Multiple-centre clinical evaluation of an ultrafast single-tube assay for SARS-CoV-2 RNA

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of an ultrafast single-tube nucleic acid isothermal amplification detection assay for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA using clinical samples from multiple centres.

METHODS

A reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) assay for SARS-CoV-2 was conducted within 15 minutes at 39°C with portable instruments after addition of extracted RNA. The clinical performance of RT-RAA assay was evaluated using 947 clinical samples from five institutions in four regions of China; approved commercial fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) kits were used for parallel detection. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-RAA were compared and analysed.

RESULTS

The RT-RAA test results of 926 samples were consistent with those of qRT-PCR (330 were positive, 596 negative); 21 results were inconsistent. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-RAA was 97.63% (330/338, 95% confidence interval (CI) 95.21 to 98.90) and 97.87% (596/609, 95% CI 96.28 to 98.81) respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 96.21% (330/343, 95% CI 93.45 to 97.88) and 98.68% (596/604, 95% CI 97.30 to 99.38) respectively. The total coincidence rate was 97.78% (926/947, 95% CI 96.80 to 98.70), and the kappa was 0.952 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

With comparable sensitivity and specificity to the commercial qRT-PCR kits, RT-RAA assay for SARS-CoV-2 exhibited the distinctive advantages of simplicity and rapidity in terms of operation and turnaround time.

Perovskite neural trees

Trees are used by animals, humans and machines to classify information and make decisions. Natural tree structures displayed by synapses of the brain involves potentiation and depression capable of branching and is essential for survival and learning. Demonstration of such features in synthetic matter is challenging due to the need to host a complex energy landscape capable of learning, memory and electrical interrogation. We report experimental realization of tree-like conductance states at room temperature in strongly correlated perovskite nickelates by modulating proton distribution under high speed electric pulses. This demonstration represents physical realization of ultrametric trees, a concept from number theory applied to the study of spin glasses in physics that inspired early neural network theory dating almost forty years ago. We apply the tree-like memory features in spiking neural networks to demonstrate high fidelity object recognition, and in future can open new directions for neuromorphic computing and artificial intelligence.

Tunable hard x-ray nanofocusing with Fresnel zone plates fabricated using deep etching

Fresnel zone plates are widely used for x-ray nanofocusing, due to their ease of alignment and energy tunability. Their spatial resolution is limited in part by their outermost zone width dr N , while their efficiency is limited in part by their thickness t zp. We demonstrate the use of Fresnel zone plate optics for x-ray nanofocusing with dr N = 16 nm outermost zone width and a thickness of about t zp = 1.8 μm (or an aspect ratio of 110) with an absolute focusing efficiency of 4.7% at 12 keV, and 6.2% at 10 keV. Using partially coherent illumination at 12 keV, the zone plate delivered a FWHM focus of 46 × 60 nm at 12 keV, with the first order coherent mode in a ptychographic reconstruction showing a probe size of 16 nm FWHM. These optics were fabricated using a combination of metal assisted chemical etching and atomic layer deposition for the diffracting structures, and silicon wafer back-thinning to produce optics useful for real applications. This approach should enable new higher resolution views of thick materials, especially when energy tunability is required.

[Clinical effectiveness of super pulsed carbon dioxide fractional laser debridement surgery in treating chronic wounds]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of super pulsed carbon dioxide fractional laser debridement surgery on the treatment of chronic wounds. Methods: From December 2018 to May 2019, 37 patients with chronic wounds who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University for a prospective randomized controlled study. Using the random number table, the patients were divided into surgical debridement group (19 patients, 4 males and 15 females, aged (58±16) years, 25 wounds) and laser debridement group (18 patients, 9 males and 9 females, aged (58±10) years, 23 wounds). In patients of surgical debridement group, oedematous and aging granulation tissue was scraped from the wound by scalpel handle or curet, and the residual necrotic tissue was removed by sharp surgical instruments. In patients of laser debridement group, oedematous and aging granulation tissue and necrotic tissue was removed by super pulsed carbon dioxide fractional laser therapeutic machine, laser gasification debridement was performed repeatedly till fresh normal tissue layer observed. In patients of the two groups, according to the wound in the first 3 d after the first debridement, debridement dressing was performed twice at least as before, then wound debridement dressing was performed once every 1 to 4 days as before according to the wound conditions. The wound healing rates on 7, 14, 21, and 28 d after the first debridement were calculated. The positive rates of bacterial culture of wounds before and after the first debridement were calculated. The color and texture of the wound granulation tissue before the first debridement and on 7, 14, and 28 d after the first debridement were observed and scored. The pain scores before every debridement, during every debridement, and after every debridement dressing change were evaluated by visual analogue scale. The times of debridement dressing change were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed with two independent sample t test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, Fisher's exact probability test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: (1) On 7, 14, 21, and 28 d after the first debridement, the wound healing rates of patients in laser debridement group (29.5% (24.1%, 36.0%), 47.1% (42.7%, 62.4%), 71.4% (62.2%, 76.8%), and 88.6% (79.2%, 96.3%) were significantly higher than those of surgical debridement group (1.6% (1.0%, 12.8%), 12.7% (2.0%, 16.6%), 24.5% (8.9%, 45.5%), 43.9% (23.2%, 70.8%), Z=3.477, 3.553, 2.721, 2.193, P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2) Before the first debridement, the positive rates of bacterial culture of wounds in patients of laser debridement group and surgical debridement group were 92% (23/25) and 91% (21/23), respectively, which were similar (P>0.05). After the first debridement, the positive rate of bacterial culture of wounds of patients in surgical debridement group was 64% (16/25), which was significantly higher than 13% (3/23) of laser debridement group (P<0.01). (3) On 7, 14, and 28 d after the first debridement, the scores of color and texture of wound granulation tissue of patients in laser debridement group were significantly higher than those of surgical debridement group (Z=3.420, 5.682, 6.142, 4.461, 5.337, 4.458, P<0.01). (4) The pain scores during every debridement and after every debridement dressing change in patients of laser debridement group were significantly lower than those of surgical debridement group (t=2.847, 5.046, P<0.05 or P<0.01). (5) The time of debridement dressing change in laser debridement group was 8.0 (7.0, 10.0) times, which was significantly less than 10.0 (9.5, 12.5) times in surgical debridement group (Z=2.261, P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with traditional surgical debridement method, super pulsed carbon dioxide fractional laser debridement surgery is more effective in treating patients with chronic wounds. Laser debridement makes the wound healing more efficiently with reduced pain and better infection control; significantly reduces the number of dressing changes, and is especially suitable for the wound treatment in outpatients.

[Prevalence and risk factors of ischemic stroke in rural areas of Liaoning province]

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors of ischemic stroke in rural areas of Liaoning province. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey. From September 2017 to May 2018, a total of 10 926 rural residents aged ≥40 years were investigated in Chaoyang county, Lingyuan, Liaoyang county and Donggang city of Liaoning province. The investigation included questionnaire survey, physical examination and laboratory examination.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors of ischemic stroke. Results: The prevalence of ischemic stroke in the rural areas of Liaoning province was 5.51% (602/10 926), and the standardized prevalence rate was 4.04%. The standardized prevalence rate of male (5.05%) is higher than that of female (3.44%). The prevalence of ischemic stroke increased with age in both males (P<0.01) and females (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age increase(compared with 40-49 years old group, 50-59 years old, OR=2.08, 95%CI 1.31-3.30, P=0.02; 60-69 years old, OR=3.90, 95%CI 2.51-6.05, P<0.01; 70-79 years old, OR=5.32, 95%CI 3.37-8.34, P<0.01; ≥80 years old, OR=3.64, 95%CI 2.00-6.62, P<0.01), male(OR=2.35, 95%CI 1.95-2.84, P<0.01),family history of stroke(OR=2.18, 95%CI 1.83-2.60, P<0.01),coronary heart disease (OR=2.01, 95%CI 1.52-2.66, P<0.01), hypertension (OR=2.82, 95%CI 2.21-3.60, P<0.01), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.36, 95%CI 1.11-1.67, P=0.03) and overweight/obese (OR=1.22, 95%CI 1.02-1.47, P=0.03) were the major risk factors of ischemic stroke. Conclusions: The prevalence of ischemic stroke in rural areas of Liaoning province is high. Age, male, family history of stroke, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight/obesity are the risk factors of ischemic stroke in rural areas of Liaoning province.

Effect of timing of postweaning xylanase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbial composition in weanling pigs

Effect of timing of xylanase supplementation to weanling pigs and its effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota was investigated. A total of 128 weanling pigs [(Hampshire × Duroc) × (Yorkshire × Landrace); 6.2 ± 0.6 kg body weight (BW); weaning age: 21 d] were assigned to four treatments, with eight replicate pens and four pigs per pen. Treatments were a combination of two dietary treatments (without or with xylanase) in two periods; (period 1, days 0–14) and period 2 (days 14–42): xylanase–xylanase, xylanase–control, control–xylanase, and control–control. Fecal microbiota diversity and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) were determined. From days 0–14, pigs had lower (P < 0.01) BW, average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency when xylanase was included in the diets. The final BW (P < 0.05) and overall ADG (P < 0.02) at day 42 were greater when xylanase was supplemented from day 14 compared with supplementation from day 0. The apparent ileal digestibility and ATTD of dry matter, gross energy, nitrogen, and phosphorus were increased (P < 0.05) by xylanase. Xylanase significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Veillonella spp. and tended (P = 0.08) to decrease the relative abundance of Megasphaera spp. in period 2 compared with the non-supplemented group.

[The association between the frequency of prenatal care in childbearing aged women and risk of small for gestational age among neonatal twins in Shaanxi Province]

Objective: To explore the association between the frequency of prenatal care in childbearing aged women and risk of small for gestational age (SGA) among neonatal twins in Shaanxi Province. Methods: From July to December 2013, a total of 30 027 childbearing aged women, who were pregnant from January 2010 to November 2013 and had definite outcomes, were selected from 30 districts (counties) of Shaanxi Province by using the multi-stage random sampling method. The questionnaires with a face-to-face survey method were used to retrospectively collect demographic information, pregnancy history, lifestyle during pregnancy, disease history, nutritional supplements, and health care during pregnancy. Information on the gestational age and birth weight of the newborn were obtained by consulting the medical certificate of birth and were registered as twin A and twin B by birth order. Finally, 356 childbearing aged women and their twin babies with complete data were included in the analysis. A generalized estimation equation model was used to analyze the association between the frequency of prenatal care and the risk of SGA among neonatal twins. Results: The age of childbearing aged women was (27.44±4.68) years old, of which 79.49% (283 women) were rural residents and 44.38% (158 women) had seven or more times prenatal care. The gestational age and birth weight were (37.64±2.51) weeks and (2 510±497) g, respectively. The prevalence of SGA was 51.40% (183/356) for twin A and 53.37% (190/356) for twin B, respectively. The prevalence of SGA was 44.30% (70/158) for twin A with seven or more times prenatal care and 42.41% (67/158) for twin B with seven or more times prenatal care, which was lower than that for twins with less than seven times prenatal care, respectively [57.07% (113/198) and 62.12% (123/198)] (P values were 0.017 and <0.001). The results of generalized estimation equation model suggested that compared to those with less than seven times prenatal care, after adjusting for parity, birth order, place of residence, maternal age, occupation, education, family wealth index, passive smoking, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, folic acid, and iron supplement during perinatal period, and gender of the newborn, the OR (95%CI) of risk of SGA among childbearing aged women with seven or more times prenatal care was 0.60 (0.40-0.91). Conclusion: Seven or more times prenatal care could reduce the risk of SGA among neonatal twins in Shanxi Province.

Bibliometrics Analysis of Forensic Toxicology Literature of Mainland Chinese Scholars in SCIE Journals

Abstract

Objective To conduct bibliometrics analysis of forensic toxicology literature of mainland Chinese scholars published in SCIE journals between 1998 and 2018. Methods Gephi 0.9.2 software was used for bibliometrics analysis. The status of forensic toxicology research in mainland China was network visualized through data analysis of institutional cooperation, author collaboration, fund support, keywords co-occurrence as well as literature interpretation. Results The total number of papers published in SCIE journals in the past twenty years by mainland Chinese scholars was 242, and increased year by year. Thematic studies, such as analysis and evaluation of toxins in hair, identification of new psychoactive substances, optical enantiomer analysis of amphetamines, analysis of toxic animal and plant components, etc, reached the international advanced level. Conclusion The forensic toxicology discipline in our country has developed rapidly in recent years. The opening and development of forensic science in colleges and universities, the constant emerging of new research teams, especially the funding of major special projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology, have promoted high level research output and academic status of Chinese forensic toxicology on the international stage.

Lanthanide-Binding Tags for 3D X-ray Imaging of Proteins in Cells at Nanoscale Resolution

We report the application of lanthanide-binding tags (LBTs) for two- and three-dimensional X-ray imaging of individual proteins in cells with a sub-15 nm beam. The method combines encoded LBTs, which are tags of minimal size (ca. 15-20 amino acids) affording high-affinity lanthanide ion binding, and X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM). This approach enables visualization of LBT-tagged proteins while simultaneously measuring the elemental distribution in cells at a spatial resolution necessary for visualizing cell membranes and eukaryotic subcellular organelles.

Final results for the neutron -asymmetry parameter A0 from the UCNA experiment

The UCNA experiment was designed to measure the neutron β-asymmetry parameter A0 using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). UCN produced via downscattering in solid deuterium were polarized via transport through a 7 T magnetic field, and then directed to a 1 T solenoidal electron spectrometer, where the decay electrons were detected in electron detector packages located on the two ends of the spectrometer. A value for A0 was then extracted from the asymmetry in the numbers of counts in the two detector packages. We summarize all of the results from the UCNA experiment, obtained during run periods in 2007, 2008–2009, 2010, and 2011–2013, which ultimately culminated in a 0.67% precision result for A0.

Phosphorylation of nucleopolyhedrovirus 39K is essential for the regulation of viral gene transcription in silkworm cells

39K protein was proven to be the most notable hyperphosphorylated protein of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), since its amino acid 136 has the highest phosphorylation ratio (16.683) among all of BmNPV phosphorylated proteins (Shobahah et al., 2017). Therefore, we inserted positive (mimicking phosphorylation) and negative (mimicking dephosphorylation) mutants of the highest phosphorylated site of 39K and the wild type 39k into the 39k-ko-Bacmid using the Bac-to-Bac system. These three kinds of recombinant Bacmids along with wild type and knocked-out Bacmid were then transfected into the Bombyx mori cells (BmN) and further investigated by qPCR analysis. The results of the qPCR showed that 39K phosphorylation had no significant effect on viral genome replication, unlike the positive mutation that reduced the viral gene transcription drastically compared to the wild type. Thus, phosphorylation of BmNPV 39K protein does not appear to be the essential mechanism for viral genome replication, even though it has an important role in the viral gene transcription. Keywords: BmNPV; 39K; phosphorylation; virus replication; virus transcription.

Scarless neck endoscopic thyroidectomy via the breast approach: A preliminary report of 45 cases with total or near-total thyroidectomy plus central compartment dissection

BACKGROUND

There are various endoscopic techniques for thyroid carcinoma dissection but few reports regarding the scarless neck technique and central compartment dissection (CCD) via the breast approach, especially for bilateral CCD are available. In this study, we reported 45 cases with scarless neck endoscopic total or near-total thyroidectomy plus CCD via the breast approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-five female patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) were enrolled in the study, from January 2011 to March 2013. In brief, 5 mm ultrasonic coagulation device (Harmonic Scalpel, HS; Ethicon Endosurgery, USA) was used to perform thyroid vessel management and thyroidectomy. Twenty patients underwent total thyroidectomy and 25 underwent near-total thyroidectomy. CCD was performed in all 45 patients, including 13 with bilateral CCD and 32 with ipsilateral CCD.

RESULTS

The procedure was successful for all 45 patients. Sixteen patients (35.6%) had lymph node metastases in central compartments. Postoperative transient adverse events included voice changes (9 patients) and hypocalcemia (18 patients), including 7 (21.9%) in the unilateral group and 11 (84.6%) in bilateral group. There was no permanent hypocalcemia or recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy. None of the case were converted to open surgical procedure. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic result of the scarless neck endoscopic thyroidectomy (SET). No evidence of residual or recurrent disease was found during a mean follow-up of 22.84 months (range, 12-34 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Experienced thyroid surgeons performed the scarless neck endoscopic total or near-total thyroidectomy plus unilateral or bilateral CCD via the breast approach for selected PTC patients. The procedure was safe and feasible with excellent cosmetic results.

[Problems and countermeasures of ocular trauma emergency management in China]

The emergency management of ocular trauma has direct effects on the final results of second-stage surgical treatment and prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to attach great importance to the emergency treatment of ocular trauma, and to adopt practical and effective methods. Based on our analysis the existing problems relevant to emergency management of ocular trauma in China, we put forward some measures, including further standardizing the ocular trauma emergency management, developing ocular trauma emergency management training, improving the relevant system and mechanism for the emergency management of ocular trauma, and strengthening the registration work of ocular trauma emergency and etc. The aim is to significantly improve the level of emergency management of ocular trauma in China. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 641-644).

Synthesis, Characterization, and Stability Studies of Ge-Based Perovskites of Controllable Mixed Cation Composition, Produced with an Ambient Surfactant-Free Approach

In this report, we have applied a facile, ligand-free, ambient synthesis protocol toward the fabrication of not only a series of lead-free Ge-based perovskites with the general formulation of MA1-x FA x GeI3 (where x was changed from 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, to 1) but also CsGeI3. Specifically, our methodology for producing ABX3 systems is generalizable, regardless of the identity of either the A site cation or the X site halide ion. Moreover, it incorporates many advantages, including (i) the possibility of efficiently generating pure Ge-based perovskite particles of any desired chemical composition, (ii) the use of readily available, commercial precursors and comparatively lower toxicity solvents, (iii) the practicality of scale up, and (iv) the elimination of the need for any superfluous organic surface ligands or surfactants. In addition to providing mechanistic insights into their formation, we have examined the chemical composition, crystallite size, morphology, surface attributes, oxidation states, and optical properties of our as-prepared perovskites using a combination of diffraction, microscopy, and spectroscopy techniques. Specifically, we noted that the optical band gap could be reliably tuned as a function of chemical composition, via the identity of the A site cation. Moreover, we have probed their stability, not only under standard storage conditions but also, for the first time, when subjected to both e-beam- and X-ray-induced degradation, using cumulative data from sources such as synchrotron-based scanning hard X-ray microscopy. Importantly, of relevance for the potential practical incorporation of these Pb-free perovskites, our work has emphasized the possibility of controlling the chemical composition within Ge-based perovskites as a means of rationally tuning their observed band gaps and optical behavior.

InDels within caprine IGF2BP1 intron 2 and the 3'-untranslated regions are associated with goat growth traits

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is involved in the Hedgehog pathway and has been shown to regulate the RNA stability of several growth-related target genes. It is located in a quantitative trait locus showing a strong association with traits related to body size in ducks. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) also participates in Hedgehog signaling pathways and has been reported to be associated with organic growth and development. FGFR1-knockout mice have been shown to have severe postnatal growth defects, including an approximately 50% reduction in body weight and bone mass. Meanwhile, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factor (SMG6) can maintain genomic stability, which is associated with organic growth and development. Therefore, we hypothesized that IGF2BP1, FGFR1 and SMG6 genes may play important roles in the growth traits of goats. In this study, the existence of two insertion/deletion (InDel) variants within IGF2BP1, one InDel within FGFR1 and two InDels within SMG6 was verified and their correlation with growth traits was analyzed in 2429 female Shaanbei white cashmere goats. Results showed both the 15 bp InDel in intron 2 and the 5 bp InDel in the 3' regulatory region within IGF2BP1 were significantly associated with growth traits (P < 0.05) and goats with the combinatorial homozygous insertion genotypes of these two loci had the highest body weight (P = 0.046). The other InDels within FGFR1 and SMG6 were not obviously associated with growth traits (P > 0.05). Therefore, the two InDels in IGF2BP1 were vital mutations affecting goat growth traits.

