Objective To study the thermal insulation properties of vacuum insulated panel(VIP)used as materials for blood transportation kits.Methods A VIP transportation kit was taken as test group,and a conventional transportation kit was taken as control.Phase change cool storage materials of the same amount and 4℃water bags were put into both kits.A recordable electronic thermometer was used to record the temperature within the two kits,and free hemoglobin(FHb)and potassium ion concentration were measured at 0, 4, and 7 days after blood storage.Results The temperature in the conventional transportation kit increased faster after 36 h, and was significantly higher than in the VIP transportation kit until 60 h.Besides,the VIP transportation kit kept the temperature under 10℃ for(60.7 ±0.6)h, compared to (54.2 ±3.0)h in the conventional transportation kit.FHb concentration was significantly lower in the VIP transportation kit[(605.26 ±74.63)mg/L]than in the conventional transportation kit[(1327.60 ±187.41)mg/L]at day 7(d 7),so was the potassium ion concentration in the VIP transportation kit[(22.7 ±0.4)mmol/L]compared to[(24.6 ±0.6) mmol/L]in the transportation kit at d 7.Conclusion The VIP transportation kit keeps the temperature under 10℃ for a longer time,and the blood quality of preservation is better than that of the conventional transportation kit.Novel heat preservation material can improve health support ability,and is of great value and significance.

Objective To improve vibration resistance of conventional blood transportation kits and mitigate hemolysis during transportation.Methods The structure of a blood transportation kit was modified.We installed a suspension brac-kets within the kit,added buffer material between the brackets,and tested the vibration-suppressing effect compared with the conventional blood transportation kit.Results Rubber and plastic materials between brackets were added,and double membrane suspension brackets were installed.After 4 and 6 min of vibration,free hemoglobin(FHb)[(1559.7 ±1038.5) and(1886.2 ±1023.8)mg/L],lactic dehydrogenase levels[(135.3 ±67.7)and(195.7 ±123.6)U/L]and hemolysis rate[(0.35 ±0.34)%and(0.42 ±0.38)%]in the conventional transportation kit were significantly higher than in the vibration-suppressing kit.K+did not change significantly,and was comparable in both groups at each time point.After 4 and 6 min of vibration, FHb in the conventional transportation kit exceeded the standard.However, after 12 min of vibration,FHb[(560.1 ±342.3)mg/L]in the vibration-suppressing kit were within the standard range.No bacterial growth was detected in either group.Conclusion The vibration-suppressing kit under research shows a better 1986vibration-suppressing effect,which could improve blood support capability in case of emergency.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and efficacy of treating atrial fibrillation (AF) with circumferential pulmonary vein (PV) linear ablation guided by 3 dimensional mapping system and single circular mapping catheter.

METHODSFrom April 2004 to January 2005, PV isolation with circumferential PV linear ablation guided by CARTO system (in 76 patients) or EnSite-NavX system (in 24 patients) was performed in 100 consecutive patients with significantly symptomatic, drug refractory AF. The procedural end-point was complete electrical isolation of bilateral PV.

RESULTSUp to 200 linear circles were produced around each ipsilateral PVs in all 100 cases, and 95.0% (190/200) of PV isolation rate was achieved with a mean procedure time of 150-365 (240 +/- 65) min and a mean fluoroscopy time of 23-61 (37 +/- 12) min, respectively. Eight cases with recurrent AF (8.0%) underwent second session. Cumulative atrial tachyarrhythmias-free rate was 85.0% (85/100) during a mean follow-up of 5.5-12 (10.2 +/- 5.7) months. Atrial tachyarrhythmias-free rate was 66.0% (66/100), 82.0% (82/100), 87.0% (87/100), 85.0% (85/100), 85.0% (85/100), and 88.6% (70/79) during the follow up at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and 6 months, respectively. There were 2 complications (1 tamponade and 1 PV stenosis), which were rehabilitated after conservative treatment.

CONCLUSIONPV isolation with circumferential PV linear ablation guided by 3 dimensional mapping system is safe and effective for treating AF.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDelayed cure had been observed in recurrent cases after index ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), however, its mechanism and incidence have not been elucidated in detail. This study aims to investigate the impact of different ablation strategies on the incidence of delayed cure and its possible mechanisms after trans-catheter ablation of AF.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-one consecutive cases with highly symptomatic, drug refractory AF were included in this study [M/F = 109/42, mean age (56.0 +/- 11.2) (18 - 79) years]. Segmental pulmonary vein ablation (SPVA) was performed in 83 patients with the guidance of circular mapping catheter (SPVA Group), circumferential PV linear ablation (CPVA) was carried out in the rest 68 cases under the guidance of 3 dimensional mapping system in conjunction with circular mapping catheter (CPVA Group). Delayed cure was defined as that early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (AF, atrial tachycardia, or atrial flutter) after ablation procedure was no longer observed during subsequent follow-up, and stable sinus rhythm was maintained > or = 2 months.

RESULTSEarly recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias was detected in 41 cases from SPVA group and 23 cases from CPVA group, and delayed cure occurred in 21.9% (9/41) of the cases from SPVA group and 47.8% (11/23) of the cases from CPVA group, more delayed cure in later group was observed (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, patients in SPVA group took a longer time to achieve a delayed cure [(27.0 +/- 18.0) days vs (14.0 +/- 8.1) days, P < 0.05], and presented more recurrent episodes [(3.50 +/- 1.08) times a week vs (2.42 +/- 1.11) times a week, P < 0.05]. However, recurrent episodes after index ablation were markedly decreased in cases with delayed cure from both groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDespite of an early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias after index ablation of AF, delayed cure occurs in a significant number of patients undergoing either SPVA or CPVA. However, different ablation strategies place different impact on the delayed cure, more delayed cure is obtained with CPVA approach, and the delayed cure occurs earlier with this approach; the average recurrent episodes before delayed cure are also less frequently detected in CPVA group compared with those in SPVA group.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the prevalence and clinical features of human rhinovirus (HRV) infection in hospitalized children with acute respiratory (ARI) in eastern areas of Guangdong province from 2008 to 2010.Methods From Oct.2008 through Sep.2010,nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected prospectively,from hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection at the Second Hospital,affiliated to the Shantou University Medical College.Multiplex PCR was applied to detect ten kinds of viruses including HRV,RSV in the hospitalized children with respiratory tract infection.Clinical data on HRV-positive cases or RSV-positive cases were collected and analyzed.Results Among all the 1335 specimens,124 were confirmed as HRV-positive cases (9.3％),with IVA-positive rate as the highest (25.1％),followed by RSV-positive rate (15.1％).HRV infection occurred sporadically around the year,with the highest HRV-positive rate seen in spring 2009 and autumn in 2010.Symptoms,signs,chest X-ray,leukocyte count and CRP count did not differ between patients with co-infection or single HRV infection.Clinical symptoms or signs were similar between those with single HRV infection or single RSV infection in children,but the single RSV infected children were more frequently seen with wheeze and cough.28.4％ of the single RSV infected children had bronchiolitis while 10.7％ of single HRV infected children were seen (x2=0.281,P=0.596).Conclusion HRV was a relatively common cause for acute respiratory infections in the eastern areas of Guangdong province.The highest HRV-positive rate was slightly different in different years.Infants and young children were generally susceptible to rhinovirus infection.Bronchiolitis,wheeze and cough associated with HRV infection happened less than those caused by RSV.

BACKGROUNDThe prognostic values of the coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) score for predicting future cardiovascular events have been previously demonstrated in numerous studies. However, few studies have used the rich information available from CCTA to detect functionally significant coronary lesions. We sought to compare the prognostic values of Gai's plaque score and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) of CCTA for predicting functionally significant coronary lesions, using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as the gold standard.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 107 visually assessed significant coronary lesions in 88 patients (mean age, 59.6 ± 10.2 years; 76.14% of males) who underwent CCTA, invasive coronary angiography, and invasive FFR measurement. An FFR <0.80 indicated hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis. Lesions were divided into two groups using an FFR cutoff value of 0.80. We compared Gai's plaque scores and CACS between the two groups and evaluated the correlations of these scores with FFR. The statistical methods included unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Spearman's correlation coefficients.

RESULTSCoronary lesions with FFR <0.80 had higher Gai's scores than those with FFR ≥0.80. Gai's score had the strongest correlation with FFR (r = -0.48, P < 0.01) and had a greater area under the curve = 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.82; P < 0.01) than the CACS of whole arteries and a single artery.

CONCLUSIONSBoth CACS in a single artery and Gai's plaque score demonstrated a good capacity to assess functionally significant coronary artery stenosis when compared to the gold standard FFR. However, Gai's plaque score was more predictive of FFR <0.80. Gai's score can be easily calculated in daily clinical practice and could be used when considering revascularization.

Aged ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Calcification ; pathology

Objective To evaluate differences in genes expression of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) under continuous mechanical strain by gene microarray technology．Methods rBMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. Continuous stresses with amplitude of 10% and frequency of 1 Hz were applied on rBMSCs for 6 hours by Flexercell mechanical loading system to investigate rBMSC gene expression profiles, and quantitative PCR was used to verify gene expression changes related to osteoblastic differentiation. Results Compared with the control group, 1 244 differentially expressed genes were found in mechanical loading group, among which 793 genes were up-regulated, while 451 genes were down-regulated．GO (gene ontology) analysis suggested that differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in multicellular organismal development, cell differentiation, chemotaxis, cell adhesion and so on. Four signaling pathways as Notch, Wnt, FGF and IGF might participate in the regulation of stress-induced osteoblastic differentiation. PCR validation results were consistent with the gene chip results. Conclusions Mechanical stress could induce osteoblastic differentiation of the BMSCs, while several differentially expressed genes screened by gene microarray may attribute to this process.

Objective: To investigate whether in vitro culture medium (IVCM) for sparse spermatozoa can improve human sperm motility for the purpose of helping clinicians, laboratorians and patients choose a better strategy of assisted reproduction. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from 178 males for routine semen examination from March to August 2016, including 151 cases of asthenozoospermia and 27 cases of normal sperm motility. A total of 200 μl was collected from each sample and divided into two equal portions and equal volumes of IVCM (experimental group) and F10 (1×) (control group) were added to the two portions, respectively, followed by 30-minute incubation at 37℃ in an incubator with 5% CO2. Sperm concentration, motility and viability and the percentages of progressively motile, non-progressively motile and immotile sperm were recorded before and after incubation. RESULTS: After activated with IVCM, neither the samples with asthenozoospermia nor those with normal sperm motility showed any statistically significant difference in sperm viability from the baseline or the control group (P>0.05). The rates of progressively and non-progressively motile sperm from the asthenozoospermia males were increased by 14.02% and 4.86% respectively, while that of immotile sperm decreased by 19.01% in the experimental group (P >0.01), and similar results were observed in the semen samples from the men with normal sperm motility. The percentage of reduced immotile viable sperm was positively correlated with that of immotile viable sperm in both the asthenozoospermia patients (r = 0.260, P <0.01) and the men with normal sperm motility (r = 0.679, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS IVCM can increase sperm motility without affecting sperm viability in men with either asthenozoospermia or normal sperm motility. The larger the proportion of immotile viable sperm, the higher the percentages of progressively and non-progressively motile sperm in the semen after IVCM activation, and this correlation is more significant in men with normal sperm motility than in asthenozoospermia patients.
Asthenozoospermia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; methods ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

There are huge differences between tumor cells and normal cells in material metabolism, and tumor cells mainly show increased anabolism, decreased catabolism, and imbalance in substance metabolism. These differences provide the necessary material basis for the growth and reproduction of tumor cells, and also provide important targets for the treatment of tumors. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death characterized by an imbalance of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and lipid membrane antioxidant systems in cells, resulting in excessive accumulation of lipid peroxide, causing damage to lipid membrane structure and loss of function, and ultimately cell death. The regulation of ferroptosis involves a variety of metabolic pathways, including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and iron metabolism. In order for tumor cells to grow rapidly, their metabolic needs are more vigorous than those of normal cells. Tumor cells are metabolically reprogrammed to meet their rapidly proliferating material and energy needs. Metabolic reprogramming is mainly manifested in glycolysis and enhancement of pentose phosphate pathway, enhanced glutamine metabolism, increased nucleic acid synthesis, and iron metabolism tends to retain more intracellular iron. Metabolic reprogramming is accompanied by the production of reactive oxygen species and the activation of the antioxidant system. The state of high oxidative stress makes tumor cells more susceptible to redox imbalances, causing intracellular lipid peroxidation, which ultimately leads to ferroptosis. Therefore, in-depth study of the molecular mechanism and metabolic basis of ferroptosis is conducive to the development of new therapies to induce ferroptosis in cancer treatment. Ferroptosis, as a regulated form of cell death, can induce ferroptosis in tumor cells by pharmacologically or genetically targeting the metabolism of substances in tumor cells, which has great potential value in tumor treatment. This article summarizes the effects of cellular metabolism on ferroptosis in order to find new targets for tumor treatment and provide new ideas for clinical treatment.

BACKGROUNDThe ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients due to stent thrombosis (ST) remain a therapeutic challenge for a clinician. Till date, very few researches have been conducted regarding the safety and effectiveness of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) for STEMI caused by very late ST (VLST). This retrospective study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of primary PCI with second-generation DES for STEMI due to VLST compared with primary PCI for STEMI due to de novo lesion.

METHODSBetween January 2007 and December 2013, STEMI patients with primary PCI in Fuwai Hospital had only second-generation DES implanted for de novo lesion (558 patients) and VLST (50 patients) were included in this retrospective study. The primary end points included cardiac death and reinfarction. The secondary end points included cardiac death, reinfarction, and target lesion revascularization. Continuous variables were expressed as mean (standard deviation) or median (interquartile range) and compared by Student's t- test or Mann-Whitney U-test as appropriate. Categorical variables were expressed as counts and percentages, and comparison of these variables was performed with Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A two-tailed value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all comparisons. Statistical analyses were performed by SAS software (version 9.4, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, USA) for Windows.

RESULTSIn-hospital primary end point and the secondary end point were no significant differences between two groups (P = 1.000 and P = 1.000, respectively). No significant differences between two groups were observed according to the long-term primary end point and the secondary end point. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed no significant difference between the two groups in the primary end point and the secondary end point at 2 years (P = 0.340 and P = 0.243, respectively). According to Cox analysis, female, intra-aortic balloon pump support, and postprocedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow 3 were found to be independent predictors for long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONPrimary PCI with second-generation DES is a reasonable choice for STEMI patients caused by VLST.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; surgery ; Paclitaxel ; therapeutic use ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Thrombosis ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome