Chinese Medicine Amygdalin and β-Glucosidase Combined with Antibody Enzymatic Prodrug System As A Feasible Antitumor Therapy / 中国结合医学杂志

Amarogentin is an efficacious Chinese herbal medicine and a component of the bitter apricot kernel. It is commonly used as an expectorant and supplementary anti-cancer drug. β-Glucosidase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the glycosidic bond between aryl and saccharide groups to release glucose. Upon their interaction, β-glucosidase catalyzes amarogentin to produce considerable amounts of hydrocyanic acid, which inhibits cytochrome C oxidase, the terminal enzyme in the mitochondrial respiration chain, and suspends adenosine triphosphate synthesis, resulting in cell death. Hydrocyanic acid is a cell-cycle-stage-nonspecific agent that kills cancer cells. Thus, β-glucosidase can be coupled with a tumor-specific monoclonal antibody. β-Glucosidase can combine with cancer-cell-surface antigens and specifically convert amarogentin to an active drug that acts on cancer cells and the surrounding antibodies to achieve a killing effect. β-Glucosidase is injected intravenously and recognizes cancer-cell-surface antigens with the help of an antibody. The prodrug amarogentin is infused after β-glucosidase has reached the target position. Coupling of cell membrane peptides with β-glucosidase allows the enzyme to penetrate capillary endothelial cells and clear extracellular deep solid tumors to kill the cells therein. The Chinese medicine amarogentin and β-glucosidase will become an important treatment for various tumors when an appropriate monoclonal antibody is developed.

Reconstruction of phalangeal defect with free mesio-forearm flap based on perforator of ulnar artery / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the therapeutic effect and clinical experience of a new technique of digital reconstruction with the free mesio-forearm flap based on perforator of ulnar artery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We marked the line from the pisiformis to the condylus medialis humeri as the axis of the flap. We used Doppler to detect the site of the mesio-forearm ulnar perforator which is usually 9-10 cm proximal to the condylus medialis humeri as center of the flap. We designed the flap that contained perforator artery with its accompanying vein of the ulnar artery and a superficial vein around the center spot along the axis of ulnar artery. The wound at donor site was sutured directly. Neurorrhaphy was not conducted in any cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From June 2005 to June 2009, all 12 flaps survived with good quality and aesthetic contour. And no necrosis occurred. We conducted 6-36 months follow-up, and the result was satisfactory. The function of the fingers was reserved. Two-point discrimination differed from 6 cm to 12 cm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The free ulnar perforator flap on mesio-forearm can repair digital defect with good therapeutic effect, leaving less morbidity at donor site.</p>

Prevalence and risk factors of peri-procedure electrical storm in acute myocardial infarction patients underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the prevalence and to identify risk factors of peri-procedure electrical storm (ES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 228 AMI patients underwent emergency PCI were retrospectively analyzed and patients were divided into ES group (n = 39) and non-ES (n = 189) group. ES was referred to spontaneous ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation occurring twice or more within 24 h and requiring emergency treatment including anti-arrhythmic medicine and/or cardioversion or defibrillation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ES was diagnosed in 39 out of 228 patients (17.1%) during peri-procedure stage. The incidence of ES in patients with various infarct related arteries (IRA) was as follows: 55.6% with left main artery (LM), 23.7% with right coronary artery (RCA), 12.4% with anterior descending branch (LAD) and 0 with left circumflex artery (LCX). Older age, lager diameter of IRA, higher concentration of CK-MB and cTnT, higher incidence of reperfusion arrhythmia (RA), lower grade of TIMI after PCI and higher mortality were associated with increased risks of ES (The P value was 0.043, 0.012, 0.036, 0.018, 0.001, 0.049, respectively). Gender, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, random blood glucose level, white blood count and concentration of hs-CRP were similar between ES and non-ES patients. Logistic analysis showed that the diameter of IRA (OR 2.381, 95%CI 1.127-5.028, P = 0.023), TIMI grade of IRA after PCI (OR 4.744, 95% CI 1.773-12.691, P = 0.002) and RA (OR 12.680, 95% CI 4.360-36.879, P = 0.000) were the independent risk factors of per-procedure ES in AMI patients underwent emergency PCI.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The AMI patients with LM as IRA had the highest incidence of ES during emergency PCI and the diameter of IRA, TIMI grade of IRA after PCI and RA were independent risk factors for the development of ES during peri-PCI stage.</p>

Treatment of postcatheterization femoral arteriovenous fistulas with simple prolonged bandaging / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The methods for the treatment of postcatheterization femoral arteriovenous fistulas (AVF-s) - simple observation, ultrasound guided compression, covered stents implantation and coil embolization have poor outcome. Surgery is the standard method for treatment of femoral AVFs, but it is a traumatic operation. In this study, we report the results of the treatment of postcatheterization femoral AVFs by simple prolonged compressing bandage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To treat iatrogenic femoral AVFs caused by transfemoral catheterization, prolonged binding with elastic or common bandage was applied in 16 cases. Catheterization was performed in 7 cases for radiofrequency current catheter ablation, in 4 for occlusion of congenital heart disease, in 3 for percutaneous coronary intervention, in 1 for coronary angiography and in 1 for right heart catheterization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All iatrogenic femoral AVFs were healed after simple binding with elastic or common bandage for 4 - 46 days (mean (15 +/- 10) days). During the period of binding, local skins ulceration occurred at puncture site in two cases and femoral vein thrombus was found in one patient. During 6 - 24 months (mean (11.8 +/- 3.6) months) followup with colour Doppler ultrasonography, no recurrent arteriovenous shunting or other complications were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that simple prolonged bandaging for postcatheterization femoral AVFs is an effective and economical procedure.</p>

Changes of plasma CD40L and PAPP-A in patients with acute coronary syndrome after the PCI operation / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the changes and significance of plasma CD40L and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) operation.@*METHODS@#According to the occurrence of primary heart events or restenosis 6 months after the PCI, 68 patients were divided into the ACS group and the stable angina pectoris (SAP) group. Plasma CD40L and PAPP-A after the PCI operation were measured and compared. Thirty-six patients underwent repeated angiography after the PCI. Their baseline and follow up angiograms were compared by quantitative coronary angiography to assess the incidence of restenosis.@*RESULTS@#CD40L and PAPP-A after the PCI operation were higher in the ACS group than that in the SAP group.The group having primary heart events within 6 months had higher level of PAPP-A after the PCI. The group having restenosis 6 months had higher level of PAPP-A after the PCI. The change of later loss index of coronary artery lumen diameter was correlated with PAPP-A level after the PCI.@*CONCLUSION@#CD40L and PAPP-A were higher in the ACS group, indicating the possible mechanism by which CD40L facilitates the plaque rupture via up-regulating the PAPP-A expression.Plasma PAPP-A level after the PCI possibly for cases the occurrence of primary heart events or restenosis within 6 months.

Peripheral vascular complications after the cardiac catheterization / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the cause, the clinical manifestation and the management of peripheral vascular complications after cardiac catheterization.@*METHODS@#Clinical data of patients with peripheral vascular complications were analyzed retrospectively.@*RESULTS@#Of the 4,531 patients, 122 (2.7%) had peripheral vascular complications, including local hematoma (86 cases, 1.90%), pseudoaneurysm (15 cases, 0.33%), arteriovenous fistula (8 cases, 0.18%), femoral venous thrombosis (5 cases, 0.11%), excessive hemorrhage (5 cases, 0.11%), femoral arterial thrombosis (2 cases, 0.04%), and femoral nerve malfunction (1 case, 0.02%). All complications were relieved after conservative therapy except that one case needed surgery.@*CONCLUSION@#Peripheral vascular complications are associated with anticoagulation, diabetes, and hypertension. Prognosis of overwhelming complications is good, as long as patients are treated timely and appropriately.

Immediate or elective PCI after coronary angiography / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the success rate and the complication rate of immediate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and elective PCI after coronary angiography(CAG), and to estimate the clinical value of immediate PCI.@*METHODS@#One-hundred fifteen patients who underwent immediate PCI after CAG were enrolled into the immediate group, and 172 patients on whom PCI and CAG were performed on 2 days were enrolled into the elective group in Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University during 2005. The clinical manifestations, lesion vessel characteristics, and length and diameter of stents in the 2 groups were similar. Lesion vessels were defined as Type A, B, and C according to the standard of ACC/AHA in 1988.@*RESULTS@#The success rate and the complication rate of Type A and B lesion were not significantly different in the 2 groups (P>0.05). The success rate of Type C lesion in the immediate group was lower than that in the elective group (P<0.01). The complication rate of Type C lesion in the immediate group was higher than that in the elective group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Type A and B lesions may undergo immediate PCI, while Type C lesion is not suitable to be performed immediately PCI after CAG. Immediate PCI after CAG has some clinical value.

Effects of transcatheter closure in children with congenital coronary artery fistula / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of transcatheter closure method for treating congenital coronary artery fistula (CAF) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three children with CAF received transcatheter closure. Under anesthesia, heart catheterization and selective coronary angiography were performed to show the CAF size and relationship with normal coronary artery. CAF with the narrowest inner diameter < 3 mm (n = 16) were occluded with coil device, and CAF with narrowest inner diameter > 3 mm (n = 7) were closed with Amplatzer duct or VSD occluder.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Transcatheter closure was successfully performed in 21 cases and failed in 2 cases (CAF is too tortuous in one case and right CAF outlet near the right coronary artery main stem in another case) and CAF were closed by surgery in these 2 patients. No residual shunt or other complications were observed during the 3 months to 3 years follow up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transcatheter closure was an effective and mini-traumatic method for CAF treatment in children.</p>

Transcatheter closure for patent ductus arteriosus in children / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the results of transcatheter closure for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) by different devices in children.@*METHODS@#Seventy-eight cases of PDA in children (7 months to 14 years old), diagnosed by physical examination and transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography (TTE), were included in the study. The examination included the cardiac catheterization, photograph of the thoracic aorta and conventional technique of PDA closure. Among these patients, 16 were treated with coils, 9 with Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO), and 53 with native produced PDA occluders.@*RESULTS@#TTE examination on the next day of the operation showed that PDAs were completely occluded in 76 cases, while the other 2 cases treated by coil had minimal residual shunt. Sixty-four patients, who were detected enlargement of the left ventricle before the operation, showed obvious diminishment of the cardiac size. By the end of 3 months, TTE examination showed that the closure of PDA was complete, and the left ventricle size was normal in 77 cases, while one case treated with coil had minimal residual shunt, which persisted for more than 4 years. The 3 - 80 months follow-up showed that the closure of PDA was complete in 77 cases, the configurations of the left ventricle, the thoracic aorta,and the left pulmonary artery were all normal. The occluders were well remained in situ.@*CONCLUSION@#The usual procedures of transcatheter closure for PDA are effective and safe with ADO, native produced occluders and coil in children. Interventional method, which shows minute insult, few complications, and few adverse effects, can substitute the thoracic surgery.

The reverse forearm flap pedicled with the ulnar branch of the ulnar artery / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To introduce a new flap for the repair of soft tissue defects in the hand.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The distally pedicled ulnar flap is based on the ascending branch of the upper-wrist cutaneous branch of the ulnar artery. The retrograde flow is ensured by the dorsal carpal arch via the descending branch.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From 2000 to 2003, the flap was used to treat 8 cases of hand defects, including 3 dorsal defects, 2 palmar defects and 3 the first web defects. All flaps survived and the appearance was satisfactory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The reverse forearm flap pedicled with the ulnar branch of the ulnar artery provides a long vascular pedicle. The donor site scar is aesthetically acceptable.</p>