Annealing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the hydrogen flame in air was investigated in this study. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the products. The peak width of Raman spectra decreased with the increase in the annealing time. The CNTs were not stable in the hydrogen flame and the etching rate of the CNTs by hydrogen flame was very high. The hydrogen flame annealing had some effects on improving the crystallinity of CNTs.

Annealing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the hydrogen flame in air was investigated in this study. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the products. The peak width of Raman spectra decreased with the increase in the annealing time. The CNTs were not stable in the hydrogen flame and the etching rate of the CNTs by hydrogen flame was very high. The hydrogen flame annealing had some effects on improving the crystallinity of CNTs.

This study is to investigate the protective effect of mangiferin on NF-kappaB (P65) and IkappaBalpha expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) in rats with cigarette smoke induced chronic bronchitis. The rat model with chronic bronchitis was established by cigarette smoke. Real-time fluorescence RT-PCR was executed for evaluating the NF-kappaB (P65) and IKkappaBalpha gene expression in mononuclear cell, and flow cytometry for their protein expression. The serum hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins) and TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The histopathological score was obtained from lung tissue HE staining slides of lung tissue. The results showed that mangiferin could markedly suppress the NF-kappaB (P65) mRNA and protein expression in mononuclear cell, while promote the IkappaBalpha mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, mangiferin could lower serum hs-CRP and TNF-alpha level, and reduce the chronic inflammatory damage of bronchiole. These results suggested that mangiferin could notably ameliorate chronic bronchiole inflammation induced by cigarette smoke, and this protective effect might be linked to the regulation of NF-kappaB (P65) and IkappaBalpha expression in mononuclear cell.
Animals ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchitis, Chronic ; blood ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; I-kappa B Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mangifera ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Xanthones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Four triterpenoids were isolated and purified from the 95% ethanol extract of Maytenus guangxiensis by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, MCI column chromatography and preparative RP-HPLC. Their structures were determined from their physicochemical properties and spectral data. They were identified as maytguanone A (1), maytguanone B (2), 11α-methoxyurs-12-ene-1β,3β-diol (3), lup-20(29)-ene-3β,11α-diol (4). Compounds 1 and 2 are new triterpenoids, along with compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from M. guangxiensis for the first time. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 3 and 4 was evaluated using the MTT procedure with three cancer cell lines. The results show that compound 3 displayed good inhibitory effects against HeLa, with an IC₅₀ of 10.68 μmol·L^-1.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the relative factors and prognostic impact for angiographic no-reflow phenomenon during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSA total of 930 patients with AMI who underwent primary PCI were divided into no-reflow group and normal-reflow group. Factors related to no-reflow were analyzed by logistic regression model and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in-hospital as well as during long-term follow-up was also observed.

RESULTSNo-reflow occurred in 82 out of 930 patients. Admission glucose level (9.8 +/- 4.3 mmol/L vs. 8.5 +/- 3.5 mmol/L, P = 0.001), peak CK-MB value (369.4 +/- 167.8 U/L vs. 282.3 +/- 161.7 U/L, P < 0.01) and percentage of TIMI flow grade 0 on initial angiogram (69.5% vs. 54.5%, P = 0.009) were significantly higher and pre-infarction angina (19.5% vs. 48.1%, P < 0.01) was significantly lower in no-flow patients than normal flow patients. Logistic regression analyses showed that admission glucose level, absence of pre-infarction angina, TIMI flow grade 0 on initial angiogram and pump failure were independent predictors of no reflow. In-hospital MACE (37.8% vs. 11.3%, P < 0.01) and follow-up MACE (37.5% vs. 17.4%, P < 0.01) were also significantly higher in no-flow patients than normal flow patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that no-reflow was an independent predictor of long-term cardiac death (relative risk 3.83, 95% confidence interval 1.71 to 5.57).

