Objective To investigate the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the up-regulation of peripheral blood somatic stem cells after acute myocardial infarction in rats. Methods The models of acute myocardial infarction were established in 16 rata by ligation of left anterior descending branch of left coronary artery through chest incision, and the animal were divided into control group(n=8) and experiment group (n=8). The hearts of another 2 rats were obtained for normal myocardial tissue sections as controls. Monoclonal antibody of ICAM-1 was infused from the caudal vein in experimental group, and no invervention was conducted for control group. Blood samples were obtained from caudal vein on the first, third, seventh and fourteenth day after operation in these two groups. Serum concentration of ICAM-1 was measured by ELISA, positive rate of CD34 cells in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry, and the parameters of concentration of ICAM-1 and positive rate of CD34 cells at each time point were compared between groups. Results The concentration of ICAM-1 in peripheral blood of experiment group reached the lowest of (59.01±2.22) pg/mL on the seventh day. The concentrations of ICAM-1 in peripheral blood of experiment group were lower than those in control group, and there were significant differences between these two groups on the seventh and fourteenth day(P < 0.01). The positive rate of CD34 cells in peripheral blood of experiment group reached the highest of (12±2.11)% on the seventh day. The positive rates of CD34 cells in peripheral blood of experiment group were higher than those in control group, and there were significant differences between these two groups on the third, seventh and fourteenth day(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion ICAM-1 can inhibit the up-regulation of peripheral blood somatic stem cells after acute myocardial infarction in rats.

Vitamin C precusor-2-keto-L-gulonic acid can be prepared directly by mixed culture of Ghiconobacter oxy-dans SCB329 and Guconobacter subaxydans SCB110. To obtained its high yield, firstly, the proportion of the two micro- organisms, the ingredients of medium and the initial pH were optimized in shake flaskd, then L9 (34) orthogonal experiment confirmed that urea, C. S. L had high degree statistical meaning. Based on these data, an optimized fermentation media was obta ined: D-Sorbitol 9g, C. S.L1.5g, Urea1.5g, KH2PO40.1g, CaCO30.2g. By-product can be inhabited to the greatest extent and the yield increases by 20%.

By using whole blood selenium, 24 hr urinary selenium and hair selenium contents as the indices of assessing human selenium status, it was found that the populations in the endemic areas of Keshan disease were practically in a selenium poor status. The selenium contents in locally grown staple grains and daily diets in the endemic areas were also lower than those in the non-endemic areas. In an area covering a cross section of Keshan disease geographic belt in our country, the hair selenium contents of agricultural populations were measured. The results indicated that all the hair selenium contents in the endemic sites were always at a lower level, whereas those in the non-endemic sites distant from the endemic areas were generally at a higher level; they decreased gradually until the endemic areas were reached; and finally, along the contiguous region of the endemic and non-endemic areas they were insignificantly different.The hair selenium contents among the agricultural populations were significantly lower than those among the non-agricultural ones in the same endemic areas. However, no regular correlation had been observed between the seasonal prevalence of Keshan disease and the variation of hair selenium contents in the same populations living in the same endemic sites.It is considered that the endemic areas of the disease seem to be a Se-deficiency belt, and Se-deficiency probably might be a pathogenic geo-gen in the prevalence of Keshan disease.

Background The pathological change of the anterior uveitis is the disruption of blood-aqueous barrier.Slit lamp examination appears to be limited for the evaluation of inflammatory response,and fluorescine angiography is an objective approach.However,there are few relative studies up to now in China.Objective Aim of this study was to observe the characteristics and assess the clinical applications of iris fluorescein angiography (IFA)in Chinese uveitis with brown iris.Methods Forty eyes of 40 normal subjects and 21 eyes of 13 patients with the anterior uveitis were collected in this study.IFA,slit-lamp examination and iris photograph were performed on the subjects.All individuals were informed consented at the initiation of this study.Results In normal eyes,fluorescence in iris vessels was blocked by the melanin pigment,but peripupillary weak fluorescent leakage was seen in the normal eyes with the age of ＞60 years old.The multiple patterns of fluorescence leakage were found in the patients suffered from uveitis of various etiologies although the negative slit-lamp finding,including the leakage of fluorescein around the pupillary margin and radial iris vessels in the eyes with mild diseases,transmitted fluorescence of regular iris vessels in the eyes with diffuse and local iris atrophy,and vascular tufts of the pupillary margin with coiled interwind tight clusters of thin vessels at the early phase in the eyes with dilated capillaries,microvascular anomalies and new vessel formation.The hyperfluorescence remained throughout the IFA duration.Conclusions IFA findings in uveitis vary depending on the topography,type and severity of inflammation.IFA has a good clinical applying value because of its objective assessment ability of the degree of the blood-aqueous barrier breakdown and iris neovascularization breakdown.It can exhibit the unvisible lesion under the slit-lamp and monitor the efficacy of medical theraphy in patients with active or quiescent uveitis.

