Objective:To observe any effect of regular aerobic exercise on cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and explore the mechanism of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling.Methods:Thirty 6-week-old healthy male SHR were divided into a sedentary group and an exercise group, each of 15. Another ten age- and sex-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats were set as a normal control group. The animals in the normal control and sedentary groups were fed quietly in their cages, and those in the exercise group performed moderate intensity treadmill exercise for 8 weeks (5 times per week). Forty-eight hours after the last training, echocardiography was applied to document cardiac structure and function in both groups. Wheat germ agglutinin staining and Picrosirius Red staining were used to obtain the cardiomyocyte cross sectional areas (CSAs) and interstitial collagen volume fractions (CVFs) of all of the mice. The rates of cardiomyocyte apoptosis were measured using TUNEL staining, and myocardial tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) content was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Total eNOS, eNOS dimer and eNOS monomer protein expression in the myocardia were detected using western blotting.Results:Compared with the normal control group, the left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT), myocardial CSA, CVF, apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and eNOS monomer levels were significantly higher in the sedentary group, on average. But the end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and ejection fraction (LVEF) of the left ventricle and the levels of eNOS dimer and myocardial BH4 and the eNOS dimer/monomer ratio tended to be lower. Comparing the exercise group with the sedentary group, the average LVEDD, LVEF, eNOS dimer, eNOS dimer/monomer ratio and myocardial BH4 content were significantly higher in the exercise group, but the myocardial CVF, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and eNOS monomer levels were significantly lower. LVWT and CSA were not significantly different. There were no significant differences in the total eNOS protein levels among the three groups.Conclusion:Regular aerobic exercise might improve cardiac remodeling in cases of spontaneous hypertension regulating eNOS uncoupling, at least in rats.

Objective:To explore any effect of regular aerobic exercise on liver fibrosis in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its mechanism.Methods:Twenty-four 8-week-old male OLETF rats were randomly divided into a model sedentary group and a model exercise group, each of 12. Twelve age- and sex-matched LETO rats of the same strain were selected into the healthy control group. The model exercise group underwent treadmill exercise training for 12 weeks, while the other two groups undertook no exercise. After the training, fasting blood glucose, insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured using colorimetry. Liver tissue was resected to observe any histopathological changes using Masson staining and to measure the collagen volume fraction. Zymography was applied to determine the activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in the liver. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), cysteine-rich protein 61 (CCN1), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), MMP-12 and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) proteins in the liver were quantified using western blotting.Results:Compared with the healthy control group, the model sedentary group on average displayed a significant increase in body weight, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, liver collagen volume fraction, and the protein expression of TGF-β, αSMA, CCN1, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MMP-12. There was a significant decrease in the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 on average. Compared with the model sedentary group, the model exercise group on average displayed lower fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and liver collagen volume fraction, as well as less expression of TGF-β, αSMA, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MMP-12 protein. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity was higher, as was the expression of CCN1 protein. There were no significant differences in average body weight between the model sedentary and exercise groups.Conclusion:Regular exercise can delay liver fibrosis, at least in NAFLD rats. The mechanism is related to inhibiting hepatic inflammatory response, the activation of hepatic stellate cells and improving extracellular matrix remodeling.

Objective:To compare the effects of different exercise modes on inflammation, endothelium functioning and the ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) of middle-aged hypertensive patients, so as to provide a basis for optimizing rehabilitation training prescriptions.Methods:Ninety persons with hypertension were randomly divided into an aerobic exercise group, a resistance training group and a control group, each of 30. All maintained their routine daily living habits and medications. In addition, the aerobic exercise group performed aerobic exercise, while the resistance training group took resistance exercise for twelve weeks. Inflammatory response, endothelium functioning and 24-hour ABP were evaluated before and after the experiment.Results:The subjects tolerated the different exercises well. After the experiment, the daytime systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 24-hour SBP of those in both exercise groups had decreased significantly, on average. Flow-mediated dilation had increased significantly. The average plasma nitric oxide and interleukin-10 levels had increased significantly, and the average C-reactive protein, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1, and endothelin-1 levels had decreased significantly in the aerobic exercise group, but not in the control group.Conclusions:Both regular aerobic exercise and resistance training benefit blood pressure control and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, at least among middle-aged persons with hypertension. Aerobic exercise tends to have the better effect.

Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy and clinical safety of pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis(PCDT)combined with Venovo(Bard)venous stent implantation in treating iliac vein compression syndrome(IVCS)associated with acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis(DVT).Methods The clinical data of 23 IVCS patients with acute DVT,who received PCDT combined with Venovo venous stent implantation at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University of China between July 2022 and December 2022,were retrospective analyzed.The differences in preoperative and postoperative lower limb circumference and the postoperative thrombus clearance rate were evaluated.Outpatient follow-up was conducted at one,3,and 6 months after treatment,and the patient's venous clinical severity score(VCSS)was recorded and the stent patency was checked.Results Successful surgery was achieved in all 23 patients,and the target lesion thrombus was completely cleared(clearance ratio＞95％).A total 23 Venovo iliac vein stents were implanted during the same period.During the follow-up period of 6 months,neither displacement,fracture or detachment of the stent nor death occurred.In the 23 patients,the circumference differences of thigh and calve between the affected and healthy lower limbs decreased from preoperative(5.59±0.93)cm and(3.52±0.85)cm respectively to postoperative(1.43±0.68)cm and(1.41±0.72)cm respectively,the differences were statistically significant(both P＜0.05).Six months after treatment,the VCSS significantly decreased from preoperative(8.0±1.9)points to postoperative(5.4±1.1)points,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05),the primary patency rate was 95.7％(22/23),and the surgical re-intervention rate was 4.3％.Conclusion For the treatment of IVCS complicated by acute lower extremity DVT,combination use of PCDT and Venovo venous stenting is clinically safe and effective,therefore,this technique carries good prospect of clinical application.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:627-632)

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of drug eluting stents vs metal bare stents for femoral popliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans.Methods The clinical data of 47 patients with femoral popliteal arte-riosclerosis obliterans receiving endovascular therapy from October 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively ana-lyzed.A total of 24 cases received drug-eluting stents(DES group)and 23 cases underwent metal bare stents(BMS group).Results All patients successfully completed the operation without any adverse events.There was no statistical difference in ABI between the DES group and the BMS group at 7 days and 3 months after surgery,and ABI growth value of the DES group was higher than that of the BMS group at 6,12 and 24 months after surgery(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the primary patency rate at 6 months after surgery,However,the primary patency rate in DES group was higher than that in BMS group at 12 and 24 months after surgery(91.7%vs.65.2%,83.3%vs.56.5%,P<0.05).For the target lesion revascularization rate of the two groups,DES group had a significant advantage over BMS group(4.0%vs.26.1%,P<0.05).Conclusion DES had better clinical efficacy and advantage over bare metal stent for the treatment of femoral popliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans.

Background::Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is an extremely lethal malignancy. Identification of the functional genes and genetic variants related to PAAD prognosis is important and challenging. Previously identified prognostic genes from several expression profile analyses were inconsistent. The regulatory genetic variants that affect PAAD prognosis were largely unknown.Methods::Firstly, a meta-analysis was performed with seven published datasets to systematically explore the candidate prognostic genes for PAAD. Next, to identify the regulatory variants for those candidate genes, expression quantitative trait loci analysis was implemented with PAAD data resources from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Then, a two-stage association study in a total of 893 PAAD patients was conducted to interrogate the regulatory variants and find the prognostic locus. Finally, a series of biochemical experiments and phenotype assays were carried out to demonstrate the biological function of variation and genes in PAAD progression process.Results::A total of 128 genes were identified associated with the PAAD prognosis in the meta-analysis. Fourteen regulatory loci in 12 of the 128 genes were discovered, among which, only rs4887783, the functional variant in the promoter of Ring Finger and WD Repeat Domain 3 ( RFWD3), presented significant association with PAAD prognosis in both stages of the population study. Dual-luciferase reporter and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that rs4887783-G allele, which predicts the worse prognosis, enhanced the binding of transcript factor REST, thus elevating RFWD3 expression. Further phenotypic assays revealed that excess expression of RFWD3 promoted tumor cell migration without affecting their proliferation rate. RFWD3 was highly expressed in PAAD and might orchestrate the genes in the DNA repair process. Conclusions::RFWD3 and its regulatory variant are novel genetic factors for PAAD prognosis.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of drug-coated balloon in treatment of femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease.Methods The clinical data of 49 patients with femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease from Feb 2016 to Oct 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.25 cases underwent drugcoated balloon treatment (DCB group),and 24 cases received plain balloon angioplasty (POBA group).Results The procedures were successful in all cases.There were no amputation or death occurred.In DCB group compared to POBA group,the patency rate at postoperative 3 months were not significantly different (96.0％ vs.87.5％,P ＞ 0.05),while it was significantly different at postoperative 6 and 12 months (88.0％ vs.66.7％;80.0％ vs.50.0％,both P ＜0.05).Minimal lumen diameter (MLD) changes and late lumen loss(LLL):The MLD in preoperative,immediate postoperative was not statistically significant between the three group(P ＞ 0.05).At 6 months and 12 months after operation,MLD of DCB group was higher than POBA group (P ＜ 0.05).At 12 months after surgery,LLL in DCB group was significantly lower than the POBA group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion DCB is the effective method to treat femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease,which has better short and mid-term efficacy than POBA.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of SilverHawk directional atherectomy device in the treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease. Methods From August 2012 to June 2014,46 patients(58 limbs)with femoropopliteal occlusive diseases in the treatment by SilverHawk directional atherectomy device were analyzed retrospectively . The mean lesion length and degree of diameter stenosisin the femoropopliteal stenoses(52 limbs) were (4.6 ± 2.3) cm and (85.6 ± 11.3)％.The mean lesion length in the femoropopliteal occlusions(6 limbs)was(6.3 ± 3.2)cm. Rutherford score was 3 ～ 5. Mean ABI was 0.45 ± 0.36. Patency was evaluated with color duplex sonography,CTA and DSA postoperatively. Results 46 patients(58 limbs)were recanalizated suc-cessfully via intraluminal approach. The overall technical success rate was 100％. The procedural success rate was 93.10％. Postoperative residual stenosis and ABI were(10.3 ± 6.2)％and 1.05 ± 0.32,which had statistical diff erence compared with preoperative(t=5.83,P=0.02). The average period of follow-up was 22 months. Mean ABI during the follow-up was 0.96 ± 0.15,which had statistical difference compared with preoperative(t = 5.09,P =0.03). The 6-month and 1-and 2-year primary patency rate was 94.83％、91.38％、84.48％,and secondary patency rate was 98.28％、96.55％、93.10％,respectively. Conclusion SilverHawk directional atherectomy device is safe and effective in treament offemoropopliteal occlusive disease ,with satisfactory early-middle results.

Objective To explore the value of retrograde recanalization technique in treatment of TASCⅡ C/D femoropopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans.Methods Totally 36 patients with TASCⅡ C/D femoropopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans were retrospectively analyzed.Preoperative and postoperative ankle brachial index (ABI) and intermittent claudication were compared,as well as postoperative vascular patency rate and complications were analyzed.Results The retrograde recanalization technique were successfully performed in all 36 patients.The walking distance and ABI of 7 days,and 3,6,12 months postoperation were increased significantly compared with preoperation (all P＜0.05).The postoperative vascular patency rate of 3,6 and 12 months was 97.22％,91.67％ and 72.22％,respectively.There was no death nor amputation during the follow-up period,and the incidence of perioperative complications was 11.11 ％ (4/36).Conclusion Retrograde recanalization technique can be used to treat TASC Ⅱ C/D femoropopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans when anterograde access failed.

Objective To explore the expression of human sodium coupled neutral amino acid transporter 1 (SNAT1) in human glioma tissues and its relationship with clinical pathological parameters and prognosis. Methods Immu?nohistochemical and western blotting were used to detect SNAT1 expression in glioma tissue and tumor peripheral tissue from 89 cases of glioma patients including 55 cases of low grade gliomas (WHO I-II), and 34 cases of high grade gliomas (WHO grade III-IV).χ2 test and was used to analyze the relationship between expression and clinical pathological param?eters of SNAT1. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the effect of different expression of SNAT1 on the prognosis of patients and to establish the Cox regression model. Results The expression of SNAT1 was significantly higher in gliomas than in tumor peripheral tissue (t=-9.803, P=0.001). The expression of SNAT1 was significantly higher in high pathologi?cal grade tissues than in low grade of glioma tissues (t=-6.682, P=0.003). SNAT1 expression was associated with tumor di?ameter and pathological grade (χ2=4.963, 8.527, P<0.05);Cox regression model showed that the tumor pathological grade and different SNAT1 protein expression were independent risk factors for the prognosis of patients with glioma. Conclu?sions The expression of SNAT1 protein is closely associated with the pathological grade of gliomas and the prognosis of the patients, which may be a new target to judge the biological characteristics and to evaluate the prognosis of gliomas.