A Predictive Model of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Based on the Lymphocyte to C-Reactive Protein Ratio.

Purpose: Lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) is a recognized systemic inflammatory marker and novel prognostic indicator for several cancers. This study investigated the relationship between preoperative LCR and new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients and Methods: Patients with AMI (n=662) with no history of atrial fibrillation (AF) were enrolled and classified into NOAF and non-NOAF groups based on the occurrence of postoperative NOAF during hospitalization. Logistic regression models were used to analyze NOAF risk factors and to assess the association between preoperative LCR and NOAF incidence. We constructed a new nomogram from the selected NOAF risk factors, and tested its predictive performance, degree of calibration, and clinical utility using receiver operating characteristic and calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and clinical impact curves. Results: Overall, 84 (12.7%) patients developed NOAF during hospitalization. The LCR was significantly lower in the NOAF group. Preoperative LCR accurately predicted NOAF after AMI and was correlated with increased NOAF risk. Age, body mass index, diabetes, serum albumin levels, uric acid levels, left atrium (LA) diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, left circumflex artery stenosis > 50%, and Killip class II status were independent predictors of NOAF after AMI. In addition, a new nomogram combined with LCR was constructed to stratify the risk of NOAF in patients with AMI. The performance of the new nomogram was satisfactory, as shown by the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, decision curve analysis and clinical impact curve. Conclusion: Preoperative LCR was an independent predictor of NOAF in patients with AMI after PCI. The novel nomogram combined with LCR could rapidly and individually identify and treat patients at a high risk of NOAF.

A H2O2-free heterogeneous Fenton process for the degradation of lincomycin using natural structural iron-containing clay mineral and dimethoxyhydroquinone with in situ generated hydroxyl radicals.

The heterogeneous Fenton process is a strategy for overcoming the greatest shortcomings of traditional homogeneous Fenton, i.e. the high generation of ferric hydroxide sludge and effectivity in a limited pH range. In this study, we constructed a heterogeneous Fenton system with natural iron-bearing clay mineral (nontronite) and dimethoxyhydroquinone (DMHQ) to degrade lincomycin (LCM) without the addition of H2O2. The degradation mechanism was derived from the hydroxyl radicals (•OH) produced from the oxygenation of Fe(II) in nontronites, which was reduced by DMHQ. Acidic conditions and low concentrations of LCM were favourable for LCM degradation. When the solution pH increased from 3 to 7, the final LCM removal ratio decreased from 95 to 46%. However, LCM can still be degraded by 46% under neutral conditions and 20% at the LCM concentration of 500 µmol/L. The nontronite has good reusability, and the LCM degradation efficiency in the fourth cycle still exceeded 90% of the original efficiency. The degradation sites of LCM mainly occurred in the methyl thioether moiety and the aliphatic amine group on the pyrrolidine ring, with the final product of CO2. This research presents a new eco-friendly and cost-effective method for the heterogenous Fenton process without external H2O2.

[Efficacy of hooking therapy and safflower injection on lumbar disc herniation and the impact on IL-6 and NO in the patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy and the effect mechanism of hooking therapy and safflower injection in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: Sixty patients of LDH were randomized into an observation group and a control group at ratio of 1 to 1, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, safflower injection was applied to three points of lumbar region, once a day. Seven treatments made one session, and totally 2 sessions were required. In the observation group, under local anesthesia, the big hook needle was used to stimulate the three points of lumbar region first, followed by the safflower injection, once every 6 to 7 days. If the efficacy was not satisfactory enough, the second treatment was given. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (M-JOA) scores were observed before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. The levels of peripheral interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined. RESULTS: VAS and M-JOA scores were all improved apparently after treatment as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (both P < 0.01). The improvements in the observation group were much more obvious than those in the control group (both P < 0.01). In the observation group, the curative and remarkably effective rate was 76.7% (23/30) and the total effective rate was 96.7% (29/ 30), better than 43.3% (13/30) and 70.0% (21/30) in the control group separately (both P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of IL-6 and NO were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups; (both P < 0.01). The above indices were changed more obviously in the observation group as compared with those in the control group (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The combined therapy of hooking therapy and safflower injection apparently relieves pain and clinical symptoms of LDH. The effect mechanism is relevant with reducing the levels of IL-6 and NO in the peripheral blood.