Adult ; Dextrocardia ; surgery ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; surgery ; Fluoroscopy ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Surgical Instruments ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; abnormalities

Adult ; Balloon Occlusion ; instrumentation ; Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Vascular Fistula ; therapy

High mobility group A2 protein (HMGA2), an architectural factor, is highly expressed in various cancer types including lung cancers. It is a candidate target for cancer therapy. RNAi is an effective gene silencing method with low cost and less time-consuming. It is possible to exploit this technology in therapy. Here, 5 siRNAs targeting Hmga2 gene (HMGA2 siRNA1-5) were designed and synthesized. MTT assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effects of these siRNAs on lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H446 and A549). Results from cell proliferation, clone formation, migration and apoptosis showed that HMGA2 siRNA1, 3, 5 could affect these aspects for both lung cancer cell lines. Among the five siRNAs, HMGA2 siRNA5 showed the greatest inhibition effects. The inhibition effects of HMGA2 siRNA5 are sequence specific and are not due to the induction of interferon response. Taken together, siRNAs targeting Hmga2 gene are potential candidates for lung cancer gene therapy.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Therapy ; HMGA2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferons ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

In genetic modification of plants, once the transformants are obtained, selection markers are no longer required in mature plants. At present, the Cre/lox site-specific recombination system is most widely used to eliminate the selectable marker genes from the transgenic plants. In this study, attempt was made to favour the selection of marker-free plants in the re-transformation method. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) can be directly visualized in living cells, tissues or organisms under UV illumination. This advantage of GFP is exploited in the development of a practical approach in which GFP is used as a visual marker to monitor the removal of the selectable marker gene from transgenic plants. For that purpose, the pGNG binary vector was constructed, in which the GFP gene (gfp) was linked to the expression cassette Nos P-nptII-NosT and the two units were cloned between two directly-orientated lox sites. The CaMV 35S promoter was placed before the first lox site and used to drive GFP expression. The beta-glucuronidase gene (gus) of Escherichia coli was cloned behind the second lox site without a promoter, thus would not be expressed in this position. Tobacco plants were first transformed with pGNG and selected on kanamycin (Kan)-containing media. Regenerated transgenic shoots were readily singled out by GFP fluorescence. The GFP-expressing plants were then re-transformed with pCambia1300-Cre containing hygromycin phosphotransferase gene (hpt) as a selectable marker gene. The Cre-mediated recombination resulted in the elimination of lox-flanked genes, herein gfp and nptII, from the plant genome and brought the GUS gene next to the 35S promoter. Our data demonstrated that transgenic plants free of nptII were easily selected by monitoring the loss of green fluorescence, and at the same time, GUS (here as a target protein) was expressed in the nptII-free plants. Finally, hpt and cre were removed from the progenies of the nptII-free plants by gene segregation.
Genetic Markers ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Recombination, Genetic ; Tobacco ; genetics

BACKGROUNDCilostazol is a newly developed antiplatelet drug that has been widely applied for clinical use. Its antiplatelet action appears to be mainly related to inhibition of intracellular phosphodiesterase activity. Recently, cilostazol has been used for antiplatelet therapy after coronary bare metal stent implantation for thrombosis and restenosis prevention. This prospective randomized and double blind trial was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of cilostazol for the prevention of late restenosis and acute or subacute stent thrombosis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients who underwent elective stent were randomly assigned to treatment group with cilostazol 200 mg/d (n = 60), clopidogrel 75 mg/d and aspirin 100 mg/d or to control group with clopidogrel treatment 75 mg/d (n = 60) and aspirin 100 mg/d. Follow-up coronary angiography was performed 6 - 9 months later.

RESULTSNine months major adverse cardio-cerebral event (MACCE) were lower in treatment groups (P < 0.05). The quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) at 6 months follow-up showed that minimum lumen diameter (MLD) was higher in treatment group than that of control group [(2.14 +/- 0.52) mm vs (1.82 +/- 0.36) mm, P < 0.05]. Late lumen loss (LL) [(0.82 +/- 0.42) mm vs (1.31 +/- 0.58) mm; P < 0.01], restenosis rate (RR) (14% vs 32%; P < 0.05) and target lesion revascularizaion (TLR) rate (5% vs 17%; P < 0.05) were lower in treatment group than in control group.

CONCLUSIONCilostazol therapy is an effective regimen for prevention not only stent thrombosis but also RR and TLR through reducing MLD without the risk of increasing bleeding.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Ticlopidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Adolescent ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fistula ; congenital ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the osteogenic potential of the nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen/calcium alginate composite implanted in animals.

METHODSEighteen 3-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were adopted to prepare 15 mm segmental defect model at the middle part of radius. Rabbit models were randomly divided into experimental group and blank control group. Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen/calcium alginate was implanted into the defects of experimental group. Four, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, all specimens were examined by X-ray and histological methods.

RESULTSAll the 18 rabbit models entered the final analysis. X-ray showed that osteotylus was seen in the whole defect area in the experimental group 12 weeks after operation, during which osteogenesis was more obvious than in weeks 4 and 8 and the bridge grafting of defect area was obviously visible. In the blank control group, osteotylus was only observed at the two ends of the defects, and no osteogenesis was found in the central part of the defect area. Histological examination showed that new osteoid formation was seen in internal porous zone in the experimental group in weeks 4 and 8; in week 12, more woven bone-like tissues were visible and trabecular-like structure was formed.

CONCLUSIONThe nano-hydroxyapatite/ collagen/calcium alginate has good osteogenic potential.

Alginates ; chemistry ; Animals ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Radius ; anatomy & histology ; Tissue Engineering ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUNDThe non-operation treatment of intra-abdominal trauma guided contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is one of the hottest research topic. Gelatin/thrombin/calcium (GTC) was developed as a novel haemostatic agent for non-operable intra-abdominal trauma. We hypothesized that GTC can achieve haemostasis (without the use of pressure) within a short time in a large wound model by percutaneous injection under CEUS guidance.

METHODSForty Wister rats received large liver injuries by haemostatic clamp and were randomly divided into four groups, according to the haemostatic agent used. These included normal saline (NS) group A, lyophilising thrombin powder (LTP) group B, GTC group C, and absorbable α-cyanoacrylate (ACNA) group D. Each injury site was treated with one of the above materials and total bleeding time was recorded. All liver wounds were evaluated using CEUS at three periods: pre-injury, injury and post-treatment. The liver wounds were also evaluated by histology 3, 6, and 9 days after injury and the extents of abdominal adhesions were recorded.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of CEUS (100%) in detecting blunt traumatic liver lesions was significantly higher than conventional ultrasound (42.5%). Bleeding times at the injury site in the GTC group C ((129.3 ± 14.0) seconds) and ACNA group D ((5.2 ± 1.0) seconds) were significantly shorter than those in the NS group A ((369.5 ± 48.8) seconds, P < 0.01) and LTP group B ((324.7 ± 52.22) seconds, P < 0.01). The LTP group B showed no significant difference compared with the NS group A. Gross examination of liver tissue revealed that there were fewer intra-abdominal adhesions in the GTC group C (10%) than in the ACNA group D (100%). Histopathologic examination showed that GTC was completely absorbed after nine days.

CONCLUSIONSGTC, delivered by percutaneous injection under CEUS, may achieve haemostasis (without the use of pressure) within a short time in a large wound model. GTC is absorbable and may prevent intra-abdominal adhesions. Therefore, it may be the optimal choice for first aid treatment of large abdominal wounds in the setting of blunt trauma.

Animals ; Calcium ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Gelatin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hemorrhage ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Hemostatics ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thrombin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predictive value of admission plasma amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) on in-hospital mortality in patients with decompensated heart failure.

METHODSPlasma NT-proBNP levels were measured in patients with decompensated heart failure within 24 hours after admission with ELISA method. The NT-proBNP levels were compared between survivals and dying patients in hospital. ROC analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of admission plasma NT-proBNP on in-hospital mortality and to identify the optimal NT-proBNP cut-point for predicting in-hospital mortality. A binary logistic regress analyses was used to evaluate if NT-proBNP was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality.

