OBJECTIVESTo investigate the safety and efficacy of yangxinkang tablets in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and syndrome of qi and yin deficiency, blood stasis, and water retention.

METHODSIn a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trail, 228 patients with CHF New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or III in stage C were assigned by randomized block method to two groups in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either conventional Western treatment or conventional treatment plus yangxinkang tablets for 4 weeks. The outcome measure were effect of cardiac function, Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes, scores of symptoms, signs, and quality of life measured by Minnesota Living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) before and after the treatment.

RESULTSTotally 112 patients were analyzed in the treatment group and 109 in the control group. They were comparable in NYHA functional class, basic parameters and primary diseases before treatment. Cardiac function and CM syndromes were greatly ameliorated in both groups after treatment. Total effective rates of cardiac function and CM syndrome in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Total symptom score and sign score in the treatment group decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.01), which were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in post-treatment scores of gasp, cough with phlegm, pulmonary rales and jugular vein engorgement between the two groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Three MLHFQ scores decreased significantly in both groups after treatment (P<0.01). Post-treatment total scale score and physical subscale score in the treatment group and the reduction of them showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05) as compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in emotional subscale score and the reduction after treatment (P>0.05). There was no obvious adverse reaction in either group noted during the study.

CONCLUSIONSYangxinkang tablets were safe and efficacious in improving cardiac function, CM syndromes, symptoms, signs, and quality of life in patients with CHF class II or III in stage C on the base of conventional treatment.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tablets

Pdm09 virus outbreak occurred in Mainland China in May 2009, a few months later, the prevalence of seasonal H1N1(sH1N1) influenza virus that already circulated in human for tens of years began to decline and disappeared afterwards. To identify the reason for the rapid decline of sH1N1 in mainland China, we sequenced the HA1 of sH1N1 during 2006-2011, and then analyzed the selective pressure in different phases. Our results showed before Pdm09 outbreak, the omega value was 0. 36 while after Pdm09 outbreak the omega value was 0. 28 and significant difference (t test, P<0. 05) was identified. We concluded that sH1N1 obtained stronger purifying selection after Pdm09 outbreak in China. This might one of the major reasons causing the disappearance of sH1N1 in human.
China ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; virology ; Phylogeny ; Seasons ; Selection, Genetic

In order to understand the prevalence and variation of influenza B viruses, the antigenic and genetic characteristics of influenza B viruses circulating in Mainland China during April, 2011 to March, 2012 were analyzed. The results showed the B Victoria lineage viruses were much more prevalent than B Yamagata lineage during this period, phylogenetic analysis showed vast majority of Victoria lineage viruses belong to genetic group 1, intra-clade reassortant between HA1 and NA gene was identified in a minor proportion of the viruses. 72.8% of the B/Victoria-lineage viruses were antigenically closely related to the vaccine strain B/Brisbane/60/2008. B Yamagata component was not included in the trivalent influenza vaccine in China during the study period, however vast majority of B Yamagata lineage viruses were antigenically and genetically closely related to the representative virus B/Hubei-Wujiagang/158/2009(97.8%) and B/Sichuan-Anyue/139/2011(85.2%) in China, reassortant between HA1 and NA was not identified in B Yamagata lineage viruses. Overall, the predominant circulating influenza B viruses in 2011-2012 season in China were matched by current influenza vaccine and the selected representative viruses were proved to represent the antigenic and genetic characteristics of the circulating viruses.
China ; Humans ; Influenza B virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Phylogeny ; Time Factors

To study the prevalence and variation of influenza A(H3N2) viruses, the antigenic and genetic characteristics of influenza A(H3N2) viruses circulating in Mainland China during April 2011 to March 2012 were analyzed. The results showed that influenza A(H3N2) viruses increased gradually since 2012 and became the dominant strain since March. The viruses were antigenically closely related to the vaccine strain A/PER/16/09 (87.2%) and the representative virus A/FJ/196/09 (76.0%) in Mainland China. The genetic characteristics analysis results showed that recently isolated viruses belonged to the Vic/208 clade, and most of the low reaction strains also fell into the same clade. Crystal structure analysis of HA protein found that, compared with the vaccine strain A/PER/16/09, the recently isolated viruses had amino acid substitutions in the antigenic site A, B and C areas, in addition to gaining potential glycosylation sites at the amino acid position of 45 of HA and 367 of NA. Although the majority of circulating influenza A (H3N2) viruses in 2011-2012 season in Mainland China were antigeniclly matched by current influenza vaccine strain and the selected representative viruses, low reaction strains have increased since 2012, therefore it is necessary to strengthen the surveillance on the variation of influenza virus and to provide solid information for the vaccine strain selection.
Amino Acid Sequence ; China ; epidemiology ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo develop a rapid duplex Real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) method to detect E119V mutation on neuraminidase (NA) of influenza A(H3N2) subtype with drug resistance to oseltamivir.

METHODSTwenty-six NA genes of influenza A(H3N2) virus between 2000 and 2012 in GenBank database were selected as the target genes, and specific TaqMan-MGB probe was designed to target the E119V amino acid change in neuraminidase protein. rRT-PCR was then performed and evaluated for the sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility using virus with E119V mutation and clinical samples.

RESULTSThis study described the validation of a highly sensitive and specific duplex rRT-PCR for detection of substitutions leading to the E119V amino acid change in NA protein of influenza A(H3N2). Fluorescence signals could be detected even when diluted a A (H3N2) virus (HA = 8) into 10(-5) and linear correlation between the logarithm of the viral titer with the Ct values was observed. In addition, the assay was highly specific in that there was no cross-react with other respiratory viruses, nor did two TaqMan-MGB probes. E119V substitution in quasispecies with both sensitive and resistant viruses could be detected as well. The limit of detection was 5% for quasispecies with high concentrations and 50% for quasispecies with low concentrations. The average coefficient of variation (CV) for within-run assays was 2.32% and 0.57% for H3N2-119E and H3N2-119V primer/probe sets separately, 1.77% and 0.97% for average CV of between-run assays, which exhibited good repeatability. Sequence analysis of twenty NA genes verified glutamic acid (E) at amino acid site 119, which was in consistent with the results from our rRT-PCR method.

CONCLUSIONThe assay developed in this study is highly sensitive and specific, and easy to operate; thereby it could be used for identification of A(H3N2) virus with E119V amino acid change in NA protein.

Amino Acid Substitution ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; drug effects ; enzymology ; genetics ; Mutation ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; Nucleic Acid Probes ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

BACKGROUNDThe pathological diagnosis is of critical importance to the subsequent treatment for the pathients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The aim of this study is to report our experience in the diagnosis of SVCS by endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).

METHODSThe data of 520 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA from September 2009 to May 2012 at our institution were reviewed. Of these, there were 14 males and 6 females (mean age of 59.1 years) with SVCS who received EBUS-TBNA that were included in the analysis.

RESULTSThe mean short axis diameter of the paratracheal lesions was (3.32 ± 1.79) cm (range, 1.69 to 9.50 cm) and 6 cases also had subcarinal lymph node enlargement with a mean short axis diameter of (2.14 ± 0.49) cm (range, 1.73 to 3.01 cm). An average of 4.3 punctures was performed per lesion. Malignancy was confirmed in 16 cases (10 small cell carcinomas, 4 adenocarcinomas, 1 squamous cell carcinoma and 1 Hodgkin lymphoma). In two patients, pathological examination of tissue revealed no evidence of malignancy and for 13 to 24 months of follow-up. One patient from whom adequate tissue was not obtained refused further surgical biopsy since he had undergone endovascular stenting of the SVC. One patient in whom a diagnosis was not obtained by EBUS-TBNA underwent thoracoscopic biopsy and the final diagnosis was B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The diagnosis accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in SVCS was 18/20 patients.

CONCLUSIONEBUS-TBNA is a highly effective and safe procedure for the diagnosis of SVCS.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome ; diagnosis

BACKGROUNDEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is considered to have high value in the staging of mediastinal lymph nodes in lung cancer. The current study was conducted to investigate the diagnostic value of EBUS-TBNA in intrapulmonary lesions located near the central airway.

METHODSFrom September 2009 to March 2013, 66 patients with pulmonary masses located close to the central airways suspected to be lung cancer were accessed by EBUS-TBNA. Conventional bronchoscopic biopsy before EBUS-TBNA was nondiagnostic in all cases. If EBUS-TBNA did not result in a formal pathological diagnosis of malignancy, patients were subsequently referred for a surgical procedure.

RESULTSAmong the 66 cases, 59 were confirmed as pulmonary malignancies by EBUS-TBNA, of which 48 cases were non-small cell lung cancer, nine were small cell lung cancer, and two were metastatic lung tumors. No evidence of malignancy was found by biopsy and histopathological examination in the other seven cases. Thoracoscopy or thoracotomy was subsequently undergone for them. Postoperative pathological examinations confirmed three cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, one case of lymphoma, two cases of sclerosing hemangioma, and one case of pulmonary tuberculoma. The definitive diagnosis rate of EBUS-TBNA for intrapulmonary lesions near the central airway was 89.4%. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in distinguishing benign from malignant intrapulmonary lesions were 93.7%, 100.0%, and 93.9%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 100.0% and 42.9%, respectively. The EBUS-TBNA procedures were well-tolerated by all patients. No associated complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONSFor intrapulmonary lesions near the central airway highly suspected of cancer, EBUS-TBNA has satisfactory diagnostic value. However, the negative predictive value of this technique is low, so negative results obtained by EBUS-TBNA should be confirmed by other methods.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; methods ; Endosonography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; diagnosis ; Carcinosarcoma ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thymus Neoplasms ; diagnosis

BACKGROUNDMediastinal lesions are often difficult to diagnose in clinical practice because of the unique anatomical position of the mediastinum, which makes performance of biopsy difficult. The value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of lung cancer and mediastinal lymph node staging has been widely accepted. However, few studies have been conducted on the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of mediastinal lesions. The current study was conducted to investigate the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of isolated mediastinal lesions without lung abnormalities.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with isolated mediastinal lesions without lung abnormalities for whom endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration examination was performed at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University People's Hospital, between September 2009 and December 2010. For patients who could not be diagnosed with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration, surgical biopsy or more than 6 months of clinical and imaging follow-up was carried out.

RESULTSEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration was performed for 60 patients with isolated mediastinal lesions. Correct diagnosis was made in 48 cases. Nineteen cases were malignant, and 29 were benign. The rate of correct diagnosis was 80%. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in distinguishing benign from malignant mediastinal lesions were 95%, 100%, and 98%, respectively. The examination was tolerable for all patients. No associated complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is a safe and effective method of diagnosing mediastinal lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult