Objective To evaluate the short-term and mid-to-long-term clinical effectiveness of endovascular isolation technique with covered-stent in treating Stanford type B aortic dissection. Methods A total of 183 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection, who were admitted to authors’ hospital during the period from January 2005 to December 2013 to receive endovascular isolation treatment with covered-stent under general anaethesia, were enrolled in this study. The clinical data, including post-operative symptoms, complications, retention time in ICU, hospitalization days, 30-day mortality, etc. were retrospectively analyzed. After discharged from hospital, the patients were followed up to check the situation, position and shape of the stent, the diameter of dissection false lumen, the internal leakage, etc. The survival rate and the quality of life were determined. Results Endovascular isolation procedure with covered-stent was successfully accomplished in all the 183 cases. The retention time in ICU was (3.08 ± 1.93) days, the mean hospitalization time was (3.08 ± 1.93) days, and the 30-day mortality was 1.09%. After discharged from hospital, the patients were followed up regularly, and no collapse or displacement of stent was observed, and the stent remained in its normal shape. No recurrence of dissection, rupture or reversal tear was observed. No long existing internal leakage could be detected. During the follow-up period 4 patients died, among them three died from cerebral infarction and one died of natural death. The 5-year survival rate was 97.82% and the patient’s quality of life did not become apparently worse. Conclusion For the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection, endovascular isolation therapy with covered-stent has excellent short-term effect and stable mid-to-long-term result.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of high quality for super-selective renal artery embolization (SRAE) in treating bleeding after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).Methods 134 patients received percutaneous nephrolithotomy were divided into control group (67 patients) and observation group (67 patients).All of patients with serious bleeding after PCNL were given SRAE in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College from June 2010 to June 2015.At the same time,we gave high quality nursing to observation group.The patients in control group received routine nursing.The effect of nursing was observed.Results The degree of hematuria disappear of the patients in observation group was higher than that in control group (P＜ 0.05).There were fewer complications in observation group.In the sixth month after discharge,none of them had obvious renal impairment.No recurrence of hematuria,pus kidney and urinary cyst was tested.All cases were satisfied with the treatment.Conclusion It's the key to prevent serious complications and cure successfully with effective and timely supervision and high quality nursing care during the perioperation of SRAE in treating bleeding after PCNL.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) infusion transplantation via renal artery and via caudal vein in treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in rats,and to compare the expressions of aquaporin1 (AQP1) and aquaporin2 (AQP2) between the two transplantation routes.Methods A total of 50 male SD rats were selected for this experiment.Two experimental rats were used to make preparation of bone marrow MSC.CKD model was established with infusion of adriamycin via caudal vein in 36 rats.The 36 CKD models were randomly divided into adriamycininduced renal failure model control group (A-C group,n=12),MSC transplantation through the right renal artery group (M-A group,n=12) and MSC transplantation through the caudal vein group (M-V group,n=12).The remaining 12 male SD rats were used as the blank control group (N group).One week after the last bone marrow MSC transplantation,the 24 h urine volume,24 h urinary protein content,serum sodium content and serum albumin level were measured,and AQP1 and AQP2 expressions in the kidney tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with A-C group,the serum albumin level and 24h urine volume in both M-V group and M-A group were significantly increased (P＜0.05),while 24h urinary protein content and serum sodium content were remarkably decreased (P＜0.05).The 24h urinary protein content in the M-A group was obviously lower than that in the M-V group (P＜0.05).The AQP1 and AQP2 expressions in the kidney tissue in both M-V group and M-A group were strikingly lower than those in the A-C group (P＜ 0.05),but no statistically significant differences in AQP1 and AQP2 expressions existed between the M-V group and the M-A group (P＞0.05).Conclusion MSC transplantation can increase serum albumin,and lower urinary protein,serum sodium and the expressions of AQP1 and AQP2 in renal parenchymal cells,which has the effect on repairing renal injury of adriamycin-induced CKD rats.For a given period of time,the clinical curative effect of MSC transplantation via renal artery is better than that of MSC transplantation via peripheral vein,but the difference in curative effect between the two MSC transplantation pathways has no obvious correlation with AQP1 and AQP2 expressions.

Background Occupational aluminum exposure may associate with cognitive impairment in workers. At present, brain functional imaging data are not available for evaluating cognitive dysfunction in workers with occupational exposure to aluminum. The role of brain functional connectivity in cognitive decline associated with occupational aluminum exposure is not clear yet. Objective To explore potential mediating effect of brain functional connectivity value on cognitive decline induced by occupational aluminum exposure, to assess the relationship between cognitive impairment and brain functional connectivity, and to identify appropriate imaging evidence of early cognitive changes induced by occupational aluminum exposure. Methods This study used a subset data from a previous cross-sectional survey. Based on the data of aluminum-exposed workers, over 40 years old, aluminum-exposed working years >1 year, Montreal International Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (Beijing version) score <26 points, 20 workers were selected as the case group, and 40 healthy workers with the same basic conditions (age, smoking, drinking, etc.) in non-aluminum production were selected as the control group with a 1∶2 matching ratio. The basic information of the subjects was collected, plasma aluminum level and cognitive function level were evaluated, and different brain functional connectivity values of default mode network (DMN) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. The mediating effect analysis was conducted to examine the role of brain functional connectivity in the relationship between aluminum exposure and cognitive function. Results The plasma aluminum concentration of the case group was 1.76 times higher than that of the control group [(33.04±12.02) µg·L⁻¹ vs (18.74±8.95) µg·L⁻¹, P<0.05]; the MoCA score was 9.5 points lower [(18.35±2.64) vs (27.85±0.92), P<0.05]. The mean functional connection values of DMN1 and DMN2 in the case group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The mean functional connection values of the left precuneus, left middle cingulate cortex, left superior medial gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and left cerebellum also decreased in the case group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Plasma aluminum concentration was negatively correlated with DMN1 functional connectivity value and MoCA scores (b=−0.004, 95%CI: −0.008–−0.001; b=−0.15, 95%CI: −0.233–−0.067; P<0.05). The mean functional connection values of DMN1 and DMN2 were positively correlated with MoCA scores (b=10.945, 95%CI: 5.574–16.316; b=10.107, 95%CI: 2.457–17.758; P<0.05). With the increase of plasma aluminum concentration, MoCA score decreased, but when the plasma aluminum concentration exceeded 19.50 µg·L⁻¹, MoCA score decreased slowly. With the increase of the mean functional connectivity value of DMN1, MoCA score increased, but when the mean functional connectivity value of DMN1 exceeded 1.05 and continued to increase, the increase of MoCA score slowed down. The results of mediating effect analysis showed that the functional connectivity value of DMN1 partially mediated the relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and MoCA score, and the mediating effect was 25.80%. Conclusion Cognitive impairment in occupational aluminum-exposed workers is closely related to brain resting-state functional connectivity. There is a dose-response relationship of plasma aluminum concentration with DMN1 functional connectivity value and MoCA scores, and DMN1 functional connectivity value partially mediates the relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and MoCA scores. The brain functional connectivity value can be used as meaningful imaging data to study the cognitive decline induced by chronic aluminum exposure.

Background Occupational aluminum exposure is closely related to cognitive impairment, and alcohol consumption is also closely related to cognitive dysfunction. Objective To explore the effects of types of alcohol consumption on cognitive function of occupational aluminum exposed workers. Methods A total of 181 workers aged from 23 to 56 years were selected by cluster sampling method in an electrolytic aluminum workshop of an aluminum plant in a region and in a maintenance workshop of another plant in the same region from July to August, 2019. Venous blood was collected, and plasma aluminum concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study subjects were divided into low and high exposure groups based on the median blood aluminum level and type of work. Their basic information was collected by occupational health examination. Workers' cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale-Beijing Edition. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between plasma aluminum concentration and cognitive impairment, and between the types of alcohol consumption (including Baijiu, red wine, and beer) and cognitive impairment, Unconditional logistic regression was used to fit multiplicative interaction model as well as additive interaction model of plasma aluminum concentration and the types of alcohol consumption, and to calculate the relative excess relative risk due to interaction (RERI) and attributable proportion due to interaction (AP). Results The M (P₂₅, P₇₅) concentrations of plasma aluminum were 40.01 (25.05, 60.56) µg·L⁻¹ in the total study subjects, 25.16 (17.13, 34.78) µg·L⁻¹ in the low exposure group and 60.56 (47.40, 68.53) µg·L⁻¹ in the high exposure group. After adjusting the type of alcohol consumption, drinking, age, duration of exposure to aluminum, education, marital status, and smoking, the odds ratios for impairments of attention, language expression, and overall cognitive function in the high exposure group were 4.295 (95%CI: 1.912-9.648), 5.687 (95%CI: 1.355-23.867), and 2.720 (95%CI: 1.225-6.040) times of the low exposure group respectively. Besides, after adjusting blood aluminum concentration, total alcohol consumption, age, duration of exposure to aluminum, education, marital status, and smoking, the risk of attention impairment of the Baijiu drinkers was 2.613 (95%CI: 1.054 to 6.837) times of the non-Baijiu drinkers; the risks of impairment of visuospatial abilities and execution functions, language expression, delayed recall, and overall cognitive function of the beer drinkers were 3.165 (95%CI: 1.285-7.797), 17.898 (95%CI: 1.590-201.480), 3.118 (95%CI: 1.215-8.003), and 3.824 (95%CI: 1.736-8.423) times of the non-beer drinkers. There were both additive [RERI (95%CI): 1.745 (1.394-2.097), AP (95%CI): 0.415 (0.201-0.630)] and multiplicative (OR=3.591, 95%CI: 1.393-9.255) interactions between Baijiu intake and plasma aluminum concentration levels on the attention domain. The cognitive impairment attributed to the interactive effects of drinking Baijiu and plasma aluminum concentration in individuals with attention impairment accounted for 41.5%. There were both additive [RERI (95%CI): 5.955 (0.562-11.328), AP (95%CI): 0.829 (0.577-1.081)] and multiplicative (OR=42.174, 95%CI: 5.469-325.252) interactions between beer drinking and plasma aluminum concentration on the overall cognitive function. Among the individuals with overall cognitive impairment, the cognitive impairment caused by the interaction of beer drinking and plasma aluminum concentration accounted for 82.9%. Conclusion Occupation aluminum exposed workers' attention, language expression, and overall cognitive function are closely related to their plasma aluminum concentration. Plasma aluminum concentrations have interactions with Baijiu and beer consumption on cognitive impairment of workers.

Background Aluminum activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), causing microglial nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and inflammatory responses and producing neurotoxicity. Objective To explore the role of STAT3 regulated NLRP3 inflammasomes in the inflammatory response of mouse microglia cell line (BV2) cells induced by maltol aluminum [Al(mal)₃]. Methods BV2 cells were assigned to five groups: one control group, three Al(mal)₃ exposure groups (low, medium, and high doses at 40, 80, and 160 μmol·L⁻¹ Al(mal)₃ respectively), and one C188-9 (STAT3 antagonist) intervention group [10 μmol·L⁻¹ C188-9 +160 μmol·L⁻¹ Al(mal)₃]. Cell viability was detected by CCK8. The expression of M1/M2 type markers, i.e. CD68/CD206, STAT3, p-STAT3, NLRP3, cleaved-casepase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) in BV2 cells were detected by Western blotting, and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were determined by ELISA. Results The results of cell viability assay showed that cell viability gradually decreased with the increase of Al(mal)₃ dose. Compared with the control group, the cell viability of the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group was decreased by 18% (P<0.05); compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the cell viability of the C188-9 intervention group was significantly elevated by 14% (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of CD68 in the Al(mal)₃ low-, medium-, and high-dose groups were elevated by 19%, 20%, and 21%, respectively (P<0.05); the expression level of CD206 in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group was decreased by 25% (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the expression level of CD68 in the C188-9 intervention group was reduced by 9% (P<0.05), whereas the expression level of CD206 was elevated by 22% (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the p-STAT3 protein expression and the p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group increased by 129% and 127%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the p-STAT3 protein expression and the p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio in the C188-9 intervention group were decreased by 55% and 54%, respectively (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression level of NLRP3 protein increased by 75% in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group (P<0.05), the expression levels of cleaved-casepase-1 protein increased by 28% and 35% in the Al(mal)₃ medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05), and the expression levels of ASC increased by 22%, 25%, and 53% in the Al(mal)₃ low-, medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05), respectively. Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved-casepase-1, and ASC proteins in the C188-9 intervention group decreased by 30%, 19%, and 32%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of IL-1β in the Al(mal)₃ medium- and high-dose groups increased by 18% and 21%, respectively (P<0.05), and the level of IL-18 in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group increased by 10% (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the IL-18 levels were reduced by 23% in the C188-9 intervention group (P<0.05). The content of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Aluminum can induce inflammatory responses in BV2 microglia and is predominantly pro-inflammatory, and the mechanism may involve STAT3 regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome secretion of inflammatory factors.