Objective: To study diagnostic and predictive value of levels of high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) and cystatin C (CysC) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in aged patients.Methods: A total of 60 ACS patients (ACS group) treated in our hospital and 60 healthy subjects (healthy control group) undergoing physical examination during Dec 2013 to Sep 2015 were randomly selected.Serum levels of hsCRP and CysC, and abnormal rates of hsCRP and CysC were measured and compared between two groups.Results: Compared with healthy control group, there were significant rise in serum levels of hsCRP[(3.02±1.13) mg/L vs.(7.95±2.38) mg/L]and CysC[(0.75±0.11) μg/ml vs.(1.35±0.43) μg/ml], and abnormal rates of hsCRP (0 vs.13.33%) and CysC (0 vs.11.67%) in ACS group, P<0.01 all.Conclusion: Serum hsCRP and CysC level measurements can effectively predict and assess occurrence, development and prognosis of disease in ACS patients, and provide clinical valid evidence for its diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

Objective:To analyze the relationship among smoking, levels of homocysteine (Hcy), cystatin C (CysC), C reactive protein (CRP) and coronary heart disease (CHD) onset in young people.Methods:A total of 152 patients, who received selective coronary angiography because of chest pain in our hospital, were enrolled, and all subjects were <45 years old.According to examination results, they were divided into CHD group (n=100) and non-CHD group (n=52).Clinical data were analyzed in both groups, and Logistic multi-factor regression analysis was used to analyze independent risk factors for CHD in young people.Results:Compared with non-CHD group, there were significant rise in percentages of men (30.8% vs.65.0%), smoking (46.1% vs.68.0%) and hypertension (34.6% vs.51.0%), levels of CysC[(0.85±0.16) mg/L vs.(1.34±0.28) mg/L], CRP [(1.26±0.85) mg/L vs.(6.93±0.85) mg/L] and Hcy[(7.16±1.16) mol/L vs.(20.85±2.16) mol/L],P<0.05 or <0.01;multi-factor Logistic regression analysis indicated that male, hypertension, smoking, Hcy, CysC and CRP were risk factors for CHD in young people (OR=1.34~3.42, P<0.05 or <0.01).Conclusion:Male, smoking, total cholesterol, homocysteine, Cys C and C reactive protein are risk factors for CHD in young people.Therefore, these risk factors should be eliminated, or its risk should be reduced.

Objective To explore the inhibiting effects of arsenic trioxide and cisplatin on MG-63 cells. Methods Using MTT assay,flowcytometry,phase contrast microscopy and electron microscopy methods,the therapeutic effect of arsenic trioxide was studied for the osteosarcoma in the cultured MG-63 cells in vitro,and compared these effects with cisplatin. The inhibitory rotes of cell growth and the effect of apoptosis and cell cycle were compared between arsenic trioxide and cisplatin on MG-63 cells. Results The contrast phase microscope revealed the adhesion ability of normal groups was good and cellular morphology showed epithelium cells. But the celhdar morphology showed irregular arrangement in arsenic trioxide groups and cytoplasmic vacuoles in cisplatin group. Electron microscope revealed the globular plasmalemma ecphymas in cell surface of control groups,the enlarged crista mitochondriales and the double-deck membrane structure appeared clearly. But electron microscope revealed globular plasmalemma processes in cell surface of arsenic trioxide groups,thinned crista mitochondriales and clearly seen karyopycnosis and nuclear membrane of apoptotic cells. The globular plasmalemma processes in cell surface of cisplatin groups were separated,nuclear membrane thickened and chromatin were in sandy shape. Both arsenic trioxide and cisplatin inhibited effectively MG-63 cells growth. There was a significant difference in different groups of inhibition ratios to the growth of cells(all P < 0.05). In 2,4,8,16,32,64,128 hours,the inhibition ratios(%) of arsenic trioxide(56.31±0.03,70.00±0.06,79.84±0.03,87.31±0.13,84.70±0.09,90.68±0.06,91.18±0.05) and cisplatin groups(7.55±0.15,15.70±0.17,30.72±0.07,49.80±0.05,45.11± 0.13,61.62±0.08,93.80±0.12) were obviously increased as compared with those in the control group(2.03± 0.07,2.78±0.08,3.11±0.01,5.67±0.04,12.23±0.04,18.65±0.04,24.45±0.04,all P < 0.05). Moreover the inhibition ratio of arsenic trioxide group in 2 to 32 hour was significantly higher than that of cisplatin group and the effect was more faster(all P < 0.05). Both arsenic trioxide and cisplatin could induce apoptosis MG-63 cells. There was a significant difference in different groups of the inhibition ratio to the growth of cells(F = 13.317,P < 0.05). The inhibition ratios(%) of arsenic trioxide on 24,36,48 hour(20.50±3.78,45.76±9.90,25.16±15.41),and cisplatin groups on 24,36,48 hour(12.55±1.51,18.85±3.40,12.37±5.43),were obviously increased as compared with those in the control group at the same time(6.57±1.48,8.03±2.08,6.54±1.30,P< 0.05 or<0.01). Both arsenic trioxide and cisplatin inhibited MG-63 cells cycle. There was a significant difference in different groups of the inhibition ratio to the growth of cells(F = 54.579,43.429,21.795,P < 0.05 or < 0.01). And the total inhibition ratios(%) in G1 cycle of arsenic trioxide(78.26±5.24) and cisplatin groups(80.48±2.81) were obviously increased as compared with those in the control group(57.49±6.65,all P < 0.05 or < 0.01). Conclusions Arsenic trioxide and cisplatin can effectively inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cell line and induce the apoptosis of MG-63 cell line. And the effects induced by arsenic trioxide group were faster than that of cisplatin groups. Moreover arsenic trioxide can arrest the cell cycle of MG-63 cell line at G1 phase.

Recently traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-induced liver injury has been an unresolved critical issue which impacts TCM clinical safety. The premise and key step to reduce or avoid drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is to identify the drug source of liver injury in early stage. Then the timely withdrawal of drug and treatment can be done. However, the current diagnosis of DILI is primarily governed by exclusive method relying on administering history supplied by patients and experience judgment from doctors, which lacks objective and reliable diagnostic indices. It is obvious that diagnosis of TCM-induced liver injury is especially difficult due to the complicated composition of TCM medication, as well the frequent combination of Chinese and Western drugs in clinic. In this paper, we proposed construction of research pattern and method for objective identification of TCM-related DILI based on translational toxicology, which utilizes clinical specimen to find specific biomarkers and characteristic blood-entering constituents, as well the clinical biochemistry and liver biopsy. With integration of diagnosis marker database, bibliographic database, medical record database and clinical specimen database, an integrative diagnosis database for TCM-related DILI can be established, which would make a transformation of clinical identification pattern for TCM-induced liver injury from subjective and exclusive to objective and index-supporting mode. This would be helpful to improve rational uses of TCM and promote sustainable development of TCM industry.
Animals ; Biomarkers, Pharmacological ; metabolism ; Biopsy ; methods ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Rats

Objective To assess left ventricular (LV) untwisting in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in different location by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI),searching for sensitive parameter to evaluate the untwisting motion,to explore the impact of myocardial infarction(MI)location and number of MI segments on left ventricular untwisting movement.Methods Forty-one patient with AMI (AMI Group) were divided into two groups (anterior wall-anteroseptum group and inferior wall-posterior wall group) according to the MI location,and 31 age matched subjects were involved as the control group.Acquire the bull's eyes map of systolic strain (LPSS) values by automated function imaging(AFI)and locate the position and number of segments of MI by it.Access twist at aortic valve closure (AVCtw),twist at mitral valve open (MVOtw),peak twist velocity(PTV),untwisting rate in IVRT (Untw-R),peak untwisting velocity(PUV),time to peak untwisting velocity(TPUV) and half time of untwisting (UHT)with STI.Results Compared with control group,left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),global LPSS,PUV and Untw-R of AMI group decreased significantly (P ＜0.001),T-PUV (P ＜0.001) and UHT (P =0.028) increased significantly.The number of MI segments correlated with Untw-R (r =-0.420,P =0.006) significantly.There was no significant correlation between number of MI segments and UHT,PUV,TPUV.Untw-R in anterior wall-anteroseptum group were lower than inferior wall-posterior wall group(P =0.022).For PTV,PTW,T-Ptw,PUV,UHT and T-PUV,there was no significant difference between anterior wall-anteroseptum group and inferior wall-posterior wall group.Conclusions LV untwisting motion of AMI patients can be observed by 2D-STI.Untw-R is a sensitive parameter to evaluate the untwisting motion of AMI patients.The untwisting motion of AMI patients decrease significantly,even worse in anterior wall-anteroseptum AMI patients.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of speckle tracking imaging(STI) for assessment of left ventricular(LV) and right ventricular (RV) functions in patients with isolated disease of right coronary artery.Methods 45 cases were diagnosed as single right coronary lesions given echocardiography,30 cases had chest pain but coronary angiography had not seen the obvious narrow as a comparison.The twodimensional loop-cinec were obtained in apical 4-chamber view,apical 2-chamber view and long axis of LV view.Eighteen segments of LV longitudinal peak systolic strain,global peak systolic strain of each view and three segments of RV free wall were measured by two-dimensional strain software.Results In the patients who had right coronary lesions but did not happen myocardial infarction,the strain(S) values in the base,mid and apex segmental of LV post wall,the base and mid segmental of LV inferior wall and the base and mid segmental of LV septum were significantly lower( P ＜0.05).The S values in the mid segment of RV free wall was lower( P ＜0.05).In the patients who had right coronary lesions and myocardial infarction,the S values in the base,mid segmental of LV antsept,the apex segmental of LV anterior wall,the base,mid and apex segmental of LV post wall,the base and mid segmental of LV inferior wall and the base and mid segmental of LV septum were significantly lower( P ＜0.05).The S values in the mid and apex segments of RV free wall were lower ( P ＜0.05).And the LV global longitudinal strains were lower in the two groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions STI is a new and useful technology for assessment ventricular functions in patients with isolated disease of right coronary artery,and there are multiple segments impaired.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the usefulness of speckle tracking imaging(STI) for assessment of systemic right ventricle (RV) function in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction(MI) and the changes 7 days after percutaneous coronary interventions(PCI).MethodsTwo-dimensional imaging at the four chamber view was obtained with tracing of the entire RV endocardial border in 44 patients with acute inferior MI and 50 healthy volunteers.Peak longitudinal systolic strain and strain rate (S,SR)in six RV segment included the basal,mid,and apical segments of the RV free wall and septum.And thirty patients reexamined 7 days after PCI.ResultsThe S values in the base and mid segmental of RV free wall and all segments of right septum were significantly lower in patients with acute inferior MI( P ＜0.05).But the SR values only decreased in mid segment of right septum.Except the apical parts of RV free wall and right septum,the S values of others segmental were significantly improved( P ＜0.05) 7 days after PCI.But the SR values had no changes( P ＞0.05).ConclusionsSTI is a new and useful technology for assessment of RV function in acute inferior MI and the RV function can be improved by emergency PCI.

