoplasm p-IκBα induced by ADR. The expression of nuclear NF-κB P65 and cytoplasm p-IκBα decreased from 2.08 ± 0.29 and 0.39 ± 0.07 to 0.48 ± 0.08 and 0.02 ± 0.01 respectively, while the expression of the cytoplasm NF-κB P65 and IκBα were unchanged in the ADR alone group and the combined group. (3) The expression of survivin and bcl-2 decreased from 0.31 ± 0.05 and 0.23 ± 0.05 to 0.03 ± 0.02 and 0.05 ± 0.02, while the expression of Bax increased from 0.46 ± 0.06 to 0.62 ± 0.08 respectively in ADR alone group and combined group. (4) The positive rate of VEGF in ADR group and combination group were (44.6 ± 4.4)% and (27.0 ± 2.1)% respectively, indicating that NCTD could potentiate the inhibition effect on VEGF induced by ADR.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that NCTD can potentialize the chemosensitivity of multiple myeloma cells to ADR through regulating NF-κB/IκBα signaling pathway and NF-κB-regulated gene products including survivin, Bcl-2, Bax and VEGF.

Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objectives:To explore the relationship between insomnia symptoms and neuroticism in patients with COVID-19,and to explore the role of anxiety and psychological capital in the relationship.Methods:Totally 687 patients with COVID-19 were recruited from Shanghai Fangcang Hospital.The Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS),Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale for Chinese Neuroticism Subscale(EPQ-RSC-N),Self-Rat-ing Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Psychological Capital Questionnaire(PCQ)were used to measure insomnia symp-toms,neuroticism personality trait,anxiety symptoms and psychological capital levels.The deviation-corrected per-centile Bootstrap method was used to test the mediating effect,and the PROCESS program was used to test the moderated effect.Results:The detection rate of insomnia symptoms was 49.93％.The AIS scores were lower in male patients than in female patients(P＜0.01).The SAS scores partly mediated the relationship between neuroti-cism scores and AIS scores,with an effect size of 0.03,accounting for 18.29％of the total effect.With the im-provement of PCQ scores,the predictive effect of SAS scores on AIS scores gradually decreased(β=-0.01,t=-4.41,P＜0.001).Conclusions:Anxiety symptoms in patients with COVID-19 play a partial mediating role in the positive relationship between insomnia symptoms and neuroticism.The psychological capital moderates the relation-ship between insomnia and anxiety symptoms.

OBJECTIVESTo confirm previous whole-genome scan results of mapping type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes in chromosome 1 in Northern Chinese Han population by conducting a new genome scan with both an enlarged number of type 2 diabetes families and a new set of microsatellite markers.

METHODSA genome scan method was applied. After multiplexed PCR, electrophoreses, genescan and genotyping analysis, size informations for all loci were obtained, and a further study was done using both parametric and non-parametric linkage analysis to calculate the P-values and Z-values of these loci.

RESULTSA total of 34 microsatellite markers distributed within 5 regions along chromosome 1 were surveyed, and 12,000 genotypes were screened. Evidence of linkage with diabetes was identified for 8 of the 34 loci (all the P-values of the 8 loci distributed in 3 regions were lower than 0.05, and the highest Z-value was 2.17). Interestingly, all the 5 markers at the P terminal 1p36.3-1p36.23 region, spanning a long range of 16.9 cM, suggested to be linked with the disease. The results of the other two regions were not consistent with the previous ones.

CONCLUSIONSThe study results have confirmed those gained in the previous genome-wide scan. The fact that all 5 loci at the P terminal region displayed linkage with diabetes suggests that more than 1 susceptibility gene may reside in this region.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genetic Testing ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo search for the disease-associated haplotype in the PRKCZ gene, a susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes in Han population of North China, by case-control study and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

METHODSSNPs located in the PRKCZ gene were chosen from public SNP domain by bioinformatic methods and single base extension (SBE) method was used to genotype the loci in 173 sporadic type 2 diabetes patients and 152 normal individuals to perform case-control study and LD analysis. Haplotype block were constructed in these populations.

RESULTSSeveral SNPs in the PRKCZ gene were found to be associated with the disease. The SNPs formed different haplotype block pattern in case and control groups. The frequencies of the haplotypes formed by 5 SNPs were statistically different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe haplotype formed by 5 SNPs in the PRKCZ gene may be associated with type 2 diabetes in Han population of China, which is confirmed from statistics to be a susceptibility gene for the disease.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein Kinase C ; genetics ; Protein Kinase C-delta