Objective To evaluate the cause of ischemia related to myocardial bridge (MB) by using SPECT/CT MPI and CTCA.Methods A total of 294 patients with chest pain,tightness or palpitation undergoing both CTCA and MPI were retrospectively enrolled in this study from March 2008 to March 2013.Among them,49 patients (26 males,23 females,age:32-85 (55.4± 16.6) years) had MB.Locations of MB and myocardial ischemia were recorded.Fused MPI/CTCA was analyzed.If there was no mural atherosclerotic plaque-related stenosis on CAG at the same location of coronary artery where ischemic myocardium was found,then MB was considered as the ischemic cause.Myocardial ischemia rates of different MB locations were compared by x2 test.Results Among 49 patients with MB,3 cases had MB in proximal segment of LAD,34 in mid LAD,4 in distal LAD,3 in septal branch,2 in distal LCX,1 in intermedius,and 2 in mid RCA.There were 41 cases with myocardial ischemia.Myocardial ischemia in 32 cases was caused by MB,including 23 caused by MB in mid LAD.The myocardial ischemia rates of the most common MB location (mid LAD,n =34) and other locations (n =15) were not significantly different (67.6％ (23/34) vs 60.0％ (9/15),x2 =0.27,P＞0.05).Conclusions MB is commonly found in the mid LAD.The myocardial ischemia rates caused by MB is not related the MB location.Hybrid MPI/CTCA could evaluate the sites of coronary MB and myocardial ischemia simultaneously and therefore may be useful to evaluate the relationship between MB and myocardial ischemia.

Background: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) play an important role in cancer development and progression. However, the mechanism by which they enhance the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer is unknown. Methods: Conditioned media of BM-MSCs (BM-MSC-CM) were analyzed using a technique based on microRNA arrays. The most highly expressed microRNAs were selected for testing their effects on glycolysis and chemoresistance in SKOV3 and COC1 ovarian cancer cells. The targeted gene and related signaling pathway were investigated using in silico analysis and in vitro cancer cell models. Kaplan-Merier survival analysis was performed on a population of 59 patients enrolled to analyze the clinical significance of microRNA findings in the prognosis of ovarian cancer. Results: MiR-1180 was the most abundant microRNA detected in BM-MSC-CM, which simultaneously induces glycolysis and chemoresistance (against cisplatin) in ovarian cancer cells. The secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) gene was identified as a major target of miR-1180. The overexpression of miR-1180 led to the activation of Wnt signaling and its downstream components, namely Wnt5a, β-catenin, c-Myc, and CyclinD1, which are responsible for glycolysis-induced chemoresistance. The miR-1180 level was inversely correlated with SFRP1 mRNA expression in ovarian cancer tissue. The overexpressed miR-1180 was associated with a poor prognosis for the long-term (96-month) survival of ovarian cancer patients. Conclusions: BM-MSCs enhance the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer by releasing miR-1180. The released miR-1180 activates the Wnt signaling pathway in cancer cells by targeting SFRP1. The enhanced Wnt signaling upregulates the glycolytic level (i.e. Warburg effect), which reinforces the chemoresistance property of ovarian cancer cells.

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.

Objective The cytotoxic microbial strains isolated from the deep ocean water and sediments were screened,and the secondary metabolites of bioactive fungus c2b were investi- gated.Methods Active bioactive microbial strains were screened using brine shrimp and chro- nic medulla leucocythemia leukocythemia(K562)cell line.The cytotoxic components of fun- gus c2b were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation and solvent extraction,silica gel col- umn chromatography and preparative HPLC.Their structures were established by pbysico- chemical properties and spectral analyses.The cytotoxicities of compounds were evaluated by SRB method.Results and Conclusion Twenty-nine strains of fungi were isolated.Among them,seven strains showed cytotoxic activities.Six compounds(1～6)were isolated and i- dentified as N-acetyl histamine(1),chrysogine(2),ergosterol peroxide(3),5,8-epidioxy- 24-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3?-ol(4)cerevisterol(5)and(4E,8E)-N-[(2'R,3'E)-2'-hy- droxy-3'-hexadecenoyl]-1-O-?-D-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadiene(6),respective- ly.Compound 3 and 4 showed median cytotoxicity.

