Objective To analyze the feasibility of local LINGO-1 polyclonal antibody administration for treatment of spinal cord injury in adult rats. Methods Twenty-four adult female SD rats were randomized into sham-operated group, rabbit IgG group and LINGO-1 antibody group. In the latter two groups, partial transaction of the T9 segment of the spinal cord was performed to completely sever the dorsal eorticospinal tract, followed immediately by administration of rabbit IgG and anti-LINGO polyclonal antibody via a mini-osmotic pump, respectively. At 3 and 28 days after the operation, the T8～10 segments of the spinal cord were harvested to prepare cryosections, and immunofluorescence staining was used to analyze the penetration of LINGO-1 polyclonal antibody into the spinal cord tissue and its specific binding to LINGO-1 molecules. Results In LINGO-1 antibody group, the presence of rabbit antibodies was detected at the injured sites of the spinal cord at 3 and 28 days after the operation. The mean immunofluorescence density was significantly lower in L1NGO-1 antibody group than in rabbit IgG group at 3 days after the operation (P<0.05). In rabbit IgG group, the mean immunofluorescence density for LINGO-1 in the crysections pre-treated with LINGO-1 polyclonal antibody was significantly lower than that in sections pre-treated with rabbit IgG(P<0.05). Conclusion Locally administered LINGO-1 polyclonal antibody can penetrate into the injured sites in the spinal cord in a wide time window and recognizes LINGO-1 molecule specifically, suggesting the feasibility of passive immunotherapy for spinal cord injury.

Objectives To identify the possible relationship between polymorphisms of D17S1878 and D17S932 on the Chromosome 17 and risk of essential hypertension (EH).Methods The polymorphisms of D17S1878 and D17S932 were genotyped using Genetic Analyzer in 325 subjects from 67 Chinese families with EH in Liauning province.The polymorphisms of D17S1878 and D17S932 sites were genotyped using Genetic Analyzer and GeneSean Software;PHASE2.1 Software was used in hyplotype analysis and affected sib pair analysis was used in linkage analysis.Results 61 hyplotypes were found in the study population with 272 hypertensive and 53 normotensive subjects and the frequency of haplotype H1 [(CA)18/(CA)11] in the hypertensive (15.4%) was significantly higher than that in the normotensive (6.3%,P＜0.05).Affected sib pair analysis could be applied in 180 subjects,the t values of the D17S1878 and D17S932 were 1.88 and 3.95,respectively (both P＜0.05) suggesting that the transitivity and consistency of the D17S1878 and D17S932 in sib pairs from the pedigrees were higher than expected (25%).Coneinsion The polymorphisms of D17S1878 and D17S932 were possibly linked with predisposing genes of essential hypertension.

Background RhoA/ Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway is involved in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation. Inhibition of ROCK has been proposed as a treatment for PAH. But the mechanism of RhoA/ROCK pathway and its downstream signaling in proliferation of human PASMCs is unclear. We investigated the effect of fasudil, a selective ROCK inhibitor, on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced human PASMC proliferation, and the possible association between RhoA/ROCK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK),p27KiP1.Methods Human PASMCs were cultured with the stimulation of 10 ng/ml PDGF, and different concentrations of fasudil were added before the addition of mitogen. Cell viability and cell cycle were determined with MTT and flow cytometry respectively. ROCK activity, ERK activity and protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear angigen (PCNA) and p27Kip1 were measured by immunoblotting.Results By MTT assay, PDGF significantly increased the OD value that represented human PASMC proliferation, and pretreatment with fasudil significantly reversed this effect in a dose-dependent manner. After PDGF stimulation, the percentage of cells in S phase increased dramatically from 15.6％ to 24.3％, while the percentage in G0/G1 phase was reduced from 80.6％ to 59％. And pretreatment with fasudil reversed the cell cycle effect of PDGF significantly in a dose-dependent manner. PDGF markedly induced ROCK activity and ERK activity with a peak at 15 minutes, which were significantly inhibited by fasudil. In addition, fasudil significantly inhibited PDGF-induced PCNA expression and fasudil also upregulated p27Kip1 expression in human PASMCs, which decreased after PDGF stimulation.Conclusion RhoA/ROCK is vital for PDFG-induced human PASMC proliferation, and fasudil effectively inhibited PDGF-induced human PASMC proliferation by up-regulation of p27Kip1, which may be associated with inhibition of ERK activity.

Background Vascular anomalies are common and multidisciplinary involved diseases. The greatest impediment to their treatment in the past was their confusing terminology and clinical heterogeneities. This hospital-based retrospective study assessed some clinical characteristics, diagnosis, therapies and outcomes of patients with vascular anomalies in southeast China.Methods A total of 592 vascular anomalies patients (patients with intracranial tissues or viscera involved were excluded), admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2006 to September 2009, were enrolled in the study. Data for clinical characteristics, diagnosis, therapies and outcomes were collected and analyzed.Results Of the 592 patients, the male:female ratios in the vascular tumor group (n=187) and the vascular malformation group (n=405) were 1∶1.49 and 1∶1.06 respectively, with no significant difference between them. The mean onset age of the vascular tumor group was significantly younger than that of the vascular malformation group (P ＜0.001). The head and neck were the most commonly (31.4％) involved areas in vascular anomalies. A total of 23.8％ of the patients with vascular anomalies had definite symptoms caused by the vascular lesions. In the vascular tumor group, 94.1％ of them were infantile hemangiomas. Venous malformation was the most common (41.0％) subtype of vascular malformations.Surgical therapy was undertaken in 94.2％ of the patients with vascular anomalies. Of the 519 patients available for the 16-58 month follow-up, 322 patients (62.0％) were cured, 108 patients (20.8％) were markedly improved, 57 patients (11.0％) were partially improved, and 32 patients (6.2％) were uncured.Conclusions Vascular anomalies are clinically heterogeneous. While the outcome is generally favorable, further effort should be made to determine the appropriate terminology and management.

Objective To observe the correlation of plasma amino-terminal pro-A-,B-and C-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proANP,NT-proBNP and NT-proCNP)levels with New York Heart Association (NYHA)functional class and echocardiographic derived parameters of cardiac function in heart failure patients.Methods Data of NYHA grade,echocardiographic derived parameters of cardiac function,plasma levels of NT-proANP,NT-proBNP and NT-proCNP(measured by enzyme immunoassay method)were obtained in 112 heart failure patients and 44 normal control Subiects.The correlation analysis was made between NT-proANP,NT-proBNP,NT-proCNP and NYHA functional class,left atrium diameter(LAD),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),respectively.Results The plasma concentrations of NT-proANP,NT-proBNP and NT-proCNP in heart failure patients were significantly higher than in control group(all P＜0.05).Correiation analysis revealed a strong correlation between NT-proANP and NT-proBNP(r=0.790,P=0.000)and a weak correlation between NT-proCNP and NT-proBNP(r=0.278,P=0.003)as well as between NT-proCNP and NT proANP(r=0.236,P=0.012)in heart failure patients.Univariant analysis showed that NT-proANP and NT-proBNP were positively correlated to LAD,LVEDD and negatively correlated to LVEF(all P＜0.05)while there was no significant correlation between NT-proCNP and echocardiographic derived parameters of cardiac function in heart failure patients.Multivariate stepwise regression analysis including age,gender,NYHA classification,LAD,LVEDD and LVEF revealed that NYHA classification,LVEF,LAD and age were independent predictors of NT-proANP;while NYHA classification,LVEF and age were independent predictors of NT-proBNP while there Was no association among these factors and NT-proCNP.Conclusion In heart failure patients,the plasma concentration of NT-proANP,NT-proBNP and NT-proCNP were significantly increased and NT-proANP,NT-proBNP but not NT-proCNP were significantly correlated to NYHA classification and echocardiographic derived parameters of cardiac function.

Objective To determine the prevalence and to identify risk factors of peri-procedure electrical storm (ES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods The clinical data of 228 AMI patients underwent emergency PCI were retrospectively analyzed and patients were divided into ES group (n = 39) and non-ES (n = 189) group.ES was referred to spontaneous ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation occurring twice or more within 24 h and requiring emergency treatment including anti-arrhythm medicine and/or cardioversion or defibrillation.Results ES was diagnosed in 39 out of 228 patients (17.1%) during peri-procedure stage.The incidence of ES in patients with various infarct related arteries (IRA) was as follows:55.6% with left main artery (LM),23.7% with right coronary artery (RCA),12.4% with anterior descending branch (LAD) and 0 with left circumflex artery (LCX).Older age,lager diameter of IRA,higher concentration of CK-MB and cTnT,higher incidence of reporfusion arrhythmia (RA),lower grade of TIMI after PCI and higher mortality were associated with increased risks of ES (The P value was 0.043,0.012,0.036,0.018,0.001,0.049,respectively).Gender,systolic pressure,diastolic pressure,random blood glucose level,white blood count and concentration of hs-CRP were similar between ES and non-ES patients.Logistic analysis showed that the diameter of IRA (OR 2.381,95% CI 1.127-5.028,P = 0.023),TIMI grade of IRA after PCI (OR 4.744,95% CI 1.773-12.691,P = 0.002) and RA (OR 12.680,95% CI 4.360-36.879,P =0.000)were the independent risk factors of per-procedure ES in AMI patients underwent emergency PCI.Conclusions The AMI patients with LM as IRA had the highest incidence of ES during emergency PCI and the diameter of IRA,TIMI grade of IRA after PCI and RA were independent risk factors for the development of ES during peri-PCI stage.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics of left ventricular fat replacement. Methods We identified 45 patients [28M/17F, mean age (51.9 ± 14. 7 )years] with left ventricular myocardial fat replacement ( CT value ≤ - 30 Hu) by cardiovascular CT. Results Among 45 patients, 25 patients[20M/5F, mean age (61.2 ± 10. 4) years] were diagnosed as coronary artery disease (CAD). There was 56% single-vessel disease, 20% double-vessel disease and 24% triple-vessel disease,true left ventricular aneurysm was detected in 3 patients and left ventricular thrombi in 1 patient, the dimension of left ventricle was (54. 5 ±9. 4) mm and the LVEF was (51.8 ± 13 ) % in CAD group. In this group, fat replacement occurred in the region of myocardial infarction and presented as curvilinear band in subendocardial region. The left ventricular wall thickness was lower than 5 mm in 21 cases. The location of fat replacement in CAD group is as follows: apical region in 18 patients, distal septal in 15 patients, distal anterior in 11 patients, mid-septal in 7 patients, mid-anterior in 7 patients and basal in 1 patients. The age of remaining 20 patients (8M/12F) without CAD were (57. 8 ± 13.3) years. In the group of non-CAD,dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in 3 patients, atrial septal defect in 1 patient, rheumatic heart disease in 1 patient, there was no structural heart disease in the remaining 15 patients. The dimension of left ventricle was (51.1 ± 9. 1 ) mm and the LVEF was (59. 4 ± 13.9 )%. In non-CAD group, fat replacement mainly occurred in septal region, presented as curvilinear band in 17 patients and patch in 3 patients. The location of fat replacement in this group is as follows: mid-septal region in 11 patients, distal-septal in 10 patients and apical in 9 patients. The intramural fat replacement was detected in 14 patients: subendocardial fat replacement in 10 patients and both intramural and subendocardial fat replacement in 4 patients. Conclusions Left ventricular fat replacement could be documented in CAD patients, non-CAD cardiomypathy patients and in patients without structural heart disease. Left ventricular fat replacement often positioned in apical region in CAD patients as a consequence of infarct healing while mostly positioned in septal region in non-CAD patients, the definite clinical implication of left ventricular fat replacement in nonCAD patients remains to be clarified.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of admission plasma amino-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)on in-hospital mortality in patients with decompensated heart failure.Methods Plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured in patients with decompensated heart failure within 24 hours after admission with ELISA method.The NT-proBNP levels were compared between survivals and dying patients in hospital.ROC analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of admission plasma NT-proBNP on in-hospital mortality and to identify the optimal NT-proBNP cut-point for predicting in hospital mortality.A binary logistic regress analyses was used to evaluate if NT-proBNP was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality.Results A total of 804 patients with decompensated heart failure were enrolled in his study(293 valvular heart diseases,219 ischemic cardiomyopathy,141 dilated cardiomyopathy,14 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,21 restrictive cardiomyopathy,39 hypertensive heart disease,41 chronic pulmonary heart disease and 36 adult congenital heart disease)and 96 patients were in class Ⅱ,450 in classⅢand 258 in cases Ⅳ according to NYHA Classification.During hospitalization,64 deaths were recorded and the on admission plasma NT-proBNP levels of patients died during hospitalization were significantly higher than those of survivals[4321.1(3063.8,6606.5)pmol/L VS.1921.6(873.9,3739.2)pmol/L,P＜0.01].Area under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of NT-proBNP to predict in-hospital death was 0.772(95%CI:0.718-0.825,P＜0.01),the optimal plasma NT-proBNP cut-point for predicting in-hospital mortality Was 3500 pmol/L,with a sensitivity of 70.3%,a specificity of 72.0%,an accuracy of 71.9%.a positive predictive value of 17.8%and a negative predictive value of 96.6%.Patients whose NT-proBNP levels were equal or more than 3500 pmol/L had a much higher in hospital mortality(17.8%)compared with those with NT-proBNP levels of less than 3500 pmol/L (3.4%),P＜0.01.Binary logistic regress analyses demonstrated that admission plasma NT-proBNP,pneumonia,heart rate and NYHA class were independent predictors for in-hospital mortality in patients with decompensated heart failure(P＜0.05 or 0.01)and admission plasma NT-proBNP Was the strongest predictor for in-hospital mortality.Conclusions Admission plasma NT-proBNP level was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality in patients with decompensated heart failure.The optimal NT-proBNP cut point for predicting in-hospital mortality was 3500 pmol/L in this patient cohort.

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture versus Flunarizine hydrochloride in the treatment of migraine. Four Chinese databases(CNKI, VIP, WanFang, CBM), three English databases(Cochrane Library, EMbase, Medline) and ClinicalTrail.gov were systematically and comprehensively retrieved. The retrieval time was from the establishment of each database to January 8, 2020. Randomized controlled trial(RCT) for acupuncture versus Flunarizine in the treatment of migraine were screened out according to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. The included studies were evaluated with the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. The included studies was conducted by RevMan 5.3, and the outcome indicators were evaluated for evidence quality and strength of recommendation by the GRADE system. A total of 1 033 literatures were retrieved, and 23 studies were finally included. Except for 4 multiarm tests, the total sample size was 1 548, including 785 in acupuncture group and 763 in Flunarizine group. The overall quality of the included studies was not high. Meta-analysis results showed that the acupuncture group was superior to the Flunarizine group in reduction of headache frequency(SMD=-1.00, 95%CI[-1.45,-0.54], P<0.000 1). In reduction of headache intensity, acupuncture group was superior to Flunarizine group(SMD=-1.05, 95%CI[-1.41,-0.68], P<0.000 01). In reduction of headache duration, acupuncture group was superior to Flunarizine group(SMD=-1.42, 95%CI[-1.83,-1.02], P<0.000 1). The acupuncture group was superior to Flunarizine group(MD=-0.17, 95%CI[-0.21,-0.13], P<0.000 01) in reduction of the painkillers taking frequency. The acupuncture group was superior to Flunarizine group(SMD=-0.94, 95%CI[-1.35,-0.52], P<0.000 