Objective To assess the in-hospital prognostic value of NT-proBNP in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its relation to the severity and prognosis of coronary artery disease .Methods Totally 132 consecutive patients with ACS in Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2013 to December 2014 were collected in this study ,in which 64 pa-tients with unstable angina(UA) ,46 patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(NSTEMI) ,and 22 patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI) .Patients were divided into two high NT-proBNP group(NT-proBNP ≥ 474 pg/mL) and low NT-proBNP group(NT-proBNP < 474 pg/mL ) .Ejection fraction were detected and compared between the two groups ,coronary artery disease were detected by coronary angiography .cTnI ,CK-MB ,CRP and NT-proBNP were detected by sero-logical ,and the average length of hospital stay and heart failure ,cardiac shock incidence were calculated .Results There was a sig-nificant negative correlation between NT-proBNP and ejection fraction .Incidence of heart failure and duration of hospital stay in high NT-proBNP group were significantly higher than in low NT-proBNP group ;The number of coronary vessels affected ,severity of stenosis and proximal left anterior descending artery(LAD) disease in high NT-proBNP group were higher than in low NT-proB-NP group ;TIMI flow grade was significantly lower in high NT-proBNP group than in low NT-proBNP group ,the difference was statistically significant(P< 0 .05) .Conclusion NT-proBNP is a valuable marker for predicting prognosis and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome .

Objective To investigate the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) and proapoptotic gene Bax,Bcl-2 in amniochorion and their relationship with premature rupture of membranes(PROM).Methods Immunohistochemical stain was used to detect the expression of bFGF,Bax and Bcl-2 in amniochorion collected from 30 pregnant women with PROM and 30 normal pregnant women without PROM.Results The expression of bFGF and Bax were located in the plasma of all types of cells including trophoblast,epithelial,mesenchymal and fibroblast,but the expression of Bcl-2 was only observed in the chorionic syncytiotrophoblast;the positive average integral calculus oculus dehtor of bFGF in the PROM group was significantly lower than that of the normal group(0.051?0.012 vs 0.098?0.027,P0.05).Negative correlation was found between the bFGF and Bax expression in the PROM group(r=-0.616,P0.05). Conclusions The reduced expressions of bFGF and excessive apoptosis in the amnio-chorion play an important role in PROM.

Xanthii Fructus is a traditional medicine for the treatment of nasal diseases in clinic, mainly come from the burs of Xanthium sibiricum with a worldwide distribution. By sorting and studying literature of Chinese medicine and comparing different figures recorded with the morphological description of several species from Xanthium (Asteraceae) in the Flora of China, combining the biological investigation in resource survey, the article pointed out that the burs or the whole herbs of X. mongolicum, as well as X. sibiricum, has been used by the traditional Chinese medicine in ancient time. It provides a reference for further studies in the future.
China ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, Ancient ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Xanthium ; anatomy & histology ; classification

Objective To quantitatively analyze and compare the texture features of thermal and chemical lesions on the porcine striated muscle, in vitro extracted from high-frequency ultrasonograms using computer-assisted image analysis technique, and to investigate the application values. Methods The thermal lesion and chemical lesion were induced in vitro in porcine striated muscle by microwave ablation and anhydrous acetic acid injection, respectively. The two dimension (2D) ultrasonographic ifndings were qualitatively compared between the groups of thermal and chemical lesion models, in which eight textural features in geometric mathematics extracted from 2D ultrasonograms were quantitatively analyzed by a technique of computer-assisted image analysis named multiscale decomposition method of echo intensity of interface relfections. Results As expected, microwave ablation and anhydrous acetic acid caused signiifcant changes of several texture features extracted from ultrasonograms. There were significant differences between the normal group and microwave ablation group in grayscale mean (Mean), irregularity (IRGL) and periodicity of distribution (POD) as follows (Mean: 1.9143±0.2914 vs 1.2334±0.3357, t=-5.306, P=0.000; IRGL: 0.5577±0.0334 vs 0.5092±0.0459, t=-2.957, P=0.007; POD: 0.000 27±0.000 005 vs 0.000 29±0.000 008, t=4.782, P=0.000). There were signiifcant differences between the normal group and anhydrous acetic acid injection group in number of blobs (NOB), size of blobs (SOB) and periodicity of distribution (POD) as follows (NOB: 51.0324±13.6998 vs 31.6042±4.8315, t=4.633, P=0.000; SOB:16.4843±3.9349 vs 25.6230±2.3555, t=6.903, P=0.000;POD:0.000 26±0.000 015 vs 0.000 29±0.000 008, t=-4.459, P=0.000). For each group of injured regions, there were significant differences between the microwave ablation group and anhydrous acetic acid injection group in Mean, IRGL, NOB and SOB as follows (Mean: 1.2664±0.2688 vs 1.9143±0.2914, t=-5.661, P=0.000; IRGL: 0.5220±0.0422 vs 0.5577±0.0334, t=-2.295, P=0.032;NOB:51.0324±13.6998 vs 34.5856±2.6362, t=4.048, P=0.000;SOB:16.4843±3.9349 vs 25.3176±2.3501, t=-6.676, P=0.000). Conclusion Technique of computer-assisted image analysis named multiscale decomposition method of echo intensity of interface relfections, based on multiscale blob features extraction, was useful to differentiate ultrasonic texture features between the groups injured in our study, which established quantitative muscle ultrasound as a practical and reliable tool for the muscle injury diagnosis to distinguish the structural changes induced by different physiochemical factors.

Based on the transcriptome data, we cloned the open reading frame of IiHCT gene from Isatis indigotica, and then performed bioinformatic analysis of the sequence. Further, we detected expression pattern in specific organs and hairy roots treated methyl jasmonate( MeJA) by RT-PCR. The IiHCT gene contains a 1 290 bp open reading frame( ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 430 amino acids. The predicted isoelectric point( pI) was 5.7, a calculated molecular weight was about 47.68 kDa. IiHCT was mainly expressed in stem and undetectable in young root, leaf and flower bud. After the treatment of MeJA, the relative expression level of IiHCT increased rapidly. The expression level of IiHCT was the highest at 4 h and maintained two fold to control during 24 h. In this study, cloning of IiHCT laid the foundation for illustrating the biosynthesis mechanism of phenylpropanoids in I. indigotica.
Acyltransferases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Isatis ; chemistry ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Quinic Acid ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Shikimic Acid ; metabolism

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the common type of arthropathy, the clinical stage of the typical patients belongs to the middle-late stage, so it urges to improve the early diagnosis. At present, magnetic resonance imaging is most used in clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, and with the development of different MRI sequences, the sequences of early articular cartilage lesions are used in clinic. In the early diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, the simple and practical methods such as ultrasonography is becoming a trend, and the specific biomarkers of early knee osteoarthritis have become the hot research. This overview article outlined the methods of early diagnosis from the ultrashort echo time MRI, ultrasonography and biomarkers.
Biomarkers ; analysis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Radiography ; Ultrasonography

Objective: To explore the application safety for off-label using of rotational atherectomy. Methods: A total of 112 patients received rotational atherectomy in our hospital from 2010-01 to 2015-12 were enrolled in this study. There were 9 off-label indications for using of rotational atherectomy which included vein grafts, massive thrombotic burden, unprotected left main coronary artery disease, culprit lesions of acute myocardial infarction, severe coronary dissection, signiifcant impaired left ventricular function (LVEF<30%), severe three-vessel coronary disease, diffuse long coronary lesions (≥25mm) and angulation lesions (≥45°). The patients were divided into 2 groups: Off-label group, the patients with ≥ 1 above mentioned indication(s),n=67 (59.8%) and On-label group, the patients without any indication,n=45 (40.2%). Rotational atherectomy related complication rates were compared between 2 groups including slow lfow/no lfow, stuck of rotablator, coronary artery perforation, guide wire fracture and in-hospital MACE as urgent CABG, acute in-stent thrombosis and cardiac death. Results:①The most common complication was slow lfow/no lfow and its occurrence rates were similar between 2 groups (4.5%vs 8.9%),P>0.05.②Off-label group had 1 patient with stuck of rotablator (1.5% vs 0%) and 1 cardiac death (1.5% vs 0%), both P>0.05; On-label group had 1 patient with acute in-stent thrombosis (2.2% vs 0%),P>0.05. Conclusion: Off-label using of rotational atherectomy did not increase the incidence of slow lfow/no lfow in relevant patients, other severe complications and in-hospital MACE occurrence were also rare.

Honeysuckle flower is a traditional herbal medicine in China Through systemically sorting and studying literature of Chinese medicine, this article pointed out that leech used by the traditional Chinese medicine in ancient time has the features of twist vine, slight purple stem with clothing hair; opposite growing leaves, ovule shape with clothing hair on both side; two flowers growing from one pedicel, labiate corolla with 3.2 cm longth, flower grows from white color to yellow color, each branch axil grows only one pedicel, the involucre is ovoid shape, and the flower season is from mid-March to mid-May. Among all species of caprifoliaceae, only Lonicera japonica Thunb. meets these botanic features. Therefore, L. japonica Thunb. should be used as the orthodox species of herbal honeysuckle flower.
China ; Flowers ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; History, Ancient ; Lonicera ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; classification

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography (3D CE-MRA) in the diagnosis and treatment of visceral artery aneurysms. Methods Forty-three patients with visceral artery aneurysms underwent 3D CE-MRA sequence after injection of 0. 2 mmol Gd-DTPA per kg. bw. The source images were subtracted and transferred to computer workstation subsequently post-procession. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 19 patients simultaneously for the purpose of control study. Results There were 43 cases with 50 visceral artery aneurysms. The arteries involved were 32 splenic artery aneurysms accounting for 64% including 5 anomalously arising from superior mesenteric artery; 7 of superior mesenteric ( 14% ) ; 4 celiac ( 1 from celiomesenteric trunk), 5 of renal and 2 of hepatic. 3D CE-MRA clearly demonstrated aneurysm's location, size, morphology, and was superior to DSA in three-dimensional display of aneurysrn and its relationship with surrounding vessels and involved organs. Endovascular treatment was performed in 15 patients, surgical treatment in 9, and conservative therapy only in 19. Conclusion 3D CE-MRA is a noninvasive and accurate technique for the diagnosis of visceral artery aneurysms. Its three-dimensional anatomic information is very helpful for treatment planning. 3D CE-MRA could be used as a test of choice in the evaluation of visceral artery aneurysms.

Objective: Based on scores by number of vessels diseased and age (NVDA), the minimum lumen area (MLA) of left anterior descending (LAD) proximal or middle intermediate lesions were examined by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to analyze the clinical characteristics, to ifnd the factors affecting lumen area and to establish a scoring system for predicting MLA in relevant patients.
Methods: A total of 90 patients were enrolled including 58 male and 32 female with the age of (41-77) years. The demographic information, medical history and laboratory results were studied by simple linear regression analysis to screen relevant factors affecting MLA; multi regression analysis was conducted to establish a regression equation for predicting MLA and to calculate the risk factor coefifcient for obtaining relevant scoring system.
Results: NVDA score≤4 was deifned as negative result with speculated MLA≥3.0mm2, while NVDA score>4 was deifned as positive result with speculated MLA<3.0mm2. The sensitivity, speciifcity and negative predictive value of NVDA scoring system for predicting MLA were 83.35%, 75% and 90% respectively.
Conclusion: NVDA scoring system had the better accuracy, sensitivity and speciifcity for predicting MLA in coronary artery intermediate lesions, it had certain value for guiding coronary interventional therapy in relevant patients.