Thyroglobulin(Tg)is a glycoprotein with large molecular weight,which is synthesized and secreted into the bloodstream by thyroid follicular cells.The concentration level of Tg in blood is one of the important biomarkers for diagnosis of thyroid diseases such as differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC),subacute thyroiditis,etc..Radioimmunoassay(RIA),immunoradiometric assay(IRMA),and immunochemiluminescence assay(ICMA)are the main clinical methods for detecting Tg.Recently,for meeting the requirement of detecting low concentration of Tg in blood after thyroid clearance surgery,researchers have developed various high-performance analysis methods for detecting Tg concentration in blood samples,providing new assays for thyroid disease screening and efficacy evaluation.This review summarized the analysis methods of Tg,especially the new progresses in the biosensors for monitoring low concentration of Tg in blood during the past five years.The current technical challenges of these methods in clinical applications were briefly discussed,which might provide useful information for developing new liquid biopsy methods of DTC.

The anhydrite and gypsum are the main sulfate minerals during evaporation of seawater or lake.They record the information about relative hydrogeology and the composition of mother liquor.Boron is diffluent element, and often occurs in all kinds of evaporites.Presently, the boron isotope has been applied widely in mineral deposits forming, geochemistry and palaeoenvironment.However, there is little research about characteristic of boron isotope in anhydrite and gypsum minerals, because of the low content of boron and micro-solubility in water and hydrochloric acid.This study developed a method of extracting and purifying boron in anhydrite and gypsum by phase transformation and ion-exchange.Firstly, the samples were mixed with ammonium hydrogen carbonate to transform the calcium sulfate to calcium carbonate.And diluted hydrochloric acid (1 mol/L) was added to resolve calcium carbonate.The percent conversion was about 85%in the first stage, and up to complete resolution by repeating this process.Secondly, boron specific ion-exchange resin ( Amberlite IRA 743 ) was used to gather the boron ions fully and further refined the samples with more than 1 μg of boron by anionic and cationic resin mixed by Ion Exchange Ⅱ and Dowex 50 W × 8.Finally, according to the modified method by He, the values of boron isotope were determined by TIMS.The boron content is analytically pure gypsum was 3.501 ± 0.128 μg/g ( n=12 , RSD=3.6%) and the average recovery was 100.47%.Besides, the δ11B value of analytically pure gypsum added with NIST SRM 951 was 17.98‰±0.21‰ (n=3, RSD=1.2%).This method has good repeatability and can meet the requirements of boron isotopic measurement of anhydrite and gypsum.

To investigate the changes in intestinal absorption of ginsenosides Rg₁, ginsenosides Re and ginsenosides Rd after combined administration of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma extract and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, in order to confirm whether the combined administration is scientific and rational, and provide experimental basis for pharmaceutical studies of the formula. An in vivo single-pass perfusion method was performed to study the effect of various concentrations of ginsenosides Rg₁, ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rd on the intestinal absorption at duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. The concentrations of ginsenosides Rg₁, ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rd were determined by RP-HPLC.The absorption rate constant (Ka) and the apparent absorption coefficient(Papp) of ginsenosides Rg₁, ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rd were calculated.The result showed that ginsenosides Rg₁, ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rd had a high absorption rate on upper portion of the small intestine. The drug concentration had not significantly impact on the absorption rate, suggesting that ginsenosides Rg₁, ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rd were absorbed via passive diffusion.Volatile oil of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma had obvious effect in enhancing intestinal absorption of ginsenosides Rg₁, ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rd, indicating that the combined administration of Ginseng extract and Acorus tatarinowii Schott is scientific and rational.

BACKGROUNDAlemtuzumab has been used in organ transplantation and a variety of hematologic malignancies (especially for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia). However, serious infectious complications frequently occur after treatment. The reason for increased infections postalemtuzumab treatment is unknown at this stage. We explore the effect of alemtuzumab on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and intestinal barrier function in cynomolgus model to explain the reason of infection following alemtuzumab treatment.

METHODSTwelve male cynomolguses were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group received alemtuzumab (3 mg/kg, intravenous injection) while the control group received the same volume of physiological saline. Intestinal IELs were isolated from the control group and the treatment group (on day 9, 35, and 70 after treatment) for counting and flow cytometric analysis. Moreover, intestinal permeability was monitored by enzymatic spectrophotometric technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe numbers of IELs were decreased significantly on day 9 after treatment compared with the control group (0.35 ± 0.07 × 10 8 and 1.35 ± 0.09 × 10 8 , respectively; P < 0.05) and were not fully restored until day 70 after treatment. There were significant differences among four groups considering IELs subtypes. In addition, the proportion of apoptotic IELs after alemtuzumab treatment was significantly higher than in the control group (22.01 ± 3.67 and 6.01 ± 1.42, respectively; P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentration of D-lactate and endotoxin was also increased significantly on day 9 after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSAlemtuzumab treatment depletes lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and intestine of cynomolgus model. The induction of apoptosis is an important mechanism of lymphocyte depletion after alemtuzumab treatment. Notably, intestinal barrier function may be disrupted after alemtuzumab treatment.

Alemtuzumab ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Intestines ; cytology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Macaca fascicularis ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission

BACKGROUNDThe double kissing (DK) crush technique is a modified version of the crush technique. It is specifically designed to increase the success rate of the final kissing balloon post-dilatation, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear.

METHODSData were obtained from the DKCRUSH-I trial, a prospective, randomized, multi-center study to evaluate safety and efficacy. Post-procedural and eight-month follow-up intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis was available in 61 cases. Volumetric analysis using Simpson's method within the Taxus stent, and cross-sectional analysis at the five sites of the main vessel (MV) and three sites of the side branch (SB) were performed. Impact of the bifurcation angle on stent expansion at the carina was also evaluated.

RESULTSStent expansion in the SB ostium was significantly less in the classical crush group ((53.81 ± 13.51)%) than in the DK crush group ((72.27 ± 11.46)%) (P = 0.04). For the MV, the incidence of incomplete crush was 41.9% in the DK group and 70.0% in the classical group (P = 0.03). The percentage of neointimal area at the ostium had a tendency to be smaller in the DK group compared with the classical group ((16.4 ± 19.2)% vs. (22.8 ± 27.1)%, P = 0.06). The optimal threshold of post-procedural minimum stent area (MSA) to predict follow-up minimum lumen area (MLA) < 4.0 mm(2) at the SB ostium was 4.55 mm(2), yielding an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.92).

CONCLUSIONOur data suggest that the DK crush technique is associated with improved quality of the final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI) and had smaller optimal cutoff value of post-procedural MSA at the SB ostium.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography

Objective To evaluate risk factors and clinical outcome of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) developed after drug-eluting stent implantation evidenced by coronary angiographic followup.Methods This study analyzed 4500 consecutive patient with de novo coronary artery stenosis receiving drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation from January 2004 to May 2009.Seven hundred and sixty patients with angiographic follow-ups at 6-8 months and 28-48 months after the index procedure were enrolled.CAA was defined as a localized dilatation exceeding 1.5 times the diameter of the adjacent artery.The independent risk factors and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death,myocardial infarction,target-vessel revascularization (TVR) and in-stent thrombosis were analyzed.Results CAA was detected in 70 patients with 70 lesions (9.2％,70/760).Logistic analysis showed that lesion in an infarctrelated artery (OR: 5.9,P ＜ 0.01),lesion in the left anterior descending artery (OR: 4.5,P ＜ 0.01),lesion with chronic total occlusion (OR: 3.4,P ＜ 0.05),and lesion length ＞ 33 mm (OR: 2.9,P ＜ 0.05)were independent risk factors for CAA.Follow-up duration was (1131 ±478) days.MACE was found in 19 patients and all received TVR.There were 11 patients with myocardial infarction and 8 patients with evidence of in-stent thrombosis.Mortality was zero during follow-up.Conclusions The risk factors for the development of CAA after DES are lesions in an infarct-related artery,in the left anterior descending artery,with chronic total occlusion,and with lesion length ＞ 33 mm.MACE is not uncommon in patients with CAA and long-ferm clinical follow-up is warranted for patients with CAA.

Background The double kissing (DK) crush technique is a modified version of the crush technique.It is specifically designed to increase the success rate of the final kissing balloon post-dilatation,but its efficacy and safety remain unclear.Methods Data were obtained from the DKCRUSH-I trial,a prospective,randomized,multi-center study to evaluate safety and efficacy.Post-procedural and eight-month follow-up intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis was available in 61 cases.Volumetric analysis using Simpson's method within the Taxus stent,and cross-sectional analysis at the five sites of the main vessel (MV) and three sites of the side branch (SB) were performed.Impact of the bifurcation angle on stent expansion at the carina was also evaluated.Results Stent expansion in the SB ostium was significantly less in the classical crush group ((53.81±13.51)％) than in the DK crush group ((72.27±11.46)％) (P=-0.04).For the MV,the incidence of incomplete crush was 41.9％ in the DK group and 70.0％ in the classical group (P=-0.03).The percentage of neointimal area at the ostium had a tendency to be smaller in the DK group compared with the classical group ((16.4±19.2)％ vs.(22.8±27.1)％,P=-0.06).The optimal threshold of post-procedural minimum stent area (MSA) to predict follow-up minimum lumen area (MLA) ＜4.0 mm2 at the SB ostium was 4.55 mm2,yielding an area under the curve of 0.80 (95％ confidence interval:0.61 to 0.92).Conclusion Our data suggest that the DK crush technique is associated with improved quality of the final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI) and had smaller optimal cutoff value of post-procedural MSA at the SB ostium.

BACKGROUNDIt is unclear whether edge segments have different responses to paclitaxel eluting stent (PES) and sirolimus eluting stent (SES) implantation in patients with unstable angina. This study aimed to compare the different vascular edge responses in patients with unstable angina and single de novo coronary lesion treated with SES and PES.

METHODSTwo hundred and fifty-five patients with unstable angina and single de novo lesion were randomly assigned to PES and SES groups. Serial volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images were taken immediately after stenting and at an eight-month follow-up. Five-mm edge segments proximal and distal to the stents were analyzed.

RESULTSBaseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. At proximal-edge segment, the vessel area decreased and the plaque area increased significantly in the PES group as compared with the SES group. A significant net loss of lumen area was found in the PES group (from (11.10 +/- 3.12) mm(2) at baseline to (9.92 +/- 3.59) mm(2) at the follow-up, P < 0.001). At the distal-edge segment, the net loss of lumen area in the PES group (from (7.71 +/- 2.81) mm(2) at baseline to (6.66 +/- 2.29) mm(2) at the follow-up, P < 0.001) was attributed to a significant increase of plaque area. Proximal-edge stenosis was commonly seen in the PES group (20.0%) as compared with the SES group (5.0%, P = 0.001). This correlated with the higher incidence of target lesion revascularization in the PES group (P = 0.03). Subsegmentally, the smallest Delta lumen area was located at 2 mm proximally in both groups, at 0 mm distally in the PES group, and at 1 mm distally in the SES group.

CONCLUSIONSThe two groups demonstrated negative remodeling of edge segments. PES was less effective than SES in inhibiting the growth of plaque within the first 1-mm length proximal to the stent.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina, Unstable ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Coronary Angiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paclitaxel ; therapeutic use ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; pathology ; therapy ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective Throush identify biochemical characteristics and virulence factors of 2 strains suspected Yersinia pestis(Y.pestis)isolated from the dead Marmota himalayana(M.himalayana)to confirm the nature epidemic focus in Dege County,Sichuan Province.Methods Y.pestis was analyzed by specific staining and shape,culturing characteristics,splitting-test by bacteriophage,test of biochemical characteristics and glycolysis ability,virulence factors,virulence,nutritional requirement,plasmid,genetic test and genetic type. Results The tested strains were Gram staining bacilus.The main biochemical characteristics were Arabinose(+)、 Rhamnose(-),Maltose(+),Melibiose(-),Glycerol(+),Denitrification(+).The virulence factors with FI+.VW+, Pgm+,Pst I+;and with the common 6.0×106,45.0×106,65.0×106 plasmids,also with the virulence-relative plasmid gene.Both their absolutely lethal dose(LD100)in mice were 50 bacteria.The nutritional requirement appeared which were depended on Phenylalanine and Methionine.With the Genomovar 5 genotype characteristics of M.himalayana plague foci of Qinghai-Tibet plateau.The difference between tested strains and Yersinia pseudotubercuosis on the 3 different culture medium was obvious.The tested strains had a Y.pestis' specific 3a fragment,Pst I and FI-Ag,at 22 ℃,the strains could be split by bacteriophage completely.Conclusions According to the diagnostic criteria of plague in China,the 2 suspected strains isolated from Dege County,Sichuan Province ale confirmed as Y.pestis.both with powerful virulenceand with the characteristics of the Y.pestis of M.himahtyana in Qinghai-Tibet plateau plague natural focus.