Objective To evaluate the efficacy, safety and compatibility of a new type of atrial septal defect ( ASD) occluder in atrial spetal defect mini-pigs model.Methods Five Tibet mini-pigs were selected as the ASD models which were established by the combination of atrial septal puncture and balloon dilation.Then the new type occluder was implanted for the therapy of ASD.Transthoracic echocardiography with color Doppler was used in all animals during closure and in follow up examinations.The animals were killed at 3 months after occlusion for electron microscopical observation and microscopic examination.Result The ASD models had been created in five piglets successfully without complication, all of whom were implanted successfully with the new device without shunts.Postmortem and microscopic examination of the 5 specimens 3 months after placement showed complete.Conclusion Transcatheter ASD occlusion with new type ASD occluder is safe,feasible and effective.This occlusion can repair the atrial septal defect successfully.

Aim To explore the effect of miRNA-143 ( miR-1 4 3 ) on homocysteine ( Hcy ) induced-vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs ) proliferation and the mechanism .Methods VSMCs were cultured and in-cubated with Hcy by using primary cultured method . Then, cells were treated with different concentrations of Hcy and folate .VSMCs proliferation was determined with MTT assay , miR-143 was measured by qRT-PCR, and methylation of miR-143 was determined with meth-ylated PCR.Results After cells were treated with dif-ferent concentrations of Hcy , the proliferation of VSMCs was significantly increased , mRNA expression of miR-143 was decreased and methylation of miR-143 was increased .The proliferation of VSMCs was signifi-cantly decreased when transfected VSMCs with miR-143 precursor , and cell proliferation was increased by using miR-143 inhibitor transfection .Conclusion Hy-pomethylation of miR-143 may inhibit VSMCs prolifera-tion.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lactulose combined with polyethylene glycol for bowel preparation before colonoscopy in patients of different risks.Methods:A total of 208 patients undergoing colonoscopy were enrolled, including 108 high-risk and 100 low-risk patients. The high-risk patients were divided into group A (54 taking lactulose + polyethylene glycol) and group B (54 taking polyethylene glycol), and the low-risk patients were divided into group C (49 taking lactulose + polyethylene glycol) and group D (51 taking polyethylene glycol). The Boston bowel preparation score, cecal intubation time, withdrawal time, the detection rate of colonic polyps and adenoma, and the incidence of adverse reactions were observed.Results:Among the high-risk patients, the Boston bowel preparation score and adenoma detection rate in group A [(6.35±1.15) scores, 46.3%] were significantly higher than those in group B [(5.76±0.89) scores, 22.2%, both P<0.05], and the first defecation interval in group A was significantly shorter than that in group B [(1.20±0.85) h VS (3.29 ± 2.93) h, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in adequate bowel preparation rate, polyp detection rate, frequency of defecation or incidence of adverse reactions between group A and B. In the low-risk patients, the first defecation interval in group C was significantly shorter than that in group D [(1.65 ± 1.35) h VS (3.42 ± 2.64) h, P<0.05], and the incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower than that in group D (44.9% VS 64.7%, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adequate bowel preparation rate, Boston bowel preparation score, adenoma detection rate, polyp detection rate or frequency of defecation between group C and D. Conclusion:For the high-risk patients, the effect of lactulose combined with polyethylene glycol for bowel cleansing is better than that of traditional polyethylene glycol in the improvement of the Boston bowel preparation score, adenoma detection rate, and the first defecation interval. For low-risk patients, lactulose combined with polyethylene glycol regimen has few advantages over traditional polyethylene glycol regimen.

BACKGROUND: Meshes play a crucial role in hernia repair. However, the displacement of mesh inevitably leads to various associated complications. This process is difficult to be traced by conventional imaging means. The purpose of this study is to create a contrast-enhanced material with high-density property that can be detected by computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The contrast-enhanced monofilament was manufactured from barium sulfate nanoparticles and medical polypropylene (PP/Ba). To characterize the composite, stress tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. Toxicity and biocompatibility of PP/Ba materials was verified by in vitro cellular assays. Meanwhile, the inflammatory response was tested by protein adsorption assay. In addition, an animal model was established to demonstrate the long-term radiographic effect of the composite material in vivo. Subsequent pathological tests confirmed its in vivo compatibility. RESULTS: The SEM revealed that the main component of the monofilament is carbon. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that novel material does not affect cell activity and proliferation. Protein adsorption assays indicated that the contrast-enhanced material does not cause additional inflammatory responses. In addition, in vivo experiments illustrated that PP/Ba mesh can be detected by CT and has good in vivo compatibility. CONCLUSION These results highlight the excellent biocompatibility of the contrast-enhanced material, which is suitable for human abdominal wall tissue engineering.

OBJECTIVE: To design a series of geometric indexes, which can improve the correlation between geometric parameters and dosimetric parameters. METHODS: 48 cases of upper abdomen were selected. Manual and automatic segmentation were performed for two organs at risk, which were stomach and duodenum. Three overlapping structures, which were the overlaps with target expanded by 5 mm, 10 mm and 20 mm, were generated for each organ at risk. The geometric parameters of overlapping structures were calculated. The relationship between these geometric parameters and the dosimetric parameters of organs was investigated. RESULTS: When the geometric parameters of overlapping structures related to the target expand 5 mm, 10 mm and 20 mm were larger than 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 respectively, the maximum dose differences of manual and automatic segmentation were less than 3 Gy. For the case with no overlaps between the organs and the target expansions, the overlap structure corresponding to target expanding 20 mm were recommended for safety considerations. CONCLUSIONS For organs at risk in the upper abdomen, the overlapping geometric parameters were closely related to the maximum dose of organs. Overlapping geometric parameters could predict whether the difference of maximum dose caused by automaticsegmentation was clinically acceptable or not.
Organs at Risk ; Radiometry ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated