Optimized Fluoroscopy Setting and Appropriate Project Position Can Reduce X-ray Radiation Doses Rates during Electrophysiology Procedures

Background:

Nonfluoroscopic three-dimensional electroanatomical system is widely used nowadays, but X-ray remains indispensable for complex electrophysiology procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the value of optimized parameter setting and different projection position to reduce X-ray radiation dose rates.

Methods:

From June 2013 to October 2013, 105 consecutive patients who underwent complex ablation were enrolled in the study. After the ablation, the radiation dose rates were measured by two different settings (default setting and optimized setting) with three projection positions (posteroanterior [PA] projection; left anterior oblique [LAO] 30° projection; and LAO 45° projection). The parameter of preset voltage, pulse width, critical voltage, peak voltage, noise reduction, edge enhancement, pulse rate, and dose per frame was modified in the optimized setting.

Results:

The optimized setting reduced radiation dose rates by 87.5% (1.7 Gy/min vs. 13.6 Gy/min, P < 0.001) in PA, 87.3% (2.5 Gy/min vs. 19.7 Gy/min, P < 0.001) in LAO 30°, 85.9% (3.1 Gy/min vs. 22.1 Gy/min, P < 0.001) in LAO 45°. Increase the angle of projection position will increase the radiation dose rate.

Conclusions:

We can reduce X-ray radiation dose rates by adjusting the parameter setting of X-ray system. Avoiding oblique projection of large angle is another way to reduce X-ray radiation dose rates.     

Short-term Safety and Efficiency of Cryoablation for Renal Sympathetic Denervation in a Swine Model

Background:

Renal sympathetic nerves are involved in the reflective activation of the sympathetic nervous system in circulatory control. Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) ameliorated treatment-resistant hypertension safely, but 10%–20% of treated patients are nonresponders to radiofrequency denervation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficiency of cryoablation for sympathetic denervation in a swine model and to explore a new way of RDN.

Methods:

Seven swines randomly assigned to two groups: Renal cryoablation (CR) group and control group. The control group underwent renal angiogram only. The CR group underwent renal angiogram plus bilateral renal cryoablation. Renal angiograms via femoral were performed before denervation, after denervation and prior to the sacrifice to access the diameter of renal arterial and the pressure of aorta abdominalis. Euthanasia of the swine was performed on 28-day to access norepinephrine (NE) changes of the renal cortex and the changes of renal nerves.

Results:

Cryoablation did not induce severe complications at any time point. There was no significant change in diameter of renal artery. CR reduced systolic blood pressure (BP) from 145.50 ± 9.95 mmHg at baseline to 119.00 ± 14.09 mmHg. There was a slight but insignificant decrease in diastolic BP. The main nerve changes at 28-day consisted of necrosis with perineurial fibrosis at the site of CR exposure in conjunction with the nerve vacuolation. Compared with the control group, renal tissue NE of CR group decreased by 89.85%.

Conclusions:

Percutaneous catheter-based cryoablation of the renal artery is safe. CR could effectively reduce NE storing in the renal cortex, and the efficiency could be maintained 28-day at least.     

Proteomic analysis of exosomes derived from human lymphoma cells

Background

Exosomes secreted by tumor cells contain specific antigens that may have immunotherapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to characterize the proteomic content of lymphoma cell-derived exosomes (LCEXs).

Methods

In this study, exosomes derived from Raji cells (EXO_Raji) were purified and proteins of EXO_Raji were separated by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Protein bands were identified by mass spectrometry. The protein components of EXO_Raji were analyzed using shotgun technology, and the function proteins of EXO_Raji were defined and described using the Gene Ontology (GO) database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis.

Results

A total of 197 proteins were identified in EXO_Raji; 139 proteins were also identified in Raji cells, showing an overlap of 70.56% of the total proteins in EXO_Raji. Interestingly, the remaining 58 proteins were unique to EXO_Raji. The GO database and KEGG were used to define and describe the function of proteins. The data showed that some important proteins involved in antigen procession and presentation as well as cell migration and adhesion were also identified in EXO_Raji, such as MHC-I and II, HSC70, HSP90, and ICMA-1.

