@@

BACKGROUND:Pericytes, which are widely distributed in the microvasculature except lymphatic vessels, are not only a constituent of microvessels, but also play an important role in microvascular occurrence, development, stability, maturity and remodeling. Its signal transduction is currently a hot spot. OBJECTIVE:To review recent advances in the signal pathways related to pericytes and angiogenesis. METHODS:We retrieved PubMed database, Wanfang database, CNKI database and China Biology Medicine disc for articles addressing pericytes and angiogenesis published from 1994 to 2014. The keywords were “pricytes; endothelial cels; microvessels; signal transduction” in English and Chinese, respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the early stage of capilary formation, recruitment of pericytes contributes to the occurrence and development of new blood capilaries. However, in the late stage of angiogenesis, pericytes inhibit endothelial cel proliferation and promote endothelial cel differentiation, thereby promoting vascular maturation, maintaining normal structure and regulating their permeability. In this process, signaling pathways of platelet-derived growth factor B/platelet-derived growth factor receptor β, transforming growth factor β, angiopoietin-1/Tie-2, human heparin binding epidermal growth factor/ErbBs, and stromal cel derived factor 1α/CXCR4 play an important regulatory role in pericytes and angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVE:To study the vasodilatation effects of the alcohol extract from Uighur medicine Ziziphora clinopodioi-des(EEZ)on isolated rat thoracic aorta vessel rings. METHODS:Isolated rat thoracic aorta vessel rings were prepared. There was a group with intact vessel ring endothelium and a group with vessel ring endothelium removed in the test. After preshrinking the ves-sel rings with phenylephrine(PE),EEZ of 100,300,500,700,900 and 1 100 mg/L was added gradually,concentration-vasodila-tation curve was drawn and maximal vasodilatation rate (Emax) and median effective concentration (EC50) were calculated. For the group with vessel ring endothelium removed,after the vessel ring was pretreated with EEZ at EC50 in calcium-free solution or calci-um-free high-potassium solution,CaCl2 of 0.4,0.8,1.2,1.6,2.0 and 2.4 mmol/L was added gradually,and calcium concentra-tion-tension curve was drawn;following the pretreatment of the vessel ring with EEZ at EC50,1 μmol/L PE was added and shrink tension was recorded and vasoconstriction percentages was calculated. RESULTS:EEZ had vasodilatation effect on the vessel ring preshrunk with PE in a concentration and smooth muscle-dependent manner. The group with intact vessel ring endothelium and the group with vessel ring endothelium removed respectively had Emax of (58.18 ± 16.23)% and (73.54 ± 17.21)%,and EEZ EC50 of 773.27 mg/L. For calcium-free high-potassium solution,EEZ could cause the calcium ion-vasoconstriction curve to move to the right obviously;for calcium-free solution,EEZ could inhibit the vasoconstriction caused by PE. CONCLUSIONS:EEZ has vasodi-latation effects by a mechanism which may be related to inhibiting calcium influx and intracytoplasmic calcium release through the inhibition of voltage-dependent calcium channels(VDCCs),and thus interfering intracytoplasmic calcium ion balance.

Objective To explore the treatment procedure of pediatric vaginal rhabdomyosarcoma ( RMS) using 60 Co high?dose?rate three?dimensional ( 3D ) brachytherapy, and to analyze its dosimetric feasibility. Methods Computed tomography ( CT ) images were collected from five children undergoing radiotherapy for vaginal RMS. Three treatment plans were designed:plan A using 3D conformal radiotherapy with external beam irradiation, plan B using brachytherapy, and plan C using brachytherapy combined with external beam irradiation. Dosimetric parameters for clinical target volume ( CTV ) and organs at risk ( OARs ) were evaluated based on EQD 2 and analyzed using one ? way analysis of variance . Results Compared with plan A, plan C had significantly larger D90, D50, and Dmean for CTV ( all P=0?00), significantly lower doses to the rectum, bladder, and femoral head, and a significantly higher dose to the ovary ( all P=0?00) . Compared with plan B, plan C had a larger D90 for CTV, smaller D50 and Dmean for CTV, a lower dose to the ovary, and higher doses to the rectum, bladder, and femoral head. Among the three plans, plan B had the smallest D2 cm3 for the rectum and bladder. Conclusions The optimal radiotherapy plan for pediatric vaginal RMS should be based on the primary tumor location and residual tumor after surgery. CT image?guided 60 Co high?dose?rate 3D brachytherapy is convenient, effective, and well tolerated by children. It also achieves a high dose to CTV as well as good protection of normal tissue.

Objective To investigate the relaxant effects of ethanol extract fromRhodiola crenulata (Hook.f.et Thoms.) H.Ohba in isolated rat thoracic aorta and its possible mechanisms.MethodsThe thoracic aortas from male Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated and cut into 3- to 4-mm-wide transverse rings, and the tension in endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded aortic rings was recorded. The relaxant effects of ethanol extract fromRhodiola crenulata in various concentrations (100, 300, 500, 700, 900, and 1 100 mg/L) in aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (1 μmol/L) were observed. The effects of pretreatment with soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (10 μmol/L) on the relaxant effects of ethanol extract fromRhodiola crenulata were observed. The effects of ethanol extract fromRhodiola crenulataon calcium-induced contractions in calcium-free high-potassium medium and phenylephrine-induced contractions in calcium-free medium were also observed.ResultsEthanol extract fromRhodiola crenulatashowed a concentration-dependent relaxation in aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine. The maximal relaxations of ethanol extract fromRhodiola crenulataln endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded aortic rings were 57.4% ± 21.81% and 60.51% ± 0.34%, respectively, with a half-maximal effective concentration of 1 062.88 mg/L. The relaxant effects of ethanol extract fromRhodiola crenulatawere not statistically inhibited by pretreatment with ODQ (P>0.05). Contractions of aortic rings resulted from phenylephrine-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in calcium-free medium or high potassium-induced influx of Ca2+ in calcium-free high-potassium medium were significantly inhibited by ethanol extract fromRhodiola crenulata(allP<0.05).ConclusionEthanol extract fromRhodiola crenulatahas a concentration-dependent vasorelaxation, its mechanisms may be involved in blocking extracellular Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ release.

Hemodynamic situation is an important factor of recurrence of postoperative carotid artery aneurysm. In order to investigate the hemodynamic factors of postoperative carotid artery aneurysm affect carotid artery aneurysm recurrence, we established a 3D finite element carotid artery aneurysm for the preoperative and postoperative periods using the three-dimensional reconstruction techniques. And then we measured the hemodynamic factors of carotid artery aneurysm of preoperative and postoperative by the finite element method. The carotid artery aneurysm model has an accurate and realistic shape; the pressure of the recurrence of aneurysm was reduced significantly after surgery,wall shear stress increased significantly at residual neck, and blood flow velocity increased significantly, which will increase the risk of recurrence. The hemodynamic analysis provides a reference for development of aneurysm clinical treatment programs and prevention of recurrence.
Aneurysm ; pathology ; surgery ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; surgery ; Computer Simulation ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Stress, Mechanical

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of ulinastatin(UT) conjoined to high flow continuous blood purification( CBP) in the critical patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS). To evaluate the therapeutic potential of UT and CBP in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) , severe sepsis( SS) , acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Method A total of 122 cases of emergency and critical patients with a score of more than 15 counted up from APACHE H (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation 11 ) were randomly divided into Ulinastatin treatment group (UT group, n = 35) .continuous blood pu-rification(CBP group, n = 31),UT plus CBP (combine group, n = 30) and routine treatment group (control group, n =26). Routine treatment was given to patients of all groups, and patients of UT group had Ulinastatin 0.4 MIU given intravenously every 8 hours for 7 days in addition. Patients of CBP group were managed with continuous blood purification round the clock for 7 days and those of combine group were treated with UT plus CBP for 7 days.The efficacy of the treatment in four groups was assessed,and serum high sensivity reactive protein(hs-CRP) and IL-6 levels were measured on admission and comparison was made between values of biomarkers taken before and 1 d,3 d,and 7 d after treatment in four groups. The changes in WBCs,arterial gas analysis and the oxygena-tion index PaO2/FiO2 were checked, and at the same time, the APACHE II values and the incidence of MODS were compared within four groups. Results (1)One, three and seven days after treatment the plasma hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in UT and CBP groups were reduced significantly more than those in control group ( P < 0. 05), and in combine groups those were more dramatically lowered ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Before treatment there was no significance diffience in those values between groups, and there was on diffience in those values between 3 rd day and 7 th day after treatment ( P > 0.05). (2) The 1 st,3 rd and 7 th day after treatment the arterial gas PaO2/FiO2 index in UT and CBP groups was improved more than that in control group ( P < 0.05) , and it in combine group was most significant improved (P < 0.05,P < 0.01). The ALT and creatinine were lower than those in control group ( P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences in ALT and creatinine between groups before treatment (P > 0.05). (3) The 1 st,3 rd and 7th day afer treatment,the APACHE II values in UT and CBP groups were decreased more than those in control group ( P < 0. 05) , and therefore, the incidence of MODS was lower ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Ulinastatin could significantly inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines and CBP could effectively eliminate inflammatory factors from blood, and the combination of these two approaches produce a more effective therapeutic potential for preventing MODS development.

AIM: To study the relation of acute radiation-induced oral mucositis to fungal infection and evaluate the effect of fluconazole in the treatment of patients with fungal infection.　METHODS: Seventy-one patients (M 42, F 29; 52 a± s 41 a,11-76 a) with large area of oral mucosas irradiated were into this study. When most serious mucositis, the patients' oral mucosas were checked, 32 patients with fungal infection were treated with fluconazole (fluconazole 100 mg, po, qd×5 d or 150 mg,iv,gtt×3 d).　RESULTS: The rate of fungal infection was 45%, the most of patients were infected by candida albicans. Degrees of mucositis between the patients with fungal infection to the patients without fungal infection were significantly different (P<0.05). The patients with fungal infection were treated with fluconazole. Degree of mucositis between the pretreated patients and post-treated patients were significantly different (P<0.05).　CONCLUSION: The serious acute radiation-induced oral mucositis has significantly related with fungal infection. The patients with fungus infection treated with antifungal agents (fluconazole) can significantly relieve the reaction of acute radiation-induced oral mucositis.

Objective: To investigate the molecular transmission network characteristics of HIV-1 among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into AIDS prevention and control among MSM. Methods: Newly reported HIV/AIDS cases among MSM in Shaoxing City were selected from January 2021 to September 2023. Plasma samples before the antiviral treatment were collected. The HIV-1 pol gene was amplified using reverse transcription PCR and nested PCR to construct phylogenetic trees for gene subtype analysis. The HIV-TRACE method was used to construct a molecular transmission network with a genetic distance of 1.5% to analyze clustering and the characteristics of cases within molecular clusters. Results: A total of 216 HIV/AIDS cases among MSM were included, and 179 qualified sequences were obtained. The predominant HIV-1 subtypes were CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE, with 95 and 66 cases, respectively. At 1.5% genetic distance, 20 molecular clusters were formed, with 61 nodes and 58 edges. A total of 61 sequences were connected to the transmission network (34.08%). HIV/AIDS cases among MSM from all the counties (cities, districts) in Shaoxing City were included in the network. There was the largest molecular cluster with ≥10 nodes, involving 12 cases from five counties (cities, districts), 3 medium-sized molecular clusters with 4 to 5 nodes, and the 16 small-sized molecular clusters with 2 or 3 nodes. Seven cases with high risk of transmission, each with ≥4 edges, were all CRF07_BC subtypes. Among them, two cases were from the large molecular cluster, and five cases were from the same molecular cluster composed of cases from Shengzhou City and Xinchang County. Conclusions The predominant HIV-1 subtypes among MSM in Shaoxing City were CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. There was cross-regional HIV transmission, and potential transmission risk might exist in Shengzhou City and Xinchang County.

Objective : To estimate the risk threshold of route index（RI）and mosq-ovitrap index（MOI）based on Breteau index（BI）,as supplements for dengue fever risk monitoring in specific habitats. Methods : Two towns and two streets were selected from nine towns（streets）in Jiashan County,and then one village（community）was selected from each of them as a Aedes albopictus monitoring site. The BI,RI and MOI were employed at the same time and area from April to October in the year 2018. Linear regression models were built with RI,MOI and BI to calculate the dengue risk threshold of RI and MOI according to BI. Results : The linear regression model of BI（X）and RI（Y）was Y=0.145+0.662X（P<0.05）,of BI（X）and MOI（Y）was Y=3.423+0.524X（P<0.05）. If BI=5（having risk of transmission of dengue fever）,then RI=3.455（95%CI：1.717-5.198）,MOI=6.043（95%CI：-0.327-12.417）. If BI=10（having risk of outbreak）,then RI=6.765（95%CI：5.018-8.518）,MOI=8.663（95%CI：2.260-15.071）. If BI=20（having risk of epidemic）,then RI=13.385（95%CI：11.326-15.453）,MOI=13.903（95%CI：6.352-21.461）. Conclusion The dengue fever risk threshold of RI estimated by BI had a narrow 95%CI and could be applied for dengue fever risk assessment,while the risk threshold of MOI had a wide 95%CI and the application value needed further study.