Objective To investigate the protective effect of ischemic pre-conditioning(IPC) on the spinal cord injury associated with abdominal aortic cross-clamping. Methods Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into IPC group and ischemic group. The concentrations of endothelin-1(ET-1), prostacyclin(PGI_2) and thromboxane A_2(TXA_2) in spinal cord were measured at six different time intervals, before ischemic, 40 minutes after ischemic, 2 hours,8 hours,24 hours and 72 hours after reperfusion. Neurologic function and pathological changes were documented. Results In IPC group, ET-1 level, TXB_2 level and TXB_2/6-keto-PGF_ 1? ratio were significantly reduced, while 6-keto-PGF1? level was significantly increased compared with that of ischemic group (P

Objective To explore the relationship of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene polymorphisms and its serum level with essential hypertension (EH) in Chinese Hans population and investigate the effect of IL-6 gene polymorphisms on serum IL-6 level. Methods The polymorphisms of IL-6 gene, -597 G/A, - 572 C/G and 174 G/C, were checked in 191 EH patients and 197 control subjects by PCR-RELP. Meanwhile their serum IL-6 level was determined by ELISA. Results Only -597 GG genotype and -174 GG genotype of IL-6 gene was found in the test population. There was significant difference in frequencies of - 572 genotype and allele between 2 groups. -572 CG+GG genotype and G allele were more frequent in patients than in controls (P

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and causes of death in patients with acute heart failure at aged 75 and over.Methods The prospective study collected 175 patients with acute heart failure from January 2012 to December 2014.They were divided into ≥75 years old group and＜75 years old group and the general clinical data were recorded.Follow-up was performed mainly by telephone with supplemented hospitalization follow-up and outpatient follow-up.Survival rates were assessed by Kaplan-Meier method.The survival rate difference between the two groups was compared using the log-rank test.Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for death.Results The proportions of ischemic heart disease,hypertension and old myocardial infarction were higher in the elderly group than in the young group with a higher proportion of male,diabetes and body mass index in ＜75 years old group.Elderly group had a higher level of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and a lower level of total cholesterol,triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C).Kaplan-Meier curves showed that allcause mortality(x2 =4.005,P =0.045) and non-cardiovascular mortality(x2 =4.418,P =0.041) were significantly higher in the elderly group than in the younger group,whereas cardiovascular mortality had no significant difference between the two groups (x2 =0.754,P =0.385).In patients with noncardiovascular mortality,12 cases (63.2％)died of pulmonary infection in elderly group,3 cases(25.0％) died of lung infection in younger group,and the difference was statistically significant between the 2 groups (x2 =4.288,P =0.038).Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that age≥75 years was an independent predictor for both non-cardiovascular mortality [HR(95％CI):2.71(1.50-6.55),Wald x2 =2.266,P=0.038]and all-cause mortality[HR(95 ％CI):1.75(1.28-3.13),Wald x2 =2.914,P=0.026]in patients with acute heart failure.Conclusions Age ≥75 years is an independent risk factor for all dead patients with acute heart failure and noncardiovascular death,but it is not the independent risk factors for cardiovascular death,which is of great significance to establish a more rational treatment strategy for senile heart failure.

Objective Biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL)/poly D,L-lactic/glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold is a promising modality for diffuse coronary atherosclerosis diseases unavailable to bypass graft.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of PCL/PLGA scaffold in vivo following polymer degradation.Methods Two scaffolds with and without heparin modification [Heparinized Scaffold (HS) and Blank Scaffold (BS)] were implanted.Except for control group,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were also transplanted around the scaffold.Animals were grouped into control BS group,BS-MSCs group and HS-MSCs group (each n =6) and survived 6 months.Patency and integrity of scaffold were evaluated by echocardiography and 3D-DOCTOR software.Endothelium coverage of the lumen was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.Neovessles and collagen fiber within the scaffold were identified by histological staining.Prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane (TXA2) production in the plasma were measured by ELISA.The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-1,COX-2) and prostacyclin synthase PGIS was detected by Western blot.Results The heparinized scaffold kept patent up to 6 months and the lumen was covered by confluent endothelial cells.Histological staining revealed remodeling of collagen fiber and reconstruction of neovascular network immediately around the lumen.PGI2 production and PGIS expression in BSMSCs group and HS-MSCs group significantly increased compared with BS group (P ＜ 0.05 and P ＜ 0.01,respectively).Nonetheless,TXA2 production and COX-1 expression in BS-MSCs group was more pronounced than HS-MSCs group (P ＜ 0.01),showing no difference between BS-MSCs and BS group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Despite polymer degradation and entire heparin release,the scaffold could continuously keep the structual integrity and lumen patency until 6 months by reinforcement of host collagen fiber and PGI2 expression.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and outcome determinants in cardiac arrest patients secondary to acute myocardial infarction treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The clinical data of 27 patients hospitalized from January 2014 to March 2017 in 3 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical data of the surviving group (12 cases) and the death group (15 cases) were compared and the outcome determinants were explored. Results: Twenty seven patients were successfully treated with coronary angiography and emergency PCI under ECMO assistance, and the successful procedure rate was 100%. The survival rate was 44.4% (12/27). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body weight, myocardial infarct location, past disease history and smoking status between the two groups (all P>0.05). Traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation time was significantly longer, the CCU hospitalization time was significantly shorter, the number of diseased vessels was significantly higher, and the prevalence of distribution of blood vessels in left main stem was significantly higher and mean artery pressure at 24 and 48 hours post ECMO was significantly lower in the death group than in survival group (all P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that left anterior descending artery lesion, higher number of lesion vessels, longer traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation time, longer time interval between cardiac arrest and ECMO placement were related increased risk of death post ECMO and emergency PCI in this patient cohort(OR=1.316, 95%CI 1.217-5.792, P=0.002; OR=1.238, 95%CI 1.107-4.961, P=0.000; OR=1.712, 95%CI 1.136-3.973, P=0.001; OR=1.629, 95%CI 1.132-4.521, P=0.000, respectively), while higher mean artery pressure at 48 hours post ECMO was related with reduced risk of death post ECMO and emergency PCI in this patient cohort(OR=0.672, 95%CI 0.326-0.693, P=0.001). Conclusions ECMO combined with emergency PCI can improve the success rate of traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients with cardiac arrest secondary to acute myocardial infarction. Left anterior descending artery lesion, number of lesion vessels, traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation time, time interval between cardiac arrest and ECMO placement and mean artery pressure at 48 hours post ECMO are outcome determinants post ECMO and emergency PCI in this patient cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of 64 patients (aged from 36 to 59 years old) with early-stage breast cancer after surgery. Patients were divided into ACT group (n=21), FAC group (n=19) and EC group (n=24). The NCI CTC 4.0 scores was used to evaluate the side effects at the time of 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks after chemotherapy. Meanwhile, the level of cTnT, the incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were used to evaluate the anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity, the follow-up observation points were as follows: at the acute cardiotoxicity (time A), subacute cardiotoxicity (time B), 24 months after chemotherapy (time C), 36 months after chemotherapy (time D), 48 months after chemotherapy (time E), 60 months after chemotherapy (time F). The 3-years and 5-years overall survival and progress free disease survival among three groups were compared. Results: The ages, clinical stage, the size of tumor, axillary lymph node positivity and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Scores were similar among three groups (P>0.05); the incidence of side effects level 4 was 0. The levels of cTnT in the three groups were significantly lower than those at the baseline and time points C, D, E and F (all P<0.05), and the levels of cTnT were significantly higher in EC group than in FAC and ACT group at the time points B, C, D, E and F (P<0.05); however, the incidence of abnormal ECG and LVEF was similar among the 3 groups (P>0.05). The 5-year overall survival was 95.2% (20/21) ,100% (19/19) and 95.8% (23/24) in ACT group, FAC group and EC group, respectively; 5-year progress free disease survival was 95.2% (20/21) ,94.7% (18/19) and 91.7% (22/24) in ACT group, FAC group and EC group, respectively (P>0.05) . Conclusions Patients with early-stage breast cancer after surgery could tolerate the anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity. Three chemotherapy schemes of ACT, FAC and EC, especially the EC protocol, could affect the myocardial damage. However, outcome is comparable among patients treated with above chemotherapy schemes in this patient cohort.

BACKGROUNDThe radial artery (RA) is becoming a popular conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), yet data reporting the long-term results are rare. We reported our clinical, angiographic and intravascular ultrasound findings on 93 patients who had the RA used as part of the conduit for the CABG procedures during a 12-year period from June 2001 to June 2013.

METHODSA total of 118 radial artery conduits were harvested in 87 males and 6 females, age from 28 to 66 (mean 49.9) years. An "intra-operative Allen's test" was developed to safeguard blood supply to the arm and hand. A "double-clip & scissors-cut" technique was carried out to minimize the thermal injury to the radial artery from the diathermy. The left radial artery was used in 67 patients, the right in one, and bilateral radial arteries in 25 patients. One hundred and twenty-two out of 272 distal anastomoses (44.9%) were constructed with radial arteries, with an average of 2.9 grafts per patient (range 2-6).

RESULTSFollow-up angiography and intravascular ultrasound study at 3-139 postoperative months (mean 59 months) revealed a 93.1% RA patency. String sign occurred in one patient in whom the RA was directed to a big right coronary artery with a stenosis of around 50%. The patency for the internal mammary artery was 96.4%.

CONCLUSIONSThe RA is an excellent conduit that broadens the options for total arterial CABG surgery. Good graft patency could be achieved through careful harvesting techniques and choice of proper target coronary vessels.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; surgery