Objective To investigate the value of endovascular surgery for the treatment of thromboangitis obliterans (TAO). Methods Sixteen patients (18 limbs) with thromboangitis obliterans were treated by percutaneous transluminal plasty (PTA). Results Angiographic success on the limb basis was achieved in 15 of 18 treated limbs and the initial technical success rate was 83.34%. Doppler anklebrachial index (ABI) increased from 0.33±0.16 to 0.79±0.23 one week after PTA. The follow-up time was 2～24 months, the average time was 10.84 months. The 3-month, 12-month accumulated primary patency rate were 81.33% and 60. 23% respectively. Conclusion PTA is effective primary invasive treatment for thromboangitis obliterans yielding acceptable primary clinical success with a low complication rate and resulting in moderate long-term clinical patency and a high limb salvage rate.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) for primary osteoporosis in the elderly.Methods:Eighty old patients with primary osteoporosis were randomized into a Yi Jin Jing group and a medication group,40 cases in each group.The Yi Jin Jing group was intervened by Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) training,while the medication group was intervened by oral administration of alendronate sodium tablet.Prior to and after 6-month intervention,the bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal femur,visual analog scale (VAS) and activities of daily living (ADL) were estimated.Results:There were no significant differences in the BMD of the proximal femur,and VAS and ADL scores between the two groups before the intervention (P＞0.05).After 6-month intervention,the above items all improved significantly in both groups (both P＜0.01);the improvements in VAS and ADL scores in Yi Jin Jing group were more significant than those in the medication group (P＜0.01),while the between-group difference in the BMD of the proximal femur was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Practice of Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) can effectively ameliorate the BMD in the elderly with primary osteoporosis,and it can reduce the pain and improve ADL,with a better general effect compared to oral administration of alendronate sodium tablet.

Objective To analyze the perioperative mortality,stroke rates and late benefits of carotid artery stenting for the treatment of unilateral severe stenosis of carotid artery with contralateral obliteration in a single medical center.Methods Clinical data of 38 cases were analyzed retrospectively,including postoperative period and follow-up.Results The technical success rate was 100％ ( 38/38 )with no peri-operative 30-day mortality or ischemic stroke.The overall peri-operative complication rate was 34.2％ ( 13/38),including transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 5.3％ (2/38).The average follow-up time was ( 29 ± 13 ) months with follow-up rate of 86.8％ ( 33/38 ).The mortality was 0 and the overall complication rate was 12.1％ (4/33),including TIA in 6.1％ (2/33).No patients had recurrent stroke.Twenty-three cases underwent whole brain CT perfusion evaluation before and after the therapy.A significant improvement of the perfusion parameters was observed in the stenotic side after CAS.Conclusions CAS contralateral to an occluded carotid artery can be performed with acceptable perioperative mortality and stroke risk rates,as well as a satisfactory long-term beneficial effect in stroke prevention.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety, feasibility and efficacy of transplantation of purified peripheral blood CD34+ cells in treatment of critical ischemia of the lower extremities.MethodsFrom May 2009 to March 2010, seven cases of critical ischemia of the lower extremities received purified peripheral blood CD34+ cells transplantation, among those 6 were caused by thromboangiitis obliterans and 1 by thrombosis coexistent with nodular erythema. Mean age was ( 39 ± 11 ) years ( range 23 - 54 ), and all patients were not suitable for surgical or endovascular revascularization. G-CSF was subcutaneously injected for 5 days before apheresis for peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Then CliniMACS system was used to isolate the CD34+ cells. If the number of CD34+ cells was between 105/kg and 106/kg , they were all intramuscular injected into patients' calf and foot. ResultsTechnical success and limb salvage were achieved in all cases. The mean number of transplanted cells was (7. 1 ±2.3) × 105/kg [ range(4.6 ×105 -1 × 106 )/kg]. All cases were followed-up, ranging from 6 - 14 months (mean 8 ± 3 months). One month after transplantation, the rest pain was obviously relieved in all cases, and the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale score significantly decreased from 7. 1 ±2. 0(4 - 10)to 1. 1 ± 1.1 (0 -2) ,P =0. 0000. The pain-free walking distance was significantly improved from (4 ± 4) min (range 1 -10 min)to (12 ± 7 ) min (range 5 - 21min , P =0.04) at 3 months and(20.4 ± 12.5) min(range 6 -40 min, P = 0.02) at 6 months, respectively. The ankle-brachial index increased from 0. 54 ± 0. 18 ( range 0. 41 - 0. 87 ) to 0.66 ±0. 13(range 0. 52-0. 86 , P=0. 17)at 3 months and 0.72 ±0. 13(range 0.56 -0.91, P=0. 07)at 6 months, respectively. Of 6 cases with the toe ulcer, the ulcer was healed in 3 and apparently shrank in 3. Transcutaneous partial oxygen pressure rose from (29 ± 14)mm Hg(range 10 -52 mm Hg)to 46 ±14 mm Hg ( range 27 - 63 mm Hg, P = 0. 04) at 3 months and (57 ± 10) mm Hg( range 41 - 66 mm Hg, P =0.001) at 6 months,respectively.No serious complications were found either perioperatively or postoperatively.ConclusionsTransplantation of purified peripheral blood CD34+ cells is safe, feasible and effective in the treatment of critical ischemia of the lower extremities.

This study was aimed to investigate whether the extracts of Celastrus orbiculatus enhanced the invasion function of maspin tumor inhibitor gene through the construction of maspin overexpression human gastric carcinoma MGC803 cell line. Maspin was cloned into plasmid GV208-EGFP eukaryotic expression vector. And then, the recombinant plasmid GV208-maspin-EGFP was transfected into human gastric carcinoma MGC803 cells. After the maspin overexpression MGC803 cell were treated with Celastrus orbiculatus extracts in different concentrations (10, 20, 40 μg·mL-1), the invasion effects were detected by Transwell chamber assay. The results showed that after the successful construction of maspin overexpression cell line, the number of cells invading through Matrigel was obviously decreased in the Transwell chamber assay. It also showed drug concentration dependency. It was concluded that maspin gene can inhibit invasion of gastric carcinoma MGC803 cells. Simultaneously, the extracts of Celastrus orbiculatus can enhance the function of maspin gene.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transplantation of purified CD34 + cells (PCCs) in treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI) caused by thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO).Methods From May 2009 to June 2015,34 TAO-induced-CLI cases underwent PCCs transplantation.None of these patients were eligible for surgical or endovascular revascularization.G-CSF was subcutaneously injected for 5 days before peripheral CD34 + cells were isolated,purified and intramuscularly injected in the limbs.Patients were regularly follow-up.Results Technical success was achieved in all cases.The mean number of transplanted cells was (7.5 ± 2.4) × 105/kg.The follow-up was accomplished in 32 cases,ranging from 6 to 79 months (mean 45 ±24 months),and two patients were lost.Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale score significantly decreased from 8.0 ±2.0(4-10)to 2.2 ±3.1 (P ＜0.05) at 1 month.The Peak pain-free walking time improved from (4.0 ± 2.0) min to (13.5 ± 5.3) min (P ＜ 0.05) at 3 months and (19.0 ± 3.1) min (P ＜ 0.05) at 6 months.The ankle-brachial index increased from 0.42 ± 0.20 to 0.50 ± 0.10 (P ＜ 0.05) at 3 months and 0.52 ± 0.11 (P ＜ 0.05) at 6 months,respectively.Transcutaneous partial oxygen pressure rose from (25 ± 11) mmHg to (48 ± 11) mmHg(P ＜ 0.05) at 3 months and (58 ± 10) mmHg (P ＜ 0.001) at 6 months,respectively.Ulcers healed in 21 out of 22 patients at (5 ± 4) months.The overall amputation-free survival rate was 94.1％ at 6 months and 91.2％ at 48 months.No major adverse events were observed perioperatively or postoperatively.Conclusions Transplantation of PCCs could yield safe,satisfactory and durable treatment outcomes in patients with TAO-induced-CLI.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the geometrical characteristics of abdominal aortic aneurysms undergoing endovascular treatment in a single medical center.The long-term effects as well as the strategies for the prevention and treatment of complications have been reviewed.Methods From January 2003 to December 2010,clinical data and geometrical parameters of 344 cases undergoing endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms were analyzed retrospectively.Results The diameter and length of proximal neck was (23 ± 3 )mm and ( 26 ± 12) mm respectively.The angle between the neck and the abdominal aortic aneurysm was (25 ± 28) degree.The surgical success rate was 99.7％.The average follow-up time was 32.9 months (3 -84 months) with follow-up rate 81.8％ (279/341).The mortality was 1.1％ (3/279),the re-intervention rate was 10.4％ (29/279) and the overall complication rate was 12.9％ ( 36/279),including endoleak of 5.7％ ( 16/279 ),stent-graft migration of 1.1％ ( 3/279 ),aneurysm expansion or rupture of 5.4％ ( 15/279 ),and other complications like limb occlusion.Severe infrarenal aortic neck angulation ( ＞ 60 degree) was associated with type Ⅰ endoleak ( P =0.010 ).Conclusions A careful preoperative case selection and evaluation is the key for a successful endovascular aneurysm repair.Endoleak continues to be the major long-term complication of the endoluminal grafting technique,and the major cause for re-intervention.Life-long follow-up is extremely important.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of renal stenosis resulting from fibromuscular dysplasia ( FMD ). Methods 16 cases from 1998 to 2011 were reviewed,the average age was (28 ± 13 ) years old. Among them, all patients suffered refractory hypertension and only one presented renal dysfunction. Aorto-renal bypass was performed in 2 cases.Resection and reconstruction was performed in 2 cases,balloon angioplasty in 10 and stent implantation in 3.Results There was 1 death peri-operatively.13 out of 15 cases were followed-up with no death.Significant decline of blood pressure [ (134 ± 14 )/( 83 ± 8 ) mm Hg vs.( 151 ± 17 )/( 96 ± 16 ) mm H g ( P ＜ 0.01 ) ]and 100％ effective rate were observed.The creatine level were preserved after surgical treatment [ (61 ±22) μmol/L vs.(69 ± 22) μmol/L,(P ＞ 0.05 ) ] with 4 cases improved and the other 9 stable.12 patients received ultrasound surveillance with only one case of 20％ restenosis. Conclusions Renal stenosis due to FMD are most common in children and the youth with hypertension as major presentation. Balloon angioplasty is the first choice of surgical treatment with positive efficacy.

Objective To probe into the pre-operative design and the operative approach dealing with anastomotic vein and superior sagittal sinus in patients with large meningiomas in the sagittal sinus and falx cerebri. Methods Thirty-five patients with large meningiomas in the sagittal sinus and falx cerebri, admitted to our hospital from January 2001 to December 2010, were chosen; their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. The resection of the tumors by microsurgery (total or subtotal resection) was performed and intraoperative effective management of the sagittal sinus and falx cerebri was done. Results Resection was performed in these 35 patients, including Simpson grade Ⅰ in 21(60.0％), grade Ⅱ in 12 (34.2％), and grade Ⅲ in 2 (5.7％). Skull defect was noted in 5 patients. Unilateral　paralysis of limbs (muscle strength grade Ⅰ-Ⅳ) in 5; paralysis of both lower extremities (muscle strength grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ) in 1; good results were achieved after 1-6 months of hyperbaric oxygen, acupuncture and physiotherapy. During the follow-up period for 6 to 24 months, the tumor recurred in 2 with Simpson Ⅲstage resection (5.7％). Conclusion Designing a detailed pre-operative design according to the MRI,MRA, DSA and CTA, application of microsurgical techniques, avoidance of damage to the cerebral cortex and veins of central suleus and protection of the sagittal sinus are important factors that increase the success rate of surgical resection, reduce complications, prevent the tumor recurrence and improve the survival outcome in patients with parasagittal meningiomas.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of dexamethasone on human lung fibroblast cell proliferation, cell cycles, and cell mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) passway.

METHODSDexamethasone was used at various concentration in culture medium. Cell number was counted using a hemacytometer. Whole cell propidium iodide staining and flow cytometric analysis were performed to determine cellular DNA content. MAPK proteins and activation were tested by Western blot analysis with antibodies to c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), phospho-JNK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phospho-ERK, p38 and phospho-p38.

RESULTS1x10(-7) mol/L and 1x10(-6) mol/L dexamethasone suppressed the proliferation of lung fibroblast cells by 34% and 72%, respectively, than that of control. This suppression was dose-dependant. Dexamethasone suppressed cell cycle with accumulation of cells in G1/G0 stage. It increased from 81.9% to 90.1% compared with that of control. We did not find any apoptosis induced by dexamethasone for lung fibroblast cells. Using Western blot analysis, we found that dexamethasone resulted in decreased activity of ERK, but had no effects on JNK and p38.

CONCLUSIONSDexamethasone may suppresses the proliferation of lung fibroblast cells, which is partly resulted from the facts that it can inhibit ERK activation in MAPK-signaling pathway but has little effect on JNK and p38 pathway. Dexamethasone may not induce lung fibroblast cell apoptosis directly.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Depression, Chemical ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; drug effects