Mechanical vascular anastomosis is a technique that uses special vascular anastomotic devices to entirely or partly substitute vascular anastomotic suturing . With the development of manufacture and the emergence of new biomaterials, this technique gained great progress and a large number of research both on preclinical and clinical has been carried out since the 50～60s of last century. The present paper reviewed the development of mechanical vascular anastomosis, analysed their advantages and deficiencies, and pointed out the research trend on these techniques.

Objective To assess the efficacy of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) combined with Hassab 's procedure in the prevention of variceal recurrence. Methods One hundred and thirty-five patients with esophageal varices were randomized to receive EVL alone, Hassab's procedure alone or a combination of EVL and Hassab's procedure for variceal eradication. Ultrasonographic venous network images were recorded by an esophageal microprobe before and after the EVL or Hassab 's procedure. The clinical outcome and vascular network images of the 3 groups were analyzed. Results Esophageal varices were obliterated immediately after EVL alone, while both perforating veins and periesophageal collaterals remained patent, and 83% had recurrence of esophageal varices during an initial 3-year follow-up. Esophageal varices were reduced in size, periesophageal collaterals were obliterated after Hassab's procedure alone, and 30% experienced rebleeding and 95% with variceal recurrence. EVL combined with Hassab 's procedure obliterated all esophageal varices, perforating veins and periesophageal collaterals, and only 3 patients (8% ) recurred. Conclusion The existence of patent perforating veins and periesophageal collaterals is the reason of esophageal variceal recurrence after EVL alone. EVL combined with Hassab 's procedure can effectively prevent the recurrence, even if the cirrhotic portal hypertension persisted.

Objective To study the effect of Tspan 8 on metastasis and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinomas(HCC).Methods RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expressions of Tspan 8 in HCC cell lines,HCC and matched nontumorous tissues.The expression of Tspan 8 was then down-regulated by LV/GFP/Tspan 8 in HCC cells.The expressions of Tspan 8 mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot assay,respectively.The proliferation was examined by MTT,the expression of AMDM12 was assessed by Western blot,and the invasion ability of HCC cells was evaluated by transwells.Results A high level of Tspan 8 was found in high metastatic potential HCC cells,and the expression of Tspan 8 in HCC tissues was much higher than that in the matched nontumorous tissues. Down-regulation of Tspan 8 had no influence on the proliferation of HCC cells (P＞0.05),while it inhibited the expression of ADAM12 and the invasive ability of HCC cells (P＜0.01,P＜0.01 respectively).Conclusion Tspan 8 played an important role in invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinomas and down-regulation by LV/GFP/Tspan 8 inhibited the invasiveness of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of extra-anatomic prosthesis bypass in the retroperitoneum as a treatment for infected abdominal aortic aneurysms (iAAAs).Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 10 consecutive patients diagnosed with iAAAs and treated by an extraanatomic prosthesis bypass in the retroperitoneum over the past 7 years.All 10 patients were regularly followed up by outpatient observation after their discharge.Results Ten patients with iAAAs underwent an extra-anatomic prosthesis bypass in the retroperitoneum and debridement of the infected aneurysm.An emergency operation was performed for one patient who underwent concomitant gastrointestinal procedures for aortoduodenal fistula,the other 9 cases underwent an elective operation after an intravenous antibiotic therapy for 2-4 weeks.All 10 patients were definitely diagnosed by one or more sequential CT scans combining with other methods.All patients had at least a positive preoperative blood culture or intraoperative tissue culture during the perioperative period,including Salmonella in 5 cases,Burkholderia pseudomallei in 3 cases,Escherichia coli in 1 case,Klebsiella pneumoniae in 1 case.All patients were discharged in 4-6 weeks after their operations.Except 1 case who died 16 months after surgery,all other patients were alive and were free from graft infection during the follow-up period.Conclusions The extra-anatomic prosthesis bypass in the retroperitoneum for treating iAAAs are safe and effective.

Objective To summarize the experience in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic trauma. Methods The clinical data of 260 patients with hepatic trauma admitted from January 1988 to December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed with regard to degree of trauma, treatment methods, therapeutical effects, complications and SO on. Results One hundred and fifty-three eases were treated by operative management,1 07 cases by nonoperative management.236 cases were cured,24 cases died,and the case fatality rate was 10.2%.There were no death among 139 patients with hepatic trauma grades Ⅰ～Ⅱ,22 death among 119 grades Ⅲ～Ⅴ patients, all death of 2 in grade VI, which demonstrated the correlation between death and hepatic trauma grade was statistically significant. Complications appeared in 82 eases, mainly including Secondary hemorrhage, abdominal infection and so on. Conclusions Nonoperative management is suitable for hepatic trauma with stable hemodynamics. Operative management is rapidly selected when the hemodynamics aren't stable. The cooperation of many specialities can enlarge the application of nonoperative management and decrease complications.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of tropoelastin gene and aortic dissection (AD) via identifying SNPs in the tropoelastin gene, and to detect the level of tropoelastin mRNA, elastin and elastic fibers. METHODS: The specimens of the AD group ( RESULTS: Seven SNP loci of the tropoelastin gene were detected in these samples. Among them, 5 SNP loci were polymorphic. The frequency of 3 SNP loci[rs2071307 (G/A), rs34945509 (C/T) and rs17855988 (G/C)] was significantly different between the AD group and the control group (all CONCLUSIONS The polymorphisms of rs2071307 (G/A), rs34945509 (C/T), and rs17855988(G/C) in the tropoelastin gene may eventually affect the synthesis of elastic fibers and they may play an important role in the occurrence of AD.
Aneurysm, Dissecting/genetics* ; Elastic Tissue ; Elastin/genetics* ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tropoelastin/genetics*

Humans ; Endovascular Aneurysm Repair ; Stents ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Aortic Dissection/surgery* ; Endovascular Procedures ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Retrospective Studies