Objective Acute pulmonary thromboembolism(PTE)patients with right ventricular dysfunction(RVD)may benefit from thrombolytic therapy but may end up with worse prognosis.RVD was assessed in prognosis to which a model on it was constructed to decide the indexes correlated to the best prognosis.Methods This prospective study included 520 consecutive acute PTE patients from 41 hospitals in China between June 2002 and February 2005.All the patients were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE),CT pulmonary angiography(CTPA),laboratory tests,and blood gas analysis.Physicians were asked to record all the clinical manifestations.Data from Univariate analysis demonstrated the parameters correlated with an 14-day clinically adverse outcomes.Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to decide the independent predictors and to construct a prognostic model.Results Mcan age of the patients was 57.4±14.1 years and 323 of them(62.1%)were male.The 14-day mortality in normotensive patients with RVD was higher(2.0%vs0.4%,P＜0.01)than those without.ROC curve showed the best cut.ofr values of RVED/LVED and SPAP for 14-day prognosis were 0.67 and 60 mm Hg,respectively.SPAP independently predicted 3-month clinicaI outcomes(P＜0.01).Results from Univariate analysis demonstrated tllat 24 parameters were correlated with an adverse 14-day clinical outcomes.which include palpation,syncope,panic,cyanosis,respiratory rate≥30/min,pulse≥110/min,jugular vein,accentuation of P2,murmurs in tricuspid area,time interval from onset,creatine phosphokinase(CPK),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).alveolar-arterial PO2 difierence(PA-aO2),white blood cell(WBC)＜4.0×109/L or＞10.0×109/L,platelet.thrombus on TTE,RV/LV＞1.1,TRPG＞30 mm Hg,IVCmin＜8 mm,RVD,RVED/LVED＞0.6,SPAP＞60 mm Hg.RVWM.PTE range larger than two lobes or seven segments on CTPA.Furthermore,a multiple logistic regression model implied 8 predictors including RVD,RVED/LVED＞0.6,SPAP＞60 mm Hg,pulse≥110/min,accentuation of P2,Syncope,CPK,WBC＜4.0×109/L or＞10.0×109/L be independent predictors of an 14-day clinically adverse outcome(P＜0.01).This model seemed to fit well (P＜0.001).Wle chose a cut-off value as P≥0.2 and compared the model to the original derivation samples.Data showed that the sensitivity(true positive rate)was 81.82%,specificity was 92.11%.false positive rate was 18.18%.coincidence was 91.14%.and the concordarlCe rate was 80.96%.Conclusion RVD seemed a nice discriminator for poor prognosis in norrnotensive patients.Early detection of RVD(especially RVED/LVED＞0.67 and/or SPAP＞60 mm Hg)was beneficial for identifying patients at high-risk and the multiple logistic regression model(P＜0.001)could be well fitted.

Objective To observe the circadian rhythm of blood pressure and investigate the impact of Norvasc and Tanatril administrated at different time points based on the theory of time therapeutics in hypertensive patients. Methods The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was monitored in 130 inpatients and outpatients with grade 3 or 2 hypertension from May 2008 to November 2009. A total of 34 dipper hypertensive patients were grouped into dipper blood pressure group and 5 mg/d of Norvasc and Tanatril were taken by them at 6:00 AM. A total of 96 nondipper hypertensive patients were further divided into three subgroups after adjustment for age and gender: 5 mg/d of Norvasc and Tanatril were taken by group I (n = 30) at 6:00 AM; 5 mg/d of Tanatril at 6:00 AM and 5 mg/d of Norvasc at 18:00 PM by group Ⅱ (n = 32); 5 mg/d of Norvasc at 6:00 AM and 5 mg/d of Tanatrilat 18:00 PM by group Ⅲ(n=34).The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed again after four weeks treatment and 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure(24 hSBP),24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure(24 hDBP),daytime and nighttime mean systolic blood pressure(dSBP,nSBP)and daytime and nighttime mean diastolic blood pressure(dDBP,nDBP),were analyzed.Results The 24 hSBP,24 hDBP and dSBP,and dDBP were reduced from(154.3±5.6),(95.4±3.1),(158.7±6.5),(99.6±3.7)mmHg to(137.2±3.9),(82.5±2.7),(139.7±3.8),(85.2±3.5)mmHg,respectively,in dipper blood pressure group(t=2.124,2.356,2.278,2.449,all P<0.05).The 24 hSBP and 24 hDBP of the three groups in nondipper blood pressure were decreased from(154.4±6.1),(156.7±6.7),(156.6±5.2),(95.8±2.8),(94.9±3.8),(95.7±3.2)mmHg to (139.6±4.1),(134.5±4.6),(133.4±3.5),(83.5±4.2),(80.8±5.6),(81.6±4.7)mmHg,respectively(t=2.038,2.040,2.135,2.142,2.213,2.216,all P<0.05).dSBP and dDBP were decreased from(158.6±3.50),(158.4±5.6),(159.5±4.),(98.4±3.7),(99.6±3.7),(83.9±5.2)mmHg to(138.9±5.4),(136.7±4.1),(137.4±6.4),(85.8±5.3),(83.6±5.1),(83.9±5.2)mmHg,respectively(t=2.021,2.252,2.261,2.217,2.167,2.076,all P<0.05).nSBP and nDBP were decreased from(146.7±6.9),(149.8±3.9),(150.2±4.1),(93.7±4.2),(95.7±4.3),(93.4±3.3)mmHg to(133.7±4.6),(129.8±5.7),(127.6±2.8),(87.8±2.9),(78.5±6.4),(77.8±4.8)mmHg,respectively(t=1.798,2.032,2.014,1.864,2.157,2.166,all P<0.05).There were significant differences in nSBP and nDBP among all groups after treatment(F=2.32,2.17,all P<0.05),and the effect of the drugs was better in groug Ⅱ and Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ(q=3.17,4.03,3.32,4.19,all P<0.05),but there were no significant differences between group Ⅱ and Ⅲ(P>0.05).Conclusions Blood pressure can be controlled effectively by taking two antihypertensive medictions in the morning in hypertensive dipper patient but the blood pressure of nondipper hypertensive patients were able to be controlled more efficiently by taking the two antihypertensive medictions separately in the morning and at the evening compared with that taking the two drugs together in the morning.