In this study, UPLC-MS/MS was adopted to determine the contents of five ephedrine alkaloids (Norephedrine, Norpseudoephedrine, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Methylephedrine) in plasma and urine in rats after the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters, in order to discuss the effect of the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum on plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion characteristics. According to the results, after being combined with Gypsum, the five ephedrine alkaloids showed similar pharmacokinetic changes, such as shortened t(max), accelerated absorption rate, but reduced AUC(0-t) and V(z)/F, which may be related to the increase in urine excretion. Besides, Gypsum was added to enhance C(max) of Pseudoephedrine and prolong MRT(0-t) of Methylephedrine, so as to enhance the anti-asthmatic effect of Ephedrae Herba and resist the toxic effect of Norephedrine and Ephedrine. This study proved the scientific compatibility of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and provided a reference for studies on the prescription compatibility regularity and relevant practices.
Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Animals ; Calcium Sulfate ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Ephedra ; chemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urine ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) printed left atrial appendage (LAA) models based on 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) data and the application value for treating special anatomic LAA.Methods Data of 18 patients of atrial fibrillation who were underwent LAA occlusion were retrospectively analyzed,including 3D-TEE and CT volume data of the patients.The 3D-TEE data of the LAA were post-processed and a flexible material was used to print the LAA model by 3D printer.The morphological classification and lobulated classifications of LAAs were assessed by the 3D printed models.The measurements of long axis,short axis and depth of LAAs were also performed.And the measurement and classification results were compared with those based on 3D-TEE and CT volume images.A occluder release test was performed on the 3D printed models for patients with challenging LAA morphology.Results For all 18 patients,3D-TEE full volume data of the LAA were successfully reprocessed and printed as 3D LAA models.The consistency of morphological classifications and lobulated classifications of LAAs based on 3D printed models and cardiac CT were 0.92 and 0.83,respectively.No significant differences of LAA ostium dimensions (long axis and short axis) and depth were found between the measurement results based on 3D printed models and 3D-TEE (all P＞0.05).A simulation of LAA occlusion rehearsal was successfully performed on 3D models of two challenging cases.Conclusion The echocardiographic 3D printing technique has high feasibility and accuracy,and can be promising for personalized planning in cases of transcatheter special morphological LAA occlusion.

Objective To study the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced CT scan with split bolus for the ureleropelvic junction obstruction(UPJO) caused by aberrant vessel of kidney.Methods 52 patients with UPJO underwent contrast-enhanced CT scan with split bolus.The aberrant vessels and its origin as well as the relationship between aberrant vessels and UPJO were observed comparatively with the results of surgery.Results In 52 cases,CT showed UPJO caused by aberrant vessl of kidney in 14 cases,including accessory renal arteries in 10,ovarian artery originated from left renal artery in one,right accessory renal artery in one and gonad veins in 2.CT findings were corresponded to operations in all these 14 cases.The sensitivity and specificity of CT in evaluating UPJO were 100% respectively.Conclusion The UPJO caused by aberrant vessel of kidney can be diagnosed accurately by contrast-enhanced CT scan with split bolus,which can be offered for surgical treatment for UPJO.The patient's CT dose can be decreased with split bolus.