Objective To assess the left ventricular dyssynchrony in coronary artery disease(CAD) without visual segmental wall motion abnormalities using strain delay index (SDI).Methods A total of 135 patients under suspicion of CAD were recruited in this study.Two-dimensional cchocardiography was performed to collect dynamic images of left ventricular apical long axis views,tow-chamber views,four chamber views and parasternal short axis mitral views,papillary views and apical views.The time to minimal systolic longitudinal,radial,circumferential strain (Tssl,Tssr and Tssc) were measured from the start point of QRS wave in electrocardiogram.The left ventricular segmental standard deviation (Tssl-SD,Tssr-SD,Tssc-SD),maximal difference (Tssl-Dif,Tssr-Dif,Tssc-Dif) and longitudinal,radial,circumferential SDI (LSDI,RSDI,CSDI) of 18 left ventricular segments were calculated.Results According to coronary angiography results,patients were divided into three groups:severe stenosis group,mild stenosis group and control group.Compared with the other two groups,SDI and Tssl-SD,Tssl-Dif were decreased in severe stenosis group (P ＜0.001 or P ＜0.05).However,there were not significant differences between the mild stenosis group and the control group except Tssr-SD.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis demonstrated that LSDI had the highest accuracy and Tssl-SD had the lowest accuracy for detecting severe CAD (areas under the curve were 0.891,0.797,0.666,0.580 and 0.556 respectively).High sensitivity and specificity (80.6％ and 86.7％,respectively) were shown when using-12.67％ as a cutoff point of LSDI to diagnose severe CAD.Conclusions SDI can be helpful for assessing the left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients without visual segmental wall motion abnormalities,and LSDI is the most effective parameter to detecting severe CAD.

AIM:To discuss the application value of retro-mode imaging by F-10 confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO) for detecting drusen in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).METHODS:This was a retrospective case study.During the period of October 2015 to December 2016, 67 patients with unilateral AMD (67 affected eyes and 67 fellow eyes) were included in this study.All patients underwent color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retro-mode imaging by F-10 cSLO.The features of drusen by color fundus photography, OCT and retro-mode imaging were comparatively observed in the affected eyes of patients with unilateral AMD.Positive numbers of drusen in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral AMD detected by color fundus photography, OCT and retro-mode imaging were calculated and compared.RESULTS:Retro-mode imaging by F-10 cSLO gave easier to identify images of drusen than color fundus photography and OCT in the affected eyes of patients with unilateral AMD.In the fellow eyes of 67 patients with unilateral AMD, retro-mode imaging showed drusen in 56 cases(84%), color funds photography showed drusen in 36 cases(54%), OCT showed drusen in 48 cases(72%), the difference was statistically significant(χ2=14.31, P<0.05).The positive numbers of drusen detected by retro-mode imaging were significantly higher than color fundus photography, the difference was statistically significant(χ2=13.87, P′<0.0125).There was no statistically significant difference in the positive numbers of drusen detected by retro-mode imaging and OCT(χ2=2.75, P′>0.0125).CONCLUSION:Retro-mode imaging by F-10 cSLO provides a non-invasive technique and should be useful for detecting and monitoring drusen in AMD.

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) expression in the autologous vein grafts and vein graft atherosclerotic lesions.

METHODSThirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to normal control group (rabbits fed with normal diet, n = 10), vein graft group (autologous external jugular vein grafting to common carotid artery and fed with normal diet, n = 10) or vein graft plus high-lipid diet group (autologous vein graft and fed with high-lipid diet, n = 10) for 12 weeks. LOX-1 expressions in the grafts were examined by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The relationships between serum total cholesterol level, intimal thickness and LOX-1 expression were also investigated.

