OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between tongue presentations and the serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

METHODSTongue presentations of 200 incipient unilateral ACI patients were observed, their serum CRP level was determined, and the relationship between the two entries was analyzed.

RESULTSSerum level of CRP in patients with thick tongue coating were significantly more than those with thin coating (117 cases vs. 73 cases); tongue coating was greasy in 149 patients and un-greasy in 51 patients. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the serum level of CRP was positively correlated with the thickness of tongue coating (r = 0.186, P = 0.008); also with the greasy degree. The difference of CRP levels in patients with different color and dryness of tongue was insignificant statistically (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCorrelation between tongue presentations and serum CRP level is possibly existed in patients with ACI.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tongue

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

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

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

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of GRACE discharge score on the long-term out-of-hospital coronary thrombotic events (CTE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents. Methods: Present study was a prospective, observational, single center study. 10 724 consecutive patients underwent PCI in Fuwai Hospital between January and December 2013 were included, stents were implanted with conventional method. After PCI, patients were prescribed aspirin 100 mg once daily indefinitely, and either clopidogrel 75 mg once daily or ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily for at least 1 year. A total of 9 782 patients were included in the final analysis after excluding patients who did not undergo successful stent implantation, who were not discharged on dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT), who only underwent bare-metal stents, who experienced in-hospital major bleeding, stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction (MI) or death,and who lost follow up. Clinical data were collected from all patients. 9 543 patients with complete baseline data were further analyzed for risk stratification and predictive value of GRACE discharge score. CTE was defined as stent thrombosis or spontaneous myocardial infarction. All patients were followed through Fuwai Hospital Follow-up Center, and evaluated either by phone, letter, or clinic visits or at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months after PCI. Risk stratification was performed according to the GRACE discharge score, and the predictive value of the GRACE discharge score was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: After 2 years follow-up, there were 95 CTE among the 9 782 patients. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of CTE: CTE group (95 cases) and no CTE group (9 687 cases). GRACE discharge score was significantly higher in CTE group than no CTE group (82.98±27.58 vs. 75.51±22.46, t=-2.57, P=0.012). According to risk stratification of GRACE discharge score, the patients were divided into low-risk (≤88) group (n=6 902), moderate-risk (89-118) (n=2 988) and high-risk (>118) (n=343) groups. As compared to the low-risk group, CTE risk in moderate- and high-risk groups was 1.59 times (HR 1.59, 95%CI 1.01-2.52, P=0.046) and 3.89 times higher (HR 3.89, 95%CI 1.98-7.65, P<0.001), respectively. Further analysis showed that the GRACE score had predictive value in the total cohort for CTE (area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) 0.576, 95%CI 0.512-0.640, P=0.012) and in the acute coronary syndromes(ACS) subgroup for CTE: (AUROC 0.594, 95%CI 0.509-0.680, P=0.019), but not in the non-ACS subgroup: (AUROC 0.561, 95%CI 0.466-0.657, P=0.187). Conclusion GRACE discharge score can predict the long-term out-of-hospital CTE in patients undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents and treated with DAPT, and patients can be stratified into the low-, moderate- and high-risk groups of CTE by the GRACE discharge score.

BACKGROUNDIron is a biocorrodible metal that might be used in bioabsorbable stents. This study investigated the effects at the cellular and protein levels of soluble divalent iron (ferrous gluconate) and soluble trivalent iron (ferric chloride) on the proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) in vitro.

METHODSThe water-soluble tetrazolium (WST-1) test was used to evaluate the effect of iron on proliferation of HASMC and Western blotting was used to measure the levels of signaling proteins involved in proliferative and apoptosis pathways.

RESULTSHASMC proliferation was inhibited in a concentration dependent manner after treatment with soluble divalent and trivalent iron at concentrations of 100-500 µmol/L. Western blotting analysis showed that the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression following treatment with soluble divalent iron and trivalent iron at 100, 300 and 500 µmol/L was reduced compared to the control. The PCNA expression decreased with increasing iron concentration and to a greater extent with the trivalent iron than with the divalent iron treatment group. The p53 expression was markedly increased in a concentration dependent manner in both iron treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONThe soluble divalent iron and, to a greater degree trivalent iron, inhibited HASMC proliferation in a dosedependent manner, which may be attributed to reduction of PCNA expression and increase of p53 expression.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Iron ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; chemistry ; drug effects ; physiology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis

BACKGROUND: There is scanty evidence concerning the ability of Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines (CRUSADE) and Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy and Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (ACUITY-HORIZONS) scores to predict out-of-hospital bleeding risk after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) with drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. We aimed to assess and compare the long-term prognostic value of these scores regarding out-of-hospital bleeding risk in such patients. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of 10,724 patients undergoing PCI between January and December 2013 in Fuwai Hospital, China. All patients were followed up for 2 years and evaluated through the Fuwai Hospital Follow-up Center. Major bleeding was defined as Types 2, 3, and 5 according to Bleeding Academic Research Consortium Definition criteria. RESULTS: During a 2-year follow-up, 245 of 9782 patients (2.5%) had major bleeding (MB). CRUSADE (21.00 [12.00, 29.75] vs. 18.00 [11.00, 26.00], P < 0.001) and ACUITY-HORIZONS (9.00 [3.00, 14.00] vs. 6.00 [3.00, 12.00], P < 0.001) risk scores were both significantly higher in the MB than non-MB groups. Both scores showed a moderate predictive value for MB in the whole study cohort (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve [AUROC], 0.565; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.529-0.601, P = 0.001; AUROC, 0.566; 95% CI, 0.529-0.603, P < 0.001, respectively) and in the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) subgroup (AUROC: 0.579, 95% CI: 0.531-0.627, P = 0.001; AUROC, 0.591; 95% CI, 0.544-0.638, P < 0.001, respectively). However, neither score was a significant predictor in the non-ACS subgroup (P > 0.05). The value of CRUSADE and ACUITY-HORIZONS scores did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in the whole cohort, ACS subgroup, or non-ACS subgroup. CONCLUSIONS CRUSADE and ACUITY-HORIZONS scores showed statistically significant but relatively limited long-term prognostic value for out-of-hospital MB after PCI with DES in a cohort of Chinese patients. The value of CRUSADE and ACUITY-HORIZONS scores did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in the whole cohort, ACS subgroup, or non-ACS subgroup.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; therapy ; Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Research Design ; Risk ; Risk Assessment ; Treatment Outcome