Objective To investigate the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for short-term all-cause mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Methods Such databases as PubMed, EMbase, Central Register of Controlled Trials, CBM, and CNKI (from the date of their establishments to March 2010) were searched. The level of BNP and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was collected to conduct eligible cohort study for assessing their effects on APE prognosis. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed in those clinical trials in line with the inclusion criteria. Then, RevMan 5.0 software was applied to carry out meta-analyses. Results Sixteen relevant studies with 1 126 APE patients were included. Nine studies reported BNP level and seven studies reported NT-pro BNP level. There was less satistical and clinical Heterogeneity among the groups (P=0.94, I2=0; P=0.99, I2=0). The meta-analyses results showed: the BNP or NT-pro BNP level was closely related with the short-term all-cause mortality. SPE was 0.52, + LR was 1.87, –LR was 0.20, PPV was 0.16, NPV was 0.98, SROC area under the curve was 0.830 5, SE (AUC) = 0.033 5.Conclusion While elevated BNP levels can help to identify APE patients at a higher risk of death, the high negative predictive value of normal BNP levels is more useful for doctors to identify patients with less likelihood of adverse events so as to conduct a selective follow-up.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) for predicting postoperative cardiovascular events of non-cardiac surgery. Methods Databases including The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Ovid, EMbase, WanFang Data and CNKI were searched electrically to collect literature published from 2000 to 2011, and relevant periodicals and references of the included studies were also manually retrieved. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, related cohort studies were selected, data were extracted, and quality of the included studies was evaluated by two reviewers independently. Then meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 11 studies involving 3 649 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with patients with lower BNP levels than the cut-off point before surgery, patients with higher BNP levels than the cut-off point before surgery suffered from a higher incidence of cardiovascular events, with a significant difference (OR=27.54, 95%CI 17.49 to 43.35, Plt;0.000 01), while the result of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was similar to that of BNP (OR=19.53, 95%CI 13.54 to 28.17, Plt;0.000 01). Conclusion Postoperative higher levels of BNP and NT-BNP can be used to predict postoperative cardiovascular events of non-cardiac surgery patients. This conclusion needs to be further proved by more high quality studies due to the quality limitation of the included studies.
Objective To investigate present status of health care in peri-brain-death and analyze its effectiveness and health economic characteristics. Method Retrospective analysis of case series was conducted and a total of 940 patients from surgical intensive care unit (SICU) were reviewed on treatment and part of direct medical expenditure. The patients admitted from Jun. 1999 to Dec. 2000 and Nov. 2001 to Jun. 2002 were included in this study. Data were processed by SPSS 10.0. Results Patients were included if they had two of the three symptoms for at least one hour: deep coma, pupillar light reflex disappear, and no autonomic respiratory. Ultimately 115 patients were included, with a total cost of ￥2 515.9 per day for each case, whereas mortality was 99.10%. Mortality increased with the state of peri-brain-death prolonged. Eighty percent of patients included were dead within 72 hours after admission. Conclusions Attempts to resuscitate patients of peri-brain-death have been the most widely applied in China, however, it resulted in great unnecessary consumption of health resources. It is of great importance to promote legislation of brain death in China.
Objective We aimed to investigate the attitude and suggestion from doctors, pharmacists and civil servants concerning brain death and organ transplantation and the legislation. Methods A questionnaire with 10 sections and 44 questions was designed and distributed. The effective questionnaire data was then recorded and checked for descriptive analysis. Results In 1 400 questionnaires distributed, 1 063 were responded and 969 of them were valid and analyzed. The respondents showed an incomplete understanding of brain death and organ transplantation laws. Seventy-four percent of the respondents recognized and accepted the standard of brain death. They agreed that legislation should be involved in the removal of organs for transplantation, the future use of the organs, and insurance and compensation for the donor for possible health risks induced by organ removal. Of the 969 respondents, 92% considered it necessary to have legislation in brain death and organ transplantation, and 61% thought that it is time to legislate. Conclusion Legislation for brain death and organ transplantation is urgent and timely in China. The laws must include the respective rights and obligations of patients, close relatives, and medical institutions. Educating the public about brain death and organ transplantation should also be encouraged in a variety of ways.
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) for cardiac dyspnea.Methods Plasma BNP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in dyspnea patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) (n=52) or without CHF (n=30) and normal control group (n=28).Results The BNP level in dyspnea patients with CHF was significantly higher than that of dyspnea patients without CHF and normal control group [(649.80±141.72) pg/mL vs (59.08±18.60) pg/mL and (65.20±16.32) pg/mL，respectively,Plt;0.05].There was no significant difference of BNP level between dyspnea patients without CHF and normal group (Pgt;0.05).The plasma BNP level elevated with the worsening of heart failure (NYHA Classiffication).The BNP level in dyspnea patients with CHF was negatively correlated with left ventricle ejection fraction (r=－0.673，Plt;0.001).The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) is 0.91(0.88-0.98，Plt;0.001) with a sensitivity of 87.2% and a specificity of 86.8% at the cutoff value of 206 pg/mL.Conclusion Measurement of plasma BNP is a rapid diagnostic method for cardiac dyspnea.
Objective To explore the pulmonary arterial pressure level in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease ( CKD) and its relationship to cardiac structure and function. Methods 397 patients with predialysis CKD and 50 healthy subjects were enrolled. Cardiac structure was evaluated by Doppler echocardiography. Glomerular filtration rate ( GFR ) were assessed by radiant 99mTc-DTPA.Differences of PAP, BNP, LA, IVST, LVDd, LVDs, LVEF, LVMI and the correlation of PAP with cardiac structure and function were examined. Results The PAP level in the predialysis CKD patients was much higher than that in the healthy subjects [ ( 33. 13 ±9. 00) mm Hg vs. ( 29. 43 ±3. 71) mmHg, P lt;0. 01] .18. 9% of the CKD patients were complicated with pulmonary hypertension. PAP was higher in the CKD patients in stages 4-5 than those CKD patients in stages 1-3 [ ( 35. 90 ±9. 34) mmHg vs. ( 32. 08 ±8. 62)mmHg, P lt;0. 01) ] , so as to the prevalene of pulmonary hypertension ( 21. 60% vs. 13. 47% , P lt;0. 01) .Compared with the healthy, the level of lnBNP [ ( 3. 59 ±1. 63) pg/mL vs. ( 2. 88 ±1. 51) pg/mL, P lt;0. 01] , LA [ ( 40. 42 ±6. 77) mmvs. ( 36. 75 ±4. 94) mm, P lt; 0. 01) ] , LVPW [ ( 9. 55 ±1. 96) mm vs.( 8. 54 ±0. 88) mm, P lt; 0. 01) ] , IVST [ ( 9. 76 ±1. 75) mm vs. ( 8. 71 ±0. 90) mm, P lt; 0. 01) ] , LVMI[ ( 105. 61 ±36. 47) g/m2 vs. ( 87. 41 ±17. 08) g/m2 , P lt; 0. 01) ] were all much higher. There was a negative correlation between PAP and GFR( r = - 0. 461, P lt;0. 01) , and positive correlations between PAP and LA ( r=0. 491, P lt; 0. 01) , LVPW ( r =0. 298, P lt;0. 01) , IVST ( r = 0. 613, P lt;0. 01) , lnBNP ( r =0. 536, P lt;0. 01) , LVMI ( r = 0. 382, P lt;0. 01) . LVMI and lnBNP were both independent risk factors of PAP. The regression equation: y = 16. 447 + 0. 105x1 + 1. 724x2 ( F = 23. 482, P = 0. 000) , y: PAP( mm Hg) , x1 : LVMI( g/m2 ) , x2 : lnBNP( pg/mL) . Conclusions Pulmonary hypertension is a common morbidity of predialysis CKD patients, and deteriorates with degression of renal function. PAP is related to indexes of cardiac structure ( LVMI, LA, LVPW, IVST) and index of cardiac function ( lnBNP) . LnBNP and LVMI are independent risk factors of PAP.
Objective To assess the results of Fluoro Jade-c (FJC) staining in brain injury after deep hypothermia circulatory arrest (DHCA). Methods First, animal model of DHCA were established. We performed DHCA on six Chinese experimental minipigs and made sure all the pigs were alive after operation. Second, pathological examination was carried out on the brain tissues of these animals. After FJC staining, we respectively took out the positive and negative tissueparts and performed Hematoxylineosin (HE) staining, Nissl staining and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase BiotindUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL). Finally, the results of FJC was compared with TUNEL, Nissl staining, HE staining, to verify the accuracy and reliability of FJC in assessing brain injury after DHCA. Results Postoperative FJC staining discovered positive disease focuses on the experimental pigs. The comparative results of FJC were consistent with TUNEL (Kappa=0.526, Plt;0.01), Nissl staining (Kappa=0.555, Plt;0.01) and HE staining (Kappa=0.491, Plt;0.01). However, FJC staining image was much clearer and easier in identifying brain injury. Conclusion FJC is a reliable and convenient method to assess brain injury after DHCA.
