Objective To investigate the factors related to the occurrence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods A total of 258 consecutive patients with coronary angiography confirmed ISR that occurred at least one year after coronary sirolimus-eluting stent implantation, who were encountered at the Affiliated Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University during the period from September 2010 to September 2014 , were collected as ISR group; and other 260 age-and sex-matched patients with no ISR at least one year after coronary sirolimus-eluting stent implantation, who were encountered at the same hospital and during the same period, were collected as the control group. The clinical characteristics, biochemical measurements, postoperative medications, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and coronary interventional features were determined;using multivariate logistic regression analysis the independent factors related to the occurrence of ISR were evaluated. Results Compared to the control group, in ISR group the history of previous myocardial infarction , presence of diabetes mellitus and cigarette smokers were more often seen; serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)and apoliprotein B in ISR group were significantly increased (P<0.05), while LVEF was decreased (P<0.05). Although the number of coronary lesions and the site of stent implantation were quite similar in both groups , the stents used in ISR group were smaller and longer (P<0.05), and bifurcation stenting procedure was more employed in ISR group (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the history of previous myocardial infarction, diabetes, cigarette smoking, elevated serum hs-CRP and LDL-C levels, and longer stent length were independent risk factors for the occurrence of ISR, whereas stent diameter and LVEF bore a negative correlation with ISR. Conclusion The occurrence of ISR after coronary sirolimus-eluting stent implantation is related to multiple clinical and coronary angiographic and interventional factors. Effective control of risk factors of coronary heart disease and improvement of left ventricular function play an important role in preventing ISR, especially for the patients who has small vessel disease, and in whom longer stents are employed and bifurcation stenting procedure is carried out.

Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of Livin ( anti-apoptosis protein) and Smac (promoting apoptosis factor) in patients with the non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).Methods The expression of Livin and Smac were detected by immunohistochemical staining(SP) assay in 31 patients with NHL, and the relationship between Livin/Smac and clinical staging, IPI and prognosis were analyzed. Results The patients with positive expression of Livin had B symptom, high risk IPI, late clinical staging (Ⅲ/Ⅳ stage) and short survival time, while the ones with positive expression of Smac had no B symptom, early clinical staging( Ⅰ /Ⅱ stage), low risk IPI and good prognosis. The expressions of both Livin and Smac were not related to gender and age. Expression of Livin was not correlated to that of Smac (r =0.003,P ＞0.05). Conclusion For patients with NHL, the expression of Livin protein was related to poor prognosis and adverse clinical features, whereas the expression of Smac protein was related to good prognosis and clinical feature.

To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of geniposide, genipin 1-O-beta-D-gentiobioside and geniposidic acid in rat brains and study the brain pharmacokinetics of the three iridoid glycosides in stroke rat after the oral administration of Xingnaojing. In this experiment, brain samples were precipitated with protein for twice. Acquity BEH C18 column was adopted, with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid-water as the mobile phase for gradient elution. ESI source was adopted for mass spectra; multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was conducted to detect negative ions. The time for sample analysis was 3.5 min. the results showed good linear relations among the three iridoid glycosides, with the extraction recovery between 99.6% and 114.3%, good intra- and inter-day precisions and accuracies and stability in line with the requirements. The t1/2 and MRT in the three components were similar in brains of stroke rats. Geniposide and genipin 1-O-beta-D-gentiobioside showed double peaks; where as geniposidic acid showed a single peak. In conclusion, the method is so specific, sensitive, accurate and reliable that it can be used to study the brain pharmacokinetics of Xingnaojing oral preparation.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

BACKGROUNDIncreasing evidence suggests that many neurons may die through apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in this process of neuronal cell death. One promising approach for preventing AD is based upon anti-apoptosis to decrease death of nerve cells. In this study, we observed the memory improving properties of curcumin in mice and investigated the neuroprotective effect of curcumin in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSThe mice were given AlCl(3) orally and injections of D-galactose intraperitoneally for 90 days to establish the AD animal model. From day 45, the curcumin group was treated with curcumin for 45 days. Subsequently, the step-through test, neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin on the AD model mice. In cultured PC12 cells, AlCl(3) exposure induced apoptosis. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viabilities; flow cytometric analysis to survey the rate of cell apoptosis; DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 to observe nuclei changes in apoptotic cells and Western blot analysis of Bax, Bcl-2 to investigate the mechanisms by which curcumin protects cells from toxicity.

RESULTSCurcumin significantly improved the memory ability of AD mice in the step-through test, as indicated by the reduced number of step-through errors (P < 0.05) and prolonged step-through latency (P < 0.05). Curcumin also attenuated the neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and inhibited apoptosis accompanied by an increase in Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the activity of Bax did not change (P > 0.05). AlCl(3) significantly reduced the viability of PC12 cells (P < 0.01). Curcumin increased cell viability in the presence of AlCl(3) (P < 0.01). The rate of apoptosis decreased significantly in the curcumin group (P < 0.05) when measured by flow cytometric analysis. Curcumin protected cells by increasing Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the level of Bax did not change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates that curcumin improves the memory ability of AD mice and inhibits apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells induced by AlCl(3). Its mechanism may involve enhancing the level of Bcl-2.

Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

Objective To evaluate the health-related quality of life ( HRQL) of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis ( AIS) before treatment. Methods Sixty-two female patients with AIS were evaluated using the Chinese version of Scoliosis Research Society's outcomes instrument 22 ( SRS-22) HRQL questionnaire before treatment. The patients were categorized into thFee groups: a mild deformity group with a major curve Cobb angle less than 30° ( n =14),a moderate deformity group with Cobb angles of 30° to 50° ( n =42), and a severe deformity group with Cobb angles more than 50° ( n =6). Results The severe deformity group scored lowest in the self-image domain.There was,however,no significant difference in the functional activity,pain or mental health domain scores between the three groups. Conclusions The Chinese version of the SRS-22 HRQL questionnaire can be used to assess the HRQL of Chinese AIS patients.AIS patients with a major curve Cobb angle more than 50° have relatively low self-image scores.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics

Contracture and spasticity of ankle joints were major sources of disability in neurological impairment including stroke and cerebral palsy, etc. The manual stretching used in physical therapy might be laborious and time-consuming to the therapists and the outcome was dependent on the experience and the subjectiveend feelingof the therapists. A device was developed that could safely stretch the an-kle joint to its extreme positions with quantitative control of the resistance torque and stretching velocity. Furthermore, it could satisfy a strong need for quantitative and objective measures of the impairment and rehabilitation outcome. This was just the meaning intelligent stretching referred to. This article described the origin of the concept of intelligent stretching and its definition, operational principle, and su-periority and weakness, as well as its application in ankle joint spasticity and contracture in patients with stroke and cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the levels of IGF-I in the epididymis and the expression of IGF-I in the testis of adult male rat after the administration of cyclophosphamide.

METHODSNinety-six male adult rats (8 weeks age) were divided into 6 groups. The doses given to the rats of the groups 1 to 5 were 10, 20, 40, 80 and 100 mg/(kg x d), respectively. The remaining group was served as control. All those rats were sacrificed and IGF-I were quantitatively determined by ELISA techniques 2 and 4 weeks after the administration of the drug (by gastric fudge). Immunohistochemical SP technique was used to examine expression of IGF-I in rat testis.

RESULTSThe levels of cell factors (IGF-I) in the epididymis of the rats were gradually reduced with the increasing time and dose after administration of the drug. In the mean time the expression of IGF-I in the tissues of the testis of those rats were also gradually reduced.

CONCLUSIONIn the time of oligozoospermia/azoospermia induced by the administration of cyclophosphamide, the expression levels of IGF-I in the genetic system were significantly reduced. The possible mechanism of these changes could be attributed to the lower spermatogenesis function of the testis caused by the administration of cyclophosphamide.

Animals ; Azoospermia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism

To explore the automated immunostainer screening anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusion non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and clinicopathological characteristics of the molecular subtype lung cancers. Methods Five hundred and sixty-six cases of NSCLC were collected over a 16 month period. The test for ALK was performed by Ventana automated immunostainer with anti-ALK D5F3. The histological features, treatment and outcome of patients were assessed. Results Thirty-eight cases (6.7%, 38/566) of NSCLC showed ALK gene fusion. The frequency of ALK gene fusion was higher in male (7.1%, 25/350) than that in female (6.0%, 13/216) patients, but not achieving statistical significance (chi2 = 0.270, P = 0.604). ALK + NSCLC was more significantly more frequent in patients < or = 60 years (9.9%, 28/282) than >60 years (3.5% , 10/284) of age. Histologically, the ALK + NSCLCs were mostly adenocarcinoma (81.6%, 31/38) , among which eighteen cases were solid predominant subtype with mucin production; nine cases were acinar predominant subtype; one case was papillary predominant subtype and three cases were invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. The ALK + non-adenocarcinoma included three cases of squamous cell carcinoma, three cases of adenosquamous carcinoma and one case of pleomorphic carcinoma. Among the ALK + NSCLC patients, the number of non/light cigarette smokers (86. 8% , 33/38) was more than that of heavy smokers. Twenty-nine cases were stages III and IV; twenty-nine cases showed lymph node metastasis; twenty cases showed metastases mostly to brain and bone; and one case showed EGFR gene mutation coexisting with ALK gene fusion. Twelve of fifteen patients received crizotinib therapy and remained stable. Conclusions NSCLC with ALK gene rearrangement shows distinctive clinical and histological features. Ventana-IHC may he a feasible and valid technique for detection of ALK rearrangement in NSCLC.
Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Fusion ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Pyrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Pyridines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Sex Factors