Adolescent ; Amiodarone ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the role of small ubiquitin-like modifier 4 (SUMO4) gene polymorphisms (rs237025, rs237024 and rs600739) in the susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese Han ethnic population in Beijing.

METHODSIn this case-control study, 558 subjects with angiography-proven CAD were divided into two groups according to the WHO 1999 criteria: 369 with normal glucose tolerance (CAD group) and 189 with T2DM (T2DM+ CAD group). Meanwhile 500 healthy subjects free of T2DM and CAD were selected as normal controls (control group). Allelic and genotypic distributions of the three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were determined with polymerase chain reaction-high resolution melting curve (PCR-HRM) and gene sequencing. Clinical and biochemical data were compared among carriers of different genotypes through a stratified analysis.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in the distribution of genotypes and alleles of each SNP between different groups (P> 0.05). Nevertheless, stratified analysis indicated a significant difference in plasma triglycerides (rs237025) and body mass index (rs600739) among individuals of different genotypes from the T2DM+ CAD group (P= 0.020 and P= 0.049, respectively). Multiple comparison also indicated that GG genotype of rs237025 had a higher level of plasma triglycerides than AA genotype (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNo association between SUMO4 gene polymorphisms and CAD with and without T2DM was detected. Such polymorphisms may not be a risk factor for Chinese Han ethnic patients in Beijing.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVEIn order to investigate the roles of metalloproteinase in inflammatory bone destruction in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and analyze the mechanism of preventing inflammatory bone destruction of Bushen Qiangdu decoction (BSQDD) in AS cases. Comparisons were made on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) between AS patients and healthy controls. The effect of BSQDD was investigated on the expression and of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 produced by PBMC in AS patients.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to March 2006, 30 active AS cases of Kidney-asthenia, Du-cold and blood-stasis syndrome were selected as patients group in the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. There are 27 male patients and 3 female patients. The age range is from 16 to 45, averaging (30.8 +/- 8.8) years. Disease duration is from 0.5 to 10 years. Cases received three-month BSQDD treatment were considered as the treatment group. Twenty healthy persons were included in the control group. Serum and PBMC were separated. The PBMC were stimulated by PHA and PMA, and the supernatant was collected. The mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in PBMC was analyzed by RT-PCR. The content of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in serum and culture supernatant of PBMC were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with health control group, the serum concentration of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in patients group before treatment increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), but the level of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the serum of patients after treatment decreased compared with pre-treatment cases (P<0.05). Furthermore,compared with health control group, PBMC of patients group before treatment expressed higher levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 both on transcript level and at protein level (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the expression levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in PBMC in patients after treatment both on transcript level and at protein level was down-regulated compared with pre-treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPBMC of AS patients had a higher potential capacity for MMP-9 and TIMP-1. BSQDD possibly prevented inflammatory bone destruction of AS through inhibiting production of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 produced by PBMC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDevelopment of vulnerable lesions is not limited to the target lesions, but a pan-coronary process. Such lesions are identified by positive remodeling (intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and complex lesions (angiography)). The prevalence of lesions with vulnerable characteristics in patients with stable angina was not well known. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between coronary artery remodeling and incidence of angiographic complex lesions and its calcification in stable angina patients.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-one stable angina patients (95 males, aged (68 +/- 11) years) with 161 de novo target lesions were studied using pre-interventional IVUS. Remodeling index was defined as the lesion divided by reference vessel area; positive remodeling was defined as remodeling index > 1.05. Besides the 161 target lesions, there were 613 angiographic lesions with > 30% diameter stenoses, classified as complex or smooth. Multiple complexes were defined as more than one complex lesion in one patient. Stenoses of at least 70% were described as tight. Calcium arc area was used as a new method to quantify coronary calcification.

RESULTSFifty-six patients had positive remodeling target lesion, while 105 did not. The overall number of lesions with a diameter stenoses > 30% was similar in patients with or without positive remodeling, and the frequency of angiographically complex lesions was higher in positive remodeling patients, especially at non-target site. Calcium arc area was smaller in patients with positive remodeling.