OBJECTIVETo systematically assess the efficacy and safety of Rhodiola in treating chronic stable angina pectoris.

METHODSOur group searched the Cochrane library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese biomedical literature database (CBM), VIP database (VIP), Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CNKI) for the literature published in English and Chinese till April 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included on the therapeutic effect of Rhodiola or Rhodiola plus conventional Western medicine in comparison with the conventional Western medicine treatment on stable angina. Data were extracted according the data extraction form. The literature methodological quality was assessed by using the Cochrane handbook, and data analyzed by Rev-Man 5.2 Software for Meta-analysis. The effect indicators of outcomes was expressed by odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI.

RESULTSA total of 7 randomized controlled trials, 662 cases of stable angina pectoris patients met the inclusion criteria and all published in Chinese, without one scientific design and high quality literature. Compared with the conventional Western medicine treatment, combined with oral administration of Rhodiola could improve the efficiency of anti-angina (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.02 - 6.09). Combined with intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could also improve the efficacy of angina pectoris (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 2.4 - 9.82). Oral administration of Rhodiola couldn't improve ECG efficacy (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.67 - 2.34). Intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could improve the clinical efficacy (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.61 - 5.35). Combined with the conventional treatment, intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could improve the whole blood viscosity (low and high shear rates) and inverse variance (IV) (-1.36 and -0.99, 95% CI: -1.65 - 1.07 and -1.26 - 0.71), but could not reduce serum fibrinogen and D-dimer level. The incidence rate of adverse reactions was higher than that of the conventional treatment combined with Rhodiola (OR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.51).

CONCLUSIONSOn the basis of routine treatment, Rhodiola could further improve patients' symptoms. Combined with intravenous medication, Rhodiola could increase the ECG improvement rate, and reduce adverse reactions. But the methodological quality of included studies was poor, the number of samples was small, and influence factors such as the intervention period was short. This conclusion needs scientific and rational design in a larger sample, multicenter clinical trial to verify.

Angina, Stable ; drug therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Rhodiola ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of human beta-defensin 1 and 2 (hBD-1 and hBD-2) in nasal mucosa before and after the endoscopic sinus surgery and investigate the effects of hBD-1 and hBD-2 on the healing process after the surgery.

METHODSThe patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis were divided into 3 groups according to the response to the surgery, namely cured group, response group and non-response group. With those from healthy control subjects as the control, nasal mucosa samples were collected from the patients at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after the surgery for detection of hBD-1 and hBD-2 mRNA and protein expressions by RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTShBD-1 and hBD-2 were expressed in both normal and chronic sinusitis mucosa, but the expression levels varied significantly between the individuals. The expression levels of hBD-2 was significantly correlated to the patients' response to the surgical treatment (P<0.05). hBD-1 showed slight differences between the individuals, but was not associated with the patients' prognosis.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of hBD-2 mRNA and protein are significantly increased in patients with good response to endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis, suggesting the value of hBD-2 as an indicator of the patients' prognosis.

Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Sinusitis ; metabolism ; surgery ; beta-Defensins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate electrocardiographic (ECG) and angiographic characteristics of patients with acute solitary posterior myocardial infarction. Patients complicated by inferior wall or right ventricular infarction were excluded.

METHODECG and angiographic changes in 11 patients with acute solitary posterior myocardial infarction admitted to our emergency room from 2001 to 2006 were analyzed.

