Monocyte/High-Density Lipoprotein Ratio Is Associated with Atrial High-Rate Episodes within One Year Detected by Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for predicting atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) detected by cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). METHODS: A total of 140 patients with CIED in our hospital from June 2013 to June 2018 were included and were followed up to observe whether they had AHREs. AHRE are defined as atrial rate ≥ 175 times/minute, lasting > 5 minutes, and reviewed by an experienced electrophysiologist with unclear clinical diagnosis. The patients fasted for 12 hours after implantation, and blood samples were collected for biochemical, lipid, and whole blood count detection. Follow-up was regular after discharge to record follow-up data of each patient and conduct statistical analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and forty patients were implanted with dual-chamber pacemakers, their median age was 70 years old, 44.29% were male, 27 patients had AHRE within one year, and AHRE incidence rate was 19.29%. The microcytic to hypochromic (M/H) ratio was calculated for all AHRE patients and compared with the patients without AHRE; the M/H value of AHRE patients was significantly higher. Throughout the entire follow-up period, a total of 44 patients developed AHRE; when adjusted by multivariate analysis, only M/H ratio ≥ 4.5 vs. < 4.5 had statistical significance, and the adjusted hazard ratio value was 4.313 (1.675-11.105). CONCLUSION: As an indicator, M/H ratio may play an important role in the occurrence and development of atrial fibrillation and can be used as a predictor of AHRE in patients with CIED.

Muscle strength training in the abdominal core in athletes / Treinamento de força muscular no centro abdominal em atletas / Entrenamiento de la fuerza muscular en el núcleo abdominal en atletas

ABSTRACT Introduction: Gymnastics requires high-level body coordination and control. The key to success for gymnasts is to control and adjust the center of gravity through the abdominal core muscles. Abdominal core resistance training is mainly aimed at fulfilling this purpose. Objective: Analyze the results of abdominal core resistance training on the fitness of gymnasts. Methods: 20 volunteer gymnasts were selected by random sampling. The experimental participants were tested for functional exercise capacity. The study focused on the athletes' weaknesses during exercise. After completing the abdominal core resistance training, the fitness test was performed. The data obtained were analyzed statistically. Results: The peaks of the flexor and dorsal muscles were significantly enhanced (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups before and after training of body flexors and extensors (P>0.05). Conclusion: Abdominal core resistance training plays a positive role in improving the fitness of gymnasts. Coaches can actively introduce abdominal core resistance training into their regular exercises to improve athletes' fitness. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A ginástica exige coordenação e controle corporal de alto nível. A chave para o sucesso dos ginastas é controlar e ajustar o centro de gravidade através dos músculos do centro abdominal. Os exercícios de força do centro abdominal visam principalmente cumprir este propósito. Objetivo: Analisar os resultados do treinamento de força muscular no centro abdominal sobre a aptidão física dos ginastas. Métodos: 20 ginastas voluntários foram selecionados por amostragem aleatória. Os participantes experimentais foram testados quanto à capacidade de exercício funcional. O estudo focalizou os pontos fracos dos atletas durante o exercício. Após a conclusão do exercício de força do centro abdominal, efetuou-se o teste de aptidão física. Os dados obtidos foram analisados por estatisticamente. Resultados: Os picos dos flexores e músculos dorsais foram significativamente aprimorados (P<0,05). Não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos antes e depois do treinamento de flexores e extensores corporais (P>0,05). Conclusão: O exercício da força do centro abdominal tem um papel positivo na melhoria da aptidão física dos ginastas. Os treinadores podem introduzir ativamente o treino de força do centro abdominal nos exercícios habituais para melhorar a aptidão física dos atletas. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La gimnasia requiere un alto nivel de coordinación y control corporal. La clave del éxito para los gimnastas es controlar y ajustar el centro de gravedad mediante los músculos del núcleo abdominal. Los ejercicios de fuerza del núcleo abdominal están dirigidos principalmente a cumplir este propósito. Objetivo: Analizar los resultados del entrenamiento de la fuerza muscular del núcleo abdominal en la aptitud física de los gimnastas. Métodos: Se seleccionaron 20 gimnastas voluntarias por muestreo aleatorio. Los participantes en el experimento fueron sometidos a pruebas de capacidad de ejercicio funcional. El estudio se centró en los puntos débiles de los atletas durante el ejercicio. Después de completar el ejercicio de fuerza del núcleo abdominal, se realizó una prueba de aptitud física. Los datos obtenidos se analizaron estadísticamente. Resultados: Los picos de los músculos flexores y dorsales aumentaron significativamente (P<0,05). No hubo diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos antes y después del entrenamiento de los flexores y extensores del cuerpo (P>0,05). Conclusión: El ejercicio de fuerza del núcleo abdominal tiene un papel positivo en la mejora de la condición física de los gimnastas. Los entrenadores pueden introducir activamente el entrenamiento de la fuerza del núcleo abdominal en los ejercicios habituales para mejorar la forma física de los deportistas. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Monocyte/High-Density Lipoprotein Ratio Is Associated with Atrial High-Rate Episodes within One Year Detected by Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the risk factors for predicting atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) detected by cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Methods: A total of 140 patients with CIED in our hospital from June 2013 to June 2018 were included and were followed up to observe whether they had AHREs. AHRE are defined as atrial rate ≥ 175 times/minute, lasting > 5 minutes, and reviewed by an experienced electrophysiologist with unclear clinical diagnosis. The patients fasted for 12 hours after implantation, and blood samples were collected for biochemical, lipid, and whole blood count detection. Follow-up was regular after discharge to record follow-up data of each patient and conduct statistical analysis. Results: One hundred and forty patients were implanted with dual-chamber pacemakers, their median age was 70 years old, 44.29% were male, 27 patients had AHRE within one year, and AHRE incidence rate was 19.29%. The microcytic to hypochromic (M/H) ratio was calculated for all AHRE patients and compared with the patients without AHRE; the M/H value of AHRE patients was significantly higher. Throughout the entire follow-up period, a total of 44 patients developed AHRE; when adjusted by multivariate analysis, only M/H ratio ≥ 4.5 vs. < 4.5 had statistical significance, and the adjusted hazard ratio value was 4.313 (1.675-11.105). Conclusion: As an indicator, M/H ratio may play an important role in the occurrence and development of atrial fibrillation and can be used as a predictor of AHRE in patients with CIED.

Low-molecular-weight heparin followed by rivaroxaban for acute occlusive portomesenteric vein thrombosis in a cirrhotic patient treated with multiple endoscopic variceal procedures.

Acute portomesenteric vein thrombosis is potentially lethal. In the present paper, a cirrhotic patient with a previous history of esophageal variceal bleeding presented with acute occlusive portomesenteric vein thrombosis, but achieved complete recanalization by low-molecular-weight heparin followed by rivaroxaban. Notably, no bleeding episode occurred during anticoagulation therapy. This case supported early initiation of anticoagulation in such patients.

Nesiritide protects endothelial function after balloon-induced trauma in the iliac artery in rabbits

To assess the effect of nesiritide on the endothelial function of iliac arteries following endothelia trauma. Right iliac artery trauma was created with a balloon catheter. Ten rabbits were treated with a 4-week subcutaneous injection of nesiritide at a fixed daily dose of 0.1mg/kg. Ten rabbits received daily normal saline injection. Plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), and Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) were measured before and after the therapies. Tissue proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was measured after the treatment. After the treatment, in the therapeutic group, the area under internal elastic membrane and the residual lumen area were higher than in the normal saline group (P <0.05). The plasma levels of ET-1 (91.6±6.8 vs 114.9±6.3 ng/L, P =0.001), vWF (134.6±10.8% vs 188.8±10.4%, P =0.001) and the ratio of PCNA positive expression (11.7±4.2% vs 36.2±11.4%, P =0.005) in the therapeutic group was lower than in the normal saline group, while the plasma levels of NO was higher (89.7±9.3 vs 43.5±5.3 µmol/L, P =0.001). Nesiritide inhibited remodeling of rabbit iliac artery following endothelial trauma. The inhibition of vascular remodeling may be related to the alleviated endothelial dysfunction and reduced expression of tissue proliferating cell nuclear antigen

A simple and sensitive method for determination of Norfloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations / Um método simples e sensível para determinação da norfloxacina em preparações farmacêuticas

In this approach, a new voltammetric method for determination of norfloxacin was proposed with high sensitivity and wider detection linear range. The used voltammetric sensor was fabricated simply by coating a layer of graphene oxide (GO) and Nafion composited film on glassy carbon electrode. The advantage of proposed method was sensitive electrochemical response for norfloxacin, which was attributed to the excellent electrical conductivity of GO and the accumulating function of Nafion under optimum experimental conditions, the present method revealed a good linear response for determination of norfloxacin in the range of 1×10^-8mol/L-7×10^-6 mol/L with a detection limit of 5×10^-9 mol/L. The proposed method was successfully applied in the determination of norfloxacin in capsules with satisfactory results...

