Objective To evaluate the effect of surgical treatment on extracranial supra-aortic aneu-rysms and summarize the experience.Methods The clinical data of 10 patients undergoing surgical treatment of extracranial supra-aortic aneurysms from May 2019 to November 2023 in the Department of Vascular Surgery of Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University were collected.The 10 patients included 5 pa-tients with internal carotid artery aneurysm,2 patients with subclavian artery aneurysm,2 patients with vertebral artery aneurysm,and 1 patient with internal carotid artery aneurysm combined with ipsilateral subclavian artery aneurysm.The surgical indications,surgical regimens,clinical efficacy,and complications were retrospectively analyzed.Results All the 10 patients underwent surgery successfully,with the surgery duration range of 60-420 min and the median surgery duration of 180.0(121.5,307.5)min.Intraoperative bleeding volume varied with-in 30-400 mL,with a median of 90(50,125)mL.The time of carotid artery blocking and vertebral artery bloc-king varied within the ranges of 10-20 min and 20-30 min,with the medians of 15.0(11.5,16.3)min and 25.0(15.0,22.5)min,respectively.No cardiac accident,cerebral infarction,or cerebral hemorrhage oc-curred during the perioperative period.The 10 patients were followed up for 3-58 months,with the median follow-up time of 8.5(5.3,17.0)months.One patient with subclavian artery aneurysm developed artificial vessel oc-clusion 20 months after surgery.One patient with internal carotid artery aneurysm developed distal carotid artery stenosis 6 months after surgery.Conclusion Surgical treatment should be actively adopted for extracranial supra-aortic aneurysms,and individualized surgical regimens should be designed according to patient conditions.

Marine fungi are important members of the marine microbiome, which have been paid growing attention by scientists in recent years. The secondary metabolites of marine fungi have been reported to contain rich and diverse compounds with novel structures (Chen et al., 2019). Aspergillus terreus, the higher level marine fungus of the Aspergillus genus (family of Trichocomaceae, order of Eurotiales, class of Eurotiomycetes, phylum of Ascomycota), is widely distributed in both sea and land. In our previous study, the coral-derived A. terreus strain C23-3 exhibited potential in producing other biologically active (with antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and anti-inflammatory activity) compounds like arylbutyrolactones, territrems, and isoflavones, and high sensitivity to the chemical regulation of secondary metabolism (Yang et al., 2019, 2020; Nie et al., 2020; Ma et al., 2021). Moreover, we have isolated two different benzaldehydes, including a benzaldehyde with a novel structure, from A. terreus C23-3 which was derived from Pectinia paeonia of Xuwen, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China.
Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism* ; Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Aspergillus/chemistry* ; Benzaldehydes/pharmacology* ; Mice ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Signal Transduction

To investigate the value of the total liver CT perfusion imaging in the evaluation of rabbit VX2 liver tumors treated with TACE and apatinib.
 Methods: Thirty-six rabbit VX2 liver cancer models were established and randomly divided into 4 groups. Group A: simple TACE group; Group B: simple oral administration of apatinib mesylate; Group C: TACE + oral apatinib mesylate; Group D: control group, administration of saline. CT perfusion imaging (CTPI) was performed before treatment and on the 7 and 14 days after the treatment to acquire perfusion parameters including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), MTT (mean transit time), surface permeability (PS), and hepatic artery fraction (HAF). One tumor rabbit was sacrificed in each group after the first perfusion scan, and the remaining tumor rabbits were sacrificed after the last perfusion scan on the 14th day of the treatment. The borders of the tumors were stained immunohistochemically, and microvascular density (MVD) was measured by anti-CD34. The differences of perfusion parameters were compared to evaluate the liver hemodynamic changes, and statistical repeated measurement variance analysist correlation analysis were performed.
 Results: There were no significant differences in CTPI parameters of BF, BV, MTT, HAF and PS between the 4 groups before treatment (P>0.05). After the treatment, HB, HAF and PS were decreased significantly in Group A, B, and C and slightly increased in the Group D. The value of MVD after 14 d treatment was 80.1±16.4 in Group A, 50.2±11.2 in Group B, 27.4±9.7 in Group C, 68.7±12.7 in Group D, respectively. The value of MVD in the Group C were significantly lower than that in Group A, B, and D. It showed positive correlation between BF, HAF, PS and MVD in Group B, C, and D, and there was no significant correlation between BV, MTT and MVD. It showed no significant correlation between MVD and each CTPI parameter in Group A.
 Conclusion: Total liver CT perfusion can quantitatively evaluate the blood perfusion information of rabbit liver VX2 tumor after TACE. TACE combined with oral apatinib can effectively inhibit tumor growth and improve the therapeutic effect of VX2 tumor.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Liver Neoplasms ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Perfusion Imaging ; Pyridines ; Rabbits ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To assess the effect of statin therapy on serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).Methods The clinical data of 126 AAA patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Vascular Surgery,Peking Union Medical College Hospital,from September 2014 to September 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into treatment group and control group according to whether statins were used or not.The levels of serum lipids and serum inflammatory factors were compared between these two groups.Results There was no significant difference in gender,age,body height,body weight,smoking ratio,and AAA diameter between these two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).While the levels of total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were not significantly different before treatment (all P ＞ 0.05),the treatment group had significantly lower TC (t =2.868,P =0.009),TG (t =3.472,P =0.006),and LDL-C (t =3.924,P =0.005) and significantly higher HDL-C level (t =3.322,P =0.007) after treatment.In addition,the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were not significantly different between these two groups before treatment (all P ＞0.05);after treatment,the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the treatment group were (224.32 ± 78.54) and (116.49 ± 19.64) ng/L,respectively,which were lower than those in the control group [(254.68 ±96.77)ng/L (t=1.765,P=0.058) and (126.71 ±23.59) ng/L (t=1.692,P=0.063)],although the differences were not statistically significant.The serum levels of hs-CRP and TNF-α in the treatment group were (6.46 ± 1.24) mg/L and (0.77 ± 0.21) μg/L,respectively,which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(10.93 ± 4.18) mg/L (t =2.007,P =0.012) and (1.28 ± 0.49) μg/L (t =2.144,P =0.016)].Conclusion Statin treatment reduces the levels of hs-CRP and TNF-α in AAA patients.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of transhepatic arterial embolization with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and lipiodol (LIP) for the treatment of VX2 tumor in rabbits.Methods:Twenty-four rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumors by surgical implantation were randomly divided into 4 groups and treated with transhepatic arterial embolization of 4 different agents as follows (n=6 each):doxorubicin (DOX) group,DOX-LIP group,SPIO-DOX group,and SPIO-DOX-LIP group.Liver function (AST and ALT) was measured at 0,1,3,5 and 7 d after transhepatic arterial embolization.The serum DOX level was measured at 0,5,15,30,60,and 120 minutes after transhepatic arterial embolization.MRI was performed at 7 d after the treatment to assess the distribution of SPIO in the SPIO-DOX group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group,while CT was performed to assess the distribution of LIP in the DOX-LIP group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group.All the rabbits were sacrificed and their livers were removed at 7 d after treatment for the detection of tissue DOX level.The histopathologic examinations were performed including HE staining,Prussian blue staining and TUNEL assay,and then the tumor necrosis percentage and apoptosis index were calculated.Results:Compared to the DOX group,the levels of AST and ALT in other 3 groups were significantly elevated at 1 and 3 d after embolization (P＜0.05).The levels of ALT and AST in the DOX group,DOX-LIP group or SPIO-DOX-LIP group returned to the baseline at day 7,there were no significant differences (P＞0.05).The SPIO-DOX-LIP group exhibited the lowest serum DOX level at all time points up to 120 minutes after embolization (P＜0.05).However,the tissue DOX level in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group was the highest among all groups at day 7 (P＜0.05).The SPIO-DOX group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group showed significantly lower MRI signal intensity of tumors in T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) at day 7.Meanwhile DOX-LIP group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group showed that high-density lipiodol was deposited in the tumors in CT images.Histopathologic findings showed an almost complete central necrosis coagulation of tumors in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group,and the tumor necrosis percentage and tumor apoptosis index were significantly increased in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group compared to those in other 3 groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion:This novel drug-delivery system of SPIO nano-drug carrier together with LIP is safe and feasible when it is used for transhepatic arterial embolization for liver tumor.It provides an excellent MR and CT visualization and improves the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of rabbit VX2 liver tumor.

Objective To compare the modeling effect of chronic rejection following orthotopic and heterotopic intestinal transplantation in rats.Methods F344 (RT1 1 vr )rats were used as the donors and Lewis (RT1 1 )rats were used as the recipients.Models of allogeneic heterotopic and orthotopic intestinal transplantation in rats (8 rats in each model) were established,and subcutaneous injection of ciclosporin was given at 0 ~1 4 d after operation.Changes in body weight and survival time of the recipients were observed after operation.In addition,pathological changes in intestinal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE)staining.Changes in collagenous fibers and elastic fibers in intestinal tissue were observed after alcohol and hematoxylin staining.Finally,success rate of modeling of recipients in two groups was calculated.Results Rats in heterotopic and orthotopic intestinal transplantation groups were able to survive for a long time,most of which were more than 90 d.For the rats in orthotopic intestinal transplantation group,normal diet could be recovered at the 3 rd d after operation.Their body weight could recover preoperative level at about the 1 4th d after operation,and then grew slowly.However,most of the rats in orthotopic intestinal transplantation group continued weight loss from the 1 50th d after operation,which could not be reversed with ciclosporin.For the rats in heterotopic intestinal transplantation group,normal diet could be recovered at the 1 st d after operation,and their body weight could recover preoperative level within 25-30 d after operation and gradually rose and remained at a high level within 30-90 d after operation.No pathological changes of chronic rejection and obvious mesangial fibrosis in intestinal tissue were observed at the 90th d after operation,but intestinal tissue developed chronic rejection and obvious mesangial fibrosis at the 1 63 rd d and 200th d after operation in orthotopic intestinal transplantation group.Typical pathological changes of chronic rejection and mesangial fibrosis in intestinal tissue were observed at the 90th d and 200th d after operation for rats in heterotopic intestinal transplantation group.All the rats in heterotopic intestinal transplantation group showed characteristic pathological changes.The success rate of modeling was 1 00% in heterotopic intestinal transplantation group,which was not of statistical significance,compared with the success rate of modeling of 75% in the orthotopic intestinal transplantation group (P >0.05).Conclusions Chronic rejection will occur at different time points with small dose of ciclosporin after operation if models of orthotopic and heterotopic intestinal transplantation are established in combination of F344 → Lewis rats.Compared with orthotopic intestinal transplantation,the rat model of heterotopic intestinal transplantation holds the advantages of simple modeling,shorter chronic rejection and relatively consistent degree of pathological changes,which is more suitable for experimental study.

OBJECTIVETo study the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) settled in rats after small intestinal transplantation.

METHODSBone marrow MSCs were taken from 1-month male Lewis rats, isolated and cultured by density gradient centrifugation and differential adherent culture. The surface antigens (CD29, CD90, CD34 and CD45) of MSC were identified by flow cytometry. Final concentration of 5 μg/L CFSE was used to mark the third generation of MSCs. Adult male inbred line F344 rats were used as donor and adult male Lewis rats as acceptor. A heterotopic intestinal transplant rat model was established by F344 to Lewis. Labeled MSCs were injected into model rats through vena dorsalis penis after operation. Tissues at postoperative 7-day were collected for frozen pathology to reveal the location of transplanted MSCs under fluorescence microscope.

RESULTSMSCs were successfully isolated from rat bone marrow. The average positive expression rates of surface antigens CD29, CD90, CD34 and CD45 were 96.48%, 99.77%, 2.41% and 1.39% respectively. MSCs were successfully and effectively marked with CFSE. Seven days after operation, a large number of green fluorescence could be observed in transplanted intestine, spleen and thymus. Autograft intestinal tissues only showed trace fluorescence, and the heart, liver and lung tissue basically did not present the green fluorescence.

CONCLUSIONBone marrow MSCs can settle in transplanted small intestine of rat.

OBJECTIVETo study the suppressive effect of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase on transplantation rejection in mice heterotopic cardiac transplantation.

METHODSAdenovirus vector containing IDO gene was used to infect donor (C57BL/6) DC to obtain IDO(+)DC. Mouse heterotopic cardiac transplantation models were established (C57BL/6-BALB/c) and the following groups were set up, including the control group, DC injection group, TC injection group, IDO(+)DC injection group and co-injection group of IDO(+)DC and TC, 12 donors and 12 recipients in each group.Survival time of the donor heart in every group was observed. Meanwhile, donor hearts were harvested 7 days post transplantation for different examinations, including pathological examination, mRNA expression of IDO through real-time PCR, IDO protein expression through Western blot. Peripheral blood of recipients was also harvested for CD3(+)T lymphocyte apoptosis rate examination through fluorescence-activated cell sorting.One-way ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier Survival Analysis were used for statistic analysis of IDO expression, CD3(+)T lymphocyte apoptosis rate and survival time of the donor heart respectively.

RESULTSCadiac allograft median survival time of each group were 7.0, 7.5, 11.0, 17.5, 24.0 days respectively. Compared with control and DC injection group, IDO(+)DC, TC and co-injection group significantly prolonged the survival time of donor hearts (t = 3.523-8.449, P < 0.01). Both IDO mRNA and protein expression showed significant increase(t = 5.974-16.176, P < 0.01). The CD3(+)T lymphocyte apoptosis rate was also significantly increased (t = 6.324-38.120, P < 0.01). Compared with IDO(+)DC or TC group alone, co-injection group significantly prolonged the survival time of the donor heart (t = 5.971 and 2.831, P < 0.05). Both IDO mRNA and protein expression showed significant increase (t = 2.853-15.194, P < 0.01).Furthermore, the CD3(+)T lymphocyte apoptosis rate was significantly increased as well (t = 26.069 and 7.643, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSuppressive effect of co-injection of IDO(+)DC and TC is much more effective than administration of IDO(+)DC or TC alone, which suggests that IDO achieved immune suppressive effect through the pathway of tryptophan depletion and accumulation of TC.

Animals ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Graft Rejection ; drug therapy ; Heart Transplantation ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective To investigate the effect of high expression of functional IDO trom donor DCs on transplantation rejection in mice heterotopic cardiac transplantation.Method Adenovirus vector containing IDO gene was used to infect donor (C57BL/6) DCs to obtain IDO+ DCs.Mouse heterotopic cardiac transplantation models were established (C57BL/6-BALB/c) and the following groups were set up:control group,DCs injection group and IDO+ DCs injection group.Survival time of the donor heart in all groups was observed.Meanwhile,donor hearts were harvested at 7 th day post-transplantation for different examinations,including pathological examination,mRNA expression of IDO by real-time PCR,and IDO protein expression by Western blotting.Peripheral blood of recipients was also harvested for T lymphocyte apoptosis rate examination by FACS.Result Cardiac allograft median survival time in control group,DCs injection group and IDO+ DCs injection group was 7,7.5,and 17.5 days respectively.IDO+ DCs treatment significantly prolonged the survival time of donor hearts (P＜0.01).Pathological grading was significantly decreased (P＜0.01).The CD3+ T lymphocyte apoptosis rate in peripheral blood of recipients in IDO+ DCs injection group was (46.50 + 5.02)％,significantly higher than the other two groups (P＜0.01).Both IDO mRNA and protein expression showed significant increase (P＜0.01).Conclusion The preoperative medication with IDO+ DCs injection to the recipients could induce T lymphocyte apoptosis and significantly suppress the rejection in mice heterotopic cardiac homotransplantation.

Objective To investigate the expression of platelet derived growth factor(PDGF) in small bowel transplantation of rats.Methods Isogeneic and allogeneic small bowel transplantation were performed in rats by microsurgical technology.All rats were divided into two groups:isogeneic control group and allogeneic test group.Transplanted tissues were test on 7th,28th and 90th after surgery.Positioning using immunohistochemical method the expression of PDGF.Real time PCR and immunohistochemical staining were also performed to detect the expression of PDGF.Results The unique feature including intestinal graft fibrosis was showed in tissues.Immunohistochemistry results showed PDGF expression was higher in intestinal glands.PDGF mRNA levels in transplanted tissues showed a gradual upward trend,and the top levels is in POD90.Conclusion PDGF expression was significantly higher in the late of intestinal transplantation,which showed an guideline for chronic rejection of intestinal transplantation.