Outcome and Pathological Characteristics of Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumors.

The literature on malignant cardiac tumors is relatively limited because they are rare, especially among the Chinese population. We analyzed 14 patients diagnosed with malignant cardiac tumors in Fuwai Hospital and present the results of surgical treatments on the tumors. The mean age at tumor diagnosis was 47 years in a male-dominated cohort. There was a high frequency of pericardial effusion and coronary artery involvement in our group. We compared the survival times of patients who received different treatments and found that surgery improved prognosis of tumors, especially for patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation.

A modified method for isolation of human cardiomyocytes to model cardiac diseases.

BACKGROUND: Cardiomyocytes derived from animals and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are two main cellular models to study cardiovascular diseases, however, neither provides precise modeling of the response of mature human cardiomyocytes to disease or stress conditions. Therefore, there are emerging needs for finding an optimized primary human cardiomyocytes isolation method to provide a bona fide cellular model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Previous established protocols for the isolation of primary human cardiomyocytes are limited in their application due to relatively low cell yield and the requirement of tissue integrity. Here, we developed a novel, simplified method to isolate human cardiomyocytes robustly with improved viability from tissue slicing. Isolated cardiomyocytes showed intact morphology, retained contractility, ion flux, calcium handling, and responses to neurohormonal stimulation. In addition, we assessed the metabolic status of cardiomyocytes from different health conditions. CONCLUSION: We present a novel, simplified method for isolation of viable cardiomyocytes from human tissue.

[Clinical observation of rheumatoid arthritis associated interstitial lung disease patients and changes of serum cytokines thereof].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical feature of rheumatoid arthritis associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) patients and changes of serum cytokines tumor growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB. METHODS: The clinical manifestations, lung high resolution CT (HRCT), lung functions, blood gas and other relative laboratory findings of 30 RA-ILD patients and 35 RA patients were observed. ELISA was used to detect the levels of TGF-beta 1, TNF-alpha, IGF-1, and PDGF-AB. Thirty healthy volunteers were observed too as controls. RESULTS: The clinical manifestations of RA-ILD patients were more serious than those of the RA patients. The ESR was faster, the serum C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor (RF), and globulin levels higher, and pulmonary arterial pressure higher too in the RA-ILD patients than in the RA patients (all P<0.01). The main respiratory manifestations of the RA-ILD patients were cough, expectoration, chest distress, short breath, chest pain, change of breath sounds, Velcro râles, and dyspnea. The main lung HRCT findings included thickening of interlobular septum and bronchial wall, pachynsis pleurae, mosaic sign, bronchiectasis, emphysema, patching shadow, honeycombing, fibrous scar, etc. Pulmonary function test showed that the levels of vital capacity, forced vital capacity, maximum midexpiratory flow, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide of the RA-ILD patients were all significantly lower than those of the RA patients (all P<0.01). Arterial gas test showed that the PO2 of the RA-ILD patients was significantly lower than that of the RA patients (P<0.01). The TGF-beta 1; TNF-alpha, IGF-1, and PDGF-AB of both the RA-ILD and RA patients were all significantly higher than those of the healthy volunteers (all P<0.01), and the levels of these cytokines of the RA-ILD patients were all higher than those of the RA patients (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The symptoms and signs of the RA-ILD patients are more serious, the lung HRCT changes more obvious, lung function decreases, and the levels of TGF-beta 1, TNF-alpha, IGF-1, and PDGF-AB increase.

[Clinical study on treatment of acute paraquat poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of methylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide and Etanercept method on acute paraquat poisoning. METHODS: 136 patients with acute paraquat poisoning were divided into the normal therapy group and the intensive therapy group randomly. Methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide and Etanercept were used in the intensive therapy group. Methylprednisolone 500 mg was given intravenously per day for continuous three days followed by 200 mg intravenous per day. Then methylprednisolone was decreased gradually 14 d or 21 d later according to the patient's condition. Cyclophosphamide 600 mg was given intravenously twice weekly for 2 weeks and Etanercept 25 mg was given hypodermic injection twice weekly for 3 weeks. Curative effect evaluation was done at 7, 14, 21 d and 12 weeks after therapy. RESULTS: The survival rate of the intensive therapy group was obviously higher than that of the normal therapy group (P<0.01) on 7, 4, 21 d and 12 weeks. The cure rate of the intensive group were 94.6% (intake dose<50 ml 20% paraquat solution), 75.0% (intake dose 50 approximately 100 ml 20% paraquat solution), 12.5% (intake dose>100 ml 20% paraquat solution) respectively, while the cure rate of the normal group were 16.7% (intake dose<50 ml 20% paraquat solution), 8.3% (intake dose 50 approximately 100 ml 20% paraquat solution), 0% (intake dose>100 ml 20% paraquat solution) respectively. The total cure rate of the intensive therapy group (78.3%) 12 weeks later was higher than that of the normal group (11.9%). CONCLUSION: Methylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide and Etanercept intensive therapy has the curative effect on acute paraquat poisoning.