Propos-se, por essa abordagem, novo método voltamétrico, com alta sensibilidade e faixa linear de detecção mais ampla, para a determinação de norfloxacino. O sensor voltamétrico utilizado foi fabricado simplismente por cobertura de camada de óxido de grafeno (GO) e filme de Nafion em eletrodo de cabrono vítreo. A vantagem do método proposto foi a resposta eletroquímica sensível para o norfloxacino, atribuída à condutividade elétrica excelente do GO e à função acumulada do Nafion. Sob condições experimentais ótimas, o presente método revelou boa resposta linear para a determinação do norfloxacino na faixa de limite de detecção de 1×10^-8mol/L-7×10^-6 mol/L. O método proposto foi aplicado com sucesso na determinação de norfloxacino em cápsulas, com resultados satisfatórios...

Urinary excretion of L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, propionyl-L-carnitine and their antioxidant activities after single dose administration of L-carnitine in healthy subjects

The urine excretion of L-carnitine (LC), acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) and propionyl-Lcarnitine (PLC) and their relations with the antioxidant activities are presently unknown. Liquid L-carnitine (2.0 g) was administered orally as a single dose in 12 healthy subjects. Urine concentrations of LC, ALC and PLC were detected by HPLC. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrogen monoxidum (NO) activities were measured by spectrophotometric methods. The 0~2 h, 2~4 h, 4~8 h, 8~12 h, 12~24 h excretion of LC was 53.13±31.36 µmol, 166.93±76.87 µmol, 219.92±76.30 µmol, 100.48±23.89 µmol, 72.07±25.77 µmol, respectively. The excretion of ALC was 29.70±14.43 µmol, 80.59±32.70 µmol, 109.85±49.21 µmol, 58.65±18.55 µmol, and 80.43±35.44 µmol, respectively. The urine concentration of PLC was 6.63±4.50 µmol, 15.33±12.59 µmol, 15.46±6.26 µmol, 13.41±11.66 µmol and 9.67±7.92 µmol, respectively. The accumulated excretion rate of LC was 6.1% within 24h after its administration. There was also an increase in urine concentrations of SOD and T-AOC, and a decrease in NO and MDA. A positive correlation was found between urine concentrations of LC and SOD (r = 0.8277) or T-AOC (r = 0.9547), and a negative correlation was found between urine LC excretions and NO (r = -0.8575) or MDA (r = 0.7085). In conclusion, a single oral LC administration let to a gradual increase in urine L-carnitine excretion which was associated with an increase in urine antioxidant enzymes and the total antioxidant capacities. These data may be useful in designing therapeutic regimens of LC or its analogues in the future.

A excreção urinária de L-carnitina (LC), acetil-L-carnitina (ALC) e propionil-L-carnitine (PLC) e as suas relações com as atividades antioxidantes são presentemente desconhecidos. Líquido de L-carnitina (2,0 g) foi administrada por via oral como uma dose única em 12 indivíduos saudáveis. As concentrações urinárias de LC, PLC e ALC foram detectados por HPLC. Atividades superóxido dismutase (SOD), a capacidade antioxidante total (T-AOC), malondialdeído (MDA) e óxido nítrico (NO) foram medidas por métodos espectrofotométricos. O 0~2 h, 2~4 h, 4~8 h, 8~12 h, 12~24 h excreção de LC foi 53,13±31.36 µmol, 166,93±76.87 µmol, 219,92±76.30 µmol, 100,48±23.89 µmol, 72,07±25.77 µmol, respectivamente. A excreηão de ALC foi 29,70±14.43 µmol, 80,59±32.70 µmol, 109,85±49.21 µmol, 58,65±18.55 µmol, e 80,43±35.44 µmol, respectivamente. A concentraηão de urina de PLC foi 6,63±4.50 µmol, 15,33±12.59 µmol, 15,46±6.26 µmol, 13,41±11.66 µmol e 9,67±7.92 µmol, respectivamente. A taxa de excreηão acumulada de LC foi de 6,1% 24 horas após sua administração. Houve também um aumento nas concentrações de urina de SOD e T-COA e diminuição de NO e de MDA. Correlação positiva foi encontrada entre as concentrações de urina de LC e SOD (r = 0,8277) ou T-AOC (r = 0,9547) e correlação negativa entre a excreção de LC e NO (r = -0,8575) ou MDA (r = 0,7085). Em conclusão, a administração oral única de LC leva ao aumento gradual na excreção urinária de L-carnitina, que foi associada com o aumento das enzimas antioxidantes na urina e as capacidades antioxidantes totais. Estes dados podem ser úteis no futuro para o planejamento de esquemas terapêuticos de LC ou os seus análogos, no futuro.

A simple and reliable PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay to identify Candida albicans and its closely related Candida dubliniensis

Candida dubliniensis is an emerging pathogen capable of causing superficial as well as systemic infections. Due to its close similarity to C. albcians, conventional methods based on phenotypic traits are not always reliable in identification of C. dubliniensis. In this study, we developed a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to identify and discriminate between the two closely related species. The D1/D2 region of 28S rDNA was amplified by PCR and enzymatically digested by ApaI and BsiEI respectively. PCR products of both species were digested into two fragments by ApaI, but those of other yeast species were undigested. BsiEI cut the PCR products of C. albicans into two fragments but not those of C. dubliniensis. Thus two species were differentiated. We evaluated 10 reference strains representing 10 yeast species, among which C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were successfully identified. A total of 56 phenotypically characterized clinical isolates (42 C. albicans isolates and 14 C. dubliniensis isolates) were also investigated for intra-species variability. All tested isolates produced identical RFLP patterns to their respective reference strains except one initially misidentified isolate. Our method offers a simple, rapid and reliable molecular method for the identification of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.

A simple and reliable PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay to identify Candida albicans and its closely related Candida dubliniensis.

Candida dubliniensis is an emerging pathogen capable of causing superficial as well as systemic infections. Due to its close similarity to C. albcians, conventional methods based on phenotypic traits are not always reliable in identification of C. dubliniensis. In this study, we developed a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to identify and discriminate between the two closely related species. The D1/D2 region of 28S rDNA was amplified by PCR and enzymatically digested by ApaI and BsiEI respectively. PCR products of both species were digested into two fragments by ApaI, but those of other yeast species were undigested. BsiEI cut the PCR products of C. albicans into two fragments but not those of C. dubliniensis. Thus two species were differentiated. We evaluated 10 reference strains representing 10 yeast species, among which C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were successfully identified. A total of 56 phenotypically characterized clinical isolates (42 C. albicans isolates and 14 C. dubliniensis isolates) were also investigated for intra-species variability. All tested isolates produced identical RFLP patterns to their respective reference strains except one initially misidentified isolate. Our method offers a simple, rapid and reliable molecular method for the identification of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.

A simple and reliable PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay to identify Candida albicans and its closely related Candida dubliniensis

Candida dubliniensis is an emerging pathogen capable of causing superficial as well as systemic infections. Due to its close similarity to C. albcians, conventional methods based on phenotypic traits are not always reliable in identification of C. dubliniensis. In this study, we developed a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to identify and discriminate between the two closely related species. The D1/D2 region of 28S rDNA was amplified by PCR and enzymatically digested by ApaI and BsiEI respectively. PCR products of both species were digested into two fragments by ApaI, but those of other yeast species were undigested. BsiEI cut the PCR products of C. albicans into two fragments but not those of C. dubliniensis. Thus two species were differentiated. We evaluated 10 reference strains representing 10 yeast species, among which C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were successfully identified. A total of 56 phenotypically characterized clinical isolates (42 C. albicans isolates and 14 C. dubliniensis isolates) were also investigated for intra-species variability. All tested isolates produced identical RFLP patterns to their respective reference strains except one initially misidentified isolate. Our method offers a simple, rapid and reliable molecular method for the identification of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.

A zeolitic porous lithium-organic framework constructed from cubane clusters.

Reported here is a lithium cubane based zeolitic framework possessing a multi-dimensional channel system. The unique design strategy of adopting the ditopic ligand 4-pyridinol leads to a rigid porous framework with high thermal stability. It has a BET surface area of 440.3 m(2) g(-1) and a H(2) uptake capacity of 108.7 cm(3) g(-1) at 77 K.