A Chinese scoring system for predicting successful retrograde collateral traverse in patients with chronic total coronary occlusion.

Background: Retrograde approach technique has been challenging in percutaneous coronary interventional treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) coronary disease. The present study endeavors to determine a novel Chinese scoring system for predicting successful collateral channels traverse via retrograde approach.

Methods: The demographic characteristics and angiographic characteristics of 309 CTO patient were analyzed by univariable and multivariable analysis for selecting potential predictors.

The Therapeutic Efficacy of Pulsed Radiofrequency Alone Versus a Dexamethasone and Pulsed Radiofrequency Combination in Patients With Trigeminal Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the Gasserian ganglion is a common surgical intervention used to treat trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Dexamethasone has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory effects and potential analgesic benefits.

Objectives: The primary objective of our study was to compare the therapeutic efficacies of PRF alone versus a combination of PRF and dexamethasone for trigeminal PHN.

NecroX-5 ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via inhibiting NLRP3-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and usually lethal pulmonary disease. Despite considerable research efforts, no effective therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis has been developed. NecroX-5 has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-tumor activities.

[Levels, Characteristics, and Potential Source of Micro(meso)plastic Pollution of Soil in Liaohe River Basin].

With the Liaohe River basin as the research object, the morphology, abundance, and distribution characteristics of micro(meso) plastics of soil in Liaohe River basin were studied based on the density flotation principle and the technique of stereo microscope and micro-FTIR and the significant factors affecting the distribution of the micro(meso)plastics and their potential sources were reasonably speculated. The results indicated that the average abundance of the soil micro(meso)plastic is (145.83±211.

Predictors for New Native-Vessel Occlusion in Patients with Prior Coronary Bypass Surgery: A Single-Center Retrospective Research.

Objectives: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is prevalent in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, data available concerning the prevalence of new-onset CTO of native vessels in patients with prior CABG is limited. Therefore, the objective of the study is to determine predictors for new native-vessel occlusion in patients with prior coronary bypass surgery.

Myocardial bridge-related coronary heart disease: Independent influencing factors and their predicting value.

Background: Myocardial bridge (MB) will compress the mural coronary artery (MCA) during the systole and cause myocardial ischemia. In the diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD), because the structure of MB is difficult to be observed by coronary angiography (CAG), the clinical study of the influence of MB on CHD is lacking. With the advancement of computed tomography coronary angiography technology, detailed observations of the MB anatomy have realized.

lncRNA ENSMUST00000134285 Increases MAPK11 Activity, Regulating Aging-Related Myocardial Apoptosis.

Previous studies have demonstrated that aging promotes myocardial apoptosis after ischemia/reperfusion, via unknown specific mechanisms. The present study investigates the potential relationship between lncRNAs and aging-related apoptosis by lncRNA/mRNA microarray technology. The results indicate aging increased myocardial lncRNA ENSMUST00000134285 and mMAPK11, confirmed by both bioinformatics analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Hospital-based integrated diabetes care management: an overview.

To provide continuous, accessible, and quality care, a diabetes share-care program has been in place in Taiwan for several years. Lukang Christian Hospital, a member of the diabetes share-care network, endeavors to provide "patient-centered" care aimed at increasing care quality and reducing diabetic complications. Information technology has been employed by the hospital for monitoring care quality and analyzing cost-effectiveness.

[Effect of electroacupuncture stimulation of "Fenglong" (ST 40) on expression of inflammatory cytokines of celiac macrophages in hyperlipidemia rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Fenglong" (ST 40) on celiac inflammatory factors in rats with hyperlipemia (HLP), so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of HLP.

Methods: A total of 40 SD rats were randomized into normal control, high fat forage, high fat + common forage, high fat + EA, and high fat + common forage+ EA groups, with 8 rats in each group. The HLP model was established by feeding the animals with high fat forage for 28 days.

[Effects of electroacupuncture at "Fenglong" (ST 40) on formation of macrophage-derived foam cell and efflux of cholesterol in hyperlipidemia rats].

Objective: To explore action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Fenglong" (ST 40) for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Methods: Forty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a model diet-control group (group C), a model + EA group (group D) and model diet-control + EA group (group E), 8 cases in each one. The rats in group A were fed with normal diet continuously while those in the rest 4 groups were fed with high-fat diet to establish hyperlipidemia model.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of "Fenglong" (ST 40) on levels of blood lipid and macrophage TNF-alpha and IL-6 in hyperlipidemic rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Fenglong" (ST 40) on blood lipid contents and inflammatory factor levels in hyperlipemia rats so as to elucidate its mechanism underlying improvement of hyperlipemia.

Methods: Fifty male SD rats were randomized into 5 groups: normal, model, diet -control, EA intervention (EA), diet-control + EA groups, with 10 rats in each group. Hyperlipemia model was established by feeding the animals with high-fat diet for 30 days.

[Effect of electroacupuncture at fenglong (ST40) on expressions of inflammatory factors in macrophages of hyperlipidemia model rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Fenglong (ST40) on inflammatory factors in macrophages of hyperlipemia (HLP) rats, and to explore the role of EA in treating HLP.

Methods: Totally 50 adult male SD rats were selected. After one-week adaptative feeding, they were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.

Measuring the activity of heterotrophic microorganism in membrane bioreactor for drinking water treatment.

In order to quantify the activity of heterotrophic microorganism in membrane bioreactor (MBR) for drinking water treatment, biomass respiration potential (BRP) test and 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride-dehydrogenase activity (TTC-DHA) test were introduced and modified. A sludge concentration ratio of 5:1, incubation time of 2h, an incubation temperature that was close to the real operational temperature, and using a mixture of main AOC components as the substrate were adopted as the optimum parameters for determination of DHA in drinking water MBR. A remarkable consistency among BDOC removal, BRP and DHA for assessing biological performance in different MBRs was achieved.

Correlations of relevant membrane foulants with UF membrane fouling in different waters.

Correlations between potential fouling-relevant substances and membrane fouling during ultrafiltration (UF) of different waters were investigated, including water samples from Lake Tegel, from a Berlin canal (Landwehrkanal) and from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) secondary effluent. The biopolymers quantified with liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection (LC-OCD) showed a remarkable correlation with UF membrane fouling for all the three water sources at different seasons. This finding suggests that the biopolymer content in water can be employed as a universal indicator for predicting membrane fouling potential in UF processes.

Characteristics of adsorbents made from biological, chemical and hybrid sludges and their effect on organics removal in wastewater treatment.

Meso-macropore adsorbents were prepared from biological sludge, chemical sludge and hybrid sludge of biological and chemical sludges, by chemically activating with 18.0 M H(2)SO(4) in the mass ratio of 1:3, and then pyrolyzing at 550 °C for 1 h in anoxic atmosphere. The physical and chemical characteristics of the sludge-based adsorbents were examined in terms of surface physical morphology, specific surface area and pore size distribution, aluminum and iron contents, surface functional groups and crystal structure.

Consecutive chemical cleaning of fouled PVC membrane using NaOH and ethanol during ultrafiltration of river water.

Chemical cleaning of fouled hollow-fiber polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane with the consecutive use of NaOH and ethanol during ultrafiltration of river water was investigated in the study. Results showed that through the chemical cleaning with 1% NaOH for 30min, a negative cleaning efficiency of -14.6% was observed for the PVC membrane.

Hybrid process of BAC and sMBR for treating polluted raw water.

The hybrid process of biological activated carbon (BAC) and submerged membrane bioreactor (sMBR) was evaluated for the drinking water treatment from polluted raw water, with the respective hydraulic retention time of 0.5 h. The results confirmed the synergetic effects between the BAC and the subsequent sMBR.

Membrane coagulation bioreactor (MCBR) for drinking water treatment.

In this paper, a novel submerged ultrafiltration (UF) membrane coagulation bioreactor (MCBR) process was evaluated for drinking water treatment at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) as short as 0.5h. The MCBR performed well not only in the elimination of particulates and microorganisms, but also in almost complete nitrification and phosphate removal.