OBJECTIVETo review the recent progress of multilayer stents in treating arterial aneurysms and to draw an initial conclusion about its paradigm.

DATA SOURCESPubMed database and ELSEVIER database were searched with the keywords "cardiatis" or "multilayer stent" for relevant articles from January 2008 to September 2012. Relevant websites (provided by Cardiatis) were also involved in the review process.

STUDY SELECTIONWell-controlled, relatively large-scale, retrospective studies as well as meaningful individual cases were all selected as materials.

RESULTSA total of 23 articles were involved in this review. The newly introduced Cardiatis multilayer stent aims at creating an active flow-modulating barrier between normal blood flow and aneurismal sac, which can induce thrombosis within aneurismal sac and preserve collateral circulation at the same time. Currently, it has been applied for complicated aneurysms located in different segments of the arterial system.

CONCLUSIONThis new concept of multilayer uncovered stent offers a promising alterative in the treatment of arterial aneurysms. However, a further large-scale clinical and hemodynamic study is required to evaluate the long-term effects.

Aneurysm ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Databases, Factual ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the method and effectiveness of rigid-bronchoscopic cryosurgery for advanced central lung cancer.

METHODSForty-eight patients were enrolled in this study from June 2002 to December 2008, including 33 male and 15 female. The average age was 70 years (ranged from 45 to 83 years old). For the 48 patients, 38 cases were patients with advanced central lung cancer who were not suitable for surgery, and the remaining 10 cases were patients with local recurrence in trachea or main bronchus postoperatively. Cryosurgery was performed 120 times for all patients, 2.5 times per patient on average. The trachea or bronchus station, symptom such as dyspnea, hemoptysis, respiratory function and quality of life were observed.

RESULTSThe unblocked ratio of trachea and bronchi was 97%. All patients got satisfied improvement ratio of symptoms, 87.5% for dyspnea, 72.9% for cough, 93.8% for hemoptysis and 62.5% for chest pain. Respiratory function tests showed that both the mean forced expiratory volume in first second and forced vital capacity got an improvement from (1.03+/-0.05) L to (1.85+/-0.13) L and from (1.69+/-0.18) L to (2.96+/-0.14) L respectively (P<0.01). Karnofsky score also got no less than 20 scores improvement. The Follow-up time was 6 to 62 months. The longest survival was 62 months. The median survival time was 20 months. There was no severe perioperative complications and mortality except for 3 cases of moderate exeduation.

CONCLUSIONSCryosurgery is easy to perform with minimal complications. Not only could it provide an effective and rapid control of symptoms caused by central lung cancer, it could also unobstructed bronchus promptly and improve patients' quality of life.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bronchoscopy ; Cryosurgery ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDAndrographolide has been shown to have anticancer activity on diverse cancer cell lines representing different types of human cancers. The aim of this research was to investigate the anticancer and apoptotic effects of andrographolide on the BGC-823 human gastric cancer cell line.

METHODSCell proliferation and IC50 were evaluated using MTT assay, cell-cycle analysis with flow cytometry apoptotic effects with Annexin-V/propidium iodide double-staining assay, and morphologic structure with transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription PCR was used to analyze Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 expressions.

RESULTSAndrographolide showed a time- and concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on BGC-823 cell growth. Compared to controls, the number of cells in the G0-G1-phase increased significantly, S and G2-M-phase cells decreased after 48 hours of treatment with andrographolide, and both early and late apoptotic rates increased significantly compared to the controls, all in a concentration-dependent manner. Bax and caspase-3 expressions were markedly increased, and Bcl-2 expression was decreased.

CONCLUSIONSAndrographolide inhibits BGC-823 cell growth and induces BGC-823 cell apoptosis by up-regulating Bax and caspase-3 expressions and down-regulating Bcl-2 expression. Andrographolide may be useful as a potent and selective agent in the treatment of human gastric cancers.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the procedural and in-hospital outcomes in a large series of diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to evaluate the influence of diabetes mellitus on the procedural and in-hospital outcomes.

METHODS1294 consecutive patients underwent selective PCI from January to December 2002 in this institution were analyzed retrospectively. Baseline clinical, in-lab and in-hospital outcome information were recorded. Rates of procedural success, device success and clinical success were analyzed and logistic regression was performed to model the association between diabetes status and outcomes.

RESULTSTwo hundred and sixty-nine patients (20.8%) complicated with diabetes. Type C lesion, double and triple vessel diseases were more prevalent in diabetics than those in non-diabetics. The pre-PCI diameter stenosis of diabetics was significantly more severe than that of non-diabetics (91.00 +/- 6.62 vs 89.81 +/- 6.64, P < 0.01). The balloon length, maximum balloon diameter and maximum balloon inflation pressure, maximum inflation duration were larger in diabetics than those in non-diabetics [(17.07 +/- 6.31) mm vs (16.07 +/- 7.28) mm, (2.30 +/- 1.11) mm vs (2.12 +/- 0.94) mm, (9.86 +/- 4.40) atm vs (9.05 +/- 4.75) atm, (20.94 +/- 14.69) s vs (18.26 +/- 14.65) s, respectively, P < 0.05]. The stent diameter was smaller in diabetics than that in non-diabetics [(3.15 +/- 0.47) mm vs (3.23 +/- 0.43) mm, P < 0.05]. The procedural success rate showed no significant difference between two groups (89.6% vs 90.3%, P > 0.05). But a higher incidence of acute/subacute stent thrombosis was observed in diabetics compared with that in non-diabetics (1.9% vs 0.5%, P < 0.05). The rate of clinical success was similar between diabetics and non-diabetics (99.3% vs 99.2%, P > 0.05). Diabetes was not an independent predictor of acute outcomes in the regression model.

CONCLUSIONSA higher incidence of acute/subacute stent thrombosis was observed in diabetics. The incidence of procedural and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events and the rate of clinical success were similar between diabetics and non-diabetics. Diabetes was not an independent predictor of in-hospital outcomes after selective PCI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Stenosis ; complications ; therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Diabetes Complications ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes in young (< / = 45 years) female and male coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSAngiographic and clinical data from 124 premenopausal female patients who underwent elective PCI from April 2004 to February 2008 were compared to age-matched 430 male patients who underwent elective PCI between 2006 and 2007 in our department. All patients were treated according to guidelines and coronary angiography was repeated after 6 months. One year clinical follow-up were performed in all patients.

RESULTSIncidences of dyslipidemia, the history of myocardial infarction and smoking were significantly lower in female patients than in male patients (all P < 0.01). Left main, left anterior descending and bifurcation lesions were more common while type C lesion and right coronary lesion were less common in young female CAD group compared to young male CAD group (P < 0.01-0.05). The average lesion length in female patients was significantly longer than that in male patients [(20.36 +/- 13.37) mm vs. (23.04 +/- 13.86) mm, P < 0.05]. The in-hospital and follow-up incidences of major adverse cardiac events, stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis were similar between young female and male CAD patients.

CONCLUSIONSCAD risk factors were less and vessel lesions were more likely to be found at left main, left anterior descending and bifurcation in young female CAD patients compared to young male CAD patients. The clinical outcomes were similar between young female and male CAD patients.

Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 681G > A polymorphism on long-term prognosis of clopidogrel-treated Chinese patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSBetween January 1, 2009 and August 31,2009, 267 patients with coronary heart disease who received PCI and treated with clopidogrel for 12 months were enrolled. CYP2C19 * 2 was detected by MALDI-TOF MS and patients were grouped into CYP2C19 * 1/ * 1 (n = 130) and CYP2C19 * 2 carriers group (n = 137). Follow-up was 12 months. The primary endpoint was angina recurrence, urgent coronary revascularization, acute myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, death and the combined end points.

RESULTSBaseline data were similar between two groups (P > 0.05). Urgent coronary revascularization and the combined end points occurred more frequently in CYP2C19 * 2 carriers than in CYP2C19 * 1/* 1 patients (7.3% vs. 1.5% and 8.0% vs. 2.3% respectively, all P < 0.05). But incidence of angina recurrence, acute myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis and death was similar between two groups (all P > 0.05). Hazard risk of 1 year cumulative survival of CYP2C19 * 2 carriers group was significantly higher than CYP2C19 * 1/ * 1 group after PCI ( HR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.02 - 12.87, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCYP2C19 681G > A polymorphism is a determinant of prognosis in coronary heart disease patients receiving chronic clopidogrel treatment after PCI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; genetics ; Coronary Disease ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prognosis ; Ticlopidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

In this study, five polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum(LBPs)(LBP-1-LBP-5) were selectively extracted by different extraction methods, and the chemical composition, structural characteristics, and biological activities of LBPs were explored. The results of chemical composition analysis showed that alkaloids were not detected in the five LBPs. The total polysaccharide content was(81.95%±1.6%)-(92.96%±0.76%), the uronic acid content was(8.26%±0.46%)-(24.81%±0.46%), and the protein content was(0.06%±0.03%)-(1.35%±0.13%). The monosaccharide compositions of the five LBPs were basically same, mainly including glucose, xylose, and galactose. However, there was significant difference in the content ratio of different monosaccharide. The results of infrared spectra analysis indicated that the five LBPs had typical infrared spectral characteristics of polysaccharides. The results of nuclear magnetic resonance characteristic spectrum analysis revealed that the five LBPs had two configurations of α and β. Meanwhile, there were triple helix structures in LBP-2, LBP-3, and LBP-4, which enhanced the activities of polysaccharides. The results of activities screening suggested that the biological activities of the five LBPs were significantly different. LBP-3 showed the highest lipid oxidation clearance rate, and its antioxidant activity was equivalent to that of the positive control group. The inhibitory rate of LBP-4 on α-amylase and its activation rate of alcohol dehydrogenase were better than those of other fractions, and the inhibitory rate of LBP-4 on α-amylase was slightly higher than that of the positive control group when the mass concentration was 10 g·L~(-1). LBP-2 showed stronger inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and hyaluronidase. This study provides references for the precise development and utilization of LBPs.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Lycium/chemistry* ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Polysaccharides/chemistry* ; Monosaccharides