BACKGROUNDThe role of the cerebral venous system (CVS) in intracranial pressure (ICP) regulation remains largely unclear. In the present study, the interaction between ICP and the cerebral venous system and its possible mechanism were investigated with respect to the biological characteristics of the cerebral venous system and its hemodynamic response under increased ICP.

METHODSWe created intracranial hypertension animal model, measured and calculated the venous flow velocity and diameter of the outflow terminal of the CVS with color ultrasonic system and recorded the vascular morphology by 3-dimensional anatomical microscopy. Patients who suffered from raised ICP underwent MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination to show the length in the vertical direction of the wall of the bridging vein representing the diameter value. Pathological autopsy was performed from bodies of patients who had died from non-cerebral causes to observe the juncture part between the venous sinuses and tributary vertical brain veins.

RESULTSUnder increased ICP conditions, venous drainage through the outlet cuff segment, a unique structure between the bridge vein and sinus, was obstructed and in turn venous blood became congested. Therefore, the increased blood volume worsened the pre-existing ICP according to the well-accepted theory regarding volume-pressure relationship. This phenomenon was described as concurrent "venogenic intracranial hypertension", which is characterized by intracranial venous blood stasis responsive to and together with the original increased ICP.

CONCLUSIONSThe existence of this special pathophysiological process is prevalent, rather than rare, in various intracranial disorders. This finding would definitely provide new insight into the area of cerebral venous system research.

Adult ; Cerebral Veins ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Intracranial Pressure ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the use of triamcinolone acetonide for the prevention of implant capsular contracture.

METHODS20 rabbits were randomly undivided into 2 groups of 10 animals each. Every 10 ml silicone implant was implanted beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle of one rabbit. At the same time, a modified expander catheter was mounted on the implant. This catheter has many lateral holes and the end was blind. Triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/3 ml) was infused through the expander pot and catheter as the experimental groups. On the other hand, 3 ml saline was used as the control group at 1, 2, and 3 months. At 6 months, measures related to contracture and capsular histology examinations were performed on anesthetized animals.

RESULTSBaker scores, capsular incision width and capsular thickness of the saline groups were evidently higher than that of triamcinolone acetonide groups (P < 0.01). Implant compression of the saline groups was evidently lower than that of triamcinolone acetonide group. Histology revealed a thinner capsules and less fibrous tissue deposition around the triamcinolone acetonide group, as compared with saline group.

CONCLUSIONSIt is effective to deliver triamcinolone acetonide to reduction of capsular contracture through the catheter and its pot.

Animals ; Breast Implantation ; adverse effects ; Contracture ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rabbits ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo establish a mouse model of asthmatic airway remodeling and investigate the effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on airway structure and T cell immunoglobulin mucin protein-4 (TIM-4) expression in asthmatic mice.

METHODSThirty female mice (BALB/c strain) were randomly divided into control, asthma and 1,25-(OH)2D3 intervention groups. An asthmatic mouse model was induced using ovalbumin. Lung tissue of the mice was collected, mRNA expression of TIM-4 was evaluated by RT-PCR and airway remodeling and protein expression of TIM-4 were observed by hematoxylineosin staining and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSTypical airway remodeling was found in the asthma group, and TIM-4 expression in this group was significantly higher than in the control group (105±9 vs 42±5; P<0.05). Compared with the asthma group, the 1,25-(OH)2D3 intervention group showed improvement in airway remodeling and a decrease in TIM-4 expression (78±6) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTIM-4 may be involved in the airway remodeling of mice. As a new type of immunoregulator, 1,25-(OH)2D3 can downregulate expression of TIM-4 in the lungs and improve airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.

Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Calcitriol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Lung ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a new technique for breast reconstruction with multiple miniprostheses,

METHODSEach silicone miniprosthesis(10 approximately 15 ml) was implanted one by one beneath the prepared muscle pocket until the desired volume was achieved.

RESULTSSeven patients were treated with the above mentioned technique, including five after gland fibroadenoma excision, one hemangioma excision and one reduction mammoplasty. The results were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned technique with the miniprostheses may be another good way for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction with many advantages such as smaller incision, easy intraoperative assessment of the ideal size of the breast, easy handling the technique, perhaps low incidence of capsular contracture.

Adult ; Breast ; surgery ; Breast Implants ; Female ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To assess the severity of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats and predict the occurrence of subsequent neurobehavioral abnormalities after brain injury by scoring and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:7-day-old of 60 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group (14 rats), sham operation group (14 rats) and HIBD model group (32 rats). HIBD model was established by right common carotid artery dissection with Rice-Vannucci method and hypoxia. Within 24 h after modeling, the rats in the model group were evaluated by general condition score and Longa score, and the surviving rats with moderate and severe HIBD were selected for the experiment. 24 h after modeling, 5 rats of the model group were randomly selected for 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazole chloride staining to verify cerebral infarction. 1 week after modeling, 6 rats from each group were randomly selected for hematoxylin-eosin staining to observe HIBD brain injury. 4 weeks after modeling, 4 rats were randomly selected from the control group and the sham operation group, and 8 rats from the remaining model group were used to evaluate the volume of brain damage by MRI. 5-6 weeks after modeling, the remaining 8 rats from each group were subjected to the Cylinder test, and at 13 weeks, they underwent the Morris water maze test to evaluate their neurobehavior.Results:In HIBD model group, 19 rats with moderate to severe HIBD were selected from 32 rats. 24 h after modeling, cerebral infarction was verified in all rats, indicating moderate to severe HIBD. Brain tissue pathology observed 1 week after modeling revealed predominantly gray matter brain damage. MRI showed that 7 out of 8 rats had moderate to severe HIBD. Compared to the control and sham operation groups, the model group exhibited a significant decrease in the usage rate of the left forelimb in the Cylinder test at 5-6 weeks after modeling ( P<0.05), and the latency period in Morris water maze test was significantly prolonged at 13 weeks after modeling ( P<0.05), and the times of crossing platform quadrant were significantly reduced ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the right brain injury volume between 24 h and 4 weeks model group ( P>0.05). The brain injury volume in model group was negatively correlated with the usage rate of left forelimb in cylinder test at 5-6 weeks and the times of crossing platform quadrant in Morris water maze test at 13 weeks ( P<0.05), and positively correlated with latency period in Morris water maze test at 13 weeks ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Within 24 h of HIBD modeling, the severity of brain injury can be preliminarily predicted by general condition score and Longa score. 4 weeks after modeling, in the chronic phase of brain injury, MRI was proved to be an excellent predictor for mid-term and long-term neurobehavioral abnormalities in HIBD rats.

OBJECTIVETo probe the effect of moxihustion on the quality of life in the end-stage renal failure patients in hemodialysis.

METHODSSeventy-one hemodialysis patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, and the quality of life of all the patients was evaluated with the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF). The Control group were treated with routine comprehensive therapy (including hemodialysis and medication), and the observation group with the routine comprehensive therapy and moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Changes of the quality of life in the patients before and after hemodialysis were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSAfter treatment there were significant differences between the two groups in DSF, RE and GH (P<0.05), and 7 fields including RE, BP, QSI and others significantly improved in the both groups (P<0.05). Additionally, the 4 fields including RP, EB, VT and WS significantly improved in the observation group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion can improve physical strength and mood in the quality of life of the hemodialysis patients; to evaluate the quality of life of hemodialysis patients should consider effects of society, climate and geographical condition and other factors.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo construct the virus-like parcel expressing hepatitis B virus (HBV) C gene and identify its immunogenicity.

METHODSHBV C gene was cloned into the shuttle vector pSC11, and the resulted plasmid pSC11-C was transfected into modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA).

RESULTSpSC11-C was correctly constructed as verified by sequence analysis and PCR, and the recombinant virus-like parcel possessed good immunogenicity.

CONCLUSIONThe MVA-C expressing HBV C gene has been successfully constructed to provide important basis for gene therapy research of chronic HBV infection.

Genes, Viral ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Vaccinia virus ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the proper time of cryo-preserving tracheal allograft so as to minimize its antigenicity.

METHODSOn a dog model, this study was carried out by allografting a tracheal into a muscular flap formed with sternocephalic muscle and sternohyoid--sternothyroid muscle. The tracheal was treated with cryopreservation in defferent intervals. The viability of the graft was evaluated by the examination of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, histopathology and microangiography. The blood flow of the tracheal mucous was measured with a blood flowmeter and the survival area was decided in the calculation of the percentage.

RESULTSThere are no significant differences in the mucous membrane appearance and the mucosal blood flow one week after the surgery among the non-cryopreservation group and the groups treated with cryopreservation in 1 day, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. The graft was found to start necrosis 2 weeks after the transplantation with the infiltration of mononuclear cells examined under light microscope in almost all of the groups, especially in the non-cryopreservation group and the groups treated with cryopreservation in 1 day, 2 weeks. However, there was no significant difference among the autograft group and the allograft groups cryopreservated in 6 weeks and 8 weeks, and the infiltration of the mononuclear cells was not found in these groups either.

CONCLUSIONThe antigenicity of the tracheal allografts could be significantly decreased by the treatment of cryopreservation over 6 weeks.

Animals ; Bronchoscopes ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Dogs ; Flowmeters ; Models, Animal ; Respiratory Mucosa ; blood supply ; pathology ; Trachea ; immunology ; pathology ; transplantation ; Transplantation, Homologous

Background The role of the cerebral venous system (CVS) in intracranial pressure (ICP) regulation remains largely unclear.In the present study,the interaction between ICP and the cerebral venous system and its possible mechanism were investigated with respect to the biological characteristics of the cerebral venous system and its hemodynamic response under increased ICP.@@Methods We created intracranial hypertension animal model,measured and calculated the venous flow velocity and diameter of the outflow terminal of the CVS with color ultrasonic system and recorded the vascular morphology by 3-dimensional anatomical microscopy.Patients who suffered from raised ICP underwent MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination to show the length in the vertical direction of the wall of the bridging vein representing the diameter value.Pathological autopsy was performed from bodies of patients who had died from non-cerebral causes to observe the juncture part between the venous sinuses and tributary vertical brain veins.@@Results Under increased ICP conditions,venous drainage through the outlet cuff segment,a unique structure between the bridge vein and sinus,was obstructed and in turn venous blood became congested.Therefore,the increased blood volume worsened the pre-existing ICP according to the well-accepted theory regarding volume-pressure relationship.This phenomenon was described as concurrent “Venogenic intracranial hypertension”,which is characterized by intracranial venous blood stasis responsive to and together with the original increased ICP.@@Conclusions The existence of this special pathophysiological process is prevalent,rather than rare,in various intracranial disorders.This finding would definitely provide new insight into the area of cerebral venous system research.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of tracheas transplantation by wrapping it in a muscle flap.

METHODSWith a dog model, a number of tracheas were separately wrapped in the unilateral sternocephalic muscle flap and the bilateral sternohyoid-sternothyroid muscle flap, and placed in the original site. The tracheas autografting was used as a control. The viability was evaluated by the examination of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, histopathology and microangiography, the measurement of tracheal mucosal blood flow and the calculation of survival rate and percentage of patency.

RESULTSThe submucosal blood flow of the transplanted tracheas was detected in the unilateral sternocephalic muscle flap group and the bilateral sternohyoid-sternothyroid muscle flap group 1 week after the surgery and gradually reached the level close to the normal in 4 weeks, while the vascular ingrowth was also shown from the wrapped muscle flap into the transplanted tracheas by using a microangiography technique. The histopathological examination demonstrated that the structure of the transplanted tracheas was quite same as the original one and its inner surface was also covered with pseudostratified columnar ciliary epithelia. However, in the control group, the mucous membranes turned black one week after the transplantation and all dogs died from the graft necrosis.

CONCLUSIONThe tracheas wrapped in a muscular flap could survive well for a long time.

Animals ; Dogs ; Epithelium ; Graft Survival ; physiology ; Necrosis ; mortality ; Regional Blood Flow ; physiology ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; pathology ; Time Factors ; Trachea ; blood supply ; pathology ; transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous