Objective: To quantitatively study the incidental extra-cardiac ifndings (ECFs) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in order to better recognize those lesions in clinical practice.
Methods: A total of 1169 suspected CAD patients received CCTA in our hospital from 2011-06 to 2013-03 and 1030 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 589 in-patients, 441 out-patients and 549 patients≥60 years of age,481 patients < 60 years of age. 3 physicians evaluated the incidental ECFs in the full ifeld of view (FOV) in different window level and window width for lung, mediastinum, thorax and upper abdominal areas. Clinical relevance of ECFs were classiifed by corresponding scores. Score 1, the patients with severe lesion need immediate treatment, score 2, the lesion with clinical and prognostic signiifcance and score 3, the ifnding without clinical signiifcance.
Results: There were 197/1030 (19.1%) patients having 224 ECFs and 27 (2.6%) patients having 2 ECFs; 90/1030 (8.7%) patients having 106 signiifcant lesions including 3 (0.3%) of lung cancer and 8 (0.8%) of pulmonary embolism; 107 patients with 118 lesions without signiifcance. ECFs were found in 114/589 (19.4%) in-patients and in 83/441 (18.8%) out-patients, P>0.05; 76/481 (15.8%) of patients < 60 years of age and 121/549 (22.0%) of patients≥60 years,P<0.05.
Conclusion: Unexpected ECFs detection rate was 19.1% in patients undergoing CCTA without further radiation exposure by reconstruction with the full FOV setting, and 8.7% of ECFs had clinical signiifcance. Radiologists should routinely analyze the extra-cardiac organs in CCTA.

The most effective sequence of small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing STAT3 of psoriatic keratinocytes (KCs) was screened out,and the effects of the most effective siRNA combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles on the expression of STAT3 of KCs and the dose-and time-response were investigated.Three chemically-synthetic siRNAs targeting STAT3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 were transfected into KCs,and the effects on STAT3 expression were detected,then the most effective siRNA was selected for the subsequent experiments.The negative controls of siRNA (siRNA-NC) labeled with Cy3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles were transfected into KCs,then the optimal parameters of ultrasonic irradiation were determined.The most effective siRNA carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation at the optimal parameters and SonoVue microbubbles was transfected into KCs,and the dose-and time-response of RNA interference was determined.The effect of RNA interference by the most effective siRNA at the optimal time and dose carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles (LUS group) was compared with that only carried by Lipofectamine 3000 (L group).The results showed that siRNA-3 achieved the highest silencing efficacy.0.5 W/cm2 and 30 s were selected as the parameters of ultrasonic irradiation.The siRNA-3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue mierobubbles could effectively knock down the STAT3 expression at mRNA and protein levels in dose-and time-dependent manners determined at 100 nmol/L with maximum downregulation on mRNA at 48 h,and on protein at 72 h after transfection.The LUS group achieved the highest silencing efficacy.It was concluded that siRNA-3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles could effectively knock down the STAT3 expression in psoriatic KCs,and the optimized transfection condition and the sequence of siRNA-3 could serve for further research on gene therapy of psoriasis.

Cutaneous Fistula ; Digestive System Abnormalities ; therapy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Treatment Outcome

To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and absolute bioavailability of ginkgolide A (GA), ginkgolide B (GB) and bilobalide (BB) in rats. In this experiment, a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/ MS) method was established to determine the plasma concentrations of GA, GB and BB in rats after rats were administrated with the three drugs through ig and iv respectively. The main pharmacokinetic parameters and absolute bioavailability of three ginkgolide compounds were obtained by using pharmacokinetic software DAS 2. 0. After the inject of GA, GB and BB, the results showed Cmax at (513.9 ± 116.9), (701.3 ± 76.0), (5,255.6 ± 476.8) µg · L(-1) and AUC0.24h of (960.9 ± 268.5), (779.5 ± 140.6), (7,409.3 ± 1,181.1) µg · h · L(-1), respectively; after the oral administration, the results showed Cmax at (522.9 ± 39.9), (146.8 ± 31.6), (2,711.9 ± 588.9) µg · L(-1) and AUC0-24 h of (1,760.4 ± 300.7), (636.6 ± 180.3), (16,651.4 ± 1,306.5) µg · h · L(-1), respectively. The absolute bioavailability of GA, GB and BB in rats was (61.1 ± 10.4)%, (27.2 ± 7.7)%, (56.2 ± 4.4)%, respectively. The method established in this experiment has a good specificity and sensitivity and so can be used to study the pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of GA, GB and BB in rats.
Animals ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacokinetics ; Furans ; pharmacokinetics ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacokinetics ; Lactones ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To develop a LC-MS/MS method for the determination of five kinds of trace ginkgolic acids in diterpene ginkgolides meglumine injection materials, the column was Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse plus C18 (3.0 mm x 50 mm, 1.8 µm), and the mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (containing 0.2% formic acid) (95:5) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL · min(-1). The multiple reaction ion monitoring (MRM) with an ESI interface in the negative ion mode was selected. The results showed that the linear ranges of five kinds of ginkgolic acids were in the range of 0.2-36.0 µg · L(-1) (r ≥ 0.999 5). The lowest limit of quantification (LOQ) of ginkgo acid C13: 0, C15:1, C17:2, C15:0 and C17:1 were 0.18, 0.18, 0.21, 0.10 and 0.20 µg · L(-1), respectively. The average recovery was between 73.28% and 87.56%, and the average content of total ginkgolic acids in three batches of samples was in the range of 0.023-0.028 µg · g(-1), which was much lower than 2 µg · g(-1) prescribed in drug registration standards. This method is simple and rapid with high sensitivity, which can be used for the determination of five kinds of trace ginkgolic acids in diterpene ginkgolides meglumine injection materials.
Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Ginkgolides ; analysis ; Injections ; Limit of Detection ; Salicylates ; analysis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Objective To investigate the effects of repeated neonatal administration of dizocipline maleate (MK-801), the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, on the expression of NMDA receptor subunits NMDAR 1 (NR1), NMDAR2A (NR2A), NMDAR2B (NR2B) and the protein levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in neonatal rats. Methods Neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into research group and control group, with 15 ani-mals in each group. Rats were administrated subcutaneously with MK-801 or normal saline from postnatal day (PND) 5 to PND14 (0.25 mg/kg, twice a day). The expression levels of NR1, NR2A, NR2B and NGF were examined on PND15, PND42 and PND70 in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Results At PND15 (neonatal period), there were no signifi-cant differences in the expression levels of NR1, NR2A, NR2B and NGF in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus be- tween the two groups (P>0.05). At PND42 (adolescence), NGF protein levels in the prefrontal cortex was significantly low-er in research group than in control group [(56.19±37.87) vs. (152.54±53.92), P<0.01]. At PND70 (adulthood), the expres-sion of NR1, NR2A in the hippocampus was significantly higher in research group than in control group [NR1:(149.55%± 27.00%) vs. (100.00%±32.08%);NR2A:(171.54%±19.85%) vs. (100.00%±51.04%). P<0.05]. Conclusion Neonatal re-peated treatment of MK-801 increases the expression of NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A in the hippocampus in adulthood while decreases the expression of NGF in the prefrontal cortex in adolescence, suggesting that neonatal block-ade of the NMDA receptor may influence the growth and development of the nervous system.

AlM: To investigate expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 ( MMP-2 ) and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer ( EMMPRlN) in retinoblastoma (Rb) and the relationships between MMP-2, EMMPRlN and tumor development.METHODS:lmmunohistochemical technique was used to detect expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN in 39 cases of paraffin embedded Rb samples. Quantitative analysis of expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN were assessed by measuring the mean gray scale of Rb tissue with LElCA lM50 Color Pathologic Analysis System. The differences of expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN in each clinical and pathological stage were statistically analyzed, and the same step was also undertaken to study the relationship between Rb with MMP-2 positive expression and that with EMMPRlN positive expression.RESULTS:The positive expression rate of MMP-2 was 90% (Gray value: 109. 64 ± 14. 52; 35/39), and that of EMMPRlN was 85% (Gray value:108. 01±13. 60;33/39). The expressions of MMP - 2 and EMMPRlN were significantly higher in tumors of glaucomatous stage (Gray value:108. 21±11. 47 and 107. 56±14. 32) than those in intraocular stage ( Gray value: 121. 13 ± 11. 32 and 119. 34 ± 12. 66; P<0. 01 and P<0. 05). And the same conclusion can be concluded between those in extraocular stage (Gray value: 91. 03 ± 11. 71 and 92. 26 ± 12. 93) with those in glaucomatous stage (P<0. 01 and P<0. 05). The expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN were significantly higher in tumors with optic nerve invasion (Gray value:103. 89±13. 39 and 105. 23±14. 00) than those without optic nerve invasion ( Gray value: 118. 39 ± 15. 11 and 117. 53±16. 13) (P<0. 01 and P<0. 05).CONCLUSlON:The positive expression levels of MMP-2 and EMMPRlN may correlate with tumor infiltration and metastasis.

Background Ultraviolet irradiation promotes cellular apoptosis by affecting the mitochondrial transmembrane potential,including human lens epithelial cells (LECs).Gene associated with retinoid-interferoninduced mortality-19 (GRIM-19),a cell death regulatory protein,is essential for the assembly and function of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ.However,whether LECs apoptosis induced by ultraviolet irradiation is related to GRIM-19 is still unclear.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apoptosis of human LECs caused by ultraviolet with GRIM-19 expression in vitro.Methods Human LEC line(SRA01/04)was cultured in α-MEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were exposed to ultraviolet ray at doses of 0,30,60,90,120 or 150 mJ/cm2 when cell growth reached the logarithmic phase and 80％ confluency.The rate of apoptosis of the cells was assayed using flow cytometry,and the level of expression and relative amount of GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) were detected by Western blot.The relationship between apoptosis and the GRIM-19/β-actin value among the different treatment groups was compared using One-way ANOVA,and the correlation of LECs apoptosis rate and GRIM-19 expression level was assessed by Pearson linear analysis.Results A significant difference was found in the apoptosis rate among the different treatment groups(F=149.32,P＜0.01).Compared with the 0 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation group,the apoptosis rate of LECs was significantly increased in the 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups (q =17.02,-25.20,-29.41,-8.61,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of the GRIM-19 protein in the LECs suspension was enhanced by ultraviolet irradiation at 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2.The relative expression of the GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) was significantly different among the various groups (F=6.87,P＜0.05),and the GRIM-19/β-actin values in the 60,90,120,150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups were elevated in comparison with the un-irradiated group(2.01±0.76,2.98± 1.80,3.97± 1.61,2.42± 1.28 vs.0.56±0.23),which showed statistically significant differences (q =4.12,-5.04,-7.09,-3.85,P ＜ 0.01).In addition,a positive correlation was seen between the rate of apoptosis and the expression of the GRIM-19 protein(r=0.71,P＜0.01).Conclusions GRIM-19 is expressed in normal human LECs.The apoptosis of human LECs accompanies the up-regulation of GRIM-19.The expression of GRIM-19 in LECs increases with ultraviolet irradiation in a doseindependent manner.

Background Epithelial-myofibroblast transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) is the main mechanism in the pathogenesis of posterior capsular opacification(PCO).Seeking an effective drug capable of inhibiting this process is important for the prevention and treatment of PCO.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of rapamycin (RAPA)on the proliferation of human LECs and TGF-β2-induced EMT.Methods Human LEC strain(SRA01/04)was cultured in DMEM with high glucose and 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were consequently cultured in serumfree DMEM with 5 mg/L TGF-β2,TGF-β2+10 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA or TGF-β2 +10 000 mg/L RAPA for 72 hours,and SRA01/04 cultured in serum-free DMEM were used as control.The proliferation rate(A490)of SRA01/04 in the different groups was detected using the MTT assay and the rate of inhibition of RAPA was calculated.The expressions of the α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and E-cadherin(E-cad)mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot,respectively.The changes in the expression of α-SMA and E-cad in SRA01/04 were evaluated by Western blot 24,48 and 72 hours after TGF-β2 +400 mg/L RAPA treatment.Results The A490 value of SRA01/04 was 0.680±0.020,0.550±0.013,0.480±0.014,0.400±0.011 and 0.200±0.019 in the control group,TGF-β2 group,TGF-β2 + 10 mg/LRAPA group,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA group,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA and TGF-β2 + 10 000 mg/L RAPA group,respectively,showing a gradually declining trend in SRA01/04 rate of proliferation with increasing RAPA concentrations (F =101.920,P =0.000).RT-PCR and Western blot assay showed that the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA (α-SMA mRNA/β-actin mRNA)and protein (α-SMA/β-actin)in the cells were significantly increased in the TGF-β2 treatment group.However,with exposure to RAPA,the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly lowered with increasing RAPA concentrations,but the expression levels of E-cad mRNA and protein were raised (α-SMA mRNA:F =294.660,P =0.000 ; α-SMA protein:F =346.950,P =0.000 ; E-cad mRNA:F =264.250,P =0.000 ; E-cad protein:F =317.327,P =0.000).In addition,after exposure to 400 mg/L RAPA,the expression levels of α-SMA protein gradually reduced and those of E-cad protein gradually increased with increasing treatment durations,showing significant differences among the different time points (α-SMA:F =693.864,P =0.000 ;E-cad:F=369.286,P =0.000).Conclusions RAPA can inhibit the proliferation of SRA01/04 in vitro and arrest EMT of SRA01/04 induced by TGF-β2 in a dose-and time-dependent manner.

The association between atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the surgical techniques selected has been extensively reported.However,no consistent results were obtained.In the present study,a meta-analysis was conducted by searching the electronic databases PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and Cochrane to identify the association of post-CABG AF with on-pump (conventional CABG,cCABG) or off-pump CABG (OPCABG).Outcomes from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and propensity score matching (PSM) trials were pooled by using the fixed-effect or the random-effect modeling method,and verified by the quality-effect modeling method.There were 35 studies with 36 independent reports that met the inclusion criteria and were eventually included in our meta-analysis.The total odds ratio (OR) of the incidence of post-CABG AF between OPCABG and cCABG was 0.80 (95％ CI 0.71-0.91).The 25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) had an OR of 0.69 (95％ CI 0.56-0.86),while the OR of the 11 PSM trials was 0.88 (95％ CI 0.77-1.00).Twenty-six studies involving the patients at a mean age no more than 65 years showed an OR of 0.76 (95％ CI 0.64-0.90),whereas 10 studies with patients greater than 65 years old showed an OR of 0.90 (95％ CI 0.78-1.05).The results of this meta-analysis suggest that OPCAB surgery may reduce the incidence of post-CABG AF when compared to cCABG and that younger patients may benefit more from OPCAB and have a lower incidence ofpost-CABG AF.