BACKGROUNDDespite outstanding antiplatelet properties of aspirin and clopidogrel, some patients taking these drugs continue to suffer complications. Antiplatelet resistance appears to be a new prognostic factor in acute coronary syndrome patients for clinical events associated with stent thrombosis (ST). However, there is no optimal method to identify it and assess its correlation to clinical outcomes. This study sought to evaluate the predictive value of antiplatelet resistance assessed by whole blood impedance aggregometry for the risk of early ST in patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent coronary stenting.

METHODSPlatelet responses to aspirin and clopidogrel in 86 patients with acute coronary syndrome were measured by whole blood impedance aggregometry. Spontaneous platelet aggregation was defined as antiplatelet resistance identified by the increased electrical impedance. The clinical endpoint was early stent thrombosis during 30-day follow-up after coronary stenting.

RESULTSThe prevalence of aspirin resistance, clopidogrel resistance and dual resistance of combined clopidogrel and aspirin resistance were 19.8%, 12.8% and 5.8% respectively. Diabetes, female and higher platelet counts were more frequently detected in clopidogrel-resistant and dual-resistant patients. During 30-day follow-up, the patients with clopidogrel resistance and dual resistance had higher incidence of early stent thrombosis (18.2% vs. 1.3%, 40.0% vs. 1.2%, P < 0.05). Binary Logistic Regression analysis indicated that dual resistance remained an independent predicator for early stent thrombosis (odds ratio 34.064, 95%CI 1.919 - 604.656, P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONSAntiplatelet resistance assessed by whole blood impedance aggregometry is paralleled to clinical events, and dual antiplatelet resistance is an independent predicator for early stent thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome. As a physiological assessment of platelet reactivity, whole blood impedance aggregometry is a convenient and accurate option for measuring antiplatelet resistance and hence predicting early stent thrombosis.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Aged ; Coronary Thrombosis ; prevention & control ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of soil fertility in Sheyang county where Chrysanthemum morifolium has been cultivated for more than 30 years and to develop the special fertilizer for cultivation of C. morifolium.

METHODThe pH values, organic matter and the contents of total and available N, P, K and Zn in the soil layer of 0 to 40 cm, as well as the total N, P, K and Zn contents in the flowers, roots, stems and leaves of the plants, were analysed. The balanced fertilization plan for cultivation of C. morifolium was put forward. In addition, the formula of special fertilizer for cultivation of C. morifolium was determined according to flower yield and utilization rate of N, P, and K.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe soil had high pH values and high soil salt contents, with unbalanced application of N, P, and K fertilizers and a shortage of available Zn after cultivation of C. morifolium. The contents of soil organic carbon, N and P declined with increasing cultivation time of C. morifolium, which resulted from the improper rotations and fertilization. The balance fertilization practice and the special fertilizer utilization are effective ways to improve soil fertility for C. morifolium.

Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Fertilizers ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Potassium ; analysis ; Soil ; analysis ; Zinc ; analysis

BACKGROUND: It is quite difficult to produce a decellularized lung scaffold, in which cells are removed and the extracellular matrix components (ECM) are preserved effectively. Perfusion of detergent-enzymes is an effective method with wide applications for decellularized lung scaffolds. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of two detergents (sodium deoxycholate, SDC and sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) on the preparation of decellularized lung scaffolds. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: control group with no intervention, SDC group and SDS group. Decellularized lung scaffolds were prepared by perfusion of SDC or SDS combined with enzymes. The rat lung tissues in the three groups were taken for histological staining, immunofluorescent staining and DNA quantification. A549 cells were cultured and seeded onto the decellularized lung scaffolds for 7 days followed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The decellularized lung scaffolds prepared by perfusion of SDC or SDS were subcutaneously implanted into the rat back, and the implants were retrieved and assessed by Masson staining after 2 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the control group, there were abundant cells in the lung tissues. In the other two groups, the decellularized lung scaffolds were nearly transparent, and the morphology of the SDC scaffold was more close to the native lung. There were no residual cells and nuclei on the two scaffolds, and the DNA content in the SDS and SDC groups was significantly lower than that in the control group (P＜ 0.01). At 7 days of culture, A549 cells cultured on the SDS and SDC scaffolds migrated from the edge to the center of the scaffold. Comparatively speaking, the migration ability of A549 cells on the SDC scaffolds was stronger, and there was obvious cell invasion and growth in the middle part of the lung. After 2 weeks of scaffold transplantation, the SDC implants poorly fused with the surrounding tissues, with a clear boundary, a large number of infiltrating cells distributed evenly, and intravascular blood cells were clearly visible; the number of new blood vessels with larger diameter in the SDC scaffold was significantly higher than that in the SDS scaffold. These findings indicate that the SDC scaffold has better biocompatibility than the SDS scaffold, which can fuse with the surrounding tissues faster and produce more infiltrating cells and new blood vessels.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of pathology, bone morphogentic protein (BMP) expression, CT value with the ossification of thoracic ligamentum flavum (TOLF) to afford the evidence to choose appropriate treatment methods.

METHODSTwenty-three patients aged 35 - 65 years old had TOLF in my hospital as case. Their courses of disease were 2 months to 9 years. The values of blood calcium, blood phosphorus and AKP in them were normal. The 5 peoples aged 21 - 35 years old who presented fracture of thoracic but not the ligamentum flavum ossification were selected as control. We excluded those who have DISH, ankylosing spondylitis, fluorosis and other disease related with TOLF. The lesion locus were scanned and mensurated by CT. The pathology characteristics were classified into immature ossification and mature ossification by general observation, histology examination. BMP were measured by the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining techniques.

RESULTSThe CT value was significantly higher in the case group (547.2 +/- 131.4) than controlled group (137.7 +/- 10.6) (t = 6.922, P = 0.000). Further, the CT value in the mature ossification (702.9 +/- 17.7) was significantly higher than the immature (480.5 +/- 180.2) (t = 5.623, P = 0.000). In addition, BMP both expressed negative in the mature ossification and the controlled group, but positive in the immature ossification. BMP expression was significantly different between the immature ossification and the mature (chi2 = 70.000, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe CT values, pathological types and BMP expression results are similar to evaluate the ossification degrees of ligamentum flavum, and then could be indirectly judged the maturation degrees of TOLF by CT to confirm the treatment methods before operation.

Adult ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ligamentum Flavum ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the different causes of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF).

METHODSFrom July 1989 to November 2005, 142 cases were diagnosed the TOLF, in which 121 were operated. The lesions were classified into three types on the basis of the clinical result: (1) In such primary group (Group 1, 90 cases), without incorporation disease and Ca, P and AKP was all normal; (2) In systemic ossified TOLF group (Group 2, 30 cases), 6 cases ankylosing spondylitis, 3 cases DISH, 10 cases fluorosis, 11 cases OPLL; (3) In local spine disease group (Group 3, 22 cases), 5 cases fracture in spine, 4 cases spine TB, 13 cases posterior marginal intraosseous cartilaginous node. Such clinical feature was analysed, moreover surveyed the thoracic kyphosis angle, upper thoracic kyphosis angle, lower thoracic kyphosis angle and the vertebra body wedge change. The effect was assessed using Epstein Scale.

RESULTS(1) In Group 1, the mainly type was connected type (67/90, 74%). The ossified ligamentum flavum was mainly located at the lower thoracic and thoracic-lumber levels. The local type was less. In Group 2, the mainly type was connected type (21/30, 70%). The local type was none. The lesions figure was the most. In Group 3, the local type was the most (18/22, 82%). (2) In Group 1, the ossified ligamentum flavum was mainly located at the upper and lower thoracic levels (225/486, 47%). In Group 2, mainly located at the whole thoracic, some include cervix and lumber. In Group 3, mainly location was related with the location of primary disease. (3) In group 1, the curve was normal in 81% (73/90) of cases. In Group 2, the curve was abnormal in 87% (26/30) of cases. In Group 3, the curve was normal in the 82% (18/22) of cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe TOLF relates with systemic ossify disease, the change of load on the spine, aging and so on. It should be classified according to its causes.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; classification ; etiology ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Vertebrae

OBJECTIVETo construct T vectors based on Xcm I recognition site and optimize the PCR fragments for its ligation.

METHODSWe firstly cloned the human histone H4 cDNA containing one Xcm I recognition site at both its 5' and 3' end into pCDNA 3.0 vector and then generated T vector with pCDNA 3.0 backbone by cutting the recombinant plasmid with Xcm I. To increase the ligation efficiency, the primers were firstly phosphorylated before DNA fragments amplification and then the PCR products were treated with Taq DNA polymerase and dATP after PCR amplification. Two DNA fragments with the length of 312 bp and 1 329 bp were ligated to it and the ligation mixture was transformed into E. coli DH5α competent cells and the positive rates of the transformants were evaluated by PCR and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSOur results showed that the T vector produced by our method could ligate to the target DNA fragments with high efficiency. Besides, the phosphorylation state of the primers used for PCR amplification is also an important factor determining the cloning efficiency. What's more, as for longer DNA fragments, retreatment with Taq DNA polymerase and dATP after PCR amplification and purification could improve the ligation efficiency significantly.

CONCLUSIONOur protocol may overcome the dependence on blue/white screening to get positive clones and provide a potent way to generate T vectors and ligate them to the target PCR fragment.

Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Histones ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

To investigate the production status and the safety influence factors of wolfberry in China. We investigated the detailed factors which affect the quality safe of wolfberry in the periods of July-August 2013 and July-September 2009. The factors include fertilizing patterns, the used pesticide and preliminary process wolfberry. The factors were discussed according to the results of investigation, and suggestions were proposed for the management and production departments of wolfberry.
China ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Lycium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Pest Control ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; parasitology ; prevention & control

Bacillus are well known antibiotic producers. In this study,dozens of Bacillus strains from different sources were screened. Among them,a strain with strong antifungal activity was found. With 16S rDNA test and Biolog assay,this strain was identified to be Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The fermentation conditions were optimized in small conical flasks. After ammonium sulfate salting out,dialysis,freezing vacuum dehydration,the crude protein extracts were obtained. The thermal stability,pH stability,protease stability,ion stability and antifungal spectrum of this protein were studied further. Scanning electronic microscope was also used to explore the antifungal mechanism.

Objective To establish the brain injured models induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the infantile rats, and then, investigate the expression changes ofneutrophil elastase (NE) in the models to explore its mechanism. Methods Eighty 1-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into LPS inducement group (injected LPS via external carotid, n=40) and control group (injected normal saline via external carotid, n=40). Each group was equally subdivided into 2 subgroups: 24 and 48 h after the injection groups, respectively. Rats were drawn blood at different time points to detect the content of NE,and then, they were decapitated to detect the content of NE and Evans blue (EB) by the methods of formamide and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results The content of EB and NE in the brain tissue and the content of NE in the serum in LPS inducement group were significantly higher than those in the control group at each time point (P＜0.05). Positive correlation was noted between the content of NE and EB in the brain tissue 24 and 48 h after the LPS inducement (r =0.903, P＜0.00 1; r =0.908, P＜0.001). Conclusion NE involves in the process of infectious brain injury of infantile rats,which is positively correlated to the damage degree of blood-brain-barrier.

Basing on the synthesis of pH-sensitive amphiphilic block copolymer poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly (D, L-lactide)(PEOz-PDLLA), this paper presents the preparation of docetaxel-loaded pH-sensitive block copolymer micelles using film dispersion method. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was measured by pyrene fluorescent probe technique. The entrapment efficiency and drug-loaded amount were determined by HPLC. The morphology, diameter and surface potential of the micelles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analyzer, respectively. The in vitro release behavior of DTX from polymeric micelles was investigated using dialysis method. The results indicated that the CMC, drug-loaded amount and entrapment efficiency of the micelles was 1.0 x 10(-3) g x L(-1), 15.0% and 91.1%, respectively. The micelles had a narrow size distribution, with a mean diameter of 28.7 nm. The micelle was globular-shaped and its zeta potential was (1.19 +/- 0.12) mV. In pH 7.4 PBS, docetaxel was released in a sustained manner from the micelles; while in PBS at pH 5.0, drug was released more rapidly, which suggested the pH-sensitive drug release behavior of the PEOz-PDLLA micelles. According to all the studies above, it can be concluded that the PEOz-PDLLA block copolymer micelles may be applied as promising drug delivery system for hydrophobic anti-tumor drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Micelles ; Oxazoles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polyamines ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; metabolism