ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE：To compare the protective effects model mice between the aboveground and underground parts of Astragalus membranaceus on immunosuppression ，and to provide reference for further utilization and development of A. membranaceus. METHODS ：A total of 240 ICR mice were divided into 4 batches，60 mice in each batch ，with half male and half female. Each batch of mice were randomly divided into blank group ，model group ，A. membranaceus aboveground part and undergroud part low-dose and high-dose groups （3，6 g/kg，by crude drug ）according to body weight and sex ，with 10 mice in each group. Blank group and model group were given normal saline intragastrically. A. Membranaceus groups were given corresponding concentration of drug intragastrically ，10 mL/kg，once a day ，for consecutive 30 days. Except for blank group ， other groups were intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide 40 mg/（kg·d）for consecutive 3 days，since 24th day of treatment，to establish immunosuppression model. The levels of serum immunoglobulin （IgG，IgM，IgA），inflammation factors [nitric oxide ，interleukin-2（IL-2），IL-6，tumor necrosis factor-α] and half hemolysis value were detected in each group. Body weight ，thymus index ，spleen index ，phagocytic index ，activity of natural killer （NK）cell，splenic lymphocyte proliferation ability，dinitrofluorobenzene-induced delayed metamorphosis reaction in mice （by weight difference between left and right ears ） and the number of hemolytic plaque were determined. RESULTS ： Compared with blank group ， the serum levels of immunoglobulin，body weight ，thymus index ，spleen index ，phagocytic index ，NK cell activity ，the proliferation ability of splenic lymphocyte，the number of hemdytic plaque and half hemolysis value were decreased significantly in model group （P＜0.05）， while inflammation factor level as well as weight difference between left and right ears were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group ，above indexes of mice in A. membranaceus groups were improved significantly ，in dose-dependent manner（P＜0.05）. Compared with A. membranaceus undergroud part group ，above indexes of A. membranaceus aboveground part group were improved significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ：Aboveground and underground part of A. membranaceus both have pretective effect on immunosuppression model mice ，and the effect of aboveground part of A. membranaceus is stronger than underground part of A. membranaceus .
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.MethodsThe ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation were enrolled retrospectively.Their demographic and clinical data were collected.The relative risk factors for strokes were compared in the first-ever stroke group and the recurrent stroke group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.ResultsA total of 504 ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation were enrolled, including 245 males (48.6%).and 259 females (51.4%).The average age was 76.67±8.26 years.There were 314 patients (62.3%) in the first-ever stroke group and 190 (37.7%) in the recurrent stroke group.The proportions of hypertension (78.9% vs.69.4%;χ2=5.446, P=0.020), diabetes mellitus (38.9% vs.26.8%;χ2=8.181, P=0.004), and age >75 years (68.9% vs.60.2%;χ2=3.915, P=0.048), as well as the baseline systolic blood pressure (153.30±26.02 mmHg vs.148.13±26.40 mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa;t=-2.141, P=0.033) in the recurrent stroke were significantly higher than those in the first-ever stroke group.Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.734, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.121-2.682;P=0.013), diabetes (OR 1.757, 95% CI 1.188-2.597;P=0.005), and age >75 years (OR 1.680, 95% CI 1.132-2.494;P=0.010) were the independent risk factors for recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.ConclusionHypertension, diabetes, and age >75 years were the independent risk factors for recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the associations of the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) subtypes with severity and outcomes of acute ischemic stroke.MethodsThe inpatients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled prospectively and divided into total anterior circulation infarct (TACI), partial anterior circulation infarct (PACI), posterior circulation infarct (POCI), and lacunar infarction (LACI) according to the OCSP classification.Demographic and baseline clinical data of the patients were recorded.The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess stroke severity, ≤8 was mild stroke and >8 was moderate to severe stroke.The clinical outcome was assessed at 90 d after onset with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and the favorable outcome was defined as mRS score 0-2, and the unfavorable one was defined as mRS score 3-5, death or cardiovascular event.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent associations of the OCSP subtypes and stroke severity and outcomes.ResultsA total of 765 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled, including 46 (6.0%) with TACI, 281 with PACI (36.7%), 229 (29.9%) with POCI, and 209 (27.3%) with LACI.There were 580 patients (75.8%) with mild stroke, and 185 (24.2%) with moderate to severe stroke;17 were lost to follow-up, 513 (68.6%) had favorable outcomes, and 235 (31.4%) had unfavorable outcomes.There were significant differences between the baseline NIHSS scores and outcomes in each OCSP subtypes (all P<0.05), in which the baseline NIHSS score in TACI was the highest, the outcome was worst, and the proportion of patients with unfavorable outcome was 89.1%;there was significant difference in the baseline NIHSS scores between the PACI and the POCI (P<0.05), however, the proportion of patients with unfavorable outcome was not the case.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TACI was an independent risk factor for moderate to severe stroke (odds ratio 84.881, 95% confidence interval 20.307-354.792;P<0.001) and unfavorable outcome (odds ratio 21.472, 95% confidence interval 8.362-55.136;P<0.001).Conclusion The OCSP subtypes were independently associated with the severity and outcomes of acute ischemic stroke.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the mRNA expression levels and clinical significance of omsomucoid 1-like protein 3 (ORMDL3) gene in the peripheral blood of recurrent wheeze children under 3 years old.Methods Peripheral blood specimens of 25 recurrent wheeze children including 14 non-atopy patients (group A) and 11 atopy patients (group B) that were registered in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,from Sep.2010 to Sep.2012 were enrolled based on the inclusion criteria and 24 non-allergic controls(the children with food allergy,drug allergy or ectema was excepted).The mRNA expression levels of ORMDL3 gene were detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and clinical features were analyzed.Results The expression levels of ORMDL3 were up-regulated in the peripheral blood specimens of group B compared with group A (t =14.12,P ＜ 0.01).Compared with peripheral blood specimens from normal subjects,mRNA expression of ORMDL3 were significantly increased in recurrent wheeze children(t =10.29,5.73,P ＜0.01).The incidence of wheeze groups exist gender differences,male ＞ female.Wheeze usually with a high incidence in winter and spring.Conclusions The increase of ORMDL3 gene expression levels were correlated with recurrent wheeze under 3 years old especially in atopy group and may be involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent wheeze.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the correlation between plasma fibronectin (Fn) level and the hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods Patients with acute ischemic stroke,symptom onset within 72 hours,no bleeding at baseline MRI (including gradient echo sequences) and without thrombolytic therapy were recruited prospectively.At 7 - 10 days after symptom onset reexamined MRI.The patients were divided into HT and non-HT groups according to whether they had a hemorrhage or not.The plasma Fn levels in both groups were compared.Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the predictors of HT.Results A total of 78 patients were included,and among them 11 patients (14.10％ ) showed HT.The proportions of atrial fibrillation (36.4％ vs.9.0％,P =0.012) and cardioembolism (36.4％ vs.6.0％,P =0.021) in the HT group were significantly higher than those in the non-HT group.The baseline mean systolic blood pressure (182.09 ±20.73 mm Hg [ 1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa]vs.161.25 ±26.40)mm Hg,P =0.015),mean diastolic blood pressure (98.00 ± 11.26 mm Hg vs.86.60 ± 15.21 rnm Hg,P =0.020),and plasma Fn level (4 835.04 ± 756.30 μg/L vs.3 849.44 ± 1 289.18 μg/L,P =0.016) were all significantly higher than those in the non-HT group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that plasma Fn level (odds ratio [ OR],1.001,95％ confidence interval [ CI] 1.000 - 1.001,P =0.017) and atrial fibrillation (OR,13.408,95％ CI 1.963 -91.592,P =0.008) were the independent predictors of HT in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Conclusions The plasma Fn level in patients with HT increased significantly.The plasma Fn level can be used as an independent predictor of non-thrombolytic HT after the onset of acute ischemic stroke.