AIM: To explore the effects of CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction on endothelial cells (ECs) procoagulant activity. METHODS: A co-incubation system of macrophage membrane with ECs was established. The changes in ECs procoagulant activity and tissue factor (TF) expression were studied by anti-CD40L antibody blocking analysis. RESULTS: Coincubation with macrophage membrane (cell ratio 1∶1) for 6 hours resulted in a 10.9-fold increase ( P

Objective To observe the effects of 131I treatment on circulating granulocyte colonystimulating factor (G-CSF) and leucocyte levels of patients with Graves' disease (GD).Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),coulter three assortments,and radioimmunoassay were used to test the levels of circulating G-CSF,leucocytes and thyroid hormones of 65 incipient and untreated GD patients,all females,aged 21 -50,43 with normal leucocyte level and 22 with leucopenia before and after 131I treatment.Thirty age-matched healthy female subjects were used as controls.Results Before 131I treatment,the serous G-CSF level of the GD patients with normal leucocyte level was (28.4 ± 11.7)μg/L,significantly higher than that of the control [ ( 18.3 ± 6.98) μg/L,t =2.376,P ＜ 0.05 ].The serous G-CSF level of the GD patients with leucopenia was (40.1 ± 13.8 ) μg/L,significantly higher than that of the patients with normal leucocyte level ( t =2.788,P ＜ 0.01 ) and that of the control ( t =3.672,P＜0.01 ).180 d after the initiation of 131 I treatment,the G-CSF level of the patients with normal leucocyte level was (18.9 ± 8.32) μg/L,not significantly different from that of the normal controls,however,the G-CSF level of the GD patients with leucopenia was (25.7 ± 11.5) μg/L,still significantly higher than that of the normal control (t =2.103,P ＜ 0.05).The serous G-CSF level was negatively correlated with the titer of leucocyte ( r =- 0.38,P ＜ 0.05 ),however,not significantly correlated with such clinical parameters,as free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxine (FT4) and thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH).Conclusions Abnormal increment of G-CSF is observed in the GD patients,which may be related to the decrease of leucocyte.Effectively suppressing the auto-immune status in the GD patients,131I treatment is a safe and reliable therapy for GD patients with leucopenia and should be used as early as possible.

OBJECTIVETo examine long-term efficacy of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), coronary stenting and to assess the factors affecting its efficacy.

METHODSA total of 790 patients who underwent successful PTCA and PTCA + stent in this hospital were followed by direct interview or letter. The rate of follow-up was 84.2% and the period of follow-up was 0.9 - 12.7 (3.5 +/- 2.4) years.

RESULTSDuring follow-up, 4 (0.5%) patients died, 22 (2.8%) had nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, 10 (1.3%) had coronary artery bypass surgery, and 98 (12.4%) had repeat PTCA. The rate of recurrent angina pectoris was 31.1%. The cardiac event-free survival rate calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 88.2% at 1 year and 80.6% at 12.7 years. Cox regression analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between AMI history, stent implantation and the risk of cardiac events, and there was a negative correlation between the number of diseased arteries and the risk of cardiac events. Compared to the PTCA group, patients with PTCA + stent had significantly lower rates of total cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONThe long-term efficacy of PTCA, especially PTCA + stent in Chinese patients was very satisfactory, suggesting that PTCA + stent therapy should be the major treatment for revascularization in patients with coronary heart disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; etiology ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Coronary Stenosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome