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*

OBJECTIVEInflammatory reaction and injury in immature lungs are associated with activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) to trigger proinflammatory cytokine release, but the mechanism thereof is not fully understood. The present study was conducted to understand possible relationship between expression of NF-kappaB and its inhibitor and severity and outcome of neonates with hyaline membrane disease (HMD).

METHODSSerial samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained during mechanical ventilation from 31 preterm infants with HMD. These infants were divided into two groups: survivors group [n = 22, birth weight (1500 +/- 320) g and gestational age (31.2 +/- 1.8) weeks] and nonsurvivors group [birth weight (1340 +/- 280) g, gestational age (30.8 +/- 2.1) weeks]. Nineteen preterm infants [birth weight (1470 +/- 280) g, gestational age (30.6 +/- 1.9) weeks] without respiratory disorders were enrolled as control subjects. Alveolar macrophages (AM) were isolated by differential adherence. AM was cultured and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 1 hr. Then, nuclear extracts of AM were analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) for NF-kappaB expression. NF-kappaB inhibitor (IkappaB-alpha protein) in cytoplasmic extracts was detected by using Western blotting and IL-1beta and IL-8 in BALF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSNF-kappaB complexes were observed by EMSA, they were characterized by competition with cold oligonucleotide and p65-specific antibodies. The addition of an excess of cold oligonucleotide, corresponding to the NF-kappaB binding site, turned off the signal of the band, showing that the band was specific. An excess of an irrelevant oligonucleotide (corresponding to the SP-1) did not show any effect. The addition of an anti-p65 antibody caused the supershift of the two upper bands. After EMSA, the NF-kappaB complexes were quantified by using a ImageQuant software. NF-kappaB expression in AM at 24 hrs was higher in all the patients with HMD as compared with control subjects (survives/control, 34.1 vs 11.4 RDU, P < 0.01; nonsurvivors/control, 55.2 vs 11.4 RDU, P < 0.01). The NF-kappaB expression in AM at 72 hrs was higher than that in control subjects but not for nonsurvivors (survivors/control, 47.8 vs 25.6 RDU, P < 0.01; nonsurvivors/control, 21.8 vs 25.6, P > 0.05). The NF-kappaB expression in AM from nonsurvivors was depressed at 72 hrs as compared to 24 hrs (21.8 vs 55.2, P < 0.01), whereas the NF-kappaB expression in AM from survivors was still higher at 72 hrs than that at 24 hrs (47.8 vs 34.1, t = 4.43, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAltered NF-kappaB activation in AM of BALF of neonates with HMD was observed, and it may be mediated by decreased IkappaB synthesis, increased IkappaB degradation, or both. In HMD nonsurvivors NF-kappaB translocation was hampered upon LPS activation.

Birth Weight ; Blotting, Western ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; immunology ; therapy ; I-kappa B Proteins ; immunology ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; immunology ; Interleukin-1beta ; immunology ; Interleukin-8 ; immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Respiration, Artificial ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors

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

OBJECTIVENeonatal septicemia is a critical disease in neonatal period. Its incidence among live births is between 1 per thousand and 8 per thousand. Mortality of neonatal septicemia may be as high as 50% for infants who are not treated. The early signs of septicemia in the newborn are generally nonspecific. Blood culture and the other clinical diagnostic measures are not sufficiently sensitive. The present study aimed at evaluating potential use of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in diagnosis of septicemia.

METHODSThe experimental group consisted of 50 newborns with septicemia who were treated in Hebei Provincial Children's Hospital from April 1, 2002 to December 30, 2002. Thirty of the 50 cases had positive blood culture. The control group included 35 healthy newborns. Fasting blood samples were taken for bacterial cultures and sICAM-1, CRP, PCT determination. PCT and CRP contents were determined immediately after the specimens were collected. Analyses of sICAM-1 were done after inclusion of the last patient. Serum was separated from each specimen and stored at -20 degrees C within 2 hours. The analyses of sICAM-1 were performed by ELISA technique. CRP was analyzed by immunoturbidimetry assay (ITA). Immunochromatographic test was performed for detection of PCT from 200 ul serum. SPSS 10.0 was used to process the data. P values < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple comparison, chi-square test, paired-samples T test, linear correlation, Spearman correlation analysis, ROC curve were used for statistical analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, Youden's index for sICAM-1, PCT, CRP and WBC count were calculated. These values were compared with each other.

RESULTS(1) The content of sICAM-1 in control group varied widely from 79 to 1252 ng/ml. Comparison of the data indicated that there was significant difference among the three groups in the content of sICAM-1, CRP and PCT (P < 0.05), but not in WBC count. These markers are considered positive if sICAM-1 >or= 300 ng/ml, CRP >or= 8 mg/l, PCT >or= 2 ng/ml. Their sensitivity was higher than WBC (P < 0.05). Among these indices, PCT has the highest specificity (94.3%), positive predictive (95.6%), negative predictive (82.5%), accuracy (89.4%), and Youden's index (80.3%). (2) No significant difference was found in sICAM-1 between pre- and post-treatment (P > 0.05); however, there was significant difference in CRP and PCT. (3) sICAM-1 was in direct proportion to CRP (r = 0.339,P < 0.01). PCT is correlated with sICAM-1, CRP (the spearman correlation coefficient 0.569, 0.482, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDifferent individual is in different immune status; The level of sICAM-1 is related with neonatal septicemia. sICAM-1 concentration may be used as a diagnostic tool with high sensitivity (85%) and moderate specificity (54.3%) in neonates suspected of infection. The sensitivity and specificity of CRP (>or= 8 mg/l) were accordingly 87.5% and 54.3%. WBC count had low sensitivity for diagnosis (30.0%); Among these indices, PCT had the highest specificity (94.3%), positive predictive (95.6%), negative predictive (82.5%) Values, accuracy (89.4%), Youden's index (80.3%); No correlation was found between sICAM-1 concentration and their ages in day accordingly. CRP, PCT may be used to estimate the effect of therapy. The correlation of the infectious indices indicates that the body may mobilize many organs at the same time to resist the invasion of organism.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Sepsis ; blood ; diagnosis