OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility, safety, effectiveness of linear ablation and circumferential isolation of pulmonary veins for atrial fibrillation (AF) guided by 3-dimensional mapping system. METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with drug refractory paroxysmal and persistent AF were included in this study. Real-time 3-dimensional left atrial (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) maps were constructed through 3-dimensional mapping system (Ensite NavX) in all patients. Pulmonary vein isolation was performed by encircling the left and right sides of PVs at 1 to 2 cm away from the ostium of PVs. The endpoint of ablation included: All circum PVs ablation lines finished; all PVs were isolated; and non-inducibility of AF was observed. RESULTS: All 28 patients reached the endpoint of ablation completely. The mean procedure time and fluoroscopy time was (161.3+/-23.2) min and (38.0+/-6.8) min, respectively. During the 6 approximately 17 month follow-up, 20 patients (71%) were free of AF without any antiarrhythmic drugs. Recurrence of AF was found in the other 8 patients (29%): Two were treated with amiodarone and 6 repeated ablation. After the second ablation, 4 were free of AF and 2 recurrence were treated with amiodarone. No complications occurred during the procedure and the follow-up. CONCLUSION Linear ablation and circumferential isolation of pulmonary veins for atrial fibrillation (AF) guided by 3-dimensional mapping system is effective and safe. But the long-term outcome remains to be investigated.
Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of immune complexes (IC) prepared from human oxidized density lipoprotein (oxLDL) antibodies and human oxLDL on the foam cell forming and the macrophage activation, and to further uncover the possible mechanisms of immune complexes contributing to the atherosclerosis occurrence. METHODS: The immune complexes of human oxLDL and purified human oxLDL antibodies were added to culture U937 cells by protocols: polyethylene glycol-precipitated insoluble IC (PEG-IC) and IC immobilized by absorption to red blood cells (RBC-IC). With oxLDL as controls and heat-aggregated gamma globulin as an inhibitor of Fc gamma receptor, we measured the cholesterol ester, total cholesterol of the cellular extracts, and quantified the secreted MMP-1 of supernatants from U937 cells. RESULTS: A significant increase of MMP-1 release [(0.769 +/- 0.030) ng/ml vs (0.513 +/- 0.034) ng/ml, P < 0.01] and a higher level of cholesterol ester accumulation [(20.271 +/- 1.668) microg/mg protein vs (17. 226 +/- 1.298 ) microg/mg protein, P < 0.05] in U937 cells incubated with RBC-IC were observed, compared with those incubated with RBC-oxLDL. However, the above quantative difference between the cholesterol ester accumulation induced by oxLDL and insoluble PEG-IC was even more striking, and cholesterol ester accumulation was dosage-dependent. Heat-aggregated gamma globulin (10 mg/ml) as an inhibitor of Fc gamma receptors competitively inhibited cholesterol ester accumulation and decreased PEG-IC stimulating MMP-1 secretion to 71%. CONCLUSION Immune complexe of ox-LDL can transform macrophages into foam cells and activted macrophages. The immunological function of oxLDL is involved in the process of atherosclerosis occurrence.
Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Cholesterol Esters ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; biosynthesis ; U937 Cells

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid is an important component of extracellular matrix, has good biocompatibility, unique rheological properties and a variety of physiological functions. Therefore, it has wide application prospect in the tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE: To review the latest research progress in hyaluronic acid scaffold materials in different directions of tissue engineering. METHODS: Using the keywords of "hyaluronic acid, tissue engineering, regeneration, scaffold" in English and Chinese, we retrieved relevant articles published from January 2013 to September 2016 in the databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect and CNKI. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The application of hyaluronic acid tissue engineering scaffold materials mainly focuses on the regeneration of bone, cartilage, cardiovascular and nerve. The researchers optimize the composition, ratio of different materials, and modification or cross-linking methods to obtain the ideal scaffold materials to match the mechanical properties and physiological activity of the target tissue. However, there are not enough data on the influence of the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid and the original source of other raw materials on the scaffold properties. Further investigations are needed on the clinical transformation of hyaluronic acid tissue engineering products.

Objective To evaluate the application of clinical Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP),and to investigate the nutritional risks of inpatient children with gastroenterological diseases in Sichuan province and their associated clinical characteristics and the features of hygiene economics.Methods STAMP was utilized for nutrition screening of inpatient children with gastroenterological diseases in Chengdu Women and Children's Central Hospital from January 2015 to March 2017.All the enrolled children were divided into 3 groups according to the STAMP scores:low risk group (LR group),moderate risk group (MR group) and high risk group (HR group).Clinical and economic data were compared among 3 groups.Results A total of 3 672 assessments were accomplished,including 2 372 times for males and 1 300 times for females (＜ 2 years old:2 021 times,2-5 years old:803 times,＞5 years old:848 times).Among them,147 children were identified as LR(4.00％),2 296 children as MR (62.53％),and 1 229 children as HR (33.47％).Statistically significant differences were observed among 3 groups in average length of hospital stay (P ＜0.001),the total cost at hospital (P ＜0.001),drug cost (P ＜ 0.001),antibiotic use (x2 =21.66,P ＜ 0.001),parenteral nutrition administration (x2 =46.43,P ＜ 0.001),blood products use (x2 =45.00,P ＜ 0.001),while there was no significant difference in re-admissions for over 3 times (P ＞ 0.05).Malnutrition rate was 4.08％ (6/147 cases) in LR group,2.05％ (47/2 296 cases) in MR group and 31.90％ (392/1 229 cases) in HR group,respectively,and among them 146 patients were diagnosed as severe malnutrition.Digestive tract infections were the most common diseases in MR group(66.33％,1 523/2 296 cases) and HR group(68.27％,839/1 229 cases).Moreover,children with stomatitis,gastrointestinal postoperation,acute pancreatitis,inflammatory bowel disease,esophageal diseases,digestive malformations,cyclic vomiting,malnutrition,and acute intestinal obstruction were all in HR group.Conclusions Nutritional risk is likely to raise the burden of disease.STAMP is applicabile clinically when it is utilized for nutrition risk screening of inpatient children with gastroenterological diseases in Sichuan province and provides evidence for nutrition support treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of Survivin protein and nm23 protein and the relationship among the expressions and axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. METHODS: The expression of Survivin and nm23 in 80 cases of breast cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry SP method, and their correlation with axillary lymph node metastasis and 5-year disease free survival (DFS) were analysed. RESULTS: Survivin protein positive expression rate was 68.75% (55/80) in breast cancer tissues, which had positive correlation with the axillary lymph nodes metastasis but negative correlation with 5 years FS (P < 0.05); nm23 protein expression had negative correlation with the axillary lymph nodes metastasis but positive to 5 years FS (P < 0.05). Survivin and nm23 proteins expression had no obvious correlation with the breast cancer pathology type, patient age and clinical stage (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The anti-apoptosis effect of Survivin protein and the anti-metastasis effect of nm23 protein may be important in the occurrence and advancement of breast cancer, suggesting that it may be a new indicator of prognostic and judgement in breast cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Axilla ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivin

Objective To explore the feasibility of 7,12?dimethylbenz[ a] anthracene ( DMBA) induced tree shrew breast cancer model, and compare the effects of two administration modes by gavage and mammary gland injection. Methods A total of 40 tree shrews were randomly divided into two groups (20 animals per group): DMBA gavage group and mammary gland injection group. DMBA was dissolved in edible vegetable oil. For gavage group, tree shrews were administered with DMBA solutions (15 mg／kg) by gavage once a day. For mammary gland injection group, DMBA solution (10 mg／kg) was injected into the mammary fat pad of tree shrews, and the injection was performed for a total of 3 times. From the first administration of DMBA, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 100 mg／kg) was intramuscularly injected into the muscles of the lateral thighs of tree shrews at the same time, for a total of 5 times. The tumorigenesis and survival of tree shrews were monitored. The tumor histological morphology was observed by HE staining. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor ( PR), cytokeratin5／6 ( CK5／6) and human epidermal factor receptor?2 (HER?2) was detected by immunohistochemical staining.Results In the gavage group, there were 10 deaths, and 4 tree shrews developed mammary tumors with 20.0%( 4／20) tumor formation rate. The success rate of mammary cancer modeling was 10.0%(2／20), and the tumor formation time was 197.3±15.1 days. In the mammary gland injection group, there were 8 tree shrews died, and 9 tree shrews formed tumors with 45.0%( 9／20) tumor formation rate. The success rate of mammary cancer modeling was 40.0%(8／20), and the tumor formation time was 71.8±19.0 days. There was no significant difference in mortality and tumor formation rate (P＞0.05) between the two groups (all P＞0.05). However, in the mammary gland injection group, the success rate of mammary cancer modeling was significantly higher than that in the gavage group (P＜0.05), whereas the tumor formation time was markedly shorter than that in the gavage group ( P＜0.01). The pathological types in the gavage group included ductal hyperplasia, intraductal papilloma and ductal carcinoma in situ, while those in the breast injection group included intraductal papilloma and ductal carcinoma in situ. In both groups, immunohistochemical staining showed the negative expression of HER?2 but positive expression of ER, PR and CK5／6 with varying degrees. Conclusion Both the DMBA gavage and mammary gland injection can successfully establish the tree shrew breast cancer model, and the modeling effect of mammary gland injection is better than gavage.

Objective To explore the feasibility of 7,12?dimethylbenz[ a] anthracene ( DMBA) induced tree shrew breast cancer model, and compare the effects of two administration modes by gavage and mammary gland injection. Methods A total of 40 tree shrews were randomly divided into two groups (20 animals per group): DMBA gavage group and mammary gland injection group. DMBA was dissolved in edible vegetable oil. For gavage group, tree shrews were administered with DMBA solutions (15 mg／kg) by gavage once a day. For mammary gland injection group, DMBA solution (10 mg／kg) was injected into the mammary fat pad of tree shrews, and the injection was performed for a total of 3 times. From the first administration of DMBA, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 100 mg／kg) was intramuscularly injected into the muscles of the lateral thighs of tree shrews at the same time, for a total of 5 times. The tumorigenesis and survival of tree shrews were monitored. The tumor histological morphology was observed by HE staining. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor ( PR), cytokeratin5／6 ( CK5／6) and human epidermal factor receptor?2 (HER?2) was detected by immunohistochemical staining.Results In the gavage group, there were 10 deaths, and 4 tree shrews developed mammary tumors with 20.0%( 4／20) tumor formation rate. The success rate of mammary cancer modeling was 10.0%(2／20), and the tumor formation time was 197.3±15.1 days. In the mammary gland injection group, there were 8 tree shrews died, and 9 tree shrews formed tumors with 45.0%( 9／20) tumor formation rate. The success rate of mammary cancer modeling was 40.0%(8／20), and the tumor formation time was 71.8±19.0 days. There was no significant difference in mortality and tumor formation rate (P＞0.05) between the two groups (all P＞0.05). However, in the mammary gland injection group, the success rate of mammary cancer modeling was significantly higher than that in the gavage group (P＜0.05), whereas the tumor formation time was markedly shorter than that in the gavage group ( P＜0.01). The pathological types in the gavage group included ductal hyperplasia, intraductal papilloma and ductal carcinoma in situ, while those in the breast injection group included intraductal papilloma and ductal carcinoma in situ. In both groups, immunohistochemical staining showed the negative expression of HER?2 but positive expression of ER, PR and CK5／6 with varying degrees. Conclusion Both the DMBA gavage and mammary gland injection can successfully establish the tree shrew breast cancer model, and the modeling effect of mammary gland injection is better than gavage.

Objective China is among the 30 countries with a high burden of tuberculosis(TB)worldwide,and TB remains a public health concern.Kashgar Prefecture in the southern Xinjiang Autonomous Region is considered as one of the highest TB burden regions in China.However,molecular epidemiological studies of Kashgar are lacking. Methods A population-based retrospective study was conducted using whole-genome sequencing(WGS)to determine the characteristics of drug resistance and the transmission patterns. Results A total of 1,668 isolates collected in 2020 were classified into lineages 2(46.0%),3(27.5%),and 4(26.5%).The drug resistance rates revealed by WGS showed that the top three drugs in terms of the resistance rate were isoniazid(7.4%,124/1,668),streptomycin(6.0%,100/1,668),and rifampicin(3.3%,55/1,668).The rate of rifampicin resistance was 1.8%(23/1,290)in the new cases and 9.4%(32/340)in the previously treated cases.Known resistance mutations were detected more frequently in lineage 2 strains than in lineage 3 or 4 strains,respectively:18.6%vs.8.7 or 9%,P<0.001.The estimated proportion of recent transmissions was 25.9%(432/1,668).Multivariate logistic analyses indicated that sex,age,occupation,lineage,and drug resistance were the risk factors for recent transmission.Despite the low rate of drug resistance,drug-resistant strains had a higher risk of recent transmission than the susceptible strains(adjusted odds ratio,1.414;95%CI,1.023-1.954;P = 0.036).Among all patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis(DR-TB),78.4%(171/218)were attributed to the transmission of DR-TB strains. Conclusion Our results suggest that drug-resistant strains are more transmissible than susceptible strains and that transmission is the major driving force of the current DR-TB epidemic in Kashgar.

Identification of genetic variants via high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies has been essential for both fundamental and clinical studies. However, to what extent the genome sequence composition affects variant calling remains unclear. In this study, we identified 63,897 multi-copy sequences (MCSs) with a minimum length of 300 bp, each of which occurs at least twice in the human genome. The 151,749 genomic loci (multi-copy regions, or MCRs) harboring these MCSs account for 1.98％of the genome and are distributed unevenly across chromosomes. MCRs containing the same MCS tend to be located on the same chromosome. Gene Ontology (GO) anal-yses revealed that 3800 genes whose UTRs or exons overlap with MCRs are enriched for Golgi-related cellular component terms and various enzymatic activities in the GO biological function cat-egory. MCRs are also enriched for loci that are sensitive to neocarzinostatin-induced double-strand breaks. Moreover, genetic variants discovered by genome-wide association studies and recorded indbSNP are significantly underrepresented in MCRs. Using simulated HTS datasets, we show that false variant discovery rates are significantly higher in MCRs than in other genomic regions. These results suggest that extra caution must be taken when identifying genetic variants in the MCRs via HTS technologies.

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology