Endovascular treatment is becoming a novel technique in the treatment of carotid stenosis. Since this technique is in its infancy, there are many controversies on this technique and theory now. This paper briefly reviews the most recent advances in endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis.

Objective To compare the clinical effect of remifentanil and dexmedetomidine on controlled hypotension during endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods Forty patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery were randomly divided into group R and group D, 20 in each group. All patients received controlled hypotension when the surgeons began to sterilize the nasal cavity for the purpose of maintaining the MAP at 60 ~ 70 mmHg. Group R received remifentanil 1μg/kg over 1 minute, followed by 0.2 to 0.4μg/kg per minute infusion during maintenance, whereas group D received dexmedetomidine 1μg/kg over 10 minutes, followed by 0.2 to 0.7μg/kg per hour during maintenance. At the moment of pre-induction(T0), incision(T1), 30 min(T2) and 60 min(T3) after incision and 10 min(T4) after end of controlled hypotension, MAP and HR were measured. Quality of the surgical field, blood loss and extubation time were recorded. Sedation and postoperative pain were assessed on arrival at the PACU. Results The goals for the MAP level were achieved and the surgical field quality was ideal in both groups. The MAP and HR values at T1~ T3 were significantly lower than those at T0 in both groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the MAP or HR values between the groups at each time point (P>0.05). No significant difference was founded between the groups in the Fromme operative field score and blood loss (P > 0.05). The extubation time was significantly shorter in group R than in group D(P<0.05). The sedation score in the PACU was significantly lower in group R than in group D(P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in postoperative pain between the groups(P<0.05). Conclusion Both remifentanil and dexmedetomidine are safe agents for controlled hypotension and are effective in providing satisfactory surgical fields during endoscopic sinus surgery. However , remifentanil is advantageous in time for extubation and complete consciousness from anesthesia and therefore it may have the advantage of fast track anesthesia.

Objective To observe the effect of Aitongping on c-fos gene expression and substance P(SP) content in spinal dorsal horn of rats with formalin-induced pain.Methods Fifty SD rats were randomized into 5 groups: blank control group,model group,tramadol group(0.06g/kg),high-and low-dose Aitongping groups(36 and 18g/kg respectively).Rats model of pain was induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin into the plantar surface of the left hind paw of rats.The fos gene expression and SP content were observed in superficial lamella of spinal dorsal horn of spinal section from the lumbar vertebrae L3 to L5 by immunohistochemical method.Results The number of neurons with fos gene expression positive and the optical density(D value) of reactants with SP expression positive were increased in the model group(P

Objective: To observe the effect of Baihe Zhimu Decoction on serum sex hormone and uterus index of ovariectomized rats with kidney-yin deficiency. Methods: 3-month years old femal SD rats which were ovariectomized were divided randomLy into 6 groups: ovariectomized, Baihe Zhimu DecoctionⅠ, Baihe Zhimu DecoctionⅡ, Baihe Zhimu Decoction Ⅲ, Baihe Zhimu Decoction Ⅳ, then the normal group was set. The rats were induced to kidney-yin deficiency by using etraiodothyronine, then ig Baihe Zhimu Decoction for 4 weeks. The levels of sex hormone E2, FSH, LH in serum were detected and the indexes of uterus were caculated to observe the effect of Baihe Zhimu Decoction on sexual hormone and sexual organ in ovariectomized rats with kidney-yin deficiency. Results: Compared with normal group, the index of uterus and E2 level declined, and the level of FSH and LH increased (P

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and Suzuki' s grading system in adult moyamoya disease (MMD).Methods Fifty-two adult patients with MMD,who were diagnosed in Jinling hospital between April 2009 and January 2010,were retrieved from the Nanjing Stroke Registry Program (NSRP).Sixteen sex- and age-matched healthy individuals with MMD patients consisted of the control group.Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,serum concentrations of VEGF and MMP-9 were compared between adult MMD patients and healthy individuals.By Suzuki' s six-grading system,patients were divided into different subgroups,and the correlation of serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 corresponding to different subgroup and Suzuki's grading was respectively analyzed.In addition,the correlation of serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 was also evaluated.Results Serum VEGF concentrations in ischemic and hemorrhagic MMD patients was respectively ( 289.4 + 69.2 ) pg/ml and ( 324.3 ± 95.6 ) pg/ml and were significantly higher compared to those in healthy controls ( ( 63.5 ± 7.6 ) pg/ml; F =69.43,P ＜ 0.01 ).Similar findings were observed for MMP-9 ( ( 499.4 ± 76.2 ) ng/ml and ( 531.2 + 100.2 ) ng/ml versus (257.1 ±30.7) ng/ml; F =66.023,P ＜0.01 ).With the increase of Suzuki' s grading,serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 respectively showed a high trend ( r =0.879,P ＜ 0.01:r =0.838,P ＜ 0.01 ).In addition,a positive correlation between serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 was found in the MMD group( r =0.590,P ＜0.01 ).Conclusion The results show that serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 in adult MMD are higher than those in healthy controls,which may play a role in neovascularization in MMD,and moreover,serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 show a high trend with the progression of MMD,which suggest that serum levels of VEGF and MMP-9 can reflect the severity of MMD.

Objective To investigate the value of hyperintense vessel signs (HVS) on fluidattenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence for assessing the patterns of collateral blood flow in adult moyamoya disease (MMD).Methods Forty-one adult patients with non-hemorrhagic MMD retrieved from Nanjing Stroke Registry Program between August 2008 and January 2011 were identified by digital cerebral angiography and performed the examination of FLAIR sequence in Jinling hospital.According to the different sites of HVS located in the territory of the middle cerebral artery,the patterns of HVS were classified into grades 0-3: Grade 0,absence of HVS ; Grade 1,HVS limited in the cerebral sulci of temporal lobe and Sylvian fissure ; Grade 2,HVS in the cerebral sulci of frontal and parietal lobe regions and Sylvian fissure;and Grade 3,HVS in the combined territories of Grade 1 and Grade 2.According to the intracerebral collateral blood flow,steno-occlusions of the arteries were classified into three types: Type 1,residual antegrade flow across steno-occlusive lesions; Type 2,retrograde flow via leptomeningeal vessels; Type 3,the combined collateral blood flow of Type 1 and Type 2.The relationship between the patterns of intracerebral collateral blood flow and the location of HVS was analyzed.Results Of 41 adult patients with non-hemorrhagic MMD,there were 3 patients presented with unilateral vascular lesions and 38 with bilateral vascular lesions,so the total number of vascular lesions of the cerebral hemispheres was 79.Because three patients showed the absence of HVS in bilateral hemispheres,the total number of the presence of HVS of the cerebral hemispheres was 73.Therefore,the percentage of the presence of HVS was 92.4％ (73/79) in vascular lesions of the cerebral hemispheres.Importantly,the patterns of slow collateral blood flow corresponding to Grade 1 HVS were all antegrade (7/7) ; the collateral patterns corresponding to Grade 2 HVS were mainly retrograde leptomeningeal flow (95.0％,19/20) ; and the patterns corresponding to Grade 3 HVS were mainly slow combined collateral blood flow(84.8％,39/46).Furthermore,with the changing sites of HVS from the cerebral sulci of temporal lobe to the cerebral sulci of frontal and parietal lobe regions,the directions of collateral flow changed with a shift from antegrade to retrograde,which was statistically significant.Conclusion The different locations of HVS can reflect the different patterns of collateral blood flow,and the locations of HVS may predict the directions of intracerebral collateral blood flow in adult MMD patients.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS (CH-EUS)for pancreatic cancer.Methods Patients with pancreatic occupying lesion underwent CH-EUS with ultrasonic contrast medium Sonovue.Pathological diagnoses by EUS-FNA or surgery and the follow-up results were made as the final diagnosis to evaluate the accuracy of CH-EUS for pancreatic cancer.Character-istics of CH-EUS in different pancreatic tumors were analysed.Results A total of 76 patients were en-rolled,with an average age of 53. 1 ±14. 2.Thirty-five were finally diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer, 21 local mass-type pancreatitis,10 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor,6 cystadenoma,4 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.Tumor diameter was 3. 4 ±1. 4 cm and there were 18 less than 2 cm.The sensitivity and specificity,positive and negative predictive value of CH-EUS for pancreatic cancer was 97. 1%, 92. 9%,91. 7% and 97. 5% respectively.The sensitivity was 100% combined with FNA.Conclusion CH-EUS is safe,convenient for pancreatic cancer with high accuracy and can be used as an additional diag-nostic method to EUS-FNA.

Objective Neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury (TBI) may give rise to neurodisorder.This study aimed to investigate the effect of intranasal delivery of nerve growth factor ( NGF) on neuroinflammation following TBI and its action mechanism in rats. Methods Thirty-six male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into a sham , a TBI, and a TBI+NGF group.The rats in the TBI +NGF group were treated with NGF intranasally at 12 and 24 hours after TBI.The levels of IL-1βand TNF-αin the injured cerebral cortex were detected by ELISA , the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB evaluated by EMSA , and the expres-sion of amyloid-β( Aβ42 ) determined by Western blot . Results NGF attenuated the inflammation following TBI .Compared with the TBI group, the level of IL-1βwas obviously decreased in the TBI +NGF group at 12 hours (70.65 ±3.10 vs 37.51 ±1.92) and 24 hours (68.85 ±8.10 vs 36.23 ±2.99, P<0.05), and so was that of TNF-α(47.12 ±7.38 vs 27.63 ±5.77 and 56.15 ±11.20 vs 29.94 ±8.62, P<0.05).The DNA-binding activity of NF-κB was reduced to 111.62 ±0.49 and 131.52 ±0.88, and the expression of Aβ42 to 0.23 ±0.008 and 0.52 ±0.004 at 12 and 24 hours respectively after treatment with NGF , both with statistically significant differences from the TBI group (P<0.05). Conclusion Intranasal administration of NGF attenuates TBI-induced neuroinflamma-tion in rats, which may be associated with its regulatory effect on the Aβ42/NF-κB signaling pathway .

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging features of bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumors(BP-NETs) with different pathological subtypes. Methods:From January 2013 to May 2018, 280 patients (196 males, 84 females, median age 58 years) with BP-NETs proved by pathology in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Age, gender, smoking history, the location and size of tumor, Ki-67 positive index, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), synaptophysin (Syn), chromogranin-A (CgA), CD56, maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max), lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were compared among 4 pathological subtypes of BP-NETs, including typical carcinoid (TC), atypical carcinoid (AC), small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). One-way analysis of variance, χ2 test, Fisher exact test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test were used for data analysis. Results:There were significant differences in age, smoking history, tumor size and location, Ki-67 positive index, CgA, CD56, TTF-1, SUV max and TNM stage among TC( n=59), AC( n=21), SCLC( n=184) and LCNEC ( n=16) groups ( F values: 2.067, 3.358, H values: 17.749-22.351, all P<0.05). SCLC had the largest tumor size (5.5(3.0, 6.8) cm) and the highest proportion of central type (85.3%, 157/184), and were more prone to lymph node metastasis. LCNEC had the oldest age ((66±16) years), the largest proportion of smoking history (14/16) and peripheral type (12/16). CD56 in SCLC (95.7%, 176/184) and LCNEC(15/16) mostly showed positive expression, while the positive expression rates of CgA and TTF-1 were higher in TC and AC (96.6%(57/59), 93.2%(55/59) and 95.2%(20/21), 90.5%(19/21), respectively). The Ki-67 positive index and SUV max of the four subtypes were significantly different, with the highest in SCLC group and the lowest in TC group. Conclusion:Different pathological subtypes of BP-NETs manifest different clinicopathological features and imaging presentation on 18F-FDG PET/CT, which are useful for understanding their characteristics.