Long duration of atrial high-rate episode is more favorable in predicting ischemic stroke than high CHA2 DS2 -VASc score.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the roles of duration and burden of atrial high-rate episode (AHRE) on ischemic stroke in patients with pacemaker implantation. METHODS: Patients with pacemaker implantation for bradycardia from 2013 to 2017 were consecutively enrolled. Data such as gender, age, combined diseases, type of AF, left atrial size, left ventricular size, left ventricular ejection fraction, CHA2 DS2 -VASc score, and anticoagulants were collected. The burden and duration of AHRE based on different interval partition were also recorded in detail to evaluate the impacts on ischemic stroke. Cox regression analysis with time-dependent covariates was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients with AHRE were enrolled. The average follow-up time was 48.42 ± 17.20 months. Univariate regression analysis showed that diabetes (p = .024), high CHA2 DS2 -VASc score (≥ 2) (p = .021), long mean AHRE burden (p = .011), long maximal AHRE burden (p = .015), long AHRE duration lasting≥48 h (p = .001) or 24 h (p = .001) or 12 h (p = .005) were prone to ischemic stroke. Further multivariate regression analysis showed that long duration of AHRE (≥48 h) (HR 10.77; 95% CI 3.22-55.12; p = .030) were significantly correlated with stroke in patients with paroxysmal AF. There was no significant correlation between the type of AF and stroke (p = .927). CONCLUSION: The longer duration of AHRE (≥48 h) was more favorable in predicting ischemic stroke than high CHA2 DS2 -VASc score (≥2).

Preparation of novel butyryl galactose ester-modified coix component microemulsions and evaluation on hepatoma-targeting in vitro and in vivo.

The butyryl galactose ester-modified coix component microemulsions (But-Gal-CMEs) was developed for enhanced liver tumor-specific targeting. The study was aimed to evaluate the hepatoma-targeting potential of But-Gal-CMEs in vitro and in vivo. But-Gal-CMEs with a uniform spherical shape exhibited a small particle size (56.68 ± 0.07 nm), a narrow polydispersity (PDI, 0.144 ± 0.005) and slightly negative surface charge (-0.102 ± 0.008 mV). In the cell uptake studies, But-Gal-CMEs showed a significant enhancement on the intracellular fluorescent intensity on HepG2 cells model, which was 1.93-fold higher relative to coix component microemulsions (CMEs). The IC50 of But-Gal-CMEs against HepG2 cells was 64.250 µg/mL, which was notably stronger than that of CMEs. In the cell apoptosis studies, compared with CMEs, But-Gal-CMEs (50 µg/mL) treatment resulted in a 1.34-fold rise in total apoptosis cells of HepG2. In the biodistribution studies in vivo, the intratumorous fluorescence of Cy5-loaded But-Gal-CMEs was 1.43-fold higher relative to that of Cy5-loaded CMEs, suggesting an obviously enhanced accumulation in the tumor sites. Taken as together, But-Gal could be incorporated into the coix component microemulsions as a novel ligand for realizing hepatoma-targeting drugs delivery.

[Absorption and metabolism of icariin in different osteoporosis rat models].

To compare the intestinal absorption and metabolism of icariin in different osteoporosis rat models. Ovariectomy and intragastric administration of cyclophosphamide were used to establish two kinds of rat osteoporosis models. Then the rat intestinal perfusion was conducted, and HPLC was used to measure and calculate the permeability coefficients of icariin in different intestines and production amount of metabolites. Western blot was used to detect LPH enzyme expression in two models. Experimental results showed that both ovariectomy and intragastric administration of cyclophosphamide 4.5 mg•kg⁻¹ could reduce rat bone density and successfully construct the rat osteoporosis models. The apparent permeability coefficient Papp of 20 µmol icariin in duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon was 5.695, 5.224, 1.492, 0.520 respectively in sham operation group; 3.876, 3.608, 0.863, and 0.291 in ovariectomized group; 4.945, 3.601, 1.990, 1.042 in normal saline group; 3.301, 2.108, 1.209, 1.233 in cyclophosphamide-induced osteoporosis model group. In addition, the protein expression levels of LPH enzyme in two model groups were lower than those in normal group. The absorption and metabolism of icariin in two kinds of osteoporosis models was lower than that in sham operation group and normal saline group; the reduction of expression level of LPH enzymes in rat intestine of different osteoporosis models was one of the reasons for leading to the reduced intestinal absorption and metabolism of icariin.

[Clinical trial on intrusion of overerupted maxillary molars with microscrew].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the imtrusion of overerupted molars with microscrews as anchorage. METHODS: Thirteen adult patients were treated with microscrew anchorage and fixed appliances. Twenty-three overerupted posterior maxillary teeth were intruded. The intrusive movement was investigated on cephalometric radiographs. RESULTS: The molars were intruded and the occlusal plane was corrected successfully in all patients. The treatment period of intrusion was from 5 to 18 months (mean 10.4 months). Significant true intrusion of overerupted maxillary molars, ranged from 0.45 mm to 7.00 mm [mean (2.86 +/- 1.80) mm], was achieved (P < 0.001). The apical root resorption was not clinically significant and the bone level was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The microscrew anchorage and fixed appliances were applicable and efficacious for intrusion of overerupted maxillary molars.