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Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common and most lethal gynecological malignancies. OC has an age-dependent incidence and occurs more commonly in females older than 50 years old. Most OC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a poor prognosis. Germline mutations in the BRCA1 DNA repair associated gene (BRCA1) and the BRCA2 DNA repair associated gene (BRCA2) account for 20%-25% of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). BRCA1 germline mutations are more common in Chinese EOC patients.This study reported a three-generation Han-Chinese family containing four EOC patients and a rectal adenocarcinoma patient. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on two EOC patients and an unaffected individual. Variant validation was also performed in all available members by Sanger sequencing.A heterozygous splice site variant, c.4358-2AG in the BRCA1 gene, was identified. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the variant may change the splicing machinery.The BRCA1 splice site variant, c.4358-2AG was identified as the likely genetic cause for EOC, and may also be associated with the increased risk of rectal adenocarcinoma in the family. The findings were beneficial for genetic counseling, helpful for cancer prevention in other family members, and may facilitate therapy decision-making in the future to reduce cancer lethality.

Background: Reports about the relationships between specific insulin concentration and coronary heart disease risk are controversial. Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to examine the association between insulin level and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods: The study population consisted of 507 consecutive patients (376 men and 131 women) who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis. The patients' habits of smoking and drinking were investigated, and anthropometric measurements including body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as well as plasma measurements including lipids and blood glucose were taken. The true insulin level was measured using a highly sensitive two-site sandwich ELISA. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by the Gensini score system. The statistical methods including Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis were employed to explore the relationship between specific insulin level and coronary atherosclerosis. Results: When the Gensini score was examined as a categorical variable classified by tertile values, subjects with a high Gensini score had significantly higher values of fasting plasma specific insulin level (p = 0.022). The Spearman correlation analysis suggest that the Gensini score correlated significantly with true insulin (mIU/l) (r = 0.095, p = 0.033). However, the results from the multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis show that the association between specific insulin level and severity of coronary atherosclerosis lost its significance. Conclusions: The level of plasma fasting specific insulin was associated significantly with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, as measured by Gensini score, but hyperinsulinemia showed no association with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in multivariate analyses.

To investigate the effect of the anti-platelet effect of aspirin plus clopidogrel on off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) grafting and the possible side effects of such therapy.Sixty patients who underwent standard OPCAB were randomized immediately after surgery in two groups: the aspirin alone group of 30 patients who received aspirin (100 mg) daily; and the combination group of 30 patients who received clopidogrel (75 mg) plus aspirin (100 mg) daily. Platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid (PLAA) and adenosine diphosphate (PLADP) were measured at baseline (before surgery) and 1-6, 8, and 10 days after the medication. Postoperative bleeding and other perioperative parameters were compared between these two groups.There were no significant differences between the two groups in perioperative findings including average number of distal anastomosis, operative time, postoperative bleeding, ventilation time, and intensive care unit stay (all P0.05). The proportion of patients with the PLAA above 20% value was significantly lower in the combination group than those in the aspirin alone group (32.1% vs 62.1%, P0.05). PLAA of two groups one and two days after taking aspirin or plus clopidogrel were (24.2±31.9)% vs. (49.6±32.6)% and (13.8±27.2)% vs. (37.6±37.4)%, respectively (P0.05). No obvious postoperative complication was noted in both groups. Multivariate analysis showed that clopidogrel administration was independently correlated with aspirin resistance (P=0.044, OR = 0.09;95% CI=0.07-0.48).Early combined use of aspirin plus clopidogrel after OPCAB can remarkably reduce OPCAB-related aspirin resistance and enjoy similar safety.

is as high as 30%−50%. 1 Many studies have indicated that OSAS may be closely associated with the development of CAD since increased incidence and mortality of CAD were found in OSAS patients. However, although it has been confirmed that OSAS is an independent risk factor for hypertension, its exact correlation with CAD has not been entirely elucidated. The aim of the present study was to explore the correlation between the degrees of OSAS and CAD with the application of coronary artery angiography (CAA), Gensini scoring evaluation system, and other risk factors which may contribute to CAD. METHODS

OBJECTIVES To investigate the impact of anxiety on the prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients of Chinese Han ethnicity and to explore the correlation between anxiety and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS Between June 2007 and May 2009, 1007 hospitalized patients with CAD diagnosed by coronary angiography were recruited. The anxiety symptoms were investigated within 2 days after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention, using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed using the modified Gensini score. One and a half years after discharge, the participants were evaluated at the outpatient clinic or by telephone. The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI). RESULTS A total of 917 (91.1%) patients were evaluated during a mean follow-up period of 17 months. Thirty-five deaths (26 of cardiovascular and 9 of other causes) and 5 nonfatal MIs occurred. The Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score assessed during hospitalization was significantly and independently associated with the Gensini score (β = 1.35, p < .001). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models showed that anxiety symptoms predicted all-cause death and nonfatal MI (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.43, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-4.75, p = .009). CONCLUSIONS Anxiety was independently associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and predicted worse outcome in patients with CAD of Chinese Han ethnicity.

To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)guided by computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography derived roadmap and magnetic navigation system (MNS).During June 2011 and May 2012, thirty consecutive patients receiving elective PCI were enrolled, coronary artery disease was primarily diagnosed by dual-source CT coronary angiography (DSCT-CA) at outpatient clinic and successively proved by coronary artery angiography in the hospital. Target vessels from pre-procedure DSCT-CA were transferred to the magnetic navigation system, and consequently edited, reconstructed, and projected onto the live fluoroscopic screen as roadmap. Parameters including characters of the target lesions, time, contrast volume, radiation dosage for guidewire crossing, and complications of the procedure were recorded.Thirty patients with 36 lesions were recruited and intervened by PCI. Among the target lesions, sixteen were classified as type A, 11 as type B1, 8 as type B2, 1 as type C. The average length of the target lesions was (22.0 ± 9.8) mm, and the average stenosis of the target lesions was (81.3 ± 10.3)%. Under the guidance of CT roadmap and MNS, 36 target lesions were crossed by the magnetic guidewires, with a lesion crossing ratio of 100%. The time of placement of the magnetic guidewires was 92.5 (56.6 - 131.3) seconds. The contrast volume and the radiation dosage for guidewire placement were 0.0 (0.0 - 3.0) ml and 235.0 (123.5 - 395.1) µGym(2)/36.5 (21.3 - 67.8) mGy, respectively. Guidewires were successfully placed in 21 (58.3%) lesions without contrast agent. All enrolled vessels were successfully treated, and there were no MNS associated complications.It is feasible, effective and safe to initiate PCI under the guidance of CT derived roadmap and MNS. This method might be helpful for the guidewire placement in the treatment of total occlusions.

To evaluate the role of intracoronary electrocardiogram (IcECG) in examining early myocardial injury during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Eight-six patients who had undergone elective PCI for their coronary heart disease were enrolled in the study. The IcECG both at baseline and after procedure were recorded with an incoronary guidewire and the serum levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase-myoglobin were measured at baseline and 8 and 24 hours after intervention. Myocardial damage was defined as serum levels of cTnT increase above the upper normal value after intervention. Cardiac events after intervention was followed up.Of all these 86 patients with normal serum levels of cardiac markers before the procedure, significant shift at ST-segment in IcECG during PCI was observed in 30 patients (35%, abnormal group) and no shift in the remaining 56 patients (65%, control group). All the procedures were successful. Serum levels of cTnT and creatine kinase-myoglobin were significantly higher in abnormal group than in control group after intervention (P0.01). The intracoronary ST-segment shift had a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 94% in predicting myocardial injury, with positive and negative predictive values of 90% and 86%, respectively. More cardiac events were observed in abnormal group than those in control group at a 4-week follow-up after intervention (P0.05) and major coronary event-free survival was significantly lower in those with post-procedural ST-segment shift in the IcECG (P0.05).IcECG may be a useful method for predicting myocardial injuries during PCI.

The benefits of the magnetic navigation system (MNS) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain unclear, and a comparison of the MNS assisted approach to the conventional approach for PCI, when used in daily practice, is little studied. This study aimed to investigate the benefits of an MNS assisted technique as compared to the conventional technique for PCI.Forty-eight consecutive patients scheduled for PCI were recruited between December 2009 and April 2010. MNS assisted PCIs were performed on 54 target vessels. Another 45 patients with 54 target vessels undergoing conventional PCIs were selected from a historical population of patients to match the MNS group according to the coronary lesion type (ACC/AHA classification). Emergency PCIs and chronic total occlusions were excluded from both groups. Analyses were performed using Stata 9.2 statistical software.There were no significant differences between the baseline characteristics of the MNS group and the control group. The success rates were 100.0% for the MNS assisted PCI and 98.1% for the conventional PCI, which did not reach a significant difference (P = 1.000); there were also no significant differences in terms of guide wire crossing time ((51.7 ± 30.5) seconds vs. (57.5 ± 49.4) seconds, P = 0.448), operation time ((28.4 ± 15.9) minutes vs. (28.0 ± 24.7) minutes, P = 0.935), X-ray exposure ((458.1 ± 350.1) µGym(2) vs. (558.7 ± 451.7) µGym(2), P = 0.197; and (94.2 ± 80.9) mGy vs. (96.2 ± 77.3) mGy, P = 0.895) or contrast usage ((7.3 ± 4.0) ml vs. (6.1 ± 3.7) ml, P = 0.121) between the two groups. However, a trend toward shorter guide wire crossing time and less X-ray exposure were observed for the magnetic group.In daily practice, MNS assisted PCI resulted in a similar procedural success rate, operation time, and contrast usage, with a trend toward shorter guide wire crossing time and less X-ray exposure when compared to the conventional PCI.

1. We studied the association between the level of the left ventricular ejection fraction and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. 2. The study population consisted of 850 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis. Anthropometric measurements including the body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose and leucocyte count were taken. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by the Gensini score. 3. When the level of the left ventricular ejection fraction was examined as a categorical variable classified by quartile values, subjects with a high left ventricular ejection fraction level had significantly lower Gensini scores than those with a low left ventricular ejection fraction level (P=0.000). Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly negatively associated with Gensini score (r= -0.213, P=0.000). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the Gensini score was significantly independently associated with the left ventricular ejection fraction level (β= -0.194, P=0.000). Furthermore, multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the Gensini score was the independent risk factor for dysfunction of left ventricular ejection (OR=2.048, 95% CI=1.517-2.763). 4. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by the Gensini score. This was a strong and statistically highly significant predictor of the left ventricular ejection fraction level and dysfunction of left ventricular ejection independent of other major risk factors including age, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and leucocyte count.

To explore the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depression symptoms in hospitalized Chinese patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).From June 2007 to May 2009, 1083 hospitalized patients with confirmed coronary artery disease were recruited in this study. The ZUNG Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the ZUNG Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used for the psychological assessment. Economic status, living condition and the environment of both living and working places were evaluated by epidemiological questionnaires.The prevalence of pure anxiety, pure depression symptoms and the combination of anxiety and depression symptoms were 7.9%, 28.3% and 14.3% respectively. Incidence of anxiety and depression symptoms was significantly higher in female patients compared with in male patients (P = 0.003, 0.012 respectively) and in aged patients than in middle-aged patients (P = 0.001). The elderly, less than 9 years of education and poor sleep quality increased the risk of anxiety symptom with ORs of 1.63 (95%CI: 1.21 - 2.21), 1.54 (95%CI: 1.15 - 2.07) and 1.62 (95%CI: 1.34 - 1.96), respectively, while workplace noise, history of chronic disease and poor sleep quality increased the risk of depression symptom with ORs of 1.52 (95%CI: 1.18 - 1.98), 1.36 (95%CI: 1.06 - 1.75) and 1.27 (95%CI: 1.08 - 1.50), respectively. Female (OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.22-2.98), aged patient (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.23 - 2.76), workplace noise (OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.07 - 2.42), history of chronic disease (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.24 - 2.71) and poor sleep quality (OR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.35 - 2.21) were significantly correlated with the combined incidence of anxiety and depression symptoms.Around half of the Chinese hospitalized CAD patients were complicated with various degrees of anxiety and/or depression symptoms. Female and aged patients were at higher risk for anxiety and depression symptoms. Sleep quality, workplace noise, years of education and history of chronic disease were independent risk factors for anxiety or depression symptoms.

Ablation of Cardiac Fat Pads and BJR. Background: Bezold–Jarisch reflex (BJR) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several cardiovascular disorders. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of the vagal ganglia in cardiac fat pads (FPs) may attenuate BJR. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of RFCA of the cardiac FPs on veratridine-induced BJR in dogs. Methods and Results: This study was performed in 30 pentobarbital-anesthetized and open-chest dogs: control group received no ablation (n = 15); and ablation group (n = 15) received epicardial ablation of the 3 FPs located near the right pulmonary vein, the inferior vena cava, and the aortic root. The BJR was induced by injection of veratridine (15 μg/kg) into the left ventricle. Before injection of veratridine, there were no significant differences in heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricle end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular peak systolic and diastolic velocity (±dp/dtmax) between these 2 groups (P > 0.05). However, the veratridine-induced decrease of HR in ablation group was significantly lower than that in control group (22.9 ± 8.5 bpm vs 93.3 ± 18.4 bpm, P 0.05). Conclusions: RFCA of the cardiac FPs significantly attenuated veratridine-induced cardio-vagal component but not the vasodepressor component of the BJR. This might have therapeutic implications in BJR-related disorders such as cardio-inhibitory vasovagal syncope. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 573-578 May 2011)

To investigate the efficacy and safety of the magnetic navigation system used in the real world percutaneous coronary artery intervention.All lesions detected by the coronary artery angiography in the magnetic-navigation catheter lab indicated for percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) were included and treated under the guidance of the magnetic navigation system. The characteristics of the target lesion, process of the procedure, time and dosage of the X-ray exposure, and procedure-related complication were recorded and analyzed.One hundred and twenty one patients with 138 lesions were recruited and intervened by PCI during the period from April 2006 to June 2008. Thirty lesions were classified as type A, 50 as type B1, 36 as type B2, 22 as type C (including seven total occlusions). The average stenosis of the target lesions was (85.3 +/- 10.0)%, mean length was (21.1 +/- 10.0) mm. Under the guidance of the magnetic navigation system, 134 target lesions were passed by the magnetic guide-wires, the lesion passing ratio was 97.1%. The X-ray exposure time, X-ray dosage and the contrast volume used during the period of the wire placement were (55.9 +/- 35.4) seconds, (98.0 +/- 86.1) mGy/(490.0 +/- 422.2) microGym(2) and (8.0 +/- 5.4) ml, respectively. A total of 164 stents were implanted in the vessels where the target lesions were passed by the magnetic wires. There was no magnetic navigation system associated complication. Magnetic guide-wires failed to pass four target lesions, two of which were chronic total occlusions (CTOs), and the other two were calcified subtotal occlusions.It is feasible and safe to adopt the magnetic navigation system for the real-world coronary artery intervention. The magnetic guide-wire possesses a high lesion-passing ratio. The CTOs and calcified subtotal occlusions are not ideal lesions for use of the magnetic navigation system.

Background: Recent studies suggest that the common variant in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) gene is associated with the risk of smoking-related coronary artery disease (CAD). Intra-ethnic as well as inter-ethnic differences are known to impact the frequencies of GST gene polymorphisms, thus influencing its interactive effect with tobacco smoking on CAD risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interaction of the genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 with cigarette smoking and the risk of CAD in a Chinese population. Methods: We conducted a study with 277 CAD patients and 277 controls matched by age and sex to examine the prevalence of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphism in CAD. Results: We found that homozygous deletion of GSTM1 had a frequency of 32.1% among patients with CAD and 21.3% among those without CAD (p=0.004). The frequency of the GSTT1 null genotype was 27.8% among the patients with CAD and 19.1% among CAD-free subjects (p=0.016). Patients who smoked having both the wild-type genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 were protected from developing coronary heart disease (p

To investigate the effect of intracoronary adenovirus vector encoding hepatocyte growth factor gene (Ad(5)-HGF) on hematopoietic stem cells mobilization in patients with extensive coronary heart disease.Patients with extensive coronary heart disease were treated with intracoronary infusion of adenovirus vector encoding hepatocyte growth factor (Ad(5)-HGF 5 x 10(9) pfu) gene plus stent implantation (n = 9) or equal physiological saline plus stent implantation (n = 9). Angioplasty and stent implantation was performed according to standard clinical practice by the femoral approach and blood samples were drawn from each patient at baseline before PCI, 6 to 24 hours and 6 days post procedure. The number of CD34(+), CD38(+) and CD117(+) cells in peripheral blood was analyzed by flow cytometer.The number of circulating CD34(+) cells in Ad(5)-HGF gene treatment group 6 hours after procedure and the number of circulating CD117(+) cells 6 days post procedure were significantly higher in Ad(5)-HGF gene treatment group than those in the control group (0.104 +/- 0.082 vs. 0.022 +/- 0.012, P = 0.021) and (0.058 +/- 0.058 vs. 0.012 +/- 0.009, P = 0.034), respectively.Intracoronary administration of Ad(5)-HGF could mobilize hematopoietic stem cells into peripheral blood and the consequent role of this observation on myocardial regeneration warrants further detailed studies.

To investigate the association of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) with coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD).From March of 2005 to December of 2005, 82 subjects admitted into Department of Cardiology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were recruited. They were divided into three groups based on their nocturnal apnea hypopnea index (AHI) detected by examination of polysomnography (PSG): mild OSAHS group (5AHIor = 20, 38 cases), moderate-to-severe group (AHI20, 20 cases) and control group (AHI5, 24 cases). Coronary artery angiography and Gensini Score for assessing the severity of coronary atherosclerosis were performed in all three groups.Compared with the control group, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly higher in OSAHS groups [10.9 (7.7 - 15.2), 29.3 (23.3 - 48.4) vs 2.9 (1.9 - 3.8)]. The minimal SpO(2) was significantly lower (84 +/- 9)%, (81 +/- 9)% in OSAHS groups than that in the control group (89 +/- 6)%. The incidence of CAD was significantly higher [66% (25/38) and 95% (19/20)] in OSAHS groups than in the control group [17% (4/24)]. The percentage of patients with single-coronary-vessel disease was 24% (9/38) in mild OSAHS group, 20% (4/20) in moderate-to-severe OSAHS group, and 17% (4/24) in control group. The patients with multi-coronary-vessel disease were 42% (16/38) in mild OSAHS group, 80% (16/20) in moderate-to-severe OSAHS group, and 12.5% (3/24) in control group. Gensini Score was significantly higher in moderate-to-severe OSAHS group than that in control group [35.0 (16.5 - 87.0), 1.0 (0.0 - 5.0)]. Moreover, a positive correlation was revealed between AHI and Gensini Score.OSAHS may be a significant independent risk factor of coronary atherosclerosis and CAD and should be taken into account in CAD secondary prevention.

Objective This post-marketing surveillance registry is aimed at determining the safety and reliability of the CYPHER Select Sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in routine clinical practice. Background Little information and angiographic follow-up data in large-scale "real world" registry is available for the CYPHER Select SES, an advanced-generation SES. Methods This was a prospective multicenter (20 centers) registry. 1189 consecutive patients who received at least 1 CYPHER Select SES during daily clinical practice were enrolled. Patients who underwent emergency stenting for acute myocardial infarction were excluded. Results The procedure's success rate was 98.3% for CYPHER Select SES implantation, and follow-up rates were 98% with 100% data auditing. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12 months occurred in 60 (5.14%) cases, cardiac death in 13 cases (1.11%), Q wave myocardial infarction (MI) in 5 cases (0.43%), non-Q-MI in 9 cases (0.77%), target vessel revascularization (TVR) in 67 cases (5.74%), and MACE defined as cardiac death, nonfatal MI and TLR in 76 cases (6.51%). MACE-free survival rate at 12 months was 93.7%. Angiographic follow-up at 9 months was performed in 418 (68.3%) lesions treated by CYPHER Select SES. The binary restenosis rate was 4.8% in-stent and 9.6% in-segment. Subgroup analysis showed diabetes, bifurcation lesion and combined use of different stents were independent risk factors of cumulative MACE. In-segment MLD ≤2.25 mm at post-procedure and ostial lesion was independent predictors of in-segment restenosis. Conclusions In this registry, the MACE, TLR, angiographic late loss and binary restenosis rates of CYPHER Select SES were similar to those reported in SES randomized trials and "real world" registries. The safety and efficacy of CYPHER Select SES shown in this registry are consistent with those seen in SES studies.

To explore the relationship between differential leucocyte count and coronary atherosclerosis.The study population consisted of 507 consecutive patients (376 male and 131 female) who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis. The patients' smoking and drinking habits were investigated, and anthropometric measurements, serum measurements, and hematological measurements were conducted for every patient. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by using Gensini's score system. One-way ANOVA, Spearman's correlation analysis, and multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis were employed to explore the relationship between differential leucocyte count and coronary atherosclerosis.One-way ANOVA indicated that the diastolic blood pressure, glucose, urea, creatinine, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, monocyte count, hemoglobin, and platelet count differed among the groups according to Gensini's score, the tertile values of which were used as cutoff points. Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that Gensini's score was significantly correlated with age, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, urea, creatinine, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, monocyte count, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte count, respectively. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis show that neutrophil count (beta=0.247, P=0.000), age (beta=0.141, P=0.001), glucose (beta=0.173, P=0.000), creatinine (beta=0.088, P=0.063), hemoglobin (beta=-0.168, P=0.013) and sex (men were coded as 1 and women were coded as 2; beta=-0.121, P=0.012) were significantly independently associated with the Gensini's score.The independent association of neutrophil count with the angiographical characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis, as estimated by Gensini's score, strongly suggests that granulocytosis may play a role in the development of coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective The objective of this survey was to study the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Methods The study population consisted of 961 consecutive patients (711 males and 250 females) who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis. The patients' body mass index, blood pressure, the blood lipid, blood glucose, leukocyte count (109/L), neutrophil count (109/L), and Helicobacter pylori-specific IgG antibodies were performed. Coronary angiograms were scored according to vessel score and Gensini's score. Results A significant association between H. pylori infection and coronary atherosclerosis as well as its severity was not find in this cross section study (p = 0.858). And, the level distribution of vessel score (p = 0.906) and Gensini's score (p = 0.905) were similar in the seropositivity group and seronegativity group of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the level of fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L) (p = 0.013) was significantly lower in the seropositivity group than that in the seronegativity group of Helicobacter pylori infection. Conclusions In conclusion, in the present study, a significantly correlation between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and angiographically evaluated severity of atherosclerosis was not find. And, the present study showed a good correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and decreased HDL cholesterol. However, the exact mechanisms need further study.