The predictive value of the renal resistive index for contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) at a rate that varies depending on the patient's risk factors. This study was conducted to evaluate the predictive value of the renal resistive index (RRI) for CIN in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing PCI. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 146 consecutive patients with ACS. Renal Doppler ultrasound examinations to measure RRI were performed pre-PCI and at 1 h and 24 h after PCI. The primary endpoint was CIN, defined as a relative (≥25%) or absolute (≥0.5 mg/dL; 44 µmol/L) increase in serum creatinine from baseline within 48 h after contrast exposure. RESULTS: CIN was identified in 31 patients (21.2%); however, none of the patients required haemodialysis. Compared to patients without CIN, higher RRIs were observed at 1 h (0.71 ± 0.05 vs. 0.65 ± 0.06, p < 0.05) and 24 h (0.70 ± 0.05 vs. 0.66 ± 0.06, p < 0.05) post-procedure in patients with CIN. The RRI rose transiently from baseline (0.68 ± 0.05) to 1 h (0.71 ± 0.05) and then tended to decline at 24 h (0.70 ± 0.05). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the pre-procedure RRI was a powerful predictive indicator of CIN (area under the curve = 0.661, p = 0.006). The best cutoff value was 0.69 with 67.7% sensitivity and 67% specificity. Besides hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease, the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a high baseline RRI (≥0.69) was a significant predictor of CIN (odds ratio = 4.445; 95% confidence interval: 1.806-10.937; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A high pre-procedural RRI appears to be independently predictive of CIN in patients with ACS undergoing PCI.

Effect of histone modifications on hMLH1 alternative splicing in gastric cancer.

hMLH1 is one of the mismatch genes closely related to the occurrence of gastric cancer. Epigenetic regulation may play more important roles than gene mutations in DNA damage repair genes to drive carcinogenesis. In this article, we discuss the role of epigenetic changes, especially histone modifications in the regulation of hMLH1 alternative splicing. Our results showed that hMLH1 delEx10, delEx11, delEx10-11, delEx16 and delEx17 transcripts were ubiquitous in sporadic Chinese gastric cancer patients and gastric cancer cell lines. Lower level of H4K16ac and H3ac was detected in hMLH1 exon 10-11 region in gastric cancer cell lines when compared with human gastric mucosal epithelial cell line GES-1. A significant decrease of hMLH1 delEx11 and delEx10-11 was observed in gastric cancer cell lines after trichostatin A treatment. H3K36me3 and H3K4me2 levels were lower in hMLH1 exon 10-11 and exon 16-17 regions in gastric cancer lines when compared with GES-1. Aberrant transcripts such as hMLH1 delEx11 and delEx10-11 were significantly higher in gastric cancer cell lines after small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of SETD2 (the specific methyltransferase of H3K36). The hMLH1 delEx10 and delEx10-11 transcripts were increased after interference of SRSF2. Taken together, our study demonstrates that lower level of histone acetylation and specific histone methylation such as H3K36me3 correlate with aberrant transcripts in hMLH1 exon 10-11 region. SRSF2 may be involved in these specific exons skipping as well.

Changes and significance of serum levels of VEGF, ES, TKLK, TSP and sICAM-1 in patients with diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·AIM: To investigate the changes of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) , Endostatin (ES), thrombospondin (TSP), tissue kallikrein (TKLK) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( sICAM-1) in patients with diabetic retinopathy ( DR ) and its clinical significance.·METHODS:Selected 60 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( NPDR group ) , 60 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR group ) were enrolled in this study. Sixty diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy ( DM group ) and 60 healthy people ( control group) were also enrolled. Collection time was from January 2014 to December 2016. Serum levels of VEGF, ES, TSP, TKLK and sICAM-1 were measured and compared.·RESULTS: The levels of serum VEGF, TKLK and sICAM-1 in PDR group were significantly higher than those in NPDR group, DM group and control group ( P<0. 05). The ES of PDR group was significantly lower than that of NPDR group, DM group and control group ( P<0. 05). The levels of VEGF, TKLK and ES in the NPDR group were significantly higher than those in the DM group and the control group (P<0. 05). The serum VEGF in the NPDR group was positively correlated with the levels of ES, TKLK and sICAM-1 (P<0. 05). The serum VEGF of PDR group was positively related to the levels of TKLK and sICAM-1 (P<0. 05). There was no significant relationship between serum VEGF with ES and TSP in PDR group (P>0. 05).·CONCLUSION: The levels of serum ES, TSP, TKLK and sICAM - 1 in patients with DR have changed significantly, and the process of retinopathy has been affected by regulating the level of VEGF.

[2-Bromoethylamine protects vascular endothelium by inhibiting SSAO activity in diabetic rats].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of aortic semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activity in diabetic rats and examine the effect of 2-bromoethylamine (2-BEA) on SSAO activity and vascular endothelium in diabetic rats. SSAO was prepared from rat aorta. For assessment of the inhibitory effect, the enzymes were preincubated in the presence of different concentrations of 2-BEA before the addition of benzylamine in vitro. Type 1 diabetic rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), diabetic model group (DM), 2-BEA 5 mg/kg group, 2-BEA 20 mg/kg group (n = 10 in each group). 2-BEA was administered daily via intraperitoneal injection for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks, blood sample was collected from the abdominal aorta. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) was determined by nitrate reductase method. Plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) was determined by radioimmunoassay. Aorta SSAO was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The aorta was prepared to observe morphological changes and ultramicroscopic structures. The results were as follows: Compared with NC group, aortic SSAO activity and the plasma ET-1 were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and plasma NO was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in DM group. 2-BEA decreased plasma ET-1 and elevated plasma NO by inhibiting aortic SSAO activity in diabetic rats (P < 0.01), and 2-BEA 20 mg/kg group was more significant than 2-BEA 5 mg/kg group (P < 0.05). Endothelial injury of 2-BEA group rats was less serious than DM group. These results suggest that 2-BEA protect aortic endothelium by inhibiting aortic SSAO activity.

[Associations of blood pressure level with carotid intima-media thickness and plaque among middle-aged and elderly Chinese hypertensives].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the associations of blood pressure (BP) level with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque in a middle-aged and elderly hypertensive population. METHODS: By block randomized sampling, an epidemiological investigation was conducted among hypertensives aged 45 - 75 years in the northern rural area of Jiangsu Province. Blood pressure was measured, and carotid CIMT and plaque were determined using a coloured ultrasonograph. The relationship between blood pressure level and CIMT or plaque was analyzed using a multivariable linear regression or logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 524 subjects (male 242) were enrolled. CIMT and plaque prevalence were (0.7 ± 0.1) mm and 46.3% in males and (0.7 ± 0.1) mm and 34.0% in females. After adjustment for relevant variables, CIMT increased 0.001 12 mm with 1 mmHg systolic BP increase in males (P < 0.001) but this trend was not significant in females. The risk of plaque number > 1 was significantly higher in those with grade III hypertension compared to grade I hypertensives (OR: 2.136, 95%CI: 1.138 - 4.012, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: In this middle-aged and elderly hypertensive population, carotid CIMT is positively in relation to systolic BP, especially for male patients. Higher BP is associated with higher risk of plaque occurrence. Hypertension is thus an independent risk factor for the formation of atherosclerosis.

[Qualitative research of self-management behavior in patients with advanced schistosomiasis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the self-management behavior of patients with advanced schistosomiasis, so as to provide the evidence for improving clinical nursing. METHODS: A total of 18 patients with advanced schistosomiasis were interviewed in depth by using a semi structured interview method. The results were analyzed with Miles and Huberman content analysis method. RESULTS: Most of the patients with advanced schistosomiasis had self-management control behavior and were cooperated with medical assistance because of their seriously illness. Based on data analysis, the symptom management, follow-up management, a healthy lifestyle, medication awareness, and emotional management were obtained. CONCLUSION: The patients with advanced schistosomiasis have self management control behavior. Health care workers should promote the patients, their families and social people to participate in the self-management behavior of advanced schistosomiasis patients.

PpGalNacT2 participating in vanadium-induced HL-60 cell differentiation.

