Objective:To investigate the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods:Consecutive Chinese patients with RA were recruited from August 2015 to September 2019 at Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. Demo-graphic data and clinical data were collected including indicators of disease activity, functional assessment and radiographic assessment, comorbidities and previous medications. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the related factors of hypertension in RA patients.Results:There were 674 RA patients recruited with 82.3%(555/674) female and mean age (50±13) years. The prevalence rate of hypertension was 32.9% (222/674), followed by dyslipidemia (9.9%, n=67), type 2 diabetes (8.8%, n=59), hyperuricemia (8.5%, n=43), fatty liver disease (8.0%, n=54), cardiovascular disease (6.2%, n=42) and chronic kidney disease (3.3%, n=22). Compared with those without hypertension, RA patients with hypertension had advanced age with longstanding disease duration, higher disease activity indicators, worse joint destruction, and higher proportions of comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that comorbidities including hyperuricemia [ OR=1.977, 95% CI(1.002, 3.900)], dyslipidemia [ OR=1.903, 95% CI(1.102, 3.288)] and fatty liver disease [ OR=2.335, 95% CI(1.278, 4.265)] were risk factors of hypertension after adjustment for age and gender. Conclusion:Hyperten-sion is the most common comorbidity in RA patients which is associated with comor-bidities including hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease. Detection and management of hyperten-sion and other cardiovascular disease related comorbidities in RA patients should be emphasized.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with eosinophilic granulo-matosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and improve the understanding of the disease.Methods:EGPA patients who fulfilled the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria were recruited from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital Sun Yat-sen University between December 2003 and April 2020. Their demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory and auxiliary examinations were analyzed retrospectively. Mann-whitney U test and χ2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among 52 EGPA patients, 34 (65.4%) were males and the median age at disease onset was 47(38-55) years. The median time from disease onset to diagnosis was 30(4-96) months. The most common initial symptoms were respiratory (61.5%) and nose/paranasal sinus (21.2%) involvement. The most common department for the first visit was respiratory medicine (53.8%), followed by rheumatology (11.5%). 44.2% EGPA patients were diagnosed by rheumatologists. The most common clinical manifestations were asthma (88.5%), nose/paranasal sinusitis (84.6%), pulmonary (76.9%) and nervous system (61.5%) in volvement. Eight(15.4%) patients were positive for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Patients with positive ANCA had lower incidence of asthma, but higher incidence of general symptoms especially arthralgia and renal involvement, elevated eosinophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Birmingham vasculitis activity score and vasculitis damage index than patients with negative ANCA (all P<0.05). 21.2%-34.6% EGPA patients had poor prognostic factors. Conclusion:Early diagnosis of EGPA is important. EGPA patients with positive ANCA may be more severe than patients with negative ANCA. The management should be a multi-disciplinary collaboration between rheumatologists and pulmonologists.

Objective To explore the outcomes of free flap from the radial artery superficial palmar branch (RASP) innervated by the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm for repairing the defects of finger pulp. Methods From April, 2013 to February, 2015, 20 fingers in 20 cases were treated with free flap from RASP innervated by the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm. The area of flap was from 1.8 cm×2.0 cm to 2.0 cm×4.0 cm. Postoperative fol-low up was done termly. Results All 20 flaps survived. All cases were followed-up for 7-20 months ( averag, 12 months). The flaps appeared well with good texture. The two-point discrimination was from 7 mm to 12 mm, and grad-ed with S3 and S3+sensation. There was little scar noted at the donor site in the wrist. There was no influence of hand and wrist function. Conclusion The method of using free flap from SASP innervated by the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm to repair the defects of finger pulp has good clinical effect.

Objective:To study the protective effects of Danhong injection ( DH) on myocardial damage induced by doxorubicin ( DOX) in Lewis tumor bearing mice. Methods:The model of Lewis lung cancer in mice was established by underarm injecting tumor cells, and then randomly divided into four groups:the model control group, DOX group, DH group and DH+DOX group. After the experiment, myocardial and tumor tissue were separated from Lewis tumor bearing mice, and the excised tumors were weighted. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) , creatine kinase ( CK) , manganese superoxide dismutase ( SOD) , catalase ( CAT) and glu-tathione peroxidase ( GPx) , and the content of malondialdehyde ( MDA) were determined by a colorimetric method. Flow cytometry was used to determine the levels of apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm). Re-sults:Compared with that in the model control group, a significant decrease of tumor weight was shown in both DOX group and DH+DOX group (P<0. 01). DH had no significant influence on the anticancer function of DOX. The activity of LDH and CK, and the ap-optosis in myocardium cells significantly increased (P<0. 01). Compared with DOX group, the activities of LDH and CK, and the ap-optosis significantly decreased in DH+DOX group (P<0. 01). The activities of △Ψm, SOD, CAT and GPx significantly increased (P<0.05orP<0.01). ThecontentofMDAandROSgenerationbothdecreased(P<0.01).Conclusion:DHhasnosignificantin-fluence on the antitumor effect of DOX. The combination of DH and DOX shows cadioprotective effect on the myocardial damage through improving mitochondrial antioxidant defense capacity, ameliorating oxidative stress and maintaining △Ψm homeostasis.

Objective To study the risk factor and prognosis of concurrent depression in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Two hundred and ninety-five AMI patients who received PCI and whose clinical data were complete were selected. Depression was determined by a self-rating scale (SDS), and was confirmed when SDS standard score≥53 scores. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the ages:senium (age ≥ 60 years, 144 cases) group and younger group (age<60 years, 151 cases). Multiple Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the related factors of depression. The patients were followed up for 1 year, and the rehospitalization rate, incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 12 months were compared. Results The incidence of depression in senium group was significantly higher than that in younger group: 41.7%(60/144) vs. 21.2%(32/151), and there was statistical difference (P<0.05). Female gender, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus were the independent risk factor for depression in patients with AMI after PCI (P<0.05). In senium group, the rehospitalization rate and incidence of MACE in patients with depression were significantly higher than those in patients without depression: 18.3% (11/60) vs. 6.0% (5/84) and 15.0% (9/60) vs. 4.8%(4/84), the LVEF was significantly lower than that in patients without depression:(41.50 ± 2.25)%vs. (49.76 ± 2.93)%, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). The LVEF in patients with depression of senium group was significantly lower than that in patients with depression of younger group:(41.50 ± 2.25)%vs. (51.50 ± 2.32)%, and there was statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusions The elderly AMI patients treated with PCI have higher rates of depression. Female gender, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are the important risk factor for depression after PCI. Depression has a significant effect on the prognosis of AMI patients, especially on LVEF in elderly patients.

Objective To investigate doctor's screening practice for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection before immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and clinical management of RA patients with positive surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg).Methods One hundred fifty doctors who treated RA patients in daily clinic were survied with a modified American College of Rheumatology (ACR) questionnaire which was composed of demographic data and 10 multiple-choice questions.Step-forward logistic regression analysis was performed to find out the influencing factors,then receiver operator characteristic curve analysis and area under the curve were performed to confirm the influencing factors.Results One hundred and thirtytwo effective questionnaires were collected.Before immunosuppressive therapy,HBV screening rate in outpatients with RA was significandy lower than that in hospitalized patients (68.7％ vs 94.6％,x2=31.5,P＜0.01).Only 23.7％(31/131) of doctors considered antiviral treatment for all RA patients with positive HBsAg.One hundred and thirteen doctors had clinical experience of antiviral treatment,but only 30.1％(34/113) and 23.9％ (27/113) of these doctors chose entecavir or adefovir as the antiviral drug respectively,59.3％ (67/113) prescribed antiviral drug before or together with immunosuppressive therapy compared with 40.7％(46/113) after HBV reactivation.Only 20.4％(23/113) of doctors would sustain antiviral treatment until the termination of steroid or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).During immunosuppressive therapy for HBsAg(+) RA patients,11.4％(15/132) and 30.3％(40/132) of doctors reported no regular monitoring of aminotransferase or HBV DNA respectively.Conclusion Our survey shows that HBV screening rate in outpatients with RA is low and low awareness of antiviral treatment for all RA patients with positive HBsAg,and lack of awareness of indication,choosing of antiviral drugs,initiation,monitoring and duration of antiviral treatment during immunosuppressive therapy.Further medical education on the associated information and importance to collaborate with hepatologists should be emphasized.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab on patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Eighteen RA patients who were refractory to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonist were treated with tocilizumab were included into this study.Their clinical disease activity indices,Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)and safety were evaluated regularly.Statistical analysis was conducted with Mann-Whitney U test and x2 test.Results According to clinical disease activity index,44％(8/18) of patients reached treatment target 2 weeks after the first infusion of tocilizumab,and 78％ (14/18) reached treatment target after three infusions of tocilizumab.Fifty-six percent (10/18) of patients had anxiety and 22％ (4/18) had depressive symptoms at baseline.After three infusions of tocilizumab,6％(1/18) had anxiety symptoms and 11％(2/18) had depressive symptoms.The adverse effects included upper respiratory tract infection,aminotransferase elevation and neutropenia (3 patients,respectively).Conclusion Tocilizumab can rapidly and significantly improve the disease activity and psychological state with good tolerance and safety,which can be applied to Chinese refractory RA patients who failed with DMARDs or TNF-α antagonist.

Objective To study the radiological features of dynamic enhanced multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) and CTA in pure hepatic arterio-venous fistula (AVF).Methods The radiological features of MSCT imaging and CTA of 100 patients with pure hepatic AVF were retrospectively analyzed.Results Positive signs on the arterial phase were detected in 100 patients with pure hepatic AVF.In 89 patients,they were the peripheral type and in 11 patients they were the central type.There were 128 lesions in the 100 patients.In the peripheral type,the features were (1) in the arterial phase,the lesions appeared as a wedged or a patchy enhancement area at the edge of the liver,showing a halo sign in 68 patients.In 56 patients,the PV was shown also in the early arterial phase;(2) in the arterial phase,arailway track sign was shown in 21 patients as a result of a portal vein branch showing right next to a hepatic arterial branch.In the central type and in the arterial phase,the main portal vein (or the hepatic vein) and the left/right branches of the PV (or the HV) were shown.Conclusion MSCT and CTA were useful in the diagnosis of pure hepatic AVF.

BACKGROUNDDrug-eluting stents (DES) with durable polymer have significantly reduced restenosis and target vessel revascularization compared with bare metal stents. Durable polymer has been linked with persistent inflammation of vessel wall and delayed endothelial healing that may increase the risk of late and very late stent thrombosis. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HELIOS completed biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in de novo coronary lesions.

METHODSTotally, 287 patients with one or two de novo coronary lesions (lesion length ≤ 38 mm and reference vessel diameter 2.5-4.0 mm) were enrolled in the HOPE study, a prospective, multicenter, randomized, non-inferiority trial. Patients were randomized to treatment either with HELIOS completed biodegradable polymer SES (n = 142) or PARTNER durable polymer SES (n = 145). The primary endpoint was angiographic in-stent late lumen loss (LLL) at 9-month follow-up. The secondary endpoint included stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiac events including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR).

RESULTSThe 9-month in-stent LLL in the HELIOS group was similar to the PARTNER group, (0.16 ± 0.22) mm vs. (0.19 ± 0.30) mm (P = 0.28). The difference and 95% confidence interval were -0.03 (-0.09, 0.04), and the P value for non-inferiority <0.01. Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) occurred in 7.9% vs. 8.2%, MI in 2.4% vs. 3.0%, TLR in 5.5% vs. 3.0%, and stent thrombosis in 0 vs. 1.5%; and events were comparable between the HELIOS group and PARTNER group at three-year follow-up (all P > 0.05). The three-year cardiac death was lower in the HELIOS group, but with no significant difference, 0 vs. 3.0% (P = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONSIn the HOPE trial, the novel completed biodegradable polymer SES HELIOS was non-inferior to the durable polymer SES PARTNER with respect to nine-month in-stent LLL in de novo coronary lesions. The incidence of other clinical endpoints was low for both of the stents in three-year follow-up.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Polymers ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Titanium ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDFirst generation drug-eluting stents (DES) were associated with a high incidence of late stent thrombosis (ST), mainly due to delayed healing and re-endothelization by the durable polymer coating. This study sought to assess the safety and efficacy of the Nano polymer-free sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery lesions.

METHODSThe Nano trial is the first randomized trial designed to compare the safety and efficacy of the Nano polymer-free SES and Partner durable-polymer SES (Lepu Medical Technology, Beijing, China) in the treatment of patients with de novo native coronary lesions. The primary endpoint was in-stent late lumen loss (LLL) at 9-month follow-up. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization.

RESULTSA total of 291 patients (Nano group: n = 143, Partner group: n = 148) were enrolled in this trial from 19 Chinese centers. The Nano polymer-free SES was non-inferior to the Partner durable-polymer DES at the primary endpoint of 9 months (P < 0.001). The 9-month in-segment LLL of the polymer-free Nano SES was comparable to the Partner SES (0.34 ± 0.42) mm vs. (0.30 ± 0.48) mm, P = 0.21). The incidence of MACE in the Nano group were 7.6% compared to the Partner group of 5.9% (P = 0.75) at 2 years follow-up. The frequency of cardiac death and stent thrombosis was low for both Nano and Partner SES (0.8% vs. 0.7%, 0.8% vs. 1.5%, both P = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONSIn this multicenter randomized Nano trial, the Nano polymer-free SES showed similar safety and efficacy compared with the Partner SES in the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery lesions. Trials in patients with complex lesions and longer term follow-up are necessary to confirm the clinical performance of this novel Nano polymer-free SES.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use