Objective To investigate the value and significance of the changes of plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide（BNP） in evaluating ventricle performance of functional single ventricle after total cavopulmonary connection （TCPC）. Methods We studied 11 patients with functional single ventricle undergone TCPC procedure after 2.1 years, who were followed-up at our ward between April 2004 and November 2004, 7 of them were males and 4 of them were females （TCPC group）. The clinical heart function of patients was scored according to the modified scoring system described by Ross. We obtained 3ml blood samples from the extremital vein of all subjects. Blood was collected into chilled tubes containing EDTA and aprotinin （4.5mg and 1 500u/ml blood, respectively）. The blood samples were promptly centrifuged （-4℃, 3 000r/min for 10 min） and the plasma was separated. BNP concentration was determined using immunoradiometric assay kits. Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） examination was undertaken in 6 patients of TCPC group to analyse the relative factors with the change of BNP. Control group included 9 healthy children. Results （1） Median plasma BNP level for TCPC group and control group was 400pg/ ml （IQR200-690） and 110 pg/ml （IQR90-190）, respectively. There was a significant difference in plasma BNP between them （P=0. 003）. （2） The results of the index of heart function of TCPC group determined by MRI were 65. 76±8. 65 ml/m2 in end-diastolic volume index, 31. 90±6. 36ml/m2 in end-systolic volume index, 39.09±11.76ml/m2 in stroke volume index, 0. 52± 0. 06 in ejection fraction（EF）, 2.38±0.58L/min·m2 in cardiac index （CI）, 103.49±21.57g/m2 in mass index and 1.57±0.24 in mass/EDV. （3） The plasma BNP level for TCPC group was significant correlation with operation ages（r=0.632, P=0.041 ）. There was no correlation between plasma BNP level with EF, CI, score of Ross, gender, ages, percutaneous oxygen saturation（SpO2） and the type of dominant ventricle, respectively. Conclusions Raised concentration of plasma BNP in patients 2 years after undertaken TCPC procedure indicates that nervous-endosecretory system is still under stress condition. This pattern suggests that neurohormonal activation is primarily related to the altered postoperative physiology. the significance of BNP in patients of functional single ventricle after undertaken TCPC is different from tat in biventricular physiology patiens. The plasma BNP level could not be correctly evaluated the cardiac function after TCPC operation.
Objective To investigate the perioperative changes of serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement. Methods There were 20 patients admitted to the study, the serum BNP concentrations were measured before cardiac surgery, 24 hours, 7days, 14 days, and 30 days after operation. The preoperative NYHA cardiac function and the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) were measured by echocardiogram. Results The preoperative BNP level was the baseline, it elevated markedly and acutely to a peak value 24 hours after operation ( P =0.003), then the BNP decreased 7 days later, but was still higher than the concentration before operation ( P =0.015), 14 days later it reached to the concentration before operation, 30 days later it was mild lower than preoperative BNP level, but there was no significant difference. There was a positive correlation between NYHA and BNP ( r =0.69, P lt;0.05), but no correlation between LVEF and BNP( r =0.29, P gt;0 05). Conclusion The preoperative serum BNP concentration can reflect the preoperative cardiac function in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement, the high BNP level indicates the poor cardiac function. The BNP sharply elevated in the early time after operation, then gradually decreased in the late phase postoperation.
Objective To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) protein and the activation of phosphoinositid 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) signal ing pathway in neurons under hypoxia ischemia condition,and to elucidate the role of PI3K/Akt on HIF-1α regulation in the developing neurons after hypoxia ischemia brain damage(HIBD). Methods Fifty-six SD rats aged 10 days were randomly divided into normal control group (n=12), sham operationgroup (n=12), experimental group (n=24), wortmannin treated group (n=4) and DMSO/PBS treated group (n=4). In theexperimental group, the rats were anesthetized with ethylether. The right common carotid artery was exposed and l igated. Then, they were exposed to hypoxia in a normobaric chamber filled with 8% oxygen and 92% nitrogen for 2.5 hours. In the sham control group, the right common carotid artery was exposed but was not l igated or exposed hypoxia. In the normal control group, the rats recevied no further processing. For wortmannin treated group and DMSO/PBS treated group, the rats received intraventricular injection of wortmannin or DMSO/PBS 30 minutes before hypoxia ischemia. The brain tissues were harvested from the rats in the normal control, sham operation and experimental groups at 4, 8 and 24 hours after hypoxia ischemia, but in the wortmannin and DMSO/PBS treated groups only at 4 hours. The HIF-1α protein expression and Akt protein expression were detected with immunohistochemistry method. HIF-1α, Akt and p-Akt protein expression were measured by Western blot analysis. Results In the experimental group, the HIF-1α expression was significantly increased at 4 hours after operation, reached the peak level at 8 hours, and began to decrease at 24 hours. The p-Akt protein was significantly increased at 4 hours, and began to decrease at 8 hours. However, the expression levels of HIF-1α and p-Akt protein in the normal control group were extremely low at each time point. So, the expression levels of HIF-1α in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the normal control groups (P lt; 0.01), the expression of p-Akt protein in the experimental group at 4 and 8 hours was significant higher than that in the normal control group (P lt; 0.05). The change of Akt protein in the experimental group was not time-dependent, and no significant difference was evident when compared with that of the normal control group (P gt; 0.05). Using wortmannin, the PI3K/Akt specific inhibitor, HIF-1α protein expression was significantly decreased when compared with the DMSO/PBS treated group and experimental group (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion These results suggested that the HIBD of neonatal rats may activate PI3K/Akt signal ing pathway and further induce the expression of HIF-1α, indicating PI3K/Akt signal ing pathway and HIF-1α could be a potential target for treatment of neonatal HIBD.