Volume 120  ·   Issue 07  ·  2007

Drug-eluting stent (DES) has markedly reduced restenosis and the need for target lesion revascularization (TLR). The safety profile of DES does not seem to differ from that of bare metal stent in the acute and subacute phases following coronary intervention。

Abstract：Background Human embryonic stem cells can propagate indefinitely in vitro and are able to differentiate into derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. The excitement surrounding human embryonic stem cells lies largely in their potential to produce specialized cells that can be used for transplant therapies. However, further investigation requires additional cell lines with varying genetic background. Therefore, efforts to derive and establish more human embryonic stem cell lines are highly warranted.Methods Surplus embryos (blastocysts) from donors were used to isolate the inner cell mass by immunosurgery. All cells were cultured continuously on irradiated murine embryonic fibroblasts feed layer and likely human embryonic stem cell colonies were subsequently characterized by cell surface marker staining, karyotyping and teratoma formation.Results Two human embryonic stem cell lines (SYSU-1 and SYSU-2) were established from surplus embryos. The two lines express several pluripotency markers including alkaline phosphatase, SSEA- 4, Tra-1-60, Oct-4, Nanog and Rex-1.They remain in undifferentiated state with normal karyotype after prolonged passages and can form embryoid bodies in vitro and teratoma in vivo.Conclusion Two new human embryonic stem cell lines have been established from surplus embryos. They can be used to understand selfrenewal and differentiating mechanisms and provide more choices for regenerative medicine。

Abstract：Background Ginsenoside Rg3, the main component isolated from ginseng, inhibits some kinds of tumour growth and angiogenesis. The combination of low dose chemotherapy and antiangiogenesis inhibitors suppresses growth of experimental tumours more effectively than conventional therapy. The effect of this combination on ovarian cancer remains to be evaluated. Therefore, we investigated the synergism of ginsenoside Rg3 and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on growth and angiogenesis of human ovarian cancer.Methods Twenty-eight female athymic mice were divided randomly into 4 groups of 7: ginsenoside Rg3, CTX,ginsenoside Rg3 and CTX combination and control, after being transplanted with ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3). The mice were given intraperitoneal injection of ginsenoside Rg3 and CTX for the 10 days following inoculation of SKOV-3cells. The life quality and number of living days of mice were recorded. The size of tumour, tumour inhibitive rate, life elongation rate, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index (PCNALI), expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) of the tumour tissues were estimated.Results Life quality of mice in ginsenoside Rg3 and combined treatment groups were better and number of living days longer than control. Average tumour weights of each treated group were less than control and there was no significant difference among the treated groups. PCNALI of treated groups was lower than control. The MVD value and VEGF expression in treated groups were significantly lower than control and the MVD values of ginsenoside Rg3 and combined treatment groups were lower than that of CTX group.Conclusions Ginsenoside Rg3 significantly inhibited growth and angiogenesis of ovarian cancer when used alone or combined with CTX. Ginsenoside Rg3 and CTX combination reinforced the antitumour effect each other and improved the living quality and survival time of mice with tumour。

Abstract：Background A number of studies suggest that the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) induced by heat stress are associated with protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. But the protective effects may be contaminated by other factors in the same stress. This study was conducted to explore the protective role of HSP70 expression in acute myocardial anoxia/reoxygeneration (A/R) injury with a liposome-mediated gene transfer technique for the introduction of pCDNA HSP70 into the neonatal rat myocardial cells. In addition, heat shock stress cytoprotection was also investigated for comparison.Methods The cultured primary neonatal rat myocardiocytes with an acute myocardial A/R injury model and the HS-treated rat myocardiocyte model were used. Three-day cultured myocardiocytes were randomly divided into four groups (n=8): control group, A/R group, HS+A/R group and pCDNA HSP70 +A/R group. A liposome-coated HSP70 pCDNA plasmid was transfected into the primary neonatal rat myocardiocytes; HSP70 mRNA and its protein were confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. The cell viability was assayed by monotetrazolium (MTT) and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity of cells during incubation and the changes in cells ultrastructure were examined. NF-κB activity in the primary neonatal rat myocardiocytes was measured with flow cytometry.Results Compared with viability in the A/R group ((35.4±6.9)%) the cell viability in the HS+A/R group ((72.8±11.6)%)and the pCDNA HSP70 + A/R group ((76.3±12.2)%) was improved significantly (P＜0.05). The activity of LDH and CPK was significantly elevated in the A/R group. However, in the HS+A/R group and pCDNA HSP70 +A/R group, significant decreases in activity were observed. The cell ultrastructure of the A/R group cells was abnormal, whereas nearly normal ultrastructure was observed in HS+A/R group and pCDNA HSP70+A/R group. HSP70 mRNA and protein were slightly expressed in the myocardiocytes of the A/R group. However, obvious overexpression was observed in the HS+A/R group and in the pCDNA HSP70+A/R group (P＜0.01). And there was a significant difference between the HS+A/R group and the pCDNA HSP70+A/R group in the expression of HSP70 mRNA and protein (P＜0.01). A high activity of NF-κB (5.76±0.64)was detected in the A/R group. But in the HS+A/R group there was a statistically significant decrease in the activity of NF-κB compared with the A/R group (3.11 ±0.52 vs 5.76±0.64, P＜0.01). The same statistically significant difference was also observed in the pCDNA HSP70 + A/R group and A/R group (2.83± 0.49 vs 5.76 ± 0.64, P＜0.01).Conclusions Overexpression of HSP70 alone by gene transfection leads to protection for cardiac myocyte against anoxia-reoxygeneration. These cardioprotective effects were related to the reduction in activation of NF-κB。

Abstract：Background Several clinical trials have shown that rapamycin-eluting stents significantly reduce the risk of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Firebird stent and the Excel stent (coated with bioabsorbable polymer) are two different types of rapamycin-eluting stents made in China, both have been recently approved for clinical use in China by State Food and Drug Administration. However, it is unclear whether there are differences in safety and efficacy between the two types of stents in daily practice.Methods In the month of June 2006, a total of 190 consecutive patients were treated exclusively with Firebird stents(n=93, Firebird group) or Excel stents (n=97, Excel group) in our center and were included in this study. The frequency of major adverse cardiac events (MACE, a composite of death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization),binary restenosis, and late lumen loss and stent thrombosis during a six-month follow-up period were compared between the two groups.Results Patient and lesion characteristics were comparable between the groups. Major adverse cardiac event rates were low in hospital and at 6 months (2.1% in the Excel group and 0% in the Firebird group, P＞ 0.05). The 6-month angiographic in-stent restenosis rate was 0% in both groups, with an associated late loss of (0.15 ± 0.21) mm versus (0.14 ± 0.20) mm (P=0.858) and the in-segment restenosis rate was also 0% for the Excel group and the Firebird group.There was no definite stent thrombosis identified in either group during the six-month follow-up period and only one patient in the Excel group had probable stent thrombosis in hospital.Conclusions Results from this mid-term, single-center study showed that both of the Firebird and the Excel rapamycin eluting stent had similar effects on reducing the incidence of MACE and the risk of restenosis (both in-stent and in-segment binary restenosis) after PCl in daily practice。

Abstract：Background Patients with small coronary lesions are at increased risk for repeat interventions after coronary angioplasty and stenting. The efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) has been demonstrated to improve the outcomes of these patients and is a focus of interest. Currently, two platforms of DES are available (sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES)). However, it has less been known that DES, SES vs PES, is superior for the treatment of small coronary lesions.Methods In this retrospective study, 87 consecutive patients with 151 lesions underwent implantation of coronary SES(n=68) and PES (n=83). Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was performed at the time of stent implantation and subsequently at 8 months post-stenting. Small vessel disease was defined as lesions in vessels with diameter ≤2.5 mm measured by QCA. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including death, thrombosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization (TLR) were compared between the two groups.Results Baseline clinical characteristics and angiographic parameters were similar between the two groups. At clinical and angiographic follow-up, overall thrombosis rates were similar in both groups (0 vs 1.2%, P＞0.05). The TLR and in-segment restenosis were not significantly different (19.1% vs 25.3%; 10.3% vs 10.8%, P=0.365 and P=0.913respectively) between the two groups. The in-stent restenosis rate, however, was significantly higher in the PES group(4.4% vs 21.7%; P=0.002). Similarly, the late loss was significantly higher in the PES group ((0.14±0.38) mm vs (0.49±0.61) mm; P＜0.001).Conclusions In this small sample-size, non-randomized study, the data indicated that implantation of SES for the treatment of patients with small coronary lesion showed more favorable results in respect of restenosis compared with PES implantation。

Abstract：Background Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) carries an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. No data regarding the percutaneous transseptal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) and epicardial left ventricular pacing (LVP)were reported.Methods Seven patients with recurrent symptoms and increased resting left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOTG) after PTSMA and another 14 patients with HOCM without history of PTSMA were studied. Both resting and dobutamine stress echocardiography, PTSMA and LVP were routinely performed.Results In patients without previous PTSMA procedure, mild reduction of resting LVOTG was detected at 5 minutes after left ventricular pacing, and this reduction became significant at 10 minutes. All patients were divided into successful and unsuccessful groups according to their response to LVP. In contrary to patients in unsuccessful group, resting and R-S2 stimuli-induced LVOTG during PTSMA procedure were decreased dramatically ((9±5) mmHg vs (58±12) mmHg,(12±2) mmHg vs (113±27) mmHg, P＜0.001). Analysis of Logistic regression demonstrated that only LVOTG level during left ventricular pacing was an independent factor predicting the reduction of LVOTG immediately after PTSMA(odds ratio (OR), 0.59; 95% CI 2.67 to 5.82; P=0.0002).Conclusion Left ventricular endocardial temporary pacing plays a critical role in predicting acute effect on the reduction of LVOTG immediately after PTSMA procedure。

Abstract：Background Different feasible and safe thrombectomy and distal protection devices have been used in clinical practice.The efficiency and safety of adjunct thrombectomy using Diver CE device (Invatec, Italy) versus Guardwire Plus device(Medtronic, USA) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were compared in patients with acute inferior ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for less than 12 hours, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)flow grade 0 to 1, and total occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery (≥3 mm in diameter) in a prospective randomized single-center study.Methods The primary end point was the magnitude of ST-segment resolution (STR) (＞70%) measured immediately, 90minutes and 6 hours after PCI, myocardial blush grade and slow flow or no-reflow. Secondary end points were left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization and stroke at 30 days.Results A total of 122 patients were equally divided into Diver CE group and Guardwire Plus group, which were comparable by age ((60± 14) years vs (60± 13) years), male (82% vs 84%), diabetes (31% vs 28%), previous coronary artery disease (25% vs 23%), onset-to-angiogram ((350± 185) min vs (345± 180) min), and use of glycoprotein Ⅱb/Ⅲa inhibitor (11% vs 13%). The magnitude of ST-segment resolution was similar in the two groups as ST-segment resolution ＞70% (57% vs 59%; P＞0.05). Similar slow flow/no-reflow rates were observed in the Diver CE group (8%) and the Guardwire Plus group (7%). TIMI flow grade 3 was obtained in 95% vs 97% patients, respectively (P＞0.05). Myocardial blush grade 3 was similar (70% vs 72%; P＞0.05). Thirty-day clinical outcome was comparable (LVEF, 0.54±0.12 vs 0.53±0.11; death, 3% vs 3%; myocardial infarction, 2% vs 0%; and target vessel revascularization, 2% vs 2%; P＞0.05,respectively).Conclusions Removal of thrombus burden with the Diver CE catheter before stenting leads to similar improvement of myocardial reperfusion in patients with inferior STEMI and total occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery (≥3 mm in diameter) compared with the Guardwire Plus device, as illustrated by a reduced risk of distal embolization and improved ST-segment resolution。

Abstract：Background Long-term efficacy and safety of tacrolimus-eluting stent (Janus) for treatment of coronary artery disease in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) "real world" is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Janus stent for treating coronary heart disease in PCI daily practice, the safety of 4-month clopidogrel therapy after Janus stent implantation and the feasibility for treating patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for first time.Methods From February 20, 2006 to August 26, 2006, a total of 200 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either Janus stent (n=100) or bare metal stent (Tecnic Carbostent, n=100). All patients were administered with clopidogrel for 4 months and aspirin for life long after stenting.Results Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were comparable between the two groups. AMI was present in 37% of patients with Janus and 36% with Tecnic Carbostent. At an average of 246-day follow-up, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was 6% with the Janus stent and 15% with the Tecnic Carbostent (P=0.038). Primary events included 1 cardiac death, 1 myocardial infarction (MI) due to subacute stent thrombosis and 13 target lesion revascularizations (TLR) due to restenosis in patients with Tecnic Carbostent and 6 TLR due to restenosis in patients with Janus stent. Although all patients had discontinued clopidogrel for an average of 126 days, there was no additional thrombotic event in the two groups.Conclusions Janus stent is efficient in reducing MACE compared with Tecnic Carbostent at an average of 8-month follow-up. Discontinuation of clopidogrel at 4 months after PCI is safe for patients with Janus stent, including AMI patients.Long-term efficacy of Janus stent in reducing restenosis requires further study。

Abstract：Background The safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation in unprotected left main (LM)bifurcation lesions has yet to be determined. The aim of the present report was to evaluate the long-term outcome following implantation of DES in unprotected LM bifurcation lesions.Methods We identified 70 consecutive patients treated with DES in unprotected LM bifurcation lesions from April 2003to January 2005. Of them, 42 patients were treated with sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and 28 patients were treated with paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES).Results Stents to the left anterior descending and to the circumflex were implanted in 62 patients. During 1-year follow-up, 3 (4.3%) patients died of cardiac causes. One of them had myocardial infarction and adjudicated as possibly due to stent thrombosis. Angiographic follow-up was available in 80% of patients. The per lesion restenosis rate was 13.4% in the entire cohort, of which 10.7% occurred in lesions treated with SES and 16.1% in those treated with PES (P=0.58). All restenosis was focal and occurred in the lesions treated with a stent with stent size to post-procedural reference vessel diameter ratio ＜1.0 (17.6% vs 0, P=0.04). The per patient target lesion revascularization rate at 1 year was 17.1%. One year survival free from major adverse cardiac events was 77.1%.Conclusions Treatment of LM bifurcation lesions using DES is a safe and feasible way with a low one-year mortality.The need for revascularization in 17% of patients demands for improvement。

Abstract：Background A comparison of efficacy and safety between transradial and transfemoral approach for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in bifurcations has not been done. This study evaluated feasibility of transradial PCI (TRI) and compared the immediate and followup results with transfemoral PCI (TFI) in bifurcations.Methods One hundred and thirty-four consecutive patients with bifurcations were treated with PCl in our hospital from April 2004 to October 2005. Of these, there were 60 patients (88 lesions) in TRI group and 74 patients (101 lesions) in TFI group. Bifurcations type was classified according to the Institut Cardiovasculaire Paris Sud Classification.Results TRI group had smaller stent diameter ((3.06±0.37) mm vs (3.18±0.35) mm, P=0.023) and postprocedural in-stent minimum lumen diameter ((2.62±0.37) mm vs (2.74±0.41) mm, P=0.029) than TFI, but there were not significant differences in in-stent subacute thrombosis rate (0% vs 1.0%, P=0.349), target lesion revascularization (TLR)(0% vs 1.0%, P=0.349) following procedure and thrombosis (2.3% vs 1.0%, P=0.482), in-stent restenosis (12.5% vs10.9%, P=0.731), in-segment restenosis (17.0% vs 14.9%, P=0.681), TLR (10.2% vs 13.9%, P=0.446) and TLR-free cumulative survival rate (89.8% vs 86.1%, P=0.787) at seven months followup. No death was reported in the two groups.Conclusion Transradial intervention is feasible and appears to be as effective and safe as transfemoral PCI in treatment of true bifurcational lesions。

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a systemic sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) L1, L2 and L3, the organism gains entrance through skin breaks and abrasions and travels via the lymphatics to multiply within mononuclear phagocytes in regional lymph nodes。

The use of intense anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI)potentially increases the risk of bleeding complications during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the transfemoral approach. Recently, the transradial access has been increasingly employed as an alternative means for diagnostic and interventional procedures. Low incidence of vascular access site bleeding complications suggests the transradial approach as a safe alternative to the femoral technique in AMI, particularly under an aggressive anticoagulation/antiplatelet regimen. 1,2Nevertheless, the safety and feasibility of employing the transradial approach for primary PCI in AMI has not been thoroughly investigated so far。

Plaque rupture with subsequent thrombus formation is the common pathophysiological substrate of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).1 Moreno et al2 reported that neovascularization as manifested by the localized appearance of microvessels is increased in ruptured plaques in the human aorta.…… Foundation Item：This study was supported by a grant from the Science and Technology Bureau of Beijing (No. D0906006040191)。

Atherosclerotic disease, as a systemic process, affects all arteries to varying degrees. In particular,coexistent carotid and coronary artery diseases are common; Management of such patients has been a point of continuing controversy。

Heart failure was a major and increasing public health problem, with an almost "epidemic increase in the number of patients.1 Despite recent advances in pharmacotherapy, the prognosis remains poor. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), by pacing right and left ventricles, has been proved to improve symptoms and reduce mortality for heart failure patients with cardiac dyssynchrony。

Late stent malapposition (LSM), an unusual intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) finding at follow-up, has been reported to be more common after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation than after bare metal stent(BMS) implantation.1-3 However, there has been no clear elucidation of time course and mechanism. We reported a case who developed LSM and coronary aneurysm very early after paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) implantation. A review of the literature reveals no previous report describing rapid development of LSM and coronary aneurysm after PES implantation。

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare cardiac anomaly thought to be caused by a deficiency of fusion of the aorta's media with the aortic valve's annulus fibrosis, or by actual detachment. It is usually congenital but less commonly associated with endocarditis, atherosclerosis,trauma, syphilis, or aortic dissection.1 Since the first report in the mid-eighteenth century, sinus of Valsalva aneurysm has been described increasingly.