Cystatin C combined with carotid artery plaque score improves predictability of significant coronary ar-tery disease in patients with chest pain / 实用医学杂志

Objective To assess the value of plasma level of cystatin C(Cyst-C)and carotid artery plaque score(PS)in predicting significant coronary artery disease(SCAD)in patients with chest pain. Methods A total of 192 patients with chest pain were involved retrospectively. According to the coronary angiography results ,the patients were divided into groups of SCAD (n = 128) and non-significant coronary artery disease (NSCAD , n = 64). Analyses were done to discuss the association of Cyst-C and PS with SCAD and the predictive value of Cyst-C and PS for SCAD. Results Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Cyst-C and PS were independent predictors of SCAD. The odds ratios(OR)associated with the Cyst-C(each 1 mg/L)and PS(each 1 mm)for prediction of SCAD were 1.329 and 1.197,respectively. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves(AUC)for the Cyst-C and the PS to predict the SCAD were 0.654 and 0.688,respectively. The combination of Cyst-C and PS increased the AUC to 0.742. The optimal cut-off value of Cyst-C was 0.95 mg/L and had a sensitivity of 72.3% for SCAD. Similarly,the optimal cut-off level of PS was 3mm which presented a sensitivity of 70.7%. A Cyst-C ≥ 0.95 mg/L and a PS ≥ 3 mm had negative predictive values of 46.3% and 48.3%,respectively,for SCAD. By combining Cyst-C with PS ,the sensitivity and negative predictive value increased to 83.6%and 62.5%, respectively. Conclusions Cyst-C and PS are both correlated with SCAD. They are independent predictive factors for SCAD in patients with chest pain. Combination of Cyst-C and PS can improve the predictability ,which may increase the reliability of screening SCAD before cardiac catheterization.

Effects of edaravone on the expression of TGF-β1 and myocardialfibrosis in rats / 天津医药

Objective To investigate the effects of edaravone on myocardial fibrosis induced by isoproterenol (ISO) in rats, and to discuss the correlation between the level of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and the myocardial fibrosis. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely control group, model group and edaravone groups (low, medium and high doses). Isoproterenol was used to establish the rat model of myocardial fibrosis. Edaravone groups were given edaravone [3, 5 and 10 mg/(kg · d)] to intervene for 14 days. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined after 15-d treatment. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and collagen volume fraction (CVF) were examined. The expression of TGF-β1 was detected by Western blot assay and immuno-fluorescence method. Results The content of MDA and LVMI were significantly higher in model group than those of the control group (P<0.01),whereas the content of SOD was significantly lower in model group than that of the control group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the expression level of MDA decreased with the increased intervention dose of edara-vone (P<0.05), while SOD expression level increased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of SOD be-tween middle dose edaravone group and the control group. LVMI was decreased with the increased doses of edaravone ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in LVMI between the high dose of edaravone group and the control group. Com-pared with the control group, the expression level of TGF-β1 was significantly increased in model group (P<0.01). The ex-pression level of TGF-β1 was reduced with the increased doses of edaravone. CVF was significantly increased in model group compared with that of control group (P<0.001). CVF decreased with the increased doses of edaravone in medium and high doses of edaravone groups, but they were higher than that of control group (P<0.01). TGF-β1 was positively correlated with MDA, LVMI and CVF (r=0.931, 0.879 and 0.930, P<0.001). SOD was negatively correlated with TGF-β1 (r=-0.892, P<0.001). Conclusion Edaravone can relieve myocardial fibrosis by inhibiting oxidative stress and TGF-β1 in rats.

Research into the antibody detection technology of mink plasmacytosis and its current applications / 病毒学报

Mink plasmacytosis, caused by Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (AMDV), poses a threat to the development of the animal fur industry. Neutralizing antibodies against AMDV may result in a persistent infection rather than providing protection for minks. To date,no specific methods to prevent or cure this disease have been developed. In order to eliminate mink plasmacytosis, antibody detection technology has been used globally as a dominant approach to screen for AMDV-positive minks. This paper introduces the classical technology, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and emerging technology in terms of AMDV antibody detection,and provides a glimpse into the future development of these technologies.

The Construction of Network Education in Cardiology Teaching / 中华医学教育探索杂志

This article analyzes the current characteristic of cardiology teaching.In light of advantages of network education,it discusses the prospect of network-based education and some problems.

Pump models assessed by transesophageal echocardiography during cardiopulmonary resuscitation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Transesophageal echocardiography was performed during closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in in-hospital cardiac arrest to further explore the hemodynamic mechanism of CPR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CPR attempts were performed according to advanced cardiovascular life support guidelines in 6 cases of in-hospital cardiac arrest. Multi-plane transesophageal echocardiography was carried out within 15 min of initiation of CPR. Throughout CPR, the motion of the mitral, tricuspid and aortic valves, the changes in the left ventricular cavity size and the thoracic aortic diameter were observed. Trans-mitral and trans-aortic Doppler files of blood flow were also documented.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves with simultaneous opening of the aortic valve occurred exclusively during chest compression, resulting in forward blood flow in the pulmonary and systemic circulation. Peak forward aortic flow at a velocity of 58.8 +/- 11.6 cm/s was recorded during the compression phase. Whereas, a closure of the aortic valve and rapid opening of the atrioventricular valves associated with ventricular filling during relaxation of chest compression was noted in all 6 patients. Peak forward mitral flow at a velocity of 60.6 +/- 20.0 cm/s was recorded during the release phase. Mitral regurgitation during the chest compression period was detected in 5 patients, reflecting a positive ventricular-to-atrial pressure gradient. A reduction in the left ventricular chamber and an increase in the thoracic aortic diameter during the compression phase was found in all patients, indicating that direct cardiac compression contributed to forward blood flow.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These observations favor the cardiac pump theory as the predominant hemodynamic mechanism of forward blood flow during CPR in human beings.</p>

Changes of plasma levels of proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide in patients with congestive heart failure / 中国实用内科杂志

Objectives To study the changes of plasma levels of proadrenomedullin N terminal peptide(PAMP) in patients with congestive heart faillure(CHF) before and after drug treatment and its significance.Methods Plasma PAMP levels in 45 patients with CHF and 7 heathy control subjects were measured by specific radioimmunoassy.Results The plasma PAMP levels in patients with CHF were significantly decreased with the deterioration of cardiac function.Plasma PAMP levels in 45 patients in NYHA class Ⅳ(2 79?0 89pg/mL) were significantly lower than those in class Ⅱ(6 24?1 71pg/mL)?class Ⅲ(7 38?1 28pg/mL) and control subjects(8 56?2 44pg/mL)(P

Changes of plasma and myocardial calcitonin gene-related peptide in myocardial stunning rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To investigate changes of calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) in myocardial stunning rats. METHODS: Rat in vivo myocardial stunning model was used. CGRP content in plasma and myocardium were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Plasma level of CGRP increased significantly ( P

CHANGES OF PLASMA ADRENOMEDULLIN AND ADRENOTENSIN CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE / 解放军医学杂志

To investigate the changes of plasma adrenomedullin(ADM) and adrenotensin(ADT) levels and their clinical significance in the pathological process of congestive heart failure(CHF), plasma levels of ADM and ADT in 45 patients with CHF before and after treatment were measured by specific radioimmunoassay. The results indicated that before treatment, plasma levels of ADM in class Ⅱ and Ⅲ CHF patients were 51.46?4.52pg/ml, 70.39?3.22pg/ml and plasma levels of ADT in class Ⅱ and Ⅲ CHF patients were 29.98?1.13pg/ml, 33.45?0.91pg/ml, respectively,which were higher than those of the control subjects(24.12?1.59pg/ml and 24.89?2.19pg/ml, respectively)(P