视网膜静脉阻塞与颈动脉狭窄的相关性研究

目的:探究视网膜静脉阻塞与颈动脉狭窄的相关性研究,并为其临床检测、治疗与预后提供参考。方法:选择我院55例视网膜静脉阻塞患者(55只眼)为研究组,对其裸眼视力、矫正视力、眼压、眼底血管荧光造影(FFA)等检查资料进行分析,并进行多普勒彩超检查,记录其颈动脉狭窄情况,并对两种疾病之间的关系进行分析。同时选取55例健康人作为对照组。结果:研究组55例患者确诊为视网膜静脉阻塞(RVO),多普勒结果显示患者患侧与健侧劲动脉血流动力学各项差异不明显(P0.05);其IMT值较之对照组显著增高(P0.05);其PSV与EDV值有所降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:视网膜静脉阻塞患者大多存在颈动脉狭窄,因此检测颈动脉血流动力学对于诊断与预防视网膜静脉阻塞有着重要作用。     

上尿路腔内手术中降低肾盂压力机制与方法的研究进展

1983年,Wickham教授首先提出微创外科(minimally invasive surgery),此后,微创泌尿外科逐渐成外具有科学意义上的微创外科学的一个重要的分支学科。上尿路的腔内手术,包括PNL(Percutaneous nephrolithotomy)、URS(Ureteroscopic)、f-URS(Flexible ureteroscope)等。与传统手术相比,上尿路的腔内手术具有创伤小、时间短、恢复快、并发症少,并且可以直视下进行手术操作,临床应用较广泛。在腔内操作时,为保证术中手术视野的清晰度,手术多采用生理盐水(NS)进行灌注,进而导致肾盂压力升高,引起各项潜在的危害。因此如何在上尿路腔内手术中降低肾盂压力成为一个研究的热点。近些年,腔内器械的改进,包括镜体灌注通道入路与出路的分开设计、回流鞘的设计、压力泵的改进,在一定程度上降低了肾盂压力。灌注液体中加入相应浓度的药物,抑制上尿路平滑肌的蠕动与收缩,也在一定程度上降低了肾盂压力。本文介绍了上尿路腔内手术中肾盂压力的影响因素,回顾了肾盂压力升高后的危害,分析了肾盂压力升高机制,总结了肾盂压力降低的各种方案以及将来的应用前景。     

多层螺旋CT Flash Spiral模式老年冠状动脉成像的图像质量及影响因素分析

目的:探讨老年多层螺旋CT Flash Spiral模式和Spiral模式的冠状动脉动脉成像质量及其影响因素。方法:选择我院2010年1月~2012年12月行多层螺旋CT冠状动脉成像老年患者186例,根据心率和心律将患者分为两组:A组98例行Flash Spiral模式扫描;B组88例行Spiral模式扫描,对两组扫描的冠状动脉分别做图像后处理。比较两组患者的一般情况、图像质量评分及辐射剂量,并统计分析心率变异性对图像质量的影响。结果:两组患者在年龄、性别构成、体重指数(BMI)、钙化积分方面差异无统计学意义(均P0.05);在心率、心率变异性方面,A组明显低于B组,差异有统计学意义(均P0.05);两组患者图像质量评分、图像噪声及对比信噪比(CNR)相比较,差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05);不可诊断节段基于血管节段评价A组和B组分别为1.98%和2.21%,基于患者评价分别为8.16%和6.82%,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05);A组扫描时间、容积CT剂量指数(CTDIvol)、剂量长度乘积(DLP)、单位有效剂量(ED)小于B组,差异有统计学意义(均P0.05);心率变异性10次/min患者冠状动脉图像质量明显低于心率变异性5~10次/min和≤5次/min(P0.05)。结论:采用多层螺旋CT Flash Spiral模式扫描老年冠状动脉成像质量与Spiral模式接近,但有效辐射剂量明显减少。心率变异性是影响老年患者Flash Spiral模式扫描图像质量的重要因素。     

斑点追踪技术评价冠状动脉搭桥术后心肌功能的临床价值研究

目的:探讨超声斑点追踪成像技术定量评价冠状动脉搭桥术前、后心肌功能的临床价值。方法:选择2012年1月~2013年1月在我院心脏外科行体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术的患者,对冠状动脉搭桥术术前1周、术后1月、3月、6月进行常规超声心动图检查,然后应用斑点追踪技术进行分析。结果:所有患者的纵向应变值仅在术后3个月和6个月显著增加,与术前、术后1个月比较差别有统计学意义(P0.01)。圆周应变值在术后1个月、3个月和6个月均显著增高,与术前比较差别有统计学意义(P0.05)。老年组术后6个月的纵向应变值和圆周应变值与术后3个月比较差别有统计学意义(P0.05)。手术前、后常规超声心动图检查结果比较差别无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:超声斑点追踪技术用于评估CABG术后缺血心肌的功能变化的敏感性高于常规超声心动图检查,为临床评价CABG的疗效提供了一种新方法。     

间断切口与长切口获取大隐静脉在冠状动脉旁路移植术中作用的对比研究

目的:比较冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)中采用间断切口与长切口获取大隐静脉作为静脉桥材料的优缺点。方法:选择2011年12月至2012年12月宁夏医科大学总医院心脏大血管外科111例行CABG的冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病患者为研究对象。根据术中获取大隐静脉方法的不同,随机将其分为两组,长切口组64例,在CABG中采用长切口法获取大隐静脉,间断切口组47例,在CABG中采用间断切口法获取大隐静脉。比较两组大隐静脉获取时间、下肢切口缝合时间、下肢手术时间、大隐静脉桥长度、下肢切口长度和下肢切口并发症发生率的差异。结果:间断切口组大隐静脉桥长度及下肢手术时间(45.4±6.7)cm,(65.8±10.3)min与长切口组(47.5±6.7)cm,(65.8±10.3)min比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。间断切口组获取大隐静脉的时间(48.9±8.3)min显著长于长切口组(37.3±5.8)min,下肢切口长度与缝合时间(17.0±3.5)cm,(16.9±3.4)min明显短于长切口组的(43.5±6.4)min,(31.7±5.9)min,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组大隐静脉壁的损伤情况比较无统计学差异(P0.05),但间断切口组术后下肢切口延迟愈合、感染、渗出、下肢血肿等并发症的发生率低于长切口组(P0.05)。结论:在冠状动脉旁路移植术中,间断切口获取大隐静脉能够显著缩短下肢手术切口长度,有助于减少术后下肢切口感染、延迟愈合、渗出、下肢血肿等并发症的发生。     

冠脉不同程度狭窄猪血浆骨保护素变化的影响研究

目的:冠心病的发病率越来越高,成为临床上常见的心血管疾病。冠心病的发生、发展与冠状动脉病变程度直接相关。通过手术引起冠脉狭窄,探讨冠脉狭窄与骨保护素(OPG)的相关性,从而为临床冠心病的预测提供理论依据。方法:(1)20头巴马小型猪,在胸腔镜直视下手术丝线永久性结扎左前降支近端建立轻度(狭窄程度20-49%)、中度(狭窄程度50-69%)和重度(狭窄程度≥70%)狭窄的冠状动脉狭窄模型;(2)各组小型猪分别在其手术处理前后1 min留取静脉血和分离血浆,测定骨保护素的含量。结果:(1)手术对各组小型猪血浆OPG的影响差异无统计学意义(P0.05),同时,各组之间冠脉狭窄模型猪手术后血浆OPG的浓度较对照组升高,但无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:(1)手术作为一种应激性损伤,导致OPG升高。(2)骨保护素与冠状动脉硬化和血管钙化有关,但与没有动脉硬化和钙化引起的的冠脉狭窄无关。     

Effects of various squalene epoxides on coenzyme Q and cholesterol synthesis

2,3-Oxidosqualene is an intermediate in cholesterol biosynthesis and 2,3:22,23-dioxidosqualene act as the substrate for an alternative pathway that produces 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol which effects cholesterol homeostasis. In light of our previous findings concerning the biological effects of certain epoxidated all-trans-polyisoprenes, the effects of squalene carrying epoxy moieties on the second and third isoprene residues were investigated here. In cultures of HepG2 cells both monoepoxides of squalene and one of their hydrolytic products inhibited cholesterol synthesis and stimulated the synthesis of coenzyme Q (CoQ). Upon prolonged treatment the cholesterol content of these cells and its labeling with [³H]mevalonate were reduced, while the amount and labeling of CoQ increased. Injection of the squalene monoepoxides into mice once daily for 6 days elevated the level of CoQ in their blood, but did not change the cholesterol level. The same effects were observed upon treatment of apoE-deficient mice and diabetic GK-rats. This treatment increased the hepatic level of CoQ10 in mice, but the amount of CoQ9, which is the major form, was unaffected. The presence of the active compounds in the blood was supported by the finding that cholesterol synthesis in the white blood cells was inhibited. Since the ratio of CoQ9/CoQ10 varies depending on the experimental conditions, the cells were titrated with substrate and inhibitors, leading to the conclusion that the intracellular isopentenyl-PP pool is a regulator of this ratio. Our present findings indicate that oxidosqualenes may be useful for stimulating both the synthesis and level of CoQ both in vitro and in vivo.     

