Relationship between tissue type plasminogen activator and coronary vulnerable plaque in patients with acute coronary syndrome: virtual histological study

Background The association between vulnerability of plaque assessed with intravascular ultrasound （IVUS） and plasma levels of fibrinolytic biomarkers was determined in patients with acute coronary syndrome （ACS）. However, few data are available on the relationship between the levels of tissue type plasminogen activator （t-PA） and virtual histological intravascular ultrasound （VH-IVUS） signs of plaque instability. Methods Eighty-nine patients with ACS were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected to measure t-PA levels by liquid phase bead flow cytometry. Eighty-nine nonbifurcate lesions （identified by coronary angiography and ECG） were investigated using IVUS before catheterization. IVUS radiofrequency data obtained with a 20 MHz catheter were analyzed with IVUS virtual histological software. The areas of plaque and media were calculated and lesions were classified into two groups： VH-IVUS derived thin cap fibroatheroma （VH-TCFA） and non-VH-TCFA plaque. Results Plasma t-PA level in the patients with TCFA was significantly lower than that with non-TCFA （（1489 ± 715） pg/ml vs （2163 ± 1004） pg/ml）. Decreased plasma levels of t-PA were associated with plaque vulnerability. Plasma levels of t-PA correlated negatively with plaque plus media and necrotic core in plaque in patients with ACS. Conclusions t-PA is an independent risk factor and a powerful predictor of vulnerable plaques. Decreased levels of t-PA may reflect instability of atherosclerotic plaques and might therefore serve as noninvasive determinants of those at high risk for consequent adverse events.     

IVUS—VH评价ACS患者冠脉粥样硬化斑块成分

目的利用血管内超声一虚拟组织学（intravascular ultrasound-virtual histology, IVUS-VH）评价急性冠脉综合征（acute coronary syndrome,ACS）患者冠状动脉粥样硬化斑块的成分。方法对38例ACS患者行冠状动脉造影（coronaryangiography,CAG）检查发现91处狭窄程度≥50％的粥样硬化斑块,同时对91处病变行IVUS—VH检查,识别其中的纤维成分（fibrous,F）、纤维脂质成分（fibro—fatty,FF）、坏死核心成分（necroticcore,NC）、钙化成分（calcium,cc）。并将91处粥样硬化斑块分为罪犯病变与非罪犯病变,比较两者斑块成分的差异。结果91处斑块中F、FF、NC、CC所占的比例分别为：51．5％±10．8％、15．7％±8．1％、18．7％＋9．1％、14．1％＋8．8％。91处斑块中43处（47．3％）为罪犯病变,48处（52．7％）为非罪犯病变。两者F和FF相比均无显著差异（53．3％±10．5％YS49．9％_10．9％,P=0．134;14．0％±9．2％w17．2％±6．8％．P=0．062）。罪犯病变与非罪犯病变相比NC所占比例较高（21．9％±10．2％vs15．7％±6．9％,P〈O．05）。非罪犯病变与罪犯病变相比所含CC较高（17．2％±9．7％VS10．7％±6．1％,P〈0．05）。结论ⅣUS—VH可以定量分析冠状动脉粥样硬化斑块内各种成分。ACS患者斑块中NC与斑块的易损性有关。     

Myocardial bridging detection by non-invasive multislice spiral computed tomography: comparison with intravascular ultrasound

