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Limited data are available on long-term outcomes and health status in the treatment of in-stent coronary chronic total occlusion (IS-CTO) and de novo coronary chronic total occlusion (de novo CTO). This study compared the long-term clinical outcomes and health status of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with IS-CTO versus patients with de novo CTO in the drug-eluting stent era. We screened 483 consecutive patients with 1 CTO lesion, including 81 patients with IS-CTO and 402 patients with de novo CTO. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. The clinical end point was major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The success rates of CTO lesion revascularization were similar in both groups. In the propensity score-matched patients, after a median follow-up of 36 months, MACE was observed in 32.8% of patients with IS-CTO versus 13.5% of the patients with de novo CTO ( P < .001), mainly driven by target-vessel revascularization (21.9% vs 6.7%; P < .01). Moreover, patients with IS-CTO had significantly worse Seattle Angina Questionnaire anginal stability scores than the patients with de novo CTO. In conclusion, patients with IS-CTO after PCI had a worse clinical outcome, mainly MACE, and a poorer anginal stability in the long term than patients with de novo CTO.

This study was a cross-sectional case-control study aimed at (1) identifying risk factors contributing to the measles epidemic and (2) evaluating the impacts of measles-containing vaccines (MCVs), with the goal of providing evidence-based recommendations for measles elimination strategies in China. Data on measles cases from 2000 to 2014 were obtained from a passive surveillance system at the Center for Diseases Prevention and Control in Xianyang. The effectiveness of MCVs was evaluated in 357 patients with a vaccination history and 503 healthy randomly selected controls. Patient data were subjected to multivariable logistic regression modeling. From 2005 to 2014, the average incidence of measles in Xianyang was 5.42 cases per 100,000 people. The second MCV dose was highly protective in 8-month-old infants. MCVs in general have been highly protective in 8-month-old infants. Multivariable logistic regression modeling indicated that age (≥2 years vs.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes are prone to the asymptomatic obstructive coronary artery disease (AO-CAD). The association of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with AO-CAD is unknown. The aim of the study is to explore the specific relationship of PDR with AO-CAD. Methods: We performed coronary angiography and retinal photographs in 1332 participants with unknown CAD status in a retrospective discovery set and 252 patients with non-CAD enrolled in a prospective validation cohort. Main outcome measures are prediction of PDR to AO-CAD. Results: In the case–control retrospective discovery set, investigation included 211 nondiabetic retinopathy (NDR) and 140 PDR. Individuals with PDR had a 2.16 times higher risk of AO-CAD compared with individuals without diabetic retinopathy (P

To investigate whether resistin is associated with early atherosclerosis in male smokers. The present study consecutively enrolled 50 male smokers. Their serum resistin contents were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and subclinical atherosclerosis indices, including carotid inner middle thickness (IMT) and arterial elasticity indices (C1 and C2), were measured. The association between serum resistin levels and IMT, C1 and C2 were respectively evaluated with the Pearson's correlation coefficient method. The results showed that the serum resistin level had a positive association with IMT (r = 0.307, p = .030), but were both inversely associated with C1 (r = -0.440, p = .001) and C2 (r = -0.381, p = .006). These associations remained significant even after adjustment for cardiovascular confounders. In conclusion, serum resistin concentration was independently associated with early atherosclerosis in male smokers.

Objective It has been confirmed that adipokines are associated with atherosclerosis. Cigarette smoking was found to possibly influence adipokine secretion. However, the precise role of smoking in adipokine secretion and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether nicotine, the principal active ingredient of cigarettes, can influence adipokine secretion and its potential mechanism. Methods The present study consecutively enrolled 96 men, including 50 smokers with early atherosclerosis and 46 nonsmokers. Serum adipokines, including leptin, resistin, and visfatin, were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all participants. Furthermore, the effect of nicotine on secretion of these adipokines was examined in differentiated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes under the conditions of ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) channel blocked or unblocked. Results Compared with the control group, serum levels of leptin, resistin, and visfatin in smokers were significantly higher. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, nicotine treatment significantly increased the levels of these adipokines ( P = 0.014, 0.001, and 0.029, respectively). When the KATP channel was blocked, secretion of resistin and visfatin was reduced ( P P = 0.522). Conclusions Nicotine may affect the secretion of adipokines leptin, resistin, and visfatin through activation of KATP channel.

Background The aim of this study was to examine the associations between the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin-17 (IL-17), including rs763780 (7488A/G), rs2275913 (–197G/A), and rs8193036 (–737C/T), and asthma susceptibility in an Asian population. Material/Methods From Oct 2013 to Dec 2014, 125 asthma patients enrolled in our hospital were selected as the case group. Another 132 healthy controls undergoing physical examinations in our hospital were enrolled as the control group. The genotype frequencies of IL-17 rs763780, rs2275913 and rs8193036 SNPs were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Comprehensive Meta-analysis 2.0 (CMA 2.0) software was applied for meta-analysis. Results Our results demonstrated that asthma patients presented with higher frequencies of GA genotype in rs2275913 and TT genotype in rs8193036 of IL-17 than healthy controls (both P0.05). The comparisons on the rs2275913 and rs8193036 frequencies between the asthma patients and healthy controls were statistically significant in both allele and addictive models (all P0.05). The overall results of our case-control study were further confirmed by meta-analysis. Conclusions Our results revealed that, in an Asian population, IL-17 rs763780, rs2275913, and rs8193036 SNPs may be associated with asthma susceptibility, and GA genotype in rs2275913 and TT genotype in rs8193036 of IL-17 may contribute to increased risk of asthma in Asians.

Asthma is a common chronic airway disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality.Current study aims at investigating the correlation between four vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility by conducting a meta-analysis.PubMed, EBSCO, Ovid, Wiley, Web of Science, Wanfang, CNKI and VIP databases were searched using combinations of keywords relating to VDR and asthma. The published studies were filtered using our stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the resultant high-quality data from final selected studies were analyzed using Stata 12.0 software.A total of 77 studies were initially retrieved, and after further selection, 9 studies were eligible in current analysis. The selected studies contained 2,116 patients with asthma and 1,884 healthy controls. Our results demonstrated that rs2228570, rs7975232 and rs731236 in both allele models and dominant models, and rs3782905 in allele model in the VDR gene were linked with a high risk of asthma. No significant association between VDR gene rs3782905 in dominant model and risk of asthma was detected.This meta-analysis provides convincing evidence that rs2228570, rs7975232, rs731236 and rs3782905 gene polymorphisms in VDR are associated with increased susceptibility to asthma, indicating VDR polymorphisms could be developed as biomarkers for asthma susceptibility.

BACKGROUND Chronic microinflammatory state is common in the patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), which seriously affects the long-term survival rate of MHD patients. It is important to improve the microinflammatory state in MHD patients. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of oxymatrine on microinflammatory state in patients undergoing continuous hemodialysis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS Sixty MHD patients in Blood Purification Center, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, from June to September 2008, were randomized into treatment group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases). Oxymatrine Capsule was orally administered to the patients in the treatment group 0.4 g once a day for 3 months, while the patients in the control group were not given oxymatrine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), albumin (Alb), pre-albumin (PAB), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were detected before and after 3-month treatment. RESULTS Three patients in the treatment group had a stomachache on the first day of treatment, and two out of the three quitted the trial. The stomachache disappeared in one patient after stopping taking the drug, and did not recur after continuing to receive the intervention. Two patients in the treatment group had skin rash with pruritus on the second day of treatment. The rash disappeared after the patients stopped taking the drug, and did not recur after continuing to receive the intervention. A total of 58 cases accessed to the statistical analysis, while 2 cases were excluded. In the treatment group, the concentrations of hs-CRP, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha significantly decreased (P

A metaanalysis was performed to investigate the association between serum osteopontin (OPN) levels and the clinical pathological features in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.A systematic literature search was performed to identify relevant studies published prior to September 2014 using PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Data extracted from the selected studies were analyzed using statistical software.Based on our stringent selection criteria only 10 studies contained a combined total of 1,135 NSCLC patients. Our metaanalysis results clearly showed a strong correlation between serum OPN levels and multiple tumor parameters, such as TNM stage, histologic grade, and lymph node metastasis in NSCLC (TNM stage: RR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.62-0.77, p0.001; histologic grade: RR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.48, p = 0.016; lymph node metastasis: RR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.48 - 1.93, p0.001).Our findings revealed that serum OPN levels strongly correlate with clinical and pathological features in NSCLC patients.

In this study, we analyzed the association between serum leptin levels and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). By examining English and Chinese databases, we identified potential relevant studies for statistical analysis. Human-associated case-control studies evaluating the association between serum leptin levels and NSCLC according to the random-effect model were retrieved and extracted data were statistically analyzed. We identified 7 case-control studies evaluating the correlation between serum leptin levels and NSCLC, which included 705 subjects (390 NSCLC patients and 315 healthy participants). Negative associations were investigated between serum leptin levels and NSCLC [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13-1.79, P = 0.023). Ethnicity-stratified analysis revealed there was no elevated leptin serum levels in NSCLC development in both Asians (SMD = 0.34, 95%CI = -0.10-0.79, P = 0.132) and Caucasians (SMD = 1.42, 95%CI = -0.09-2.93, P = 0.064). Sample size-stratified analysis of the association between serum leptin levels and NSCLC were found in studies of small sample size (SMD = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.04-1.41, P = 0.038), but not in studies of large sample size (SMD = 1.24, 95%CI = -0.52-3.01, P = 0.166). In the method-stratified subgroup analysis, serum leptin level was not correlated with NSCLC using a immunoradiometric assay method (SMD = 0.82, 95%CI = -1.38-3.03, P = 0.465). Determining the levels of the blood-based marker leptin may provide predictive information for NSCLC diagnosis.

Aims: To ascertain which impaired glucose homeostasis at baseline is predictive of conversion to type 2 diabetes in both men and women in a high-risk non-diabetic population. Methods: The screening survey for type 2 diabetes was conducted in 1994, and a follow-up study of 627 high-risk non-diabetic individuals at baseline was carried out in 1999 in Beijing area. A total of 70 men and 76 women developed diabetes during the 5-year follow-up. Results : After adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, systolic blood pressure, family history of diabetes, total cholesterol, triglycerides, antihypertensive medication, occupation, education, urine albumin excretion rate, and fasting insulin, the odds ratios for incidence of diabetes were 1.00, 2.04 (95% CI 0.84–4.97), 7.82 (2.66–23.00), 9.38 (3.30–26.69) in men with normal glucose, isolated IFG, isolated IGT, and both IFG and IGT, respectively. In women, the corresponding odds ratios were 1.00, 2.19 (0.91–5.30), 1.62 (0.72–3.67), and 8.79 (2.98–25.93), respectively. Conclusions : This study shows that combined IFG and IGT at baseline is a strong risk predictor for the development of diabetes in both men and women. Isolated IGT is also a predictor of diabetes in Chinese men.

Aim: Individual differences in chemosensitivity and clinical outcome of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients may be induced by host inherited factors. We investigated the impact of XPD Arg156Arg, XPD Asp312Asn, XPD Asp711Asp and XPD Lys751Gln gene polymorphisms on the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. Methods: A total of 496 were consecutively selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between Jan. 2003 and Nov. 2006, and all patients were followed-up until Nov. 2011. The genotyping of XPD Arg156Arg, XPD Asp312Asn, XPD Asp711Asp and XPD Lys751Gln was conducted by duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with the confronting-two-pair primer methods. Results: Individuals with XPD 312 C/T+T/T and XPD 711 C/T+T/T exhibited poor responses to chemotherapy when compared with the wildtype genotype, with adjusted ORs(95% CI) of 0.67(0.38-0.97) and 0.54(0.35-0.96), respectively. Cox regression showed the median PFS and OS of patients of XPD 312 C/T+T/T genotype and XPD 711 C/T+T/T genotype to be significantly lower than those with wild-type homozygous genotype. Conclusion: We found polymorphisms in XPD to be associated with response to platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC, and our findings provide information for therapeutic decisions for individualized therapy.

Objection: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between promoter methylation of RASSF1A and p16 and the clinicopathological features in lung cancers. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EBSCO, Ovid, Wiley, Web of Science, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched using combinations of keywords related to RASSF1A, p16, methylation, and lung cancers. After screening for relevant studies, following a strict inclusion and exclusion criteria; the selected studies were incorporated into the present meta.analysis conducted using Comprehensive Meta Analysis 2.0. (CMA 2.0). Results: We initially retrieved 402 studies, out which 13 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this meta.analysis, and contained a total of 1,259. patients with lung cancers. The results of this meta.analysis showed that the differences in promoter methylation ratio between the lung cancer patients in tumor, node, metastasis. (TNM) I.II and III.IV were not statistically significant. Based on histological types, patients with adenocarcinoma. (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma. (SCC) showed no significant differences in the promoter methylation ratios of RASSF1A, while the promoter methylation ratio of p16 was significantly higher in SCC patients compared to AC patients. Based on smoking status, the promoter methylation ratios of both RASSF1A and p16 was significantly higher in lung cancer patients with smoking history compared to nonsmokers. Conclusion: The present meta.analysis provides convincing evidence that the promoter methylation ratio of RASSF1A and p16 is associated with clinicopathological features in lung cancers, and could be used as effective biomarkers in early diagnosis in lung cancers.

To establish an accurate and efficient method for detecting recent thymic output function and analyze the content of T-cell receptor (TCR) rearrangement excision circles (TRECs) within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).According to the specific sequence of TCRdelta, the primers and the fluorescent probe (TaqMan) were designed and synthesized. The standard quantitative template was constructed by T/A cloning. The method for detecting TRECs was established after optimization of reaction condition, then its specificity, sensitivity and stability were tested. Quantitative detection of TRECs in DNA of PBMCs from normal individuals and patients of chronic hepatitis B were preformed by real-time PCR using TaqMan technique.Detection of TRECs was quick and accurate by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The CV value of Ct was 1.06%, the product was specific which was confirmed by electrophoresis and sequencing and the method showed high sensitivity. The mean value of TRECs from normal individuals was (7767.4 +/- 2369.5) copies/10(6)PBMCs in healthy controls at age 21.45 but (28,374.4 +/- 7820.4) copies/10(6)PBMCs in those at age 16.20 (P0.05). The mean value of TRECs from patients with chronic hepatitis B was (6480.9 +/- 2031.2) copies/10(6) PBMCs in those at age 21.45, which was statistically significant as compared with normal individuals at age 21.45.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR for detecting the TRECs is an accurate, efficient and stable method and the recent thymic output function might decrease in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

We evaluate the ability of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) defined by five definitions for predicting both incident CHD and diabetes combined, diabetes alone, and CHD alone in a Chinese population. The screening survey for type 2 diabetes was conducted in 1994. A follow-up study of 541 high-risk non-diabetic individuals who were free of CHD at baseline was carried out in 1999 in Beijing area. The MetS was defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR), American College of Endocrinology (ACE), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the National Cholesterol Education Program and the American Heart Association (AHA) (updated NCEP) criteria. From a multiple logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, education, occupation, smoking, family history of diabetes, and total cholesterol, the relative risk of the ACE-defined MetS for incident diabetes alone (67 cases) was 2.29 (95% CI, 1.20-4.34). The MetS defined by the five definitions was associated with a 1.8-3.9 times increased risk for both incident CHD and diabetes combined (59 cases), and with a 1.9-3.0 times for total incident diabetes (126 cases). None of the five definitions predicted either incident CHD alone (177 cases) or total incident CHD (236 cases). In conclusion, the MetS defined by the current definitions appears to be more effective at predicting incident diabetes.

Proteins accumulated in dry, stratified Arabidopsis seeds or young seedlings, totaled 1100 to 1300 depending on the time of sampling, were analyzed by using immobilized pH gradient 2-DE gel electrophoresis. The molecular identities of 437 polypeptides, encoded by 355 independent genes, were determined by MALDI-TOF or TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. In the sum, 293 were present at all stages and 95 were accumulated during the time of radicle protrusion while another 18 appeared in later stages. Further analysis showed that 226 of the identified polypeptides could be located in different metabolic pathways. Proteins involved in carbohydrate, energy and amino acid metabolism constituted to about 1/4, and those involved in metabolism of vitamins and cofactors constituted for about 3 % of the total signal intensity in gels prepared from 72 h seedlings. Enzymes related to genetic information processing increased very quickly during early imbibition and reached highest level around 30 h of germination.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of a slow-released-gliclazide (Diamicron MR) in type 2 diabetes patients.159 patients with type 2 diabetes were parallelly assigned to a slow-released-gliclazide or gliclazide group in a randomized, open, multi-center phase III study to compare the efficacy of slow-released-gliclazide and gliclazide on overall diabetes control through HbA1c and the adverse events including hypoglycemic episodes and change of vital signs, electrocardiogram and clinical laboratory parameters after a 12-week treatment period.No statistically significant difference was found in HbA1c levels between the slow-released-gliclazide and the gliclazide group (P = 0.66) after 12 weeks of treatment. HbA1c levels in the slow-released-gliclazide group were extremely close to those in the gliclazide group after 12 weeks of treatment (95% CI -0.15; +0.24%). Furthermore, plasma glucose area under curve/24 hours, mean daily plasma glucose and fasting serum insulin levels between these two groups were also not statistically different, indicating that the efficacy of treatment was similar. The number of patients reported to experience at least one episode of hypoglycemia, which was confirmed by capillary or venous glucose assessment, but by no means severe, was similar in both the treatment groups. The main reason for the hypoglycemic episodes was related to good plasma glucose control. No adverse event led to withdrawal of the medication. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and body weight did not change during the study. There was also no noticeable change in electrocardiogram, lipid profile, and parameters in blood biochemistry and hematologic testing during the study.Slow-released-gliclazide and gliclazide had a similar efficacy and safety profile.

(R)-11-Hydroxyaporphine (2) and (R)-11-hydroxy-10-methylaporphine (3) were synthesized from natural morphine by using new, short, and efficient synthetic sequences. The dopaminergic and serotonergic effects of 2 and 3 were evaluated by use of in vitro and in vivo test systems. The results indicate that 3 is a potent, selective, and efficacious 5-HT1A receptor agonist. In contrast, 2 is a partial 5-HT1A receptor agonist of low potency which has affinity also for central D1 and D2A receptors. The differences in pharmacological profiles were rationalized by modeling of ligand-receptor interactions using homology-based receptor models of the 5-HT1A and D2A receptor binding site. The selective and pronounced serotonergic effects of 3 appear to be due to the C10-methyl group, which is accommodated by a lipophilic pocket in the 5-HT1A receptor. In contrast, the C10-methyl group of 3 is not accommodated by the binding site model of the D2A receptor.

Background Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) promotes tumor invasion and metastasis in several cancers. However, its role in lung cancer progression is understudied. In this study, we investigated the correlation between MMP-7 expression and lung cancer pathology. Methods We searched the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CISCOM, CINAHL, China BioMedicine (CBM) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for scientific literature relevant to MMP-7 and lung cancer. Carefully selected studies were pooled and ORs with 95% CI were calculated. Subgroup analyses and publication bias were analyzed to understand the retrieved data in greater detail. Version 12.0 STATA software was used for statistical analysis. Results We retrieved a total of 121 studies through database searches. Finally, 14 cohort studies satisfied our inclusion/exclusion criteria, and these 14 studies, published between 2004 and 2012, were selected for meta-analysis to understand the influence of MMP-7 expression in lung cancer progression. Our results showed consistent differences in MMP-7 expression when comparisons were made between TNM I-II versus III-IV (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.78, P = 0.006); histologic grade 1 to 2 versus 3 to 4 (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.42, P = 0.008); and lymph node-negative versus lymph node-positive samples (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.73 to 4.58, P