Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular aneurysm repair has rapidly expanded since its first introduction in 1990s.As a less invasive technique,endovascular aneurysm repair has been confirmed to be an effective alternative to open surgical repair,especially in patients with co-morbid conditions.Computed tomography (CT) angiography is currently the preferred imaging modality for both preoperative planning and post-operative follow-up.2D CT images are complemented by a number of 3D reconstructions which enhance the diagnostic applications of CT angiography in both planning and follow-up of endovascular repair.CT has the disadvantage of high cummulative radiation dose,of particular concern in younger patients,since patients require regular imaging follow-ups after endovascular repair,thus,exposing patients to repeated radiation exposure for life.There is a trend to change from CT to ultrasound surveillance of endovascular aneurysm repair.Medical image visualizations demonstrate excellent morphological assessment of aneurysm and stent-grafts,but fail to provide hemodynamic changes caused by the complex stent-graft device that is implanted into the aorta.This article reviews the treatment options of abdominal aortic aneurysm,various image visualization tools,and follow-up procedures with use of different modalities including both imaging and computational fluid dynamics methods.Future directions to improve treatment outcomes in the follow-up of endovascular aneurysm repair are outlined.

Coronary artery disease remains a major cause of mortality. Presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary artery is responsible for lu-men stenosis which is often used as an indicator for determining the severity of coronary artery disease. However, the degree of coronary lumen stenosis is not often related to compromising myocardial blood flow, as most of the cardiac events that are caused by atherosclerotic plaques are the result of vulnerable plaques which are prone to rupture. Thus, identification of vulnerable plaques in coronary arteries has become increas-ingly important to assist identify patients with high cardiovascular risks. Molecular imaging with use of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has fulfilled this goal by providing functional information about plaque activity which enables accurate assessment of plaque stability. This review article provides an overview of diagnostic applications of molecular imaging tech-niques in the detection of plaques in coronary arteries with PET and SPECT. New radiopharmaceuticals used in the molecular imaging of coro-nary plaques and diagnostic applications of integrated PET/CT and PET/MRI in coronary plaques are also discussed.

Multislice Cr angiography represents one of the most exciting technological revolutions in cardiac imaging and it has been increasingly used in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.Rapid improvements in multislice CT scanners over the last decade have allowed this technique to become a potentially effective alternative to invasive coronary angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.High diagnostic value has been achieved with multisfice CT angiography with use of 64-and more slice CT scanners.In addition,multislice CT angiography shows accurate detection and analysis of coronary calcium,characterization of coronary plaques,as well as prediction of the disease progression and major cardiac events.Thus,patients can benefit from multislice CT angiography that provides a rapid and accurate diagnosis while avoiding unnecessary invasive coronary angiography procedures.The aim of this article is present an overview of the clinical applications of multislice CT angiography in coronary artery disease with a focus on the diagnostic accuracy of coronary artery disease;prognostic value of coronary artery disease with regard to the prediction of major cardiac events; detection and quantification of coronary calcium and characterization of coronary plaques.Limitations of multislice Cr angiography in coronary artery disease are also briefly discussed,and future directions are highlighted.

BACKGROUND: A few mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be found in peripheral blood.OBJECTIVE: To isolate rabbit peripheral blood MSCs and induce its differentiation into osteoblasts.DESIGN, TIME AND SE'I-I'ING: The cytological in vitro study was performed at the Central Laboratory of Shangdong Provincial Hospital from June to December 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 6 New Zealand rabbits were purchased from Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences. α-MEM and L-DiEM were bought from Hyclone.METHODS: Full-thickness skin (3 cm×3 cm) (dorsal muscular layer was left) was incised at various sites of rabbit back, every 3days. Incised skin was dressed following orthotopic transplantation. Each rabbit received four consecutive wounds. Peripheral blood was collected from femoral vein before injury and 1 week after injury. MSCs were harvested from peripheral blood by density gradient cantrifugation. MSCs were divided into 2 groups, which were respectively incubated in α-MEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and L-DiEM. Cells at passage 2 and 1 ×105/cm2 were incubated in a 12-well plate and induced with H-DiEM containing osteogenic inductor.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following parameters were measured: cell morphology before and after injury; colony forming efficiency of MSCs; outcome of osteogenic induction.RESULTS: Following primary medium change and before injury, obtained cells were normal. Twenty-four hours following incubation and after injury, MSCs were spindle or polygonal, and adhered to the wall. 5-6 days later, cell colonies appeared.Compared with the L-DiEM group, the number of primary culture colony formation in α-MEM group was significantly greater (P < 0.05). Peripheral blood MSCs were spindle, tdangle or polygonal, with the presence of processes, 2-3 nuclei and cell division phase, and slowly proliferated following osteogenic induction. At day 7 after differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts, positive rate of alkaline phosphates was above 80%. At day 21, calcium deposition was detected by Alizarin Red S (positive staining).CONCLUSION: MSCs could be harvested from peripheral blood of wounded rabbits, with characteristics of osteogenic differentiation, α -MEM was more suitable than L-DiEM for peripheral blood MSCs to growin vitro.

objective To assess the effect of aldosterone on the production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)and collagen Ⅳ in culture supematants of podocytes and the possible molecular mechanisms involved in the influence of aldosterone on the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix produced by podocytes. Methods Podecytes were treated with aldosterone at the concentration of 10-11, 10-9, 10-7 mol/L respectively. Cultured podocytes were examined at 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. Spironolactone, a receptor antagonist of aldosterone, was added to observe the blocking effect on aldosterone. An inhibitor of TGF-β1 receptor was used to determine whether the effect of aldosterone on podocytes were mediated through TGF-β1 system. The enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were assayed by gehtin zymography. Collagen Ⅳ 0.5 chain and TGF-β1 proteins released into culture supematants were assessed by Western blot and ELISA analysis. The adhesion rate of podocytes was monitored by flow cytometry. Results Aldosterone increased the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P<0.05). Aldosterone decreased the level of collagen Ⅳ or5 chain protein in culture supernatants (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of TGF-β1 was also increased (P<0.05). Spironolactone completely abolished the above-mentioned changes(P< 0.05). Blockage of TGF-β1 signaling with SB431542 prevented the aldosterone-induced upregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 as well as the downregulation of the collagen Ⅳ α5 chain protein and the adhesion rate of podocytes (P<0.05). Conclusions Aldosterone increases the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 but decreases the expression of collagen Ⅳ α5 chain and the adhension rate of podocytes possibly via TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Such alterations may contribute to glomerular podocyte injury associated with the GBM abnormality caused by the imbalance between matrix synthesis and degradation.

Preoperative portal vein embolization(PVE)has become an important tool in the management of selected patients with hepatic cancer before the major hepatic resection is carried out.PVE can redirect the portal flow to the intended future remnant liver tissue in order to induce the hypertrophy of the non-diseased portion of the liver and thereby may reduce the occurrence of complications and shorten the hospitalization days after surgery.This article aims to review the technical and clinical considerations in performing PVE and to discuss the PVE-related practical points,including the relevant anatomy,the access approach,the choosing of embolic agents and the pathophysioiogy of PVE.In addition,the indications and contraindications for performing PVE,the use of combination therapies and the concern for tumor growth after PVE are also discussed.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of early fluid resuscitation under the guidance of pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) on patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods Clinical data of 18 SAP patients (research group),who had undergone fluid resuscitation under the guidance of PiCCO in the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from October 2011 to October 2013,were analyzed prospectively.At the same time,clinical data of 25 cases (control group) that had undergone fluid resuscitation without the guidance of PiCCO from January 2009 to September 2011 were collected retrospectively.The volume of fluid and clinical data were compared between two groups.Results During the first 6 hours,0-24 hours,24-48 hours,and 0-72 hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission,the research group received larger volume of fluid than that of the control group (mL:2 133 ± 1 593 vs.1 024 ± 421,t=3.337,P=0.002; 5 960 ±2 951 vs.3 767 ± 854,t=3.531,P=0.001; 4 709 ± 1 508 vs.3 863 ± 1 122,t=2.112,P=0.031 ; 14 601 ± 5 095 vs.11 409 ± 2 667,t=2.673,P=0.007).Compared with the control group,the incidence of application of blood purification was lowered [5.56％ (1/18) vs.44.00％ (11/25),x2=7.688,P=0.006],the duration of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was shortened (days:3.54 ± 2.44 vs.5.62 ± 3.62,t=2.113,P=0.041),acute physiology and chronic health Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score was significantly declined at 24 hours after admission (11±4 vs.14 ± 5,t=2.104,P=0.042),the blood lactic acid was decreased more significantly after 72 hours (mmol/L:3.10 ±0.55 vs.2.40 ± 1.12,t=2.442,P=0.019),and the length of ICU stay was shortened (days:10 ±9 vs.20 ± 10,t=3.371,P=0.002) in research group.But there was no significant difference in the percentage of the use of vasoactive drugs [16.67％ (3/18) vs.24.00％ (6/25),x2 =0.340,P=0.560],the incidence of invasive mechanical ventilation [50.00％ (9/18) vs.52.00％ (13/25),x2 =0.017,P=0.897],72-hour urea nitrogen changes (mmol/L:-0.33 ± 4.71 vs.-0.09 ± 5.37,t=0.152,P=0.880),and the percentage of abdominal infection [16.67％ (3/18) vs.16.00％ (4/25),x2=0.003,P=0.953] between research group and control group.The mortality in research group was lower than that in control group [5.56％ (1/18) vs.20.00％ (5/25)] without statistical difference (x2=1.819,P=0.178).According to the 2012 Atlanta classification,patients were re-evaluated after 48 hours fluid resuscitation.Six patients in research group developed moderately severe acute pancreatitis,and the incidence was significantly higher than that in control group [33.33％ (6/18) vs.8.00％ (2/25),x2=4.435,P=0.034].The time of mean PiCCO installation was 4.5 days in 18 cases of the research group,and no related complications occurred.Conclusions The PiCCO device may be a useful adjunct for fluid resuscitation monitoring in patients with SAP within 72 hours.Early fluid resuscitation under the guidance of PiCCO may be helpful in improving tissue perfusion,reducing the application of blood purification,as well as shortening length of ICU stay.This program did not increase the risk of invasive mechanical ventilation,and no obvious change in mortality rate was observed.

Objective To investigate the effect of rapid repeated cold air inhalation stimulation on cold-sensitive chan-nel transient receptor potential ankyrin 1(TRPA1) associated inflammatory cytokines in living lungs .Methods A total of 20 male Wistar rats were randomly and evenly divided into 4 groups:cold air inhalation group , warm air inhalation group , TRPA1 channel agonist inhalation group and normal group , respectively . Tracheal intubation was carried out after anesthesia in rats of cold air inhalation group , and the tubes were linked to the air temperature controlled device with the temperature controlled at ( 2 ±1 )℃.The rats of warm air inhalation group were treated in the same way as cold air inhalation group except for the temperature at (36 ±1)℃.The rats of both groups were treated for 3 times, 1 hour each time.There were 12 hour intervals between treatments .The rats of TRPA1 channel agonist inhalation group were treated with atomizing inhalation of 60 mmol/L acrolein at room temperature (24 ±2)℃for 3 times, 1 hour each time.There were 12 hour intervals between two treatments .The rats were sacrificed after the last treatment .The tracheas and left lung tissues of all rats were taken and total RNA was extracted .The mRNA expressions of TRPA1, interleukin 1 beta ( IL-1β), interleukin 5(IL-5),and neutrophil chemoattractant chemokine (CXCL-1/KC)in the rat lungs were detected by real-time quantitative PCR .Results TRPA1 was expressed in rat lung tissues .In the short term cold air inhalation group , the expressions of IL-1β,IL-5 and CXCL-1/KC mRNA in the rat lungs were higher than those of the warm air inhalation or the normal groups .Similar results were also found in the specific TRPA 1 channel positive agonist ( acrolein ) inhalation group . Conclusion In living animals, the TRPA1 channels of the lungs can be activated by short-term cold air(<17℃),which results in the increasing expression of some inflammatory cytokines in lungs .

This study was to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of breviscapine on endothelial cells.ox-LDL was used to induce oxidative damage on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)for 20 h with or without 4 h pretreatment of various concentrations of breviscapine(10;20;40 μmol/L);then observe the protective effect and mechanism of breviscapine on endothelial cells insulted by ox-LDL.MTT method was used to detect cell viability;flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species;and Western blot and RT-PCR was used to detect cell signaling pathways.The results showed that breviscapine recovered HUVEC cell viability in a dose-dependent manner which inhibited by ox-LDL;and it also protected cell from apoptosis induced by ox-LDL.To explore the mechanisms of breviscapine;reactive oxygen species (ROS)was determined after pretreatment of various concentrations of breviscapine or different durations(2;4;6 h)of brevis-capine.Results showed that breviscapine decreased ROS production in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Fur-thermore;cell signaling pathway analysis showed that breviscapine increased the expression of BCL-2;decreased the expression of BAX and the release of Cytochrome C and cleavage of caspase-3.Breviscapine decreased Keap1 and activated the nuclear import of Nrf2;and subsequently increased the mRNA and protein expression of down-stream antioxidant enzyme as NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)and glutathione transferase-S-Mu 1(GSTM1);and increasing the activity of NQO1.Besides;breviscapine decreased IKK and IKB;and inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB;while increasing the expression of eNOS.This study demonstrated that breviscap-ine has a protective role on ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury;which may be related to its antioxidant effects and inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Objective To investigate the clinical applications of coronary CT angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease and identify factors that affect CT findings. Methods Medical records of patients suspected of coronary artery disease over a period of 12 months from a tertiary teaching hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patient age, sex (male/female), duration of symptoms and abnormal rates of coronary CT angiography scans were analysed to investigate the relationship among these parameters. The patients by age were duration of symptoms was also classified into five groups: less than one week, one week to one month, one to three months, three to six months and more than six months. Results Of the 880 patient records reviewed, 800 met the above study criteria. Five hundred and forty nine patients demonstrated abnormal CT findings (68.6%). There was no significant difference in the percentage of abnormal CT findings based on patient sex and the duration of symptoms (P = 0.14). The abnormal rates of coronary CT angiography, however, increased significantly with increasing age (P < 0.001); with patients over 65 years of age 2.5 times more likely to have an abnormal CT scan relative to a patient under 45 years. A significant difference was found between abnormal coronary CT angiography and the duration of symptoms (P = 0.012). Conclusions Our results indicate coronary CT angiography findings are significantly related to the patient age group and duration of symptoms. Clinical referral for coronary CT angiography of patients with suspected coronary artery disease needs to be justified with regard to the judicious use of this imaging modality.