CONCLUSIONSPositive remodeling on intravascular ultrasound was associated with more complex lesions angiographic findings, especially at non target site. Positive remodeling was found less calcified in patients with stable angina.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina Pectoris ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Remodeling ; physiology

BACKGROUNDCathepsin S and its endogenous inhibitor cystatin C are implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, especially in the plaque destabilization and rupture leading to acute coronary syndrome. However, whether circulating cathepsin S and cystatin C also change in association with coronary plaque morphology is unknown yet.

METHODSWe recruited 98 patients with unstable angina (UA, n = 6) or stable angina (SA, n = 2) who had a segmental stenosis resulting in > 20% and < 70% diameter reduction in one major coronary artery on coronary angiography. Thirty-one healthy subjects served as controls. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to evaluate plaque morphology. Plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C were measured as well.

RESULTSAt the culprit lesion site, plaque area ((7.85 +/- 2.83) mm(2) vs (6.53 +/- 2.92) mm(2), P = 0.027), plaque burden ((60.92 +/- 11.04)% vs (53.87 +/- 17.52)%, P = 0.025), remodeling index (0.93 +/- 0.16 vs 0.86 +/- 0.10, P = 0.004) and eccentricity index (0.74 +/- 0.17 vs 0.66 +/- 0.21, P = 0.038) were bigger in UA group than in SA group. Plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.01). Plasma cathepsin S was higher in UA group ((0.411 +/- 0.121) nmol/L) than in SA group ((0.355 +/- 0.099) nmol/L, P = 0.007), so did the plasma cystatin C ((0.95 +/- 0.23) mg/L in UA group, (0.84 +/- 0.22) mg/L in SA group; P = 0.009). Plasma cathepsin S positively correlated with remodeling index (r = 0.402, P = 0.002) and eccentricity index (r = 0.441, P = 0.001), and plasma cystatin C positively correlated with plaque area (r = 0.467, P < 0.001) and plaque burden (r = 0.395, P = 0.003) in UA group but not in SA group.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma cathepsin S and cystatin C increased significantly in UA patients. In angina patients, higher plasma cathepsin S may suggest the presence of vulnerable plaque, and higher plasma cystatin C may be a clue for larger atherosclerotic coronary plaque.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cathepsins ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate CT findings and incidence rate of gastric bare area involvement (GBAI), left adrenal gland involvement (LAGI) and perirenal space involvement (PSI) in acute pancreatitis, and to also explore the value of these appearances in predicting complications and mortality of patients.

METHODSCT imaging data of 575 patients with AP diagnosed by clinic from October 2009 to April 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 339 male and 236 female patients, aging from 16 to 93 years with a mean of (51 ± 16) years. Involvement with or without gastric bare area, left adrenal gland, perirenal space were focused, and the relationship were analyzed between these CT findings and complications and mortality of patients.

RESULTSAmong 167 patients (29.0%) with GBAI, 132 had complications and 16 died. The sensitivity and specificity of GBAI for predicting complications were 45.4% and 87.7%, respectively, and 84.2%and 72.8% for predicting mortality. In all 107 patients (18.6%) with LAGI, 81 had complications and 18 died. The sensitivity and specificity of LAGI for predicting complications were 27.8% and 90.8%, respectively, and 94.7% and 84.0% for predicting mortality. Among 335 patients (58.3%) with PSI, 201 had complications and 19 died. The sensitivity and specificity of PSI for predicting complications were 69.1% and 52.8%, respectively, and 100% and 43.2% for predicting mortality. Of all patients, 210 (36.5%) owned two or more positive CT findings among GBAI, LAGI, and PSI. One hundred ninety-eight of these patients had complications and 19 died, that predicted the sensitivity and specificity for complications were 68.0% and 95.8%, respectively, and 100% and 65.6% for mortality. The risk of complications in the patients with GBAI or LAGI was increased than normal gastric bare area or left adrenal gland 5.9 or 3.8 times respectively, and the risk of death was improved 14.3 or 94.5 times respectively. The risk of complications in those patients with two or more positive findings increased by 48.3 times. By analyzing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the combination of GBAI, LAGI, and PSI was the best way to predict the complications of AP. The area under the ROC was 0.819.

CONCLUSIONSThe CT imaging could effectively indicate the signs of GBAI, LAGI and PSI of AP. The GBAI. LAGI and PSI were related with the severity and prognosis of AP, and these findings could be clinical indicators for evaluating prognosis of AP.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adrenal Glands ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the risk factors related to in-hospital bleeding for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSClinical and therapeutic data of 3807 patients who were registered with acute coronary syndrome in SINO-GRACE in China from March 2001 to December 2007 were reviewed. A total of 57 patients were grouped to bleeding group and 234 out of the remaining 3750 patients without bleeding were randomly chosen and served as non-bleeding group. Hemorrhage-related factors were screened and compared between the two groups. Unitary logistic regression analysis was performed to detect the possible factors related to hemorrhage. Factors with P < 0.1 were further analyzed by stepwise regression method and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS(1) Age, history of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), previous hemorrhage, renal failure and heart failure as well incidence of acute coronary syndrome were significantly higher in bleeding group than in non-bleeding group (all P ≤ 0.05). Patients were more often treated with clopidogrel and glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist in bleeding group than in non-bleeding group. (2) Single factor logistic regression analysis showed that age > 70 years, history of previous bleeding, renal failure, heart failure, clopidogrel and GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists use, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, inferior wall, lateral myocardial infarction, CABG were risk factors for bleeding (all P < 0.05). (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that history of renal failure (OR = 19.77, 95%CI 4.38 - 89.18, P < 0.01) and clopidogrel (OR = 19.77, 95%CI 4.38 - 89.18, P < 0.01) and GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonist (OR = 343.57, 95%CI 40.39 - 999.99, P < 0.01) use were the independent risk factors for bleeding.

CONCLUSIONOur results show that renal failure history and clopidogrel and GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonist use are independent risk factors for in-hospital bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; complications ; pathology ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Renal Insufficiency ; Risk Factors ; Ticlopidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of early application of high-volume hemofiltration treatment (HVHF) on the levels of lactic acid, pro-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) in plasma, as well as APACHE II score in patients suffering from severe sepsis.

METHODSThirty patients meeting the diagnosis of severe sepsis were enrolled in the trial within 24 hours of insults. The level of lactic acid, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CRP in plasma were measured before HVHF and at 24, 48 or 72 h following HVHF treatment.

RESULTThe plasma levels of lactic acid and IL-6 decreased significantly at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h after HVHF (P <0.05), while, IL-10 did not differ significantly following HVHF (P>0.05), when compared with that before HVHF.

CONCLUSIONThe early application of HVHF could clear the plasma lactic acid and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and improve the tissue oxygenation in severe sepsis.

APACHE ; Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; methods ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sepsis ; blood ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region sequence variation in Tibet Mini-Pigs in relation to the blood parameters and provide the molecular genetic basis for developing new species of laboratory animals.

METHODSThe genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples of 59 Tibet mini-pigs to amplifying the mtDNA D-loop for sequence analysis. Nine physiological and nine biochemical blood parameters of Tibet mini-pigs were measured .

RESULTSBased on the variation of the tandem repeat motif, the mtDNA D-loop region of Tibet mini-pigs was classified into two types, namely type A and B with the percentage of 57.6% and 42.4%, respectively, roughly matching the 3 transform sites (305, 500, 691) at the 5' end. In the 18 blood parameters, only red blood cell count showed significant differences between types A and (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBased on the sequence variation of the mtDNA D-loop region, Tibet mini-pigs can be divided into two types that show a significant difference in red blood cell count.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Hematologic Tests ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Swine ; blood ; genetics ; Tibet

The primers and probes for the Real-time RT-PCR were designed based on the multiple sequence (swine and humans HEV strains) alignments of the ORF3 region of genotype 4 HEV. A rapid, sensitive and stable TaqMan Real-time RT-PCR assay was established, and its specificity and sensitivity were assessed, and comparison of the Real-time RT-PCR with conventional and nested RT-PCR was performed. The results found that the crossing points showed linearly proportional to the logarithm of the input copy number. The correlation coefficient (R2) and the slope value of the standard curves with plasmid DNA were 0.994 and -3.312, respectively. The efficiency (E) of the PCR was 100%. Coefficients of variation values of the different diluted plasmid DNA were low in the same or different repeated experimental group. In addition, the assay was able to correctly detect genotype 4 HEV RNA from swine fecal samples. The sensitivity of established assay was 100-fold higher than that of conventional RT-PCR and 10-fold higher than nested RT-PCR.
Animals ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Disease Reservoirs ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; Fluorescence ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; virology