BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients. METHODS: AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE. RESULTS: During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.

The invalid patents associated with schistosomiasis control were retrieved in the Chinese Patent Database of China National Intellectual Property Administration, the Baiten database and the incoPat database, and the overall trends, legal status, types, patent indexing and technical fields of all retrieved invalid patents were analyzed. As of December 30, 2020, there were totally 859 patents relating to schistosomiasis control, and 512 were invalid patents, with an invalid rate of 59.6%. The number of patent applications and invalid patents peaked in 2018, including 71 patent applications and 53 invalid patents. Among the 511 schistosomiasis control-related invalid patents with complete records, there were 425 invention patents, 81 utility model patents and 5 design patents, and 219 patents (42.9%) were invalid due to the termination of the patented right and 292 (57.1%) due to loss of the right for patent applications. The major technical points included medicines (chemicals), basic research, devices and detections, and the specialized fields were mainly concentrated in A61P33, G01N33, C12N15, C07K14 and A01N65. Our data demonstrate a high invalid rate of patents relating to schistosomiasis control in China. Secondary development and mining of the invalid patents in relation to schistosomiasis are recommended to make use of their values in the national schistosomiasis elimination program of China.

BACKGROUND: Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 46 (Zbtb46) is a transcription factor identified in classical dendritic cells, and maintains dendritic cell quiescence in a steady state. Zbtb46 has been reported to be a negative indicator of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found that Zbtb46 was expressed at a relatively higher level in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) compared to mature cells, and higher in AML cells compared to normal bone marrow (BM) cells. However, the role of Zbtb46 in HSPCs and AML cells remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to elucidate the effect of Zbtb46 in normal hematopoiesis and AML cells. METHODS: We generated Zbtb46 and Zbtb46Mx1-Cre mice. The deletion of Zbtb46 in Zbtb46Mx1-Cre mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection of double-stranded poly (I). poly (C) (poly(I:C)), and referred as Zbtb46 cKO. After confirming the deletion of Zbtb46, the frequency and numbers of HSPCs and mature blood cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serial intraperitoneal injection of 5-fluorouracil was administrated to determine the repopulation ability of HSCs from Zbtb46 and Zbtb46 cKO mice. The correlation between Zbtb46 expression and prognosis was analyzed using the data from the Cancer Genome Atlas. To investigate the role of Zbtb46 in AML cells, we knocked down the expression of Zbtb46 in THP-1 cells using lentiviral vectors expressing small hairpin RNAs targeting Zbtb46. Cell proliferation rate was determined by cell count assay. Cell apoptosis and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentages and absolute numbers of HSPCs and mature blood cells were comparable in Zbtb46 cKO mice and its Zbtb46 littermates (Zbtb46vs. Zbtb46 cKO, HPC: 801,310 ± 84,282 vs. 907,202 ± 97,403, t = 0.82, P = 0.46; LSK: 86,895 ± 7802 vs. 102,210 ± 5025, t = 1.65, P = 0.17; HSC: 19,753 ± 3116 vs. 17,608 ± 3508, t = 0.46, P = 0.67). The repopulation ability of HSCs from Zbtb46Mx1-Cre mice was similar to those from Zbtb46 control (P = 0.26). Zbtb46 had elevated expression in AML cells compared to total BM cells from normal control. Knockdown of Zbtb46 in THP-1 cells led to a significant increase in cell apoptosis and reduced cell growth and proliferation. CONCLUSION Collectively, our data indicate that Zbtb46 is essential for survival and proliferation of AML cells, but dispensable for normal hematopoiesis.

Objective: This study explored the thromboembolism risk of low-risk atrial fibrillation (AF) patients (CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 0 or 1 for male and 1 or 2 for female) with different clinical characteristics to provide the basis for anticoagulation decision-making in these patients. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive 2 862 nonvalvular low-risk AF patients between August 2011 to December 2018 in China-AF (China Atrial Fibrillation Registry) Study, their CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was 0 or 1 for male and 1 or 2 for female. According to their age, sex, presence or absence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and vascular disease at the time of enrolling, patients were divided into CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 0 score group, 1 score group, and 2 score group. Patients were followed up every 6 months by outpatient clinic visit or telephone interview. The outcome was a thromboembolic event, including ischemic stroke and systemic embolism. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to compare the thromboembolism risk between the patients with different risk factors and CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 0 group. Results: A total of 2 862 low-risk atrial fibrillation patients were enrolled in this study. 915 patients (32.0%) were female, and age was (55.0±10.7) years old. There were 933 patients (32.6%) in CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 0 group, 1 401 patients (49.0%) in score 1 group and 528 patients (18.5%) in score 2 group. During follow-up (median 1.5 years, 5 811.82 person-years), 33 cases of thromboembolic events were recorded, the annual rate of thromboembolism was 0.57% (95%CI 0.40%~0.80%). The number of thromboembolic events in patients with CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 0, 1 and 2 were 8, 11 and 14, respectively, and the annual thromboembolism event rates were 0.40% (95%CI 0.20%-0.81%), 0.39% (95%CI 0.22%-0.71%) and 1.34% (95%CI 0.80%-2.27%), respectively. The risk of thromboembolism of CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 2 group (HR=3.53, 95%CI 1.48-8.44; P=0.005), especially female patients aged 65-74 years in CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 2 group (HR=2.67, 95%CI 1.63-4.38; P<0.000) was significantly higher than that in patients of CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 0 group. Conclusion: Low-Risk Atrial Fibrillation patients with CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 2, especially female patients aged 65-74 years old with CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 2 are at higher risk of thromboembolism in low-risk AF patients. For such patients, intensified oral anticoagulant therapy might be helpful to reduce the risk of thrombolism.
Adult ; Aged ; Anticoagulants ; Atrial Fibrillation ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Thromboembolism

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the CARTO3-based total three-dimensional(T3D,total three-dimensional)zero X-ray mapping technique in radiofrequency catheter ablation of elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods A total of 60 patients diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation at the Beijing Anzhen Hospital Arrhythmia Center from December 2015 to April 2017 were included. All patients were randomly divided into the study group(30 cases) and the control group(30 cases). T3D technique was utilized in the study group, and patients in the control group received conventional AF ablation. The procedure parameters success rate of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation(CPVI), rates of atrial fibrillation recurrence complication were compared between the two groups. Results All the 60 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation had successful atrial fibrillation ablation and finished follow-up. Compared with the control group, the time of atrium three-dimensional reconstruction in the study group was longer [study group vs control group:(57.7±11.0)min vs.(10.4±3.5)min,P<0.001)];X-ray exposure time was significantly shorter in the study group[study group vs control group:0 min vs.(15.73±3.91)min,(P<0.001)]. The diff erence in circumferential pulmonary vein ablation time between the two groups was not of statistical significance[study group vs. control group:(49.9 ± 11.3)min vs.(51.1 ± 12.6)min,P=0.699].CPVI was successful in all patients in both groups. There was no signifi cant diff erence in the early and late recurrence rate and the incidence of complications between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusions The application of T3D technique in radiofrequency ablation for elderly patients with paroxysmal atrial fi brillation is safe and eff ective, which can reduce the time of X-ray exposure and has important clinical value.

Objective To evaluate opioids utilization of cancer ached inpatients in the integrative traditional Chinese and western medicine hospital and provide suggestion for the rational utilization of opioids .Method DDDs ,DUI ,the distribution of cancer pain ,pain scores of the discharged patients and the utility of opioids were evaluated and analyzed by retrieving the medi-cal records from January in 2013 to December in 2014 .Results 292 medical records were selected and analyzed .Among them , 89 patients′pain score≥3 .The top opioids of DDDs were sufentanil citrate injection and fentanyl derivatives ,which is the main medication in treating the cancer pain patients .And the irrationaluseof fentanyl transdermal system was a common phenomenon among different departments .Conclusion Theutilization of opioids was basically rational ,but there still had some deficiencies . The intervention and management of narcotic drugs should be strengthened and deepened .

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemic situation,clinical symptom,diagnosis and epidemiological characteristics of human Fasciola gigantica infection in Dali,Yunnan province.It will also provide a scientific basis for fasciolosis control and prevention.Methods Epidemic data were collected and patient's clinical signs and symptoms were studied.Serum soluble antigen of Fasciola gigantica of patients and part of family members and health people in the same village was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the eggs of Fasciola gigantica in stool were observed under microscope.Sequencing and PCR amplification of Fasciola gigantica eggs had been done.Sequencing results were analyzed using basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) program of the U.S.National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the similarity of the two in the sequence of nucleic acid was compared.Furthermore,patients were experimentally given orally therapeutic doses of Triclabendazole 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 daily for 2 days,and kept in the hospital for observation for one week.Moreover,host and vector were investigated in the surrounding ditches of Dali prefecture and Limnaea peregra snail samples were collected.All the snails were squashed by glass sheet in order to detect the cercarie.Cow dung and sheep manure was collected in the Limnaea peregra distribution environment,and the eggs in the feces were checked by microscope after washing and precipitation.Results All the 26 patients had a continued hyperpyrexia with distinct alimentary system symptoms of nausea,vomiting,stomachache,abdominal distension as well as hepatomegaly,sensitive to percussion,different levels of liver damage detected by CT.All the patients had an eaten history of raw Herba Houttuyniae and other aquatic plants,and the course of the disease was similar,with the same epidemiological characteristics.ELISA detection was used in the 26 patients,family members and other healthy population,the results of all the 26 patients were positive(100.0％,26/26) ; the positive rates of the 57 family members and other health people of the same village were 31.6％ (18/57) and 17.1％ (6/35),respectively.The results of sequencing and BLAST program showed that the pathogen was Fasciola gigantica with the similarity between 99％-100％.PCR amplification also confirmed that the eggs were Fasciola gigantica eggs with an approximately 1000 bp band on agarose gel.After treatment with Triclabendazole,body temperature of the patients dropped to normal and symptoms improved markedly.Moreover,329 Limnaea peregra snails were collected including 5 ones with redia and one-tailed cercariae which were preliminary identified as the larva of Fasciola gigantica.There were also eggs of Fasciola gigantica detected in one stool of cattle and one of goat.Conclusions Eating raw food is the leading cause of the onset of the disease.Triclabendazole is the drug of choice to treat Fasciolasis.Health education should be strengthened by government and disease prevention and control departments in order to make the local residents to understand the potential hazard of eating raw aquatic vegetable and drinking unboiled water,which is the key to prevent the occurrence of the disease.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of puerarin on ADRP gene mRNA expression in fatty tissue of type 2 diabetes mellitus rats (T2DM).

METHODWiastar rats of T2DM model were made by feeding with high glucose and fat diet and injecting with small dose of streptozocin (25 mg x kg(-1)). 40 model rats were randomly divided into model control group and three puerarin groups (40, 80, 160 mg x kg(-1)), another 10 rats were selected as normal control group. FBG and FINS were measured to calculate IR after rats were injected consecutively for 6 weeks. The level of ADRP gene mRNA in fatty tissue was determined by RT-PCR after rats were injected eight weeks.

RESULTCompared with model control group, high and middle dosage of puerarin can decreased ADRP gene mRNA expression in fatty tissue obviously, FBG, IR level in each puerarin group and FINS in high and middle dosage puerarin groups decreased obviously.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin can decrease the blood glucose level of T2DM by downregulating ADRP mRNA expression and depressing the insulin resistance.

Adipose Tissue ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Perilipin-2 ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

The IgG binding domain of Streptococcal Protein G which can selectively immobilizes the Fc regions of immunoglobulin G(IgG) is a kind of good material for oriented immobilization of antibodies in antibody microarrays.Here,genetically engineered three glutathione S-transferase(GST) fused proteins,bearing one,two and three B-Domains respectively(GST-GBx).The IgG-bindding ability of GST-GBx was investigated by ELISA.The data revealed that when the B-domain's quantity of GST-GBx is identical,the GST-GB3 is the most efficient protein among three GST-GBx protein both the capacity and sensibility of binding IgG.The GST-GB2 is the next one and GST-GB1 is the least one.Thus,the GST-GB3 has significantly predominance in comparison to GST-GB2 and GST-GB1.