RESULTSA total of 804 patients with decompensated heart failure were enrolled in his study (293 valvular heart diseases, 219 ischemic cardiomyopathy, 141 dilated cardiomyopathy, 14 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 21 restrictive cardiomyopathy, 39 hypertensive heart disease, 41 chronic pulmonary heart disease and 36 adult congenital heart disease) and 96 patients were in class II, 450 in class III and 258 in cases IV according to NYHA Classification. During hospitalization, 64 deaths were recorded and the on admission plasma NT-proBNP levels of patients died during hospitalization were significantly higher than those of survivals [4321.1 (3063.8, 6606.5) pmol/L vs. 1921.6 (873.9, 3739.2) pmol/L, P<0.01]. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of NT-proBNP to predict in-hospital death was 0.772 (95% CI: 0.718 - 0.825, P<0.01), the optimal plasma NT-proBNP cut-point for predicting in-hospital mortality was 3500 pmol/L, with a sensitivity of 70.3%, a specificity of 72.0%, an accuracy of 71.9%, a positive predictive value of 17. 8% and a negative predictive value of 96.6%. Patients whose NT-proBNP levels were equal or more than 3500 pmol/L had a much higher in-hospital mortality (17.8%) compared with those with NT-proBNP levels of less than 3500 pmol/L (3.4%), P<0.01. Binary logistic regress analyses demonstrated that admission plasma NT-proBNP, pneumonia, heart rate and NYHA class were independent predictors for in-hospital mortality in patients with decompensated heart failure (P<0.05 or 0.01) and admission plasma NT-proBNP was the strongest predictor for in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONSAdmission plasma NT-proBNP level was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality in patients with decompensated heart failure. The optimal NT-proBNP cut-point for predicting in-hospital mortality was 3500 pmol/L in this patient cohort.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; mortality ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis

BACKGROUNDAvailable drug-eluting stents (DES) have achieved great success in reducing restenosis rates. Recently, investigators have demonstrated that the durable polymer carrier plays a significant role in DES-related hypersensitive reaction and delays vessel healing. TIVOLI stent is a novel sirolimus-eluting coronary stent with biodegradable coating containing sirolimus and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) polymer. The present study sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the TIVOLI biodegradable-polymer-based sirolimus-eluting stent in treating patients with coronary artery disease.

METHODSA prospective, multicenter clinical trial comparing TIVOLI biodegradable coated sirolimus-eluting stent with ENDEAVOR zotarolimus-eluting stent was conducted in 324 patients (TIVOLI group: 168 patients; ENDEAVOR group: 156 patients) at 12 centers in China to demonstrate the non-inferiority of in-stent late loss with TIVOLI stent compared to ENDEAVOR stent in subjects with a maximum of two de novo native coronary artery lesions (lesion length ≤ 40 mm, reference vessel diameter 2.25-4.00 mm). The primary end point was angiographic in-stent late loss at 8-month. The secondary end points were clinical outcomes at 2 years, including major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or target-lesion revascularization) and stent thrombosis.

RESULTSAngiographic late lumen loss at 8 months in the TIVOLI group was superior to the ENDEAVOR group (in-stent (0.25 ± 0.33) mm vs. (0.57 ± 0.55) mm, diff (95%CI) -0.23 (-0.32, -0.14), P < 0.0001; in-segment (0.25 ± 0.33) mm vs. (0.42 ± 0.55) mm, diff (95%CI) -0.13 (-0.23, -0.02), P = 0.0083). The rate of in-stent binary restenosis at 8 months was reduced from 8.6% in the ENDEAVOR group to 2.9% in the TIVOLI group (P = 0.0229). Compared to ENDEAVOR stent, TIVOLI stent resulted in a significant reduction in target-lesion revascularization (4.2% vs. 9.6%, P = 0.0495) at 2 years. The two-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate was lower for the TIVOLI group, but not significantly different (6.6% vs. 10.9%, P = 0.1630).

CONCLUSIONSTIVOLI was superior to ENDEAVOR stent with respect to late lumen loss at 8 months, and it yielded both lower rates of angiographic binary restenosis at 8 months and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 2 years. The MACE rate at 2 years was comparable in both groups.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Sirolimus ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome