Objective To observe the morphologic changes of peripheral blood lupus cell in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and investigate its relationship with disease activity in systemic lupus ery- thematosus.Methods Modified classical blood clotting method to observe the morphological changes of pe- ripheral blood lupus cells in 80 cases with systemic lupus erythematosus.Fifty cases were in active stage,and 30 cases were in stable stage.Comparison of serum autoantibody,complement and SLEDAI were also carried out.Results There was significant association between lupus cells in special morphous and autoantibody, such as anti-double-stranded DNA antibody,anti-nucleosome antibodies,complement C3、C4 and SLEDAI(r= 0.588,P=0.056:r=0.759,P=0.135;r=-0.648,P=0.058;r=-0.589,P=0.057,r=0.686,P

Objective To investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B on the antioxidant stress capacity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(HUCMSCs)and to improve the clinical application efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells.Methods The 5th generation HUMSCs were used for the experiment and divided into control group,model group,and experimental-L,-M,-H groups.The control group was cultured normally;the model group was treated with 800 μmol·L-1 hydrogen peroxide(H2 O2)for 2 h;and the experimental-L,-M,-H groups were pretreated with 2,10,20 μg·mL-1salvianolic acid B for 24 h before adding 800 μmol·L-1 H2 O2 for 2 h.The levels of glutathione(GSH),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and malondialdehyde(MDA)in the cell supernatant of each group were detected using test kits;real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes Caspase 1,and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2).Results After treatment with 800 μmol·L-1H2 O2 for 2 h,the levels of MDA in the cell supernatants of the control group,model group,and experimental-H group were(3.27±0.41),(6.50±0.21)and(4.79±0.40)nmol·mL-1,respectively;the GSH levels were(35.43±0.72),(20.13±0.58)and(32.30±3.87)μmoL·L-1;the SOD levels were(5.34±0.18),(3.34±0.20)and(5.09±0.15)U·mL-1;the expression of Caspase 1 mRNA were 1.02±0.21,2.78±0.26 and 2.37±0.32;the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA were 1.01±0.12,0.43±0.03 and 0.60±0.17.Compared with the control group,the above indexes in the model group were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the above indexes in the experimental-H group were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Salvianolic acid B can reduce apoptosis caused by oxidative stress and enhance the antioxidant stress capacity of HUCMSCs.

BACKGROUNDEndovascular stent-graft treatment has emerged as an alternative for patients with type B aortic dissection (AD), either at acute or chronic phase, in selected patients. This study aimed to investigate the results of endovascular stent-graft repair for acute and chronic type B AD.

METHODSFrom May 2002 to July 2007, 67 patients with type B AD were treated by endovascular stent-graft placement. There were 32 patients in the acute phase (AAD group) and 35 patients in the chronic phase (CAD group). The patients were followed up from 1 to 65 months (average, 17 +/- 16 months). The immediate and follow-up clinical outcomes were documented and compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTSPlacement of endovascular stent-grafts across the primary entry tears was technically successful in all 67 patients. Compared with patients in the CAD group, those in the AAD group had higher percentages of pleural effusion (15.6% vs 0, P = 0.02) and visceral/leg ischemia (21.9% vs 2.9%, P = 0.02). Procedure related complications, including endoleak and post-implantation syndrome occurred more frequently in AAD group than in CAD group (21.9% vs 2.9% and 31.3% vs 8.6%, respectively; P = 0.02 and P = 0.02). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in survival rate at 4 years between the 2 groups (86.4% vs 92.3%, P = 0.42 by Log-rank test). But the 4-year event-free survival rate was higher in patients with chronic dissection than in patients with acute dissection (96.2% vs 73.9%; P = 0.02 by Log-rank test).

CONCLUSIONSEndovascular repair with stent-graft was safe and effective for the treatment of both acute and chronic type B AD. However, both immediate and long term major complications occurred more frequently in patients with acute dissection than in those with chronic dissection.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; therapy ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; therapy ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDRapid recanalization of infarct-related artery (IRA) has become the major target during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI), but strategy for treatment of non-IRA lesions in this setting remains unclear. This study aimed to compare long-term effects between PCI for IRA only and that for both IRA and non-IRA in ST-elevation MI patients with multi-vessel disease.

METHODSA total of 242 eligible patients with ST-elevation MI and at least two diseased coronary arteries (luminal narrowing > or = 70%) undergoing primary PCI were included. Of them, 149 patients underwent primary PCI for IRA only (group 1), and 93 received primary PCI for IRA followed by elective PCI for non-IRA 7 to 15 days after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (group 2). Drug-eluting stents (DESs) were deployed in more than 90% of the patients.

RESULTSThe two groups did not differ with respect to baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics. No significant differences were observed in 12-month clinical follow-up results regarding major adverse cardiac events (11.5% vs 15.1%, P > 0.05) and target lesion revascularization (8.1% vs 7.6%, P > 0.05) between the two groups. However, patients in group 1 had higher rates of recurrent angina (10.1% vs 2.1%, P < 0.05) and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction evaluated by echocardiography (0.56 +/- 0.22 vs 0.63 +/- 0.25, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWith the use of DESs, complete revascularization with elective PCI for non-IRA after primary PCI may exert a beneficial effect on long-term symptomatology and left ventricular function in patients with ST-elevation MI and multi-vessel disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Myocardial Revascularization ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEp53-induced apoptosis is crucial in the development of hypoxic-ischemia (HI) brain damage and neurodegenerative disorders. Some experimental research has shown that a synthetic inhibitor of p53 can protect neurons against apoptosis. This study aimed to explore the expression of p53 in neonatal mice following HI brain damage and the effect of p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-alpha, PFT-alpha) on brain damage.

METHODSHI was induced in 9-day-old mice pups by ligation of left carotid artery and 10% oxygen exposure for 55 minutes. The pups were sacrificed and the brains were taken out at 3, 8, 24, and 72 hrs post-HI. The brains were sectioned and stained with antibody against p53 and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2). PFT-alpha was injected intraperitoneally: in experiment 1, immediately after HI with different dosages (1, 2 and 8 mg/kg); in experiment 2, 2 mg/kg at different HI times (1 hr before HI, and immediately and 1 hr after HI). Control animals without HI received injections of 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide. Brain damage was evaluated by gross morphology scoring at 72 hrs after HI.

RESULTSThe number of p53 positive cells in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere increased significantly and peaked at 3-8 hrs post-HI when compared with those of contralateral hemisphere as well as normal controls. The positive cells distributed mainly in the MAP-2 negative area. Both different dosages and different injection time PFT-alpha treatment did not reduce the extent of brain damage.

CONCLUSIONSThe immunoactivity of p53 increased significantly as early as 3 hrs post-HI. The distribution area of p53 expression was consistent with that of brain damage. The p53 inhibitor PFT-alpha has no protective effects against HI brain damage in neonatal mice.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Benzothiazoles ; Brain ; drug effects ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology ; Toluene ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors

BACKGROUNDProteasome subunits (PSMB) and transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) loci are located in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class II region play important roles in immune response and protein degradation in neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PSMB and TAP and Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted by genotyping SNPs in PSMB8, PSMB9, TAP1, and TAP2 genes in the Chinese population. Subjects included 542 sporadic patients with PD and 674 healthy controls. Nine identified SNPs in PSMB8, PSMB9, TAP1, and TAP2 were genotyped through SNaPshot testing.

RESULTSThe stratified analysis of rs17587 was specially performed on gender. Data revealed that female patients carry a higher frequency of rs17587-G/G versus (A/A + G/A) compared with controls. But there was no significant difference with respect to the genotypic frequencies of the SNPs in PSMB8, TAP1, and TAP2 loci in PD patients.

CONCLUSIONChinese females carrying the rs17587-G/G genotype in PSMB9 may increase a higher risk for PD, but no linkage was found between other SNPs in HLA Class II region and PD.

ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 2 ; genetics ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 3 ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigen Presentation ; Case-Control Studies ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; immunology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo Compare the efficacy and safety of Rapamycin (Cypher) and Paclitaxel (TAXUS) eluting stents for multi-vessel coronary diseases.

METHODSFrom June 2003 to December 2004, a total of 416 patients with multi-vessel coronary diseases were randomly treated with Rapamycin (n = 210) and Paclitaxel (n = 206) eluting stents. Patients with left main lesion, acute myocardial infarction, revascularization were not included. Acute and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSBaseline clinical characteristics, including risk factors of coronary heart disease, coronary lesion type, heart function, rates of success and complication of percutaneous coronary intervention procedure in the two groups were comparable. Number of stents implanted was not significantly different between the two groups (3.24 +/- 1.25 vs 3.19 +/- 1.38, P > 0.05). Mean follow-up duration was (19.5 +/- 8.9) months. Follow-up rate (96.2 vs 95.1%), angina pectoris reoccurrence (4.0 vs 6.1%), restenosis (7.1 vs 9.6%), major adverse cardiac event (6.4 vs 8.8%) and event free survival (93.1 vs 91.3%) during follow-up were not significantly different between the two groups. Subacute stent thrombosis rate tended to be higher in Paclitaxel eluting stent group compared with Rapamycin eluting stent group (1.0% vs 0.5%, P > 0.05). At 6 to 9 months angiographic follow-up, the in-stent minimal lumen diameter (MLD) and the in-segment MLD were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSSatisfactory acute and long term outcomes for patients with multi-vessel coronary disease were achieved by both Cypher and TAXUS stent implantation and the safety and efficacy of the two kinds of stents were comparable.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDData on the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stent (DES) for treatment of multiple coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions are scanty. The aim of the present study was to compare the long-term outcomes of DES versus bare metal stent (BMS) implantation for multiple coronary CTO lesions.

