Roles of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, RANTES and Fractalkine on promoting vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To elucidate the roles of monocyte chemotactic factors (MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine) on the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with stable (SAP) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with SAP (n = 50) and UAP (n = 50) underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) were included in the study. Monocyte chemotaxis was assayed by the transwell chamber. Concentrations of hs-CRP, MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine were measured by Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). mRNA expression of MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine in the monocytes was detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IVUS evidenced soft lipid plaques in 48% UAP patients and in 16% SAP patients (P < 0.05). SAP patients had mainly fibrous and mixed plaques. Plaque burden and vascular remodeling index were significantly higher in UAP patients than in SAP patients (P < 0.01). The averaged number of migrated monocytes in the UAP patients were higher than that in patients with SAP (P < 0.01). Concentration of hs-CRP, MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine were significantly higher in UAP patients than those of SAP patients (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). mRNA expression of MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine in patients with UAP was significantly higher than those of SAP patients (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Upregulated monocyte chemotactic factors (MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine) might promote coronary plaque vulnerability in UAP patients.</p>

Treatment of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms using stent and balloon-assisted technique / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the avail of balloon and stent-assisted Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) placement in treatment of wide-necked cerebral aneurysm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-seven patients with 92 wide-necked aneurysms undergone endovascular procedures using the balloon and stent-assisted remodeling technique. Respectively, appropriate Neuroform stents delivered with a 5 mm landing zone on either side of the aneurysm neck, the microcatheter entered through the interstice, aneurysms were embolized at one or several times. Two catheters were used in balloon-remodeling technique, balloon were inflated across the neck of the aneurysms after the microcatheter entering the aneurysms, then the GDC were used to embolize the aneurysms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-one aneurysms were completely occluded, 3 subtotally (> 90%) and 1 incompletely (70% - 90%) occluded using stent-assisted technique, all carry arteries were unblocked, 3 patients with mild neurological dysfunction and no mortality. Fifty aneurysms were completely occluded and 4 incompletely occluded using balloon-assisted technique, 1 patients with mild neurological dysfunction and no mortality. Two aneurysms were completely occluded and 1 incompletely occluded using stent-assisted and balloon-assisted technique. The mean period of follow-up was 5.8 months. Rates of recanalization were 16.7% for stent-remodeling group and 12.5% for balloon-remodeling group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The stent and balloon-assisted remodeling technique are safe and effective in treating wide-necked aneurysms. Balloon-remodeling technique has more security comparing with stents.</p>