Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

Impaired immunomodulatory capacity and oxidative stress are the key factors limiting the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation therapy. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of jujuboside A (JuA) on the protective effect and immunomodulatory capacity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs). Hydrogen peroxide was used to establish an oxidative damage model of hUC-MSCs, while PBMCs isolated from rats were used to evaluate the effect of JuA pre-treatment on the immunomodulatory capacity of hUC-MSCs. Furthermore, Hoechst 33258 staining, lactate dehydrogenase test, measurement of malondialdehyde, Western blot, high-performance liquid chromatography; and flow cytometry were performed. Our results indicated that JuA (25 μmol·L^-1) promoted the proliferation of hUC-MSCs, but did not affect the differentiating capability of these cells. JuA pre-treatment inhibited apoptosis, prevented oxidative damage, and up-regulated the protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase 1 in hUC-MSCs in which oxidative stress was induced with H₂O₂. In addition, JuA pre-treatment enhanced the inhibitory effect of hUC-MSCs against abnormally activated PBMCs, which was related to stimulation of the expression and activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that JuA pre-treatment can enhance the survival and immunomodulatory ability through pathways related to oxidative stress, providing a new option for the improvement of hUC-MSCs in the clinical setting.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Saponins ; Umbilical Cord/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To detect the ABO / RhD blood type of infants younger than 6 months in different gestational age and month old with automatic microcolumn glass sphere and tube method, and compare the result of the two methods. METHODS: The data of 896 samples of infants younger than 6 months from January 2018 to February 2019 was collected. The two methods were used to detect ABO/RhD blood type in all samples and compare the detection rate of ABO/RhD antigen and ABO reverse typing and agglutination intensity of the two methods. RESULTS: Three hundred and eight cases of type A (34.4%), 281 cases of type B (31.4%), 210 cases of type O (23.4%), 97 cases of type AB (10.8%), and 896 positive cases of RhD blood type were detected out by two methods. There were no significant differences of ABO/RhD antigen agglutination intensity between two methods (P > 0.05). Except for type AB, the detection rate of ABO reverse typing in infants with type B was significantly higher than that with type A and type O (P < 0.05). The agglutination intensity of type A reverse cell was higher than type B reverse cell (P < 0.05). The fully automatic microcolumn glass sphere method exhibited higher detection rate of ABO reverse typing in the samples of type A and type O group and agglutination intensity of ABO reverse typing in all types as compared with the tube method (P < 0.05). The detection rate and agglutination intensity of ABO reverse typing in term group were significantly higher than those in preterm group (P < 0.05). The fully automatic microcolumn glass sphere method exhibited higher detection rate of ABO reverse typing and agglutination intensity compared with the tube method between two groups (P < 0.05). The detection rate and agglutination intensity of ABO reverse typing in group IV (4-6 months old) were significantly higher than those in groups I, II and III (young than 3 months old) (P < 0.05). The fully automatic microcolumn glass sphere method exhibited higher detection rate of ABO reverse typing in I, II, III groups and agglutination intensity of ABO reverse typing in the 4 groups compared with the tube method (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION ABO / RhD blood group antigen can be accurated detected in majority of infants, but the detection rate of ABO antibody is related to gestational age and month age of infants. The detection rate and agglutination intensity of the fully automatic microcolumn glass sphere method in ABO reverse typing are higher than those of the tube method, especially for premature infants and children within 3 months old.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Humans ; Infant

To examine the feasibility of low-charge electrotherapy (LCE) in treating geriatric major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. Bi-temporal LCEs (approximately 25 mC) were performed with an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) instrument three times per week. We used the Hamilton Depression Scale 17 (HAMD-17) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) to assess the effects of LCE and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate the cognitive function change before and after LCE. Six visits occurred at the baseline, after LCE sessions 3, 6, and 9, after the last session, and at the end of the one-month follow-up period. Four patients were enrolled in the study. Two patients completed all LCE sessions. Two patients withdrew during the trial, one due to the adverse event of uroschesis potentially caused by atropine and the other due to her own will. All four patients completed the follow-up sessions. The HAMD-17 and HAMA scores were reduced significantly at the last LCE session and the end of the follow-up period compared with the scores at the baseline. As measured by the MMSE, cognitive impairment showed no significant changes at the last LCE session and the end of the follow-up period compared with that at the baseline. In this case series, LCE showed potential as an alternative current-based treatment for treating geriatric MDD patients. Further research is needed to assess the efficiency and safety of LCE.
Anxiety ; Atropine ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences between weak ABO antigen patients and normal ABO antigen patients with acute leukemia, and to explore the clinical significance of weak ABO antigen in acute leukemia.

METHODSThe ABO blood group was detected in 110 newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients(including 68 cases of AML and 42 cases of ALL) and 68 normal controls. Then the leukemia subtype, age, sex, laboratory test, risk status of leukemia patients, and DNA methylation of ABO promoter were compared between patients with weak and normal ABO antigen.

RESULTSThe weak ABO antigen was found in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia, and was not found in ALL patients or normal group. No statistical differences were found in the distribution of ABO blood group, age, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenovarix, plt, precursor cell clusters derived from bone marrow, immunopheno-typing, LDH level, and risk status between AL patients of weak and normal ABO antigen groups (P>0.05). Compared with patients in normal ABO antigen group, the pateins in weak ABO antigen group had higher percentage of male(77.8% vs 30%), lower WBC(32.26×10/L vs 82.69×10/L) and Hb level(64.00 g/L vs 85.94 g/L) and higher DNA methylation level (18.91% vs 10.76%) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cases of weak ABO antigen frequently appear in the male AML patients, the DNA methylation level of ABO gene promoter in patients with weak ABO antigen is significantly higher than that in patients with normal ABO antigen.

A simple and cost-effective indirect competitive enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was developed to rapidly screen the content of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in lotus seeds, and the results were confirmed by ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry( UFLC-MS/MS). Matrix-matched calibration expressed a good linearity ranging from 0. 171 to 7. 25 µg · L(-1) for AFB, with R2 > 0.978. The medium inhibitory concentration( IC50 ) for AFB1 was 1.29 µg · L(-1), the recovery for AFB1 was 74.73% to 126.9% with RSD < 5%, and the limit of detection (IC10) was 0.128 µg · L(-1). The developed ic-ELSIA method was applied to rapid analysis of AFB, in 20 lotus seeds samples and the results indicated that the contents of AFB, in samples 1-15 were in the range of 1. 19- 115. 3 µg · kg(-1) and in 40% of the samples exceeded the legal limit(5 µg · kg(-1)), while the contamination rate of AFB, in samples 16-20 was 40%. Pearson correlation coefficient(r) reached 0.997 for AFB1 content in the samples detected by ic-ELSIA and UFLC-MS/MS methods. The results proved that the developed ic-ELISA method is simple, sensitive and reliable, and can be used for rapid and high-throughput screening of AFB1 in lotus seeds
Aflatoxin B1 ; analysis ; Drug Contamination ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Loteae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging

Objective To rc-cvaluate and compare the research design and the use of statistical methods in Chinese Journal of Cardiology.Method Summary the research design and statistical methods in all of theoriginal papers in Chinese Journal of Cardiology all over the year of 2011,and compared the result with the evaluation of 2008.Results (1) There is no difference in the distribution of the design of researches of between the two volumes.Compared with the early volume,the use of survival regression and non-parameter test are increased,while decreased in the proportion of articles with no statistical analysis.(2) The proportions of articles in the later volume are significant lower than the former,such as 6(4％)with flaws in designs,5(3％)with flaws in the expressions,9(5％)with the incomplete of analysis.(3) The rate of correction of variance analysis has been increased,so as the multi-group comparisons and the test of normality.The error rate of usage has been decreased form 17％ to 25％ without significance in statistics due to the ignorance of the test of homogeneity of variance.Conclusion Many improvements showed in Chinese Journal of Cardiology such as the regulation of the design and statistics.The homogeneity of variance should be paid more attention in the further application.

Objective To analyse the distribution characteristics of major allergens initiating allergic diseases in children from rural Shanghai. Methods Eight hundred children with allergic diseases from rural Shanghai (rural ease group), 450 children with allergic diseases from urban Shanghai (urban ease group) and 100 healthy children from rural Shanghai (rural normal control group) underwent skin prick tests (SPT), and children of rural case group were subdivided into infant group, preschool age group and school age group according to age. The positive rates of allergens and SPT were compared among groups. Results The positive rate of SPT of rural case group was significantly higher than that of rural normal control group (73.38% vs 26.00%, P<0.05), and was significantly lower than that of urban ease group (73.38% vs 80.22%, P<0.05). Dermatophagoidesfarinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were the major allergens in rural ease group, with the positive rates of 57.88% and 59.13%, respectively. Except weed and rubber, there were significant differences in positive rates of the other allergens between rural ease group and the other two groups(P<0.05). There were significant differences in positive rates of SPT among different age groups of rural children with allergic diseases (P<0.05). Conclusion Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus are the major allergens in children with allergic diseases from rural Shanghai, whose positive rates of SPT are lower than those of children with allergic diseases from urban Shanghai. The positive rate of SPT is related to age to some extent.

The donkey leukocyte-attenuated vaccine of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) was the first lentiviral vaccine that induced solid protection from the infection of virulent strains. To elucidate the mechanism of increased immunogenicity and attenuated virulence of the vaccine, the proviral genomic DNA of an EIAV vaccine strain, EIAV(DLV121) was analyzed and compared with the genome of a parental virulent strain EIAV(DV117). Full length viral genomic DNAs were amplified as two segments by LA-PCR and were cloned. Because of the genomic diversity of retroviral quasispecies, 10 full-length sequences of EIAV(DLV121) and 4 full-length sequences of EIAV(DV117) from randomly picked clones were analyzed. Results showed that the average length of the complete nucleotide sequence of EIAV(DLV121) was 8,236bp and EIAV(DV117) was 8,249bp, with the inter-strain diversity of 2.8%. As for individual genes between the vaccine and virulent strains, the differences in nucleotide sequence of S2, LTR and env were significantly higher than the other genes with the diversity of 4.1%, 3.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Considerable variations in deduced amino acid sequences were found in S2, S3 and env. The diversities were 10.4%, 5.6% and 4.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the LTR of EIAV(DLV121) consisted of at least 5 subtypes grouped by their nucleotide sequences. There were two additional N-linked glycosylation sites in the deduced amino acid sequence of EIAV(DV117) gp90 than that of EIAV(DLV121). Among glycosylation sites in the gp90 of virulent strain, 3 were found unique only in EIAV(DV117), of which 2 were located in the principle neutralizing domain (PND). In addition, there was one EIAV(DLV121) -specific glycosylation site, which was positioned in the PND, too. Taken together, it is clear that greatly increased genomic diversity exists in the EIAV vaccine strain, which provides important information for the further study on biological characters of the Chinese EIAV attenuated vaccine.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Equidae ; Genome, Viral ; Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Leukocytes ; immunology ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Virulence