Objective To evaluate the methods of electrophysiological study (EPS) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial tachycardia (AT) and the efficacy of RFCA. Methods Thirty-nine patients with AT were selected to undergo EPS and RFCA. The mean illness course was (4.5?1.6) years. Two patients had atrial septal defect, one had coronary artery disease, one dermatomyositis, and the other 35 patients had no structural heart disease. Identification of the earliest endocardial atrial activity (EAA) was based on the activation mapping recorded during AT. Results AT was induced spontaneously by atrial premature beats in 3 patients, and all other AT was inducible by atrial stimulation. Nine patients had other types of tachycardia combining with AT (including 5 patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, 2 with atrial flutter and 2 accessory pathway). The site of AT was located by recording the EAA during AT and the region of successful FRCA. In 33 patients of successful ablation, the sites of AT were 9 near coronary sinus orifice, 5 near His bundle, 13 in right atrial lateral wall along crista terminalis, 2 in superior vena cava, 3 in atrial septum and 1 in right pulmonary vein. The successful rate was 81% (33/39) with all success of 9 other tachycardia. The mean fluoroscopic time was (16.4?2.1) minutes. None of patients had complications during and after ablation. Conclusions RFCA is an effective and safe treatment for AT. The activation mapping is the most effective method. Atrial septum and crista terminalis are the most common sites of AT.

Objective: This multi-group case control study was performed to determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with gastric cancer and stomach diseases. Methods: Gastric cancer and stomach disease patients that were diagnosed pathologically between 1994 and 1996 years were divided into several case groups and control group, all histological specimens collected in gastric cancer high risk region of Shandong Province were used to measure exposure history. Results: After variables concerning age, sex and education were adjusted, odds ratios of chronic superficial gastritis in antrum, peptic ulcer disease and active degree of inflammation associated with H. pylori infection remained significant (OR was 2.072, 2.980, 2.086 respectively). Correlation analyses showed negative relationship between degree of stomach diseases and H. pylori infection(r=－0.217). Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis of a relationship between H. pylori infection and the development of chronic superficial gastritis in antrum, peptic ulcer disease and active degree of inflammation.

Objective To study the transfection efficiency, protein expression, and effect of adenovirus-mediated transfection on microvascular endothelial cells transfected by angiopoietin-related protein 2(Ad. ARP2)gene. Methods Mice coronary microvascular endothelial cells(CMECs) were isolated, cultured and transferred by Ad-ARP2. The transfection efficiency and cellular toxicity of adenovirus vector to CMECs were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Expression of Ad. ARP2 in CMECs and the secreted materials in culture medium were measured by Western blot and ELISA and compared among groups of Ad. ARP2, Ad. null, and PBS control. Vascular endothelial cells were incubated with conditional medium containing secreted ARP2, and effects on cells sprouting were observed in matrigel. Results Adenovirus-transfected CMECs showed a very high efficiency. When multiplicity of infection (MOD was 200, the transfection efficiency was 93. 5% ,and no harmful effect on CMECs growth was found. When CMECs were transfected with Ad. ARP2, there was a high ARP2 expression, which was significantly different from that with Ad. Null or PBS. The conditional medium containing ARP2 had an excellent ability to stimulate sprout of CMECs which phenomenon could not be seen in the control groups. Conclusions Adenovirus vector can be transferred into CMECs efficiently and safely. Ad. ARP2 gene transfection allows a high transient expression, and the expression products can stimulate the sprout of microvascular endothelial cells in vitro very well.

Objective: To investigate the findings of coronary artery angiography in coronary artery disease patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: The angiographic fingings of 153 coronary artery disease patients from 1995 to 1997 were reviewed. Among them, 33 were diabetic,23 were impaired glucose tolerance(IGT) and 97 were nondiabetic patients. Results: The age, sex, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and the rate of myocardial infarction were the same among 3 groups. But the 2 vessel and 3 vessel disease were more frequent in diabetic group(66.7% ,30.3%) than in nondiabetic group (26.8%,19 6%). Two vessel disease were more frequent in diabetic group(66.7%) than in IGT group (13.1%). Single vessel disease were less frequent in diabetic group(3.0%) than in IGT group(52.2%)and nondiabetic group(53.6%)( P

Intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardias (IARTs) are common late after heart surgery. Conventional mapping and ablation is relatively difficult because of the complicated anatomy and multiple potential re-entry loops. In this study we aimed to evaluate the electrophysiological characteristics and radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial tachycardia (AT) induced by myocardial scar or incision. Methods In 6 patients (three male and three female, aged 33.3+ 11.8 years) who had AT related to myocardial scar or incision,electrophysiological study and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were performed. Earliest activation combined with entrainment mapping was adopted to determine a critical isthmus. Results Re-entry related to the lateral atriotomy scar was inducible in 5 of6 patients. With entrainment mapping, the PPI (post-pacing interval)-TCL (tachycardia cycle length) difference was ＜30 ms when pacing at the inferior margins of the right lateral atriotomy scar. Among them, 3 patients had successful linear ablation between scar area to inferior vena cava, and 2 patients between scar area to tricuspid annulus. Re-entry involving an ASD patch was demonstrated in 1 of 6 patients. PPI-TCL differences ＜30 ms were observed when entraining tachycardia at sites near the septal patch. But linear ablation failed in terminating AT. There was no complication during procedure. No recurrence of AT related to incision was observed during follow-up except for the failed patient. Conclusion Under conventional electrophysiological mapping, adopting linear ablation from scar area to anatomic barrier, successful ablation can be obtained in patients with IRATs related to myocardial scar or incision.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of the demonstration for morphologic characteristics of pulmonary vein(PV)and left atrium(LA)with 64-multislice computed tomography(MSCT).Methods Between February 2006 and February 2007,we studied morphologic characteristics of the pulmonary vein and left atrium in 88 patients undergone 3D imaging and virtual endoscopy with 64-slice MSCT scanner.46 patients in atrial frillation(AF)group and 42 subjects without history of AF in control group.Results 1.64-slice MSCT can reconstruct properly the morphology,number,size of orifice and flow route of pulmonary veins;among them,the sizes of orifice of pulmonary veins in AF group and control group showed no significant difference.2.The reconstruction images of left atrial appendages(LAA)showed that there were two kinds of morphologic variation existing at the crista between left auricle and left superior pulmonary vein with the continuatum of the left superior and inferior pulmonary veins.3.The reconstruction images,also revealed 3 types of left atrial top;including convex type(9%),concave type(32.9)and plateau type(58.1%);with approximately 12.5% of local convexity.Conclusion Clear demonstration of pulmonary vein and left atrium through 3D reconstruction of MSCT provides higher successful rate of RFCA for AF with simultaneous decrease of complications

This study was aimed to investigate the comprehensive ecological factors of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and their regional suitability in China. Based on field survey, specimen examination and literature investigation, ecologi-cal factors and appropriate production areas were analyzed by Traditional Chinese Medicine Geographic Information System (TCMGIS-II). The results showed that the proper region (with similarity of 95%~100%) of H. rhamnoides L. accounts for 737 994.71 km2, including 15 provinces/municipalities and 387 counties/cities. The largest area among them is Tibet autonomous region with area of 313 857.73 km2 (42.53%), followed by Sichuan province (223 987.02 km2, 30.35%), Gansu province (66 314.43 km2, 8.99%) and Shanxi province (4 237.79 km2, 0.57%). There are also certain appropriate production areas distributed in Liaoning province, Beijing, Chongqing and Hubei province. It was concluded that this system is much valuable to the recognition of the formation of the producing area, the division of adaptive area, introduction and acclimatization of medicinal materials. It also provided a scientific reference for the introduction and cultivation of H. rhamnoides L. Through further field study and experiments, these new areas have the potential to be developed into suitable production region of H. rhamnoides L. in the future.

Aim To observe the effects of the L-dopa methyl ester (LDME) on the pattern visual evoked potentials (P-VEP) and the expression of c-fos mRNA in neurons of the visual cortex of kittens with strabismic amblyopia, and explore the therapeutic effect of L-dopa methyl ester on amblyopia and its action mechanism.Methods 30 normal kittens were randomly divided into 6 groups: low dose of L-dopa methyl ester (20 mg·kg~(-1)), medium dose of L-dopa methyl ester (40 mg·kg~(-1)), and high dose of L-dopa methyl ester (80 mg·kg~(-1)),positive control (L-dopa 40 mg·kg~(-1)),normal control, and model control group.The surgery for producing iatrogenic convergent strabismus was performed on 4 weeks old kittens(normal control group excluded). After the confirmation of the development of amblyopia by pattern visual evoked potential,L-dopa methyl ester,L-dopa and normal saline were given to the corresponding animals, respectively. The P-VEP of amblyopia eyes was observed after one month, and the technique of in situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of c-fos mRNA.Results L-dopa methyl ester could reduce obviously the length of P100 peak latency of the cat strabismic amblyopes, and increase the amplitude of P100. The positive staining cells of strabismic cat visual cortex were less than those of normal cats, whose difference was significant (P<0.01).Positive staining cells in the treatment group were significantly increased when compared with that of the model group (P<0.01).Conclusion L-dopa methyl ester can significantly improve the conduction and sensory function in the model of strabismic amblyopia cats. The mechanism may be related to the increased amount of L-dopa methyl ester into the cerebral cortex and regulation of the expression of c-fos mRNA.

Objective To compare target dosimetric distribution and normal tissue radiation between different static intensity?modulated radiation therapy ( IMRT) plans and volumetric modulated arc therapy ( VMAT) and to identify the best IMRT plan for patients with primary mediastinal B?cell lymphoma ( PMBCL) . Methods A total of 16 patients ( 8 males and 8 females) with early?stage ( Ann?Arbor stageⅠ) PMBCL were enrolled in this study,with doses of 45 Gy for primary gross tumor volume ( PGTV) and 40 Gy for planning target volume (PTV).Four plans were designed for each patient,consisting of static IMRT (5F?IMRT,7F?IMRT,9F?IMRT) and VMAT,and the target dosimetric distribution,normal tissue radiation dose,and efficiency of each plan were evaluated. The difference of dose was analyzed by analysis of variance. Results The mean conformity index ( CI) and homogeneity index ( HI) for PGTV in 5F?,7F?,9F?IMRT and VMAT were 1. 01 and 1. 10, 1. 01 and 1. 10, 1. 01 and 1. 10, and 1. 01 and 1. 11 ( P= 0. 963 and 0. 843) ,respectively,while these two indices for PTV were 1. 04 and 1. 22,1. 03 and 1. 19,1. 03 and 1. 17, and 1. 08 and 1. 14( P=0. 964 and 0. 969) ,respectively. The parameters of volume and dose were similar on normal tissue ( P= 0. 192?1. 000 ) . The treatment time and number of monitor units in 9F?IMRT were significantly higher than those in other static IMRT plans and VMAT ( P=0. 000,0. 000) ,and among these plans,VMAT had the lowest number of monitor units ( 13 345. 0 MU) and the shortest treatment time ( 5. 9 min) . Conclusions The target volume coverage of 7F?and 9F?IMRT is better than that of 5F?IMRT and VMAT.For early?stage PMBCL,VMAT is not superior to IMRT in terms of dosimetry,especially with a larger area of low?dose radiation to the breast,but it is highly efficient in practice.

Host genetic, environmental and viral factors are classified as three categories that determine clinical outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The objective of this study was to detect the associations between polymorphisms rs346473 and rs346482 in Rho GTPase-activating protein 24 (ARHGAP24) gene and disease progression of HBV infection in Han Chinese population. These two SNPs were found by our DNA pooling using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human Mapping SNP6.0 Array in HBV carriers, and verified by using TaqMan 7900HT Sequence Detection System with 758 progressed HBV carriers versus 300 asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsC) in a discovery phase and 971 progressed HBV carriers versus 328 AsC in a replication phase. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that individuals with genotype TT at variant rs346473 displayed remarkable correlations with disease progression of HBV infection both in the discovery phase (OR, 2.693; 95% CI, 1.928-3.760; P=6.2×10(-9); additive model) and the replication phase (OR, 1.490; 95% CI, 1.104-2.012; P=9.0×10(-3); additive model). These two SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium with D'=0.99 and r (2)=0.951, and haplotype TT disclosed an increased susceptibility to HBV progression (OR, 1.980; 95% CI, 1.538-2.545; P=8.1×10(-8)). These findings suggest that polymorphism rs346473 in the ARHGAP24 gene might be a part of the genetic variants underlying the susceptibility of HBV carriers to disease progression.