RESULTSBesides typical ST segment elevation in V(7)-V(9) leads, other ECG manifestations in these patients included V(1)-V(2) R/S > or = 1 (9/11, 81.8%), 1 - 2 mm ST depression in V(1)-V(4) (5/11, 45.5%), 0.5 - 1.5 mm ST elevation in I, aVL leads (4/11, 36.4%) and 0.5 - 1.5 mm ST elevation in V(5)-V(6) leads (5/11, 45.5%). Coronary angiography showed that left circumflex artery (LCX) was the infarction related artery in all cases. The infarction area located before OM1 origination in 1 patient with a 95% pipe-like stenosis (1/11), after OM1 origination in 6 patients (6/11, 4 with total occlusion, 1 with sub-total occlusion and 1 with 90% long length stenosis), in OM1 in 4 patients (4/11, 2 with total occlusion, 1 with sub-total occlusion and 1 with 95% local stenosis). There were 3 patients (27.3%) with single vessel lesion, 4 patients (36.4%) combined with left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesion, 2 patients (18.2%) combined with right coronary artery (RCA) lesion and 2 patients (18.2%) combined with LAD and RCA lesions.

CONCLUSIONSAcute posterior myocardial infarction should be suspected with V(1)-V(2) R/S > or = 1 and V(1)-V(4) ST depression in standard 12 leads ECG. Besides symptoms and cardiac enzyme measurements, recording posterior leads electrocardiogram and performing coronary angiography will help to make the correct diagnosis.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; enzymology

ITS2 sequence was used as a barcode to identify herbal tea ingredient Plumeria rubra and its adulterants. Genomic DNAs from forty eight samples were extracted, the ITS2 sequences were amplified and sequenced bi-direstionlly, and then assembled and obtained using CodonCode Aligner. The sequences were aligned using ClustalW, the genetic distances were computed by kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and the Neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA5.0. Results showed that the length of ITS2 sequence of P. rubra were 244 bp. The intra-specific genetic distances (0-0. 016 6) were much smaller than inter-specific ones between P. rubra and its adulterants(0.320 8-0.650 4). The NJ tree indicated that P. rubra and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. Therefore, Using ITS2 barcode can accurately andeffectively distinguish herbal tea ingredient P. rubra from its adulterants, which providesa new molecular method to identify P. rubra and ensure its safety in use.
Apocynaceae ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and angiographic characteristics of left coronaroventricular microfistula.

METHODSIn his retrospective review, clinical, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and coronary angiography data were analyzed for patients with left coronaroventricular microfistula.

RESULTSLeft coronaroventricular microfistula was identified in 9 out of 8300 patients underwent coronary angiographies from 1998 to 2008 in our center. Seven patients were female (77.8%) and the average age was 71.5 years. All 9 patients had presenting symptoms of chest distress or dyspnea, coronary artery disease was documented in 5 (55.6%), hypertension in 2 (22.2%), valve disease in 1 (11.1%)and cardiomyopathy in 1 (11.1%) patient. Microfistula originated from one single coronary artery was seen in 1 patient (11.1%), from two coronary arteries in 6 patients (66.7%), from three coronary arteries in 2 patients (22.2%). The diagonal artery was involved in all patients. The characteristic sign of microfistula from CAG was intracavitary staining.

CONCLUSIONMicrofistula between coronary arteries and left ventricle is a rare disease, often originates from two coronary vessels and diagonal artery is involved in most cases.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution ; Vascular Fistula ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) for treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR).

METHODSAll 27 patients with ISR and clinical evidence of ischemia had been treated with SESs. Among them, 23 patients had diffuse and complex lesions, and 5 of them received 2 SESs. Clinical and angiographic follow-up were performed for all patients and the results were analyzed.

RESULTSAll stents were implanted successfully. There were no remained stenosis and major in-hospital complications. Average follow-up time was 8.9 +/- 2.1 (5-14) months, with a clinical follow-up rate of 96.3% and angiographic follow-up rate of 92.6%. During the follow-up, there was none of death. One patient had recurrent angina with an angiographic evidence of the proximal edge restenosis of the stent. Mild neointimal hyperplasia in the proximal edge was found in 2 patients, but the stenosis was less than 25%. No late lumen loss was found in other 24 patients. The late lumen loss of the in-stent averaged 0.09 +/- 0.02 mm, and of the distal edge vessel averaged 0.10 +/- 0.03 mm, and of the proximal edge vessel averaged 0.20 +/- 0.06 mm. The rate of target vessel revascularization was 3.8%.

CONCLUSIONThe SES implantation is safe and feasible for the treatment of in-stent restenosis, which could effectively prevent neointimal hyperplasia and recurrent restenosis of the lesion.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Stents