Conclusions

LCEXs express a discrete set of proteins involved in antigen presentation and cell migration and adhesion, suggesting that LCEXs play an important role in the regulation of immunity and interaction between lymphoma cells and their microenvironment. LCEXs harbor most of the proteins of lymphoma cells and could be one of the sources of lymphoma-associated antigens for immunotherapeutic purposes.     

High Physical Activity is Associated with an Improved Lipid Profile and Resting Heart Rate among Healthy Middle-aged Chinese People

Objective To investigate the effects of physical activity (PA) on dyslipidemia and elevated resting heart rate (RHR) in a large-scale cross-sectional study in China. Methods We recruited community-based individuals who were 40-60 years old using a cluster sampling method. The PA levels of the participants were classified as low, moderate, or high, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Dyslipidemia was defined as the detection of abnormalities in lipid indicators, and 4 lipid parameters were evaluated using fasting blood samples. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations of PA with dyslipidemia and RHR. Results A total of 10,321 participants (38.88% men) were included in this study. The percentages of individuals with high, moderate, and low PA levels were 46.5%, 43.9%, and 9.6%, respectively. In both men and women, high PA provided odds ratios of 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83, 0.94] for dyslipidemia and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.92) for elevated RHR, compared to participants with low PA. Conclusion Our data suggested that substantial health benefits (related to dyslipidemia and elevated RHR) occurred at higher intensity PA, with greater energy consumption, in middle-aged Chinese people, and particularly in men.     

G蛋白偶联受体激酶4对内皮素B型受体的异常调节在原发性高血压发生中的作用

目的探讨G蛋白偶联受体激酶4(G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4,GRK4)对内皮素B型受体(endothelin receptor B,ETB)的异常调节在原发性高血压中的作用及机制。方法选用12~14周龄,体质量300 g左右的雄性自发性高血压大鼠(spontaneously hypertensive rats,SHRs)及其对照鼠(Wistar-Kyoto,WKY)各10只,通过无创鼠尾测压仪测定血压,采用右肾上腺静脉插管灌注ETB受体特异性激动剂BQ3020后观察尿流速及尿钠排泄率,荧光定量PCR检测大鼠肾脏GRK4 mRNA水平,Western blot测定大鼠肾脏GRK4及ETB受体的蛋白表达差异,免疫共沉淀法检测ETB受体磷酸化情况,在动物水平观察高血压状态下ETB受体的功能情况。结果 ETB受体激动剂BQ3020对WKY大鼠有明显利尿排钠作用,且这种利尿排钠作用可以被ETB受体抑制剂BQ788阻断,但在SHR大鼠BQ3020的利尿排钠作用受损[尿流速:(11.23±2.16)vs(3.49±1.32),P<0.05];尿钠排泄率:[(1 551.43±393.47)vs(601.16±128.15),P<0.05];在SHR大鼠肾皮质GRK4的蛋白水平及mRNA水平均较WKY大鼠高[蛋白:(1.38±0.10)vs(0.85±0.07),P<0.05];mRNA:[(2.23±0.15)vs(0.78±0.16),P<0.05],SHR大鼠ETB受体总蛋白水平与WKY大鼠相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但ETB受体磷酸化水平增高。结论 GRK4可能通过对内皮素B型受体的异常调节,参与了原发性高血压发生与发病。     

Efficacy and safety of two unfractionated heparin dosing strategies with tenecteplase in acute myocardial infarction (results from Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Thrombolytic Regimens 2 and 3)

We investigated the effect of smaller dose, weight-adjusted heparin with earlier monitoring of activated partial thromboplastin time on the incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with full-dose tenecteplase. We compared the outcomes of patients enrolled in the Second Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Thrombolytic Regimen (ASSENT-2; n = 8,461) who received heparin stratified by weight (patients weighing >67 kg received a 5,000-U bolus plus infusion at 1,000 U/hour; those weighing < or =67 kg received a 4,000-U bolus plus infusion at 800 U/hour) with patients in ASSENT-3 who received weight-adjusted heparin (60-U/kg bolus, maximum 4,000 U/hour, followed by a 12-U/kg/hour infusion, maximum 1,000 U/hour). Compared with patients in ASSENT-2, those in ASSENT-3 had similar rates of 30-day mortality, recurrent infarction, and intracranial hemorrhage, less major bleeding (2.2% vs 4.7%, p <0.001), and less refractory ischemia (6.5% vs 8.6%, p <0.001). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, patients in ASSENT-3 had similar rates of 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77 to 1.19) and intracranial hemorrhage (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.69) but less major bleeding (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.67) than did patients in ASSENT-2. These findings support the use of smaller dose, weight-adjusted heparin in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with tenecteplase.     

A father and son with Turcot's syndrome: Evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance

Typical Turcot's syndrome is characterized by the association of a brain glioma together with multiple colonic polyposis, in which the number of polypoid lesions is small and the association of colonic cancer occurs at a younger age than in familial adenomatous polyposis. We describe a family in which both the father and his son presented with typical Turcot's syndrome without parental consanguinity. This is the first report of a family that is considered to follow an autosomal dominant inheritance. After reviewing 25 documented cases in which the average age of death was 20.3 years old, it was learned that the major cause of death was brain tumor (76 percent) and the minor cause was colon cancer (16 percent). Patients were very young and, therefore, unlikely to have produced a child before their death. These facts seem to support the theory that Turcot's syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder.     

螺内酯对肝硬变门脉血流动力学的实验和临床研究

目的探索螺内酯对门脉高压实验犬和肝硬变患者门脉血流动力学的作用．方法用直接门脉插管测压和９９ｍＴｃＭＩＢＩ心肝放射性摄取比值（Ｈ／Ｌ）测定慢性胆总管结扎肝硬变犬（ｎ＝１６）门静脉压力和门体分流，口服螺内酯２０ｍｇ／（ｋｇ·ｄ）．肝硬变患者１４例测定Ｈ／Ｌ，门静脉内径和流速后口服螺内酯８０ｍｇ／ｄ，４ｗｋ为１疗程．结果完成试验的犬１３只治疗前后门脉压力（ｋＰａ）从２５９±０５１下降为２４２±０４７（Ｐ＜００５），Ｈ／Ｌ从０３３±００６降至０３０±００８（Ｐ＜００５）．１４例肝硬变患者治疗前后Ｈ／Ｌ值从１２０±０２６降为１０２±０３４（Ｐ＜００５），门脉内径（ｍｍ）从１３９±２３缩小为１２３±２０（Ｐ＜００５）．门静脉流速明显增加．结论螺内酯口服可降低门脉压力和门体分流．     

A meta-analysis of the associations between the Q141K and Q126X ABCG2 gene variants and gout risk

Background: Gout is an inflammatory disease in which genetic factors play a role. ABCG2 is a urate transporter, and the Q141K and Q126X variants of ABCG2 have been associated with a risk of developing gout, though previous studies of these associations have been inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between these genetic variants and gout. Methods: We examined 8 electronic literature databases. In total, 9 eligible articles on the associations between the Q141K (rs2231142) and Q126X (rs72552713) variants and gout risk, including 11 case-control studies were selected. We used odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess the strength of these relationships in dominant, recessive, and co-dominant models. Results: This study included 6652 participants (2499 gout patients and 4153 controls). The Q141K variant was found to significantly increase the risk of gout in Asians (dominant model: OR=2.64, 95% CI=2.04-3.43, P=0.02 for heterogeneity; recessive model: OR=3.19, 95% CI=2.56-3.97, P=0.28 for heterogeneity; co-dominant model: OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.18-1.59, P=0.09 for heterogeneity) and other populations (dominant model: OR=1.85, 95% CI=1.20-2.85, P<0.0001 for heterogeneity; recessive model: OR=3.78, 95% CI=2.28-6.27, P=0.19 for heterogeneity; co-dominant model: OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.26-1.74, P=0.19 for heterogeneity). The Q126X variant also significantly increased the risk of gout in Asians (dominant model: OR=3.87, 95% CI=2.07-7.24, P=0.06 for heterogeneity). Conclusions: These results suggest associations between the rs2231142 and rs72552713 ABCG2 gene polymorphisms and gout risk, which led to unfavorable outcomes. However, studies with larger sample sizes and homogeneous populations should be performed to confirm these results.