OBJECTIVEA new pattern recognition method suitable for traditional Chinese patent medicine was established in this paper, which is named as the Dual index grade sequence pattern recognition.

METHODIn this method the quality gradation was defined mathematically relying on normal distribution. By this way samples can be clustered and classified depending on which quality gradation is wanted, and the grading samples quantitatively relative to quality can be performed simultaneously. Especially, the redundant information with respect to pattern recognition hiding in dual index sequences of samples can be removed effectively by applying the good grade sequences, which make the pattern recognition results accurate excellently. This approach possesses the advantages of both supervised classification and unsupervised cluster methods. Samples can be clustered and classified at the same time without any standard samples, and the operation is accomplished based on the good grade similar sequences themselves being as the classifying marks. Moreover, the subclasses in each class can be identified more subtly.

RESULTThe infrared fingerprint spectra of extracts of 27 kinds of Mingmu Dihuangwan pills and Zhibo Dihuangwan pills samples extracted with ethanol were analyzed with the method proposed in this paper. The results showed that these pills can be classified in their subclasses clearly, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe Dual index grade sequence pattern recognition is a new and effective one for identifying complex biological products made from complex herbal medicines.

Cluster Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; classification ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared

BACKGROUNDAcute pulmonary thromboembolism (APE) causes right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation. Patients with RVD and cTnI elevation have a worse prognosis. Thus, early detection of RVD and cTnI elevation is beneficial for risk stratification. In this study, we assessed 14-day adverse clinical events and combined RVD on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with cTnI in risk stratification among a broad spectrum of APE patients.

METHODSThe prospective multi-centre trial included 90 patients with confirmed APE from 12 collaborating hospitals. Acute RVD on TTE was diagnosed in the presence of at least 2 of the following: right ventricular dilatation (without hypertrophy), loss of inspiratory collapse of inferior vena cava (IVC), right ventricular (RV) hypokinesis, tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity > 2.8 m/s. The study patients were divided into two groups according to clinical and echocardiographic findings at presentation: Group I: 50 patients with RVD; Group II: 40 patients without RVD.

RESULTSMore than half of the patients (50/90, 55.6%) had RVD. Nearly one third (26/90, 28.9%) of patients had elevated cTnI at presentation and only 4.2% on the fourth day after initial therapy. A multiple Logistic regression model implied RVD, right and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ratio (RVED/LVED), and cTnI independently predict an adverse 14-day clinical outcome (P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves revealed that the cut-off values of RVED/LVED and cTnI yielding the highest discriminating power were 0.65 and 0.11 ng/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the incidence of an adverse 14-day clinical event in patients with RVD and elevated cTnI was greater (40.7%) than in patients with elevated cTnI or positive RVD alone (0% and 8.3%, respectively) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSRVD, RVED/LVED, and cTnI are independent predictors of 14-day clinical outcomes. The patients with RVED/LVED greater than 0.65 and cTnI higher than 0.11 ng/ml at presentation possibly have adverse 14-day events. RVD combined with cTnI can identify a subgroup of APE patients with a much more guarded prognosis.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Embolism ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Troponin I ; blood ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE1) To estimate annual direct medical costs of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke attributable to hypertension among Chinese adults aged 35-74 years in China, 2) to analyze the correlation between the hypertension awareness and hypertension treatment rate.

METHODS2003 National Health Services Survey (n = 93 018) was used to derive direct medical costs including costs for outpatient visits, physician services, inpatient stays, rehabilitation services, nurses fees, and medications. The medical costs of CHD and stroke attributable to hypertension were estimated by multiplying population attributable risk proportion by corresponding disease costs. Using 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey (n = 148 804), the prevalence of hypertension awareness and hypertension treatment rate in 132 survey sites were calculated. Correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the two variables.

RESULTSThe direct medical costs of hypertension, CHD and stroke were 20.2, 15.7 and 24.3 billion Yuan, respectively. The medical costs attributable to hypertension were estimated at 19.1 billion Yuan (RMB), accounting for 47.7% of the total medical costs of the two chronic diseases. The prevalence of hypertension awareness is highly correlated with hypertension treatment rate (r = 0.9777, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONThe economic burden of CHD and stroke attributable to hypertension is very high, reaching about 50% of the total medical costs of the two diseases. The prevalence of hypertension awareness could be used as an important indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of hypertension prevention and control at community level.

China ; Coronary Disease ; economics ; etiology ; Cost of Illness ; Data Collection ; Health Care Costs ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Stroke ; economics ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo examine the association of dietary patterns with chronic diseases and their indicators.

METHODSUsing the data from 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey, we divided the subjects into clusters according to their dietary patterns classified by different percentage of energy intake from cereal foods, carbohydrate and fat, respectively. The analysis of variance was used to identify the difference in chronic disease prevalence across clusters of subjects while controlling for age, gender and geographic regions. Logistic regression analysis was applied to calculate the odd ratios (OR) for association of chronic disease and each dietary pattern, after adjusted for age, gender, region, energy intake, leisure time.

RESULTSThe higher percentage of energy intake from cereals was significantly associated with lower body mass index (BMI), lower total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). While it was significantly associated with lower risk for overweight/obesity, hypertension, high total cholesterol, high triglyceride (TG) and high LDL-C, but the prevalence of underweight was significantly higher in the cluster of subjects with cereal energy share more than 75%. The higher percentage of energy intake from fat was significantly associated with higher BMI, higher total cholesterol and higher LDL-C, which accordingly, was significantly associated with higher risk for overweight/obesity, hypertension, high total cholesterol, triglyceride and high LDL-C.

CONCLUSIONOur study confirmed the important role of dietary pattern in chronic disease control; in particular, appropriate percentage of energy intake from fat and cereals/carbohydrates are beneficial to control and prevention of chronic diseases.

China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Diet ; Dietary Carbohydrates ; Dietary Fats ; Humans ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio

OBJECTIVETo examine the association between fetal nutritional status and overweight and obesity in their adulthood and to provide evidence for formulation of the strategy on preventing low birth weight.

METHODSUsing data from 2002 Nationwide Nutrition and Health Survey to set up a case-control method in order to compare body mass index(BMI), prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as to calculate odds ratio of overweight and obesity of case group compared with control group. Three case groups were selected from those who were born in 1959, 1960,1961 respectively, and the controls were those who were born in 1964.

RESULTSThe health consequence of being famines on adulthood was evident in women. Means of BMI in women were significantly higher in three case groups than that in control group(P<0.01). After adjustment on geographic regions, the prevalence of overweight in women was significantly higher in three case groups than that in control group(P< 0.01). The prevalence rates of obesity were significantly higher in 1959, 1960 groups than 1964 group(P< 0.05). The odds ratios of overweight of women in three case groups were 28.9% (95% CI:1.063-1.565), 37.2% (95% CI:1. 136-1.658) and 35.2% (95% CI: 1. 103-1.657) respectively, all higher than that in the control group. The odds ratios of obesity of women born in 1959, 1960 groups were 46.5% (95% CI: 1.088-1.972) and 39.6% (95% CI: 1.039- 1.876) respectively, higher than that in the 1964 group. However, such differences were not found in men.

CONCLUSIONHigher risks of overweight and obesity in women were caused by malnutrition during their fetal lives. A strategy on preventing low birth weight should be formulated by the government to prevent the chronic disease in adulthood.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of low intensity conditional regimen for children with Fanconi anemia (FA) receiving allogenic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: Four patients diagnosed as Fanconi anemia were enrolled in this study. One patient received HLA-identical sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, two patients underwent unrelated donor matched (UD) HSCT, and one patient received unrelated cord blood transplantation. The conditional regimen consisted of Busulfan with low dose of cyclophosphamide. Results: All 4 cases succeeded in allo-HSCT. The median time for neutrophils engraftment was 11(9-15) day, median time to platelets (PLT) engraftment was 12 (8-28) day. One case occurred with grade I of aGVHD, 1 case with hemorrhagic cystitis. No patient happened with hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Conclusion: Low intensity of conditional regimen is efficient and safe which should be recommended for FA patients with HSCT.
Busulfan ; Fanconi Anemia ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Transplantation Conditioning

OBJECTIVETo determine the prevalence of beta-fibrinogen gene -455G/A, -148C/T polymorphisms in Chinese Han population and to investigate whether they were associated with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

METHODSThe subjects consisted of 101 patients with PTE and 101 healthy controls matched with age and sex, from the same geographic area. All patients were diagnosed by high probability of lung ventilation/perfusion scan and/or multi-slice CT pulmonary angiography as well as medical history and clinical manifestations. Genome DNA was extracted from whole blood using KI-phenol-chloroform. Genotypes and allele frequencies of fibrinogen beta gene -455G/A, -148C/T polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Restriction enzyme HaeIII and HindIII digestion were used for detecting -455G/A, -148C/T polymorphisms respectively.

RESULTSRegarding fibrinogen beta gene -455G/A and -148C/, the allele frequencies G and A of fibrinogen beta -455 in the controls were 0.931, 0.069 while C and T of -148 were 0.777, 0.223 respectively, which were in good agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was significant difference of -455G/A genotype frequencies distribution of AA, GA, GG between cases and in controls respectively, but no significant difference was found in the -148C/T polymorphisms. The frequencies of mutation allele -455A were 0.193, 0.169 in cases and in controls with P < 0.05 but there was no statistically significant difference of -148T allele. The presence of A allele of fibrinogen beta -455 was found to be a greater risk factor in cases than in controls. The odds ratio (OR) of GA and GA + AA were 3.723 (1.786 - 7.759), 3.749 (1.842 - 7.630), respectively. When compared with GG genotype, the P value was 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONThere was a complete linkage disequilibrium between fibrinogen beta -148C/T and -455G/A found. The frequencies of -455A, alleles in PTE disease were apparently higher than that of healthy adults but there was no difference in -148T alleles.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pulmonary Embolism ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo find out the feasibility of tendon engineering in vitro using expanded tenocytes and polyglycolic acids (PGA).

METHODSTenocytes were isolated using tissue explant method and expanded in vitro. Tenocytes (20 x 10(6)) at the second passage were collected and then seeded onto PGA unwoven fibers to form a cell-scaffold construct in a shape of tendon. The constructs were cultured in DMEM with 20% FBS for 1 week. The cell-scaffold constructs were then cultured under constant tension generated by a U-shaped spring (n = 5), which served as experimental group, or cultured without tension (n = 4), which served as control group 1. PGA fibers alone were cultured (n = 3), which served as control group 2. Small fragments at the end of the constructs were harvested at 2, 4 and 6 weeks respectively for histological and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. Six-week samples were also evaluated by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and mechanical test.

RESULTSNo obvious difference was observed among the three groups at 2 weeks grossly and histologically as the constructs remained to be mainly undegraded PGA fibers. By 4 weeks, a neo-tendon was formed in the experimental group and control group 1 grossly, and histology and IHC revealed the formation of collagen fibers. In contrast, PGA fibers alone in control group 2 were mostly degraded. At 6 weeks, tendons of control group 1 were much thicker [(2.55 +/- 0.18) mm in diameter] than those of experimental group [(1.44 +/- 0.13) mm in diameter]. Periodical striae were observed in collagen fibers of experimental group and control group 1 by TEM. However, histology of tendons in experimental group revealed longitudinally aliened collagen fibers, which resembled the structure of normal tendon more closely than that of control group 1 tendons. Furthermore, the maximum tensile stress (N/mm(2)) of experimental group (1.107 +/- 0.327) was greater than that of control group 1 (0.294 +/- 0.138) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt is possible to use an engineering to construct tendon tissue in vitro. Periodical strain generated by bioreactor may be the optimal mechanical stimulation, which is currently under investigation.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Tendons ; cytology ; growth & development ; Tissue Engineering ; methods