[Clinical characteristics of patients referred to cardio-oncology clinic].

To explore characteristics of outpatients in a single cardio-oncology clinic, patients visiting cardio-oncology clinic of Fuwai Hospital CAMS&PUMC (Beijing, China) from January 2020 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. In total, 330 patients were included, the median age (Q1, Q3) was 58(46, 66) years, and there were 192 females (58.2%). The purposes for visit included an evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular adverse reactions (n=247, 74.8%), pre-antitumor therapy assessment (n=51, 15.5%), and management of primary or metastatic cardiac tumors (n=32, 9.7%). For patients with cardiovascular adverse reactions, the most common tumor type was breast cancer (n=88, 29.5%), followed by gastrointestinal cancer (n=70, 23.5%), and hematological cancers (n=62, 20.8%). Among them, 236 cases (95.5%) had received antitumor drugs in the past; 38 cases (15.4%) had a history of chest radiotherapy; some cases were complicated with hypertension (n=69, 23.2%) and/or hyperlipidemia (n=69, 23.2%); 42 cases (14.1%) had a history of coronary heart disease; and 16 cases (5.4%) were complicated with atrial fibrillation or flutter. Among 32 patients with cardiac tumors, 11 cases (34.4%) had primary malignant tumors; 6 cases (18.8%) had benign tumors; 2 cases (6.3%) had metastatic tumors; and 13 (40.6%) had unknown pathological types. This study explores the epidemiology of cardio-oncology in China and provides clinical insights for the future development of cardio-oncology. In the future, it is still necessary to study the benefits of cardio-oncology clinics and develop standardized indicators to evaluate their benefits.

[Clinical characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and restricted cardiomyopathy patients complicating with intracardiac thrombosis].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) complicating with intracardiac thrombosis. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with HCM or RCM and complicated with intracardiac thrombosis (including left and right atrium or ventricular thrombosis), who were admitted to the Heart Failure Care Unit of Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from September 2008 to September 2018, were enrolled in this study. Patients with myocardial infarction were excluded. The general clinical data of the enrolled patients, including demographic data, major complications, laboratory indicators, echocardiographic indicators, drug application and distribution of intracardiac thrombosis, were collected from electronic medical record system and analyzed. Results: A total of 98 patients were enrolled in this study, including 52 patients (53.1%) with HCM and 46 patients (46.9%) with RCM. The most common comorbidity was atrial fibrillation/flutter: 40 patients (76.9%) in HCM group and 36 patients (78.3%) in RCM group. Majority of patients received oral anticoagulants treatment: 43 patients (82.7%) in HCM group and 35 patients (76.1%) in RCM group. Intracardiac thrombosis was mainly located in the left atrium in both HCM group (39 cases (75.0%)) and RCM group (32 cases (69.6%)). Thrombosis was found in ≥ 2 chambers in 7 patients (7.1%). Rate of left atrial thrombosis was the highest (81.6% (62/76)) in HCM and RCM patients complicating with atrial fibrillation/flutter. Intra-aneurysmal thrombosis occurred in 4 out of 5 patients complicated with apical left ventricular aneurysm. The rate of left ventricular thrombosis in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≥50% was 7.4% (4/54), which was significantly lower than that in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction<50% (34.5%(10/29)) (P<0.01). Conclusion: There are certain distribution characteristics of HCM and RCM patients with intracardiac thrombosis, and the left atrium is the most common site of thrombosis, more attention should be paid in HCM and RCM patients on the diagnosis and treatment of intracardiac thrombosis.

The single nucleotide polymorphism rs700518 is an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome and benign prostatic hyperplasia (MetS-BPH).

Studies have shown that 48.59% of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is combined with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The mainstream view supports the correlation between MetS and BPH, but the pathogenesis of MetS-BPH is not fully understood. Four hundred and seventy-four men, aged 47 years or older, were recruited into this study by consecutive routine physical examination programs, and several parameters were obtained from each participant. Based on the diagnosis of BPH, MetS, and MetS-BPH, the participants were divided into BPH and Non-BPH groups, MetS and Non-MetS groups, as well as MetS-BPH and Non-MetS-BPH groups. The values of the obtained parameters were evaluated using Student's t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis. The value of estradiol (E2) was higher in the diseased groups (BPH, MetS, and MetS-BPH groups) compared with the corresponding control groups (Non-BPH, Non-MetS, and Non-MetS-BPH groups), and the differences were statistically significant. Also, E2 had an independent association with BPH (OR = 2.286, 95% CI: 1.723-3.593, p < 0.001), MetS (OR = 1.406, 95% CI: 0.585-2.315, p < 0.001), and MetS-BPH (OR = 1.249, 95% CI: 0.795-1.962, p < 0.001). Regarding SNPs of CYP19A1 gene, both the rs4646 genotypes (CC, CA, and AA) and the rs700518 genotypes (CC, CT, and TT) were present in every group, and all genotypes had statistically significant differences between the diseased and corresponding control groups. However, only the TT genotype of rs700518 was independently associated with BPH, MetS, and MetS-BPH after adjusting for age. The TT genotype of rs700518 is an independent risk factor for the MetS-BPH populations, and the CYP19A1 gene regulation of estrogen leads to MetS-BPH.

[Prevalence and predictors of left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients with recent onset dilated cardiomyopathy on tailored medical therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the frequency and explore the predictors of left ventricular reverse remodeling(LVRR) in patients with recent onset dilated cardiomyopathy(RODCM) on tailored medical therapy. METHODS: Patients hospitalized with RODCM in Heart Failure Care Unit in Fuwai Hospital from October 2008 to December 2013 were reviewed and followed up to December 2014 or death or cardiac transplantation.Patients were treated with tailored medical therapy. LVRR was defined as an at least 10% increase in left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and to a final level of ≥ 50% and an at least 10 mm decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD) and to a final level of ≤ 55 mm on repeat echocardiogram. Clinical, electrocardiogram and echocardiographic variables at baseline were evaluated to identify predictors of LVRR by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients with RODCM were enrolled in this analysis. During a median follow-up period of 25 months(range 6 to 64 months) with repeat echocardiography, 46 patients(33.6%) were defined as LVRR, LVEF increased from(30.8±5.9) % at baseline to(59.7±4.6) % on follow-up(P<0.01) and LVEDD decreased from(63.8±4.0) mm at baseline to (49.6±3.5) mm on follow-up(P<0.01) in these patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher systolic blood pressure at presentation(per 10 mmHg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) increase, OR=1.379, P<0.01), shorter QRS interval(≤ 100 ms vs. >100 ms, OR=2.959, P<0.01) and smaller LVEDD(per 5 mm increase, OR=0.684, P<0.01) at baseline were independent predictors of LVRR. CONCLUSIONS: On current tailored medical therapy, LVRR could be achieved in about one third of patients with RODCM. Patients with higher systolic blood pressure on admission, shorter QRS interval and smaller LVEDD at baseline are associated with a higher likelihood of occurrence of LVRR.

Humoral and cellular immunity induced by tumor cell vaccine based on the chicken xenogeneic homologous matrix metalloproteinase-2.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) has been used as a target for cancer immunotherapy. The activation of immunization by breaking immune tolerance to self-MMP-2 may be one of the promising approaches for the treatment of MMP-2-positive tumors. In this study, we constructed the xenogeneic tumor cell vaccine c-MMP-2 by transfecting CT26 and LLC cells with chicken MMP-2 cDNA constructs. MMP-2-specific autoantibodies in sera and tumor cells were found in mice immunized with c-MMP-2. Protection against tumor growth was evaluated in respect of the relative contributions of autoantibodies, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Treatment with this vaccine (c-MMP-2) also prolonged the survival time of mice bearing cancer. The specific cytotoxic T-cell responses suggested that the treatment increased CD8+ T-cell activity. The antitumor activity of c-MMP-2 was abrogated by in vivo depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and improved by adoptive transfer of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes from the mice treated with c-MMP-2. An alternative DNA vaccination strategy for cancer therapy was identified in this study by eliciting humoral and cellular immunoresponse with a crossreacting transfectant.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a locus responsible for O acetylation of the O polysaccharide of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 lipopolysaccharide.

Complementation experiments, Tn5 mutagenesis, and DNA sequencing were used to identify a locus (lag-1) that participates in acetylation of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 lipopolysaccharide. Nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of lipopolysaccharides from mutant and complemented strains suggest that lag-1 is responsible for O acetylation of serogroup 1 O polysaccharide.

Epilepsy and mental retardation limited to females: an X-linked dominant disorder with male sparing.

Several X-linked disorders affect females disproportionately or exclusively. These including focal dermal hypoplasia, oral-facial-digital syndrome type I (ref. 3) and epilepsy with bilateral periventricular heterotopias. X-linked dominant inheritance with male lethality is probably responsible for sex-limited expression of these disorders, as affected women have frequent spontaneous abortions and the sex ratio of their live offspring is often skewed. The same inheritance pattern has been proposed for Rett syndrome, Aicardi syndrome and microphthalmia with linear skin defects, but in these sporadic conditions, evidence of male lethality is lacking. We investigated an unusual family with epilepsy and mental retardation limited to females (EFMR, #121250 in ref. 9); this disorder is transmitted both by females and by completely unaffected carrier males. Assignment of the EFMR disease locus (EFMR) to the X chromosome indicates that selective involvement of females in X-linked disease may in some instances result from male sparing rather than male lethality.

[Correlation between kidney deficiency syndrome and bone density].

In order to study the relationship between Kidney Deficiency Syndrome (KDS)and bone density (BD), the BD of 2068 subjects (40-69 years old)was measured with SPA-IIC type monophoton BD scanning device made in China. The subjects including 1144 cases of KDS (320 males and 824 females); 608 cases without KDS (306 males and 302 females); 164 cases of Lung Deficiency (80 males and 84 females); 152 cases of Spleen Deficiency (76 males and 76 females). Through comparison with the same sex and age group, it was found that BD in KDS patients was significantly lower than that in the normal subjects and those without KDS, also lower than that in the Lung and Spleen Deficiency patients. It indicated that KDS had the corresponding BD changes, which confirmed the TCM classical theory "The Kidney governs the bone". Based on the measuring data, the authors took the lower limit of BD normal value minus two folds of SD as the critical value for KDS diagnosis in 40-49 years age group, i. e., male BD < 0.6 g/cm2, female BD < 0.5 g/cm2. The clinical feedback showed that the male and female related coincident rates were 76% and 80% respectively. Therefore, the critical value could be taken as an objective index for KDS diagnosis after excluding other affecting factors.

Schrodinger equation, Maxwell-Bolzmann distribution and a single channel current.

The dual nature, wave and particle, of ions in the biological system was considered. A theoretical model, based on the steady state Schrodinger equation and Maxwell-Bolzmann distribution of energy, is proposed to describe passive transport of ions through a biological membrane channel in a time independent field. Constant height (V2) and length(L) of the potential energy barrier and effective mass of ions are used in the model. This model shows that an ion may go through or be reflected from a channel whether its energy is lower or higher than the barrier. This is a departure from classical theory. Based on a published I-Vm (channel current-transmembrane voltage) curve from an activated K+ channel in a human erythrocyte membrane [Palle Christophersen, 1991], calculations with our model show that more than 99% of the channel current is contributed by ions with higher energy than the potential barrier. The current can be amplified 10,000 times while V2 is reduced from 0.45 eV (channel closed) to 0.20 eV (channel opened) at Vm = 0.07 V. In contrast, the current changes only 1.5% while L is narrowed from 90 A to 30 A at Vm = 0.07 V, V2 = 0.20 eV. The energy barrier: V2 = 0.16 + 0.43 Vm (eV), at r = 0.99, for 0.02 V < or = Vm < or = 0.12 V.

Chromosome mobilization of Legionella pneumophila with RK2::Mu and Tn5-Mob.

RK2::Mu plasmids and transposon Tn5-Mob were used to mobilize the Legionella pneumophila chromosome. Plate matings between L. pneumophila donors that contained RK2::Mu plasmids and auxotrophic recipients yielded recombinants at frequencies ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-7) per recipient for the markers tested. The presence of a Mu insertion in the chromosome of donors that harbored RK2::Mu plasmids increased the frequency of chromosome transfer of certain selected markers as compared with strains that contained RK2::Mu alone. Cotransfer experiments with Mu-containing donors and a thymidine and tryptophan auxotroph failed to reveal any linkage between the thy and trp loci in L. pneumophila. A strain that contained a chromosomal Tn5-Mob insertion and helper plasmid pRK24.4 transferred chromosomal markers at frequencies of 10(-7) per recipient. These findings suggest that RK2::Mu plasmids and Tn5-Mob may be useful for genetic mapping experiments with L. pneumophila.

Isolation and characterization of a conjugative plasmid from Legionella pneumophila.

The conjugative properties of an indigenous 85 MDa plasmid (designated pCH1) from Legionella pneumophila were studied. To determine if pCH1 was transmissible by conjugation, mating experiments were performed between legionellae that harboured pCH1 and several plasmid-less recipients. Plasmid transfer was monitored by colony hybridization, using a cloned 21.0 kb SalI restriction fragment from pCH1 as a probe. The results from these experiments showed that pCH1 could be conjugatively transferred into several strains of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 but not into strain Bloomington-2 (serogroup 3) or Escherichia coli. Southern hybridization experiments in which pCH1 DNA was used as a probe showed that pCH1 does not share homology with other indigenous L. pneumophila plasmids. There was no detectable DNA homology between pCH1 and L. pneumophila chromosomal DNA. Additional mating experiments revealed that pCH1 was unable to mobilize the L. pneumophila chromosome. The conjugative transfer of pCH1 into plasmid-less avirulent or virulent serogroup 1 strains did not alter the intracellular growth characteristics of these strains in U937 cells, a human-monocyte-like cell line, or in the amoeba Hartmannella vermiformis. These results suggest that pCH1 does not contribute to the ability of L. pneumophila to enter or grow within eukaryotic cells.

Isolation and characterization of a lipopolysaccharide mutant of Legionella pneumophila.

A mutant unable to bind a monoclonal antibody (mAb 1E6) directed against serogroup 1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was isolated from L. pneumophila strain Philadelphia-1. SDS-PAGE analysis of isolated LPS from the mutant and wild type revealed that there were no obvious structural differences between the two LPS. The results from Western-blot experiments showed that the mutant LPS was unable to bind mAb 1E6 but retained the ability to bind polyclonal serogroup 1 antibodies. Loss of the LPS epitope recognized by mAb 1E6 did not alter the ability of the mutant to multiply in human monocyte-like U937 cells. Also, the mutant, like wild type, was resistant to killing by normal human serum. These results show that a minor change in the antigenic composition of serogroup 1 LPS has no effect on the virulence properties of strain Philadelphia-1. Additionally, this mutant may be useful for molecular genetic analysis of serogroup 1 LPS biosynthesis and assembly.

Etiologic and serologic investigations of the 1980 epidemic of dengue fever on Hainan Island, China.

Virologic and seroepidemiologic studies were carried out during an epidemic of dengue fever on Hainan Island in 1980. Dengue 3 virus was isolated from 46 of 77 acute phase sera and from 1 of 10 pools of adult Aedes aegypti. Dengue 1 virus virus was isolated from a single acute phase serum. Seroepidemiologic investigations showed that 74% of healthy individuals in the epidemic area had antibody to dengue virus compared to 54% in an area where epidemic dengue had occurred in 1978, and less than or equal to 8% in nonepidemic areas. There were no significant differences in antibody prevalence for different sex and age groups.