1) in allevia-tion of paroxysmal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. The GRADE system showed that the evidence level of the above indicators was extremely low, and the strength of recommendation was low. As for the occurrence of adverse reactions, the adverse reactions reported in the acupuncture group included in the study were all mild adverse reactions, like drowsiness, subcutaneous bleeding, local pain, subcutaneous hematoma and dizziness needle. The available evidence showed that acupuncture has a better efficacy than Flunarizine hydrochloride in the treatment of migraine in adult patients. However, due to the high bias risk in the included studies, the conclusions of this study shall be adopted with caution, and more high-quality studies shall be carried out for verification in the future.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Flunarizine/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Granules alone or combined with calcium channel blocker in treatment of migraine. In this study, four Chinese databases(CNKI, VIP, WanFang, CBM), three English databases(Cochrane Library, EMbase, Medline) and clinical trials registration center(ClinicalTrials.gov) were retrieved. The retrieval time was from the establishment of each database to January 8, 2020. According to the set inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria,the randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Yangxue Qingnao Granules alone or combined with calcium channel blocker was selected. The "Cochrane bias risk assessment" tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. RevMan 5.3 was used to conduct Meta-analysis of the included studies and grade system was used to evaluate the evidence quality of the outcome indicators. A total of 583 documents were retrieved and finally included in 23 studies, with a total sample size of 2 308 cases, 1 171 cases in the treatment group and 1 137 cases in the control group. The overall quality of the research included was not high. Meta-analysis showed that,(1)in terms of effective rate, Yangxue Qingnao Granules combined with calcium channel blocker was better than calcium channel blocker(RR=1.24, 95%CI[1.17, 1.32], P<0.000 01), and there was no significant difference between Yangxue Qingnao Granules and calcium channel blocker(RR=1.36, 95%CI[0.91, 2.03], P=0.14).(2)In terms of reducing headache frequency, when the unit of headache frequency was times per month, Yangxue Qingnao Granules combined with calcium channel blocker was better than calcium channel blocker(MD=-1.39, 95%CI[-1.83,-0.95], P<0.000 01), when the unit of headache frequency was times daily, Yangxue Qingnao Granules combined with calcium channel blocker was better than calcium channel blocker(MD=-2.08, 95%CI[-2.34,-1.82], P<0.000 01).(3)In terms of headache intensity, when headache intensity was scored by pain intensity, Yangxue Qingnao Granules combined with calcium channel blocker was better than calcium channel blocker(MD=-0.70, 95%CI[-0.81,-0.59], P<0.000 01), when headache intensity was scored by VAS score, Yangxue Qingnao Granules combined with calcium channel blocker was better than calcium channel blocker(MD=-1.59, 95%CI[-2.13,-1.06], P<0.000 01).(4)In terms of reducing headache duration, Yangxue Qingnao Granules combined with calcium channel blocker was better than calcium channel blocker(SMD=-3.13, 95%CI[-4.12,-2.15], P<0.000 01). GRADE system showed that the evidence level of the above outcome indicators was low and extremely low. Twelve cases of adverse reactions were reported, all of which were mild. The results showed that the combination of Yang-xue Qingnao Granules can improve the effective rate, reduce the headache frequency, the headache intensity and the headache duration, and had good safety and low incidence of adverse reactions compared with the single calcium channel blocker. However, there was no difference in the effective rate between Yangxue Qingnao Granules alone and calcium channel blocker. In view of the low quality of this study, which affects the reliability of the conclusion, it is necessary to use the conclusion of this study carefully, and more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to further verify in the future.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders/drug therapy* ; Reproducibility of Results