Independent prognostic value of the congestion and renal index in patients with acute heart failure / 老年心脏病学杂志（英文版）

BACKGROUND@#Clinical outcomes are poor if patients with acute heart failure (AHF) are discharged with residual congestion in the presence of renal dysfunction. However, there is no single indication to reflect the combined effects of the two related pathophysiological processes. We, therefore, proposed an indicator, congestion and renal index (CRI), and examined the associations between the CRI and one-year outcomes and the incremental prognostic value of CRI compared with the established scoring systems in a multicenter prospective cohort of AHF.@*METHODS@#We enrolled AHF patients and calculated the ratio of thoracic fluid content index divided by estimated glomerular filtration rate before discharge, as CRI. Then we examined the associations between CRI and one-year outcomes.@*RESULTS@#A total of 944 patients were included in the analysis (mean age 63.3 ± 13.8 years, 39.3% women). Compared with patients with CRI ≤ 0.59 mL/min per kΩ, those with CRI > 0.59 mL/min per kΩ had higher risks of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization (HR = 1.56 [1.13-2.15]) and all-cause death or all-cause hospitalization (HR = 1.33 [1.01-1.74]). CRI had an incremental prognostic value compared with the established scoring system.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In patients with AHF, CRI is independently associated with the risk of death or hospitalization within one year, and improves the risk stratification of the established risk models.

Association between smoking and dopamine receptor D2 polymorphisms in male patients with schizophrenia / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To investigate the association between dopamine receptor D2(DRD2) polymorphisms and smoking in male patients with schizophrenia.Methods:Totally 773 patients with schizophrenia (567 smokers and 206 non-smokers) and 302 normal controls (168 smokers and 134 non-smokers) were recruited.The two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1800497 and rs1079597) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RELP).SHEsis genetic analysis platform was used to calculate linkage disequilibrium index and infer allele distribution and haplotype frequency.Results:There was no significant difference in two SNPs genotype and allele distributions between the patients and normal controls or between smokers and non-smokers in either patients or normal controls alone (Ps ＞ 0.05);the frequency estimations of haplotype C-A and T-G in patients with schizophrenia were higher than in normal controls (8.0％ vs.5.2％,10.2％ vs.4.1％,Ps ＜0.05),T-A (34.6％ vs.40.2％,P ＜0.05),whereas the frequency estimation of haplotype T-A in patients with schizophrenia was lower than in normal controls,and all the differences were statistically significant (34.6％ vs.40.2％,P ＜ 0.05).It was also observed that the frequency estimation of haplotype T-A in normal smokers was significantly lower than in normal non-smokers (2.5％ vs.6.1％,P ＜0.05).Conclusion:There may be a correlation between DRD2 polymorphisms and the susceptibility to schizophrenia,but not between DRD2 polymorphisms and smoking neither in patients with schizophrenia nor in normal controls.

Analysis of urinary iodine monitoring results of school-age children of Yi County in Hebei Province in 1998-2011 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate and evaluate the iodine nutritional status of school-age children in Yi county of Heibei Province,and to provide scientific basis for the development of control measures to iodine deficiency disorders.Methods Retrospectinely analyzed school-age children urinary iodine monitoring results of Yi County of Hebei Province from 1998 to 2011.One township was selected randomly in each of the five directions (east,west,south,north and center) from 1998 to 2011.One elementary school was randomly chosen in each of the five townships.And at least 20 urine samples of 8-10 years old children were randomly collected in each school selected.Urinary iodine contents were determined through arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometric method.Urinary iodine determination standard according to The Standard of Iodine Deficiency Disorders Elinination (GB 16006-2008) and The Iodine Deficiency Disorders Elinination Guide.Results A total of 1725 children urinary samples were collected from 1998 to 2011,urinary median was 243.26 μg/L,each of the median urinary iodine was higher than 100 μg/L.The ratio of urinary iodine less than 100 μg/L was ＜ 50％ over the years,and less than 50 μg/L was ＜ 20％.Overall,the highest value of urinary iodine stayed at approximately 200 μg/L,showing positively skewed distribution that was skewed to the right.Urinary iodine level was compared among different ages,gender and ethnicity,and the difference was not statistically significant(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions In recent years,the iodine intake of school-age children of Yi County can meet the body needs,and the iodine nutrition is at an appropriate level.

Extract human DNA from maggot crop contents by phenol-chloroform method coupled with paramagnetic particle method / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To establish an effective phenol-chloroform method coupled with paramagnetic particle method for human DNA extraction from maggot crop contents in STR genotyping.@*METHODS@#Human DNA was extracted from the maggot crop contents using phenol-chloroform method and purified by paramagnetic particle method. DNA was quantified by PCR with Quantifiler Human DNA Quantification Kit using 7500 real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR instrument. PCR products were genotyped by AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit using 3130XL-Avant genetic analyzer.@*RESULTS@#The template DNA yield by the method described were increased at least 2 times than the phenol-chloroform extraction method alone. All of the full 16 STR profiles could be obtained with the samples extracted by this method when the DNA yield reached (0.218 +/- 0.041) ng/microL.@*CONCLUSION@#Phenol-chloroform method coupled with paramagnetic particle method can effectively increase the sensitivity of STR analysis of human DNA recovered from maggot crop contents and is a valuable tool for forensic entomology.

Preliminary study on xenotransfusion from porcine red blood cell into Rhesus monkey / 中国实验血液学杂志

In order to study the possibility of xenotransfusion from porcine red blood cell (pRBC) to primate, the antigens on pRBC surface were modified to make it more compatible to primate sera. Porcine RBCs were subjected to both enzymatic removal of membrane alpha-Gal antigens with recombinant alpha-galactosidase (AGL) and covalent attachment of succinimid propionate-linked methoxypolyethyleneglycol (mPEG-SPA) to camouflage non-alphaGal antigens. The effects of double modifications were determinated by hemagglutination and clinical cross-match testing with rhesus sera. In vivo clearance rates and safety of modified pRBCs were measured after it was transfused into Rhesus monkey with or without immunosuppressant treatment. The validity of pRBC was detected in exsanguine Rhesus monkey model. The results showed that AGL could effectively remove alpha-Gal xenoantigens on pRBC membrane and reduce hemagglutination. The combination of mPEG modification with AGL treatment could significantly increased compatibility between pRBCs and Rhesus monkey sera. Modified pRBCs were detectable in Rhesus monkey blood at 12 hours after transfusion, and their survival time was 40 hours in the immunosuppressant-treated Rhesus monkey. In vivo survival rates of pRBCs were 38% in exsanguine Rhesus monkey at 8 hours after transfusion, and during that time, the hemoglobin and hematocrit of Rhesus monkey were maintained at the same level as before it lost blood. It is concluded that the modified pRBC can be safely transfused into Rhesus monkey and relieve the anemic symptom exsanguine Rhesus monkey. It suggested that pRBC can be hopefully used as a blood substitute for primate and human in the future.

Effect of Astragalus injection on plasma levels of apoptosis-related factors in aged patients with chronic heart failure / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Astragalus injection (AI) on plasma levels of apoptosis-related factors in aged patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two CHF patients were randomly divided into the AI group (36 cases) treated with AI and the control group (36 cases) treated with conventional treatment. Plasma levels of soluble Fas (sFas), soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with monoclonal anti-human antibodies. Besides, New York Heart Association (NYHA) grading was assessed according to improved symptoms and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were assessed by echocardiogram after 4 weeks of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 4 weeks of treatment, NYHA grading was markedly improved in the two groups, but it was significantly better in AI group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). As compared with the control group, sFas, sFasL, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the AI group were obviously lower, the difference between the two groups and between before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, in AI group, LVESV and LVEDV decreased, LVEF increased, which was significantly different than that before treatment (P < 0.05), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AI could lower plasma levels of apoptosis-related factors, and is one of the effective drugs in improving cardiac function in the aged patients with CHF.</p>

Effect of astraglus injection on serum apoptosis relevant factors in patients with chronic heart failure / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Astragalus injection (AGI) on serum apoptosis related factors such as soluble Fas (sFas), soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four patients with CHF of NYHA II-IV grade were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group (42 patients) treated with AGI and the control group (42 patients) treated with routine treatment. The level of serum sFas, sFasL, and TNF-alpha were measured with ELISA before and after treatment. At the same time, patients' heart function were graded according to the NYHA classification and their indices of left ventricular function were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients' NYHA grade was improved in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and it was better in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, in the treated group, the left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) decreased, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased, which was significantly different than that before treatment (P < 0.05) respectively; level of serum apoptosis related factors sFas, sFas L and TNF-alpha were significantly decreased after treatment, showing significant difference as compared with those before treatment or with those in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). While all indices had no obvious change in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AGI may be regarded as an effective remedy for treatment of CHF owing to its effects in decreasing the level of serum apoptosis related factors in patients with CHF.</p>

Clinical study on effect of Astragalus injection on left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Astragalus injection (AI) on left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>AMI patients were randomly divided into the AI group (54 cases) treated with AI and the control group (54 cases) treated with conventional treatment. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI), anterior endocardial segmental length (ASL), posterior endocardial segmental length (PSL) were assessed by echocardiogram at the 1st and the 4th week of treatment; and the cardiac systolic and diastolic functions were detected by nuclide gating cardiac blood pool imaging on the 4th week. Besides, the plasmic levels of lipid peroxide (MDA), count of endothelial cell (CEC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the 4th week, changes of LVEDVI, LVESVI and ASL in the AI group were not obvious, but increased significantly in the control group, the significant difference in comparison between the two groups was shown (P < 0.05). As compared with the control group, in the AI group, the left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular peak ejecting rate and left ventricular peak filling rate were higher, and the left ventricular time for peak filling rate was shorter, moreover, MDA and CEC were lower and SOD was higher. The difference between groups and between before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AI is one of the effective drugs in reversal of left ventricular remodeling and improving left ventricular function in patients with AMI.</p>