Objective To evaluate the effects of low dose Ethyl Carbamate (EC)on the immune function of ICR mice and to provide evidences for developing food safety standard.Methods The ICR mice were divided into four groups,and three groups were treated with 0.1 7,0.83,1 .67 mg/kg·bw EC respectively and the control group was treated with distilled water only.The immune function of ICR mice was determined by five aspects,including cellular immunity,humoral immunity,mononuclear macrophages's phagocytosis,natural killer cell activity and the organ coefficients of immune organs. Results Compared with the control group,the 1 .67 mg/kg·bw EC significantly inhibited the proliferation of spleen lymphocyte,natural killer cell activity and the hemolysis plaque -forming ability induced by ConA (P <0.05 ). Conclusion EC can cause the inhibition of normal mouse's immune function.

OBJECTIVETo study the cytologic features of pancreatobiliary tumors in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided brushing preparations and to evaluate the usefulness of cytology in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary malignancy.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of 212 cases of ERCP-guided brush cytology smears performed during the period from January, 2004 to December, 2006. The cytologic diagnosis was confirmed either by the histologic diagnosis or the strict clinical criteria.

RESULTSTwo of the cases studied were unsatisfactory for diagnosis, with no epithelial cells identified. One hundred and thirty-seven smears were diagnosed as "negative", 45 of which subsequently confirmed to be malignant (negative predictive value = 60.2%). Six of the 11 cases with "low-grade atypia" were proven to be malignant (positive predictive value = 54.5%), as compared to 19 of 23 cases of "high-grade atypia" (positive predictive value = 86.4%). All of the 41 cases with cytologic diagnosis of "malignancy" were confirmed to be malignant (positive predictive value = 100%). The cytologic features of malignancy in ERCP-guided brushing preparations included overlapping nuclei, anisonucleosis, coarse chromatin pattern, poor cellular cohesion, tumor diathesis, prominent nucleoli and atypical mitotic figures.

CONCLUSIONSThe accuracy of ERCP-guided brush cytology relies on good specimen preparation and application of morphologic criteria. Grading of cytologic atypia is of clinical significance. A "negative" or "low-grade atypia" cytologic diagnosis requires further diagnostic workup to rule out the possibility of underlying malignancy, while a "high-grade atypia" or "malignant" diagnosis is relatively specific in guiding subsequent management of suspected pancreatobiliary malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Biopsy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cytological Techniques ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Specimen Handling ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDilation resistance to stenting in non-calcified coronary plaques was compared in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in order to confirm the clinical usefulness of multislice computed tomography in examining coronary plaque type and to provide information pertaining to the effects of plaque type on dilatation resistance.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of 64-slice computed tomography coronary imaging data collected in the month prior to coronary stenting in 93 patients (65 male and 28 female, mean age of (57.22±7.22) years) was conducted. Non-calcified coronary plaques were divided into lipid-rich (lipid content >25% of plaque volume) and fibrous plaques according to the Hammer-Hansen S method: where lipids, fiber, and intraluminal components were indicated by contrast using Hu values of -100-49, 50-129, and >130, respectively. Clinical features, pre-dilatation balloon specifications and filling pressure, and stent size and release pressure were compared.

RESULTSHigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were higher in the lipid-rich plaque group. In patients with typical symptoms, unstable angina was more commonly observed in the lipid-rich plaque group. No significant differences in low density lipoprotein, pre-dilatation balloon specifications, pre-dilatation pressure, or stent specifications were observed. Stent release pressure in the lipid-rich plaque group ((1130.16±202.04) kPa), was significantly lower than that observed in the fibrous plaque group ((1240.61±193.29) kPa, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONSofter, lipid-rich plaques exhibit lower dilation resistance during stenting in PCI patients.

C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preparation technique and optimal formulation of Fuyankang dispersed tablets.

METHODThe formula of Fuyankang dispersed tablets were optimized in terms of disintegrating time by studying single factor and orthogonal design test.

RESULTThe products formulated with the optimum techniques met the quality specification of dispersed tablets. The dissolubility of the optimized dispersed tables was obviously faster than that of common tablets.

CONCLUSIONThis prescription and technology of Fuyankang dispersed tablets are reasonable and effective.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Excipients ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Tablets

BACKGROUNDExtensive atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is associated with an increased success rate of catheter ablation in chronic AF patients and an increased rate of atrial tachycardia (AT) during the procedure. The mechanism of these ATs varies in previous studies. Our study aimed to report the mechanism of organized AT occurring during the stepwise ablation procedure of chronic AF.

METHODSA prospective cohort of 86 consecutive patients who underwent an ablation procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) was investigated. The stepwise procedure was performed in the following order: circumferential pulmonary vein ablation, complex fractionated atrial electrograms ablation, mapping and ablation of AT. The endpoint was noninducibility of AF/AT after sinus rhythm (SR) was restored or the procedure time was beyond 6 hours.

RESULTSSixty-nine (80%) of patients converted to SR via AT. A total of 179 sustained ATs were observed in 69 patients during the procedure. There were 81% (n = 145) macroreentrant ATs which included 65 perimitral circuits, 48 peritricuspid tachycardia and 32 roof dependent circuits, 12% (n = 21) localized reentrant and 7% (n = 13) focal ATs. Thirty (15%) patients experienced significant left atrium (LA) and LA appendage (LAA) conduction delay or dissociation in the procedure or during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSMost CAF patients converted to SR via ablation of organized AT occurring during the stepwise procedure. The mechanism of most of these ATs was macro-reentry.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDThe optimal endpoint for catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains ambiguous. This study investigated the impact of AF termination as a procedural endpoint and the termination mode on long-term clinical outcome.

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-three patients who underwent stepwise ablation for persistent AF were categorized into the AF termination by ablation group and into the electrical cardioversion (CV) group. Subgroups were also analyzed based on different termination modes. Follow-up assessment included early recurrence and sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance.

RESULTSDuring initial ablation, 33 patients (11.3%) were directly converted to SR, 166 patients (56.7%) were converted to atrial tachycardia (AT) that subsequently restored SR with further ablation in 98 patients (33.4%), and a total of 162 patients (55.3%) underwent cardioversion due to persistent atrial arrhythmias. Comparison between termination by ablation and termination by cardioversion in patients exhibiting AF or AT revealed that no significant difference was observed in early recurrence (38.2% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.328) and SR maintenance (67.2% vs. 59.8%, P = 0.198) during the (23 ± 7) months follow-up. Even after repeat ablation, the SR maintenance continued to exhibit no statistical difference in above two groups (72.5% vs. 70.4%, P = 0.686). Further analysis of subgroups, however, demonstrated that patients with AF terminated directly to SR experienced better clinical outcomes than other subgroups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, atrial arrhythmias present during ablation have been implicated in prediction of recurrence mode: AF or AT (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTermination as a procedural endpoint is not associated with favorable long-term SR maintenance in persistent AF. AF methods that convert arrhythmia directly to SR have, however, been linked with improved clinical outcomes, although conversions to AT may not be correlated. Atrial arrhythmias observed during the ablation may be used to predict the recurrence mode.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of percutaneous transhepatic radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) combined with tumor edge of percutaneous absolute ethanol injection (PEI) on liver cancer adjacent to major blood vessels.

METHODSSeventy five patients with liver cancer adjacent to major blood vessels were randomly divided into two groups: PRFA+PEI therapy group (38 cases) and PRFA control group (37 cases). Tumor necrosis rate, AFP levels, local recurrence rate, median for survival time and cum survival were used as the evaluation index to evaluate the efficacies of the two methods.

RESULTSTumor necrosis rates of the therapy group and the control group were 84.2% and 54.1% (P < 0.01), respectively; AFP levels of therapy group and control group at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment were (105.0 ± 35.5) μg/L, (28.4 ± 4.3) μg/L, (58.6 ± 6.7) μg/L, (89.5 ± 12.5) μg/L and (137.2 ± 34.6) μg/L, (84.2 ± 18.4) μg/L, (106.6 ± 20.3) μg/L, (173.7 ± 32.0) μg/L, respectively. The rates of therapy group was significantly lower than of control group. Local recurrence rates of the therapy group and control group were 2.6%, 7.9%, 13.2% and 31.6% vs 10.8%, 21.6% , 40.5% and 62.1% (P < 0.05) at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment, respectively. Median for survival time of the therapy group and control group were 28.0 ± 2.8 months and 19.0 ± 3.6 months, respectively. Cum survival of the therapy group and control group were 84.2%, 78.9%, 60.5% and 31.6% vs 78.4%, 67.6%, 37.8% and 8.1% (P < 0.05) at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after treatment, respectively.

CONCLUSIONPEI as a supplementary treatment of PRFA can effectively improve the treatment of liver cancer adjacent to major blood vessels and significantly reduce the local recurrence rate and improve long-term survival rates.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDThe role of gastro-protecting agents on symptomatic chronic gastritis is unclear. This multicenter, open, randomized trial was designed to compare the comprehensive effects of gefarnate with sucralfate on erosive gastritis with dyspeptic symptoms.

METHODSTotally 253 dyspepsia patients confirmed with erosive gastritis were enrolled from six centers in China. They randomly received either daily 300 mg gefarnate or 3 g sucralfate for six weeks. The primary endpoint was the effective rate of both treatments on endoscopic erosion at week six.

RESULTSGefarnate showed an effective rate of 72% and 67% on endoscopic score and dyspeptic symptom release, which is statistically higher than sucralfate (40.1% and 39.3%, P < 0.001, intension-to-treat). For histological improvement, gefarnate showed both effective in decreasing mucosal chronic inflammation (57.7% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.001, intension-to-treat) and active inflammation (36.4% vs. 23.1%, P < 0.05, intension-to-treat) than the control. A significant increase of prostaglandins and decrease of myeloperoxidase in mucosa were observed in gefarnate group. Severity of erosion is non-relevant to symptoms but Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) status does affect the outcome of therapy.

CONCLUSIONSGefarnate demonstrates an effective outcome on the mucosal inflammation in patients with chronic erosive gastritis. Endoscopic and inflammation score should be the major indexes used in gastritis-related trials.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; Female ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; Gefarnate ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sucralfate ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify gene mutations of a pedigree with inherited factor V (FV) deficiency.

METHODSThe activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), FV activity (FV:C) and FV antigen (FV:Ag) tests were performed for phenotypic diagnosis. The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the proband and all the 25 exons and their flanks of FV gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were screened by direct sequencing and the mutations were further confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion.

RESULTSAPTT, PT, TT, FV:C, FV:Ag of the proband were 249.2 s, 46.6 s, 17.9 s, 0.1% and 1.5%, respectively. FII, FVII, FVIII, FIX, FX activities, vWF and Fg were within normal ranges. Taking the GenBank Z99572 sequence as the reference, four mutations were identified in FV gene of the proband. They were a heterozygous two bases deletion in exon 13 (2238 approximately 2239delAG) introducing a frameshift and a premature stop at codon 689, and a heterozygous missense mutation in exon 23 (G6410T) resulting in the substitution of Gly for Val at codon 2079, respectively. The proband's father and mother were heterozygous for G6410T and for 2238 approximately 2239delAG, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe severe FV deficiency of the proband is caused by a frameshift mutation of 2238 approximately 2239delAG and a missense mutation of G6410T, which haven't been identified before.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Factor V ; genetics ; metabolism ; Factor V Deficiency ; genetics ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Prothrombin Time ; Thrombin Time

Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Cardiac Tamponade ; etiology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged