Can WeChat group-based intervention reduce reperfusion time in patients with ST-segment myocardial infarction? A controlled before and after study.

BACKGROUND: Pre-hospital identification of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and activation of the catheterization laboratory can reduce first medical contact to wire-crossing times. We conducted a study on providing 24-hour tele-electrocardiography services via the WeChat group application, aiming to reduce the time taken for diagnosis and treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS: A controlled before and after study was conducted on 140 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients who were initially seen in non-percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospital and transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention at our percutaneous coronary intervention centre from 1 February to 31 October 2018. The WeChat group had 70 patients with pre-hospital electrocardiography transmission via WeChat and the control group had 70 patients who did not transfer pre-hospital electrocardiography. The reperfusion time of the two groups was compared to evaluate the effect of the WeChat group intervention. RESULTS: In the WeChat group versus the control group, the median symptom onset to first medical contact time was similar (129 vs 150 min, p > 0.05), but the median first medical contact to wire, door to wire and first medical contact to catheterization laboratory activity were significantly shorter (132 vs 171 minutes, p < 0.001; 60 vs 95 minutes, p < 0.001; 29 vs 74 minutes, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-hospital electrocardiography transfer via a WeChat group resulted in earlier reperfusion of ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients who were transferred from the non-percutaneous coronary intervention centre.

Effect of Tai Chi on mononuclear cell functions in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tai Chi is the Chinese traditional medicine exercise for mind-body health. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise on the proliferative and cytolytic/tumoricidal activities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in postsurgical non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS: Patients (n = 27) were randomly divided into the control group (n = 13) and the TCC group (n = 14). TCC group participated in Tai Chi 24-type exercise for 16 weeks, 60-min every time, and three times a week. Peripheral blood was collected and PBMCs isolated before and after the 16-week TCC, PBMC proliferation and co-culture of PBMCs with the NSCLC cell line A549 were performed for proliferation and cell cytolysis assays. Analysis of NKT cells, NK cells, and CD123+ and CD11c + dendritic cells were also performed. RESULTS: (1) After 16-week of TCC, cell proliferation increased significantly as compared with the control. (2) PBMCs from the TCC group also demonstrated enhanced cytolytic/oncolytic activity against A549 cells. (3) Significant differences were also found in NK cell percentage at t = 16 weeks, post-pre changes of NKT and DC11c between groups. CONCLUSION: Regular Tai Chi exercise has the promise of enhancing PBMC proliferative and cytolytic activities in NSCLC patients. Our results affirm the value of a future trial with a larger scale and longer duration for cancer survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-TRC-11001404 .

[Evaluation of islet beta cell function in subjects with normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose regulation, and type 2 diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the function of islet beta cells in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose regulation (IGR), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Different indexes of insulin secretion, including DeltaI30/DeltaG30, AIR or HOMAbeta, were compared. METHODS: 178 subjects without overt diabetes were classified into three groups according to the results of 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): NGT group (n = 68), IGR group (n = 75), and T2DM group (n = 35). Intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was carried out 1 approximately 3 days later in all participants, with measurement of plasma insulin. The ratio of insulin-to-glucose levels increment during the first 30 min of OGTT (DeltaI30/DeltaG30) and the acute insulin response (AIR) in IVGTT were used as indexes of early insulin secretion. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin secretion (HOMAbeta) was another indicator of insulin secretion. The fasting plasma proinsulin level (FPI) was measured and the ratio fasting proinsulin to fasting insulin (PI/I) was calculated. HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA IR) was used to assess the insulin resistance. RESULTS: The DeltaI30/DeltaG30 and AIR of the IGR group, adjusted by age, sex, and BMI, were both significantly lower than those of the NGT group. But the HOMAbeta of the IGR group was only slightly lower than that of the NGT group. Compared with the NGT subjects, the T2DM patients had a very severe islet beta cell dysfunction (84% decrease in AIR, 70% decrease in DeltaI30/DeltaG30 and 62% decrease in HOMA beta). When the DeltaI30/DeltaG30 was adjusted by HOMR IR, the extent of impairment in early insulin response was similar to that of AIR (87% versus 84% lower than that of the NGT group). The FPI and ratio of proinsulin to insulin were higher in the T2DM subjects compared with the NGT subjects (24.4 pmol/L +/- 18.0 pmol/L vs 10.9 pmol/L +/- 6.7 pmol/L; and 14.7% +/- 10.5% vs. 10.0% +/- 6.5%, both P < 0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation between DeltaI30/DeltaG30 and AIR (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the stage of IGR, an evident deficit in phasic insulin secretion after glucose load and a decreasing HOMAbeta are exhibited. In addition to this, qualitative decrease of insulin secretion appears in the DM stage. AIR is a reliable index of isletbeta cell function. DeltaI30/DeltaG30 is an alternative one in the subjects with NGT and IGR. But it should be adjusted by IR in diabetic patients.