The current study demonstrates vanadium plays the role of antitumor, and its antitumor effect is dosage-dependent. N-acetyl-galactosamine-transferase 2 (polypeptide: N-acetyl-α-galactosaminyl-transferases 2, ppGalNAc-T2) is a member of ppGalNAcTs (polypeptide: N-acetyl-α-galactosaminyl-transferases) family, which proves to play a vital role in the tumor emergence and development process. In this study, we focused on ppGalNAc-T2 and vanadium and aimed to determine whether ppGalNAc-T2 is correlated with vanadium's antitumor effect. We discovered that ppGalNAc-T2 changed with the variation of HL-60 cell growth induced by vanadium at mRNA level. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) is an exogenous lectin. PpGalNacT2 can be indirectly recognized by PNA. By means of flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining, we found the deviation of PNA binding increased significantly at high concentration vanadium. Then we docked one of the possible compound substances of vanadium onto the body, VO(3) (molecular formula O(13)V(4), partial vanadate tetramer) and ppGalNAcT2, and simulated them via molecular dynamics, which showed that VO(3) may inhibit the activity of the enzyme by stemming conformational changes of a key loop of ppGalNAcT2. To sum up, our results suggested that ppGalNacT2 participated in vanadium induced HL-60 cell differentiation, which might be able to provide a new mechanism of vanadium's antitumor effect.

[Quantitative assessment of pulmonary blood flow by echocardiography in patients with congenital heart defect].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility and reliability of echocardiography in quantitative evaluation of pulmonary blood flow in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Sixty-four patients with left to right shunt congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) underwent echocardiographic examinations of the right upper and lower pulmonary vein blood flow spectrum in the four-chamber face, and the right upper pulmonary vein flow velocity time integral (VTIrupv) and right inferior pulmonary venous flow velocity time integral (VTIrlpv) were calculated according to the heart rate. The VTIrupv and VTIrlpv were compared with the pulmonary blood flow (Qp) calculated by Fick method with right heart catheterization. RESULTS: There was a high correlation between the right lung vein flow velocity time integral measured by the catheter of transthoracic echocardiography and Qp. CONCLUSION: The pulmonary venous flow spectrum measured by echocardiography can be informative of the pulmonary blood flow in patients with CHD. Echocardiography may serve as a potential noninvasive technique to evaluate pulmonary blood flow in these patients.

[Effects of taurine on type I and III collagen expression in rats lung exposed to silica].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of type I and III collagen and collagen ratio at different time points in rats lung by image process technology. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the saline instilled with a control diet (the saline treated group); silica instilled with a control diet (the silica treated group); and silica instilled with a diet containing 2.5% taurine (the taurine treated group). Animal models were established by the direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. Paraffin embedded lung sections were stained with Sirius red. Polarization microscopy and Image Pro Plus Version 4.5 for windows were used for detecting type I and III collagen. RESULTS: The concentration of taurine in serum of the taurine treated group was significantly elevated compared to the saline treated and silica treated group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Sirius red polarization microscopy showed that type I and III collagen positive area percentage were elevated in the silica treated rats compared with the saline treated group. On the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day after silica instillation type I collagen positive area percentage was increased by 3.84, 3.77, 3.73, 9.83 respectively (P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage were elevated by a little in the silica treated rats compared with saline treated group. The taurine treatment significantly decreased elevation of silica type I collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.39, 1.62, 7.13 at the 7th, 21st, 28th day respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.62 at the 28th day (P < 0.05) compared with the silica treated group. The ratio of type I to III collagen was increased from the 7th day to 28th day after silica instillation, and reached 1.87 at the 28th day with the maximal ratio in the silica-treated group. CONCLUSION: Treatment with taurine can effectively attenuate type I and III collagen expression in the rat lung induced by silica particles at different time points in our study.

[Effects of taurine on the expression of nitric oxide synthase in lung of rats exposed to silica].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat lung induced by silica. METHODS: Wistar rats were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically, and the animals of taurine-treated group were silica-instilled with a diet containing taurine. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. The expression of iNOS protein in paraffin-embedded lung sections with Streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray was measured by Image-Pro Plus. RESULTS: The concentration of taurine in serum of taurine-treated group was significantly higher than those in saline-treated and silica-treated groups (P < 0.05). The activities of total NOS and iNOS in BALF supernatant and iNOS positive area percentage of rat lung in silica-treated group were at the peak on 14th day, which were 1.84 U/ml, 1.12 U/ml and 5.42% more respectively than those in saline-treated group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between taurine-treated group and silica-treated group in total NOS and iNOS activities of BALF supernatant, and iNOS positive area of the lung (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with taurine hardly influences on the increase in expression of nitric oxide synthase in rat lung induced by silica dust.