Drug-coated balloons for the treatment of ostial left anterior descending or ostial left circumflex artery lesions: a patient-level propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Controversy exists as to the optimal treatment approach for ostial left anterior descending (LAD) or ostial left circumflex artery (LCx) lesions. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) may overcome some of the limitations of drug-eluting stents (DES). Therefore, we investigated the security and feasibility of the DCB policy in patients with ostial LAD or ostial LCx lesions, and compared it with the conventional DES-only strategy.

Stentless at ostium: a novel approach for treating ostial left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary artery lesions with drug-coated balloons.

Background: Currently, there is no optimal treatment strategy for ostial left anterior descending (LAD) or ostial left circumflex artery (LCx) lesions. This study explored effectiveness and safety of drug-coated balloons (DCB) in individuals presenting with ostial LAD or LCx lesions.

Methods: A total of 137 patients with ostial LAD or LCx lesions scheduled for DCB treatment were prospectively recruited into the study.

Notch1 signaling activation alleviates coronary microvascular dysfunction through histone modification of Nrg-1 via the interaction between NICD and GCN5.

The Notch signaling pathway is related to endothelial dysfunction in coronary atherosclerosis. Our objective was to explore the role of Notch signaling in coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). CMD models were constructed by sodium laurate injection in vivo and homocysteine (Hcy) stimulation in vitro.

E3 ubiquitin ligase mind bomb 1 overexpression reduces apoptosis and inflammation of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells in coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Background: The apoptosis and inflammation in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) promote the development of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). The present study aimed to explore the role of E3 ubiquitin ligase mind bomb 1 (MIB1) in the apoptosis and inflammation in CMECs during CMD.

Methods: In vivo, CMD in rats was induced by sodium laurate injection.

Changes of polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations in ducks with background exposure level and time.

To reveal what degree bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) depends on exposure time and other factors, we conducted a semi-field experiment for a year (June 2008-June 2009) in a village in an e-waste recycling site in Taizhou, China. Approximately one hundred of juvenile ducks (Anas domestica Linnaeus) were entrusted to a villager. The ducks lived and forged in a PBDE-polluted pond from the late March to the end of November.

Effects of vitamin D on plasma lipid profiles in statin-treated patients with hypercholesterolemia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Lipid abnormalities are regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Low vitamin D status has been shown to be associated with hyperlipidemia. We planned to research the effects of vitamin D supplementation as an adjuvant therapy for patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Bioaccumulation, maternal transfer and elimination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in wild frogs.

To investigate bioaccumulation, maternal transfer and elimination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in amphibians, we collected adult frogs (Rana limnocharis) from a rice field in an e-waste recycling site in China. We found that ∑PBDEs in the whole frogs and various tissues (brain, liver, testis and egg) ranged from 17.10 to 141.

Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human semen.

Some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been found in human semen but until this point it was unclear whether polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) could be detected in human semen. In this study, PBDEs were found for the first time in human semen samples (n=101) from Taizhou, China. The concentrations of total PBDEs (∑PBDEs) varied from 15.

Microsurgical treatment of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in sphenoidal sinus.

Objective: To explore the clinical manifestation, diagnosis and surgical treatment of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in sphenoidal sinus.

Methods: Nine cases of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in sphenoidal sinus from 2007 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed consisting of their possible etiological factors, clinical manifestations, localization of the leakage site and treatment methods. Among them, there were 3 cases of traumatic rhinorrhea, 4 postoperative rhinorrhea and 2 spontaneous rhinorrhea.

Determination of environmentally relevant exposure concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers for in vitro toxicological studies.

Toxicological studies at environmentally relevant concentrations are essential for understanding ecotoxic and health risks of pollutants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). However, no information is available on what exposure levels of PBDEs in vitro studies are environmentally relevant. We exposed MCF-7, HepG2, H295R and PC12 cells to BDE-47, and measured BDE-47 concentrations in the cells after exposure.

Dual body burdens of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers among local residents in an e-waste recycling region in Southeast China.

E-waste recycling resulted in serious pollution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Taizhou of Zhejiang Province, China. The aims of this study were to assess dual body burdens of the two pollutants and potential health risk for local residents. Blood samples were collected from two e-waste recycling sites, Luqiao (where PCBs-containing e-wastes were recycled) and Wenling (where PBDEs-containing e-wastes were recycled).

Diffusion of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) from an e-waste recycling area to the surrounding regions in Southeast China.

Using Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora) leaves as biomonitors, we investigated that the diffusion of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from an e-waste recycling area to the surrounding regions. Variance in sigma(32)PBDEs concentrations (0.

Feminizing/demasculinizing effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on the secondary sexual development of Xenopus laevis.

We have previously demonstrated that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have caused phenotypic feminization/demasculinization of gonadal development in Xenopus laevis. Whether PCBs affect secondary sexual development has remained unknown. In this study, X.