Objective To study the role of cover-stent and embolization in the treatment of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm following liver transplantation.Methods 5 patients with hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after liver transplantation were treated with cover-stent and embolization between May 2010 and July 2013.The clinical features,imaging findings and complications were reviewed.Results All the 5 patients with hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm were successfully treated.2 patients with intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm received embolization.Of the 3 patients with extrahepatic pseudoaneurysm,2 received cover-stent treatment,and 1 patient received embolization.No complications related to the interventional treatment were encountered.2 patients died from multi-organ failure one month after the interventional treatment.Conclusion Cover-stent and embolization were effective and safe to treat patients with hepatic artery pseudoneurysm following liver transplantations.

Objective Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidaemic (WHHL) rabbits with low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) gene mutation have provided unprecedented opportunities for the study of human atherosclerosis, in order to confirm LDL receptor gene status in rabbits, we developed a simple PCR technique to detect LDL mutations in rabbits. Methods Rabbits genomic DNA were extracted from ear biopsy, and amplified by PCR to detect 12 bp deletion mutation in WHHL rabbits. PCR products were directly digested with BglⅠ, and then applied to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results PCR products from homozygous LDLr +/+ rabbits generated 2 bands of 212 and 94 bp after BglⅠ digestion, LDLr +/- rabbits generated 3 bands (294, 212, and 94 bp), LDLr -/- animals, however, generated only 1 product (294 bp). Conclusion This modified PCR method is simple and reliable.

This paper is to report the study of the pharmacokinetics of a fusion protein TAT-haFGF(14-154) for human acidic fibroblast growth factor and transcriptional activator protein in rat plasma, and the investigation of their penetration across blood-brain barrier in mice and rats, in order to provide a basis for clinical development and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine concentration of TAT-haFGF(14-154) in rat plasma and in mouse brain homogenate; and immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the distribution in brain. The concentration-time curve fitted two-compartment open model which was linear kinetics elimination after a single intravenous injection of TAT-haFGF(14-154) in rat at the dose of 300 microg x kg(-1). The half life time was 0.049 +/- 0.03 h for distribution phase and 0.55 +/- 0.05 h for elimination phase, and the weight was 1/C2. The result showed that TAT-haFGF(14-154) could be detected in the brain by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, the elimination of TAT-haFGF(14-154) in rat was swift, and TAT-haFGF(14-154) could penetrate across the blood-brain barrier, distribute in pallium and hippocampus and locate in the nucleus.

BACKGROUND:The limitations of computer technology in the study of bone biomechanics and the prediction of bone fixation strength, stability, fatigue damage and life expectancy are more difficult. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the new progress and application of finite element analysis in orthopedics. METHODS:The first author searched PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed) and CNKI China journal ful-text database (http://www.cnki.net/) published til November 2015. Key words were“finite element analysis, orthopedics, biomechanics”. There were 51 references in English and 320 Chinese literatures. According to the inclusion criteria, 40 literatures were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Biomechanics of human skeleton is very complex, and most of the mechanical state is a locomotive, non-static process, thus increasing the difficulty of orthopedic biomechanics research. The prediction concerning bone fixation strength, stability, fatigue damage and lifetime is more difficult. However, the finite element analysis technology, which has been widely applied and demonstrated its reliability actual y in engineering fields, can solve these problems effectively. With the rapid development of computer technology, finite element analysis in the field of orthopedic applications has increasingly been used, which also promoted the development of orthopedic technology.

Objective To evaluate the medium and long-term therapeutic results of percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty for portal vein stenosis (PSV) following pediatric liver transplantation.Methods From Jan.2008 to Dec.2012,5 cases with PVS after pediatric liver transplantation received percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty.There were 3 male and 2 female cases ranging from 7 months to 8 year-old with the median age of 2 years and 10 months.The protopathy included 1 Carolis disease and 4 congenital biliary atresia.The therapeutic results were monitored by clinical follow-up and imaging examination.The clinical data,imaging examination and therapeutic results were analyzed.Results All interventions were performed successfully,and the treatment efficacy was 100％.One patient was diagnosed with earl-onset PVS at 0.5 month after liver transplantation.Four patients were diagnosed with late-onset PVS at 3-30 months after liver transplantation.The prestenotic portal venous average diameter was (2.3 ± 0.6) mm (1.2-3.0 mm),the degrees of stenosis were 70％-95％.The poststenotic portal venous average diameter was (9 ± 1) mm (8-10 mm) (t =32.560,P ＜ 0.05).The prestenotic portal venous average pressure gradient was (11.0 ± 3.2) mmHg (8-16 mmHg),and the poststenotic portal venous pressure gradient was(2.2 ± 1.5) mmHg(0-4.0 mmHg) (t =8.242,P ＜ 0.05).Postoperative follow-up was 10-66 months,the portal veins of all cases were patent,and patency rate was 100％.Conclusions Percutaneous transhepatic stent angioplasty is an effective and safe method for treatment of PVS following liver transplantation.Its medium and long-term patency rates are high.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous endovascular treatment of hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO)after pediatric liver transplantation(LT).Methods From January 2008 to January 2013,10 children with obstruction of hepatic vein (HV) or inferior vena cava (IVC) anastomosis underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with balloon dilation or stent placement.The hepatic venous outflow obstruction occurred 10-455 days (median,125 days) after pediatric liver transplantation.According to the time of obstruction,the obstruction was divide into early onset (＜1 month) and late onset(＞1 month).The effectiveness of PTA was analyzed.Results Twenty-one procedures were performed.One treatment was ineffective,and technical and initial clinical success ratio was 95.2％ (20/21) and 70.0％ (7/10),respectively.In 3 cases with early onset after LT,operation was performed after unsuccessful PTA in 1 case.One patient who developed recurrent stenosis was treated with PTAS.The other patient died of acute rejection.Late onset after LT was found in 7 cases,who were treated with PTA or stent successfully.Conclusions In cases of venous outflow obstruction resulting from HV and/or IVC lesions after pediatric liver transplantation,percutaneous endovascular treatment with balloon dilation or stent placement is a safe and effective alternative treatment that results in midterm and long-term patency.Early-onset or hepatic veins combined with superior vena cava obstruction should be implanted with stents as early as possible.Late-onset or hepatic veins obstruction alone can be get better results with Balloon Dilatation.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic results of percutaneous transhepatic stent angioplasty in patients with portal vein stenosis following liver transplantation.Methods From 2005 to 2013,38 patients developed portal vein stenosis following liver transplantation.Percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty of the portal vein stenosis was performed on these patients.The results were monitored by clinical follow-up and imaging studies.Results Percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty was successful in these patients.Self-expanding metallic stents (n=7),balloon-expandable coronary stent (n=29),and membranous stent (n=1) were used.The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 90 months.Portal venous patency was maintained in 34 patients (one patient died due to multi organ failure,1 patient accepted a third liver transplantation because of biliary tract complication,and 1 patient received a repeat placement of a membranous tent because the portal vein stent was blocked by a tumor thrombus,and 1 patient developed stent restenosis).There was 1 patient who developed hemorrhage in the early postoperative period (2.63％).A diagnosis of hepatic artery hemorrhage was made by hepatic artery angiography and the patient was treated by interventional embolization.Conclusion Percutaneous transhepatic stent angioplasty is an efficacious and safe method to treat portal vein stenosis following liver transplantation.

Aim To establish a novel acute hyperuricemia mouse model and apply it to evaluate the hyporucicemia effects of Ulodesine, a purine nucleoside phosphorylase(PNP) inhibitor.Methods The mice were intraperitoneal injected inosine and subcutaneous injected Oteracil potassium to induce accumulation of uric acid, and the animal blood was collected from eyeball or vena angularis in different time points.The levels of serum uric acid were measured and determined to test whether the acute hyperuricemia mouse model were successful or not.In order to verify the hyperuricemia seen in the model was associated with the accumulation of inosine, which was converted to uric acid by action of PNP,hyporucicemia effects of Ulodesine, a PNP inhibitor, was assessed in an enzyme assay and confirmed by using the newly established model.Result Accumulation of uric acid in the blood of mouse models was observed by combined injections of intraperitoneal 200 mg·kg-1 inosine and subcutaneous 200 mg·kg-1 Oteracil potassium respectively after 1.5 h.The enzyme assay indicated that Ulodesine was a potently PNP inhibitor with IC50 of 2.293 nmol·L-1.IV injection of Ulodesine eliminated uric acid accumulations in blood of the mouse model, which was expected as the in vivo action of Ulodesine.Conclusions A novel acute hyperuricemia mouse model is established.This is a relatively easy and more effective protocol to generate the hyperuricemia in mice, which will be a useful platform to assess the anti-hyperuricemia activity of PNP-target drugs in vivo.

Objective To observe the effects of melatonin (MT) on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1),phosphorylated adenine dinucleotide quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2),so as to explore the mechanism of MT's action in the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.Methods A total of 72 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group,an injury group and a melatonin group,each of 24.T11-T12 acute SCI was induced in the injury and melatonin groups using the modified Allen's method.Ten minutes after the injury,equal amounts of absolute ethyl alcohol and melatonin were intraperitoneally injected into the rats in the injury and melatonin groups.For the control group,the vertebral plate was cut to expose the T11-T12 spinal cord without any injury of the nerves.Six rats from each group were randomly selected for sacrifice at 6,12 and 24 hours after the operation,and T11-T12 spinal cord specimens were collected.The spinal cord injury and inflammatory response were observed using haematoxylin eosin staining.The expression of HO-1,NQO-1 and Nrf2 was examined using immunofluorescence,while the expression of HO-1,NQO-1 and Nrf2 protein and mRNA were detected using RT-PCRs.Results The neuronal cells in the spinal cords of the control rats were of normal shape,without edema,necrosis or obvious hemorrhagic foci.Hemorrhagic foci,significantly more inflammatory cells and some spinal cord neurons with edema and necrosis were observed in the injury group.However,significantly fewer hemorrhagic spots and cells with edema were found in the melatonin group compared with the injury group.The average expression of HO-1,NQO-1 and Nrf2 protein and mRNA was significantly higher in the melatonin group than in the other two groups.The levels in the injury group were also significantly higher than in the control group 12 and 24 hours after the experiments.Immunofluorescence showed that the greatest number of cells with HO-1,NQO-1 and Nrf2 was found in the melatonin group,followed by the injury group and then the control group,with significant differences among all 3 groups.Conclusion Melatonin can promote the expression of HO-1,NQO-1 and Nrf2 in rats with acute spinal cord injury,which might be related with its activating the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.

This article presented our experience on transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein embolization (PVE) before hepatic resection for huge hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis.The preoperative future liver remnant/total estimated liver Volume (FLR/TELV) ratios of 5 patients were less than 40％,and preoperative TACE was implemented 3 weeks after PVE.In all these patients,right hepatectomy was successfully implemented.Preoperative TACE and PVE expanded the indication of hepatectomy,increased the safety of surgery and improved the curative rate.