Predictive value of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide on outcome of elderly hospitalized non-heart failure patients / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of N-terminal type B natriuretic peptide（NT-proBNP) on the prognosis of elderly hospitalized patients without heart failure（non-heart failure). Method: Elderly patients aged 65 years or older, who were admitted to Beijing Hospital from September 2018 to February 2019, were enrolled in this study. Patients with clinical diagnosis of heart failure or left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF)<50% were excluded. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the serum NT-proBNP level: low NT-proBNP group （<125 ng/L) and high NT-proBNP group（≥125 ng/L). Patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after enrollment, and the major adverse events were recorded. The composite endpoint events included all-cause mortality, readmission or Emergency Department visits. Cardiovascular events include death, readmission or emergency room treatment due to cardiogenic shock, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart failure or stroke/transient ischemic attack. Results: A total of 600 elderly patients with non-heart failure were included in the analysis. The average age was （74.9±6.5) years, including 304（50.7%) males. The median follow-up time was 344（265, 359) days. One hundred and seventy-eight（29.7%) composite endpoint events were recorded during the follow-up, 19（3.2%) patients died, and 12（2.0%) patients were lost to follow-up. There were 286(47.7%) cases in low NT-proBNP group and 314 cases（52.3%) in high NT-proBNP group. Patients were older, prevalence of atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction was higher; MMSE scores and ADL scores, albumin and creatinine clearance rate were lower in high NT-proBNP group than in low NT-proBNP group（all P<0.05). At 1-year follow-up, the incidence of composite endpoint events was significantly higher in high NT-proBNP group than in low NT-proBNP group（33.4%（105/314) vs. 24.8%（71/286), P = 0.02). Cardiovascular events were more common in high NT-proBNP group than in low NT-proBNP group（17.5%（55/314) vs. 8.4%（24/286), P = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed both composite endpoint events（Log-rank P=0.016) and cardiovascular events（Log-rank P=0.001) were higher in high NT-proBNP group than in low NT-proBNP group. All-cause mortality was also significantly higher in highNT-proBNP group than in lowNT-proBNP group（4.8%（15/314) vs. 1.4%（4/286), P = 0.020), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated borderline statistical significance（Log-rank P = 0.052). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, creatinine clearance rate, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation, NT-proBNP remained as an independent risk factor for composite endpoint events（HR=1.376，95%CI 1.049-1.806, P=0.021), and cardiovascular events（HR=1.777, 95%CI 1.185-2.664, P=0.005), but not for all-cause mortality（P=0.206). Conclusions: NT-proBNP level at admission has important predictive value on rehospitalization and cardiovascular events for hospitalized elderly non-heart failure patients. NT-proBNP examination is helpful for risk stratification in this patient cohort.

Long-term outcome of patients undergoing recanalization procedures for chronic total coronary occlusion / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the long-term outcomes of patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), or medical therapy for treatment of chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients with CTO were selected from a consecutive cohort of patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) between 2008 and 2009. The patients with multiple CAG were excluded. The patients received treatments with PCI, CABG, or conservative medication therapy and were followed for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within 5 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 253 patients were enrolled in this study, including 192 receiving PCI, 48 receiving CABG, and 13 treated conservatively with medications. The baseline clinical characteristics were similar among the 3 groups except for increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TC) in the medication group, and increased Syndax score in CABG group. During the follow-up, the incidences of MACE, AMI, death, stroke or heart failure did not differ significantly among the 3 groups (P>0.05). However, CABG group showed a higher incidence of the stroke than the other two groups although this difference did not reach a statistically significantly level (P=0.06).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study did not demonstrate that recanalization offers greater long-term benefits than medications for treatment of CTO, and the patients receiving CABG appeared to have a higher incidence of stroke.</p>

Impact of coronary computed tomography angiography on patient triage strategies / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the triaging pathways of patients after coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients undergoing CCTA were enrolled consecutively during the period from March 3, 2008 to June 23, 2009. The rate of coronary angiography (CAG) examinations after CCTA was calculated. The rates of normal CAG, medication, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) were compared between CCTA and direct CAG cohorts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 8030 cases receiving CCTA and 3260 receiving direct CAG were included in the study. The CCTA patients had significantly fewer risk factors than those having direct CAG. Of the 8030 patients undergoing CCTA, 953 (12.03%) received further CAG and 6977 (87.97%) did not. Of the patients who received CAG after CCTA, 35 (3.7%) had normal CAG findings, 604 (63.4%) underwent PCI, 108 (11.3%) received conservative treatment with medications, and 206 (21.6%) underwent CABG. In the 3260 patients directly undergoing CAG, 706 (52.3%) underwent subsequent PCI, 142(4.4%) underwent CABG, 815(25.1%) received medications, and 579 (17.9%) had normal CAG findings. Comparison between the cases receiving direct CAG and CAG after CCTA showed that CCTA resulted in a significant increase in the revascularization rate (P<0.0001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CCTA can help prevent unnecessary CAG and allows more accurate patient triage.</p>

Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria are associated with increased cardiovascular events rate in octogenarian population / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria with cardiovascular events in subjects aged 80 years or older.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data for this retrospective prognostic study were drawn from the patient database for routine checkup in Beijing hospital between January 2001 to December 2001. Baseline eGFR and proteinuria were evaluated in 340 subjects [mean age: (85.6 ± 4.0) years]. eGFR was calculated using the modified abbreviated MDRD equations based on the Chinese chronic kidney disease patients. The subjects were divided into normal renal function group and reduced renal function group (eGFR <60 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2)). The subjects were divided into subjects without proteinuria and subjects with proteinuria group. Cardiovascular events included cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proportion of reduced renal function was 36.8% (125/340). The proportion of proteinuria was 10.3% (35/340). The proportion of reduced renal function or proteinuria was 41.8% (142/340). Follow-up time was 79 months (40-114 months). Cardiovascular events rate was significantly higher in reduced renal function group than in normal renal function group [37.6% (47/125) vs. 26.2% (55/210), P < 0.05 ] and in proteinuria group than in without proteinuria group [50.0% (17/34) vs. 28.2% (85/301), P < 0.01 ]. Cox multivariate analysis revealed that both eGFR (HR = 0.978, 95%CI:0.961-0.994, P < 0.05 ) and proteinuria (HR = 2.049, 95%CI:1.132-3.709, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular events after adjusting for age, gender, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Reduced eGFR and presence of proteinuria are independent risk factors for cardiovascular event in subjects aged 80 years or older. eGFR and proteinuria can thus be used for cardiovascular event risk stratification in subjects aged 80 years or older.</p>

Increase of correctness in revascularization of coronary artery disease by first assessment of coronary computed tomography angiography / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To discuss the influence of coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)on correctness of assessing revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods A retrospective study method was conducted,605 cases underwent CCTA before coronary angiography(CAG)from 2008 to 2009 in Chinese PLA General Hospital were selected as CCTA before CAG group,and meanwhile 616 cases examined by CAG directly were selected as direct CAG group. Patients with multiple procedures of CAG were excluded. The proportions of various treatment strategies were compared,including per-cutaneous coronary intervention(PCI),coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG),medical therapy(MT),normal rate of CAG and the correctness of assessing revascularization between the two groups. Results The comparison between the baseline of the two groups showed that in the CCTA before CAG group,there were more severe lesions than those in the direct CAG group,such as Syntax score(11.31±8.90 vs. 10.23±9.73,P<0.05). Compared with direct CAG group,the triage of PCI and CABG in the CCTA before CAG group was significantly increased〔PCI:65.3%(395/605)vs. 57.1%(352/616),CABG:16.5%(100/605)vs. 3.4%(21/616)〕,while the percentages of medical treatment and normal CAG were obviously reduced〔medical treatment:11.7%(71/605)vs. 19.3%(119/616),normal rate of CAG:6.4%(39/605)vs. 20.1%(124/616),all P<0.01〕. With the guidance of CCTA,the correctness of assessing revascularization was increased〔81.8%(495/605)vs. 60.6%(373/616),P<0.01〕. Conclusion Compared with the direct induction by CAG,the CCTA examination carried out before CAG is capable of increasing the rate of correctness in the determination of revascularization in coronary heart diseases.

The change of pulmonary surfactant protein of rat following silica exposure / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the change of lung surfactant protein (SP) A,B,C,D of rats following silica dust exposure in order to provide the evidences for the early diagnosis indices or therapy of silicosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>60 male SD rats were randomly divided into silica group, and corresponding controls group. Rats in silica group were administrated 1 ml silica solution by intratracheal instillation at dose of 50 mg/ml. Rats in control group were administrated the same amount saline. At 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th after silica exposure, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were obtained. The concentration of SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, SP-D in serum and BALF were measured by using enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Meanwhile the levels of total anti-oxidative activity (T-AOC) and hydroxyproline (HYP) in lung tissue were also detected. The pathology of lung tissue was conducted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, SP-A concentration in BALF of silica exposed rat for 3, 14, 21, 28d was significant lower and SP-D concentration in BALF of silica exposed rat for all time points was also lower. The differences were significant (P < 0.05). Meanwhile SP-B level in 7, 14, 21, 28 d silica exposed rats BALF and SP-C level in 14, 21, 28 d silica exposed rats markedly decreased (P < 0.05). In addition compared with control group, SP-A, SP-B and SP-C concentration in serum of silica exposed rat were higher when SP-A for 14, 21, 28 d silica exposure, SP-B for 7, 14, 21 d silica exposure and Sp-C for 7, 14, 21, 28 d exposure. And all difference were significant (P < 0.05). As silica exposure time increased, SP-C concentration in serum showed an increase trend, which showed a time-response relationship (r = 0.618, P = 0.042). However, SP-D concentration in serum of rat for 7, 14, 21, 28d silica exposure were significant lower than that of control group (P < 0.005). And there was a decrease trend with time point exposure regarding of SP-D (r = -0.731, P = 0.016). The HYP content in lung tissue of experiment rats increased at 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day time point and The T-AOC activity in lung tissue decrease at, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day time point. The differences were significant (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation (P = 0.803, P = 0.045) between SP-C in BALF and HYP of silica exposed rats and a negative correlation between SP-D in BALF and HYP (r = -0.867, P = 0.033). No significant correlation were seen between SP-A, SP-B BALF and HYP (y = 0.416, P = 0.28; r = 0.592, P = 0.071). SP-C concentration in BALF and serum all showed an increased trend and a positive correlation was seen (r = 0.539, P = 0.046). The same decrease trend was seen between SP-D in BALF and serum and correlation value was 0.870 (P = 0.034).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The silica exposure did cause the change of SP content both in BALF and serum. The SP-C and SP-D content in serum might be served as an early effective biomarker of silicosis.</p>

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction in elderly patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The term heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) is often used to describe the syndrome of heart failure with normal ejection fraction. Based on the previous studies, HFNEF has a significant morbidity and mortality and is associated with a similar prognosis to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). The present study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of HFNEF in elderly patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Consecutive elderly patients (≥ 60 years old) hospitalized for the first episode of heart failure (HF) in Beijing Hospital from January 2003 to December 2009 were retrospectively recruited. Three hundred and ten patients with HF were eligible for our study. As recently recommended, a cut-off value of 50% was used to distinguish HFNEF (LVEF ≥ 50%) from HFREF (LVEF < 50%). Data were retrospectively obtained from hospital records and databases. Follow-up data were obtained by telephone and from hospital records. For every eligible patient, the clinical characteristics and prognosis were collected and compared between the HFNEF and HFREF groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients with HFNEF accounted for 54.5% of all cases of elderly patients with HF. Compared with HFREF, the elderly patients with HFNEF had a higher proportion of females (62.1% vs. 32.6%, P < 0.001), higher body mass index (BMI) ((24.9 ± 4.7) vs. (23.5 ± 4.0) kg/m(2), P = 0.011), higher systolic blood pressure at admission ((141.5 ± 22.6) vs. (134.3 ± 18.6) mmHg, P = 0.002), but lower hemoglobin levels ((118.3 ± 22.7) vs. (125.8 ± 23.8) g/L, P = 0.005). The incidence of coronary heart disease (43.2% vs. 65.2%, P < 0.001) and myocardial infarction (16.6% vs. 46.1%, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in elderly patients with HFNEF than in those with HFREF (P < 0.001). With a mean follow-up of 33.5 (0.5 - 93) months, 120 patients (38.7%) died, including 94 (30.3%) cardiac deaths. The HFNEF group had fewer deaths than the HFREF group at the end of the first follow-up (46/169 (27.2%) vs. 58/141 (41.1%)) and at the end of the second follow-up (56/169 (33.1%) vs. 64/141 (45.4%)). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly higher survival rate in elderly patients with HFNEF than those with HFREF (P = 0.021 for total mortality and P < 0.001 for cardiac mortality). Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that LVEF < 50% was an independent risk factor for death in elderly patients with HF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>More than half of elderly patients with HF have a normal LVEF. The prognosis of the elderly patients with HFNEF is poor, though slightly better than the elderly patients with HFREF.</p>

Value of the electrocardiographic Cornell criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in elderly men / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of electrocardiographic (ECG) Cornell criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in elderly Chinese men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Since 1990, 244 autopsies were performed in our hospital in elderly men, LVH was determined in these autopsy hearts and correlated to ECG LVH signs recorded within 3 months before death according to Cornell (SV3+RaVL) and Sokolow-Lyon criteria (SV1+RV5 or RV6). The reference value of Cornell criteria was obtained based on values from autopsied healthy hearts, the sensitivity and specificity of Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in these elderly men were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significantly correlations between QRS amplitudes of Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon criteria and autopsy left ventricular wall thickness in these hearts. The reference value of Cornell criteria (SV3+RaVL) was 2.9 mV. The sensitivity of Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell criteria for detecting LVH was 25.4% and 34.3% (P<0.05 vs Sokolow-Lyon criteria), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Voltage (SV3+RaVL)>or=2.9 mV might be a suitable diagnostic value for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in Chinese elderly men.</p>

Generation of selectable marker-free and vector backbone sequence-free Xa21 transgenic rice / 生物工程学报

The dominant gene Xa21 with broad-spectrum and high resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) was transferred into C418, an important restorer line of japonica hybrid rice in China using double right-border (DRB) T-DNA binary vector through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. 17 transgenic lines were Xa21-positive with high resistance to the race P6 of Xoo through PCR analysis and resistance identification, among the total 27 independent primary transformants (T0) obtained. The subsequent analysis of the T1 progenies of these 17 T0 lines through PCR-assisted selection and resistance investigation showed that four Xa21 transgenic T0 lines could produce selectable marker-free (SMF) progenies. The frequency of primary transformants producing SMF progenies was 15%. In addition, PCR analysis also revealed these SMF progenies did not contain vector backbone sequence, and they were named as SMF and vector backbone sequence-free (SMF-VBSF) Xa21 transgenic plants. The further molecular and phenotypic analysis of the T2 and T3 progenies testified the homozygous SMF-VBSF Xa21 transgenic plants were obtained with high resistance to Xoo.

Construction of mutant population of differential race of Xa23 resistant to rice bacterial blight and avirulence activity identification of mutants / 生物工程学报

The mutant population of Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae strain differential to rice bacterial blight resistance gene Xa23 has been constructed mediated by transposon in vivo . The results of PCR amplification with specific primers and analysis of flanking sequence of mutants indicated that the foreign DNA has been integrated into X. oryzae pv oryzae genome. Four mutants with changed avirulent activity to Xa23 gene have been identified by artificial inoculation. It is possible to clone genes that are required for AvrXa23 avirulence activity using this new strategy.

Genome analysis of transgenic homozygous line "Minghui 63-Xa21" / 生物工程学报

By using rice SSRP, RAPD and AFLP molecular markers, the genome of rice transgenic line "Minghui 63-Xa21" was analyzed. 32 SSRP primers, 42 RAPD primers and 8 AFLP primers could produce obvious PCR bands in the analysis of at least 12 individual plants selected randomly from "Minghui 63-Xa21" T3 generation. Totally 550 PCR bands, equivalent to 550 genomic sites, were detected. Different individual plants of the transgenic homozygous line displayed almost the same PCR pattern. Compared with the control "Minghui 63", no difference was found in their PCR patterns. This indicated that the introduction of Xa21 into the genome of "Minghui 63" did not change these 550 genome sites and their heredity. Very few variant PCR bands were observed in some individual plants from both "Minghui 63-Xa21" and "Minghui 63". However, the variant percentage was equivalent between the transgenic line and the non-transgenic control line.