OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of puerarin on the vascular active factors correlated to cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after aneurysm subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

METHODSFifty-four patients with aSAH were randomly assigned to the puerarin group (30 cases) and the control group (24 cases) by lot. On the basis of routine treatment, the patients in the puerarin group were intravenously dripped with 0.5 g puerarin by adding in 250 mL glucose injection once daily. The injection was given starting from the 3rd day of the disease course, for 14 successive days. The plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), thromboxane B, (TXB2), 6-Keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-K-PGF1alpha) were compared between the two groups pre- and post-therapy. The incidence of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) was observed using transcranial Doppler (TCD). The Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) were compared at discharge between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the plasma levels of NO, ET-1, and 6-K-PGF1alpha increased in the puerarin group (P < 0. 05), the TXB2 level decreased (P < 0.05), the incidence of CVS decreased (P < 0.05), the mean MCA velocity increased (P < 0.05), and the GOS at discharge increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPuerarin is an effective agent for the prophylaxis and treatment of the CVS in patients after aSAH. Moreover, it can improve the prognosis. The mechanism might be correlated with improving the levels of the vascular active factors, i.e., increasing the plasma levels of NO and PGl2, decreasing TXA, in plasma, increasing the cerebral blood flow, and improving cerebral perfusion.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ; blood ; Adult ; Aged ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Prognosis ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Thromboxane B2 ; blood ; Vasospasm, Intracranial ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology

This paper uses the data collected from 138,477 patient discharge records of 37 Shanghai tertiary public hospitals in December 2013 and classifies all the records into different groups by using a localized diagnosis re-lated group tool.The coefficient of variation index ( CV) of each group was used to analyze the dispersion of average hospital cost per inpatient day for each group, in order to evaluate the suitability of diagnosis related group systems and to set the coefficients of difficulty ( relative weights) for each disease.The study has found that severity-based di-agnosis related group systems are more suitable and consistent.However, future studies should collect more detailed information on health costs in order to reflect the value of health professionals and technologies and therefore further improve diagnosis related classification and develop new systems that can be adapted to local conditions by applying the weights of different groups.

Objetives To investigate the outcomes of sirolumus-eluting stent(CypherTM,Cordis/Johnson&Johnson,Warren,NJ,USA)and paclitaxel-eluting stent(TaxusTM,Boston Scientific,Natick,MA.USA)in the treatment of coronary heart disease after a four.year clinical follow-up.Methods 237 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study and treated with Cypher(136 patients)or Taxus(101 patients)from January to October 2003.111e rates of stenosis.stent thrombosis according to ARC definition and major adverse cardiac events(MACE a composite of cardiac death,myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization)were analysed.Results There was no significant difference on secondary restenosis.target lesion revascularization(TLR)and MACE between Cypher and Taxus groups at six.month angiographic follow-up,but late luminal loss was higher in Taxus group[(0.15±0.43)mm vs(0.42±0.34)mm,P=0.022].At four-year follow-up,TVR-free survival rate was 88.97% in Cypher group versus 82.28% in Taxus group(P=0.158).MACE.free survival rate was 83.8% in Cypher group and 79.2% in Taxus group(P=0.056).The incidence of stent tllrombosis was no difference between the two groups(1.47% vs 1.98%).There was also no difference among early(0 vs 0.99%),late(0.73%vs0.99%)and very late stent thrombosis(0.73%vs 0)between the 2 groups.Conlusions There were nodifference between Cypher and Taxus in the treatment of coronary artery disease:Both Cypher and Taxus have good clinical outcomes except that Taxus had highcr late loss.

Objective: To make long-term comparison of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation betweenleft internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft and native vessel in patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods: A total of 151 patients with anterior wall ischemia because of previous CABG induced LIMA graft lesion who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital from 2004-07 to 2012-12 were retrospectively studied. The clinical, coronaryangiography (CAG) and follow-up conditions for DES implantation were analyzed;according to the target vessel, the patients were divided into 2 groups:LIMA group, n=40 and Native vessel (NV) group, which meant all segments of left main to left anterior descending arteries, n=111. Primary end points included target lesion revascularization (TLR), target lesion failure (TLF) as cardiac death, target vessel related non-fatal MI with the composition of TLR and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
Results:The median follow-up time was 30 (10-100) months. The rates of TLR and TLF were similar between 2 groups:(15.0%vs 11.7%, log-rank P=0.65) and (17.5%vs 13.5%, log-rank P=0.63). MACE occurrence in LIMA group was higher than NV group (35.0%vs 18.0%, log-rank P=0.043) which was mainly presented by new non-target vessel revascularization as right coronary artery, left circumlfex and saphenous vein graft(17.5%vs 4.5%, log-rank P=0.014). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that target lesion stent length was the only independent predictor for both TLR (HR=1.03, 95%CI1.00-1.06, P=0.01) and TLF (HR=1.03, 95%CI1.00-1.05, P=0.02);whereas, LIMA-PCI was the only independent predictor for MACE occurrence (HR=3.09, 95%CI1.28-7.60, P=0.012).
Conclusion: The chances of TLR and TLF were similar inpatients with previous CABG by either LIMA or NV, while MACE occurrence was higher in LIMA patients which should be further investigated.

Objective To report our experiences in the treatment of recurrent intracranial aneurysms with re-coiling or covered stents.Methods A total of 291 patients with 305 intracranial aneurysms were treated with detachable coils.and 41(28.9%)of 142 patients with aneurysms in the intemal carotid artery had a recurrent aneurysm during the follow-up period.For this study,31 recurrent aneurysms in 31 patients who had angiograms within 6 months following retreatment with detachable coils(group A,n=20)or covered stents(group B.n=11)were analysed.Aneurysms were categorised as complete or incomplete occlusion via angiographic assessment and graded as full recovery,improvement,no change or deterioration via clinical assessment.Data regarding technical success,initial and final angiographic results,final clinical outcome were collected and analysed postoperatively.Results Coil embolisation and covered stent placement.were technically successful in all recurrent aneurysms.The initial angiographic results showed complete occlusion in 11 patients(55%)in group A and in eight(72.7%)in group B(P=0.452),and the final angiographic results exhibited complete occlusion in 10 patients(50%)in group A and in 11(100%)in group B(P=0.005).There were no significant differences in technique success or final clinical outcome between the two groups.Conclusions Recurrent aneurysms after coiling can be successfully treated and occluded with re-coiling or covered stent placement.However,covered stents seem to be more effective than re-coiling with regard to complete occlusion of recurrent aneurysms.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the correlation of tongue manifestation with the site of cerebral infarction in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to February 2009, 200 cases of hospitalized patients with first unilateral cerebral infarction were chosen in the Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital. The correlation of different tongue color, fur texture, fur color with the site of cerebral infarction was analyzed.

RESULTSThe site of cerebral infarction in patients were compared between different tongue color by Chisquare test (P=0.314), and further correspondence analysis demonstrated that there was correlation between red tongue and cortical-subcortical infarction group. The site of cerebral infarction in patients were compared between thick fur group and thin fur group, cortical-subcortical infarction occurred more frequently in the former (P=0.0008). The site of cerebral infarction in patients were compared between dry fur group, moist fur group and smooth fur group, correspondence analysis demonstrated there was correlation between dry fur and cortical-subcortical group. The site of cerebral infarction in the patients were compared between white fur group, white-yellow fur group and yellow fur group (P=0.010), and correspondence analysis demonstrated there was correlation between white fur and brainstem infarction; white-yellow fur has relationship with cortical infarction; subcortical infarction was weakly related with white-yellow fur; there was closer relationship between yellow fur and cortical-subcortical infarction.

CONCLUSIONThe change of tongue manifestation was associated with the site of cerebral infarction in patients, providing a new combining site for diagnosing cerebrovascular diseases by integrative medicine.

Aged ; Brain ; pathology ; Color ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Stroke ; pathology ; Tongue ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of tongue manifestation with the fibrinogen level and the neutrophil count in blood of acute cerebral infarction patients.

METHODSA total of 200 patients with first unilateral cerebral infarction in Neurology Department of Xuanwu Hospital from March, 2008 to February, 2009 were recruited in this study. The correlation of the tongue fur color and texture with the blood fibrinogen level and the neutrophil count was analyzed in these patients.

RESULTSThe level of fibrinogen and neutrophil count in thick fur group were significantly higher than that in thin fur group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the level of fibrinogen and neutrophil count found between moist fur and dry fur. Statistical significance existed in the level of fibrinogen between the greasy tongue fur group and non-greasy tongue fur group (P<0.05). The level of fibrinogen and the neutrophil count were compared among different fur color groups, revealing that the level of fibrinogen in yellowish fur group was higher than that of white fur group and normal value with statistical significance (P<0.05) with neutrophil count in yellowish fur group being significantly higher than that in white fur group.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that the change of tongue manifestation was associated with the level of fibrinogen and the neutrophil count in the blood of cerebral infarction patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Neutrophils ; Tongue ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Objective: To evaluate the hybrid of drug eluting stent (DES) with bare metal stent (BMS) and exclusive DES implantation for treating the patients with multi-lesion coronary disease.
Methods: A total of 6495 patients with multi-lesion coronary disease received elective PCI in our hospital from 2004-04 to 2006-10 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into 2 groups, Hybrid group, n=848 and Exclusive DES group, n=5647. With 1:1 propensity score matching, there were 823 pair of patients were ifnally studied. The clinical outcomes included 1, 2 years post-operative all cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and in-stent thrombosis. The relative risks of all outcomes were assessed by Cox’s proportional-hazard model after propensity match.
Results: With propensity match, Cox’s proportional-hazard model analysis indicated that compared with Exclusive DES group, Hybrid group had the higher risks of TLR (HR 2.38, 95%CI 1.50-3.70), TVR (HR 1.61, 95%CI 1.15-2.27), MACE (HR 1.37, 95%CI 1.02-1.85), all P<0.01. The all cause death, MI and the ratio of all cause death/MI were similar between 2 groups in 1, 2 years follow-up period, all P>0.05.
Conclusion:Compared with exclusive DES, the hybrid of DES with BMS implantation had the higher risk of TLR, TVR and MACE for treating the patients with multi-lesion coronary disease.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the relationship between tongue manifestation and the degree of neurological impairment in the patients with acute cerebral infarction.

METHODSTwo hundred patients with first unilateral cerebral infarction were recruited. The relationship between different tongue manifestation and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were analyzed.

RESULTSNIHSS scores in the patients from different tongue color groups were analyzed and further analysis demonstrated that the NIHSS score was higher in the patients with red or bluish-purple tongue than that of those with the pink (P <0.01). On tongue fur, the NIHSS score in the patients with thick fur was higher than that of those with the thin (P=0.003). NIHSS score in patients with slippery, moist or dry fur was significant different (P=0.003), Further analysis demonstrated that the NIHSS score was higher in the patients with dry fur than that of those with moist fur, and had statistical significance (P=0.01). The NIHSS score was higher in patients from greasy fur group than that of the non-greasy (P=0.002). There was significant difference of NHISS score in the patients with different fur color (P=0.000), and further analysis demonstrated that the NHISS score in white-yellow, yellow fur group were higher than that of the white (P=0.06 or 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe changes of tongue manifestation might be associated with the degree of neurological impairment in the patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Nervous System ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Pigmentation ; Pilot Projects ; Stroke ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Tongue ; pathology ; United States

BACKGROUNDLesions at coronary bifurcations always are a big challenge for interventionists even with the advent of drug eluting stents (DES). Even as more clinical trials are published, operators still can not confirm that one strategy is more efficient than another. Selection of patients and short term follow-up contribute to the difficulty in comparing strategies.

METHODSFrom April 2004 to April 2008, 505 consecutive Chinese patients underwent DES implantation for true bifurcation lesions; including 258 using crush strategy (213 male, (56.7 +/- 10.8) years old) and 247 using no crush strategy (206 male, (58.1 +/- 10.1) years old) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe follow-up period ranged from 237 to 1223 days, average (537 +/- 340) days for the crush group and (538 +/- 351) days for the no crush group. There was no significant difference of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate between the two groups (10.1% vs 12.1%; P = 0.481), nor in cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) or in the target vessel revascularization (TVR) (0.4% vs 1.6%; P = 0.207, 2.7% vs 2.8; P = 1.000 and 7.0% vs 7.7%; P = 0.865). The stent thrombosis rate was similar in the two groups (1.6% vs 2.0%; P = 0.409), late and very late stent thrombosis in both groups were very low (0.4% vs 0.4%; P = 1.000). Seven-month angiographic follow-up showed no significant difference of the restenosis rate between the two groups (11.0% vs 13.5%; P = 0.786). During the follow-up, cardiac death, nonfatal MI, TVR and ST free survival rate showed no significant difference between the two groups. The only variant identified as a predictor of MACE was percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the first two years, which accounted for 47% of patients of all cases in four years.

CONCLUSIONCrush technique showed similar long-term clinical effect compared with other two DES techniques for coronary bifurcation lesions, the surgeons' skills are very important for reducing clinical events.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome