Objective To explore the method of atrial septal defect (ASD)occlusion with occluder by minimally invasive chest ways. Methods 34 patients with ASD were anaesthetized and a 2cm～3cm-long incision was made in the 4th intercostal space of right side of sternum and a Dasdo round or elliptic occluder was placed in the heart.The ASD size and edge in various sections were measured by transesophageal echocardiography,and the type and size of occluder were accordingly selected.Two umbrellas were opened on two sides of ASD under monitoring of echocardiography.After confirming the firm of occluder and no evident atrial shunt,occluder was released,and right atrium and chest were sewed. Results 33 patients with ASD were successfully occluded and one case was failed who received extracorporeal circulation operation.The maximum diameter of ASD was 8～32(19 3?6 3)mm.The shortest edge in variant side was 0 mm to posterior wall of aortea,3.5mm to superior vena cava,6.0mm to inferior vena cava and 6.0mm to the base of mitral valve.The time for closing ASD guided by echocardiography was about 2～3 minutes. Conclusions The placement of ASD occluder through minimal incision of the chest is a new method for the treatment of ASD.It might have wider indications for ASD occlusion.

Objective To evaluate the protective effects of stroma-free bovine hemoglobin(SFBHB)on preservation of the donor heart.Methods 24 isolated perfused rabbit hearts were equally divided into two groups.In control group,the cardiac arrest were induced with St Thomas Ⅱ solution and repeated every 30 min.the myocardial temperature remained at 40℃.In experimental group,the isolated rabbit hearts were perfused continuously with St Thomas Ⅱ solution containing stroma-free bovine hemoglobin and the myocardial temperature remained at 37℃.The preservation lasted 6 h.Results There were significant differences between the two groups in the follows:(1)The mean values of the left ventricular developed pressure(LVDP)and coronary flow rate(CFR)were higher in experimental group(P＜0.001);(2)The ATP level and myocardial oxygen uptake were significantly decreased in control group(P＜0.001);(3)The mean values of released creatine phosphate kinase(CPK),lactec dehydrogenase(LDH)and myocardial contents of malondialdehyde(MDA)were higher in control group(P＜0.01);(4)More water was present in the myocardial in control group(P＜0.01);(5)The myocardial ultrastructural injuries were greater in control group.Conclusion The stroma-free bovine hemoglobin could offer great protective effects on preservation of the isolated rabbit hearts.

Objective:To investigate the vasodilatative roles and mechanisms of 17 ? estradiol(E 2) on rat thoracic aortas (TA). Methods:Rings cut from thoracic aortas of female rats were used by in vitro perfusion. The endothelium dependent and endothelium independent vasorelaxing effects of E 2 were measured. Furthermore, it was also observed whether the relaxing effects of E 2 were modulated by tamoxifen, N ? nitro L arginine methyl ester(L NAME),TEA, methylene blue(MB) or Methylene Blue(MB).Results:E 2 caused acute concentration dependent relaxation in TA with endothelium, but not significant without endothelium( P

Background Silicosis is a diffuse fibrosis of the lungs caused by long-term inhalation of free silicon dioxide (SiO₂). It has a complex pathogenesis and lacks effective treatment. Brusatol (Bru) has a variety of biological activities, and its role in silicosis fibrosis is unclear yet. Objective To investigate the effects of different concentrations of Bru on SiO₂-induced silicosis fibrosis in mice. Methods Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: a control group, a silica group, and three Bru intervention groups with low, medium, and high doses (1, 2, and 4 mg·kg⁻¹), with 6 mice in each group. Except the control group, the remaining groups were established as SiO₂-induced silicosis mouse models by using a single tracheal infusion of 50 μL 60 mg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ suspension. The control group was dosed with equal amount of saline. The Bru intervention groups were injected intraperitoneally with Bru for 5 consecutive days and then injected every other day. After 28 d of exposure, the mice were executed and lung tissues were collected. The lung coefficient of the mice was measured, and the pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The levels of apoptotic protein Cleaved-caspase 3, fibrosis-related protein α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), type I collagen (Col-I), autophagy-associated protein Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), Sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTM1), Kelch like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) were detected by Western blot. The mRNA levels of Caspase 3, α-SMA, and Col-I were measured by realtime fluorescence-based quantitative PCR. Results Compared with the control group, the lung coefficient of mice in the silica group was significantly increased (P < 0.01); the lung tissues of the silicosis mice showed damaged alveolar walls, along with infiltration of inflammatory cells, fibrous nodules, and collagen deposition; furthermore, the protein and mRNA levels of Cleaved-caspase 3, α-SMA, and Col-I were significantly increased (P < 0.01); the expression levels of Beclin1, LC3-II/I, p62, and Nrf2 were increased, while that of Keap1 was decreased (P < 0.05). The interventions with low and medium doses of Bru reduced lung coefficient (P < 0.05) and protected against pathological damage and collagen deposition in the lung tissues of the silicosis mice; the protein and mRNA expression levels of Cleaved-caspase 3, α-SMA, and Col-I were significantly decreased in the low and medium dose groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), the expression levels of Beclin1, LC3-II/I, p62, and Nrf2 were also decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the expression level of Keap1 was increased in the medium dose group (P < 0.05). However, compared with the silica group, the differences in lung coefficient, pathological damage, and protein and mRNA expression levels of Cleaved-caspase 3, α-SMA, and Col-I in the Bru high dose group were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In addition, the high dose of Bru decreased Beclin1, LC3-II/I, and Nrf2 expression levels (P < 0.01), did not change p62 protein expression level (P > 0.05), while increased Keap1 protein level (P < 0.01). Conclusion Low and medium doses of Bru might regulate autophagy through the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, ameliorate autophagic degradation impairment, reduce pulmonary coefficient, attenuate apoptosis, and delay the progression of fibrosis in SiO₂-induced silicosis mice.