[Association between congenital heart disease and maternal disease in early pregnancy in women of childbearing age]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maternal disease in early pregnancy of women of childbearing age and congenital heart disease of neonates. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in this study and stratified multistage random sampling method was used. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the childbearing-aged women during 2010-2013 in Shaanxi province. Propensity score (PS) matched (1∶1) analysis was used to match participants with diseases to those without disease in early pregnancy. Through the control of the confounders step by step, a logistic regression model was established to evaluate the ORs of congenital heart disease according to the independent variable of maternal disease. Results: A total of 28 680 pairs of mothers and infants were included in this study, the proportion of the women with disease in early pregnancy was 20.25% (5 807). After PS matching, 5 436 pairs were matched. After adjusting all confounding factors, the multivariable logistic regression analysis results showed that maternal disease (OR=1.86, 95%CI: 1.23-2.81), especially cold (OR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.46-3.28), gynecological disease (OR=4.74, 95%CI: 2.03-11.09) and diabetes (OR=14.00, 95%CI: 1.64-119.21), in early pregnancy were the risk factors for congenital heart disease of neonate. Conclusion: In women of childbearing age, disease in early pregnancy, especially cold, gynecological disease and diabetes, can increase the risk of congenital heart disease in neonates.

[Cost-effectiveness of potential government fully-funded influenza vaccination in population with diabetes in China]

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of potential government fully-funded influenza vaccination for diabetics in our country. Methods: From the societal perspective, a decision tree model was developed to compare outcomes (including impact on the influenza-related outpatient consultation, hospitalization and excess mortality, and quality-adjusted life years (QALY), as well as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)) of a national fully-funded vaccination programme in the population with diabetes and status quo (i.e., vaccinated with out-of-pocket payment, with a uptake rate of zero), using the published data with regarding to influenza related ILI (influenza-like illness) consultation rate, hospitalization rate and excess mortality rate, health-related quality of life and economic burden, diabetes prevalence, population size, health seeking behaviour, vaccine uptake rate, vaccine efficacy/effectiveness, etc. A time horizon of 1 year was used in the present analysis, and all costs were expressed in CNY in 2016 using the consumer price index. All results are presented in M (P(25), P(75)). Results: In the scenario of 40% vaccination coverage in the population with diabetes, government fully-funded vaccination programme was estimated to cost 1.71 (1.67, 1.75) billions CNY, and expected to prevent 110 000 (81 000, 143 000) influenza-related ILI consultations, 36 000 (28 000, 44 000) influenza-related SARI hospitalizations and 12 000 (9 000, 16 000) influenza-related deaths due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 108 000 (82 000, 142 000) QALY were estimated to be gained. The ICER was 10 088 (7 365, 14 046) CNY per QALY gained. The probability of cost-effectiveness of the fully-funded vaccination programme was 99.1% at a threshold of 53 680 CNY per QALY gained (GDP per capita in 2016). Conclusion: Government fully-funded influenza vaccination in population with diabetes is cost-effective, and thus is recommended as the key strategy of diabetes prevention and control.

106Plasma trimethylamine N-oxide is associated with culprit plaque characterization as assessed by optical coherence tomography in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Previous study have demonstrated that plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with vulnerable plaque characteristics as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the relation between TMAO and the culprit plaque characteristics as assessed by OCT in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) exhibiting plaque rupture at the site of the culprit stenosis is unknown.

Objective

To explore the relation between plasma TMAO and coronary culprit plaque characterization assessed by OCT in AMI patients exhibiting plaque rupture.

Method

We prospectively enrolled 90 AMI patients with plaque rupture identified by OCT and collected demographic data, risk factors, coronary angiography and OCT data, medical history and laboratory findings of all patients. Plasma TMAO levels were detected by stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Macrophage presence in coronary culprit plaque was quantified by normalized standard deviation (NSD).

Result

All patients were divided into two groups (high TMAO group and low TMAO group) according to the median plasma TMAO level (3.22uM). The culprit plaques in the high TMAO group exhibited a thinner fibrous cap thickness (60um [60–100um] versus 90um [70–110um], P=0.013]), higher frequency of thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (15.6% versus 55.6%, P<0.001), microvessel (24.4% versus 4.4%, P=0.014) and macrophage infiltration (66.7% versus 26.7%, P<0.001) compared with the low TMAO group. Moreover, the level of TMAO was significantly positively associated with NSD (Pearson's correlation coefficient: r=0.766, P<0.001).

Conclusion

Plasma TMAO levels are associated with coronary plaque vulnerability and inflammation in patients with AMI exhibiting plaque rupture.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2016-I2M-1-009)

P819Post-procedural cholesterol and inflammatory risk in acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective

This study sought to depict the combined association of post-procedural cholesterol and inflammatory risk with clinical outcomes among acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and pick out patients with highest comprehensive risk.

Methods

A total of 4802 AMI-PCI patients were divided into quartiles according to post-procedural low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP) level respectively and in combinations for risk analysis. Univariate and adjusted multivariate analysis with Cox model were performed. Hazard ratio (HR) for short-term (90 days) and long-term (1 year) were compared for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.

Results

A significant change in the hazards of 90-day MACE was seen among patients in the highest quartile of post-procedural LDL-C [HR: 0.526 (0.291, 0.951), p=0.034] and highest quartile of CRP [HR: 2.119 (1.150, 3.920), p=0.016]. For 1-year outcomes, only a trend for increasing risk was seen in patients with higher post-procedural CRP (p-trend = 0.016). Combination analysis for cholesterol/inflammatory risk showed that patients lying simultaneously in the lowest quartile of LDL-C and highest quartile of CRP gained the highest risk in the 90-day [HR: 3.16 (1.124, 8.886), p=0.029] and 1-year [HR: 2.515 (1.153, 5.486), p=0.020] follow up.

Hazard ratios (HR) for short-term (90 days) and long-term (1 year) primary outcomes according to cholesterol and inflammatory risk 90 days 1 year Type of risk Unadjusted HR (95% CI) P value Adjusted HR (95% CI) P value P for trend Unadjusted HR (95% CI) P value Adjusted HR (95% CI) P value P for trend LDL, mmol/L   Quartile 2 0.742 (0.441, 1,248) 0.260 0.663 (0.390, 1.125) 0.128 0.033 0.722 (0.364, 1.125) 0.150 0.683 (0.435, 1.072) 0.097 0.251   Quartile 3 0.653 (0.381, 1.121) 0.122 0.597 (0.344, 1.038) 0.068 0.850 (0.557, 1.229) 0.453 0.850 (0.550, 1.312) 0.462   Quartile 4 0.517 (0.288, 0.928) 0.027 0.526 (0.291, 0.951) 0.034 0.673 (0.427, 1.061) 0.088 0.708 (0.444, 1.131) 0.149 CRP, mg/L   Quartile 2 1.365 (0.717, 2.599) 0.334 1.295 (0.654, 2.522) 0.448 0.007 1.063 (0.656, 1.722) 0.805 0.998 (0.608, 1.636) 0.992 0.016   Quartile 3 1.306 (0.681, 2.502) 0.442 1.279 (0.654, 2.499) 0.472 0.999 (0.612, 1.630) 0.996 0.968 (0.586, 1.597) 0.897   Quartile 4 2.354 (1.312, 4.221) 0.004 2.119 (1.150, 3.920) 0.016 1.657 (1.069, 2.570) 0.024 1.528 (0.967, 2.413) 0.069 Multivariate analysis was adjusted for age, sex and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Combined cholesterol/inflammatory risk

Conclusion

AMI-PCI patients with lower post-procedural LDL-C and higher CRP might encounter greater cardiovascular risk. Patients with the lowest LDL-C and highest CRP gained extremely high risk and required special attention.