AIM:To investigate the effects of DL-3-n-butylphthalidle (NBP) on angiogenesis of human um-bilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs) and the role of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF)/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-Notch1/Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) signaling pathway in this process. METHODS:The serum-free medium and anoxic tank were used to simulate the conditions of hypoxia and ischemia ( H/I). HUVECs were divided into control group, H/I group, H/I+NBPhigh group and H/I+NBPlow group. The HUVECs in control group were conventionally cul-tured, and those in H/I group were cultured under H/I intervention. The HUVECs in H/I+NBPhigh group were treated with NBP at 20 μmol/L under H/I intervention. The HUVECs in H/I+NBPlow group were treated with NBP at 5 μmol/L under H/I intervention. The cell viability of each group was measured by CCK-8 assay. The migration ability of the HUVECs in each group was detected by cell scratch test. The vessel formation ability of the HUVECs was examined by in vitro angiogenesis assay. The expression of VEGFR2, Notch1 and Dll4 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by qPCR and Western blot, and the expression of VEGF was determined by qPCR and ELISA. RESULTS:NBP increased the viability of HUVECs, and promoted the migration ability and the formation of blood vessels in vitro under H/I interven-tion. These effects of NBP at high dose were more significant than those at low dose. NBP increased the expression of VEGF, VEGFR2, Notch1 and Dll4 at mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:NBP promotes HUVECs to form blood vessels under H/I intervention. The mechanism may be related to the activation of VEGF/VEGFR2-Notch1/Dll4 signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the management of pregnancy and cardiovascular complications in women with Marian syndrome(MFS).Methods From October 1994 to September 2006, 30 patients with MFS undergoing cardiovascular surgery were studied retrospectively.Results In the labor of 46 offsprings given birth by 30 women,5 cases(11%)were performed elective cesarean section because of the existence of aortic complication,and 12(26%)were diagnosed as MFS.The gestation in two patients was terminated due to deterioration of aortic abnormalities during their third trimester,and they received surgical treatment with Bcntall procedure.Two developed acute aortic dissection during labor and post delivery respectively.With the manipulation of anticoagulation peripartum,one who had the implantation with mechanical prosthesis went through pregnancy and delivery uneventfully.The average duration between delivery and cardiovascular surgery was(15?9)years.Conclusions Vaginal delivery can be done safely in patients with the MFS who do not have or have mild cardiovascular system abnormalities,aortic dissection,or other important cardiac abnormalities,cesarean section should be the preferred method of delivery.Women with MFS are at increased risk for dissection and congestive heart failure during pregnancy and should be counseled before pregnancy about these risks,as well as the inheritance of the condition.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between the findings by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and the risk factors for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

METHODSThis cohort study involved 706 out-patients who received examination with CCTA between June, 2008 and April, 2011. The severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) was graded to normal, mild, moderate, severe, and revascularization. Pearson correlation analysis and ANOVA were used to evaluate the relationship between the risk factors for CAD and coronary plaques identified by CCTA, and the predictive accuracy was determined by the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTSOf the 706 patients, 58.63% were found to have abnormal CCTA findings. A older age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, cerebral infarction, CAD, and myocardial infarction were associated with an significantly increased incidence of coronary plaques (P<0.01). The Framingham score, LDL, HCY, IMT, HDL and TC were also significantly correlated with the severity of the coronary plaques (P<0.05). The ROC curves showed that Framingham risk score (0.845), Cr (0.766), HCY (0.697), IMT (0.693) and HDL (0.316) had greater predictive value for the occurrence of coronary plaques (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe Framingham risk score, Cr, HCY, IMT and HDL are validated by CCTA as the major coronary risk factors and can be used for screening of CAD.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVEThis study was to clarify E-cadherin expressions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with patients' prognosis.

METHODSTissue microarrays (TMAs) containing specimens from 365 different NSCLC were constructed, covering all stages and almost all histological types of this disease. Slides were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against E-cadherin. Expression pattern of the protein was analyzed with relation to the clinicopathological. Correlations of the results with patients' overall survival were also examined.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical staining revealed that E-cadherin protein was localized mainly on membranes and the cytoplasm of NSCLC tumors cells. Reduced E-cadherin expression was evident in 32.1%. Reduced E-cadherin expression significantly correlated with lymph nodes metastasis (chi(2) = 16.430, P = 0.001), histological dedifferentiation (chi(2) = 9.243, P = 0.010) and advanced clinical stage (chi(2) = 9.421, P = 0.024). There was no significant difference in E-cadherin expression between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. E-cadherin reduced expression correlated with a poor prognosis (P < 0.0001) in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly lower survival probability for patients with reduced E-cadherin (P < 0.001), and E-cadherin was an independent prognostic factor for survival of NSCLC patients.

CONCLUSIONSIt suggests that dysfunction of E-cadherin has an important impact in the progression of lung cancer. As an independent prognostic factor, expression of E-cadherin can predict outcome of different group, together with conventional prognostic factors, and subsequently make appropriate management.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; biosynthesis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; mortality ; secondary ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

Objectives:To evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus on prognosis of coronary artery disease patients after implantation of the novel biodegradable polymer drug eluting stents. Methods:PANDA Ⅲ was a perspective, multi-center, "all-comer", randomized controlled trial. Between Dec. 2013 and Sep. 2014, 2 348 patients from 46 centers were enrolled. All the patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, among them 1 174 patients implanted with BuMA stent and 1 174 patients implanted with Excel stent. Mean age was 61.2 ±10.6, 1 658 patients (70.6%) were male, 570 (24.2%) patients presented with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 1 778 (75.7%) without DM. Patients were divided into DM and non-DM groups. Primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF), including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and ischemia driven target lesion revascularization. Secondary endpoints included stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of death, myocardial infarction and any revascularization. Results:A total of 558 (97.9%) and 1 704 (95.8%) patients completed 2-year follow-up in DM and non-DM groups. Incidence of TLF in the DM and non-DM group was 8.24% vs. 6.81%, P=0.25, and cardiac death rate was significantly higher in the DM group compared with non-DM group:2.87% vs. 1.12%, P=0.004. Incidence of MACE was similar between two group:13.98% vs. 11.38, P=0.10. Myocardial infarction and any revascularization events were numericallyhigher in the DM group compared with non-DM group, but without statistical significance:5.73% vs. 5.11%, P=0.56; 6.45% vs. 5.46%, P=0.38, respectively. Incidence of all-cause death was significantly higher in the DM group compared with non-DM group:4.30% vs. 2.46%, P=0.03. The results were similar after propensity match analysis. Multivariable analysis showed that DM and baseline SYNTAX score were independent factors for 2-year cardiac death. Conclusions:Two-year incidence of TLF is similar in coronary artery disease patients with or without DM post implantation of biodegradable polymer drug eluting stent or Excel stent, however, the rate of death especially cardiac death is significantly higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group.

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of coronary lesions and evaluate the prognosis post-percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in smokers with coronary heart disease. Methods: The data were derived from PANDA III, which was a perspective, multi-center, "all-comer", randomized controlled trial. Between Dec. 2013 and Aug. 2014, 2 348 patients from 46 centers were enrolled. Mean age was (61.2 ±10.6) years old, 1 658 patients (70.6%) were male. All the patients underwent PCI and biodegradable polymer drug eluting stents were implanted as indicated. Patients were divided into non-smoking group, quitter group and smoking-group based on the basis of smoking status at baseline. Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and repeated revascularization. Secondary endpoint were stent thrombosis and target lesion failure (TLF), including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and ischemia driven target lesion revascularization. Results: Smokers and quitters were more often males. Compared with non-smoking group and quitter group, patients in smoking group were significantly younger (P<0.0001), proportion of hypertension (P=0.0002), diabetes mellitus (P=0.0052) and previous PCI history (P<0.0001) was significantly lower. The incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the smoking group was as high as 41.3% (363/879), which was significantly higher than that of the quitter group and non-smoking group (P<0.0001). A total of 1 130 (96.7%), 286 (95.3%) and 846 (96.2%) patients in the non-smoking group, quitter group and smoking-group completed the 2-year follow-up, respectively. The results of 2-years follow-up showed that MACE rate of non-smoking group, quitter group and smoking-group was 11.23%, 13.64% and 12.21%(P=0.54), respectively. Multivariable cox regression analysis indicated that smoking status was not an independent predictor for all-cause mortality and TLF.

