Whole transcriptome analysis and critical gene regulatory network analysis during Schistosoma japonicum infection and praziquantel treatment in mice / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions and identify the critical gene regulatory network during Schistosoma japonicum infections and praziquantel treatment using whole transcriptome sequencing. Methods A total of 110 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group, the infection group and the treatment group. Mice in the infection treatment and the control group were infected with S. japonicum cercariae via the abdomen, and liver specimens were sampled from 10 mice 3, 6, 8 weeks post-infection. Praziquantel treatment was given to mice in the treatment group 8 weeks post-infection, and liver specimens were sampled from 10 mice 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks post-treatment. Total RNA was isolated from mouse liver specimens, and the transcriptome library was constructed for highthroughput whole transcriptome sequencing. The significant differentially expressed genes were subjected to functional annotations, Gene Ontology (GO) terms enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Correlation analysis of liver specimens was performed using R Corrplot and Himsc functions, and the lncRNAmiRNA-mRNA interaction network analysis was performed using R MixOmics and Himsc functions. Results There were 1 176 differentially expressed miRNAs, 5 270 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 2 682 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the infection group and the control group, 1 289 differentially expressed miRNAs, 7 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 69 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the treatment group and the infection group, and 1 210 differentially expressed miRNAs, 4 456 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 2 016 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the treatment group and the control group. Correlation analysis showed a higher correlation of gene expression between the treatment group and the control group. Principal component analysis showed obvious separate clustering between the infection group and the treatment group. The differentially expressed genes with significant relevance were significantly enriched in 24 GO terms, including arachidonic acid metabolic process, xenobiotic catabolic process, unsaturated fatty acid metabolic process, xenobiotic metabolic process, long-chain fatty acid metabolic process, and 8 KEGG metabolic pathways, including cholesterol metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, retinol metabolism, and steroid hormone biometabolism. Conclusions There were 23 mRNAs including Cyp2b9 and 14 lncRNAs including Rmrpr in the core position of the gene regulatory network, which may play a critical role in S. japonicum infections and praziquantel treatment, and 9 miRNAs including miR-8105 may serve as potential molecular markers for diagnosis of S. japonicum infections.

Wound Healing Potential of Low Temperature Plasma in Human Primary Epidermal Keratinocytes

BACKGROUND: Low temperature plasma (LTP) was recently shown to be potentially useful for biomedical applications such as bleeding cessation, cancer treatment, and wound healing, among others. Keratinocytes are a major cell type that migrates directionally into the wound bed, and their proliferation leads to complete wound closure during the cutaneous repair/regeneration process. However, the beneficial effects of LTP on human keratinocytes have not been well studied. Therefore, we investigated migration, growth factor production, and cytokine secretion in primary human keratinocytes after LTP treatment.METHODS: Primary cultured keratinocytes were obtained from human skin biopsies. Cell viability was measured with the EZ-Cytox cell viability assay, cell migration was evaluated by an in vitro wound healing assay, gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and western blotting after LTP treatment.RESULTS: Cell migration, the secretion of several cytokines, and gene and protein levels of angiogenic growth factors increased in LTP-treated human keratinocytes without associated cell toxicity. LTP treatment also significantly induced the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), an upstream regulator of angiogenesis. Further, the inhibition of HIF-1α expression blocked the production of angiogenic growth factors induced by LTP in human keratinocytes.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that LTP treatment is an effective approach to modulate wound healing-related molecules in epidermal keratinocytes and might promote angiogenesis, leading to improved wound healing.

Technical specification for clinical application of critical ultrasonography / 中华内科杂志

Critical ultrasonography(CUS) is different from the traditional diagnostic ultrasound,the examiner and interpreter of the image are critical care medicine physicians.The core content of CUS is to evaluate the pathophysiological changes of organs and systems and etiology changes.With the idea of critical care medicine as the soul,it can integrate the above information and clinical information,bedside real-time diagnosis and titration treatment,and evaluate the therapeutic effect so as to improve the outcome.CUS is a traditional technique which is applied as a new application method.The consensus of experts on critical ultrasonography in China released in 2016 put forward consensus suggestions on the concept,implementation and application of CUS.It should be further emphasized that the accurate and objective assessment and implementation of CUS requires the standardization of ultrasound image acquisition and the need to establish a CUS procedure.At the same time,the standardized training for CUS accepted by critical care medicine physicians requires the application of technical specifications,and the establishment of technical specifications is the basis for the quality control and continuous improvement of CUS.Chinese Critical Ultrasound Study Group and Critical Hemodynamic Therapy Collabration Group,based on the rich experience of clinical practice in critical care and research,combined with the essence of CUS,to learn the traditional ultrasonic essence,established the clinical application technical specifications of CUS,including in five parts:basic view and relevant indicators to obtain in CUS;basic norms for viscera organ assessment and special assessment;standardized processes and systematic inspection programs;examples of CUS applications;CUS training and the application of qualification certification.The establishment of applied technology standard is helpful for standardized training and clinical correct implementation.It is helpful for clinical evaluation and correct guidance treatment,and is also helpful for quality control and continuous improvement of CUS application.

Value of evaluating the coronary collateral circulation by transluminal attenuation gradient in patients with chronic total occlusion and related influencing factors / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective@#To observe the value of evaluating the coronary collateral circulation of chronic total occlusion (CTO) by transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG) and Rentrop grading, and analyze the influencing factors for coronary collateral circulation.@*Methods@#A total of 179 CTO patients admitted to Beijing Anzhen hospital during June 2013 to August 2016 were included in this study.All patients received coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) examination before coronary angiography.Finally, 75 patients (79 vessels) were enrolled.Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of Rentrop classification.The Rentrop 3 was defined as a well-developed coronary collateral circulation group, including 50 CTO vessels, Rentrop 2 or below was defined as poorly-developed collateral circulation group, including 29 vessels.TAG values in patients with various Rentrop grades were analyzed.Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the predictors of collateral circulation.@*Results@#TAG increased consistently in proportion to the angiographic extent of collateral flow (TAG was (-33.6±24.4), (-16.5±15.7) and (-12.8±15.8) HU/10 mm in patients with Rentrop grade 0 or 1, 2 and 3, respectively, P=0.007). Number of good collateral circulation vessels predicted by TAG≥15.6 HU/10 mm was 45(57.0%, 45/79), and 50 (63.3%, 50/79) by Rentrop grade (P=0.383). Prevalence of diabetes was significantly lower (20.8%(10/48) vs. 48.1%(13/27), P=0.01), while history of previous myocardial infarction (MI) was significantly higher (35.4%(17/48) vs. 11.1%(3/27), P=0.02) in patients with good collateral circulation than in patients with poor collateral circulation.The TAG of the good collateral circulation group was significantly higher than in poorly collateral circulation group ((-12.8±15.8) HU/10 mm vs. (-21.2±19.6) HU/10mm, P=0.041). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that history of MI (OR=0.196, 95%CI 0.041-0.936, P=0.041) and diabetes(OR=6.604, 95%CI 1.726-25.274, P=0.006) were independent predictors of coronary collateral circulation.@*Conclusions@#TAG could be used to evaluate status of coronary collateral circulation.Presence of MI history and absence of diabetes history are the two independent predictors of well-developed coronary collateral circulation in CTO patients.

Predictive value of coronary CT angiography in chronic total occlusion lesions interventional therapy / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To analyze the characteristics of preoperative CTO lesions by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and to compare the lesion characteristics and clinical data of patients with subsequent vs failed PCI.Methods A total of 113 patients were randomly selected and 116 vessels were analyzed by CCTA before PCI.The patients were further investigated as PCI success group vs PCI failure group according to their PCI result.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors that affected the success of CTO intervention.The ROC curve was used to determine and evaluate the CT-CTO score and J-CTO score for diagnostic efficacy.Results The success rate of PCI was 55.2％.64 lesions were successfully opened,with the success rate of 72.4％.The prevalence of smoking in patients in the PCI failure group was significantly higher than that in PCI success group (65.4％ vs.42.2％,P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in age,gender,history of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,and myocardial infarction(P ＞ 0.05).Statistical differences were observed between the PCI success group and the PCI failure group in the presence of occlusion segment head-end bifurcation,occlusion severe incision,severe calcification (calcification ≥ 180°),occlusion segment length ≥ 20 mm,occlusion of calcification lesions,occlusion segment distal shape of the unambiguous of fiber cap shape of the distal occlusion segment under CCTA(P ＜ 0.05).In the PCI failure group,approximately 17.3％ of the patients had previous attempt to open the CTO lesions,which were higher than the PCI success group (9.4％).However,The difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the unambiguous distal fibrous cap of the occlusion segment and the occlusion of the proximal branch and the occlusion length ≥20 mm were the main factors affecting the failure of CTO intervention.In terms of prediction,the predictive value 30 CT-CTO score yielded a higher area under the ROC curve than that of the J-CTO score (0.8776 vs 0.7387,P ≤ 0.05).Conclusion CT angiography can predict the success rate of intervention for CTO lesions.Compared with J-CTO score,CT-CTO score has a higher predictive value.Unambiguous fiber cap shape,occlusion segment head end bifurcation,occlusion segment length ≥20 mm were the independent risk factors that affecting the success of CTO operation.

Chemical constituents from tuber of Bletilla striata / 中国中药杂志

Eighteen compounds were isolated from the EtOAc soluble fraction of Bletilla striata by various chromatographic techniques, such as silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, RP-HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods and physicochemical properties, as 5-hydroxy-2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)- 3- methoxybibenzyl(1), shancigusins B(2), shanciguol(3),arundinan(4), 3',5-dihydroxy-2,4-di(p-hydroxybenzyl)-3-methoxybibenzyl(5), arundin(6), 3,3'-dihydroxy-2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-5-methoxybibenzyl(7), 3, 3'-dihydroxy-2', 6'-bis(p-hydroxybenzyl)-5-methoxybibenzyl(8), 7-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene(9), bleformin B(10),nudol(11), 3,7-dihydroxy-2, 4-dimethoxyphenanthrene(12), 2, 7-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenathrene(13), bleformin D(14), 4,4'-dimethoxy-9,10-dyhydro-[6,1'-biphenanthrene]-2,2',7,7'-tetraol(15),gymconopin C(16),(2,3-trans)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-10-methoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-phenanthro[2,1-b]furan-7-ol(17),shanciol(18). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, Compounds 2-6,9,15-18 were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Meta-analysis for efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin and simvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia / 天津医药

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of rosuvastatin and simvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Methods The database including CNKI, VIP, Wanfang data base and CBM were retrieved to search the clinical randomized controlled trials (RCT) of rosuvastatin and simvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, and the data were analyzed with Review Manager 5.2. Results Eighteen RCTs were included with a total sample size of 1819 cases with hyperlipidemia, in which there were 917 patients in rosuvastatin group and 902 in simvastatin group. The Meta-analysis results showed that there were significantly lower serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and significantly higher level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in rosuvastatin group compared with those of simvastatin group [(MD=-0.15, 95%CI:-0.22--0.09, P<0.01), (MD=-0.18, 95%CI:-0.25--0.11, P<0.01), (MD=-0.23, 95%CI:-0.28--0.19, P<0.01) and (MD=-0.11, 95%CI:-0.06--0.15, P<0.01)]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reaction between the two groups. Conclusion The current clinical evidences show that rosuvastatin has a better effect on the treatment of hyperlipidemia, and has no adverse reactions.

Efficacy of mild hypothermia therapy on pulmonary function in ARDS dogs / 天津医药

Objective To investigate the efficacy of mild hypothermia therapy on pulmonary function in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) dogs. Methods A total of 25 healthy dogs were included and randomly divided into two groups, mild hypothermia treatment group (experimental group, n=12) and normothermia treatment group (control group, n=13). The E. coli was pumped continuously into the canine femoral vein by micro pump to construct the septic shock model in two groups. The hypothermia experimental group was treated with hypothermia (33℃±1℃), and the control group was observed at room temperature. The pulmonary hemodynamic parameters and respiratory mechanics parameters were supervised by PICCO and respirator respectively at 0, 24 and 48 h during the ARDS progress. Moreover, chest X-ray and lung tissue biopsy were taken to confirm the diagnosis of ARDS after 72 h. Results Up to 72 h, ARDS was found in the experimental group (n=4) and the control group (n=7) respectively. The oxygenation index (OI), partial pressure of oxygen [p(O2)] and pulmonary static compliance (Cst) decreased gradually with the extension of time in two groups. On the contrary, the external venous lung water index (EVLWI), pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and airway resistance (Raw) increased gradually (P<0.05). However, all the parameters were significantly better in mild hypothermia group than those of the normothermia group. Conclusion Mild hypothermia therapy can improve the pulmonary function and reduce the severity of ARDS in septic shock dogs.

Studies on glucosyloxybenzyl 2-isobutylmalates of Pleione bulbocodioides / 中国中药杂志

Ten glucosyloxybenzyl 2-isobutylmalates and one benzyl alcohol glycoside were isolated from the dry tuber of Pleione bulbocodioides, which is a specie of Orchidaceae family and its dry tuber is one of the main sources of traditional Chinese medicine "shanci-gu", by a combination of various column chromatographic methods, including ODS, macroporous adsorbent resin, Sepheadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified on the basis of chemical evidences and spectroscopic analysis asloroglossin (1), grammatophylloside A (2), cronupapine (3), (-)-(2R, 3S)-1-(4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxybenzyl)-4-methyl-2-isobutyltartrate (4), vandateroside II (5), grammatophylloside B (6), bis [4-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy) -benzyl] (S) -2-isopropylmalate (7), gymnoside I (8), militarine (9), dactylorhin A (10), gastrodin (11). Compounds 1-7 were isolated from this genus for the firt time.

Chemical constituents from Pleione bulbocodioides / 中国中药杂志

Fourteen compoumds were isolated from the ethyl acetate portion of the 95% ethanolic extract of Pleione bulbocodioides by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including silica gel, ODS, macroporous adsorbent resin, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC, of which ten compoumds were phenanthrenes and dihydrophenanthrenes, two compoumds were bibenzyls, one was lignan and a sterol. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as monbarbatain A(1), 2, 7, 2'-trihy-droxy-4, 4', 7'-trimethoxy-1, 1'- biphenanthrene(2), blestriarene A(3), pleionesin B(4), shanciol H(5), 17-hydroxy-7'-(4'-hy-droxy-3 '-methoxyphenyl)- 4-methoxy-9, 10, 7', 8'-tetrahydrophenanthro[2, 3-b]furan-8'-yl methyl acetate(6), 1-p-hydroxybenzyl-4-methoxy phenanthrene-2, 7-diol(7), 1-p-hydroxybenzyl-4-met-hoxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene-2, 7-diol(8), hircinol(9), coelonin( 10), gigantol(11), batatasin 11 (12), syringaresinol(13) and ergosta4, 6, 8 ( 14) , 22-tetraen-3-one (14). Compounds 1-3, 9, 13 and 14 were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Chemical constituents from Pleione yunnanensis / 中国中药杂志

This study was to investigate the chemical constituents from pseudobulbs of Pleione yunnanensis, one of the source of traditional Chinese medicine "Shancigu". The chemical constituents were isolated by various chromatography methods, including silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified from the EtOAc fraction of 90% ethanol extract, including five dihydrophenanthrenes, four bibenzyls, two triterpenoids, and three phenylacrylic acids. Their structures were identified on the basis of the spectral data as 4, 7-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (1), 4, 7-dihydroxy-1-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (2), (2,3-trans)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -3-hydroxymethyl-10-methoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-phenanthro[2,1-b]furan-7-ol (3), pleionesin B (4), blestriarene A (5), batatasin III (6), 3, 3'-dihydroxy-2-(p-hydroxybenzyl) -5-methoxybibenzyl (7), 3', 5-dihydroxy-2-(p-hydroxybenzyl) -3-methoxybibenzyl (8), 3,3'-dihydroxy-2,6-bis(4-hydroxybenzyl) -5-methoxybibenzyl (9), triphyllol (10), pholidotin (11), (E) -p-hydroxycinnamic acid (12), (E)-ferulic acid (13), and (E)-ferulic acid hexacosyl ester (14). Compounds 5,10-14 were separated from this plant for the first time.

Dietary Pattern and Nutrient Intake of Korean Children with Atopic Dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by itching and eczema-like skin lesions, and its symptoms alleviate with age. Recently, the prevalence of AD has increased among adolescents and adults. The increasing prevalence of AD seems to be related to westernized lifestyles and dietary patterns. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary patterns and nutrient intake of patients with AD. METHODS: The study population consisted of 50 children with AD who visited the Department of Dermatology at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea from May 2008 to May 2009. Physical condition and calorie intake were evaluated using the Eczema Area and Severity Index score and Food Record Questionnaire completed by the subjects, and the data were analyzed using the Nutritional Assessment Program Can-pro 3.0 (The Korean Nutrition Society, 2005) program to determine the gap between the actual ingestion and average requirements of 3 major nutrients (i.e. carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), vitamins (i.e. A, B, C, and E), niacin, folic acid, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc in all subjects. RESULTS: The intake rate of proteins was 18.02% (recommended dietary allowance [RDA], 7%~20%), of carbohydrates was 67.7% (RDA, 55%~70%), and of lipids was 14.24% (RDA, 15%~30%). Thirty-one subjects (62%) showed deficiency of folic acid, and 21 subjects (42%), of iron supplements. CONCLUSION: Essential nutrient intake tends to be lower in AD patients than in healthy subjects, and this low intake is closely related to the severity of AD.

Determination of dactylorhin A and militarine in three varieties of Cremastrae Pseudobulbus/Pleiones Pseudobulbus by HPLC / 中国中药杂志

To establish an HPLC method for determination of dactylorhin A and militarine in Cremastrae Pseudobulbus/Pleiones Pseudobulbus. The analysis was achieved on an Alltech Prevail C18 column (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) using a mobile phase of acetonitrile (A), water (B) gradient elution in a total run time of 35 min (0 min, 20:80; 30 min, 55:45; 35 min, 55:45) and a diode array detector was set at 224 nm. The flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1). The assay displayed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.257-9.95 microg (r = 0.999 8), and 0.128-10.27 microg (r = 0.999 9), respectively. The average recoveries (n = 9) were 94.70% and 102.8% for dactylorhin A and militarine, respectively. The method is accurate, quick, simple and reproducibility. It can be used for the quality control of Pleione bulbocodioides and Pleione yunnanensis.

Efficacy of stents coated with antibody against CD105 on preventing restenosis and thrombosis in minipigs / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Novel stents loaded with antibody against CD105 were analyzed for their potential to limit coronary neointima formation and to accelerate endothelialization by attracting activated endothelial cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty Stents coated with antibody against CD105, thirty unloaded polymer, and thirty bare metal stents were deployed in 90 coronary arteries of 30 minipigs. Oral aspirin (300 mg before operation and 100 mg post operation) and clopidogrel (300 mg before operation and 75 mg post operation) were orally administrated. Coronary artery quantitative analysis was completed by coronary arteriography, the vascular endothelium changes were observed under scanning electron microscope and the vascular morphological changes were observed under light microscope 7 and 14 days after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete procedural and angiographic success was achieved in all 30 minipigs. There were no major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. At 7 days, there was no difference for mean neointimal area and percent area stenosis among various groups. At 14 days, endothelialization scores were significantly higher in the CD105 antibody-loaded stents and bare metal stents group than in sirolimus-eluting stents group (1.78 ± 0.49, 1.50 ± 0.67 vs. 1.08 ± 0.29, all P < 0.05), mean percent area stenosis in the CD105 antibody-loaded stents, sirolimus-eluting stents group were less than that in bare metal stents group [(23.8 ± 4)%, (24.2 ± 2)% vs. (38.0 ± 3)%, all P < 0.05], mean angiographic late luminal loss in the CD105 antibody-loaded stents, sirolimus-eluting stents group were less than that in bare metal stents group [(0.29 ± 0.28) mm, (0.28 ± 0.02) mm vs. (0.41 ± 0.01) mm, all P < 0.05]. There was no difference for mean percent area stenosis in the CD105 antibody-loaded stents and sirolimus-eluting stents group. The mean neointimal area in the CD105 antibody-loaded stents, and sirolimus-eluting stents group were less than that in bare metal stents group [(0.88 ± 0.08) mm(2), (0.89 ± 0.12mm)(2) vs. (1.00 ± 0.14) mm(2), all P < 0.05] and there was no difference for the mean neointimal area in the CD105 antibody-loaded stents and sirolimus-eluting stents group. At 7 and 14 days, there was no difference for the injury score and the inflammation score among various groups, scanning electron microscopy evidenced enhanced endothelial coverage on CD105 antibody-loaded stents compared to sirolimus-eluting stents group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stent coated with antibody against CD105 could effectively reduce in-stent restenosis and accelerate endothelialization in the minipigs.</p>

Studies on chemical constituents from roots of Pterospermum heterophyllum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Pterospermum heterophyllum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemical constituents of P. heterophyllum were isolated and purified by silica gel and sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Nine compounds were isolated and identified as taraxerol (1), betulin (2), betulinic acid (3), sumaresinolic acid (4), 2-methoxy-5-hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone (5), 5, 7-dihydroxy-6, 8-dimethylchromone (6), alpha-monpalmitin (7), palmitic acid (8), beta-sitosterol (9).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 2-7 were isolated from this genus for the first time.</p>

Relationship among soluble CD105, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and coronary plaque morphology: an intravascular ultrasound study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Rupture of unstable plaque with subsequent thrombus formation is the common pathophysiological substrate of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It is of potential significance to explore the blood indexes predicting plaque characteristics. We investigated the relationship among soluble CD105, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and coronary plaque morphology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A clinical study from April 2004 to December 2006 was conducted in 130 patients who were divided into 3 groups: 56 patients (43.1%) in stable angina (SA) group, 52 patients (40.0%) in unstable angina (UA) group and 22 patients (16.9%) in acute myocardial infarction group. The concentrations of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were measured in all of the patients by cardioangiography (CAG). Plasma samples of arterial blood were collected prior to the procedure. The levels of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Unstable and ruptured plaque was found more frequently in patients with acute myocardial infarction and UA. External elastic membrane cross-sectional area (EEM CSA), plaque area, lipid pool area and plaque burden were significantly larger in the ruptured and unstable plaque group. Positive remodeling, thinner fabric-cap, smaller minimal lumen cross-sectional area (MLA), dissection and thrombus were significantly more frequent in the ruptured and unstable plaque group. Remodeling index (RI) was positively correlated with the levels of soluble CD105 in the UA group (r = 0.628, P < 0.01) and the acute myocardial infarction group (r = 0.639, P < 0.01). The levels of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were higher in the ruptured plaque group. Soluble CD105 > 4.3 ng/ml was used to predict ruptured plaque with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area of 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI), 66.8% - 87.2%), a sensitivity of 72.8%, a specificity of 78.0% and an accuracy of 70.2% (P < 0.01), similarly for hs-CRP > 5.0 mg/ml with a ROC curve area of 0.70 (95% CI, 59.2% - 80.2%), a sensitivity of 70.2%, a specificity of 76.2% and an accuracy of 67.2% (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The plaque characteristics correlate with the clinical presentation. The elevation of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP is related to the plaque instability and rupture.</p>

Study on pathological rhythm of traditional Chinese medicine about circadian distribution of premature ventricular contractions in 240 patients with viral myocarditis / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To explore the circadian distribution of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in patients with viral myocarditis (VM) according to the theory of chronomedicine in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in order to find out the scientific evidence for a reasonable administration time. METHODS: Two hundred and forty patients with VM were enrolled and electrocardiograms were examined for all by Holter monitor. The circadian distribution of PVCs was evaluated according to the theory of chronomedicine of TCM about time periods corresponding to five zang viscera. RESULTS: PVCs mostly happened in periods of 3:00-5:00, 5:00-7:00, 7:00-9:00 and 9:00-11:00, in which 5:00-7:00 was the most serious time. Less PVCs happened in periods of 17:00-19:00, 19:00-21:00 and 21:00-23:00. The frequency of PVCs in midnight also increased with aging. The time periods of the frequency peak of PVCs in patients with different syndromes were also different. In patients with syndrome of pathogenic heat invading heart (PHIH), the PVCs mostly appeared in midday. In patients with syndrome of flaring of fire due to yin-deficiency (FFYD), the PVCs were most serious in daytime and aggravated at noon. And in patients with syndrome of insufficiency of heart-qi and yang (IHQY), the PVCs mostly happened in early morning or midnight. CONCLUSION: There was a manifest regulation of the pathological circadian rhythm of PVCs in patients with VM. The circadian distributions of PVCs were variable in patients with different syndromes. Therefore the theory of chronomedicine of TCM may be used to guide the treatment based on syndrome differentiation.