METHODSWe analyzed 188 patients who underwent coronary stenting for at least two de novo CTO lesions in our center from November 2000 to November 2006. Among them, 118 patients (62.8%) received DES and 70 patients (37.2%) received BMS implantation after the recanalization for CTO lesions. All patients were followed up for up to 5 years for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Long-term survival rates were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics and procedural success rate between DES group and BMS group. Compared with the BMS group, the DES group showed a significantly higher rate of long CTO (> or = 15 mm) (62.0% vs. 50.6%, P = 0.023). The number of stents per lesion (1.39 +/- 0.71 vs. 1.17 +/- 0.66, P = 0.007) and the mean length of stents in the DES group were also higher than those in the BMS group ((40.8 +/- 11.4) mm vs. (23.4 +/- 8.7) mm, P < 0.001). But the mean diameter of stents in the DES group was smaller than that in the BMS group ((3.1 +/- 0.2) mm vs. (3.3 +/- 0.5) mm, P < 0.001). Average follow-up time was 4.8 +/- 0.7 (1.5 - 5.0) years in the BMS group and 4.3 +/- 0.5 (1.3 - 5.0) years in the DES group. Both the 5-year cumulative survival rates and the target vessel revascularization (TVR)-free survival rates of the DES group were significantly higher than those in the BMS group (83.1% vs. 72.9%, Log-rank P = 0.044; 77.1% vs. 62.9%, Log-rank P = 0.009). The cumulative MACE-free survival rates in the DES group were significantly higher than those in the BMS group (71.2% vs. 51.4%, Log-rank P = 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that DES implantation for multiple CTO lesions could significantly reduce the long-term MACE risk after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (HR: 0.436; 95%CI 0.327 - 0.665, P < 0.001). Age over 65 years (HR: 2.018; 95%CI 1.491 - 3.127, P < 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% (HR: 1.494; 95%CI 1.125 - 2.376, P < 0.001) were identified as the independent predictors of long-term MACE.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates the long-term (up to 5 years) efficacy and safety of DES for treatment of multiple coronary CTO lesions, and its superiority compared to BMS in reducing the rates of TVR and MACE.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Coronary Occlusion ; mortality ; therapy ; Coronary Thrombosis ; chemically induced ; mortality ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To clone Streptococcus salivarius(Ss) 57. I urease gene, which can express ureolytic activity in Escherichia coli (Ec) without adding extra nickel ions. Methods Urease gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction in three separate parts. The three separate plasmids were digested by specific restriction enzymes and ligated together. The expression of the complete urease gene in Ec was detected by phenol red assay and pH analysis. Results Urease gene of Ss 57. I was eventually cloned and proved correct. Urease activity of the obtained clone was positive in Ec. Without adding extra NiCl2, the recombinant Ec could hydrolyze urea to produce ammonia, resulting in the increase of pH value.Conclusions The clone of Ss urease gene obtained in this study could express ureolytic activity in Ec without adding extra nickel ions. The current clone can be used to construct ureolytic effector strain used in replacement therapy in caries prevention.

BACKGROUNDCurrently intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been widely used in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, few studies have been done with regard to the clinical outcome and safety of IABP in assisting PCI in aged patients with ACS. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the safety of IABP in different age groups of patients with ACS.

METHODSData on 292 ACS patients who received IABP-assisted PCI in Shenyang General Hospital of People's Liberation Army were retrospectively analyzed. More specifically, the successful rate, mortality and complications associated with the treatment were compared between the senior (>/= 60 years old) and the non-senior (< 60 years old) groups of patients.

RESULTSThe attack rate of non-ST segment elevation ACS was significantly higher in the senior group than in the non-senior group (38.8% vs 21.1%, P < 0.01). The incidence of the IABP-associated complications was not significantly different between both groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical outcome and safety of IABP-assisted PCI in the elderly patients were comparable to that for the non-elderly patients.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; therapy ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies