OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of aorta-iliac bypass total thoracoabdominal aorta aneurysm repair to spinal cord function.

METHODSThis was a prospective study. From June 2014 to April 2015, 31 patients underwent total thoracoabdominal aorta aneurysm repair were treated with aorta-iliac bypass technique. There were 23 male and 8 female patients with a mean age of (36±12) years. A 4-branched tetrafurcate graft was used. The aorta-iliac bypass was established, then distal descending aorta was perfused in a retrograde fashion via bypass graft. Thoracic and abdominal aorta were replaced in a staged fashion. Evoked potentials (EP) monitoring was adopted to assess the spinal cord ischemia throughout the procedure. The intraoperative evoked potentials results, clinical outcomes and follow-up results of this technique were evaluated.

RESULTSThe EP wave disappeared after proximal descending aorta clamped and gradually recovered after the patent segmental arteries reattached. Motor evoked potentials disappeared for (56±18) minutes, somatosensory evoked potentials disappeared for (50±19) minutes. The EP wave was restored to normal at the end of operation in all cases. The somatosensory evoked potentials remained unchanged in 2 cases (false negative). One case died after operation. There were acute kidney dysfunction in 3 cases, and pulmonary haemorrhage in 1 case. No spinal cord injure occurred. The median follow-up after operation was 8 months (ranging from 1 to 11 months). There was no delayed neurologic deficit or relative death.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a transient function loss of spinal cord during the aorta-iliac bypass total thoracoabdominal aorta aneurysm repair. But the process is reversible. The technique of the aorta-iliac bypass is practicable.

Adult ; Aorta, Abdominal ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; physiopathology ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology has the potential to simulate normal or pathologic aortic blood flow changes of mechanical properties and flow field, thereby helping researchers understand and reveal the occurrence, development and prognosis of aortic disease. In aortic diseases research, the initial conditions of CFD numerical simulation has experienced a developed process from idealization (forward engineering), rigid vessel wall, uniform cross-sections, laminar flow and stable blood flow towards personalization (reverse engineering), elastic vessel wall (fluid-solid coupling technique), cone-shaped diminishing cross-sections, turbulent flow, pulsatile blood flow. In this review, the research status, the technical superiority and application prospect of CFD technology were discussed with examples in following three major application areas: (1) dynamics characteristic and mechanical properties in normal thoracic aorta; (2) occurrence, advance and disruptive risk predicting in thoracic aortic aneurysm; (3) therapeutic effect and aneurysmal dilatation simulation in thoracic aortic dissection. For the future, the CFD technology may profoundly put an influence on the awareness to aortic diseases and treatment strategies.
Aorta ; pathology ; physiology ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; physiopathology ; Computer Simulation ; Dilatation ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pulsatile Flow ; Regional Blood Flow

This pictorial review provides the principles of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support and associated CT imaging features with emphasis on the hemodynamic changes and possible imaging pitfalls encountered. It is important that radiologists in ECMO centers apply well-designed imaging protocols and familiarize themselves with post-contrast CT imaging findings in patients on ECMO.
Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic/physiopathology/radiography ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage/pharmacokinetics ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/classification/*methods ; Female ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Hemodynamics/*physiology ; Humans ; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping/instrumentation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Regional Blood Flow/physiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/physiopathology/radiography

The present study was designed to investigate the role of opioid receptors in the vasorelaxation effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) in thoracic aorta rings and the underlying mechanism in rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: CIHH treatment group and control group. The rats in CIHH group were exposed to hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber (simulated 5 000 m altitude) for 28 days, 6 h per day. The rats in control group were kept in the same environment as CIHH rats except no hypoxia exposure. The relaxation of thoracic aorta rings was recorded by organ bath perfusion technique, and expression of opioid receptors was measured by Western blot. Results are shown as follows. (1) The acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of thoracic aorta in CIHH rats was increased obviously in a concentration-dependent manner compared with that in control rats (P < 0.05). (2) This enhancement of ACh-induced relaxation in CIHH rats was abolished by naloxone, a non-specific opioid receptor blocker (P < 0.05). (3) The expressions of δ, μ and κ opioid receptors in thoracic aorta of CIHH rats were up-regulated compared with those in control rats (P < 0.05). (4) The enhancement of CIHH on relaxation of thoracic aorta was reversed by glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) blocker (P < 0.05). The results suggest that opioid receptors are involved in CIHH-enhanced ACh-induced vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta through KATP channel pathways.
Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Altitude ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Glyburide ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; KATP Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid ; metabolism ; Vasodilation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the vasodilative action and the possible mechanisms of Shenmai injection on porcine coronary artery.

METHODIsometric tensions of the porcine coronary artery ring precontracted with potassium chloride (KCl) were recorded in vitro when the doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50 mL x L(-1) of Shenmai injective were cumulatively added into the organ bath of porcine coronary artery ring.

RESULTShenmai injection caused same vasorelaxation of porcine coronary artery rings with endothelium intact and denuded precontracted with KCl in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with TEA and 4-AP prohibited the vasorelaxation by Shenmai injection, but pretreatment with KB-R7943, BaCl2, Gli did not affect the vascular effect of Shenmai injection.

CONCLUSIONShenmai injection could produce vasodilatation on KCl pre-contracted porcine coronary artery rings. It seems that K(Ca) and K(V) channel play an important role in the relaxation of the porcine coronary artery rings pre-contracted with KCl.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Swine ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the level of lipid peroxidation and biomechanical properties after chronic treating with tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in thoracic aorta of hyperlipemia (HL) rats.

METHODSHL rats were given BH4 chronically. The opening angle in the zero-stress state and the relationship between pressure and diameter (P-D) of mesenteric artery were measured by computer image 8, 16, and 24 week-old respectively.

RESULTSTreating with BH4 chronically from 8 week-old in HL rats, there was a significant increase in the zero-stress state of opening angle of thoracic aorta. The P-D curve of mesenteric artery moved upward.

CONCLUSIONTreating with BH4 prevented the structure and function of artery from abnormal changing, and attenuated lipid peroxidation in HL rats.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; drug effects ; Biopterin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Coptis Chinensis on vasoconstrictive activity of isolated thoracic aorta rings of normoxic and chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxic (CIHH) rats, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSYoung male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normoxic group and CIHH group: the fonnrmer were not given any special treatment; the latter were exposed to hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber simulating 5000 m altitude (PB = 404 mmHg, PO2 = 84 mmHg, 11.1% O2), 6 hours daily for 28 days. The isolated thoracic aorta rings of rats were prepared and perfused in thermostat, and the effects of Coptis on vasoconstrictive activity of aorta rings were recorded, the mechanisms were investigated simultaneouly.

RESULTSCoptis Chinensis significantly decreased NE and KC-induced vasoconstriction of normoxic and CIHH rats' isolated aortic rings, but the inhibitive effects had no obvious discrepancy between the two groups. The contractive amplitude had no marked change after the removal of endothelium. When calculated by Logit Loglinear analysis, IC50 of NE and KCl-induced contractive amplitude in normoxic group were respectively 2.99 g/L and 6.14 g/L, while they were 3.45 g/L and 5.81 g/L in CIHH group. The inhibitive effect of Coptis on vasoconstrictive activity of both groups could be partly decreased by Glibenclamide and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; Indomethacin suppressed the effect on normoxic group as well. Also Coptis significantly inhibited NE-induced both intracellular and extracellular calciumion-depended vasoconstriction.

CONCLUSIONCoptis Chinensis obviously relaxes isolated thoracic aorta rings of normoxic and CIHH rats, but the effects are endothelium-independent and have no marked discrepancy between the two groups. The mechanisms of the effects may be related to the opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channel, raise of nitric oxide concentration in both groups, and the increasing of PGI2 in normoxic group. Besides, Coptis may inhibit sarcoplasmic reticulum releasing Ca2+ and decrease the inflow of extracellular Ca2+ via cell membrane.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiopathology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; KATP Channels ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) on contractile activities in isolated thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery rings and the underlying mechanism in rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (CON), 14 days CIHH treatment group (CIHH14), 28 days CIHH treatment group (CIHH28) and 42 days CIHH treatment group (CIHH42). CIHH rats were exposed to hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber simulating 5 000 m altitude, 6 h daily for 14, 28 and 42 d, respectively. After artery rings were prepared from pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta, the contractile activity of the artery rings was recorded using organ bath technique. Results are shown as follows. (1) There were no significant differences of noradrenaline (NA)- and KCl-induced contractions in thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery rings among CIHH and CON rats. (2) Angiotensin Ⅱ (ANGⅡ)-induced contraction in thoracic aorta rings, not in pulmonary artery rings, of CIHH rats was decreased compared with that in CON rats. There was no significant difference of ANGⅡ-induced contraction in thoracic aorta rings among CIHH rats. (3) Inhibitory effect of CIHH on ANGⅡ-induced contraction in thoracic aorta rings was endothelium-independent, and was reversed by glibenclamide (Gli), an ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) blocker, and L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, but not by indomethacin (Indo), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. These results suggest that CIHH attenuates the contraction induced by ANGⅡ in thoracic aorta rings of rat, which is related to the opening of K(ATP) channel and the increased production of NO.
Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; KATP Channels ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasoconstriction ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of soft tissue crush injury on the tensions of thoracic aortic rings (TARs) in rats and to investigate the potential roles of nitric oxide in the change of the tensions. METHODS: Thirty adult SD rats were randomly divided into control group and crush injury (8 h and 16 h after injury) groups. Two kinds of TARs (one with endothelium and the other without endothelium) in vitro were prepared. In the TARs with endothelium, the tensions induced by phenylephrine (PE), acetylcholine (Ach), calcium ionophore A23187 and angiotensin II (AngI) were measured by the vascular tension detective technique. Then the TARs with endothelium were preincubated with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) for 20 minutes, the tensions induced by PE and Ang II were measured again. In the TARs without endothelium, the tensions induced by PE and Ang II were measured by the same method. RESULTS: In the TARs with endothelium, the tension of relaxation induced by cumulative doses of Ach and A23187 decreased significantly in 8 h and 16h groups. The tension of contraction induced by cumulative doses of PE and Ang II also decreased significantly (P<0.05). The tension of contraction increased after the preincubation with L-NNA. In the TARs without endothelium, the tension of contraction induced by PE and Ang II increased comparing to that of TARs with endothelium. CONCLUSION The soft tissue crush injury can influence the tensions of TARs in rats and the vascular-derived NO can mediate the effects.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic/physiopathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism* ; Female ; Hindlimb/injuries* ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/pharmacology* ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/metabolism* ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soft Tissue Injuries/physiopathology* ; Vasoconstriction/drug effects* ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/pharmacology* ; Vasodilation/drug effects* ; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on endothelial-dependent (EDV) and non- dependent (EIV) vascular relaxation in ex vivo thoracic aortic rings of obese rats.

METHODSFifteen SD rats were randomized into 3 equal groups, namely the control group fed with normal chow, obese group with high-fat chow, and AM intervention group fed with high-fat chow and daily AM gavage. The rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks of feeding, and the aortic rings were dissected and cut into 3-mm rings. The response to acethylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were examined in organ bath. In ex vivo study, the aortic rings obtained from the control group and obese group were incubated with AM or vehicle for 3 h in organ bath before testing the EDV and EIV. The body weight and weight of the visceral fat in each group were recorded.

RESULTSThe weight of visceral fat was greater in the obese group than in the control group, and a 6-week AM treatment significantly reduced the fat tissue due to high-fat diet. The maximum EDV value was (87.0 - or + 3.5)% in the control group, (54.8 - or + 7.8)% in the obese group, and (69.8 - or + 5.7)% in AM intervention group; the EIV values were comparable between the 3 groups. After incubation with AM, the maximum EDV values of aortic rings obtained from the obese group were significantly increased from (55.6 - or + 8.3)% to (85.1 - or + 4.5)%.

CONCLUSIONAM can improve endothelial dysfunction in obese rats, and the mechanism involves improved insulin resistance and increased endothelium-derived NO productor function.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; pathology ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; therapeutic use ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology