Quantitative measurement of strain distribution of arterial vessel walls due to pulsatile blood flow within the vascular lumen is valuable for evaluating the elasticity of arterial wall and predicting the evolution of plaques. The present paper shows that the three-dimensional (3D) strain distribution are estimated through uni-directional coupling for 3D vessel and blood models reconstructed from intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images with the computational. fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation technique. The morphology of vessel wall and plaques as well as strain distribution can be visually displayed with pseudo-color coding.
Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Elasticity ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Pulsatile Flow ; Ultrasonography

AIM: To compare the efficiency and safety of torsional phacoemulsification with or without intelligent phacoemulsification ( IP ) software in hard nucleus cataract extraction.
METHODS: Ninety two eyes with Ⅳ - Ⅴ grades cataracts were enrolled in this randomized prospective study. Operated eyes were divided into two groups -those operated without IP software ( non- IP group, n =43) and those operated using IP software (IP group, n =49 ). The two groups were compared in terms of ultrasound time (UST) and cumulative dissipated energy (CDE). Post- operative outcome measures included the corneal edema and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 1,7d and 3mo postoperatively, corneal endothelial cell density and percentage of hexagonal cell at 7d and 3mo postoperatively.
RESULTS: UST was measured as 52. 51±9. 64s in non-IP Group and 48. 79±7. 13s in IP Group (P = 0. 030). CDE was 15. 78±3. 73% in non-IP Group and 14. 29±2. 77% in IP Group ( P = 0. 026). At the first postoperative day, the rate of BCVA>0. 1 in non-IP Group was 56%, and the rate in IP Group was 79% (P= 0. 066). Corneal edema in non-IP Group was 2. 98±0. 77 scores, and in IP Group it was 2. 61±0. 64 scores (P = 0. 021). At the postoperative 7 and 30d, the BCVA and corneal edema were no differences between two groups. At the postoperative 7d, corneal endothelial cell density in non- IP Group were 2497. 95 ±211. 48 / mm2 , less than 2586. 26±154. 71 / mm 2 in IP Group (P= 0. 029);percentage of hexagonal cell in IP group was 48. 33±8. 69%,higher than 44. 19±9. 48% of non-IP group(P= 0. 030).CONCLUSION: In hard nucleus cataract extraction, the IP software can combine the advantages of the two kinds of ultrasonic modes, which is more effective with lower ultrasound energy and less injury for the corneal endothclium, and is helpful for the recovery of vision at early stage after surgeries.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Angiostatins ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Microvessels ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; blood supply ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

To study the protective effect of Arctigenin in goto-kakizaki (GK) rats combined with hypertension macroangiopathy. Six-week-old GK rats were divided randomly according to blood glucose level into four groups: the model group and low, middle and high dose arctigenin groups (12.5, 25, 50 mg x kg(-1)), with Wistar rats as the normal group. All of GK rats were given high-glucose and high-fat diet. After 16 weeks, GK rats were orally administrated with 10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) N-Ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester for eight weeks. During the modeling, all of arctigenin groups were orally administrated with different dose of arctigenin twice a day; The model group and the normal group were given solvents. At the beginning, mid-term and end of the experiment, blood glucose was measured. At the end of the experiment, efforts were made to detect blood pressure, collect abdominal aortic blood after anesthesia, fix thoracic aorta after bloodletting to make paraffin sections, observe morphological characteristics and detect the expression of VEGF by immunohistochemistry. According to the results, the blood glucose rose in all GK rats, with no significant difference between the drug group and the model group. At the end of the experiment, the blood pressure significantly increased in GK rats, indicating that Arctigenin could notably reduce the blood pressure in GK rats in a dose-dependent manner. The blood routine test showed increases in both the total white blood cell count and differential blood count, MPV and PDW, abnormal blood platelet parameters and decrease in PLT in GK rats, suggesting that Arctigenin could remarkably reduce the total white blood cell count and differential blood count, MPV and PDW. The thoracic aortic morphological observation revealed obvious endangium lesions in GK rats, demonstrating that Arctigenin could ameliorate the lesion extent. VEGF immumohistochemical staining showed a higher VEGF expression in the model group but lower expression in Arctigenin groups. In conclusion, Arctigenin had a protective effect on aorta in GK rats. Its mechanism may be related to blood pressure lowering, anti-inflammation, improvement in blood platelet function and reduction of VEGF expression.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Furans ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the promoting effects of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and stem cell factor (SCF) on the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogenic cells in mice.

METHODSWe cocultured in vitro spermatogenic cells of male mice aged 7 - 8 days in the medium with EGF and/or SCF at the concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 40 and 100 ng/ml, respectively. Then we observed the survival rate and morphological changes of the spermatogenic cells, detected the expressions of the pachytene-specific phosphoprotein gene (P19) and haploid sperm cell-specific transition protein gene (TP1), and analyzed the ploidy of the cells.

RESULTSAfter cocultured with EGF or SCF for 2 - 4 days, the spermatogenic cells began to proliferate in masses or chains in all concentration groups, most obviously in the 20 ng/ml EGF and 40 ng/ml SCF groups. At 7 days, both the number and survival rate of spermatogenic cells were significantly higher in the 20 ng/ml EGF and 40 ng/ml SCF groups than in the others (P < 0.05), and meanwhile, the P19/TP1 ratio was obviously decreased and the rate of haploid sperm markedly increased in the 40 ng/ml SCF group (P < 0.05). Combination of EGF and SCF remarkably promoted the proliferation of the spermatogenic cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth EGF and SCF could increase the number and survival rate of spermatogenic cells. SCF could promote the formation of haploid sperm, and the combination of the two cytokines could enhance the effect on the proliferation of spermatogenic cells.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone ; metabolism ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Spermatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology

Adult ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-10 ; metabolism ; Male ; Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Teratoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To compare the effect of conventional and hyperoxia management strategy during deep hypothermia in patients with DeBake type 1 aortic dissection or aortic arch aneurysm undergoing total aortic arch replacement.Methods 32 adult patients undergoing total aortic arch replacement were randomly allocated to one of two groups(n=16 each):conventional(C)and hyperoxia group(H).The patients had no history of cerebral vascular disease.Left radial artery and dorsal artery of left foot were cannulated for monitoring of blood pressure of upper and lower limbs.Right internal jugular vein was cannulated for CVP monitoring and administration of drug and fluid.Anesthesia was induced with etomidate 10-15 mg,fentanyl 5-10 ?g?kg~(-1) and pancuronium 0.1 mg?kg~(-1) and maintained with fentanyl(total amount was＜20 ?g?kg~(-1)),isoflurane and pancuronium after tracheal intubation.Intermittent i.v.boluses of diazepam,sodium thiopental or propofol were given during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).Another catheter was inserted into right internal jugular vein eephalad until resistance was met.The tip of the catheter was at the level of mastoid process.The hyperoxia management involved the following steps:FiO_2 was gradually reduced with decreasing body temperature(T_0)from 70%(36～ 37℃)to 60%-40%(35.9-34℃),38%-30%(32-26℃),30%(26-24℃)and finally to 21%.When nasopharyngeal T_0 was reduced to 22℃ or 5-10 min before selective cerebral peffusion(SCP),FiO_2 was raised to 60%-100% to maintain PjvO_2＞20 mm Hg or SjvO_2＞60%.FiO_2 was maintained at 60%-100% during SCP until T_0 was rewarmed to 22℃,then reduced to 30%.FiO_2 was then gradually increased to 40%(when T_0 reached 28℃),to 50%-70% (34-37℃)and finally to 80%(T_0＞37℃).Blood samples were taken from jugular venous bulb and arterial port of oxygenator for determination of PjvO_2,SjvO_2 and PaO_2 before skin incision (T_1),at 15 min of CPB(T_2),10 min of SCP(T_3),5 min after descending aorta unclamping(T_4),5 min after left subclavian artery unclamping(T_5),5 min after left common carotid artery unclamping(T_6),anonymous artery unclamping(T_7),when nasopharyngeal To returned to 35℉(T_8)and 10 min after CPB was terminated(T_9).The awakening time and the duration of ICU stay(days)were recorded.Pre- and postoperative neurological examination and brain CT scan were performed.Results All patients survived the operation and were discharged from hospital.No new brain infarction occurred.Transient neurologic dysfunction occurred in 2 patients in group H and 3 patients in group C.There was a positive linear relationship between PaO_2 and PjvO_2 during deep hypothermia in group H (r=0.541,P＜0.01).The PjvO_2 and SjvO_2 were significantly higher in group H than in group C.The awakening time and the ICU stay were significantly shorter in group H than in group C.Conclusion The hyperoxia management strategy can provide clinical prognosis than the conventional management strategy during deep hypothermia for total aortic arch replacement by supplying more dissolved oxygen.

Background and purpose:The occurrence and development of lung cancer are closely correlated with the immune function in the human body.The patients with malignant tumors have shown a disorder of immune function,especially in terms of loss of cellular immune function.The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible auxiliary effect of sipulin in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC).methods: Ninety-three patients were randomly divided into two groups:sipulin group:sipulin plus docetaxel+cisplatin;control group:only administered docetaxel+cisplatin.The leukocyte,haemoglobin and platelet,toxicity of digestive tract,body weight,Karnofsky status and efficacy of those patients were evaluated before and after therapy,respectively.Results: Overall response rates were 46.67% and 30.23%(P=0.023)in sipulin group and control group,respectively.The median survival time was 10.1months versus 8.3 months(P=0.035)in sipulin group and control group,respectively.The 1-year survival rate for sipulin group and control group was 52.9% versus 39.4%(P=0.038),respectively.The clinical efficacy and the frequence of leukocyte reduction were better in sipulin group than in control group,the quality of life and clinical symptom of the patients in sipulin group were improved more significantly than those in control group (P

Objective Routine perioperative intravenous antimicrobial agents,was administered as surgical prophylaxis.However,whether balanced ultrafiltration during extracorporeal circulation can remove antimicrobial agent remains unclear.The concentrations of antimicrobial agent in plasma and ultrafiltrate samples were measured in this pseudo-extracorporeal circulation model.Methods Extracorporeal circulation consisted of cardiotomy reservoir (Ningbo Fly Medical Healthcare CO.,LTD.Ningbo,China),D902 Lilliput 2 membrane oxygenator (Sorin Group Asia Pte Ltd,Beijing,China) and Capiox (R) AF02 pediatric arterial line filter (Terumo Corporation,Beijing,China).HEMOCONCENTRATOR BC 20 plus (MAQUET Cardiopulmonary AG,Hirrlingen,Germany) was placed between arterial purge line and oxygenator venous reservoir.Fresh donor human whole blood was added into the circuit and mixed with Ringer's solution to obtain a final hematocrit of 24％-28 ％.After 30 minutes of extracorporeal circulation,zero-balanced ultrafiltration was initiated and arterial line pressure was maintained at approximately 100 mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) with Hoffman clamp.The rate of ultrafiltration (12 ml/min) was controlled by ultrafiltrate outlet pressure.Identical volume of plasmaslyte A was dripped into the circuit to maintain stable hematocrit during 45 minutes of experiment.Plasma and ultrafiltrate samples were drawn every 5 minutes and concentrations of antimicrobial agent (including Cefmetasole and cefotiam) were measured with high performance liquid chromatography.Results All these two antimicrobial agents were detected in ultrafiltrate,demonstrating hemoconcentration may remove antimicrobial agent.The concentration of plasma antimicrobial agent decreased lineally with the increase of ultrafiltrate volume.At end of balanced ultrafiltration,the concentration of plasma cefotiam was (104.96 ± 44.36) μg/ml,which is about (44.38 ± 7.42) ％ of the initial concentration (238.95 ± 101.12) μg/ml; the concentration of plasma cefmetazole decreased linearly to (25.76 ± 14.78) μg/ml,which is about (49.69 ± 10.49) ％ of the initial concentration (51.49 ± 28.03) μg/ml.The total amount of cefotiam in ultrafiltrate is (27.16 ± 12.17)％ of the total dose administered,whereas cefmetasole in ultrafiltrate is (7.74 ±4.17)％.Conclusion Balanced ultrafiltration may remove antimicrobial agent from serum and has significant influence on plasma concentration of antimicrobial agent.The strategy of surgical prophylaxis should consider this unique technique during extracorporeal circulation.

Objective To investigate the effects of citicoline combined with rehabilitative training on motor function after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods One hundred and twenty male adult Sprague-Dawley rats ( 3 months old) were subjected to left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by suturing. Ninety-six of them were randomly divided into four groups of 24: a control group, a drug group, a rehabilitative training group, and a drug combined with rehabilitative training group. The rats in the control group did not receive any treatment. Three days after reperfusion, those in the drug group received 500 mg/kg of citicoline daily; those in the rehabilitative training group received motor training including balancing, grasping, rotating and walking exercises; those in the combined group received both citicoline and the motor training program. Behavioral tests were administered at the 7th, 14th and 21st days after MCAO. At the same time points, immunohistochemistry was used to detect calcium-binding protein S100 and β-tubulin expression in the peri-ischemia region of the cortex. Results ①As compared with the control group, the drug group at the 7th, 14th and 21st day after MCAO and the other two groups at the 7th day after MCAO showed no significant difference in average behavior scores. But at the 14th and 21st day the rehabilitative training group as well as the drug combined with rehabilitative training group had average behavior scores significantly superior to those of the control group, especially in the drug combined with rehabilitative training group. ②As compared with the control group, the expression of S100 and β-tubulin in the drug and rehabilitative training groups at the 7th day after MCAO showed no significant difference. In the drug combined with rehabilitative training group the average score was significantly higher than in the other groups at the 7th day after MCAO. All the other groups had average scores significantly higher than that of the controls at the 14th and 21st day after MCAO, especially the drug combined with rehabilitative training group. Conclusions Citicoline combined with rehabilitative training can significantly improve motor function recovery in rats. The effect of the combined modalities was more obvious, and the functional enhancement might be partially attributable to the up-regulation of S100 and β-tubulin in the cortex.