OBJECTIVE: In order to improve the compatibility of the hospital resource planning (HRP) system for the whole life cycle of medical consumables, and to improve the management and control capabilities of hospital institutions on medical consumables. METHODS: Based on the traditional HRP system, a secondary development and design of a medical consumables whole life-cycle artificial intelligence module was conducted, and a neural network machine learning algorithm module was introduced to enhance its big data integration and analysis capabilities. RESULTS: The simulation analysis found that after adding this module, the proportion of minimum inventory, the proportion of procurement cost difference and the expiration rate of consumables all decreased significantly, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The whole life cycle module of medical consumables based on HRP system can effectively improve the management efficiency of hospital medical consumables, adjust the warehouse inventory management ability, and improve the overall management level of medical consumables.
Artificial Intelligence ; Hospitals

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between the ratio of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/endostatin (ES) and childhood acute leukemia(AL).

METHODSSerum levels of VEGF and ES were measured using ELISA in 35 children with acute AL before and after chemotherapy. The ratio of VEGF/ES was calculated. Thirty healthy children served as the control group.

RESULTSThe serum levels of VEGF (196 ± 66 pg/mL vs 29 ± 10 pg/mL) and ES (35 ± 7 ng/mL vs 19 ± 4 ng/mL) in the AL group before chemotherapy were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). The ratio of VEGF/ES in the AL group before chemotherapy was significantly higher than that in the control group (6.7 ± 3.0 vs 1.6 ± 0.7; P<0.01). In 20 children with AL who achieved complete remission, the serum levels of VEGF and ES and the VEGF/ES ratio were reduced after chemotherapy (83 ± 35 pg/mL, 27 ± 5 ng/mL, 3.1 ± 1.3, respectively; P<0.01), although the serum levels of VEGF and ES were still higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). The VEGF/ES ratio in CR patients was not significantly different from that in the control group. The serum levels of VEGF (r=0.301, P=0.045) and the VEGF/ES ratio (r=0.411, P=0.015) were positively correlated with the count of blast cells in juvenile bone marrow in 35 children with AL before chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSSerum VEGF and ES levels are associated with the development of childhood AL. The VEGF/ES ratio can be used to evaluate the disease progression in children with AL.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endostatins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

BACKGROUNDPrompt diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is an essential step in tuberculosis control and elimination. However, it is often difficult to accurately diagnose pediatric tuberculosis (TB). The tuberculin test (TST) may have a low specificity because of cross-reactivity with antigens present in Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and other mycobacteria, especially in China with a predominantly BCG-vaccinated population. Early-secreted antigenic target 6-kDa protein (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10), stand out as suitable antigens that induce an interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secreting, T-cell-mediated immune response to infection. While, considered the higher costs and complexity of the IFN-γ release assay (TSPOT), we aimed to evaluate the TSPOT and TST test in the clinical diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis and to establish a diagnostic process suitable for China.

METHODSThe sensitivity and specificity of the assay were evaluated in total seventy four children with active tuberculosis and fifty one nontuberculous children with other disease, and then the results were compared with TST. Logistic regression models were used to identify variables that were associated with positive results for each assay. The independent variables included sex, age, birth place, vaccination history, close contract with an active TB patient.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of TSPOT was higher than TST in active TB children with or without BCG vaccination, as well as in children with culture-confirmed TB. But the difference was not significant statistically. Combining results of the TSPOT and TST improved the sensitivity to 94.6%. Agreement of the TST and TSPOT was low (77.0%, κ = 0.203) in active TB patients. The difference in specificity between TSPOT and TST test was statistically significant (94.1% vs. 70.6%, P = 0.006). Specificity of the two tests in patients without prior BCG vaccination history was similar (80.0% vs. 60.0%). The concordance between the two tests results in BCG vaccinated subjects was low (71.7%, κ = 0.063). For TSPOT, none of the included risk factors was significantly associated with positive results. For TST, BCG vaccination (OR: 1.78; 95%CI: 1.30 - 2.00) was significantly associated with positive results.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough IFN-γ release assay had relatively high sensitivity and specificity, we also should consider the higher costs and complexity of this test. Therefore, TSPOT could be used as the complementary tool of TST in circumstances when a suspected patient with negative TST results, or to exclude a positive TST result caused by BCG vaccination.

BCG Vaccine ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculin Test ; methods ; Tuberculosis ; diagnosis ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVETo detect the possible relationship between PARKIN gene and the Chinese pedigree with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease(AREP).

METHODSClinical examination was carried out in 6 patients from 3 Chinese pedigrees with AREP and their 23 family members. PCR amplification of all exons of PARKIN gene was performed. The PCR products were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) to screen for point mutation and polymorphism. And in the samples with abnormal DHPLC result, further sequencing was conducted to confirm the type of mutation and polymorphism.

RESULTSAll exons of PARKIN gene from the research subjects were successfully amplified. A heterozygous point mutation (Gly284Arg) in exon 7 was found in one pedigree. A polymorphism (Ser167Asn) in exon 4 was found in another pedigree. All the patients had the past history of exposure to environmental poison.

CONCLUSIONWhen acting together with risky environmental factors, the heterozygous mutation Gly284Arg in PARKIN gene may cause AREP. The polymorphism Ser167Asn in PARKIN gene increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and may cause AREP when acting together with hydrargyrism.

Age of Onset ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Recessive ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

BACKGROUNDNominal atrioventricular (AV) interval in dual chamber pacemaker (DDD) is not the best AV delay in the majority of patients with atrioventricular block. To find a simple method for optimizing AV delay adjustment, we assessed surface electrocardiography (ECG) for optimizing AV delay during dual chamber pacing.

METHODSDDD pacemakers were implanted in 46 patients with complete, or almost complete, AV block. Optimal AV delay was achieved by programming an additional delay of 100 ms, to the width of intrinsic P wave or to the interval between pacing spike to the end of P wave on surface ECG. Left ventricular (LV) end diastolic and end systolic volumes, ejection fraction and diastolic parameters were measured by Doppler echocardiography during both nominal and optimal AV delay pacing.

RESULTSCompared to nominal AV delay setting, LV end diastolic volume increased [to (53.2 +/- 11.3) ml from (50.2 +/- 10.2) ml, P < 0.05], end systolic volume decreased [to (26.1 +/- 9.0) ml from (27.9 +/- 8.2) ml, P < 0.05] during adjusted AV delay pacing, resulting in an increase in LV ejection fraction [to (68.2 +/- 5.3)% from (64.5 +/- 4.3)%, P < 0.05]. LV diastolic filling and isovolumic relaxation time were not significantly changed.

CONCLUSIONOptimization of AV delay by surface ECG is a simple method to improve LV systolic function during dual chamber pacing.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atrioventricular Node ; physiopathology ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Heart Block ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular genetic mechanism of a Chinese patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I).

METHODSPCR-sequencing analysis was applied to detect the mutations in exons in alpha-L-iduronidase gene (IDUA) of the patient. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization (ASO) were used to confirm the identified mutations. PCR amplified DNA samples from 50 normal individuals were sequenced to demonstrate that the newly identified mutation was not polymorphism.

RESULTSThe patient was compound heterozygous for a previously reported nonsense mutation Q60X (178C > T) in exon 2, inherited from the mother, and a newly detected missense mutation D203N (607G > A) in exon 6 from the father. The newly identified mutation D203N was not found in PCR amplified products from 50 normal individuals, indicating that it was not polymorphism.

CONCLUSIONThe two identified mutations may be the cause resulting in patient's clinical phenotype.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Codon, Nonsense ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Iduronidase ; genetics ; Male ; Mucopolysaccharidosis I ; genetics ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length