Objective To investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of tetrahydrocurcumin(THC)on thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection(TAAD)in mice.Methods TAAD was induced in 3-week-old C57BL/6J mice by oral administration of β-aminopropionitrile(BAPN)(diluted in drinking water,1 g/(kg·d)).Eighty mice were divided randomly into Con,BAPN,BAPN+THC,and BAPN+THC+3-TYP(SIRT3 inhibitor)groups(n=20 mice per group).The survival rate of mice in each group was recorded after 4 weeks.The maximum diameter of the aorta was measured and the histomorphology and aortic wall elastin integrity were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and elastin van Gieson staining.Macrophage infiltration was detected by immunohistochemical staining and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and osteopontin(OPN)expression were detected by immunofluorescence staining.The production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was measured by dihydroethidium staining and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were determined using kits.Protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)2,MMP9,interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2),NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2),α-SMA,OPN,sirtuin 3(SIRT3),Ac-SOD2,and SOD2 were measured by Western Blot.Results Mice in the BAPN+THC group showed significantly higher survival and a lower incidence of TAAD compared with the BAPN group and the degree of aortic dilatation and morphology and structure were improved(P＜0.05).Infiltration of CD68-positive macrophages and MMP2,MMP9,IL-6,and TNF-α expression levels were lower(P＜0.05),ROS generation,MDA content,and NOX2 expression in aortic tissue were also significantly decreased,while SOD activity and NRF2 expression were increased(P＜0.05).α-SMA expression was also increased,while OPN expression was reduced(P＜0.05).SIRT3 expression was increased while the Ac-SOD2/SOD2 ratio was decreased(P＜0.01).Treatment with the SIRT3-specific inhibitor and silencing of SIRT3 counteracted the ability of THC to resist TAAD via the SIRT3 signaling pathway(all P＜0.05).Conclusions THC alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress in aortic tissues by activating the SIRT3 signaling pathway,thus inhibiting the phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells and resisting the formation of TAAD in mice.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of tetrahydrocurcumin(THC)on thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection(TAAD)in mice.Methods TAAD was induced in 3-week-old C57BL/6J mice by oral administration of β-aminopropionitrile(BAPN)(diluted in drinking water,1 g/(kg·d)).Eighty mice were divided randomly into Con,BAPN,BAPN+THC,and BAPN+THC+3-TYP(SIRT3 inhibitor)groups(n=20 mice per group).The survival rate of mice in each group was recorded after 4 weeks.The maximum diameter of the aorta was measured and the histomorphology and aortic wall elastin integrity were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and elastin van Gieson staining.Macrophage infiltration was detected by immunohistochemical staining and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and osteopontin(OPN)expression were detected by immunofluorescence staining.The production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was measured by dihydroethidium staining and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were determined using kits.Protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)2,MMP9,interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2),NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2),α-SMA,OPN,sirtuin 3(SIRT3),Ac-SOD2,and SOD2 were measured by Western Blot.Results Mice in the BAPN+THC group showed significantly higher survival and a lower incidence of TAAD compared with the BAPN group and the degree of aortic dilatation and morphology and structure were improved(P＜0.05).Infiltration of CD68-positive macrophages and MMP2,MMP9,IL-6,and TNF-α expression levels were lower(P＜0.05),ROS generation,MDA content,and NOX2 expression in aortic tissue were also significantly decreased,while SOD activity and NRF2 expression were increased(P＜0.05).α-SMA expression was also increased,while OPN expression was reduced(P＜0.05).SIRT3 expression was increased while the Ac-SOD2/SOD2 ratio was decreased(P＜0.01).Treatment with the SIRT3-specific inhibitor and silencing of SIRT3 counteracted the ability of THC to resist TAAD via the SIRT3 signaling pathway(all P＜0.05).Conclusions THC alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress in aortic tissues by activating the SIRT3 signaling pathway,thus inhibiting the phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells and resisting the formation of TAAD in mice.

Humans ; Adult ; Serum Albumin, Human ; Consensus ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Thoracic Surgery

Objective:To investigate the current situation of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) in China and analyze the causes, to guide the formulation and implementation of technology standard.Methods:The survey task force sent out a nationwide survey to obtain up-to-date information on perfusion practice by ChSECC(Chinese Society of Extracorporeal Circulation). The unit of analysis for the survey was the medical center performs CPB. The survey consisted 48 questions covering four topics of qualifications, including certification and education, policies and practices, device and equipment, techniques used.Results:There were 540 of the 714 centers for an overall response rate of 76%. According to the annual number of CPB, they were divided into 4 groups: group A(≤50 cases/year), group B(50-100 cases/year), group C(100-500 cases/year) and group D(≥500 cases/year). The response rate of center with more than group D last year was 100%. Most of the perfusionists had certification issued by ChSECC. Although there were more than 80% of group D performed regular training and assessment of perfusionist, the result was still not ideal enough. Low utilization of safety equipment was not depend on the annual operation volume in most of responding centers. Ultrafiltration and blood protection technology had high application rate in group D compared with group A and B.Conclusion:The certification rate of perfusionists are high. Lower the number of annual CPB cases, lower the proportion of regular evaluation and training, and lower rate of standards performance. No matter the amount of CPB, the application rate of safety equipment is not ideal. Higher the number of CPB cases, higher the utilization rate of CPB related technologies.

Objective:To study on the association between vasoactive-inotropic score(VIS) and mortality of total arch replacement in Stanford type A aortic dissection(TAAD) patients.Methods:Data of TAAD patients admitted from January 2018 to November 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 187 patients were finally included in the analysis. 30-day mortality was calculated and the patients were divided into death group(18 cases) and non-death group(169 cases). The VIS at each time point and perioperative indexes of the two groups were compared. The value of VIS in predicting mortality was analyzed.Results:The 30-day mortality was 9.63%(18/187). The operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, ventilator assistance time, the incidence of tracheotomy and major postoperative complications in the death group were significantly higher than those in the non-death group( P<0.05). VIS of death group was significantly higher than that of non-death group( P<0.05). At each time point, the area under ROC curve(AUC) of VIS was greater than 0.500( P<0.05), among which AUC of ICU 48 h VIS was the largest(0.817), and the best cut-off point of ICU 48 h VIS was determined to be 9, sensitivity 61.1%, specificity 92.3%. Logistic regression analysis showed that ICU 48 h VIS was an independent risk factor for predicting the death of total arch replacement in TAAD patients( OR=1.465, 95% CI: 1.194-1.796, P<0.001). Conclusion:When ICU 48 h VIS≥9, the risk of death was increased in patients with total arch replacement of TAAD. VIS may be a useful reference index for predicting the mortality of total arch replacement in TAAD patients in the early postoperative period.

Objective To evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and ultrasonic elastography in the diagnosis of breast lesions with BI -RADS Ⅲ -Ⅴ.Methods 169 patients with BI -RADS Ⅲ -Ⅴ breast lesions were underwent contrast -enhanced ultrasound and ultrasonic elastography 1 week before surgery.Pathological findings were used as the gold standard to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast -enhanced ultrasound and ultrasonic elastography in diagnosis of BI -RADS Ⅲ -Ⅴ breast lesions.Results The combination of contrast -enhanced ultrasound and ultrasonic elastography in diagnosis of BI -RADS Ⅲ -Ⅴ breast lesions,with the sensitivi-ty,specificity and accuracy of 96.15%,94.34%,and 95.11%,respectively.The difference was statistical signifi-cance compared with single method(χ2 =4.659,P =0.032,χ2 =4.146,P =0.041).Conclusion The combination of contrast -enhanced ultrasound and ultrasonic elastography improves the diagnostic accuracy of Ⅲ-Ⅴ breast lesions.

Objective To explore the value of real time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant adrenal lesions.Methods Totally,57 adrenal lesions (26malignant and 31 benign) underwent conventional ultrasound and real-time CEUS.The enhancement patterns including types of time-intensity curve,centripetal fill-in,homogeneity and intensity of enhancement were analyzed.Results The enhancement pattern of normal adrenal gland was homogeneous,centrifugal and rapid perfusion from the medulla to the cortex.Four enhancement patterns were significantly different between benign and malignant adrenal lesions (P ＜0.05).If enhancement in the early arterial phase and rapid washout was suggestive of malignancy,the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were 96.2％ and 77.4％,respectively.If peripheral to central filling was suggestive of malignancy,the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were 76.9 ％ and 80.7 ％,respectively.Conclusions The patterns of real-time CEUS are helpful in differential diagnosis of malignant and benign adrenal lesions.

Objective To explore oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography findings in superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS).Methods Twenty-nine patients with SMAS were examined using oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,which was confirmed by contrast-enhanced spiral computerized tomography.Results Abdominal ultrasonography with oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography revealed a significant reduction of the SMA angle and diminished SMA-aorta distance in 29 subjects.Duodenum was showed the indentation and funnel shaped or dumbbell shaped findings which was caused by pressure of the SMA in patients with recumbent position.The proximal part of duodenum expanded distinctively with contrast media movement fro.Ultrasonography and CT examinations had a good agreement in diagnosing pathological aortomesenteric angle and distance.Conclusions Oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography presents characteristic findings in patients with SMAS,which is useful in epidemiological screening of suspicious cases of SMAS in children.

After operations such as organ transplantation or cardiopulmonary bypass complicated with is-chemia/reperfusion injury,activated inflammatory cells can express and secret HMGB1,and cooperate with other inflammation factor to induce tissue damage.The mechanism is HMGB1 actives such receptors as TLRs,RAGE,TM,and NF-κB transcription factor,P38MAPK pathway,induce releasing of HMGB1 itself and other inflammation factors.Different with sepsis,HMGB1 emerges much earlier,lasting longer.Inter-ference therapy of HMGB1 could effectively decrease secretion of HMGB1 after ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Objective To investigate the immunomodulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their role in prolonging allograft survival in rat heart transplantation. Methods Inbred Wistar rats were used as donors, and Fisher 344 as recipients. MSC were isolated from femur and tibia bone marrow of donors and cultured in vitro. Mixed lymphocyte reaction assays were performed to assess the immunosuppressive effects of different concentrations of MSC on allogeneic T cell proliferation. Cardiac allograft model was established and according to different intervention measures recipients were divided into two groups (MSC treatment group and control group) (n=8 in each group). In MSC treatment group, recipients were infused with 2×106 MSC via the tail vein at designated intervals (one week before operation, during operation and consecutive three days postoperation), while in control group, the recipients were treated with Ringer's solution at the same interval& At day 5 posttransplantation real-time PCR was used to detect the changes in the expression of Thl and Th2 cytokine genes in transplanted hearts. Results In vitro allogeneic T cell response was greatly suppressed by MSC in a dose-dependent manner. Real-time PCR revealed that IL-1β,IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were expressed in MSC treatment group, while IL-4 and IL-10 were not expressed in control group but with significantly higher expression of IL-1β and IFN-γ. As compared with control group, survival of MSC-treated allografts was markedly prolonged as compared with control group (mean survivaldays: 12.4±5.3 vs 6.4±2.0, P＜0.05). Conclusion Intravenous adrninistmtion of MSC can prolong the survival of transplanted heart possibly by induction of allograft tolerance through changing Th1/Th2 balance.