BACKGROUND:At present, there is no effective treatment strategy for cavernous transformation of portal vein and basic research about its etiology is rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE:To establish the models of cavernous transformation of portal vein, detect the expression of matrix metal oproteinase-2,-9 (MMP-2, MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors 1, 2 of metal oproteinase (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) in rat portal vein and peripheral tissue, and discuss the roles in the process of peripheral angiogenesis.
METHODS:Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The rat models of cavernous transformation of portal vein were established with partial coarctation in portal vein by using 21 G blunt pinhead. Control group was normal rats without operation (samples were harvested after portal vein radiography). Model group and sham operation group were divided into three groups respectively according to different time points, namely 2, 4 and 6 weeks after operation. Rats of each group were randomly chosen at week 2, 4 and 6 after operation to observe the formation of col ateral circulation of portal vein and its peripheral tissues by performing portal vein radiography. CD31 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA and protein in portal vein and peripheral tissue were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Peripheral angiogenesis of model group was increased obviously by portal vein radiography and immunohistochemistry. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that, compared with the control group and sham operation group, the expression of MMP-2 mRNA and protein in model group were significantly increased at weeks 2, 4, and 6 (P<0.01, P<0.05), while expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein at week 2 in model group were significantly higher than that in the control group and sham operation group. Expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in model group showed no significant difference compared with control group and sham operation group at weeks 2, 4, and 6 (P>0.05). Ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 of model group was significantly higher than that of control group and sham operation group (P<0.05) at week 2. the rat models of cavernous transformation of portal vein have low mortality, high success rate and are stable. Upregulation of the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and the disbanlance of the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 might contribute to the peripheral angiogenesis in rats with cavernous transformation of portal vein.

Objective To explore the effect of angiogenesis in carotid atherosclerotic plaque.Methods From Jan 2016 to Aug 2016,Carotid artery plaque was abtained in 52 cases after carotid endarterectomy at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.Patients were divided into symptomatic group and asymptomatic group.Specimens were stained with HE and Movat,and the density,size,distribution and morphology of neovascularization were counted.Results The density of neovascularization in the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group were 5.27 ± 0.46 and 2.30 ±0.29,respectively (P ＜ 0.001),the average cross-sectional area of neovascularization in the symptomatic group was (2.26±0.21) mm2 and (1.00 ±0.48) mm2 in the asymptomatic group (P=0.02).In the distribution,the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group were 3.37 ± 0.46/ mm2,1.32 ±0.16/mm2 in basal part,3.71 ±0.42/mm2,1.56 ±0.20/mm2 in the shoulder part,3.48 ±0.44/mm2,1.55 ± 0.21/ mm2 in the fibrous cap,respectively (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The density and cross-sectional area of neovascularization in the symptomatic group were larger than those in the asymptomatic group,irregular branching vessels were dominant.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of miRNA-129-5p in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)of biliary atresia.Methods Constructed bile duct epithelial EMT cell model (the experimental group) induced by TGF-β1,detected the expressions of EMT related markers and miRNA-129-5p.While miRNA-129-5p precursor was transfected,the expressions of EMT related markers and extracellular matrix were contrasted between the original and the renovated biliary epithelial cells.Results In the experimental group,extrahepatic bile duct showedEMT,the expression of miRNA-129-5p was decreased (P＜0.05),overexpression of miRNA-129-5p could inhibit the progression of EMT (P＜0.05).Conclusion miRNA-129-5p may relate to EMT by regulating the expression of TGF-β1.

Objective     To construct a radiomics model for identifying clinical high-risk carotid plaques. Methods     A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with carotid artery stenosis in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from December 2016 to June 2022. The patients were classified as a clinical high-risk carotid plaque group and a clinical low-risk carotid plaque group according to the occurrence of stroke, transient ischemic attack and other cerebrovascular clinical symptoms within six months. Six machine learning models including eXtreme Gradient Boosting, support vector machine, Gaussian Naive Bayesian, logical regression, K-nearest neighbors and artificial neural network were established. We also constructed a joint predictive model combined with logistic regression analysis of clinical risk factors. Results    Finally 652 patients were collected, including 427 males and 225 females, with an average age of 68.2 years. The results showed that the prediction ability of eXtreme Gradient Boosting was the best among the six machine learning models, and the area under the curve (AUC) in validation dataset was 0.751. At the same time, the AUC of eXtreme Gradient Boosting joint prediction model established by clinical data and carotid artery imaging data validation dataset was 0.823. Conclusion     Radiomics features combined with clinical feature model can effectively identify clinical high-risk carotid plaques.