Objective To investigate the clinical features of young female patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who were referred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Methods A total of 24 consecutive AMI female patients (age≤44 years) who underwent coronary angiography were retrospectively retrieved from the database, and 70 AMI patients whose age ≥ 65 years and who also underwent coronary angiography were enrolled as a control (elderly) group. Clinical features were compared between the two groups. Results Of the 24 young female AMI patients, MI from non-atherosclerosis was identiifed in 9 patients (non-ATS group). Compared to the remaining 15 young female AMI patients (ATS-group), non-ATS group was younger (P<0.05), with lower BMI (P<0.05) and less traditional risk factors of coronary heart disease (P<0.05). Coronary angiography showed more normal artery (P<0.05) and lesions on left main (P<0.05). However, when compared to the elderly group, the young female ATS-group was associated with less hypertension (P<0.01), smoking (P<0.05), traditional risk factors (P<0.01) and lower level of blood pressure (P<0.05), fasting glucose (P<0.05), serum creatine (P<0.01), TC (P<0.05), and LDL-C (P<0.01) at admission. Coronary angiography showed single vessel disease was the most common lesion. Conclusions Acute myocardial infarction in young female might be caused by non-atherosclerosis. Those due to atherosclerosis differ in coronary risk factors and angiographic features from the elderly female AMI patients.

Objective To establish a model for the calculation of biologically effective dose (BED) and EQD2 (Equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions) in radioactive seed implantation brachytherapy.Methods The BED formula for EBRT(external beam radiotherapy) and for continuous low dose-rate irradiation established under the L-Q model were introduced.The EDQ2 formula for the continuous low dose-rate irradiation (radioactive seed implantation) was established according to the definition of EQD2 and the formula of BED.The α/β values of common tissues and the Tr 1/2 values reported in the literature were summarized.The EDQ2 formula were further simplified by using the actual values.The empirical formula of EDQ2 for early reaction tissues and late reaction tissues were proposed,named as Wang-Peng empirical formula.EDQ2≈ (10/12) D (Wang-Peng Formula 1) was fit for early response tissue,and EDQ2≈ D/2 (Wang-Peng Formula 2) for late reaction tissues.Further examples on the clinical applications of the proposed formula were given,including primary lung cancer,supraclavicular lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer and celic lymph node metastasis of cervical carcinoma.Results According to the Wang-Peng empirical formula,the EDQ2 of the late reaction tissue adjacent to the tumor was only about half that of the tumor tissue,so the radioactive seed implantation brachytherapy naturally protected the late reaction tissue by the biological equivalent dose.The actual calculation,showed that the empirical formula of early reaction tissue was more accurate,but the empirical formula of late reaction orgtissue was less inaccurate and could only be roughly estimated.Conclusions The BED calculation formula introduced here and the set of EQD2 calculation formula and Wang-Peng empirical formula established here were theoretically feasible and could be used for the conversion and superposition between the physical dose of radioactive seed implantation brachytherapy and the external irradiation dose.But it should be careful to apply the formula,pay attention to the default conditions,and carefully interpret the calculated results.

Objective To investigate the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) on apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes in mice with viral myocarditis.Methods Three hundreds and twenty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 8 groups.Different courses of IVIG were given in varying time after virus inoculation,Chinese medicine Huangqi given in control group.The virus titer in myocardium、percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes were detected, myocardial histopathologic scores were counted.Results In every IVIG treatment group,the above 3 items were all significantly lower than that in virus control group and Huangqi group,as IVIG early long course group had the best effect.Conclusion IVIG may reduce the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes and virus titer in myocardium in mice with viral myocarditis,the effects are better than that of Huangqi.

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in synovium of rats with adjuvant arthritis and the relationship between the histopathologic score and the expression of VEGF.Methods Adjuvant arthritis was established in Wistar rats by inoculating complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA). We calculated the arthropathologic score and the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein at different stages after CFA inoculation.Results In model group the arthropathologic score and expression of VEGF protein in synovium increased significantly all the time (P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the benzene exposure level and cytopenia among the benzene exposed workers in Shanghai, China and to analyze the influential factors for the health of benzene-exposed workers.

METHODSA total of 3314 benzene-exposed workers, who were from 85 benzene-related enterprises selected by stratified random sampling based on enterprise sizes and industries, were included in the study. The time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of benzene in each workshop was measured by individual sampling and fixed point sampling, and the benzene exposure level in workshop was evaluated accordingly. The occupational health examination results and health status of benzene-exposed workers were collected.

RESULTSThe median of TW A concentrations of benzene was 0.3 mg/m3. The TWA concentrations measured at 7 ( 1.4%) of the 504 sampling points were above the safety limit. Of the 7 points, 3 were from large enterprises, 2 from medium enterprises, and 2 from small enterprises; 3 were from shipbuilding industry, 1 from chemical industry, and 3 from light industry. Of the 3314 benzene-exposed workers, 451 ( 13.6%) had cytopenia, including 339 males ( 339/2548, 13.3%) and 112 females ( 112/766, 14.6% ). There were significant differences in the incidence rates of leukopenia and neutropenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different sexes and ages (P<0.05); there were significant differences in the incidence rate of cytopenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different ages and working years ( P<0.05 ); there were significant differences in the incidence of neutropenia among the benzene exposed workers of different working years ( P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMonitoring and intervention measures should be enhanced to protect the benzene-exposed workers in the large enterprises in shipbuilding industry and medium and private enterprises in chemical industry from occupational hazards.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Benzene ; toxicity ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Pancytopenia ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Atrioventricular Block ; etiology ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Hematologic Diseases ; etiology ; Hemolysis ; Humans

Cardiac Catheterization ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Humans ; Prosthesis Implantation ; instrumentation ; Septal Occluder Device

Objective To investigate the effect of growth differentiation factor 15 ( GDF15 ) downregulation on cell proliferation of human glioblastoma U 87MG cells.Methods Human glioblastoma U87MG cells with stable GDF15 downregulation was used as shGDF 15 group.U87MG cells with scramble knockdown was used as scramble group . Protein expression levels of GDF 15 were determined by Western blot analysis .Growth curve and BrdU incorporation assays were used to observe cell proliferation .Protein expression levels of ERK 1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were determined by western blot analysis .CCK-8 assays were used to observe cell proliferation .Results Compared with scramble cells, GDF15 downregulation significantly promoted cell proliferation ( P<0.05 ) , increased DNA synthesis in S phage ( P<0.01 ) , enhanced activity of ERK pathway and cell tolerance to VM-26 ( P<0.05 ) .Moreover , ERK pathway inhibitor rescued the increased cell proliferation with GDF15 downregulation.Conclusions GDF15decrease DNA synthesis in S phage and cell proliferation of human glioblastoma U 87MG cells through inhibiting ERK pathway .GDF15 is a potential target of chemotherapy sensitivity in glioblastoma clinical treatment .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted for 62 small HCC cases undergoing RFA with or without TACE, and in each case, the tumors were not more than 3 with a diameter below 5 cm. Nineteen cases were managed with RFA alone (RFA group) while the other 27 underwent RFA combined with TACE (TACE+RFA group). Percutaneous RFA (RITA 1500) procedure was performed under CT guidance 1-3 weeks after TACE in TACE+RFA group.

RESULTSThe complete tumor necrosis rate was 77.8% (21/27) in TACE+RFA group, significantly higher than that in RFA group [57.9% (11/19), P<0.01], and the former group had a significantly lower local recurrence rate than the latter [22.2% (6/27) vs 42.1% (8/19), P<0.01]. Postoperative fever, local pain and temporary hepatic function abnormality were the common complications that were relieved after proper interventions, and mortality did not occur in these cases.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of TACE and RFA significantly increases the complete tumor necrosis rate and decreases the recurrence rate of small HCC. CT-guided percutaneous RFA can be a safe and effective therapy for small HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical characteristics among premenopausal women with coronary arterial disease (CAD) with or without atherosclerosis (AS) and postmenopausal women with CAD.

METHODSThe clinical and coronary angiographic data, traditional risk factors (age, smoking, blood pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose, BMI, family history) were compared among premenopause (Pre-M, n=42) and post-menopause (Post-M, n=172) women with CAD as well as Pre-M patients with non-AS CAD (non-AS CAD, n=8).

RESULTSCompared with the Post-M patients with CAD, Pre-M CAD patients had significantly fewer traditional risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, significantly more acute coronary syndrome and fewer previous history of chest pain, significantly more single vessel lesion and lower Gessini score (all P < 0. 01). The logistic regression results showed that obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of CAD in premenopausal women (OR = 3. 655, 95% CI: 1. 5-11.59, P = 0.028). Hypertension (OR = 4.73, 95% CI: 0.991-22.589, P = 0.051) and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 4.68, 95% CI: 0.971-22.564, P = 0.055) might also contribute to the development of CAD in these patients. Clinical characteristics were similar between Pre-M and non-AS CAD patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPre-M CAD patients had less traditional risk factors and lower coronary lesion score compared to post-M CAD patients. Obesity is an independent risk factor for Pre-M CAD. Non-AS coronary artery disease is also an important reason for the development of coronary arterial events in premenopausal women.

Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Premenopause ; Risk Factors