Ultrasonic thrombus ablation is a newly-developed technology for percutaneous arterial recanalization. An ultrasound angioplasty device is described here in detail. The device has an adjustable power output range and distal tip longitudinal displacement range. Experimental data suggest that this ultrasound device is significantly effective in ablating fresh thrombi.
Catheter Ablation ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Expert Systems ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Vibration

0.05);Compared to Gram-negative bacilli group of sputum culture,Gram-positive cocci group had significant diffe-rence in the incidence of gastrointestinal dysfunction and microcirculatory disorders(Pa

Objective:To explore the protective effect of ellagic acid on the acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) of the mice,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:A total of 50 mice were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,low,medium and high doses of ellagic acid groups (n=10).The mice in normal control group and model group were treated with 1% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solvent by intragastic administration,and the mice in ellagic acid groups were treated with 160,320,and 480 mg·kg-1 ellagic acid by intragastic administration,respectively.After 14 d,the mice in model group and different doses of ellagic acid groups were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mL·kg-1 0.1% CCl4,while the mice in normal control group were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mL·kg-1plant oil.16 h later,all the mice were sacrificed and the body weights and the liver indexes of the mice were detected;the serum levels of alanine transaminase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST) were detected;the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and levels of GSH-Px,malonalde hyde(MDA) and catalase(CAT) in liver tissue of the mice were detected.Results:There were no significant differences of the body weights of the mice between each group before and after treatment(P>0.05).Compared with normal control group,the liver indexes and the levels of serum ALT and AST of the mice in model group and different doses of ellagic acid groups were significantly increased (P<0.05).Compared with model group,the liver indexes of the mice in different doses of ellagic acid groups were decreased(P<0.05);the serum levels of ALT and AST of the mice in high dose of ellagic acid group were significantly decreased (P<0.05),while the CAT level in liver homogenate was significantly increased (P<0.05);the levels of GSH-Px in liver homogenate of the mice in medium and high doses of ellagic acid groups were significantly increased (P<0.05);the activities of SOD in liver homogenate of the mice in different doses of ellagic acid groups were significantly increased (P<0.05),and the MDA levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05).Conclusion:The ellagic acid has the protective effect on acute chemical liver injury in the mice induced by CCl4 and the most effective dose is 480 mg·kg-1;its mechanism may be related to the anti-oxidation.

Objective:To observe the effect of warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray on the pulmonary ventilation, level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and sleep quality in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: A total of 112 AR patients were enrolled between January 2013 and August 2018 and were divided into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 56 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group received warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray, and patients in the control group only received fluticasone propionate nasal spray. The nasal symptom score, pulmonary function indexes, the levels of IFN-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 in serum, and sleep quality in the two groups were compared. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The nasal symptom score dropped in both groups after treatment (both P＜0.05), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The pulmonary ventilation indexes all increased significantly after treatment in the observation group (all P＜0.05); the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (FEV1/FVC) and the forced expiratory flow at 50%, 75% and 25%-75% of the vital capacity (FEF50%, FEF75%, FEF25%-75%) increased after treatment in the control group (all P＜0.05); the pulmonary ventilation indexes were higher in the observation group than those in the control group (all P＜0.05). The level of IFN-γ increased significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P＜0.05) and the level of IL-4 dropped significantly (both P＜0.05); the observation group had a higher IFN-γ level (P＜0.05) and a lower IL-4 level (P＜0.05) compared with the control group. Regarding the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the scores of subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency and sleep disturbances and the general PSQI score decreased significantly after treatment in both groups (all P＜0.05), and the scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P＜0.05). Conclusion: Warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray can effectively control the clinical symptoms and improve pulmonary function in the treatment of AR; this approach can regulate the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 towards the normal range in AR patients; it can also improve patient’s sleep quality. This method can produce more significant efficacy than fluticasone propionate nasal spray used alone.

Objective The localization of pulmonary nodules in surgery remains a clinical challenge .In this study we dis-cussed the diagnostic and treatment value of CT-guided coil localization followed by real-time digital subtraction angiography ( DSA)-guided accurate resection of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) with video-assisted thracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods This study involved 82 cases of SPN treated in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Jinling Hospital from September 2011 to May 2014 .The SPNs were preoperatively positioned by placing a metal coil close to the lesion under CT guidance on the same day of surger -y.Then VATS wedge resection of the SPNs was performed under the guidance of real -time DSA and further procedures followed in ac-cordance with the results of intraoperative pathology . Results The success rate of coil localization was 100%, the mean time of po-sitioning was (15.3 ±3.2) min, and the mean time of VATS wedge resection was (24.2 ±12.1) min.Pathological results revealed 45 cases of malignancy and 37 cases of benign lesions . Conclusion Preoperative CT-guided coil localization of SPNs showed a high accuracy and no serious complications , and by real-time DSA-guided VATS that immediately followed , the nodules could be precisely removed with the cutting edge 2 cm above the lesion , which achieved both the purposes of diagnosis and treatment of SPNs .

BACKGROUNDPulsed radiofrequency (PRF) application to the dorsal root ganglia can reduce neuropathic pain (NP) in animal models, but the effect of PRF on damaged peripheral nerves has not been examined. We investigated the effect of PRF to the rat sciatic nerve (SN) on pain-related behavior and SN ultrastructure following chronic constriction injury (CCI).

METHODSThe analgesic effect was measured by hindpaw mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL). Twenty rats with NP induced by ligating the common SN were then randomly divided into a PRF treatment group and a sham group. The contralateral SN served as a control. The MWT and TWL were determined again 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days after the PRF or sham treatment. On day 14, ipsilateral and contralateral common SNs were excised and examined by electron microscopy.

RESULTSIpsilateral MWT was significantly reduced and TWL significantly shorter compared to the contralateral side 14 days after CCI (both P = 0.000). In the PRF group, MWT was significantly higher and TWL significantly longer 14 days after the PRF treatment compared to before PRF treatment (both P = 0.000), while no such difference was observed in the sham group (P > 0.05). Electron microscopy revealed extensive demyelination and collagen fiber formation in the ipsilateral SN of sham-treated rats but sparse demyelination and some nerve fiber regrowth in the PRF treatment group.

CONCLUSIONSHyperalgesia is relieved, and ultrastructural damage ameliorated after direct PRF treatment to the SN in the CCI rat model of NP.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; therapy ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; Sciatic Neuropathy ; therapy

To study the dynamic change law of bioactive constituents from Polygonum multiflorum, and to explore the optimal harvest period of P. multiflorum. Determination of stilhene glucoside, anthraquinones and catechin from P. multiflorum in different harvest times by MEKC-DAD, and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to comprehensive evaluation for bioactive constituents. There are obvious differences among the contents of active ingredients in various collecting periods samples, the content of stilbene glucoside was the highest in November, the total content of combined anthraquinone was the highest in November and December, the content of catechin was the highest in September. The comprehensive evaluation index obtained with principal component analysis showed that the sample collected in November is significantly higher than those with other samples. The optimal harvest period of P. multiflorum is November.
Electrophoresis ; Fallopia multiflora ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVESTo investigate mechanism for the increasing level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in tumour patients during radiotherapy and the inhibitory action of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) to the expression of VEGF protein by radiotherapy in the prostate cancer cell line (PC3M).

METHODSTo observe the changes of serum VEGF in the prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy dynamically and the inhibitory action of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the expression of VEGF by radiotherapy in PC3M.

RESULTSThe changes of serum VEGF in three patients receiving radiotherapy had been observed continuously. The levels of serum VEGF began to increase when the patients received radiotherapy and rised up to peak value after fifteen days, then declined to the range of pre-radiotherapy. Irradiating the PC3M cells with X-rays significantly increased the VEGF expression and secretion. The expression of VEGF protein in the group treated by VEGF AS-ODNs and X-ray irradiation decreased significantly than the group treated only by X-ray irradiation.

CONCLUSIONSThe induction of VEGF protein expression by X-ray irradiation in tumor cells may result in the increasing of the VEGF in the prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy and the induction can be blocked by VEGF AS-ODNs.

DNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; blood ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Lymphokines ; antagonists & inhibitors ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of Aurora-B in human glioma tissue and its significance.

METHODSThe total RNA was extracted from 41 human glioma tissues and 11 normal brain tissues by Trizol reagent. After reverse transcription of the total RNA into cDNAs, Aurora-B mRNA expressions in these samples were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein expression in these samples was detected using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSAurora-B mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased in glioma tissues as compared with those in normal brain tissues.

CONCLUSIONAurora-B mRNA and protein show markedly higher expressions in glioma tissue, suggesting that Aurora-B may be one of the malignant biomarkers in the pathogenesis and progression of human glioma.

Aurora Kinase B ; Aurora Kinases ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Female ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

AIM:To investigate the effect of trans-activator of transcription-Rab guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (Tat-RabGEF1) fusion protein by intravenous injection on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) -induced lung injury, and its underlying mechanism.METHODS:Adult male C57BL/6 rats (n=24) were randomized into 3 groups with 8 rats each:sham group, IR group, and Tat-RabGEF1 group.IR was induced by occlusion of the vessels in the hepatic pedicle for 90 min followed by 4 h of reperfusion.The Tat-RabGEF1 protein was intravenously administered right after reperfusion through the caudal vein.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) , interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assessed by ELISA.The lung histopathological injury score and lung wet/dry weight ratio were evaluated, and the levels ofβ-hexosaminidase A (β-Hex A) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the lung tissues were also measured.The expression of tryptase in the lung was determined by Western blot.RESULTS:The pathological changes after ischemia for 90 min followed by reperfusion for 4 h were significant, along with increased lung wet/dry weight ratio and lung injury score.Intravenous injection of Tat-RabGEF1 protein effectively alleviated the lung pathological injury (P<0.05).Compared with IR group, lower levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1βin BALF, and lower expression ofβ-Hex A, MPO and tryptase in the lung tissues in Tat-RabGEF1 group were observed (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Intravenous injection of Tat-RabGEF1 protein attenuates the lung injury after IR, and its mechanism may be related with inhibition of mast cell activation, reduced releases ofβ-Hex A and tryptase, and decreased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1βand MPO.