The clinical application of 16-slice CT coronary angiography (CTCA) and the impact of plaques differently characterized on assessing coronary artery stenosis were evaluated. Thirty-eight patients with coronary artery disease diagnosed by conventional coronary angiography (CAG) underwent 16-slice CTCA (collimation: 16×0.75 mm; rotation time: 420 msec; kernel: 35f; effective current: 500 mAs; tube voltage: 120 kV). The interval between CTCA and CAG was within one month. CTCA was evaluated by consensus of two independent experienced radiologists unknowing CAG findings. Original images, maximum intensity projections and multiplanar reconstructions were used to assess coronary artery stenosis. For a determined plaque an attenuation value ⩾130 HU was considered as calcified, and <130 HU noncalcified. The plaques were then classified into significant calcification (extensive calcification), medium calcification (small isolated calcification) and noncalcification. The diagnostic accuracy of 16-slice CTCA findings as well as to detect ⩾50% stenoses caused by plaques was evaluated respectively regarding CAG as the standard of reference. In comparison with CAG findings, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value derived from CTCA for mild stenosis (<50%) were 72.7%, 38.5%, 50%, 62.5%, respectively; for moderate stenosis (50%–75%) 82.4%, 72.7%, 70%, 84.2%, resepctively; and for severe coronary stenosis (>75%) 85%, 90.5%, 81%, 92.7% respectively. With the increase of stenoses degree, the value of CTCA was greater. For the classification of the plaque calcification with ⩾50% stenosis CTCA attained the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for severe calcificatoin 73.3%, 22.2%, 61.1% and 33.3%, respectively; for moderate calcification 70%, 55.6%, 63.6% and 62.5%, respectively; for noncalcification 93.8%, 85.7%, 93.8% and 85.7% respectively. CTCA was restricted in assessing coronary artery stenosis in the presence of calcification, but CTCA value was much improved in assessing non-calcified stenosis. It was concluded that 16-slice CTCA could provide useful information about coronary artery stenosis, especially for severe stenosis (⩾50%) and non-calcified plaque. Since CTCA is a noninvasive technique, it may be useful in screening coronary artery disease.

In order to investigate peptide mimics of carbohydrate blood group A antigen, a phage display 12-mer peptide library was screened with a monoclonal antibody against blood group A antigen, NaM87-1F6. The antibody-binding properties of the selected phage peptides were evaluated by phage ELISA and phage capture assay. The peptides were co-expressed as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins. RBC agglutination inhibition assay was performed to assess the natural blood group A antigen-mimicking ability of the fusion proteins. The results showed that seven phage clones selected bound to NaM87-1F6 specifically, among which, 6 clones bore the same peptide sequence, EYWYCGMNRTGC and another harbored a different one QIWYERTLPFTF. The two peptides were successfully expressed at the N terminal of GST protein. Both of the fusion proteins inhibited the RBC agglutination mediated by anti-A serum in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggested that the fusion proteins based on the selected peptides could mimic the blood group A antigen and might be used as anti-A antibody-adsorbing materials when immunoabsorption was applied in ABO incompatible transplantation.

The aim of present study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene delivery to myocardium in vivo by ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) and polyethylenimine (PEI). SonoVue/DNA and PEI/DNA/SonoVue complexes were prepared. Gel electrophoresis analysis was performed to determine the structural integrity of plasmid DNA or PEI/DNA after UTMD. Solutions of plasmid DNA, SonoVue/DNA, PEI/DNA complexes or PEI/DNA/SonoVue complexes were respectively transduced into BALB/c mice hearts by means of transthoracic ultrasound irradiation. Mice undergoing PBS injection, plasmid injection or PEI/DNA complexes injection without ultrasound irradiation served as controls. Gene expression in myocardium was detected 4 days after treatment. Cryosections and histological examinations were conducted. Electrophoresis gel assay showed no damage to DNA or PEI/DNA complexes after UTMD. When the heart was not exposed to ultrasound, the expression of EGFP was observed in the subendocardial myocardium obviously. The strongest expression was detected in the anterior wall of the left ventricle when the heart was exposed to ultrasound alone. Injection of PEI/DNA complexes and UTMD resulted in the highest transfection efficiency and the distributional difference of EGFP was not obvious. No tissue damage was seen histologically. In conclusion, a combination of UTMD and PEI was highly effective in transfecting mice hearts without causing any apparently adverse effect. It provides an alternative to current clinical gene therapy and opens a new concept of non-viral gene delivery for the treatment of cardiac disease.