Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Heart Septum ; surgery ; Humans

Objective To explore the effects of different vitamin A(VA) levels on thyroid cells apoptosis and its gene expression of mice taking excessive iodine. Methods Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to body weight 3 weeks after born: normal control(NI) group, high iodine(HI) group, low vitamin (LVA) group, high iodine plus low vitamin A(HI+LVA) group, high iodine plus vitamin A1 (HI+VA1) group, high iodine plus vitamin A2(HI+VA2) group. The VA was given in food(4000,4000,0,0,8000,16 000 U/kg), and the iodine was given as potassium iodate in water (I-:50,3000,50,3000,3000,3000 μg/L). The apoptosis was tested using in situ end labehng(TUNEL) method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to measure the level of mRNA of apoptosis gene(Fas, FasL, Bcl-2) in tissues. Results Apoptotic index measured by TUNEL method was rising along with the mice age. Compared to NI group[(14.09±5.68)%], apoptotic index was significantly increased in HI[(20.91±9.57)%], HI+LVA[(20.29±9.90)%]and HI+VA2 [(19.51±8.25)%]groups in the three months(P < 0.05). Compared to NI group[(16.80±9.90)%], apoptotic index was significantly increased(P < 0.05) in HI[(23.22±8.58)%],LVA[(22.56±6.17)%],HI+LVA [(25.99±9.62)%],HI+VA1 [(21.65±7.74)%]groups in the six months. Compared with the NI group(Fas: 1.29±0.25,1.27±0.26; FasL: 1.60±0.13,1.65±0.13), the mRNA levels of Fas and FasL in HI group(Fas: 1.57±0.36,1.49±0.35; FasL: 1.85±0.46,1.84±0.32) were increased, but the differences were not remarkable(P > 0.05) in the three and six months. Compared with the HI group, the mRNA levels of Fas in HI+ VA1, HI+VA2(1.33±0.35, 1.30±0.26) groups were decreased to the level in NI group in the six months. The mRNA levels of Fas and FasL were not different (P > 0.05) between HI+LVA(I.60±0.27,1.88±0.46) and HI groups in the three months. The mRNA levels of Bcl-2 were not remarkably differences in the three months (1.05±0.19,0.96±0.33,0.95±0.26,1.18±0.27,1.10±0.19,0.98±0.36, all P > 0.05), and in the six months (1.35±0.28,1.60±0.25,1.48±0.18,1.71±0.26,1.66±0.29,1.56±0.35, all P > 0.05). Conclusions Excessive iodine can cause thyroid cells apoptosis in mice. Supplementation of suitable amount of VA can regulate the levels of the apoptosis-related genes expression, and partly antagonize the apoptosis caused by high iodine.

Objective To explore the alterations of protein phosphatase-2A (PP-2A) in lymphocytes in mild cognition impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods The activity PP-2A of was measured by ~(32)p liquid seintillography for incorporated radioactivity in control group(n=11) , the MCI group(n=11),and the AD group(n=11).The expression of PP-2A was determined by Western blot.Results In the control group,the activity of PP-2A (1.01?0.09) and the expression of PP-2A (0.96?0.07) were high while in the MCI group,the activity of PP-2A (0.71?0.12) and the expression of PP-2A (0.80?0.05) were decreased (both P

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect and safety of early intervention and delayed intervention in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

METHODSIn this multicenter randomized trial, patients diagnosed as non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome were randomly assigned to undergo early intervention (coronary angiography ≤ 24 hours after randomization, n = 446) or delayed intervention (coronary angiography ≥ 36 hours after randomization, n = 369). The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction or stroke at 180 days. The secondary outcome was death, myocardial infarction, refractory ischemia, stroke or revascularization at 180 days.

RESULTSBaseline clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Incidence of both primary (9.0% vs. 14.6%, P = 0.01) and secondary which was a composite of death, myocardial infarction or refractory ischemia (14.6% vs. 22.0% P = 0.01) endpoints were significantly lower in early intervention group than in delayed intervention group. Incidence of myocardial infarction was significantly lower in early intervention group than in delayed intervention group (5.2% vs. 10.8%, P = 0.00). Another secondary outcome which was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, refractory ischemia, stroke or revascularization was similar between the two groups (26.7% vs. 30.4%, P = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONCompared to delayed intervention group, early intervention reduced incidence of myocardial infarction but did not affect the incidence of death, stroke or refractory ischemia in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the capability and accuracy of multi-shce spiral computed tomography(MSCT)in detecting atherosclerotic plaques in nonstenotic coronary arteries with reference to the findings of intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)in a segment analysis.Methods Both IVUS exams and 16-row MSCT scans were performed on 35 consecutive patients among whom 30 patients had successful MSCT scans.A total of 94 coronary segments without significant coronary stenoses were paired-analyzed both on IVUS and MSCT segment by segment.The plaques were classified as calcified,fibrotic and soft types according to the echogeneity on IVUS.Plaque attenuation on MSCT was measured and expressed by Hounsfield units(HU).Results When referred to IVUS,MSCT had a sensitivity of 82.1%(46/56)and specificity of 89.5% (34/38),respectively in detectiong any plaques.For the detection of calcified plaques,the sensitivity and specificity were 92.1%(35/38)and 96.4%(54/56),respectively.For the detection of mixed and noncalcified plaques,MSCT had sensitivity of 73.2%(30/41)and specificity of 88.7%(47/53).But for the detection of the noncalcified plaque,the sensitivity was 66.7%(12/18). According to the findings On IVUS,the plaques were classified as calcified(n=19),fibrotic(n=19)and soft(n=16).The CT attenuation of calcified plaques was(489?169)HU(196 to 817 HU),fibrotic plaques(69?21)HU(25 to 117 HU)and soft plaques(23?18)HU(-12 to 47 HU).Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference of plaque attenuation among the three groups(P

BACKGROUNDResistin, a novel adipokine linked to insulin resistance and obesity in rodents, which is derived mainly from macrophages and identified in atheromas in human, has been shown to play a potential role in atherosclerosis. Resistin levels were reported to increase in coronary artery disease (CAD), while data concerning resistin in different stages of CAD in Chinese people are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess whether plasma concentrations of resistin differed between patients with unstable and stable angina pectoris.

METHODSPlasma resistin levels were determined by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 46 patients with unstable angina (UAP), 37 with stable angina (SAP) and 31 control subjects.

RESULTSPlasma concentrations of resistin were significantly increased in UAP group (geometric mean (interquartile range) 12.09 ng/ml (8.40, 18.08)) in comparison with SAP (9.04 ng/ml (7.09, 11.44)) and control groups (8.71 ng/ml (6.58, 11.56)). No differences in resistin levels were found between patients with SAP and controls. We also found that plasma resistin positively correlated with leukocyte counts (r = 0.21, P = 0.027), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (r = 0.25, P = 0.008), and endothelin-1 (r = 0.21, P = 0.025) after adjustment for age, sex and BMI.

CONCLUSIONResistin may be involved in the development of CAD by influencing systemic inflammation and endothelial activation.

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Resistin ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the MEK and ERK expression and their relationship with clinicopathological parameters in human breast carcinoma, and the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on MEK and ERK protein expression.

METHODSSamples were obtained from 56 patients with breast carcinoma and 8 patients with benign tumors. Sixteen of the 56 patients received preoperative chemotherapy. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the expression of MEK1, MEK2 and ERK1, ERK2 protein.

RESULTSMEK2 and ERK1, ERK2 protein levels were increased in breast carcinoma tissue compared with those in adjacent normal tissues (t = 7.244, 5.959, 3.735, P < 0.01) and benign tumors (t = 2.206, P < 0.05). The levels of MEK1 were decreased. The expression of MEK2 protein in ER negative patients was higher than that in ER positive ones. MEK2 protein levels were lower in patients who received preoperative chemotherapy than in those who did not.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of MEK-ERK may play an important role in the development of human breast carcinoma. MEK and ERK protein expressions are inhibited by preoperative chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; MAP Kinase Kinase 1 ; MAP Kinase Kinase 2 ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)of Chinese Nu ethnic population from Yunnan region of China and to provide basic database for ethnic origin investigation and forensic purpose.

METHODSGenomic DNA from the whole blood of 87 unrelated individuals was extracted by standard chelex-100. The sequence polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-based assay and using ABI 3730 Analyzer to detect many number of relatively common point mutations.

RESULTSSixty-two SNP loci were observed among them with 492 point mutations and 59 haploids identified in mitochondrial DNA hypervariable region I (mtDNA HVSI). The gene diversity was estimated to be 0.9675,and the random match probability was calculated to be 0.0437.

CONCLUSIONThe result suggests that mtDNA HVSISNP database of Nu ethnic population can be a useful tool for forensic identity and original research.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Forensic Genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

AIMTo clone the gene of staphylococcal enterotoxin C2 and express it in the form of a soluble fusion protein in E. coli. Then the activation of SEC2 on mice lymphocyte and its lethal effects on tumor cells were studied.

METHODSStaphylococcus aureus SEC2 gene was cloned into GST gene fusion vector pGEX-4T-1. The resultant plasmid pGEX-4T-SEC2 was used to transform E. coli BL21, where the GST-SEC2 fusion protein was expressed efficiently. The rSEC2 protein was purified with Glutathione Sepharose 4B affinity column and digested with thrombin. The in vitro culture system was utilized to observe the activation of the SEC2 on mice lymphocyte and the lethal effects on tumor cells of the activated mice lymphocyte.

RESULTSThe proper gene of SEC2 was cloned and purified rSEC2 was obtained. The MTT results indicated that rSEC2 have strong ability to stimulate mice lymphocyte to proliferate with a dose-dependent manner. With the proliferation of mice splenic lymphocyte, rSEC2 has a strong lethal effect on tumor cells B16, K562 and K562-AD.

CONCLUSIONIn this study, the gene of SEC2 was cloned and the rSEC2 protein was obtained, which had strong lethal effect on tumor cells B16, K562 and K562-AD.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Transfection

Objective To evaluate the use of gated SPECT in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and the effects of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) on myocardial perfusion.Methods 99 Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images were performed in 31 HOCM patients before PFSMA and in 15 patients 3-7 d after PTSMA.The images in different left ventricular segments were analysed by using scores.Results In 99Tcm-MIBI images, uptake decreased at the septal regions in 12 HOCM patients (80.0%, 12/15) after PTSMA, 18F-FDG images also showed decreased uptake at the septal regions in 5 HOCM patients (33.3%, 5/15) after PTSMA.Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI images might be an important method to evaluate PTSMA results, and 18 F-FDG images showed important value as reference.