Objective To investigate the correlation ofchemokine CX3CL1 and the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACCE) within 1 year in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods Five hundred patients with STEMI were continuously selected from the Department of Emergency,General Hospital of Shenyang Command,and 5ml venous blood was extracted at the time of admission.Plasma CX3CL1 levels were detected by ELISA.The median of CX3CL1 plasma concentration of all selected patients (2108.3pg/ml) was used to assign the patients to low expression group (＜2108.3pg/ml) and high expression group (≥ 2108.3pg/ml).The baseline information and the medical history of patients were recorded and followed up by telephone inquiry for 1 year.The endpoint events were defined as MACCE (including cardiac death,heart failure,nonfatal stroke and nonfatal myocardial infarction).Based on the MACCE in 1 year following up,patients were assigned into MACCE group and non-MACCE group.Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between CX3CL1 level and MACCE in STEMI patients.Results The plasma CX3CL1 level significantly increased in MACCE group compared with that in Non-MACCE group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis showed that the plasma concentration of CX3CL1 was independently associated with the occurrence of MACCE within 1 year (HR=1.124,95％CI:1.032-1.217,P=0.003).Conclusion Chemokine CX3CL1 concentration in plasma is positively correlated with the prognosis of patients with STEMI,and can be used in the prognosis assessment of STEMI patients.

Objective The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of hexavalent chromium exposure on mRNA expression of cell cycle related genes in electroplating workers, and to provide population data for investigating the toxic mechanisms of hexavalent chromium. Methods A total of 155 cases of workers occupationally exposed to hexavalent chromium were selected, including 89 males and 66 females, and the average age of workers was 39.65±8.856 years old. Questionnaire was used to collect essential information of workers. Peripheral blood was collected from electroplating workers. The inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MAS) was used to measure total blood chromium content. The workers were divided into four groups according to the blood chromium content. After extracting total RNA from whole blood and reverse transcription, the mRNA expression levels of p16 and CDK6 genes were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Meanwhile, the levels of blood chromium (BCr) and the mRNA expression of p16 and CDK6 genes were compared among four groups. The impact of BCr, smoking habits, drinking habits, gender on the mRNA expression of CDK6 gene was analyzed. Results The levels of BCr in group 1 to 4 were 0.04ppb, 0.47±0.29 ppb, 2.76±1.16 ppb, 9.36 ±4.38 ppb, respectively, and the difference between every two groups was significant (P<0.05) . The median of p16 gene expression in four groups was 4.22, 7.19, 7.47, and 14.60, respectively, and the difference between every two groups was not significant (P>0.05) . The mRNA expression levels of CDK6 gene in groups 2 to 4 were 15.05, 8.03 and 24.81, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in group 1 (P<0.05) . The results of logistic regression showed that the level of Bcr was the main influence factor, while smoking habits, drinking habits and gender had no obvious impact on the mRNA expression of CDK6 gene. Conclusions Long-term exposure of hexavalent chromium led to higher mRNA expression of CDK6 gene, and it may serve as a biomarker for workers occupationally exposed to hexavalent chromium.

Objective The treatment methods for blood blister-like aneurysm remain controversial due to its special patholog-ical structure,the risk of post-operative rebleeding and the high rate of recurrence. The arm of this paper is to access the feasibility and effectiveness of overlapping stent-assisted coiling in the treatment of blood blister-like aneurysms of the internal carotid artery. Methods Form January 2014 to December 2016,we treated 15 patients with blood blister-like aneurysm of the internal carotid artery by stent-assisted coiling in the Department of Neurosurgery,5 with two Enterprise tents,3 with three Enterprise tents,4 with Enter-prise+LVIS tents,and 3 with two LVIS tents. We determined the rate of immediate embolization of aneurysms by Raymond-Roy Occlu-sion Classification(RROC)and analyzed the clinical characteristics,postoperative complications,and follow-up data. Results All the coils and stents were successfully implanted. RROC showed 9 cases of gradeⅠ(60%),4 cases of gradeⅡ(27%),and 2 cases of gradeⅢimmediate occlusion(13%),with the parent arteries unobstructed in all the cases. Thrombosis in the stent was found in 2 cases intraoperatively,slight stent migration in 1 case,and internal carotid artery dissection in the petrous segment in another,but no cer-ebral vasospasm or aneurysm rupture in any case.Delayed cerebral in-farct was observed in 2 cases postoperatively. The patients were fol-lowed up for 2 weeks to 28 months,which showed that 11 of them were cured,2 remained stable and 2 developed further thrombosis,with an MRS score of 0-2 in 12 cases,4 in 1 case,5 in 1 case, and 6 in 1case. Conclusion Overlapping stent-assisted coiling is effective for the treatment of blood blister-like aneurysm by reduc-ing the risks of rebleeding and recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (Samdasoo(TM)), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups. Different water samples were supplied to the hyperlipidemic rats as their daily drinking water and the widely-used anti-hyperlipidemic drug simvastatin was used as a positive control. Body weight, serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured weekly. Liver weight, liver index and liver histopathology were examined after the execution of the rats. RESULTS: After drinking Jeju groundwaters for two months, S2 but not S3 significantly reduced weight growth and serum triglycerides levels and increased high density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) without affecting total cholesterol or LDL-C. S1 and particularly S2 significantly reduced the severity of liver hypertrophy and steatosis. All Groundwaters had much higher contents of vanadium (S3>S2>S1>>tap water) whereas S1 and S2 but not S3 markedly blocked autoxidation of ferrous ions. CONCLUSION: Jeju Groundwater S1 and particularly S2 exhibit protective effects against hyperlipidemia and fatty liver and hypothesize that the beneficial effect of Jeju Groundwaters may be contributed from blockade of autoxidation of ferrous ions rather than their high contents of vanadium.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Fatty Liver ; Groundwater* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertrophy ; Ions ; Korea ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Minerals ; Rats* ; Simvastatin ; Triglycerides ; Vanadium ; Water

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the existence of SARS coronavirus (Co-V) and/or its RNA in sewage of hospitals administered SARS patients.

METHODSA novel electropositive filter was used to concentrate the SARS-CoV from the sewage of two hospitals administered SARS patients in Beijing, including twelve 2,500 ml sewage samples from the hospitals before disinfection, and ten 25,000 ml samples after disinfection; as well as cell culture, RT-PCR and sequencing of gene to detect and identify the viruses from sewage.

RESULTSThere was no live SARS-CoV detected in the sewage in this study. The nucleic acid of SARS-CoV had been found in the 12 sewage samples before disinfection from both hospitals by semi-nested PCR. After disinfection, SARS-CoV RNA could only be detected from the samples from the 309th Hospital, and the others were negative.

CONCLUSIONIt provides evidence that there is no live SARS-Cov in the sewage from hospitals with SARS patients though SARS-CoV RNA can be detected.

Hospitals ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid ; analysis ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; virology ; Sewage ; virology

Background: Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) can cater to individual needs, provide treatment while asleep, take into account the adequacy of dialysis, and improve the quality of life. Currently, independent research and development of APD machines made in China are more conducive to patients. A randomized, multicenter, crossover study was conducted by comparing an APD machine made in China with an imported machine. The safety, effectiveness, and manipulability of the two machines were compared. Methods: Two hundred and sixty patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD) on a regular basis in 18 centers between August 2015 and February 2016 were included. The inclusion criteria include age ≥18 years and PD ≥30 days. The exclusion criteria were as follows: hemodialysis; exit site or tunnel infection; and peritonitis ≤30 days. The patients were randomly divided into Group A, who were first treated with a FM machine made in China, then changed to an imported machine; and Group B, who were treated using the reverse sequence. APD treatment was performed with 10 L/10 h and 5 cycles of exchange. After 72 h, the daily peritoneal Kt/V, the accuracy of the injection rate, accuracy of the injection temperature, safety, and manipulability of the machine were assessed. Noninferiority test was conducted between the two groups. Results: The daily peritoneal Kt/V in the APD machine made in China and the imported APD machine were 0.17 (0.14, 0.25) and 0.16 (0.13, 0.23), respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (Z = 0.15, P = 0.703). The lower limit of the daily Kt/V difference between the two groups was 0.0069, which was greater than the noninferiority value of -0.07 in this study. The accuracy of the injection rate and injection temperature was 89.7% and 91.5%, respectively, in the domestic APD machine, which were both slightly better than the accuracy rates of 84.0% and 86.8% in the imported APD machine (89.7% vs. 84.0%, P = 0.2466; 91.5% vs. 86.8%, P = 0.0954). Therefore, the APD machine made in China was not inferior to the imported APD machine. The fuselage of the imported APD machine was space-saving, while the APD machine made in China was superior with respect to body mobility, man-machine dialog operation, alarm control, and patient information recognition. Conclusions: The FM machine made in China was not inferior to the imported APD machine. In addition, the FM machine made in China had better operability. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02525497; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT02525497&cntry=& state=&city=&dist=.
Adult ; China ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quality of Life ; Temperature

BACKGROUNDPatients on hemodialysis have a high-mortality risk. This study analyzed factors associated with death in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). While some studies used baseline data of MHD patients, this study used the most recent data obtained from patients just prior to either a primary endpoint or the end of the study period to find the characteristics of patients preceding death.

METHODSParticipants were selected from 16 blood purification centers in China from January 2012 to December 2014. Patients' data were collected retrospectively. Based on survival status, the participants were divided into two groups: survival group and the death group. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with all-cause mortality.

RESULTSIn total, 4104 patients (57.58% male, median age 59 years) were included. Compared with the survival group, the death group had more men and more patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and hypertensive nephropathy. The patients preceding death also had lower levels of diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, serum albumin, serum calcium, serum phosphate, Kt/V, and higher age. Multivariate analysis revealed that male sex (odd ratio [OR]: 1.437, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.094-1.886), age (OR: 1.046, 95% CI: 1.036-1.057), and presence of DN (OR: 1.837, 95% CI: 1.322-2.552) were the risk factors associated with mortality. High serum calcium (OR: 0.585, 95% CI: 0.346-0.989), hemoglobin (OR: 0.974, 95% CI: 0.967-0.981), albumin (OR: 0.939, 95% CI: 0.915-0.963) levels, and dialysis with noncuffed catheter (OR: 0.165, 95% CI: 0.070-0.386) were protective factors based on a multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONSHemodialysis patients preceding death had lower hemoglobin, albumin, and serum calcium levels. Multivariate analysis showed that male sex, age, DN, low hemoglobin, low albumin, and low serum calcium were associated with death in hemodialysis patients.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Renal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDGlobally, the proportion of child deaths that occur in the neonatal period remains a high level of 37-41%. Differences of cause in neonate death exist in different regions as well as in different economic development countries. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the causes, characteristics, and differences of death in neonates during hospitalization in the tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of China.

METHODSAll the dead neonates admitted to 26 NICUs were included between January l, 2011, and December 31, 2011. All the data were collected retrospectively from clinical records by a designed questionnaire. Data collected from each NICU were delivered to the leading institution where the results were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 744 newborns died during the 1-year survey, accounting for 1.2% of all the neonates admitted to 26 NICUs and 37.6% of all the deaths in children under 5 years of age in these hospitals. Preterm neonate death accounted for 59.3% of all the death. The leading causes of death in preterm and term infants were pulmonary disease and infection, respectively. In early neonate period, pulmonary diseases (56.5%) occupied the largest proportion of preterm deaths while infection (27%) and neurologic diseases (22%) were the two main causes of term deaths. In late neonate period, infection was the leading cause of both preterm and term neonate deaths. About two-thirds of neonate death occurred after medical care withdrawal. Of the cases who might survive if receiving continuing treatment, parents' concern about the long-term outcomes was the main reason of medical care withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONSNeonate death still accounts for a high proportion of all the deaths in children under 5 years of age. Our study showed the majority of neonate death occurred in preterm infants. Cause of death varied with the age of death and gestational age. Accurate and prompt evaluation of the long-term outcomes should be carried out to guide the critical decision.

Cause of Death ; China ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; mortality ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Perinatal Death ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Shenyankangfu Tablet (SYKFT) is a Chinese patent medicine that has been used widely to decrease proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This trial compared the efficacy and safety of SYKFT, for the control of proteinuria in primary glomerulonephritis patients, against the standard drug, losartan potassium. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Primary glomerulonephritis patients, aged 18-70 years, with blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 45 mL/min per 1.73 m MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in the 24-hour proteinuria level, after 48 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 735 participants were enrolled. The percent decline of urine protein quantification in the SYKFT group after 48 weeks was 8.78% ± 2.56% (P = 0.006) more than that in the losartan 50 mg group, which was 0.51% ± 2.54% (P = 1.000) less than that in the losartan 100 mg group. Compared with the losartan potassium 50 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg group had a 13.39% ± 2.49% (P < 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein level. Compared with the losartan potassium 100 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 100 mg group had a 9.77% ± 2.52% (P = 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein. With a superiority threshold of 15%, neither was statistically significant. eGFR, serum creatinine and serum albumin from the baseline did not change statistically significant. The average change in TCM syndrome score between the patients who took SYKFT (-3.00 [-6.00, -2.00]) and who did not take SYKFT (-2.00 [-5.00, 0]) was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group. CONCLUSION: SYKFT decreased the proteinuria and improved the TCM syndrome scores of primary glomerulonephritis patients, with no change in the rate of decrease in the eGFR. SYKFT plus losartan potassium therapy decreased proteinuria more than losartan potassium therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02063100 on ClinicalTrials.gov.