CONCLUSIONAdmission glucose level, absence of pre-infarction angina, TIMI flow grade 0 on initial angiogram and pump failure were independent risk factors for no-reflow and no-flow is an independent predictor for increased in-hospital and follow-up MACE.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Blood Glucose ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDSome larger scale, randomized studies have demonstrated the superiority of drug-eluting stents (DES) over bare metal stents (BMS) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to investigate the impact of DES, in comparison with BMS, on the 2-year clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODSFrom January 2002 to December 2008, a total of 1301 consecutive STEMI patients treated with coronary stenting in Shenyang Northern Hospital were prospectively registered. Patients received BMS (n = 868) or DES (n = 435) implantation in the infarction related artery according to physician's discretion. A propensity score analysis was performed and two well matched subgroups were selected (BMS, n = 288; DES, n = 288) to evaluate the 2-year clinical outcomes. The primary outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which was defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization (TVR).

RESULTSSurvival salvage analysis showed that 2-year cumulative hazards were not significantly different between the two groups with respect to TVR (2.8% vs. 3.1%, log-rank P = 0.780), stent thrombosis (1.7% vs. 4.2%, log-rank P = 0.079) and MACE (8% vs. 10.8%, log-rank P = 0.236). Multivariate analysis showed that DES was an independent protective factor of MI (HR: 0.211, 95%CI: 0.049 to 0.908) and stent thrombosis (HR: 0.327, 95%CI: 0.107 to 0.994).

CONCLUSIONDES was associated with similar 2-year clinical outcomes to those of BMS for the treatment of STEMI in daily practice.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; mortality ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome

Pulmonary sparganosis mansoni is rare in humans and bronchial sparganosis mansoni has not been reported. We reported a patient with a soft-tissue mass in the right hilum area on a chest computed tomography (CT) scan that was suspected of being lung cancer. Bronchoscopy identified sparganum larvae. Bronchial sparganosis mansoni accompanied by abnormal hyperplasia was diagnosed by histopathology. We introduced our experience and reviewed the clinical characteristics of three pulmonary sparganosis mansoni cases and three pleural cavity sparganosis mansoni cases that have been reported.
Aged ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchial Diseases ; pathology ; Bronchoscopy ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Schistosomiasis mansoni ; pathology ; Sparganosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the levels of pollutions caused by fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) in the public places and investigate the possible influencing factors.

METHODSA total of 20 public places in four types such as rest room in bath center, restaurant, karaoke bars and cyber cafe in Tongzhou district in Beijing were chosen in this study; indoor and outdoor PM(2.5) was monitored by TSI sidepak AM510. Data under varying conditions were collected and analyzed, such as doors or windows or mechanical ventilation devices being opened, rooms cramped with people and smoking.

RESULTSThe average concentration of indoor PM(2.5) in 20 public places was (334.6 +/- 386.3) microg/m(3), ranging from 6 microg/m(3) to 1956 microg/m(3); while in bath center, restaurant, karaoke bars and cyber cafe were (116.9 +/- 100.1)microg/m(3), (317.9 +/- 235.3) microg/m(3), (750.6 +/- 521.6)microg/m(3) and (157.5 +/- 98.5) microg/m(3) respectively. The concentrations of PM(2.5) in restaurant (compared with bath center: Z = -10.785, P < 0.01; compared with karaoke bars: Z = -10.488, P < 0.01; compared with cyber cafe: Z = -7.547, P < 0.01) and karaoke bars (compared with bath center: Z = -16.670, P < 0.01; compared with cyber cafe: Z = -15.682, P < 0.01) were much higher than those in other two places. Single-factor analysis revealed that the average concentration of indoor PM(2.5) in 20 public places was associated with the number of smokers per cube meters(9.13 x 10(-3); r = 0.772, F = 26.579, P < 0.01) and ventilation score [(2.5 +/- 1.5) points; r = 0.667, F = 14.442, P < 0.01], and there were significant correlation between the average indoor and outdoor levels in restaurant [(317.9 +/- 235.3) microg/m(3), (67.8 +/- 78.9) microg/m(3); r = 0.918, F = 16.013, P = 0.028] and cyber cafe [(157.5 +/- 98.5) microg/m(3), (67.7 +/- 43.7) microg/m(3); r = 0.955, F = 30.785, P = 0.012]. Furthermore, significant correlation was observed between the average concentration of indoor PM(2.5) [(157.5 +/- 98.5) microg/m(3)]and the number of people per cube meters (288.7 x 10(-3)) in cyber cafe (r = 0.891, F = 11.615, P = 0.042). Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking (b' = 0.581, t = 3.542, P = 0.003) and ventilation (b' = -0.348, t = -2.122, P = 0.049) were the major factors that may influence the concentration of indoor PM(2.5) in four public places. With cluster analysis, the results showed that the major factors that influence the concentration of indoor PM(2.5) was the outdoor PM(2.5) levels [(49.6 +/- 39.5) microg/m(3); b = 1.556, t = 3.760, P = 0.007] when ventilation (score > 2) was relatively good. The number of smokers per cube meters (14.7 x 10(-3)) became the major influence factor when the ventilation score

CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that smoking was the main source of indoor PM(2.5) in public places. Outdoor PM(2.5) should be correlated with indoor PM(2.5) concentration under drafty situation.

Air Pollution, Indoor ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Public Facilities ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; analysis

BACKGROUNDEndovascular stent-graft treatment has emerged as an alternative for patients with type B aortic dissection (AD), either at acute or chronic phase, in selected patients. This study aimed to investigate the results of endovascular stent-graft repair for acute and chronic type B AD.

METHODSFrom May 2002 to July 2007, 67 patients with type B AD were treated by endovascular stent-graft placement. There were 32 patients in the acute phase (AAD group) and 35 patients in the chronic phase (CAD group). The patients were followed up from 1 to 65 months (average, 17 +/- 16 months). The immediate and follow-up clinical outcomes were documented and compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTSPlacement of endovascular stent-grafts across the primary entry tears was technically successful in all 67 patients. Compared with patients in the CAD group, those in the AAD group had higher percentages of pleural effusion (15.6% vs 0, P = 0.02) and visceral/leg ischemia (21.9% vs 2.9%, P = 0.02). Procedure related complications, including endoleak and post-implantation syndrome occurred more frequently in AAD group than in CAD group (21.9% vs 2.9% and 31.3% vs 8.6%, respectively; P = 0.02 and P = 0.02). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in survival rate at 4 years between the 2 groups (86.4% vs 92.3%, P = 0.42 by Log-rank test). But the 4-year event-free survival rate was higher in patients with chronic dissection than in patients with acute dissection (96.2% vs 73.9%; P = 0.02 by Log-rank test).

CONCLUSIONSEndovascular repair with stent-graft was safe and effective for the treatment of both acute and chronic type B AD. However, both immediate and long term major complications occurred more frequently in patients with acute dissection than in those with chronic dissection.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; therapy ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; therapy ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of bone metastasis in gastric cancer patients.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 66 gastric cancer patients with bone metastasis, who were treated at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from October 1997 to September 2011, were analyzed retrospectively. The clinicopathological characteristics of the primary cancer and bone metastasis were summarized and the prognosis was analyzed.

RESULTSOf 66 patients, 4 underwent operation, 28 chemotherapy, 32 inhibitors of bone resorption,8 local treatment and 23 symptomatic treatment alone. The median survival time of these 66 patients was 5 months (95%CI:3.3-6.7 months). The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 9.1%, 3.0% and 1.5%, respectively. Univariate Log-rank test indicated that gender, bone metastasis combined with other distant metastasis and chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed bone metastasis combined with other distant metastasis was an independent prognostic factor (P=0.011, RR=2.067, 95%CI:1.178-3.626).

CONCLUSIONSPrognosis of patients with bone metastasis from gastric cancer is poor. Chemotherapy-based comprehensive treatment may improve the prognosis of these patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology