ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) on the long-term prognosis of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). Methods: Two thousand one hundred and eighty-five NSTEACS cases with coronary artery disease and preoperative record of RDW who under went elective PCI treatment from July 2009 to September 2011 were selected. According to preoperative RDW levels, the patients were divided into two groups. One thousand one hundred and seventy cases belonged to the RDW < 12.2 group, 1015 cases belonged to RDW ≥ 12.2 group. The clinical characteristics and the incidence of postoperative mortality in the two groups were compared. There was a follow-up period of 540 days. Results: Patients in the RDW ≥ 12.2 group were females with characteristics such as: hypertension, history of cerebrovascular disease, hospital use of β-blockers and high body mass index (BMI) at admission, low haemoglobin and total cholesterol levels. The postoperative mortality of RDW ≥ 12.2 group (2.7% vs 1.0%, p = 0.004) was significantly higher than that of RDW < 12.2 group. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, after adjustment for other factors, RDW ≥ 12.2 in the patients with postoperative PCI was an independent predictive factor for mortality (HR 2.171, 95% CI 1.007, 4.680, p = 0.048). Conclusion: High RDW in patients with postoperative PCI was an independent predictive factor for mortality.

RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la influencia de la amplitud de la distribución eritrocitaria (ADE, o ADR, amplitud de la distribución de los glóbulos rojos) en el pronóstico a largo plazo de la intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST (SCASEST). Métodos: Se seleccionaron dos mil ciento ochenta y cinco casos (2,185) de SCASEST con enfermedad arterial coronaria y registro preoperatorio de ADE que aceptaron el tratamiento electivo de ICP de julio de 2009 a septiembre de 2011. De acuerdo con los niveles preoperatorios de ADE, los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos. Mil ciento setenta casos pasaron a formar parte del grupo ADE < 12.2, mientras que 1015 casos formaron parte del grupo ADE ≥ 12.2. Se compararon las características clínicas y la incidencia de mortalidad postoperatoria en ambos grupos. Hubo un período de seguimiento de 540 días. Resultados: Los pacientes en el grupo ADE ≥ 12.2 eran mujeres con características tales como hipertensión, historia de enfermedad cerebrovascular, aplicación hospitalaria de β-bloqueadores, alto índice de masa corporal (IMC) al momento del ingreso, bajos niveles de hemoglobina y niveles de colesterol total. La mortalidad postoperatoria del grupo ADE ≥ 12.2 (2.7% vs 1.0%, p = 0.004) fue significativamente mayor que la del grupo ADE < 12.2. En el análisis de regresión de Cox multivariante, después del ajuste de otros factores, la ADE ≥ 12.2 de los pacientes con ICP postoperatorio devino un factor predictivo independiente de mortalidad (HR 2.171, IC 95% 1.007, 4.680, p = 0.048). Conclusión: La ADE alta en pacientes con ICP postoperatorio fue un factor predictivo independiente en relación con la mortalidad.

We aimed to investigate the effects of an anti-tumor necrosis factor-α antibody (ATNF) on cartilage and subchondral bone in a rat model of osteoarthritis. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated group (n=8); anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)+normal saline (NS) group (n=8); and ACLT+ATNF group (n=8). The rats in the ACLT+ATNF group received subcutaneous injections of ATNF (20 μg/kg) for 12 weeks, while those in the ACLT+NS group received NS at the same dose for 12 weeks. All rats were euthanized at 12 weeks after surgery and specimens from the affected knees were harvested. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and Mankin score assessment were carried out to evaluate the cartilage status and cartilage matrix degradation. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the cartilage molecular metabolism. Bone histomorphometry was used to observe the subchondral trabecular microstructure. Compared with the rats in the ACLT+NS group, histological and Mankin score analyses showed that ATNF treatment reduced the severity of the cartilage lesions and led to a lower Mankin score. Immunohistochemical and histomorphometric analyses revealed that ATNF treatment reduced the ACLT-induced destruction of the subchondral trabecular microstructure, and decreased MMP-13 expression. ATNF treatment may delay degradation of the extracellular matrix via a decrease in MMP-13 expression. ATNF treatment probably protects articular cartilage by improving the structure of the subchondral bone and reducing the degradation of the cartilage matrix.