Background Invasive intravascular ultrasound （IVUS） is current diagnostic standard for myocardial bridging （MB）. Non-invasive multislice computerized tomography coronary angiography （MSCT） technique has provided a good anatomical view of the tunnel artery now. Methods A total of 51 consecutive patients with atypical or typical angina scheduled for IVUS were enrolled in this study and MSCT was performed 7 days before IVUS. Coronary imaging was quantified using IVUS and MSCT. Four main vessels （left main artery （LMA）, left anterior descending （LAD）, left circumflex （LCX）, right coronary artery （RCA）） were examined. Results Forty-one out of 51 （80%） patients received metaprolol （25 mg） before the MSCT scan and 25 of them were current beta-blocker users. The mean heart rate was （64_＋3） beats per minute. A total of 51 patients underwent IVUS examination （30 with MB and 21 without MB） were chosen for this study. Twenty-eight out of 30 MB cases were correctly diagnosed by MSCT and 2 patients with MB were not detected. Comparison with IVUS, the sensitivity of detection by MSCT was 93%, specificity was 100%. The lumen diameter of the tunnel artery derived from MSCT and IVUS significantly decreased from （2.9±0.3） mm to （2.4±0.4） mm （P〈0.001） and from （3.3±0.3） mm to （2.6±0.5） mm （P〈0.001）, respectively. Minimal and maximal diameters of MB derived from MSCT were significantly smaller than those from IVUS （（2.4±0.4） mm vs （2.6±0.5） mm, P〈0.05 and （2.9±0.3） mm vs （3.3±0.3） mm, P〈0.05）, respectively. Conclusions MSCT offers a reliable non-invasive method for MB in LAD and atherosclerosis diagnosis with diagnostic accuracy comparable with invasive IVUS.     

Coronary plaque characterization of nonculprit or nontarget lesions assessed by analysis of in vivo intracoronary ultrasound radio-frequency data

Background Unheralded sudden death and acute myocardial infarction are common manifestations of coronary atherosclerosis. Such events are related to thrombotic occlusion at the site of non-flow limiting atherosclerotic plaques in epicardial coronary arteries. This study aimed to assess plaque characterization of nonculprit lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome （ACS） compared with those with stable angina pectoris （SAP） determined by analysis of intravascular ultrasound （IVUS） radiofrequency （RF） data.
Methods In 81 patients, nonculprit vessels with 〈50% diameter stenosis and nontarget segment of culprit vessels with 〈50% diameter stenosis were studied with IVUS. Tissue maps were reconstructed from RF data using IVUS-Virtual Histology software. Results Mean lipid core percentage was significantly higher in patients with ACS than in those with SAP （（25.78±6.30）% vs （9.11±4.90）%, P 〈0.001）. In addition, patients with SAP showed more fibrotic vessels （（59.66±16.87）% vs （49.07±10.20）%, P 〈0.001）. There was no significant difference in either mean calcium （（4.37±2.40）% vs （5.12±3.00）%, P=-0.225） or fibrolipid （（24.94±9.40）% vs （25.82±13.60）%, P=0.731） percentages in nonculprit vessels, but the mean calcium percentage was significantly higher in nontarget lesions of culprit vessels （（5.51±3.29）% vs （3.57±2.10）%, P=0.003）. In addition, there was a positive correlation between lipid core and remodeling index （RI） （r=0.847, P〈0.001） and a negative correlation between fibrous tissue and RI （r= -0.946, P〈0.001）.
Conclusions In this study, in both nonculprit vessels and nontarget lesion of culprit vessels, plaque characterization of nonculprit lesions determined by spectral analysis of IVUS RF data was significantly different in patients with ACS. The percentage of lipid core was significantly higher in patients with ACS than in those with SAP. Conversely, SAP patients showed more fibrotic content. In vivo plaque composition and morphological changes were related to remodeling of the coronary artery tree.     

Decreased small arterial compliance with increased serum vascular endothelial growth factor-A and circulating endothelial progenitor cell in dilated cardiomyopathy