Objective To analyze the clinical, echocardiographic features and therapy efficacy of patients with ruptured mitral chordae tendineae. Methods Clinical data, echocardiographic and pathological results from 292 hospitalized patients with ruptured mitral chordae tendineac were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 99 cases (33.9%) with rupture of anterior leaflet and 180 cases (61.6%) with rupture of posterior leaflet, 13 cases (4.5%) with both anterior and posterior leaflet ruptures. Partial rupture of mitral chordae tendineae was found in 266 cases (91.1%) and total rupture in 26 cases (8.9%). Two hundred and fourteen cases (73.3%) were primary chordal rupture and 78 (26.7%) were secondary chordal rupture (P<0.05). Primary chordal rupture was mostly due to mucus degeneration of the mitral valve, mostly presented as posterior leaflet rupture in aged male patients. Secondary chordal rupture was mostly caused by infective endocarditis, coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease and rheumatic heart diseases. Patients with secondary chordal rupture cases were significantly younger than patients with primary chordal rupture and there were significantly more anterior leaflet rupture than posterior leaflet rupture. One hundred and thirty patients received mitral valve reconstruction operation and another 110 underwent mitral valve replacement therapy and discharged complication free. The remaining 52 cases received medication therapy and discharged with improved symptoms (12 with mild chordal rupture without operation indication, 17 cases contraindicated to operative therapy, 7 cases transferred to other hospitals and 16 patients refused operation therapy). Conclusions The incidence of posterior leaflet rapture is higher than that of anterior leaflet rapture. Rupture of both anterior and posterior leaflet is rare and there are more primary chordal ruptures than secondary chordal ruptures based on our patient cohort. Mitral valve reconstruction operation and mitral valve replacement therapy are effective operative therapy options for the treatment of mitral chordal raptures in indicated patients.

Objective: To analyze the change trends in the body shape indicators and proportions of students in Harbin from 2010 to 2024, and to investigate ergonomic compatibility of functional dimensions of school desks and chairs with current student shape indicators, so as to provide a reference for revising furniture standards of desks and chairs. Methods: Between September and November of both 2010 and 2024, a combination of convenience sampling and stratified cluster random sampling was conducted across three districts in Harbin, yielding samples of 6 590 and 6 252 students, respectively. Anthropometric shape indicators cluding height, sitting height, crus length, and thigh length-and their proportional changes were compared over the 15-year period. The 2024 data were compared with current standard functional dimensions of school furniture. The statistical analysis incorporated t-test and Mann-Whitney U- test. Results: From 2010 to 2024, average height increased by 1.8 cm for boys and 1.5 cm for girls; sitting height increased by 1.5 cm for both genders; crus length increased by 0.3 cm for boys and 0.4 cm for girls; and thigh length increased by 0.5 cm for both genders. The ratios of sitting height to height, and sitting height to leg length increased by less than 0.1 . The difference between desk chair height and 1/3 sitting height ranged from 0.4-0.8 cm. Among students matched with size 0 desks and chairs, 22.0% had a desk to chair height difference less than 0, indicating that the desk to chair height difference might be insufficient for taller students. The differences between seat height and fibular height ranged from -1.4 to 1.1 cm; and the differences between seat depth and buttock popliteal length ranged from -9.8 to 3.4 cm. Among obese students, the differences between seat width and 1/2 hip circumference ranged from -20.5 to -8.7 cm, while it ranged from -12.2 to -3.8 cm among non obese students. Conclusion Current furniture standards basically satisfy hygienic requirements; however, in the case of exceptionally tall and obese students, ergonomic accommodations such as adaptive seating allocation or personalized adjustments are recommended to meet hygienic requirements.

Objectives: To explore the clinical experience for a bridge therapy of percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) in treating the patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Methods: A total of 37 patients with severe AS who were not suitable for surgical valvular replacement received PBAV in our hospital from 2011-03 to 2017-03 were retrospectively studied. The patient's mean age was (74±12) years, their clinical and anatomical features, efficacy and safety of operation were observed and the outcomes were evaluated by follow-up study. Results: Patients presented the high surgical risk and worse cardiac function, 50% of them had bicuspid leaflet morphology with severe calcification [HU850=(856.0±658.2) mm3]. Balloon size was chosen by the intra-operative supra-annular diameters; at 7 days after operation, aortic valve orifice area (AVOA) was increased from (0.37±0.10) cm2to (0.87±1.10) cm2, the mean trans-aortic valve gradient pressure decreased form (55.1±22.9) mmHg to (44.8±17.8) mmHg, P<0.001 and LVEF elevated form(35.8±14.3)% to(41.0±12.2)%,P<0.001.There were 4 patients died in hospital,1 received permanent pacemaker and 1 developed severe aortic valve regurgitation. The patients were followed-up for (16.5±11.1)months after operation, 13/37 (35.1%) patients were in transition to surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Conclusions: PBAV may have good early clinical efficacy in severe AS patients who were not suitable for surgical valvular replacement and TAVR; PBAV could be expected to become a bridge therapy, smaller supra-annular diameter was safe and effective for patients having bicuspid leaflet with severe calcification.