Bilateral cardiac catheterizations: the safety and feasibility of a superficial forearm venous and transradial arterial approach.

The transradial approach for left heart catheterization has become increasingly popular recently because of its clinical benefits. We examined the safety and feasibility of a transforearm approach for bilateral cardiac catheterizations, using the radial artery and a superficial forearm vein (the cephalic, basilic, or median antecubital vein). Between August 2002 and October 2003, 296 right heart catheterizations were performed in our hospital.

Levels and value of soluble P-selectin following acute myocardial infarction: evaluating the link between soluble P-selectin levels and recruitment of circulating white blood cells and the marker for the rapid diagnosis of chest pain.

Background: Platelet activation that results from coronary plaque rupture is important in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Soluble p-selectin (sP-selectin) is crucial in modulating leukocyte adhesion to both platelets and endothelial cells during inflammatory response and thrombus formation. We hypothesized that sP-selectin, an index of both platelet activation and acute inflammation, rapidly increases and modulates the recruitment of circulating white blood cells (WBC) in patients following AMI.

Platelet activity is a biomarker of cardiac necrosis and predictive of untoward clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary stenting.

Background: The relationship between platelet activity and myocardial injury in patients with ST-segment elevated (ST-se) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that platelet activity (expressed by CD62p) is enhanced and predictive of both the extent of myocardial damage and 30-day clinical outcome in patients with ST-se AMI undergoing primary coronary stenting.

Methods And Results: Platelet CD62p expression prior to coronary angiographic was prospectively measured using flow cytometry in 45 consecutive patients with AMI undergoing primary coronary stenting.

Circulating levels of soluble P-selectin in patients in the early and recent phases of myocardial infarction.

Background: Circulating soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), a biomarker of platelet activation is substantially increased in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the circulating level of sP-selectin in patients in the early (onset of AMI > 12 h but < 7 d) or recent (onset of AMI > 8 d but < 21 d) phase after AMI remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate whether the circulating level of sP-selectin remains elevated in these two consecutive phases after an AMI.

[The characteristics of gene mutations in Chinese patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease].

Objective: To study the characteristics of gene mutations in Chinese patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT).

Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR, PCR-SSCP, and/or direct sequencing were used to analyze the mutation of the pathogenic genes PMP22, MPZ, CX32, EGR2, GDAP1, NEFL, HSP22 and HSP27 in 113 probands of CMT families, 45 of which had family history, from different provinces in China. The whole family members of the subjects with abnormal electrophoretic bands and 50 normal controls underwent the same examination.

Davey-Stewartson description of two-dimensional nonlinear excitations in Bose-Einstein condensates.

We study nonlinear modulation of collective excitations in disk-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates with a repulsive interatomic interaction. Using a method of multiple scales we show that the nonlinear evolution of a wave packet, formed by the superposition of short-wavelength excitations, and a long-wavelength mean field, generated by the self-interaction of the wave packet, are governed by Davey-Stewartson (DS) equations. Consequently, two-dimensional soliton (dromion) solutions can develop and propagate.

Early administration of intracoronary verapamil improves myocardial perfusion during percutaneous coronary interventions for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Intracoronary calcium-channel blockers administered in the event of no reflow during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been shown to improve myocardial perfusion.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effects of the administration of intracoronary verapamil before the occurrence of no reflow during direct PCI.

Design And Setting: Single-center, nonrandomized, prospective study with a retrospective control group.

Concomitant upregulation of nuclear factor-kB activity, proinflammatory cytokines and ICAM-1 in the injured brain after cortical contusion trauma in a rat model.

Background: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), proinflammatory cytokines and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) are frequently upregulated in the injured brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the temporal pattern of upregulation is not well defined.

Aims: The current study was undertaken to investigate the temporal profile of the expression of NF-kB, proinflammatory cytokines and ICAM-1 in the injured brain after cortical contusion trauma of the rat brain.

Serial changes in platelet activation in patients with unstable angina following coronary stenting: evaluation of the effects of clopidogrel loading dose in inhibiting platelet activation.

Background: Platelet activation is crucial in the development of acute or subacute stent thrombosis following implantation. This study investigated whether a conventional regimen comprising a loading dose of 300 mg of clopidogrel, followed by daily doses of 75 mg, could significantly suppress platelet activation in patients with unstable angina (UA) undergoing coronary stenting.

Methods And Results: Platelet activation (expressed by CD62p) was serially examined using flow cytometry in 42 consecutive patients with UA who underwent coronary stenting.

The usage of dietary supplements among the elderly individuals in Taiwan.

This study describes dietary supplement consumption practices among the Taiwanese population over the age of 65. Data for the analyses were derived from the Elderly Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (1999-2000) which was carried out from 1999-2000. Data from a total of 1937 participants (970 men and 967 women) were collected in the study to delineate patterns of supplement usage.

Levels and values of inflammatory markers in patients with angina pectoris.

Inflammation plays an important pathogenic role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque lesions. C-reactive protein (CRP), which directly participates in plaque inflammation, induces vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in endothelial cells. However, the levels and values of high-sensitivity (hs)-CRP, white blood cell (WBC) count, and VCAM-1 in both stable and unstable angina pectoris (AP) have not been fully investigated.

Serial changes in circulating concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand and C-reactive protein in patients with unstable angina undergoing coronary stenting.

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) significantly reflect serial changes in patients with unstable angina, and thus the serum concentrations of these inflammatory biomarkers may be good candidates for predicting late restenosis after coronary stenting.

Methods And Results: The circulating concentrations of sCD40L and hs-CRP were prospectively measured (both pre-procedure, and on days 21, 90, and 180 after the procedure) in 77 consecutive patients with unstable angina undergoing coronary stenting. These inflammatory mediators were also evaluated in 30 healthy volunteers.

Prognostic value of circulating levels of endothelin-1 in patients after acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary angioplasty.

Background: The link between increased circulating level of endothelin (ET)-1 and adverse clinical outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been established. Current studies demonstrate that reperfusion therapy by either thrombolysis or primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can salvage myocardium, improving survival of AMI patients. However, whether reperfusion therapy by primary PCI can prevent the adverse effect of ET-1 on clinical outcomes in patients after AMI remains unclear.

[Reconstruction of total lower lip or corner of mouth defects with forearm free flap suspending over fascia: report of 10 cases].

Purpose: To improve the contour and function of the lip and its commissure with forearm free flap suspending over fascia.

Methods: Since 2001,this method was used in 10 cases. Forearm free flap was designed according to the lip or buccal defects, then the defects were reconstructed with the flap through vascular anastomosis.

Impact of elevated plasma total homocysteine concentration on coronary atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary intervention.

Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) has been considered to be a new risk factor for coronary atherosclerotic disease. However, the association has not been proven indisputably, and the strength of the relationship and the interaction of plasma tHcy with other conventional risk factors remain uncertain in the clinical setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to investigate whether an elevated plasma level of tHcy is an independent predictor of the late stage of coronary atherosclerotic lesions in Chinese patients with AMI, who are undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Utilization of a double-wire technique to treat long extended spiral dissection of the right coronary artery. Evaluation of incidence and mechanisms.

While coronary artery dissection caused by a guiding catheter, which is one of the most commonly occurring complications during diagnostic cardiac catheterization or coronary intervention, has various forms, extensive antegrade and retrograde dissections of the right coronary artery (RCA) are rarely observed during these procedures. Within the last three years, we retrospectively reviewed our experience with 12,600 consecutive patients who underwent either diagnostic cardiac catheterization or coronary angioplasty, and found that 17 (0.14%) of the patients displayed extensive antegrade and retrograde RCA dissection.

Level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is predictive of 30-day outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary intervention.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been well recognized as a strong independent predictor of short-term and long-term mortality after non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes. However, limited studies have been conducted correlating CRP levels within 6 h following the onset of ST-segment elevation (ST-se) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of CRP measured by high-sensitivity CRP assay (hsCRP) on 30-day clinical outcomes in patients with ST-se AMI of onset < 6 h undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Up-regulation of intestinal nuclear factor kappa B and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 following traumatic brain injury in rats.

Aim: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) regulates a large number of genes involved in the inflammatory response to critical illnesses, but it is not known if and how NF-kappaB is activated and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expressed in the gut following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of current study was to investigate the temporal pattern of intestinal NF-kappaB activation and ICAM-1 expression following TBI.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (6 rats in each group) including controls with sham operation and TBI groups at hours 3, 12, 24, and 72, and on d 7.

Expressions of intestinal NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 following traumatic brain injury in rats.

Background: NF-kappaB regulates a large number of genes involved in the inflammatory response to critical illness, but it is not well known if and how NF-kappaB is activated in the gut following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and what is the role of cytokine-mediated inflammation in the pathogenesis of acute gut mucosal injury.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and TBI groups, each of which was subgrouped at hours 3, 12, 24, and 72 and on day 7. Parietal brain contusion was produced by a free-falling weight on the exposed dura of the right parietal lobe.

Effect of systemic LPS injection on cortical NF-kappaB activity and inflammatory response following traumatic brain injury in rats.

The aim of current study is to investigate the effect of systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the temporal pattern of cortical nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) binding activity, inflammatory response and secondary damage in the injured brain following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Right parietal cortical contusion in rats was made by using weight-dropping method. The rats were randomly divided into sham, LPS, TBI and TBI-LPS groups, with LPS injected intraperitoneally.

Reconstitution and characterization of a new desosaminyl transferase, EryCIII, from the erythromycin biosynthetic pathway.

EryCIII converts alpha-mycarosyl erythronolide B into erythromycin D using TDP-d-desosamine as the glycosyl donor. We report the heterologous expression, purification, in vitro reconstitution, and preliminary characterization of EryCIII. Coexpression of EryCIII with the GroEL/ES chaperone complex was found to enhance greatly the expression of soluble EryCIII protein.

Delayed post-myocardial infarction invasive measures, helpful or harmful? A subgroup analysis.

Background: In patients who have experienced acute myocardial infarction (MI), primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to be of benefit in terms of clinical outcomes. However, the value of performing routine PCI in patients with early MI (ie, an MI occurring > 12 h to < or = 7 days before patient presentation) or recent MI (ie, an MI occurring > or = 8 days to < 30 days before patient presentation) has not been established. The purposes of this prospective observational study were to evaluate the impact of PCI on outcomes, and to delineate the predictors of lack of response to reperfusion and the prognostic determinants in patients with this clinical condition.

Levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide, cholecystokinin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in plasma and jejunum of rats following traumatic brain injury and underlying significance in gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Aim: To study the alterations of brain-gut peptides following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to explore the underlying significance of these peptides in the complicated gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Methods: Rat models of focal traumatic brain injury were established by impact insult method, and divided into 6 groups (6 rats each group) including control group with sham operation and TBI groups at postinjury 3, 12, 24, 72 h, and d 7. Blood and proximal jejunum samples were taken at time point of each group and gross observations of gastrointestinal pathology were recorded simultaneously.

Effect of adjunctive tirofiban therapy on angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevated acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary stenting.

The benefit of primary percutaneous coronary intervention is limited by a 5% to 20% incidence of suboptimal epicardial coronary blood (< or = TIMI-2 flow). Recently, data has demonstrated that when administered in conjunction with primary stenting for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), abciximab improves the success rate of the stenting procedure and provides additional clinical benefits. But data on a combination of tirofiban and primary stenting for treatment of ST-segment elevated (ST-se) AMI is unknown.

Surfection: a new platform for transfected cell arrays.

Efficient high-throughput expression of genes in mammalian cells can facilitate large-scale functional genomic studies. Towards this aim, we developed a simple yet powerful method to deliver genes into cells by cationic polymers on the surface of substrates. Transfection can be achieved by directly contacting nucleic acid-cell mixtures with the cationic substrates, e.