Background Evidence showed that both myocardium and blood vessels were damaged in dilated cardiomyopathy （DCM）. However, the changes in arterial compliance, serum cytokines and circulating endothelial progenitor cells （EPC）, and their correlations remain unknown.
Methods Sixty-five DCM patients and 49 healthy volunteers were studied. Both large artery compliance （C1） and small artery compliance （C2） were measured with the CVProfUor DO-2020. Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays （ELISAs） were used to measure the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A （VEGF-A） and VEGF receptor 2 （VEGF-R2）. Circulating EPC was assessed by EPC colony-forming assays and flow cytometry （CD133^＋/CD34^＋cells）. Phagocytized Dil-acLDL and binded FITC-UEA-I were used to analyze endothelial lineage marker expression by immunofluorescence.
Results Although C2 was markedly lower in DCM patients than in control group （（3.8±1.8） ml/mmHg × 100 vs （5.0±2.2） ml/mmHg × 100, P〈0.0001）, there was no statistically significant difference in C1 between the two groups （P〉0.05）. Levels of VEGF-A, the numbers of colony-forming units （CFU） and the fractions of EPC were obviously higher in DCM patients than in control group （（127.6±139.5） pg/ml vs （58.8±42.9） pg/ml, P〈0.0001; （2.5±1.5）% vs （0.5±0.3）%, P〈0.05; 23.5±12.8 vs 10.8±7.4, P〈0.01, respectively） and however, there was no significant difference in VEGF-R2 between two groups （P〉0.05）. LgVEGF-A was positively correlated with the number of EPC-CFU （r=-0.435; P〈0.05） and inversely correlated with C2 （r=-0.543; P〈0.001） in DCM patients. Conclusions The reduction of C2, a sensitive marker reflecting endothelial dysfunction, was observed in DCM patients and closely related to the increase in serum VEGF-A.     

Sirolimus-eluting cobalt alloyed stents in treating patients with coronary artery disease: six-month angiographic and one-year clinical follow-up result A prospective, historically controlled, multi-center clinical study

Background  The emergence of drug-eluting stents (DES) has dramatically reduced the incidence of in-stent restenosis. This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sirolimus-eluting cobalt-chrome stents (Firebird 2) for treating patients with coronary artery disease.
Methods  Sixty-seven patients with de novo or non-stented restenostic coronary lesions were chosen to receive the Firebird 2 stent as the final treatment (Firebird 2 group). Another 49 consecutive patients were implanted with bare cobalt alloyed stents (Driver, Medtronic) within the previous six months and served as historical controls (control group). Baseline clinical characteristics, angiographic features, procedural results, 30-day, 6-month and 12-month clinical follow-up regarding the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), as well as the primary endpoint of late lumen loss at 6-month angiographic follow-up were compared between the two groups.
Results  The demographic characteristics were similar between the two groups despite more patients in the Firebird 2 group who underwent previous percutaneous coronary intervention (22.4% vs 8.2%, P=0.0418) and who had diabetes mellitus (29.9% vs 12.2%, P=0.0253). In the Firebird 2 group, the mean diameter of the reference vessel was smaller ((2.79±0.46) mm vs (2.98±0.49) mm, P=0.0175) and more stents were implanted for each lesion (1.28±0.52 vs 1.10±0.30, P=0.0060). Other angiographic, procedural results and the device success rate were similar between the two groups. The MACE rate at 30-day and 3-month was the same, but significantly fewer MACE occurred in the Firebird 2 group at 6- and 12-month follow-up (1.5% vs 12.2% at 6 month, P=0.0168; 1.5% vs 26.5% at 12 month, P<0.0001). The primary endpoint of late lumen loss at 6-month angiographic follow-up was significantly reduced in the Firebird 2 group (in-stent: (0.05±0.09) mm vs (0.98±0.61) mm; in-segment: (0.05±0.18) mm vs (0.72±0.59) mm; P<0.0001) than the control group. One patient in the Firebird 2 group had in-segment restenosis (1.3%) while the rate in the control group (38.1%) was significantly higher, P<0.0001. Intravascular ultrasound examination was performed in 70.1% of patients in the Firebird 2 group and revealed that the percentage of volumetric obstruction was (1.26±1.05) %. No stent thrombosis was observed in either group at 12-month follow-up.
Conclusion  The Firebird 2 sirolimus-eluting cobalt alloyed stent is safe and feasible in treating patients with coronary artery disease.

     

Predictors of left atrial appendage stunning after electrical cardioversion of non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Atrialfibrillation (AF)isthemostcommon persistentarrhythmia,leadingtoembolismsfrequently 1Restorationofsinusrhythmimprovescardiacfunctionalcapacity,alleviatespalpitation ,andreducestheriskofembolisms Direct currentcardioversionhastheadvantageofimmediaterestorationofsinusrhythm ,butitisfrequentlyassociatedwithtransientatrialmechanicaldysfunction ,i e “atrialstunning” ,whichmayincreasetheriskofsubsequentthromboembolicevents 2 　Withtheadventoftransesophagealechocardiography (TEE) ,leftatrial…     

急性冠脉综合征的血管内超声研究

目的:探讨急性冠脉综合征(ACS)易损斑块的血管内超声(IVUS)特点。方法:在35例ACS(其中不稳定性心绞痛24例,急性心肌梗死11例)和23例稳定性心绞痛患者中进行冠状动脉IVUS检查,测量病变部位的血管外弹力膜面积(EEMA)、斑块面积(PA)及斑块负荷(PA),并计算斑块的偏心指数(EI)及血管的重构指数(RI)。结果:在58例患者中发现,16例ACS患者和5例稳定性心绞痛患者发生斑块破裂;与稳定性心绞痛组比较,不稳定心绞痛的斑块具有较大的偏心性(P<0.05),EEMA、PA、PB、RI明显大于前者,具有显著的统计学意义(P均<0.001)。结论IVUS能够准确地识别ACS易损斑块及其破裂和血栓形成。     

急性冠脉综合征患者细胞黏附分子和C反应蛋白的变化

目的：检测急性冠脉综合征（ACS）患者血清中血管细胞黏附分子（VCAM-1）、细胞间黏附分子（ICAM-1）及C反应蛋白（CRP）水平,探讨其变化在冠心病（CHD）发病及诊断中的意义。方法：检测50例经冠脉造影证实为ACS患者血清中VCAM-1、ICAM-1和CRP的水平,以50例经冠脉造影正常者作对照。结果：ACS患者血清中VACM-1、ICAM-1和CRP水平明显高于对照组,分别为(701±54.6)和(556±42.2)μg·L^-1（P<0.01）、(389±23.7)和(271±34.6)μg·L^-1（P<0.01）及(7.05±3.13)和(4.22±1.41)mg·L^-1（P<0.01）;急性心肌梗塞（AMI）与不稳定心绞痛（UA）患者VCAM-1和ICAM-1无统计学差异［（699.12±62.77)和(706.57±53.65)、(390.39±42.34)和(372.63±32.59μg·L^-1］(P>0.05);AMI患者CRP含量明显高于UA 患者［（8.06±2.78)和(6.33±2.01)mg·L^-1］(P<0.05)。结论：动脉粥样斑块所致的动脉狭窄和闭塞病变伴随着介导血管炎症的VCAM-1、ICAM-1及CRP水平的增高,并且与病变严重程度相关,其过度表达可能是动脉粥样硬化（AS）发生的重要因素之一,有望成为动脉粥样硬化发生发展和病情监测指标。     

Acute coronary syndrome is an independent risk factor for late incomplete stent apposition after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation

Background Late incomplete stent apposition （ISA） may occur after drug-eluting stent implantation, affecting long-term clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of clinical presentations of coronary artery disease on late ISA after percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） with sirolimus-eluting stents （SES） by means of three-dimensional volumetric intravascular ultrasound （IVUS） analyses. Methods One hundred and thirty-seven patients with coronary artery disease received SES implantation during PCI and had repeat angiography with IVUS examination. All patients were followed up one year after the procedure. Results In overall 219 treated lesions （137 patients）, late ISA was identified in 25 lesions （16 patients）. Clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome （ACS） and use of long stents were more common in patients with than in those without late ISA. Patients with late ISA had greater external elastic membrane （EEM） area in stented segment （（15.34±5.44） vs （13.83±4.51） mm^2, P=0.026）, stented-to-reference segment EEM area ratio （1.13±0.22 vs 1.02±0.18, P 〈0.001）, and plaque and media area （（8.43±3.93） vs （7.01±2.93） mm^2, P =0.002） than in those without late ISA. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that clinical diagnosis of ACS and use of long stents were independent risk factors for late ISA （OR 6.477, 95%CI 2.297-18.263, P 〈0.001; OR 3.680, 95%Cl 1.181-11.469, P =0.025; respectively）. During one-year follow-up after IVUS examination, the rate of very late stent thrombosis tended to be higher in patients with than in those without late ISA （18.7% vs 3.3%, P =0.051）. Conclusions The occurrence of late ISA after SES implantation may be related to clinical status, use of long stents, and marked positive vessel remodeling. Late ISA tended to increase the rate of very late stent thrombosis during follow-up, highlighting the importance of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy for these patients.     

急性冠脉综合征冠脉病变的血管内超声研究

目的 探讨急性冠脉综合征冠状动脉罪犯病变的血管内超声(IVUS)特点.方法 对35例稳定型心绞痛(SA)患者和49例急性冠脉综合征(ACS,包括急性心肌梗死和不稳定型心绞痛)患者进行冠状动脉造影(CAG)检查,并应用IVUS观察冠脉罪犯病变处的粥样硬化斑块的性质,同时测量血管外弹力膜面积(EEA)、管腔面积(LA),计算斑块面积(PA)、斑块负荷、偏心指数(EI),并观察血管重构情况.结果 ACS患者冠脉病变处以软斑块为主(69.4%,34 /49) , SA患者冠脉病变处以硬斑块为主(77.1%,27/35) ,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),其中ACS组不稳定斑块、内膜破裂和血栓形成病变占总病变的57.2%,与SA组(8.6%)相比具有显著差异性(P＜0.01);同时两组患者斑块面积[(11.26±3.92) mm2 vs (9.43±3.98)mm2],斑块负荷[(65.67±11.74)% vs(57.34±11.18)%],偏心指数(0.33±0.22 vs 0.59±0.24)相比差异亦具有显著性(P＜0.01);而且,ACS患者主要以正性重构为主(59.2%),而SA患者主要以负性重构为主(57.1%),二者均有统计学差异(P=0.000,P=0.002).结论 在ACS组不稳定斑块及内膜破裂、血栓形成、血管正性重构发生率明显高于SA组,IVUS检查是在体观察粥样斑块的良好手段,并可以指导治疗策略.     

虚拟组织学成像血管内超声在冠心病临床治疗中的应用进展

虚拟组织学成像血管内超声的特点是可以对冠状动脉的斑块进行实时组织学分析。利用这一技术对冠心病患者的研究提示:虚拟组织学成像血管内超声显示的坏死核大、坏死核和管腔直接接触、没有纤维帽的斑块多见于急性冠状动脉综合征患者,也多见于急性冠状动脉综合征患者的直径狭窄<50%的非罪犯血管段,而且冠状动脉的近段斑块坏死核较大;药物洗脱支架没能减少斑块的脂核,且在较长的时间内影响着内皮新生;斑块中大的坏死核与介入治疗时的无复流有关;系列研究显示,他汀治疗可以减少斑块脂质成分,增加纤维组织。     

Firebird药物洗脱支架联合国产替罗非班治疗急性冠脉综合征的安全性及疗效

目的 评估Firebird药物洗脱支架(DES)加替罗非班与Cypher支架加替罗非班治疗急性冠脉综合征(ACS)病人的安全性和有效性.方法 2005年7月至2007年7月323例ACS病人,其中接受Firebird支架(Firebird组)161例,接受Cypher支架(Cypher组)162例.两组同时加用替罗非班.首先给予负荷量10μg·kg-1,3 min内静注完毕,之后以0.15 μg·kg-1·min-1的速度微量泵持续静点36 h.比较两组支架植入后即刻到近期的有效性和安全性,并于30 d内进行随访,比较有效性和主要不良心脏事件的发生率.结果 Firebird组与Cypher组比较,术前左室射血分数、靶病变的部位、血小板计数、血红蛋白、红细胞压积差异均无统计学意义.两组手术成功率均为100%,术后出血并发症、血小板计数、血红蛋白、红细胞压积差异均无统计学意义,两组各有2例发生支架内急性血栓(1.2% vs 1.2%,P＞0.05).均无亚急性血栓发生、非致死性心肌梗死各2例(1.3% vs 1.3%)、靶血管再次重建分别为1例(0.6%),2例(1.3%)、再住院分别为2例(1.3%)1例(0.6%)差异均无统计学意义(均P＞0.05).30 d随访均未见支架内再狭窄.结论 Firebird药物洗脱支架加用冠替罗非班治疗ACS均有较好的安全性和有效性,具有与Cypher支架相似的临床疗效.     

Drug-eluting stent for the treatment of small coronary lesion: comparison between sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stent

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=0.913 respectively) 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 ((0.140.38) mm vs (0.490.61) 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.

     

Smoking control hindered by realities in China

Background Calcified coronary lesions carry the risk of suboptimal stent expansion, subsequently leading to restenosis. The effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents （SES） for the treatment of calcified lesion has not been fully investigated. In the present study, therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of SES implantation for the treatment of calcified coronary lesions.Mothods A total of 333 consecutive patients with 453 lesions were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups according to whether the lesion treated with SES was calcified or not; no calcification group （n=-264） and calcification group （n=-189）. Lesions treated with SES were subjected to quantitative coronary angiography （QCA） immediately and 8 months following stenting. Results Baseline clinical, demographic or angiographic characteristics were well balanced in both groups. Angiographic follow-up at 8 months, the in-stent restenosis and in-segment restenosis rates were not significantly different between the two groups; instent restenosis： 3.8% vs 4.2%; P=0.081; in-segment restenosis： 8.7% vs 10.6%, P=0.503. The target lesion revascularization （TLR） was also not significantly different between the two groups; 4.9% vs 6.9%, P=0.378. In addition, the in-stent late loss was similar in both groups; （0.16±0.40） mm vs （0.17±0.33） mm, P〉0.05. Meantime, overall thrombosis rates were also similar in both groups; 1.6% vs 1.6%, P〉0.05. Conclusion Although calcified coronary lesion was hard to stent, successful percutaneous coronary intervention with SES stenting for calcified lesions was conferred by the similar favorable results that were seen when comparing non-calcified and calcified coronary lesions.     

心血管疾病中IVUS-VH斑块特征与CTRP9、SAA及Hcy的关系

目的 探讨冠心病患者血管内超声虚拟组织学(intravascular ultrasound virtual histology, IVUS-VH)斑块特征与血清脂肪细胞因子C1q/肿瘤坏死因子相关蛋白9(adipocytokine C1q/tumor necrosis factor associated protein 9,CTRP9)、淀粉样蛋白A(serum amyloid A,SAA)和同型半胱氨酸(homocysteine, Hcy)的关系。方法 选取在我院治疗的冠心病患者120例,其中急性冠状动脉综合征(acute coronary syndrome, ACS)患者65例(ACS组),稳定型心绞痛(stable angina pectoris, SAP)患者55例(SAP组),同时选取志愿者50例作为对照组,检测各组血清CTRP9、SAA及Hcy水平,同时给予ACS和SAP组患者IVUS-VH检查。结果 ACS组患者血清CTRP9为(3.02±0.45)×10^-2mg/L,明显低于SAP组(P<0.05),而SAA和Hcy分别为(4.45±1.01...     

Relationship among soluble CD105, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and coronary plaque morphology: an intravascular ultrasound study

Background Rupture of unstable plaque with subsequent thrombus formation is the common pathophysiological substrate of acute coronary syndrome （ACS）. It is of potential significance to explore the blood indexes predicting plaque characteristics. We investigated the relationship among soluble CD105, hypersensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）, and coronary plaque morphology.
Methods A clinical study from April 2004 to December 2006 was conducted in 130 patients who were divided into 3 groups： 56 patients （43.1%） in stable angina （SA） group, 52 patients （40.0%） in unstable angina （UA） group and 22 patients （16.9%） in acute myocardial infarction group. The concentrations of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were measured in all of the patients by cardioangiography （CAG）. Plasma samples of arterial blood were collected prior to the procedure. The levels of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.
Results Unstable and ruptured plaque was found more frequently in patients with acute myocardial infarction and UA. External elastic membrane cross-sectional area （EEM CSA）, plaque area, lipid pool area and plaque burden were significantly larger in the ruptured and unstable plaque group. Positive remodeling, thinner fabric-cap, smaller minimal lumen cross-sectional area （MLA）, dissection and thrombus were significantly more frequent in the ruptured and unstable plaque group. Remodeling index （RI） was positively correlated with the levels of soluble CD105 in the UA group （r=0.628, P〈0.01） and the acute myocardial infarction group （r=0.639, P〈0.01）. The levels of soluble CD105 and hs-CRP were higher in the ruptured plaque group. Soluble CD105 〉4.3 ng/ml was used to predict ruptured plaque with a receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve area of 0.77 （95% confidence interval （CI）, 66.8%-87.2%）, a sensitivity of 72.8%, a specificity of 78.0% and an accuracy of 70.2% （P〈0.01）, similarly for hs-CRP 〉 5.0 mg/     

急性冠脉综合征冠脉病变与中医证型的相关性分析

目的 比较急性冠脉综合征(ACS)不同中医证型的血管内超声(IVUS)特征。方法 纳入行IVUS检查的ACS患者66例,按中医辨证分为热毒血瘀证组（36例）和非热毒血瘀证组（30例）。采用IVUS测定2种罪犯病变斑块面积、外弹力膜(EEM)面积、斑块负荷、高危斑块发生率、正向重构、负向重构和重构指数(RI)等指标,使用SPSS软件包,对比分析2种资料。结果 热毒血瘀证组罪犯病变处的斑块面积、EEM面积和斑块负荷、高危斑块发生率均显著大于非热毒血瘀证组（P<0.01）,重构指数(RI)也高于非热毒血瘀证组（P<0.05）;正重构更常见于热毒血瘀证组（P<0.01）,负重构常见于非热毒血瘀证组（P<0.01）。结论 热毒血瘀证组患者的冠状动脉粥样硬化斑块具有更高的易损性。      

急性冠脉综合征患者冠脉斑块易损性与sCD40配体等血管因子的定量关系

目的研究急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者易损斑块[通过血管内超声(IVUS)判定]和可溶性黏附分子CD40配体(sCD40L)及其他血管因子的定量关系以及临床意义。方法42例ACS患者,发病时取血,应用液相蛋白芯片结合流式细胞分析方法测定sCD40L及相应的炎性因子水平;常规冠状动脉造影并通过IVUS检测42个靶病变处动脉粥样斑块形态学及性质特征。并对各指标间的相关性进行分析。结果sCD40L浓度在易损斑块破裂组高于非破裂组[(474±126)pg/mlvs(238±35)pg/ml],差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),且单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1)和P选择素(sPE)在易损斑块破裂组高于非破裂组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01),但白介素-8(IL-8)和IL-6差异无统计意义(均P>0.05)。sCD40L与sPE、MCP-1呈高度正相关(依次为r=0.93,P<0.01;r=0.57,P<0.01),而与IL-8和IL-6未见相关性。sCD40L在ACS中合并高血压组(279.8pg/ml±95.7pg/ml)较非合并高血压组(99.2pg/ml±56.4pg/ml)升高(P<0.05)。结论sCD40L、MCP-1和sPE可能是冠脉易损斑块发生急性破裂的血清学标志。     

Efficacy of adaptive servoventilation in patients with congestive heart failure and Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Approximately 40% of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) experience Cheyne-Stokesrespiration (CSR). Comparison between CHF patients with and without CSR has demonstrated that even though the left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) was similar at the beginning, those with CSR usually had a worse prognosis than those without CSR. The poor prognosis is associated with sleeping disordered breathing (SDB), intermittent hypoxemia and lower survival in CHF patients with CSR.1-4 …