Edible Bird's Nest Attenuates Menopause-Related Bone Degeneration in Rats via Increaing Bone Estrogen-Receptor Expression / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanistic basis for the attenuation of bone degeneration by edible bird's nest (EBN) in ovariectomized rats.@*METHODS@#Forty-two female Sprage-Dawley rats were randomized into 7 groups (6 in each group). The ovariectomized (OVX) and OVX + 6%, 3%, and 1.5% EBN and OVX +estrogen groups were given standard rat chow alone, standard rat chow +6%, 3%, and 1.5% EBN, or standard rat chow +estrogen therapy (0.2mg/kg per day), respectively. The sham-operation group was surgically opened without removing the ovaries. The control group did not have any surgical intervention. After 12 weeks of intervention, blood samples were taken for serum estrogen, osteocalcin, and osteoprotegerin, as well as the measurement of magnesium, calcium abd zinc concentrations. While femurs were removed from the surrounding muscles to measure bone mass density using the X-ray edge detection technique, then collected for histology and estrogen receptor (ER) immunohistochemistry.@*RESULTS@#Ovariectomy altered serum estrogen levels resulting in increased food intake and weight gain, while estrogen and EBN supplementation attenuated these changes. Ovariectomy also reduced bone ER expression and density, and the production of osteopcalcin and osteorotegerin, which are important pro-osteoplastic hormones that promote bone mineraliztion and density. Conversely, estrogen and EBN increased serum estrogen levels leading to increased bone ER expression, pro-osteoplastic hormone production and bone density (all P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EBN could be used as a safe alternative to hormone replacement therapys for managing menopausal complications like bone degeneration.

Predictors of Bleeding in ST-segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients With Fibrinolysis Therapy / 中国循环杂志

Objectives: To observe the prevalence of bleeding and to explore the independent predictors of bleeding in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction patients with fibrinolysis therapy in China. Methods: From January 2013 to June 2014, 1 568 patients undergoing fibrinolysis in the Chinese Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (CAMI) were prospectively included. Patients were divided into bleeding group (bleeding after fibrinolysis, n=55) and no bleeding group (without bleeding after fibrinolysis, n=1 513). Logistic regression analysis was performed to define the independent predictors of bleeding. Results: The prevalence of bleeding with fibrinolysis in these patients was 3.5% (55/1 568). The fibrinolysis success rate is 86%. Among them, the rate of intracranial bleeding was 0.6%, and the rate of gastrointestinal bleeding was 1.9%. The fibrinolysis success tended to be higher in patients with bleeding (94.1% vs 85.7%, P=0.0589) ,and the mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with bleeding (20.0% vs 7.1%, P=0.0019) . Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥75 years (OR=2.45, 95%CI:1.10-5.46, P=0.0290) and use of rtPA (HR=3.41, 95%CI:1.48~7.86, P=0.0040) were independent predictors of bleeding after fibrinolysis in this patient cohort. Conclusions: The prevalence of bleeding after fibrinolysis in Chinese STEMI patients is low. Older age and rtPA use are independent predictors of bleeding after fibrinolysis in this patient cohort.

Impact of body mass index on the clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients ≥ 75 years old / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The impact of body mass index (BMI) on the clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients ≥ 75 years old remained unclear.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1098 elderly patients undergoing PCI with stent implantation were recruited. Patients were divided into four groups by the value of BMI: Underweight (≤ 20.0 kg/m 2 ), normal weight (20.0-24.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m 2 ) and obese (≥ 30.0 kg/m 2 ). Major clinical outcomes after PCI were compared between the groups. The primary endpoint was defined as in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), which included death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target vessel revascularization. The secondary endpoint was defined as 1 year death. Logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for the potential confounders.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 1077 elderly patients with available BMIs were included in the analysis. Patients of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese accounted for 5.6%, 45.4%, 41.5% and 7.5% of the population, respectively. Underweight patients were more likely to attract ST-segment elevation MI, and get accompanied with anemia or renal dysfunction. Meanwhile, they were less likely to achieve thrombolysis in MI 3 grade flow after PCI, and receive beta-blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker after discharge. In underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese patients, in-hospital MACE were 1.7%, 2.7%, 3.8%, and 3.7% respectively (P = 0.68), and 1 year mortality rates were 5.0%, 3.9%, 5.1% and 3.7% (P = 0.80), without significant difference between the groups. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the value of BMI was not associated with in-hospital MACE in patients at 75 years old.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The BMI "obese paradox" was not found in patients ≥ 75 years old. It was suggested that BMI may not be a sensitive predictor of adverse cardiovascular events in elderly patients.</p>

A comparison of the transradial and transfemoral approaches for the angiography and intervention in patients with a history of coronary artery bypass surgery: in-hospital and 1-year follow-up results / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through transradial approach (TRA) has shown to be safe and effective as transfemoral approach (TFA) among unselected patients. However, very few studies have compared the outcomes between TRA and TFA specifically in patients with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 404 post-CABG patients who had undergone angiography or PCI were included in the study. The primary endpoint was defined as angiographic success and procedure success. The secondary endpoint was defined as in-hospital net adverse clinical events (NACEs), which included all cause of death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, repeat revascularization, and major bleeding. Patients were followed-up for 1-year. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), which included death, MI, and repeat revascularization, at 1-year follow-up were also compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The angiographic success was reached by 97.4% in the TRA group compared with 100% in the TFA group (P = 0.02). The procedure success was achieved in 99.1% in the TRA group and 97.9% in the TFA group (P = 0.68). The incidence rates of in-hospital NACE (2.7% vs. 2.7%, P = 1.00) and 1-year MACE (11.5% vs. 12.0%, P = 0.88) were similar between TRA and TFA. Meanwhile, TRA was associated with a lower rate of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium ≥2 bleeding (P = 0.02). In patients undergoing graft PCI, the procedure success was similar between TRA and TFA (100.0% vs. 98.7%, P = 1.00). The procedure time (25.0 min vs. 27.5 min, P = 0.53) was also similar. No significant difference was detected between TRA and TFA in terms of in-hospital NACE (0 vs. 0, P = 1.00) and 1-year MACE (21.4% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.19).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with TFA, TRA had lower angiographic success but had a similar procedure success in post-CABG patients. TRA was also associated with decreased bleeding and shortened hospital stay.</p>