China/epidemiology* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

Objective To investigate the Wallerian degeneration of neural fiber tract in medulla and bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle following pontine infarction and to explore its impacts on neurological recovery.Methods Fourteen patients with a recent unilateral pontine infarct underwent the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and evaluations with the NIH stroke scale(NIHSS),the Fugl-Meyer motor scale(FM), ataxia rating scale(ARS)and the Barthel index(BI)at the first week(W1),the fourth(W4)and twelfth week(W12)respectively.Mean diffusivity(MD)and fractional anisotropy(FA)were measured at pons, medulla and middle cerebellar peduncle.Fourteenth age and gender matched volunteers underwent a DTI were studied as controls.Results Compared with the matched regions in controls,the FA values of infarct side medulla and bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle in patients significantly decreased at W1,W4 and W12(on the infarct side of medulla:W1:0.43?0.01;W4:0.37?0.02;W12:0.30?0.02;on the infarct side of middle cerebellar peduncle:W1:0.50?0.01;W4:0.43?0.02;W12:0.35?0.04;on the opposite side of middle cerebellar peduncle infarction:W1:0.54?0.02;W4:0.52?0.03;W12:0.47?0.04,t values are 1.92 to 28.56,P0.05 respectively).The absolute value of percent reduction of FA in infarct side medulla and bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle was correlated negatively to the absolute value of percent change of NIHSS and BI score(P

BACKGROUNDMagnetic targeting therapy may be a new method for the treatment of malignent tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the localization and distribution of ferrofluid microsphere of human serum albumin methotrexate (FM-HSA-MTX) carriers in the brain and to explore the magnetic targeting chemotherapy for malignant brain tumor.

METHODSNinety SD rats were divided into three groups: targeting group, non-magnetic targeting group, and control group. Synthesized FM-HSA-MTX carriers (MTX 25 mg/kg) were injected into the systemic circulation via the caudal vein (magnetic targeting group, n = 30). A 0.6 T magnetic field was placed around the right hemisphere. The non-magnetic targeting group (n = 30) was administered with FM-HSA-MTX without external magnetic field, meanwhile the control group (n = 30) was treated with MTX and a magnetic field. Random serial sacrifices (n = 10) were conducted at 15, 30 and 45 minutes after drug administration. Bilateral hemispheres were collected respectively, and analyzed for total MTX content.

RESULTSMTX content in the right hemisphere of the magnetic targeting group was significantly higher than that in the other two groups at 15, 30 and 45 minutes after drug administration (P < 0.05) No difference was seen between the non-targeting group and control group. In the magnetic targeting group, MTX returned to the peak level [(0.564 +/- 0.018) mg/g, q15-45 = 32.252, P < 0.05] 45 minutes after the injection but it deceased in the other two groups [non-magnetic targeting group: (0.060 +/- 0.015) mg/g, q15-45 = 9.245, P < 0.05, control group: (0.074 +/- 0.045) mg/g, q15-45 = 6.299, P < 0.05]. In the magnetic targeting group, the concentration of MTX in the right hemisphere was significantly higher than that in the left hemisphere (t45min = 21.135, P = 0.000) but no difference was observed between bilateral hemispheres in the other two groups (non-magnetic targeting group: t45min = 0.434, P = 0.670; control group: t45min = 0.533, P = 0.600).

CONCLUSIONIn the presence of the external magnetic field, FM-HSA-MTX can distribute successfully in the targeting areas of the brain.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Magnetics ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Microspheres ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum Albumin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo review the experience for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in inferior vena cava.

METHODSFrom July 2003 to May 2005, hepatectomy combined with thrombectomy were performed on 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in inferior vena cava. In order to remove the tumor thrombus in inferior vena cava, total hepatic vascular exclusion were adopted on all cases to control the blood flow of IVC. According to the position of extension of tumor thrombus, 5 different procedures were adopted in the cases to control the suprahepatic IVC and extract the tumor thrombus out of IVC and atrium. Procedure 1: Median sternotomy, extracorporeal bypass, cardiac arrest, incision on right atrium and IVC were performed on 1 case for thrombectomy. Procedure 2: Median sternotomy, extracorporeal bypass without cardiac arrest, incision on IVC and (or without) incision on right atrium were performed on 2 cases for thrombectomy. Procedure 3: Abdominal approach to control intrapericardial IVC through an incision on diaphragm was performed on 1 case for thrombectomy. Procedure 4: Abdominal approach to control suprahepatic IVC above diaphragm through a small incision made on vena cava foramen for thrombectomy was performed on 1 case. Procedure 5: Abdominal approaches to control suprahepatic IVC below diaphragm for thrombectomy were performed on 2 cases.

RESULTSAll operations were successfully performed. The postoperative complications included pleural effusion in 1 case, subphrenic fluid collection in 1 case and wound infection in 1 case. The average survival time of 7 cases was 9.8 month. The longest survival time was 26 months.

CONCLUSIONHepatectomy and thrombectomy can be safely performed on the case of HCC combined with tumor thrombus in IVC. Surgical treatment can relieve the patient from the risk of sudden death caused by heart failure and pulmonary.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; surgery ; Embolectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; pathology

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

BACKGROUNDCurrently available evidence suggests that outcomes are less favorable when left main (LM) bifurcation lesions are treated with 2-stent techniques compared with a single-stent technique. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of the 2-stent techniques for treating unprotected LM bifurcation lesions in Chinese patients.

METHODSWe enrolled 301 consecutive patients treated with drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation using 2-stent techniques for unprotected LM bifurcation lesions (MEDINA 1, 1, 1, 70.5%). The 2-stent techniques included crush technique, V stenting, T stenting, and Culottes stenting. After stenting, both vessels were redilated at a high pressure before final kissing balloon (FKB). Clinical and angiographic data were analyzed. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which included death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization.

RESULTSImmediate procedural success was obtained in all cases with a FKB success rate of 95.3%. Follow-up data were available for all patients. The overall incidence of angiographic in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate was 20.3% and most ISRs were of the focal type. During long-term follow-up (mean duration, (54 ± 22) months), the cumulative incidence of MACE was 11.0%, with 8 (2.7%) deaths, 7 (2.3%) myocardial infarctions, and 18 (6.0%) repeated lesion revascularization. MACEs in high SYNTAX score terciles were significantly higher compared with those in low and intermediate SYNTAX score terciles (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSAlthough percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with 2-stent technique for unprotected LM bifurcation lesions was accompanied with a slightly high incidence of ISR, the long-term clinical follow-up is acceptable. Technical modifications and stent innovations may further improve both the angiographic and clinical outcomes for patients with LM bifurcation disease treated by PCI.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Artery Disease ; mortality ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; epidemiology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; adverse effects ; methods ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDPatients with multivessel coronary artery disease and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) represent a high risk group of patients for coronary revascularization. There are limited data on percutaneous coronary intervention treatment in this population.

METHODSAmong a cohort of 4335 patients with three-vessel disease with or without left main disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, 191 patients had LVEF < 40% (low ejection fraction (EF)) and 4144 patients had LVEF ≥ 40%. In-hospital and long-term outcomes were examined according to LVEF.

RESULTSThe estimated two-year rates of major adverse cardiac events, cardiac death, and myocardial infarction were significantly higher in the low EF group (19.64% vs. 8.73%, Log-rank test: P < 0.01; 10.30% vs. 1.33%, Log-rank test: P < 0.01, and 10.32% vs. 2.28%, Log-rank test: P < 0.01 respectively), but there was no difference in the rates of target vessel revascularization (6.18% vs. 6.11%, Log-rank test: P = 0.96). Using the Cox proportional hazard models, LVEF < 40% was a significant risk factor for cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and major adverse cardiac events (OR (95%CI): 4.779 (2.369 - 9.637), 2.673 (1.353 - 5.282), and 1.827 (1.187 - 2.813) respectively), but was not a statistically significant risk factor for target vessel revascularization (OR (95%CI): 1.094 (0.558 - 2.147)).

CONCLUSIONAmong patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for multivessel coronary artery disease, left ventricular dysfunction remains associated with further risk of cardiac death in-hospital and during long-term follow-up.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Disease ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

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

OBJECTIVETo probe the efficacy and feasibility of the transradial approach for diagnostic coronary angiography with 5F universal catheter.

METHODSTransradial coronary angiography was performed in 3094 consecutive patients, 2396 men and 698 women, aged 30 - 81 years, mean age (56.1 +/- 9.8) years, from July 2000 to April 2004. Patients were divided into 5F improved Terumo catheter group (improved Terumo group, n = 985), 5F universal Terumo catheter group (Terumo group, n = 1024) and 5F universal Medtronic catheter group (Medtronic group, n = 1085). The procedure success rate, duration of operation and fluoroscopy between groups were compared.

RESULTSThe procedure success rate was 98.4% in improved Terumo group, 98.0% in Terumo group, and 96.0 % in Medtronic group, respectively. The success rate was higher in improved Terumo group than in Medtronic group (P < 0.05). The average duration of operation and fluoroscopy in improved Terumo group was (17.9 +/- 5.8) min and (4.8 +/- 1.8) min, in Terumo group was (18.2 +/- 5.5) min and (5.0 +/- 1.7) min, but (21.1 +/- 7.2) min and (5.2 +/- 1.9) min in Medtronic group. There were significant differences among group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Transradial coronary angiography with small diameter universal catheter is safe and easy to perform with a higher success rate and allow earlier patient ambulation, and should be strongly encouraged and recommended. (2) Option of angiographic catheter plays a key role in the safety, efficacy and quality of transradial coronary angiography. Seemingly, the improved Terumo group was excellent and shoud be popularized.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo compare the short- and long-term clinical outcomes between sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher stent) and paclitaxel-eluting stent (TAXUS stent) in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions of the coronary arteries.

METHODSFrom December 2002 to March 2005, 253 patients with ISR lesions of the coronary arteries were selected and divided into two groups. Cypher group (152 cases) was treated with Cypher or Cypher Select stents, and TAXUS group (101 cases) with TAXUS stents. A total of 262 ISR lesions in these patients were treated with 308 drug-eluting stents (DESs), including 176 Cypher or Cypher Select stents and 132 TAXUS stents. All patients were followed up for 10 months. Procedure success rates of DES implantation in both groups were observed. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rates in hospital and at 10 months follow-up, as well as in-DES restenosis observed using coronary angiography at follow-up were compared between two groups.

RESULTSSuccess rate of DES implantation was 100% in both groups. No significant difference in MACE rate during hospitalization was found between the two groups. However, at 10 months follow-up, MACE rate was higher in TAXUS group than in Cypher group (16.00% vs. 6.67% , P = 0.031). As for coronary angiography at 10 months follow-up, we observed an increasing tendency of in-DES restenosis rate in TAXUS group compared with Cypher group (29.41% vs. 14.04%, P = 0.075).

CONCLUSIONSCypher and TAXUS DESs both have good short- and long-term outcomes in treating ISR. Cypher DES proved better long-term clinical outcome than TAXUS DES.

Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; surgery ; Coronary Disease ; mortality ; surgery ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome