Objective To analyze the related factors that influence the stone free rate ( SFR) in flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy ( FURL ) and develop a stone free index ( SFI ) model to estimate and predict the outcome of FURL.Methods A total of 393 patients receiving FURL were included in this study from May 2013 to August 2014.All patients′and calculous characteristics were recorded.It was evaluated the correlation of one-stage SFR with body mass index, the degree of hydronephrosis, the sterile urine, the renal insufficiency, the stone location, the stone number, the cumulative stone diameter ( CSD) , the stone density, the average of CT values, the minimum angle of pelvis ureter long axis with lamp long axis, the average length of stone located calyx-neck, and the minimum ratio of stone located calyx-neck′width with calyx′width.Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between preoperative characteristics and the SFR.Results The one-stage postoperative SFR in our study was 92.4% ( 363/393).We found that the staghorn stone, bacteriuria, CSD, average of CT values, the average length of stone located calyx-neck, the minimum ratio of stone located calyx-neck′width with calyx′width were significantly correlated with the postoperative SFR ( P <0.05 ) .We used logistic regression analysis to determine statistical significant variables and to create predictable mathematical model.The SFI system was consist of four stone characteristics, including the staghorn stone, the cumulative stone diameter, the average length of stone located calyx-neck, and the minimum ratio of stone located calyx-neck′width with calyx′width.The SFI had a high ROC curve (AUC=0.867) for predicting the one-stage postoperative stone free outcome.SFI score >7.5 meant a relatively high SFR ( SFR>85%) of FURL.Conclusions A SFI model using preclinical data was developed to predict the postoperative outcome of FURL, as well as the one-stage SFR.This model needs further prospective studies in the future.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended as the standard care for unresectable hepa-tocellular carcinoma (HCC) at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A–B. However, the efficacy of TACE on large (≥ 10 cm) stage A–B HCC is far from satisfactory, and it is proposed that hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) might be a better first-line treatment of this disease. Hence, we compared the safety and efficacy of HAIC with the modified FOLFOX (mFOLFOX) regimen and those of TACE in patients with massive unresectable HCC. Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, phase Ⅱ study was conducted on patients with massive unresectable HCC. The protocol involved HAIC with the mFOLFOX regimen (oxaliplatin, 85 mg/m2intra-arterial infusion; leucovorin, 400 mg/m2intra-arterial infusion; and fluorouracil, 400 mg/m2bolus infusion and 2400 mg/m2continuous infusion) every 3 weeks and TACE with 50 mg of epirubicin, 50 mg of lobaplatin, 6 mg of mitomycin, and lipiodol and polyvinyl alcohol particles. The tumor responses, time-to-progression (TTP), and safety were assessed. Results: A total of 79 patients were recruited for this study: 38 in the HAIC group and 41 in the TACE group. The HAIC group exhibited higher partial response and disease control rates than did the TACE group (52.6% vs. 9.8%, P < 0.001;83.8% vs. 52.5%, P = 0.004). The median TTPs for the HAIC and TACE groups were 5.87 and 3.6 months (hazard radio [HR] = 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16–4.76, P = 0.015). More patients in the HAIC group than in the TACE group underwent resection (10 vs. 3, P = 0.033). The proportions of grade 3–4 adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE) were lower in the HAIC group than in the TACE group (grade 3–4 AEs: 13 vs. 27, P = 0.007; SAEs: 6 vs. 15, P = 0.044). More patients in the TACE group than in the HAIC group had the study treatment terminated early due to intolerable treatment-related adverse events or the withdrawal of consent (10 vs. 2, P = 0.026). Conclusions: HAIC with mFOLFOX yielded significantly better treatment responses and less serious toxicity than did TACE. HAIC might represent a feasible and promising first-line treatment for patients with massive unresectable HCC.

The nucleotide sequence and N-, C-terminal amino acid sequences of alpha,beta-subunit of glutaryl 7-ACA acylase C130 from Pseudomonas sp. 130 were determined. The alignment of the acylase C130 with the other acylases shows that it has high homology with the acylases from Pseudomonas sp. GK16 and C427, but low homology with the others. There is large difference in the N-terminal of alpha-subunit, while the N-terminal of beta-subunit has significant conservation.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Penicillin Amidase ; genetics ; Pseudomonas ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

BACKGROUNDThere are limited data on longer-term outcomes (>5 years) for patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the drug-eluting stents (DES) era. This study aimed at comparing the long-term (>5 years) outcomes of patients with ULMCA disease underwent PCI with DES and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the predictors of adverse events.

METHODSAll consecutive patients with ULMCA disease treated with DES implantation versus CABG in our center, between January 2003 and July 2009, were screened for analyzing. A propensity score analysis was carried out to adjust for potential confounding between the two groups.

RESULTSNine hundred and twenty-two patients with ULMCA disease were enrolled for the analyses (DES = 465 vs. CABG = 457). During the median follow-up of 7.1 years (interquartile range 5.3-8.2 years), no difference was found between PCI and CABG in the occurrence of death (P = 0.282) and the composite endpoint of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke (P = 0.294). Rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were significantly higher in the PCI group (P = 0.014) in large part because of the significantly higher rate of repeat revascularization (P < 0.001). PCI was correlated with the lower occurrence of stroke (P = 0.004). Multivariate analysis showed ejection fraction (EF) (P = 0.012), creatinine (P = 0.016), and prior stroke (P = 0.031) were independent predictors of the composite endpoint of cardiac death, MI, and stroke in the DES group, while age (P = 0.026) and EF (P = 0.002) were independent predictors in the CABG group.

CONCLUSIONSDuring a median follow-up of 7.1 years, there was no difference in the rate of death between PCI with DES implantation and CABG in ULMCA lesions in the patient cohort. CABG group was observed to have significantly lower rates of repeat revascularization but higher stroke rates compared with PCI. EF, creatinine, and prior stroke were independent predictors of the composite endpoint of cardiac death, MI, and stroke in the DES group, while age and EF were independent predictors in the CABG group.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stroke Volume

OBJECTIVETo study the prokaryotic expression of extracellular ligand binding domains of chick tie-2, the purification, refolding conditions of the recombinant protein, and its anti-angiogeneic effect.

METHODSA DNA fragment encoding extracellular ligand binding domains of chick tie-2 was obtained by PCR amplification using a previous constructed plasmid as a template. The amplified fragment was then inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pQE30, and was expressed in E.Coli XL-1 blue by adding isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside(IPTG). The recombinant protein in inclusion bodies was purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) affinity chromatography under denatured conditions. Then the refolding of the purified protein was performed with gradient dialysis. The target protein was injected s.c. into mouse, and the antibody was detected by ELISA and Western blot analysis. The antibody was purified from the antiserum and then incubated with human umbilical endothelial vein cell (HUEVC) to find its anti-angiogenesis in vitro by using propidium iodide(PI) dying through FACS. Alginate encapsulated tumor cell assays were performed and micro-vessel density was determined by counting per high power field in the sections stained with an antibody reactive to CD31 to test its inhibition of angiogenesis.

RESULTSThe recombinant protein was highly expressed in E.Coli XL-1 blue, and the antibody produced in mouse could specifically recognize the recombinant protein. The purified antibody could induce apoptosis of HUEVC in vitro. The anti-angiogenic effect of the antibody could also be found in alginate-encapsulate tumor cell assay and by counting micro-vessel density.

CONCLUSIONThe protein of extracellular ligand binding domains of chick tie-2 can be expressed at high level in the prokaryotic expression system, and the expressed protein can induce immune response in mouse. Furthermore, the antibody can induce the anti-angiogenic effect.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Western ; Chickens ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; analysis ; Receptor, TIE-2 ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

Methods:Clinical data of 187 patients with left-sided hepatolithiasis and underwent laparoscopically or open left-sided hepatectomy from October 2014 to October 2019 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were retrospectively analyzed in this propensity score matching (PSM) study and were matched in terms of age, sex, body mass index, liver function, ASA score, comorbidities, history of biliary surgery, and smoking history on the ratio of 1∶1.There were 47 cases in each group and the mean age were (54.7±12.3)years old(range:34 to 75 years old) and (53.2±12.6) years old (range: 34 to 75 years old) in open and laparoscopically group respectively. The data of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital-stay, complication rate, biliary fistula rate, stone clearance rate, and stone recurrence rate were compared. The quantitative data were compared using t-test or rank-sum test. Count data were analyzed with χ 2 test or Fisher test. Results:No significant difference was observed in the clinical characteristics of included 94 patients in this study(all P>0.05).The length of the postoperative hospital-stay after OLH was significantly higher than that in the LLH group((10.8±3.1) days vs.(8.5±2.2)days, t=4.085, P=0.000). LLR significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative biliary fistula compared with the OLH (6.3% vs.21.2%, χ 2=4.374, P=0.036) and the rates of postoperative complications in the OLH group was significantly higher than that in the LLH group (48.9% vs.27.6%, χ 2=4.502, P=0.034). Moreover, the stone recurrence rates in the LLH group was significantly lower than that after OLR (4.2% vs. 17.0%, χ 2=4.029, P=0.045). OLH (95 % CI: 1.55 to 10.75, P=0.004) and postoperative complications (95 % CI: 1.29 to 9.52, P=0.013) were independent risk factors for prolonged hospital stay. OLH (95 % CI: 1.428 to 44.080, P=0.018) and residual stones (95 % CI: 1.580 to 62.379, P=0.014) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative biliary fistula. Biliary fistula (95 % CI: 1.078 to 24.517, P=0.040) was an independent risk factor for the recurrence of stones. Conclusion:Compared with OLH, LLH is safe and effective for the treatment of the primary left-sided hepatolithiasis with the clinical benefits of shorter hospital stay, fewer morbidity and biliary fistula occurrence, and lower stone recurrence rates.

Methods:Clinical data of 187 patients with left-sided hepatolithiasis and underwent laparoscopically or open left-sided hepatectomy from October 2014 to October 2019 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were retrospectively analyzed in this propensity score matching (PSM) study and were matched in terms of age, sex, body mass index, liver function, ASA score, comorbidities, history of biliary surgery, and smoking history on the ratio of 1∶1.There were 47 cases in each group and the mean age were (54.7±12.3)years old(range:34 to 75 years old) and (53.2±12.6) years old (range: 34 to 75 years old) in open and laparoscopically group respectively. The data of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital-stay, complication rate, biliary fistula rate, stone clearance rate, and stone recurrence rate were compared. The quantitative data were compared using t-test or rank-sum test. Count data were analyzed with χ 2 test or Fisher test. Results:No significant difference was observed in the clinical characteristics of included 94 patients in this study(all P>0.05).The length of the postoperative hospital-stay after OLH was significantly higher than that in the LLH group((10.8±3.1) days vs.(8.5±2.2)days, t=4.085, P=0.000). LLR significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative biliary fistula compared with the OLH (6.3% vs.21.2%, χ 2=4.374, P=0.036) and the rates of postoperative complications in the OLH group was significantly higher than that in the LLH group (48.9% vs.27.6%, χ 2=4.502, P=0.034). Moreover, the stone recurrence rates in the LLH group was significantly lower than that after OLR (4.2% vs. 17.0%, χ 2=4.029, P=0.045). OLH (95 % CI: 1.55 to 10.75, P=0.004) and postoperative complications (95 % CI: 1.29 to 9.52, P=0.013) were independent risk factors for prolonged hospital stay. OLH (95 % CI: 1.428 to 44.080, P=0.018) and residual stones (95 % CI: 1.580 to 62.379, P=0.014) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative biliary fistula. Biliary fistula (95 % CI: 1.078 to 24.517, P=0.040) was an independent risk factor for the recurrence of stones. Conclusion:Compared with OLH, LLH is safe and effective for the treatment of the primary left-sided hepatolithiasis with the clinical benefits of shorter hospital stay, fewer morbidity and biliary fistula occurrence, and lower stone recurrence rates.

Objective To analyze the risk factors and survival status of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection in pa-tients with aplastic anemia(AA)after haploid allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(Haplo-HSCT).Methods Clinical data of 78 AA patients who underwent Haplo-HSCT in the hematology department of a hospital from January 1,2019 to October 31,2022 were analyzed retrospectively.The occurrence and onset time of EBV viremia,EBV-related diseases(EBV diseases),and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders(PTLD)were ob-served,risk factors and survival status were analyzed.Results Among the 78 patients,38 were males and 40 were females,with a median age of 33(9-56)years old;53 patients experienced EBV reactivation,with a total inci-dence of 67.9％,and the median time for EBV reactivation was 33(13,416)days after transplantation.Among pa-tients with EBV reactivation,49 cases(62.8％)were simple EBV viremia,2 cases(2.6％)were possible EBV di-seases,and 2 cases(2.6％)were already confirmed EBV diseases(PTLD).Univariate analysis showed that age 1＜40 years old at the time of transplantation,umbilical cord blood infusion,occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD)after transplantation,and concurrent cytomegalovirus(CMV)infection were independent risk fac-tors for EBV reactivation in AA patients after Haplo-HSCT.Multivariate analysis showed that concurrent CMV in-fection was an independent risk factor for EBV reactivation in A A patients after Haplo-HSCT(P=0.048).Ritu-ximab intervention before stem cell reinfusion was a factor affecting the duration of EBV reactivation(P＜0.05).The mortality of EBV viremia,EBV diseases,and PTLD alone were 8.2％,50.0％,and 100％,respectively.The 2-year overall survival rate of patients with and without EBV reactivation were 85.3％,and 90.7％,respectively,difference was not statistically significant(P=0.897).However,patients treated with rituximab had 2-year lower survival rate than those who did not use it,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.046).Conclusion EBV reactivation is one of the serious complications in AA patients after Haplo-HSCT,which affects the prognosis and survival of patients.

Objective: To investigate the pathogen spectrum distribution and drug resistance of febrile neutropenic patients with hematological diseases in Shanghai. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the clinical isolates from the febrile neutropenic patients hospitalized in the departments of hematology in 12 general hospitals in Shanghai from January 2012 to December 2014. The drug susceptibility test was carried out by Kirby-Bauer method. WHONET 5.6 software was used to analyze pathogenic bacteria and drug susceptibility data. Results: A total of 1 260 clinical isolates were collected from the febrile neutropenic patients. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 33.3% and Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 66.7%. Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.5%) , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (9.5%) , Escherichia coli (9.1%) , Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.7%) , Acinetobacter baumannii (6.6%) , Staphylococcus aureus (5.6%) and Enterococcus faecium (5.0%) were ranked in the first 7 of all pathogens. In the respiratory tract secretions specimens, non-fermented strains accounted for 56.2%. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia accounted for 15.2%. Enterobacteriaceae and coagulase-negative Staphylococci accounted for 42.3% (104/246) and 32.6% (85/246) respectively in blood samples. Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus bacteria accounted for 39.4% (76/193) and 28.5% (55/193) respectively in pus specimens. The detection rates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin resistant coagulase negative Staphylococci (MRCNS) were 54.3% and 82.5%, respectively. Staphylococcus bacterial strain was not found to be resistant to linezolid, vancomycin and teicoplanin. The detection rate of Enterococcus vancomycin-resistant strains was 8.9%. Enterococcus was not detected resistance to oxazolidinone strains. Enterobacteriaceae bacteria were highly sensitive to carbapenems. The resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to imipenem and meropenem was 34.1% and 15.8%, respectively. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was more sensitive to minocycline hydrochloride, levofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole. The resistance rate of Acinetobacter baumannii only to cefoperazone-sulbactam was less than 10.0%. The antibiotic resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii to most of common antibiotics was lower than that of the CHINET surveillance. Conclusions The pathogenic strain distribution in common infection sites of febrile neutropenic patients was characterized. Bacterial resistance surveillance was better than the CHINET nationwide large sample surveillance in China.

The present study was aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of glutaminolysis of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in hypertension-induced myocardial fibrosis. C57BL/6J mice were administered with a chronic infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II, 1.6 mg/kg per d) with a micro-osmotic pump to induce myocardial fibrosis. Masson staining was used to evaluate myocardial fibrosis. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with BPTES (12.5 mg/kg), a glutaminase 1 (GLS1)-specific inhibitor, to inhibit glutaminolysis simultaneously. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect protein expression levels of GLS1, Collagen I and Collagen III in cardiac tissue. Neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat CFs were treated with 4 mmol/L glutamine (Gln) or BPTES (5 μmol/L) with or without Ang II (0.4 μmol/L) stimulation. The CFs were also treated with 2 mmol/L α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) under the stimulation of Ang II and BPTES. Wound healing test and CCK-8 were used to detect CFs migration and proliferation respectively. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of GLS1, Collagen I and Collagen III. The results showed that blood pressure, heart weight and myocardial fibrosis were increased in Ang II-treated mice, and GLS1 expression in cardiac tissue was also significantly up-regulated. Gln significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, mRNA and protein expression of GLS1, Collagen I and Collagen III in the CFs with or without Ang II stimulation, whereas BPTES significantly decreased the above indices in the CFs. α-KG supplementation reversed the inhibitory effect of BPTES on the CFs under Ang II stimulation. Furthermore, in vivo intraperitoneal injection of BPTES alleviated cardiac fibrosis of Ang II-treated mice. In conclusion, glutaminolysis plays an important role in the process of cardiac fibrosis induced by Ang II. Targeted inhibition of glutaminolysis may be a new strategy for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis.
Rats ; Mice ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Angiotensin II/pharmacology* ; Fibroblasts ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Fibrosis ; Collagen/pharmacology* ; Collagen Type I/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Myocardium/pathology*