Objective Tocomparetheefficacybetweenstentingandmedicationinpatientswith vertebralarteryoriginstenosis.Methods Theclinicaldataof82patientswithmoderatetoseverevertebral artery origin stenosis (stenosis rate >50%)from January 2011 to January 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into either a stent+medication group (n=40)or a medication group (n=42)according to the different treatment methods. The degree of vascular stenosis,restenosis rate,incidence of cerebral ischemic events,and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)of the patients for DSA reexamination at one year were documented,and comprehensive analysis were conducted. Results (1 )44 stents were implanted in 40 patients,1 of the patients still had residual stenosis of 60% because of the stenosis plaque was harder despite twice balloon dilations. No serious perioperative complications occurred. The success rate of the operation was 97. 5%. The vascular stenosis rate of vertebral artery origins in patients of the stent+medication group was improved significantly,and decreased from 73 ± 13% to median 11%(8%,50%)at one year after stenting. (2)After 1 year,11 patients (27. 5%)had in-stent restenosis in the stent +medication group,including 2 patients (5%)had stent fracture at the same time. Four patients (9. 5%)in the medication group had complete occlusion of vertebral artery,but only 2 had corresponding clinical symptoms. (3)There was no significant difference in the NIHSS scores after the treatment between the stent+medication group and the medication group (Z=1. 678,P=0. 093). The total ischemic events in patients of the stent+medication group was 7 (17. 5%),compared with the incidence of ischemic events in 16 patients (38. 1%)in the medication group,there was significant difference (χ2 =4. 306, P=0.038).Conclusion Stentingissafeandeffectiveforpatientswithvertebralarteryoriginstenosis.It may significantly improve vertebral stenosis,and it is better than medication alone for preventing the occurrence alone of the posterior circulation ischemic events,however,the high in-stent restenosis rate for vertebral artery origin stenosis is still an important problem to be solved.

Objective To analyze the risk factors of preoperative lymph node staging (N-stage) deficiency in gastric cancer and establish a preoperative assessment model to assist in predicting preoperative N-stage. Methods A retrospective method was used to analyze the clinicopathological data of 268 patients with gastric cancer. The patients routinely underwent preoperative thin-section enhanced CT to assess preoperative N-stage. Results The risk factors for preoperative N-stage deficiency were analyzed in combination with postoperative pathological findings. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was performed to determine influencing factors, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to plot the survival curves of preoperative N-stage accurate group and deficiency group. The nomogram plot and ROC curves of the prediction model were drawn using the R package. AUC, 95%CI, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Results Age, BMI, poor differentiation, and Lauren's classification as diffuse were independent risk factors for preoperative N-stage deficiency in gastric cancer (P < 0.05). Prognostic survival was significantly worse in the preoperative N stage-inadequate group than that in the accurate group (P=0.041). The AUC area was 0.935, with a sensitivity of 85.9% and specificity of 96.9%. Conclusion Young age, high BMI, poor differentiation, and Lauren's classification as diffuse are independent risk factors for preoperative N-stage deficiency. The established preoperative assessment model based on age, BMI, differentiation degree, and Lauren's classification in this study has relatively high credibility.

OBJECTIVETo explore whether coal tar pitch smoke extract (CTP) induced pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSBEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) for 8h and 24 h, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the supernatants of cell culture media were measured with LDH activity or human IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively. The activity of Caspase-1 was measured with Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTSThe activity of caspase-1 in 1 and 3 µg/ml CTP groups were (9.29 ± 0.30) and (8.67 ± 0.59) µmol/ml respectively which were both significantly increased compared to that (7.42 ± 0.59) µmol/ml in the control group (P < 0.05) after 8 h exposure, but there was no significant difference in the activity of LDH and levels of IL-1β in the cell culture media among the CTP and control groups. 24 h after exposure, the activity of LDH in the CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) groups were (1323.03 ± 28.53) and (1148.45 ± 16.42) U/dl respectively which were significantly higher than that (1091.93 ± 26.64) U/dl in the control group (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-1β in the CTP (1 and 3 µg/ml) groups were (125.37 ± 25.00) pg/ml and (92.04 ± 19.09) pg/ml respectively which were significantly higher than that (46.20 ± 14.43) pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the activity of Caspase-1 among CTP and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTP treatment induced early increase in caspase-1 activity followed by the increase in LDH activity and IL-1 levels, indicative of pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Apoptosis ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and often fatal disease. Early after pulmonary thromboembolism, inflammation and associated intimal hyperplasia occur within the pulmonary arteries, similar to what is observed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. This study tested the hypothesis that thrombolytic and anticoagulant agents would have anti-inflammatory effects or inhibit intimal hyperplasia of involved pulmonary arteries.

METHODSSeventy-two male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (54 rabbits in the PE group and 18 in the sham group). Experimental PE was induced in 54 rabbits by femoral vein injection of autologous blood clots and confirmed with pulmonary angiography, and other 18 rabbits underwent sham operations. Fifty-four rabbits in the PE group were randomly divided into three groups: a control group (treated with normal saline), a low-molecular- weight heparin (LMWH) group (treated with LMWH), and a urokinase (UK) group (treated with UK). Arterial blood gas was analyzed at 2, 7, and 28 days (n = 6 per time point by random group division), then lung tissues were removed and were analyzed for pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and were stained for intimal hyperplasia.

RESULTSThe overall survival of rabbits undergoing PE was 100%. PE distribution detected on digital signal angiography (DSA) and histopathology was shown in 67% of rabbits (36/54) in the bilateral low lobar pulmonary arteries (PAs). The results showed that alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) difference (PA-aO2) significantly increased and PO2 decreased in the control group compared with the sham group. Compared with controls, the UK group had a decreased level of PA-aO2 on day 2 (P < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference in the LMWH group. Compared with controls, the LMWH group had a decreased level of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in affected tissue and serum samples on days 7 and 28 (P < 0.05), and the UK group had decreased levels on days 2 and 7 (P < 0.05). Compared with sham group, all PE groups had an increased level of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in unaffected lung tissue samples at days 2 and 7. IL-13 in affected lung tissue in the LMWH group was decreased at all time points compared with controls (P < 0.05). However, TGF-β in affected lung tissue of the LMWH and UK groups increased at day 28. There was less intimal hyperplasia in involved pulmonary arteries at days 7 and 28 in the LMWH group compared with controls; there was no statistical difference in the UK group compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSUK treatment can rapidly improve the V/Q mismatch in PE and appears a short-term anti-inflammatory benefit. However, LMWH maybe inhibit the later local inflammatory reaction and reduce intimal hyperplasia.

Animals ; Chemokines ; analysis ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Oxygen ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; pathology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; therapeutic use

Pulmonary vein thrombosis is a rare disease and is usually represented as a complication of atrial fibrillation, pulmonary tumors, and lobectomy. Although it is a potentially life threatening condition, the venous disease is easy to misdiagnose because of the non-specific symptoms. In this article, we present a 30-year-old patient who suffered from pulmonary vein thrombosis without any causes. He was diagnosed with other pulmonary disorders till the thrombus within the pulmonary vein extended into the left atrium. Left atrium mass resection and a left lower lobectomy were undertaken with relative urgency. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient received a long course of oral anticoagulant therapy.
Adult ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Veins ; Venous Thrombosis ; pathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDSterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-2 plays a key role in lipid homeostasis by stimulating gene expression of cholesterol biosynthetic pathways. The insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family regulates growth and metabolism, especially bone cell metabolism, and correlates with osteonecrosis. However, association of their gene polymorphisms with risk of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) has rarely been reported. We determined whether SREBP-2 and IGFBP-3 gene polymorphisms were associated with increased ANFH risk in the Chinese population.

METHODSTwo single nucleotide polymorphisms of SREBP2 gene, rs2267439 and rs2267443, and one of IGFBP-3 gene, rs2453839, were selected and genotyped in 49 ANFH patients and 42 control individuals by direct sequencing assay.

RESULTSThe frequencies of rs2267439 TT and rs2267443 GA of SREBP2 and rs2453839 TT and CT of IGFBP-3 in the ANFH group showed increased and decreased tendencies (against normal control group), respectively. Interaction analysis of genes revealed that the frequency of carrying rs2267439 TT and rs2267443 GA genotypes of SREBF-2 in ANFH patients was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Association analysis between polymorphisms and clinical phenotype demonstrated that the disease course in ANFH patients with the rs2453839 TT genotype of IGFBP-3 was significantly shorter than that of CT + CC carriers (P < 0.01). CT + CC genotype frequency in patients with stage III/IV bilateral hip lesions was significantly higher than in those with stage III/IV unilateral lesions and stage II/III bilateral lesions (P < 0.05 - 0.02).

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggested that interaction of SREBP-2 gene polymorphisms and the relationship between the polymorphisms and clinical phenotype of IGFBP-3 were closely related to increased ANFH risk in the Chinese population. The most significant finding was that the CT + CC genotype carriers of IGFBP-3 rs2453839 were highly associated with the development of ANFH.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Kangquan Recipe (KQR) on sex steroids and cell proliferation in an experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) model in rats.

METHODSSeventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the finasteride group, and the low-, middle-, and high-dose KQR groups, 12 in each group. Except those in the normal group, the rats were injected with testosterone after castration for the establishment of BPH model and then given respectively with normal saline, finasteride, and low-, middle-, and high-dose of KQR for 30 days. The levels of plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol (E(2)) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA expression ) of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in prostate tissue was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after administration.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the prostate weight, the plasma T, and the mRNA expression of PCNA were significantly lower, and the plasma E(2) and the ratio of E(2)/T were higher in the three KQR groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the prostate weight, plasma T and E(2), and ratio of E(2)/T among the finasteride group and the three KQR groups (P>0.05). The mRNA expressions of PCNA were significantly higher in the middle- and low-dose of KQR groups than those in the finasteride group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONKQR shows multitarget effects on experimental BPH rats, and the mechanism might be related with regulating the balance of plasma T and E(2) and decreasing the PCNAmRNA expression in prostate tissue to restrain cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cookbooks as Topic ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostate ; drug effects ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the resistance mutation patterns of hepatitis B virus(HBV) during adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) monotherapy or combination therapy after lamivudine(LAM) resistance.

METHODSSerum samples from fifteen patients with suboptimal viral response to ADV therapy after LAM resistance were collected. The RT region of HBV P gene was PCR-applied, cloned and sequenced, and the mutation patterns in relation to resistance were analyzed.

RESULTSThe ADV resistance mutation patterns of A181T+N236T, A181V, A181T were selected in ADV monotherapy group. The LAM resistance mutation patterns of M204V+L180M, M204V+L180M+L229V, M204I+L80I, M204V+L180M+V207I were detected in the combination therapy group. 20% of clones from three serum samples were detected double resistance to LAM and entecavir (ETV) in the combination therapy group, the resistance patterns were M204I+L80I+T184I (2/10), M204V+L180M+T184S (2/10), and M204V+L180M+G173L+S202G (2/10) respectively. I269L clones were detected in two serum samples from both two groups and P109S clones also detected in the one from monotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONSIn the patients with suboptimal viral response to ADV therapy after LAM resistance, the ADV resistance mutation patterns of A181T+N236T, A181V and A181T could easily be selected during ADV monotherapy; while in the patients with combination therapy, the LAM resistance mutation patterns of M204V+L180M, M204V+L180M+L229V, M204I+L80I, and M204V+L180M+V207I were predominant, the ETV resistance mutation T184I/S and S202G could be selected. The mutation patterns of I269L and P109S may impact the responses to ADV therapy in some patients.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; drug effects ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; drug therapy ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Organophosphonates ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood lead levels (BLLs) in children after 10-year use of unleaded gasoline in Guangzhou and evaluate the effect of this measure.

METHODSThrough stratified random sampling method, 4 kindergartens and 4 elementary schools were selected from each of three districts among 12 districts of Guangzhou. Totally 2373 children were recruited into this survey and 1-2 ml blood was sampled from each child through vein. The lead concentration in blood samples was determined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after diluted with 0.1% Triton X-100 and 0.1% HNO(3) in the ratio of 1:20.

RESULTSAmong 2373 children, the highest BLL was 330 microg/L, while the lowest was 10 microg/L. Geometric mean (GM) of BLL was 58.28 microg/L with 61.11 microg/L of male and 55.37 microg/L of female (t=8.671, P=0.000). Sixty (2.51%) children were identified as elevated BLLs (>or=100 microg/L), including 36 (2.90%) male and 24 (2.09%) female (chi2=1.594, P=0.207). Compared to the surveys conducted in China 10-year ago, the children with elevated BLLs decreased 96.28% and the GM of BLLs reduced 58.37%. BLLs in suburb children (60.33 microg/L) were higher than those in downtown (58.09 microg/L) or in countryside (56.72 microg/L).

CONCLUSIONThe BLLs in children and the ratio for children with elevated BLLs, had declined dramatically after 10-year implement of unleaded gasoline in Guangzhou.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Data Collection ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Gasoline ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and mechanism of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) of low concentration on dynamic changes of intracellular free calcium contents ([Ca2+]i) in cultural rat liver oval cells (WB-F344 cells).

METHODSUsing Fluo-3/Am as fluorescent indicator of [Ca2+]i and it was measured by laser scanning confocal microscope system.

RESULTSThe results showed that: (1) A rapid transient spiking of [Ca2+]i occurred after the stimulation of H2O2 of low concentration (800 nmol/L). (2) The [Ca2+]i increase was abolished by pretreated with catalase (CAT) or by incubated in D-Hank's solution containing EGTA, the chelate of extracellular Ca2+. (3) The [Ca2+]i increase was not inhibited by pretreated nifedipine, Ca2+ channel blocker, but was abolished by pretreated with anthracere-9-cardoxylic acid (A9C), the Cl-channel blocker and which also blocked calcium activated non-selective cation channel (CAN).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that the increase of [Ca2+]i induced by H2O2 of low concentration may be due to the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through CAN.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Ion Channels ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Rats