The association between atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the surgical techniques selected has been extensively reported.However,no consistent results were obtained.In the present study,a meta-analysis was conducted by searching the electronic databases PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and Cochrane to identify the association of post-CABG AF with on-pump (conventional CABG,cCABG) or off-pump CABG (OPCABG).Outcomes from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and propensity score matching (PSM) trials were pooled by using the fixed-effect or the random-effect modeling method,and verified by the quality-effect modeling method.There were 35 studies with 36 independent reports that met the inclusion criteria and were eventually included in our meta-analysis.The total odds ratio (OR) of the incidence of post-CABG AF between OPCABG and cCABG was 0.80 (95％ CI 0.71-0.91).The 25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) had an OR of 0.69 (95％ CI 0.56-0.86),while the OR of the 11 PSM trials was 0.88 (95％ CI 0.77-1.00).Twenty-six studies involving the patients at a mean age no more than 65 years showed an OR of 0.76 (95％ CI 0.64-0.90),whereas 10 studies with patients greater than 65 years old showed an OR of 0.90 (95％ CI 0.78-1.05).The results of this meta-analysis suggest that OPCAB surgery may reduce the incidence of post-CABG AF when compared to cCABG and that younger patients may benefit more from OPCAB and have a lower incidence ofpost-CABG AF.

In this study, 101 strains of bacteria were isolated from arct ic water and sediment samples. The methanol extracts of the fermented broth prod uced by these strains were screened in vitro for anti-tumor activity on mou se tsFT210 cells using the method of flow cytometry, and screened for antibacter ial activity by the method of paper disk diffusion. The result showed that one strain exhibited anti-tumor activity and eight strains had antibacterial activ ity. The stability of the antibacterial components produced by strain AR084 an d its optimum medium were also studied. The research indicated that arctic bac teria had potential application in pharmaceutics.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Longjintonglin Capsules on type IIIA prostatitis accompanied by abnormal semen liquefaction.

METHODSWe selected 140 patients with type IIIA prostatitis accompanied by abnormal semen liquefaction according to the diagnostic standards of the American Institutes of Health (NIH) and treated them with Longjintonglin Capsules orally 3 capsules once tid for 12 weeks. We obtained the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Indexes (NIH-CPSI), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, leukocyte count in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), semen liquefaction time, and the results of semen analysis and compared these indicators before and after the treatment.

RESULTSOf the 140 cases, 132 were included in this study, excluding 8 due to their incomplete case histories. Before and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of medication, the total NIH-CPSI scores were 24.52 ± 5.43, 21.28 ± 4.85, 18.01 ± 4.28, and 14.49 ± 3.65 (P < 0.01), the TCM syndrome scores were 35.63 ± 6.07, 26.66 ± 5.03, 17.37 ± 4.18, and 11.11 ± 3.96 (P < 0.01), and the leukocyte counts (/HP) were 27.50 ± 7.01, 22.38 ± 5.22, 16:76 ± 4.10, and 11.40 ± 4.74 (P < 0.01), respectively. After 12 weeks of treatment, 31 of the patients with type IIIA prostatitis were cured and another 72 well responded, with an overall response rate of 78.0%. Of those with abnormal semen liquefaction, 61 were cured, 39 well responded, and 32 failed to respond, with an overall effectiveness rate of 75.8%. Semen analysis showed significantly increased percentage of progressively motile sperm after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of medication as compared with the baseline (P < 0.01). No abnormal liver or renal function or other adverse reactions were observed during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONLongjintonglin Capsules, with its advantages of safety, effectiveness and no obvious adverse effects, deserve to be recommended for the treatment of type IIIA prostatitis accompanied by abnormal semen liquefaction.

Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; classification ; drug therapy ; Semen ; Semen Analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the significance of determining ascitic bacterial 16S rRNA by quantitative PCR combined with microarray (PCR-microarray) in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

METHODSAscitic bacterial 16SrRNA was determined by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR-microarray in 76 cases of suspected SBP and 6 cases of non-infectious ascites with chronic liver diseases. The results were compared with ascitic bacterial culture simultaneously.

RESULTSOf 76 ascitic samples, 17 were detected bacteria positive by PCR-microarray, including 8 Grams positive(G+) and 9 Grams negative(G-), which was higher than that by bacterial culture which had only 6 ascitic samples detected positive (all G-); the positive rates were 22.4% vs 7.9%, respectively (P < 0.01). The bacterial strains detected by both methods in 6 cases had a consistency with each other. No bacteria were detected in another 6 cases of non-infectious ascites with chronic liver diseases.

CONCLUSIONSDetermination of ascitic bacteria 16S rRNA by PCR-microarray has a higher specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of SBP as compared with the bacteria culture. Application of this novel method can not only accelerate SBP diagnosis but also stratify the different pathogens.

Adult ; Aged ; Ascitic Fluid ; microbiology ; Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Peritonitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; RNA, Bacterial ; isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVEStudy blood vessel injury and gene expression indicating vascular endothelial cell apoptosis induced by mannitol with and without administration of anti-oxidative vitamins.

METHODSHealthy rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Mannitol was injected into the vein of the rabbit ear in each animal. Pre-treatment prior to mannitol injection was performed with normal saline (group B), vitamin C (group C) and vitamin E (group D). Blood vessel injury was assessed under electron and light microscopy. In a second experiment, cell culture specimen of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with mannitol. Pre-treatment was done with normal saline (sample B), vitamin C (sample C) and vitamin E (sample D). Total RNA was extracted with the original single step procedure, followed by hybridisation and analysis of gene expression.

RESULTSIn the animal experiment, serious blood vessel injury was seen in group A and group B. Group D showed light injury only, and normal tissue without pathological changes was seen in group C. Of all 330 apoptosis-related genes analysed in human cell culture specimen, no significant difference was seen after pre-treatment with normal saline, compared with the gene chip without pre-treatment. On the gene chip pre-treated with vitamin C, 45 apoptosis genes were down-regulated and 34 anti-apoptosis genes were up-regulated. Pre-treatment with vitamin E resulted in the down-regulation of 3 apoptosis genes.

CONCLUSIONVitamin C can protect vascular endothelial cells from mannitol-induced injury.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Mannitol ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Rabbits ; Vitamins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish the specific 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer regions pattern in different bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequences analysis.

METHODSA pair of primers were selected from highly conserved sequences adjacent to the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region. Bacterial DNA of sixty-one strains of standard bacteria and corresponding clinical isolates representative of 20 genera and 27 species was amplified by PCR, and further studied by RFLP, DNA cloning and sequences analysis. Meanwhile, all specimens were examined by bacterial culturing and PCR-RFLP analysis.

RESULTSThe 27 different standard strains showed one, two, three or more than three bands. The sensitivity of PCR reached 2.5 colony-forming unit (CFU), and there was no cross reaction to the human, fungal or viral genomic DNAs. Fifteen species could be distinguished immediately by PCR, while another 10 species were further identified by Hinf I or Alu I digestion. Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) and Enterococcus durans (Ed) could not be differentiated from each other by Alu I or Hinf I digestion. The spacer sequences of the Kp and Ed were 908 bp and 909 bp, respectively, and they differed only at the site of the 779th nucleotide. The former was G, and the latter was A. The 760 - 790 bp sequence of Kp was as follows: CGACTGCACCGCCTCCTAC / GGCCGCGTATTC. The 760 - 790 bp sequence of Ed was as follows: CGACTGCAC CGCCTCCTAC / AGCCGCGTATTC. Only one enzyme XmaIII, could discriminate the two. The cleaving site of XmaIII is C downward arrow GGCCG. Kp DNA was cleaved into 778 bp and 130 bp fragments, while E. durans was not. Of 42 specimens with suspected septicemia, 15 were positive (35.7%) on blood culture, and 27 on PCR (64.29%). The positive rate of PCR was significantly higher than that of blood culture (P < 0.01). Of the six CSF specimens, one was positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis (Se) on culture as well as by PCR, while two specimens which were negative on cultures were positive by PCR and were diagnosed as Se according to its DNA pattern. One specimen was culture-positive for Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) but was negative by PCR. The other two specimens were negative by both PCR and culture. Fifteen blood samples from healthy children were negative by both blood culture and PCR.

CONCLUSIONSThe method of detecting bacterial 16S-23S rRNA spacer regions using PCR-RFLP techniques was specific, sensitive, rapid and accurate in detecting pathogens in clinical bacterial infections.

Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and immunoreactivity in experimental acute inflammatory brain injury.

METHODSTen rats were inoculated with pneumococcus to establish the model of bacterial inflammatory brain injury and other 6 rats were used as normal controls. At 24 h after inoculating, the expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in brain tissue was detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods, respectively.

RESULTThe necrosis of neuron in cerebral cortex and hippocampus was observed after infection. The increase of BDNF mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of experimental animals was demonstrated at 24 h after inoculation: (0.1194 +/- 0.02941 compared with 0.0662 +/- 0.01176)A and (0.1608 +/-0.01854 compared with 0.0680 +/- 0.00946)A (P<0.01), respectively. Compared with controls the expression of BDNF protein in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was enhanced at 24 h of inoculation:(177.04+/-43.66 compared with 79.79+/-7.23)mm(2) (P<0.01) and (81.78 +/-37.47 compared with 42.98 +/-20.44)mm(2) (P<0.01), respectively. Strong positive hybridization and immunoreactivity were observed in the infiltrated inflammatory cell in leptomeninges, subarachnoid cavity, ventricles and brain parenchyma in the brain from the experimental rats.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein increases following brain inflammatory injury, which supports the hypothesis that BDNF may constitute intrinsic neuroprotective mechanism as a part of the inflammatory response.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo purify Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) from human serum and detect its binding ability to several kinds of bacteria common in infectious diseases of children.

METHODSMBL was purified from human serum by affinity chromatography on mannan-Sepharose 4B column. Its binding ability to eight species, 97 strains of bacteria was detected by enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA).

RESULTSMBL has different binding ability to bacteria and shows strong binding ability to Klebsiella ornithinolytica and Escherichia coli, but shows relatively lower binding ability to Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus epidermidis. To different isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus, MBL shows quite different binding ability.

CONCLUSIONSMBL has different binding ability to different bacteria, and has relatively stronger binding ability to Gram-negative bacteria. Its binding ability to different isolates of certain kinds of bacteria is quite different.

Bacteria ; classification ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Communicable Diseases ; microbiology ; Humans ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; blood ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Species Specificity

Objective To evaluate the operative outcomes of a triple procedure including simultaneous penetration keratoplasty (PKP),extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation,and to investigate the relationship between postoperative corneal refractive power and preoperative lens diopter.Methods This retrospective analysis study involved 15 patients who had undergone a triple procedure surgery in Beijing You'an hospital from April to October 2016.Outcomes including the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),intraocular pressure (IOP),corneal refractive power,axial length,postoperative complications,corneal endothelial cell counts and the survival of corneal graft were determined one year after surgery.Results All corneal grafts were transparent and corneal endothelium were (1974.20 ±472.82) cell · mm-2.The mean postoperative LogMAR visual acuity (0.80 ±0.27) had a significant improvement compared with the mean preoperative LogMAR visual acuity (2.63 ±0.62) (t =13.042,P ＜0.001).There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative IOP (15.27 ± 2.37) mmHg (1 kPa =7.5 mmHg) and postoperative data (14.53 ± 3.04) mmHg (t =0.685,P =0.505),preoperative axial length (23.69 ±2.01) mm and postoperative data (23.62 ±2.12)mm (t =-0.138,P=0.893)and preoperative keratometry (45.01 ± 1.66) D of the control eye and postoperative data (42.56 ± 5.48) D (t =1.202,P =0.260).The postoperative spherical equivalent refractive was (0.40 ±4.65) D,and the target refraction was (0.58 ±0.25)D.Conclusion The triple procedures are safe and effective for the treatment of patients with coexisting corneal pathologies and cataracts.Selection of emmetropia lens diopter may result in the satisfactory postoperative visual acuity.However,unpredictable postoperative corneal curvature changes will still affect the final refractive state.

BACKGROUNDCatheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) has been a mainstay in treating deep venous thrombosis (DVT). However, the optimal dosage of a thrombolytic agent is still controversial. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low dosage urokinase with CDT for DVT.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed using data from a total of 427 patients with DVT treated with CDT in our single center between July 2009 and December 2012. Early efficacy of thrombolysis was assessed with a thrombus score based on daily venography. The therapeutic safety was evaluated by adverse events. A venography or duplex ultrasound was performed to assess the outcome at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years postoperatively.

RESULTSThe mean total dose of 3.34 (standard deviation [SD] 1.38) million units of urokinase was administered during a mean of 5.18 (SD 2.28) days. Prior to discharge, Grade III (complete lysis) was achieved in 154 (36%) patients; Grade II (50-99% lysis) in 222 (52%); and Grade I (50% lysis) in 51 (12%). The major complications included one intracranial hemorrhage, one hematochezia, five gross hematuria, and one pulmonary embolism. Moreover, no death occurred in the study.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment of low-dose catheter-directed thrombosis is an efficacious and safe therapeutic approach in patients with DVT offering good long-term outcomes and minimal complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Venous Thrombosis ; drug therapy ; Young Adult