BACKGROUND: There is yet no evidence about whether internal carotid artery stenting with cerebral protection devices is beneficial to reducing neurological complications. OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and efficacy of carotid angioplasty and stenting with cerebral protection devices for carotid stenosis. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Non-randomized concurrent control trial was performed at Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force from June 2005 to January 2007. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-four patients with carotid artery stenosis underwent stenting, including 21 with cerebral protection devices (16 males and 5 females; average age of 66.4 years, range 50-79 years), and 53 with no protection devices (36 males and 17 females; average age of 69.2 years, range 52-83 years). METHODS: Size of cerebral protection devices was confirmed according to the diameter of normal vessel at distal carotid artery stenosis. The guide wire was sent into distal stenosis under guidance of pathway picture followed by cerebral protection device release. The stent passed over the stenosis and released to appropriate site. The protection device was removed when the stenosis was relieved confirmed by routine angiography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Features of stenting process; frequency of stroke attack perioperatively and during 12-month follow-up. All of them took periprocedual anticoagulation treatment, cerebral vascular angiograpgy. RESULTS: Seventy-six self-expandable stents were delivered in 74 patients with carotid stenosis. Twenty-one cerebral protection devices were employed including 8 Angioguard and 13 Filterwire. The patients without cerebral protection devices were predilated 20 times (37.7%) with the balloons, and all were postdilated; 3 cases (5.6%) developed brief decreased heart rate and hypotension after stent release. The patients with cerebral protection devices were predilated 6 times (28.5%) with balloons, and all were postdilated; 2 cased (9.5%) developed brief decreased heart rate and hypotension after stent release and 2 (9.5%) developed angiospasm. One patient (4.7%) with cerebral protection devices had cerebral infarction (4.7%) perioperatively and another had cerebral infarction (4.7%) during the follow up. While four patients in the group without cerebral protection devices had cerebral infarction (7.5%) perioperatively, and five had cerebral infarction (9.4%) during the follow up. There were no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the study show that cerebral protection devices are not helpful to reduce neurological complications in patients with carotid artery stenosis after stenting.

The present study was to evaluate feasibility of a limited sampling strategy (LSS) in the prediction of inhibited hepatic CYP3A activity with systemic clearance of midazolam (MDZ), a hepatic CYP3A activity phenotyping probe. Rats were pretreated with a serial doses of ketoconazole, a selective inhibitor on CYP3A. Blood samples were collected and detected for MDZ at specified time points after intravenous injection of MDZ. Stepwise regression analysis and a Jack-knife validation procedures were performed in one group of rats as training set to establish the most informative LSS model for accurately estimating the clearance of MDZ. Another group of rats with same treatment was used as validation set to estimate the individual clearance based on predictive equations derived from the training set. Bland-Altman plots showed a good agreement between the systemic clearance calculated from DAS (CLobs) and corresponding parameter that was derived from three LSS models (CLest). LSS models derived from two or three sampling time points, including 60, 90 min, 30, 60, 90 min and 30, 60, 120 min, exhibited a good accuracy and acceptable error for estimating the CLobs of MDZ to evaluate hepatic CYP3A activity, especially the 60, 90 min LSS model is most accurate and convenient. The results supported that limited plasma sampling to predict the systemic clearance of MDZ is easier than the usual method for estimating CYP3A phenotyping when the hepatic activity of CYP3A is reduced in the rat. The present study provided theoretical basis and laboratory evidence for LSS to clinically evaluate metabolizing function of liver and
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketoconazole ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Midazolam ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Phenotype ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinicopathological features of fibrous mass-forming chronic pancreatitis (FMCP), to compare clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and fibrous mass-forming non-autoimmune pancreatitis (nAIP) and to provide evidence for pathological diagnosis, differential diagnosis and clinical treatment strategy.

METHODSClinicopathological features were analyzed in 81 cases of FMCP. Infiltrating IgG4(+) plasmacytes were counted by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSAmong 81 cases of FMCP, 20 cases were diagnosed as AIP and 61 cases were interpreted as nAIP. AIP was more common in males over 50 years, whereas nAIP was seen in much younger patients (P = 0.001). The amount of inflammatory cells in the stroma of AIPs was remarkable higher than that in nAIPs (P = 0.002). The incidence of neuritis in AIPs (100%, 20/20) was also higher compared with that of nAIPs (75.4%, 46/61; P = 0.017). Storiformed-fibrosis was more common in AIPs (95.0%, 19/20) than in nAIPs (1.6%, 1/61;P = 0.000). Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) was observed in 50.0%(10/20) of AIPs and 32.8%(20/61) of nAIPs, with a greater severity observed in AIPs (P = 0.031). Tubular complex (TC) was more commonly observed in AIPs (65.0%, 13/20) than nAIPs (26.2%, 16/61;P = 0.002). Among 81 cases of FMCP, 61 cases had less than 11 IgG4(+) plasmacytes /HPF, 7 cases had 10-30/HPF and 13 cases had over 30/HPF.

CONCLUSIONSFMCPs include both AIP and nAIP. AIP has distinct pathological features and the presence of IgG4(+) plasmacyte is an important diagnostic parameter. FMCP appears to be an important precancerous lesion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Surgery may be considered for patients with FMCP due to its mass-forming nature. In contrast, patients with AIP are treated medically due to its steroid-responsiveness. Therefore, accurate and timely diagnosis of AIP is of clinical relevance to avoid unnecessary surgical complications and to prevent progression of the disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Plasma Cells ; immunology ; Precancerous Conditions ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

A quantitative analytical method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was developed for simultaneously determining twelve components in Tibetan medicine Zuozhu Daxi. SIMPCA 12.0 software was used a principal component analysis PCA) and partial small squares analysis (PLSD-DA) on the twelve components in 10 batches from four pharmaceutical factories. Acquity UPLC BEH C15 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 µm) was adopted at the column temperature of 35 °C and eluted with acetonitrile (A) -0.05% phosphate acid solution (B) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 0. 3 mL · min(-1). The injection volume was 1 µL. The detection wavelengths were set at 210 nm for alantolactone, isoalantolactone and oleanolic; 260 nm for trychnine and brucine; 288 nm for protopine; 306 nm for protopine, resveratrol and piperine; 370 nm for quercetin and isorhamnetin. The results showed a good separation among index components, with a good linearity relationship (R2 = 0.999 6) within the selected concentration range. The average sample recovery rates ranged between 99.44%-101.8%, with RSD between 0.37%-1.7%, indicating the method is rapid and accurate with a good repeatability and stability. The PCA and PLSD-DA analysis on the sample determination results revealed a great difference among samples from different pharmaceutical factories. The twelve components included in this study contributed significantly to the quantitative determination of intrinsic quality of Zuozhu Daxi. The UPLC established for to the quantitative determination of the twelve components can provide scientific basis for the comprehensive quality evaluation of Zuozhu Daxi.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Tibet

Objective To explore the therapeutic effects and adverse reaction of high-dose Diazepam (DZP) in patients with electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES).Methods Nine patients in the Outpatient of the Department of Pediatrics,Peking University First Hospital from October 2016 to May 2017 with ESES were treated with high-dose DZP.Oral DZP was administered in a dose of 0.75-1.00 mg/kg(maximum:40 mg) during the first night followed by 0.5 mg/(kg · d) (maximum:20 mg) from the second night for 1-3 months and tapered over next 1-3 months.The seizures,electroencephalogram (EEG) changes and adverse reactions were observed before and after DZP treatment.Results Six of 9 patients were male and 3 were female.The age of onset was ranged from 1 year and 6 months to 10 years.Benign childhood epilepsy with central temporal spike was diagnosed in 5 cases,epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike-and-wave during sleep in 1 case,and ESES related epilepsy in 3 cases.Age of onset DZP treatment ranged from 4 years and 4 months to 12 years,and the duration of DZP treatment was ranged from 1 to 5 months (1 case only for the first night).The follow-up interval was 6-12 months.The efficiency of DZP on seizures:intent effective in 5 patients,effective in 2 patients and ineffective in 2 patients,and the effective rate was 78％ (7/9 cases).The efficiency of DZP on EEG (1 month after DZP treatment):intent effective in 2 patients (EEG normalized),effect in 3 patients and no effect in 2 patients,and the effective rate was 71％ (5/7 cases),while 2 patients did not receive EEG examination.Four of 7 patients (57％) with intent effect and effective of DZP on seizures had seizures relapse during drug reduction and after drug withdrawal,and the EEG deteriorated simultaneously.Adverse reactions of DZP included 3 patients (33％) with adverse reactions,bed-wetting in 2 patients and snoring on the first night in 1 patient who withdrew DZP later.Conclusions The high-dose of DZP has a certain effect on seizures control and ESES suppression in patients with ESES,but also has a certain recurrence rate.The adverse reactions are mild and self-limiting.High-dose DZP treatment could be a choice for refractory patients with ESES to alleviate disease.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on whether or not levosimendan improved the prognosis of patients with sepsis and septic shock have been inconsistent. We aimed to provide an updated analysis of the therapeutic value of levosimendan in adult patients with sepsis and septic shock, in order to provide evidence-based medical evidence for its use. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, and CNKI were searched until August 2018 without language restriction. Randomized controlled studies of levosimendan with either inotropic drugs or placebo for the treatment of sepsis or septic shock were enrolled. The primary outcome was mortality, and cardiac index and serum lactate levels were the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 20 randomized controlled studies were included in this meta-analysis, including 1467 patients, with 738 patients in the experimental group (levosimendan group) and 729 patients in the control group (other inotropic drugs or placebo). There were no significant differences in mortality between the levosimendan and control groups (fixed-effect relative risk [RR] = 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.79, 1.03], P = 0.13). Levosimendan increased the cardiac index (VMD [weighted mean difference] = 0.51, 95% CI [0.06, 0.95], P = 0.02); and serum lactate levels were lower (VMD = -1.04, 95% CI [-1.47, -0.60], P < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS Based on current clinical evidence, levosimendan does not reduce mortality in adult critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock. Physicians should use levosimendan with caution in patients with sepsis and septic shock.

BACKGROUNDThe aim of the current study was to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in a concordant hamster-to-rat cardiac xenotransplantation model.

METHODSA hamster-to-rat cardiac transplantation was performed using SD rats as recipients of Golden Syrian hamster hearts. A total of 60 SD rats were divided into four groups and treated as follows: control group (n = 15); splenectomy group (n = 15); CsA group (n = 15); CsA + splenectomy group (n = 15). Levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera were harvested at different time points in each group: day 1, and 3 as well as the day the xenograft stopped beating in the control group and CsA group; day 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 in the splenectomy group and CsA + splenectomy group. The expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was examined by immunohistochemical analysis of the xenograft after cardiac xenotransplantation.

RESULTSSerum levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma were upregulated in untreated (day 3) and splenectomy-treated animals (day 7) compared to CsA + splenectomy treated animals (day 7). IL-10 was upregulated in long-term survival recipients following splenectomy + CsA. Neither P-selectin nor ICAM-1 expression was detected in long-term survival xenografts.

CONCLUSIONSSerum IL-2 and IFN-gamma were elevated following acute vascular rejection. Serum IL-10 was correlated to immunosuppression and protective effects in long-term survival rats following concordant cardiac xenotransplantation.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Cricetinae ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; Heart Transplantation ; immunology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mesocricetus ; Rats ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo analyze factors influencing the choice of atrial septal occluder (ASO) for transcatheter closure of patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD).

METHODSA total of 1114 ASD patients [388 males, aged from 2 to 75 years, mean age (26.3 +/- 17.0) years] were enrolled. Patients were divided to adult (> 14 years, mean 34.4 years, n = 779) and child (< or = 14 years, mean 7.3 years, n = 335) groups. ASD size in different ultrasound cross-sections was determined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). ASO size was chosen on the basis of the maximum diameter of the defect (MD). Defect-shapes and rim lengths of ASD, the difference choice of ASO in the two groups were compared.

RESULTSMD of the defects ranged from 5 to 40 mm [mean (19.7 +/- 7.8) mm]. ASD was successfully occluded in 1085 out of 1114 patients (97.4%). Occluder size ranged from 6 to 46 mm [mean (25.8 +/- 8.9) mm] and the difference between occluder size and MD ranged from 2 to 10 mm [mean (6.1 +/- 3.4) mm, ASO/MD ratio 1.3:1]. Though the diameter of the defect was similar between the 2 groups, the size of occluder was significantly larger in adult group than that in child group (ASO/MD ratio 1.1 - 1.6:1 vs. 1.2 - 1.8:1, P < 0.05). MD was significantly correlated with ASO in both groups (r = 0.911 and r = 0.944 in adults and child groups, respectively, all P < 0.01). The size and increment of the occluder used in patients with deficient anterior rims was significantly bigger than patients with sufficient anterior rims (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe maximum diameter of the defect was the major determinant for selecting occluder size and choice of occluder size was also influenced by patient age, defect-shape and defect rim for transcatheter closure of secundum ASD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cardiac Catheterization ; instrumentation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physicians ; psychology ; Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; Prosthesis Design ; Septal Occluder Device ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze clinical manifestations and gene mutations in a child with severe short stature, explore its molecular mechanism and further clarify the diagnostic procedure for short stature.

METHODWe observed clinical characteristics of a patient with short stature and did diagnostic examinations, assessed the function of GH-IGF-1 axis, and surveyed its family members.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, GHR, IGFALS, STAT5b and GH1 gene were amplified by PCR for sequencing, including exons and splicing areas.

RESULTThe patient presented symmetrical short stature (height -8.2 SDS) and facial features, and other congenital abnormalities.It displayed non-growth hormone deficiency. The baseline value of GH was 21 µg/L, and the peak was 57.9 µg/L. The value of IGF-1 was less than 25 µg/L, and the IGFBP-3 less than 50 µg/L. And IGF-1 generation test showed no response. There was no similar patients in the family members.Sequencing of GHR in the patient revealed a homozygous point mutation (c.Ivs6+1G>A), and her father and mother had the same heterozygous mutation. The same mutation was not identified for her sister.No other candidate gene was found.

CONCLUSIONAs the result of combined clinical characteristics and lab examinations, as well as gene detection, the case was diagnosed with Laron syndrome and GHR gene mutation is the molecular mechanism.We should explicit the etiological diagnosis for short stature, and avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Base Sequence ; Body Height ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Growth Disorders ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Human Growth Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Laron Syndrome ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of domestic recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

METHODSA randomized, self-crossover and placebo-controlled trial was conducted, with rhIL-11 and placebo classified randomly as drug A and drug B. Patients were randomly assigned to group AB or group BA. 25 microg/kg body weight of drug A or drug B was administered subcutaneously once daily starting 24 hours after chemotherapy and continued for 7 to 14 days or until the platelet count reached > or = 300 x 10(9)/L.

RESULTS118 patients were evaluable in the efficacy study. When compared with the placebo treated cycle, the results showed that rhIL-11 was able to significantly increase the platelet count at the nadir and d21 after chemotherapy, with a increase of 60.7% and 86.1% (both P < 0.001). The mean duration of thrombocytopenia (< 100 x 10(9)/L) in rhIL-11 treated cycle was 1.0 +/- 2.0 days as compared to 6.9 +/- 5.3 days in placebo treated cycle. The side effects were ache (24.6%), swelling (16.1%) and knurl (11.9%) at the injection site, hyperaemia of conjunctiva (16.1%), edema (8.5%), palpitation (6.8%) and fatigue (5.1%).

CONCLUSIONrhIL-11, possessing significant thrompoietic activity, significantly increases the likelihood of avoiding chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and shorten the duration of thrombocytopenia. Its side effects are mild and manageable.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Cross-Over Studies ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Interleukin-11 ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Thrombocytopenia ; prevention & control