Prognostic value of ultra-sensitive pregnancy associated plasma protein-A in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of ultra-sensitive pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) level in the early phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) attack.

Methods: Patients diagnosed as ACS were enrolled and the level of circulatory PAPP-A was measured within 12 hours after ACS attack. The patients were followed at the time of 1st, 6th, and 12th months post-ACS attack in order to observe the incidence of the cardiovascular adverse events.

Steady-state pharmacokinetic properties of aripiprazole 10 mg PO g12h in Han Chinese adults with schizophrenia: A prospective, open-label, pilot study.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of aripiprazole in the steady state in Han Chinese adults with schizophrenia and to compare them between Han Chinese and white populations described in the literature.

Methods: This prospective, open4abel, pilot study was conducted at the Mental Health Institute, Xiang-ya Second Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. Male and female hospitalized patients aged 18 to 45 years diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)-defined schizophrenia, with a Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score ⩾60 (indicating schizophrenia of at least mild severity) were eligible.

[Cigarette smoking and Parkinson's disease: a population based case-control study].

Objective: To explore the association with cigarette smoking for Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: One hundred and fourteen PD cases and 205 controls matched on gender and race were recruited from ongoing PD prevalence survey and identified at the neurological clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Face to face questionnaire interview was carried out and data on smoking and alcohol consumption were analyzed in a population-based case control study.