Different factors affect the local distribution,persistence and spread of alien tree species in floodplain forests

Floodplain forests are characterized by high and increasing levels of invasions by plant species, but the factors that drive their spread are insufficiently understood. Using data from 708 plots surveyed twice (1998, 2008) supplemented with further data (management, stand age, distance to dispersal corridors, type of ecosystems invaded) we analyzed the factors which shape the local distribution, growth, persistence and spread of three invasive alien tree species (Acer negundo, Ailanthus altissima, Robinia pseudoacacia) in the National Park Donau-Auen in Austria. Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), we found that the distribution of the study species per plot is contingent on stand age (R. pseudoacacia), type of floodplain forest (A. negundo, A. altissima) and distance to the next water body (A. negundo). For all study species, colonization of new plots between both surveys is driven by short distance spread from already established invasion foci. Moreover, recipient habitats (softwood vs. hardwood floodplain forests) modify invasion success in species-specific ways. The probability of occurrence and colonization of plots located in softwood floodplain forests is higher for A. negundo, whereas A. altissima more frequently colonizes hardwood floodplain forests. Persistence of R. pseudoacacia decreases with stand age, whereas its growth rate is significantly higher in plots located in zones where management is allowed than in those which are not managed. Persistence and growth of the other two study species were not related to any explanatory variables analyzed. The on-going spread of the study species in the National Park Donau-Auen suggests that their local distribution is in disequilibrium, i.e. not all suitable habitat patches have yet been colonized. This implies that increased management efforts are necessary to reverse the spread of alien tree species in the study area and to maintain the high conservation value of this iconic area which protects one of the largest floodplain forests in Europe.     

miRNome traits analysis on endothelial lineage cells discloses biomarker potential circulating microRNAs which affect progenitor activities

Background

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a fundamental role in not only blood vessel development but also post-natal vascular repair. Currently EPCs are defined as early and late EPCs based on their biological properties and their time of appearance during in vitro culture. Both EPC types assist angiogenesis and have been linked to ischemia-related disorders, including coronary artery disease (CAD).

Results

We found late EPCs are more mobile than early EPCs and matured endothelial cells (ECs). To pinpoint the mechanism, microRNA profiles of early EPCs late EPCs, and ECs were deciphered by small RNA sequencing. Obtained signatures made up of both novel and known microRNAs, in which anti-angiogenic microRNAs such as miR-221 and miR-222 are more abundant in matured ECs than in late EPCs. Overexpression of miR-221 and miR-222 resulted in the reduction of genes involved in hypoxia response, metabolism, TGF-beta signalling, and cell motion. Not only hamper late EPC activities in vitro, both microRNAs (especially miR-222) also hindered in vivo vasculogenesis in a zebrafish model. Reporter assays showed that miR-222, but not miR-221, targets the angiogenic factor ETS1. In contrast, PIK3R1 is the target of miR-221, but not miR-222 in late EPCs. Clinically, both miR-221-PIK3R1 and miR-222-ETS1 pairs are deregulated in late EPCs of CAD patients.

Conclusions

Our results illustrate EPCs and ECs exploit unique miRNA modalities to regulate angiogenic features, and explain why late EPC levels and activities are reduced in CAD patients. These data will further help to develop new plasma biomarkers and therapeutic approaches for ischemia-related diseases or tumor angiogenesis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-802) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Radiation pressure on a biconcave human Red Blood Cell and the resulting deformation in a pair of parallel optical traps

We calculated the three‐dimensional optical stress distribution and the resulting deformation on a biconcave human red blood cell (RBC) in a pair of parallel optical trap. We assumed a Gaussian intensity distribution with a spherical wavefront for each trapping beam and calculated the optical stress from the momentum transfer associated with the reflection and refraction of the incident photons at each interface. The RBC was modelled as a biconcave thin elastic membrane with uniform elasticity and a uniform thickness of 0.25 μm. The resulting cell deformation was determined from the optical stress distribution by finite element software, Comsol Structure Mechanics Module, with Young's modulus (E) as a fitting parameter in order to fit the theoretical results for cell elongation to our experimental data. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)