Objective: To explore the relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and myocardial infarction (MI) occurrence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) combining coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods: A total of 106 consecutive patients with RA combining CAD were studied. There were 46 male and 60 female patients and divided into 2 groups:RA with MI group, n=46 and RA without MI group, n=60. The base line condition was compared between 2 groups, and multivariate regression analysis was conducted to explore the risk factors for MI occurrence in relevant patients.
Results: Compared with RA without MI group, RA with MI group had the lower level of cholesterol and higher levels of inlfammatory indexes of ESR, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and CRP, P<0.05. The base line condition was similar between 2 group, P>0.05. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that ESR was the independent risk factor of MI occurrence, OR=1.024, 95%CI 1.024 (1.007-1.043), P=0.007.
Conclusion: ESR was independently related to MI occurrence in patients with RA combining CAD.

Objective To explore the role of infection control in preventing infections in pregnancy-at-term(PAT)parturients with cervical incompetence. Method The strategies of infection control for 80 PAT parturients with cervical incompetence were enforced,including enhanced disinfection of hands,wards,cunnus,intensified care to skin,limited examinations of anus and pubes and prevention of complications. Results All the parturients and their babies were well and safe with one exception,who developed with infection but were cured and discharged by anti-infection managements,complement of energy and increase of nutrition intake. Conclusion Infection control may prevent the infections in PAT parturients with cervical incompetence,enhance the perinatal quality and ensure the safety of mothers and babies.

Objective:To analyze the association between thrombocytopenia and clinical manifestations in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and the significance of adding thrombocytopenia to the classification criteria of APS.Methods:One hundred and sixty one APS patients admitted to Peking University People's Hospital from January 2003 to August 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and laboratory data were compared between patients with and without thrombocytopenia. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and t test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among 161 APS patients, 48 patients (29.8%) were primary APS and 113 patients (70.2%) were secondary APS. Ninety-one patients (56.5%) experienced thrombocytopenia, while 62 patients (38.5%) had thrombocytopenia as the initial symptom. Among primary APS patients, compared with patients without thrombocytopenia, the prevalence of thrombosis was significantly lower in patients with thrombocytopenia (40.0% vs 69.6%, χ2=4.218, P=0.040), especially venous thrombosis (20.0% vs 47.8%, χ2=4.174, P=0.041). Among secondary APS patients, compared with patients without thrombocyt-openia, the prevalence of thrombosis, arterial thrombosis (21.2% vs 42.6%, χ2=5.944, P=0.015) and venous thrombosis (22.7% vs 51.1%, χ2=9.753, P=0.002) was significantly lower in patients with thrombocytopenia (43.9% vs 80.9%, χ2=15.496, P<0.01). As for laboratory findings, primary APS patients with thrombocytopenia showed a higher proportion of positive aCL findings (80.0% vs 52.2%, χ2=4.174, P=0.041), while secondary APS patients with thrombocytopenia experienced more leukopenia (25.8% vs 10.6%, χ2=4.002, P=0.045), lower complement C3 levels (78.7% vs 44.4%, χ2=13.205, P<0.01) and complement C4 levels (74.6% vs 46.7%, χ2=8.485, P=0.004). The proportion of patients fulfilling 1988, 1989, 1999 and 2006 APS classification criteria in our cohort was 88.2%, 87.0%, 64.0% and 70.8%, respectively. Inclusion of thrombocytopenia into 2006 criteria improved the proportion to 96.3%. Conclusion:The prevalence of thrombosis in APS patients with thrombocytopenia is significantly low. Thrombocytopenia is an important clinical manifestation of APS which can improve the diagnostic accuracy of APS.

Objective To compare the influence of postoperative pelvic floor function after different surgical procedures of hysterectomy. Methods A total of 260 patients who underwent hysterectomy in Renmin hospital of Wuhan University from January 2012 to January 2014 were enrolled in the study, and divided into 5 groups by different surgical procedures, which were total abdominal hysterectomy (A-TH;46 cases), total laparoscopic hysterectomy (L-TH;59 cases), total vaginal hysterectomy (V-TH;42 cases), abdominal intrafascial hysterectomy (A-CISH;78 cases), laparoscopic intrafascial hysterectomy (L-CISH;35 cases). Pelvic examination, pelvic organ prolapse quantitation (POP-Q), test of pelvic muscle strength, pelvic floor distress inventory-short form 20 (PFDI-20) and the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire were measured after 6 months and 12 months. Results The differences of pelvic organ prolapse incidence after 6 months, A-TH and A-CISH [7%(3/46) versus 3%(2/78)], A-TH and L-CISH [7%(3/46) versus 3% (1/35)] were statistically significance (all P＜0.05).POP-Q grade after 6 months between A-TH and A-CISH was statistically different in degree (P＜0.05). The differences of incidence of abnormal pelvic floor muscle fatigue after 6 months of A-TH and A-CISH [59% (27/46) versus 29% (23/78)], A-TH and L-CISH [59%(27/46) versus 26%(9/35)] were statistically significant (all P＜0.05), after 12 months the difference of L-TH and A-CISH [61% (36/59) versus 29%(23/78)] was statistically different (P＜0.05). The differences of incidence of abnormal pelvic floor muscle strength after 6 months of L-TH and A-CISH [53%(31/59) verus 24%(19/78)], V-TH and A-CISH [60%(25/42) verus 24%(19/78)], V-TH and L-CISH [60%(25/42) verus 23%(8/35)] were statistically significant (all P＜0.05);after 12 months the difference of V-TH and A-CISH [57% (24/42) versus 26% (20/78)] was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Stress urinary incontinence, abnormal bowel movements after 6 months and 12 months were no significant difference between groups (all P＞0.05), PFDI-20 total score was not statistically significant (P＞0.05). FSFI total score after 6 months and 12 months in A-TH and A-CISH, L-TH and A-CISH, A-CISH and L-CISH were statistically significant (all P＜0.05). Conclusion The influences of different surgical procedures to pelvic floor function are no statistical difference; as to the surgical resection of hysterectomy, intrafascia hysterectomy compared with extrafascia hysterectomy, the former is more helpful to the protection of the structure and function of the pelvic floor.

Alcoholic liver disease is a common chronic liver disease. Inflammatory pathways in the immune microenvironment of the liver play important roles in the development and progression of alcoholic liver disease, providing potential targets for therapeutic interventions. This review focused on the pathophysiology of alcoholic liver disease, changes in the immune microenvironment including immune cells and inflammatory mediators, and advances in targeted therapy.

PURPOSE: Cathepsin K is a potent collagenase implicated in human and animal atherosclerosis-based vascular remodeling. This study examined the hypothesis that serum CatK is associated with the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2012, 256 consecutive subjects were enrolled from among patients who underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention treatment. A total of 129 age-matched subjects served as controls. RESULTS: The subjects' serum cathepsin K and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured. The patients with CAD had significantly higher serum cathepsin K levels compared to the controls (130.8+/-25.5 ng/mL vs. 86.9+/-25.5 ng/mL, p<0.001), and the patients with acute coronary syndrome had significantly higher serum cathepsin K levels compared to those with stable angina pectoris (137.1+/-26.9 ng/mL vs. 102.6+/-12.9 ng/mL, p<0.001). A linear regression analysis showed that overall, the cathepsin K levels were inversely correlated with the high-density lipoprotein levels (r=-0.29, p<0.01) and positively with hs-CRP levels (r=0.32, p<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analyses shows that cathepsin K levels were independent predictors of CAD (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.56; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These data indicated that elevated levels of cathepsin K are closely associated with the presence of CAD and that circulating cathepsin K serves a useful biomarker for CAD.
Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism ; Cathepsin K/*blood ; Coronary Artery Disease/*blood/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: Cathepsin K is a potent collagenase implicated in human and animal atherosclerosis-based vascular remodeling. This study examined the hypothesis that serum CatK is associated with the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2012, 256 consecutive subjects were enrolled from among patients who underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention treatment. A total of 129 age-matched subjects served as controls. RESULTS: The subjects' serum cathepsin K and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured. The patients with CAD had significantly higher serum cathepsin K levels compared to the controls (130.8+/-25.5 ng/mL vs. 86.9+/-25.5 ng/mL, p<0.001), and the patients with acute coronary syndrome had significantly higher serum cathepsin K levels compared to those with stable angina pectoris (137.1+/-26.9 ng/mL vs. 102.6+/-12.9 ng/mL, p<0.001). A linear regression analysis showed that overall, the cathepsin K levels were inversely correlated with the high-density lipoprotein levels (r=-0.29, p<0.01) and positively with hs-CRP levels (r=0.32, p<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analyses shows that cathepsin K levels were independent predictors of CAD (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.56; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These data indicated that elevated levels of cathepsin K are closely associated with the presence of CAD and that circulating cathepsin K serves a useful biomarker for CAD.
Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism ; Cathepsin K/*blood ; Coronary Artery Disease/*blood/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: Several studies have compared the effects of coronary stenting and coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) on left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. However, there are limited data on the long-term outcomes of these two interventions in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 56 patients with LMCA stenosis who underwent drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation and 116 patients who underwent CABG in a single hospital in China between January 2004 and December 2006. We compared long-term major adverse cardiac events (death; a "serious outcome" composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke; and target-vessel revascularization). RESULTS: In-hospital (30-day) mortality was 0% for the DES group and 3.4% for the CABG group (p=0.31). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of risk of death [hazard ratio for stenting group, 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.13-1.63; p=0.55] or risk of serious outcome (hazard ratio for DES group, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.39-1.45; p=0.47). The target-vessel revascularization rate was higher in the DES group than in the CABG group (hazard ratio, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.24-11.06; p=0.018). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of diabetic patients with LMCA stenosis, there was no difference in composite endpoints between patients receiving DESs and those undergoing CABG. However, stenting was associated with higher rates of target-vessel revascularization than CABG. DES implantation in diabetic patients with LMCA disease was found to be at least as safe as CABG.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary/*methods ; Coronary Stenosis/*therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus ; *Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Animal infectious diseases pose a serious and continuing threat to the animal health and cause huge economic losses throughout the world. Vaccination is one of the most effective solutions to prevent and control animal infectious diseases. With the development of biotechnologies and the need for disease prevention and control, the focus of vaccine research has been shifted to the development of safe, efficient, broad-spectrum, low-dose and marker vaccines. Novel vaccines capable of inducing high levels of both humoral and cellular immune responses are promising to provide more efficient protection against animal infectious diseases. This minireview summarizes the development, applications, advantages and disadvantages of new-concept animal vaccines emerging in recent years, including mucosal vaccines, long-acting and fast-acting vaccines, chimeric vaccines, nanoparticle vaccines, and so on. Furthermore, we discuss future directions of the vaccines, in order to provide new insights for animal vaccine development.
Animals ; Communicable Diseases ; Immunity, Cellular ; Nanoparticles ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

Objective    To explore the natural changes of procalcitonin (PCT) in the early period after pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods    A prospective and observational study was done on patients below 3 years of age, who underwent cardiac surgery involving CPB, with the risk adjustment of congenital heart surgery (RACHS) score of 2 to 5 and free from active preoperative infection or inflammatory disease. Blood samples for measurement of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) were taken before surgery and daily for 7 days in postoperative period. Infections and complications within 7 days after operation were investigated. According to the presence or absence of infection and complications within 7 days after operation, the enrolled children were divided into an infection+complications group, a simple infection group, a simple complication group, and a normal group. Results     Finally, 429 children with PICU stay≥ 4 days were enrolled, including 268 males and 161 females, with a median age of 8.0 (0.7, 26.0) months. There were 145 children in the simple infection group, 38 children in the simple complication group, 230 children in the normal group and 16 children in the infection+complications group. The levels of PCT, CRP and WBC were significantly higher after CPB. CRP and WBC peaked on the second postoperative day (POD) and remained higher than normal until POD7. PCT peaked on POD1 and would generally decrease to normal on POD5 if without infection and complications. Age, body weight, RACHS scores, the duration of CPB and aortic cross-clamping time were correlated with PCT level. There was a statistical difference in PCT concentration between the simple infection group and the normal group on POD 3-7 (P<0.01) and a statistical difference between the simple complication group and the normal group on POD 1-7 (P<0.01). A statistical difference was found between the simple infection group and the simple complication group in PCT on POD 1-5 (P<0.05). Conclusion    WBC, CRP and PCT significantly increase after CPB in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. The factors influencing PCT concentration include age, weight, RACHS scores, CPB and aortic cross-clamping time, infection and complications.