RESULTSLOX-1 expression was low in the endothelium of external jugular veins in the normal control group and significantly increased in the endothelium and neointima of vein grafts in the vein graft group (0.31 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.09 +/- 0.04, P < 0.01) and which was further increased in the endothelium and atherosclerotic lesions in the vein graft plus high-lipid diet group (0.93 +/- 0.34 vs. 0.31 +/- 0.14, P < 0.01). LOX-1 expression in the atherosclerotic lesions was located both in endothelial cells and foam cells and the expression was most prominent in endothelial cells. LOX-1 expression and intimal thickness were positively related to serum total cholesterol level (P = 0.00 and 0.02) and the partial correlation coefficient was 0.78 and 0.42, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSLOX-1 expression is increased in endothelium and neointima of autologous vein grafts of rabbits. Hypercholesterolemia upregulates LOX-1 expression in vein graft atherosclerosis. Thus, LOX-1 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of vein graft atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Graft Occlusion, Vascular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Rabbits ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; metabolism ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Veins ; transplantation

PURPOSE: To develop a simple and reliable rat model of in situ reversible obstructive jaundice with low morbidity and mortality rates. METHODS: Rats were divided into 4 groups with 8 rats each: the sham-operated (SH) group only underwent laparotomy, the control internal drainage (ID-C) group underwent choledochoduodenostomy, the new internal drainage (ID-N) group and the long-term internal drainage (ID-L) group underwent choledochocholedochostomy. Common bile duct ligation was performed in all the drainage groups 7 days before reversal procedures. All rats were sacrificed for samples 7 days after the last operation except rats of the ID-L group that survived 28 days before sacrifice. Body weight, liver function, histopathological changes, morbidity and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: One rat died and 2 rats had complications with tube blockage in the ID-C group. No death or complications occurred in the ID-N and ID-L groups. The drainage tube remained patent in the long-term observation ID-L group. Body weight showed no significant difference between the ID-C and ID-N groups after 7 days drainage. Liver function was not fully recovered in the ID-C and ID-N groups after 7 days drainage, but statistical differences were only observed in the ID-C group compared with the SH and ID-L groups. Periportal inflammation and bile duct proliferation showed severer in the ID-C group than in the ID-N group. CONCLUSION: The present study provided an efficient, simple, and reliable rat model that is especially suitable for long-term or consecutive studies of reversible obstructive jaundice.
Animals ; Bile Ducts ; Body Weight ; Choledochostomy ; Common Bile Duct ; Drainage ; Inflammation ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Laparotomy ; Ligation ; Liver ; Models, Animal* ; Mortality ; Rats*

PURPOSE: To develop a simple and reliable rat model of in situ reversible obstructive jaundice with low morbidity and mortality rates. METHODS: Rats were divided into 4 groups with 8 rats each: the sham-operated (SH) group only underwent laparotomy, the control internal drainage (ID-C) group underwent choledochoduodenostomy, the new internal drainage (ID-N) group and the long-term internal drainage (ID-L) group underwent choledochocholedochostomy. Common bile duct ligation was performed in all the drainage groups 7 days before reversal procedures. All rats were sacrificed for samples 7 days after the last operation except rats of the ID-L group that survived 28 days before sacrifice. Body weight, liver function, histopathological changes, morbidity and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: One rat died and 2 rats had complications with tube blockage in the ID-C group. No death or complications occurred in the ID-N and ID-L groups. The drainage tube remained patent in the long-term observation ID-L group. Body weight showed no significant difference between the ID-C and ID-N groups after 7 days drainage. Liver function was not fully recovered in the ID-C and ID-N groups after 7 days drainage, but statistical differences were only observed in the ID-C group compared with the SH and ID-L groups. Periportal inflammation and bile duct proliferation showed severer in the ID-C group than in the ID-N group. CONCLUSION: The present study provided an efficient, simple, and reliable rat model that is especially suitable for long-term or consecutive studies of reversible obstructive jaundice.
Animals ; Bile Ducts ; Body Weight ; Choledochostomy ; Common Bile Duct ; Drainage ; Inflammation ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Laparotomy ; Ligation ; Liver ; Models, Animal* ; Mortality ; Rats*

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of primary HIV drug resistance in antiretroviral therapy (ART) areas of Henan province.

METHODSA total of 121 drug-naive long-term infected individuals and 154 patients with newly diagnosed from January 2011 to March 2012 were recruited, the questionnaires were surveyed and whole blood were collected to analyze the CD4(+)T cell counts and viral load. In-house method for genotypic resistance test was determined in those with viral load > 1000 copies/ml samples, the differences of demographic characteristics, immunological parameters and primary drug resistance were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSA total of 121 cases of long-term individuals who had infected (12.50 ± 3.21) years were mainly previous paid blood donors, and the age was (46.61 ± 9.32) years old. The infection route of the newly diagnosed were diversity, including blood, sexual transmission and others, the cases were 73, 73, 8, respectively, the confirmatory year was (0.91 ± 0.28) years, and average age was (22.21 ± 3.11) years old. The difference were statistically significant in the route of transmission, age and infection time from demographic analysis of the two groups (P < 0.05). The absolute M(P(25)-P(75)) counts of CD4(+)T lymphocytes of long-term group was 322 (217 - 422) cell/µl, which was lower than the newly diagnosed was 434(308 - 578) cell/µl (P < 0.05), and viral load was 4.0 (2.96 - 4.64) copies/ml, 3.77 (2.94 - 4.53) copies/ml, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The prevalence of primary drug resistance in long-term group and newly diagnosed was 5.79% (7/121), 9.09% (14/154), respectively, and the difference was statistically different (P < 0.05), and one PI-resistant strain was found in the newly diagnosed group.

CONCLUSIONThe primary drug resistant strains in untreated patients were found in Henan province of ART areas, and there was difference in degree of resistance between long-term infected individuals and newly diagnosed.

Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of circulating galactomannan (GM) screening for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of invasive aspergillosis (IA).

METHODSSerum samples from 141 IA patients for the detection of GM by Platelia Aspergillus (Bia-Rad) were collected before and after systematic anti-fungal therapy.

RESULTS(1) An increase in the clinical diagnosis rate of IA was obtained on the result of GM detection. The GM positivity appeared (10+/-4.1) (8-15) d before positive sputum culture, while (12.6+/-5.7) (6-22) d before the CT positive image. (2) Among the 62 patients with consecutive serum samples, 50 were success in treatment and 12 died. A progressive decrease of GM level was found in the former group, while the rising antigen titres were found in the latter.

CONCLUSIONCompared with other diagnostic test, GM test has an obvious advantage of higher positivity and earlier result. The anti-fungal effectiveness can be estimated by dynamic detection of serum GM.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aspergillosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mannans ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of natakalim against rat aortic vascular endothelial cells (RAVECs) injuries induced by hypoxia and its mechanisms.

METHODSSelecting RAVECs as a cell model injured by hypoxia, these RAVECs were divided into 5 groups: i.e. control group, hypoxia group, natakalim low, medium and high group. The cell survival rate was determined by MTT assay, con was measured using Griess Assay, RT-PCR was used to examine t he expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1) mRNA in RAVEC.

RESULTSNatakalim could reverse hypoxia-induced changes in endothelial cell function, including increased endothelial cell survival rate and level of NO concentration, significantly inhibited the hypoxia-induced endothelial ICAM-1, ET-1, VEGF mRNA expression levels increased.

CONCLUSIONNatakalim have protective effects on hypoxia-induced changes in endothelial cell function, increasing of permeation, excess expression of cell adhesion molecules.

Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Propylamines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular System Injuries ; metabolism

The objective of this study was to explore the useful value of circulating galactomannan (GM) for early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. All 141 patients were classified as 103 patients of clinical and possible diagnosis, and 38 non-Aspergillus patients. 209 serum samples for the detection of GM by Platelia Aspergillus were collected before anti-fungal vaccine therapy. ELISA method was used in detection of GM. The results showed that (1) the sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 81.6%, positive prediction of 66.7% and negative prediction of 93.9% were determined by using cut-off value. According to the result of ELISA, the clinical diagnosed patients was up to 48, while the possible diagnosed patients were 55. (2) Among 62 patients with consecutive examinations of serum samples, 50 patients were successfully diagnosed and treated, while 12 patients died. A progressive reduction of GM level was found in survivors, however, the patients of poor prognosis showed higher antigen titres. It is concluded that GM test has more significance for earlier diagnosis of aspergillosis, the concentration of GM is related to prognosis of disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; Aspergillus ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mannans ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult