A new approach to blood flow simulation in vascular networks

A proper analysis of blood flow is contingent upon accurate modelling of the branching pattern and vascular geometry of the network of interest. It is challenging to reconstruct the entire vascular network of any organ experimentally, in particular the pulmonary vasculature, because of its very high number of vessels, complexity of the branching pattern and poor accessibility in vivo. The objective of our research is to develop an innovative approach for the reconstruction of the full pulmonary vascular tree from available morphometric data. Our method consists of the use of morphometric data on those parts of the pulmonary vascular tree that are too small to reconstruct by medical imaging methods. This method is a three-step technique that reconstructs the entire pulmonary arterial tree down to the capillary bed. Vessels greater than 2 mm are reconstructed from direct volume and surface analysis using contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Vessels smaller than 2 mm are reconstructed from available morphometric and distensibility data and rearranged by applying Murray's laws. Implementation of morphometric data to reconstruct the branching pattern and applying Murray's laws to every vessel bifurcation simultaneously leads to an accurate vascular tree reconstruction. The reconstruction algorithm generates full arterial tree topography down to the ?rst capillary bifurcation. Geometry of each order of the vascular tree is generated separately to minimize the construction and simulation time. The node-to-node connectivity along with the diameter and length of every vessel segment is established and order numbers, according to the diameter-de?ned Strahler system, are assigned. In conclusion, the present model provides a morphological foundation for future analysis of blood flow in the pulmonary circulation     

利伐沙班用于急性肺栓塞的抗凝效果及对血清Hcy、BNP、TnI与D-D水平的影响

目的:探讨利伐沙班用于急性肺栓塞的抗凝效果及对血清脑钠肽(Brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)、肌钙蛋白I (Troponin I,TnI)、D-二聚体(D-Dimer,D-D)、同型半胱氨酸(homocysteine,Hcy)水平的影响。方法:选择2014年2月至2017年12月在我院进行治疗的(高)中危组急性肺栓塞患者106例,并将其随机分为观察组和对照组。对照组皮下注射低分子肝素钙搭配华法林治疗,观察组予以利伐沙班治疗,观察和比较两组患者的临床疗效、治疗前后血清BNP、TnI、D-D、Hcy水平的变化及不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后,观察组患者总有效率为94.37%,显著高于对照组(42.10%,P0.05);观察组患者血清BNP、TnI、D-D、Hcy及肺动脉收缩压水平均显著低于对照组(P0.05),而动脉收缩压、动脉血氧分压水平较对照组水平显著升高(P0.05)。结论:利伐沙班应用于治疗急性肺栓塞的抗凝效果显著优于低分子肝素钙搭配华法林治疗,其可有效降低患者血清BNP、TnI、D-D、Hcy水平以及肺动脉收缩压。     

沙丁胺醇联合福多司坦治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期的疗效及对患者血清IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP水平的影响

目的:探讨沙丁胺醇联合福多司坦治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期的临床疗效及对患者血清白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、超敏c反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平的影响。方法:选择2016年1月到2017年1月我院接诊的稳定期慢性阻塞性肺病患者100例作为研究对象,按照随机数表法分为观察组(n=51)和对照组(n=49)。对照组使用沙丁胺醇治疗,观察组采用沙丁胺醇联合福多司坦治疗。比较两组治疗后的疗效、治疗前后血清IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP、肺功能的变化及不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后,观察组临床疗效总有效率(94.12%)显著高于对照组(75.51%,P0.05)。两组患者治疗后血清IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP水平均治疗前均明显下降,且观察组患者血清IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP水平均明显低于对照组(P0.05);两组治疗后各第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)、用力肺活量(FVC)、最大呼气流量(PEF)较治疗前均显著升高(P0.05),且观察组FEV1、FVC、PEF均明显高于对照组(P0.05);两组患者不良反应总发生率分别19.61%、38.78%,观察组显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:沙丁胺醇联合福多司坦治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期的临床疗效和安全性均显著优于单用沙丁胺醇治疗,可能与其有效改善患者血清IL-6、TNF-α、hs-CRP水平有关。     

血清PCT、IL-17与CRP在AECOPD合并肺动脉高压患者中的表达及诊断价值

目的:探讨降钙素原(PCT),白介素17(IL-17)与C反应蛋白(CRP)在慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期(AECOPD)合并肺动脉高压患者外周血中的表达水平,探究联合检测的诊断价值。方法:收集2015年8月至2017年2月我院收治的AECOPD患者120例,纳入研究患者根据是否合并肺动脉高压分为分为单纯AECOPD组60例及AECOPD合并肺动脉高压(AECOPD+PH)组60例,另选取20例健康志愿者作为对照组。采用化学发光法检测PCT水平,双抗夹心酶联免疫吸附试验法(ELISA)检测IL-17水平及生化分析仪检测CRP水平,采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)评估PCT,IL-17与CRP对AECOPD合并肺动脉高压的诊断价值。结果:AECOPD+PH组及AECOPD组的PCT,IL-17,CRP水平较健康对照组均明显升高,而AECOPD+PH组的各指标水平也均高于单纯AECOPD组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。通过Pearson相关性分析发现,AECOPD合并肺动脉高压的PCT与IL-17之间存在表达正相关性(r=0.733,P0.05),PCT与CRP表达存在正相关性(r=0.817,P0.05)。此外,针对AECOPD合并肺动脉高压的诊断中PCT的ROC曲线下面积为0.83,IL-17为0.71,CRP为0.77,联合三者的ROC曲线下面积为0.94。结论:PCT、IL-17和CRP可能与AECOPD患者肺动脉高压的形成有关,各指标存在一定的相关性,联合以上三项生物学指标对诊断AECOPD合并肺动脉高压患者具有一定的临床参考价值。     

miR‐20a‐5p regulates pulmonary surfactant gene expression in alveolar type II cells

MicroRNA (miRNA) critically controls gene expression in many biological processes, including lung growth and pulmonary surfactant biosynthesis. The present study was conducted to investigate whether miR‐20a‐5p had such regulatory functions on alveolar type II (AT‐II) cells. To accomplish this, miR‐20a‐5p–overexpressed and miR‐20a‐5p–inhibited adenoviral vectors were constructed and transfected into cultured AT‐II cells that were isolated from rat foetal lungs of 19 days' gestation. Transfection efficiency was confirmed by observing the fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (GFP) carried by the viral vector, whereas miR‐20a‐5p levels were verified by real‐time PCR. The CCK‐8 assay was used to compare the proliferation ability of AT‐II cells that had over‐ or underexpressed miR‐20a‐5p. The expression of surfactant‐associated proteins (SPs) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was measured by real‐time PCR and Western blotting. In AT‐II cells, transfection resulted in over‐ or under‐regulation of miR‐20a‐5p. While overexpression of miR‐20a‐5p promoted pulmonary surfactant gene expression, its underexpression inhibited it. Consistent with its role in negatively regulating the pulmonary surfactant gene, an opposite pattern was observed for miR‐20a‐5p regulation of PTEN. As a result, when miR‐20a‐5p was rendered overexpressed, PTEN was down‐regulated. By contrast, when miR‐20a‐5p was underexpressed, PTEN was up‐regulated. Neither overexpression nor underexpression of miR‐20a‐5p altered the cell proliferation. miR‐20a‐5p plays no role in proliferation of foetal AT‐II cells but is a critical regulator of surfactant gene expression. The latter appears to be achieved through a regulatory process that implicates expression of PTEN.     

Phytoremediation and natural attenuation of sulfentrazone: mineralogy influence of three highly weathered soils

Abstract

This study evaluated remediation of the herbicide sulfentrazone in soils with three different mineralogies (kaolinite, hematite, and gibbsite) and three remediation sulfentrazone treatments (Canavalia ensiformis L., Crotalaria juncea L., and natural attenuation). This study was conducted in a factorial scheme, in triplicate with randomized block design. Sulfentrazone was applied at 0 and 400?g ha^?1. We analyzed sulfentrazone residue in the soils by high-performance liquid chromatography and confirmed the results with bioassays of Pennisetum glaucum. Herbicide movement was greater in the kaolinitic soil without plant species. The retention of herbicide in the kaolinitic soil occurred in larger quantities in the 0–12?cm layer, with higher levels found in the treatments with plants. In the hematitic soil with C. juncea, all applied herbicides were concentrated in the 0–12?cm layer. In the other hematitic soil treatments, sulfentrazone was not detected by chemical analysis at any soil depth, although in many treatments, it was detected in the bioassay. Phytoremediation was more efficient with C. ensiformis grown in gibbsitic soil, reducing the sulfentrazone load by approximately 27%. Natural attenuation was more efficient than phytoremediation in oxidic soils due to soil pH and texture soils favored microbial degradation of the compound.

• Highlights

• The influence of soil mineralogy of herbicide sulfentrazone retention was evaluated.

• Canavalia ensiformis and Crotalaria juncea were evaluated as phytoremediation plants.

• Kaolinite soils presented great movement of sulfentrazone in the soil.

• Natural attenuation is more efficient in oxide soils than phytoremediation.

     

Warmest Congratulations to Dr. Yuan-Cheng Fung at His Centennial Celebration

Professor Y.C. Fung has made tremendous impacts on science, engineering and humanity through his research and its applications, by setting the highest standards, through educating many students and their students, and providing his exemplary leadership. He has applied his profound knowledge and elegant analytical methods to the study of biomedical problems with rigor and excellence. He established the foundations of biomechanics in living tissues and organs. Through his vision of the power of “making models” to explain and predict biological phenomena, Dr. Fung opened up new vista for bioengineering, from organs-systems to molecules-genes, and has provided the foundation of research activities in many institutions in the United States and the world. He has made outstanding contributions to education in bioengineering, service to professional organizations, and translation to industry and clinical medicine. He is widely recognized as the Father of Biomechanics and the leading Bioengineer in the world. His extraordinary achievements and commands in science, engineering and the arts make him a Renaissance Man for the world.     

肺纤维化分子治疗靶点的研究进展

肺纤维化(pulmonary fibrosis, PF)是临床常见的一种慢性进行性呼吸系统疾病,以中晚期出现肺组织的纤维化为病变特征。由于肺纤维化病因复杂,其发病机制至今仍不明确,这也成为该疾病治疗的最大难点,并且由于该病的高死亡率,寻求有效的治疗方法迫在眉睫。随着现代分子生物学技术的广泛应用以及对该疾病的发生机制和病理生理变化研究的不断深入,发现AMPK、mTOR和JNK等相关信号通路以及ECM沉积和氧化应激等在肺纤维化发病机制中起着重要作用。因此,针对这些通路中的相关分子的靶点治疗将成为肺纤维化治疗的新趋势。本文旨在对肺纤维化治疗相关的细胞因子以及micro RNA分子靶点研究进展做一总结,为防治肺纤维化提供新的理论依据,同时为临床诊疗提供参考。     

炙甘草汤通过抗氧化抑制博莱霉素诱导的小鼠肺纤维化

摘要 目的：探讨炙甘草汤对特发性肺纤维化（Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,IPF）小鼠纤维化相关指标的影响,挖掘炙甘草汤治疗IPF的机制。方法：将60只SPF级ICR小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、吡菲尼酮组和炙甘草汤组,除空白组外,其余组采用气管滴注博莱霉素（5 mg/kg)方法复制IPF小鼠模型,并给予相应的药物治疗。空白组和模型组小鼠灌胃生理盐水,吡菲尼酮组和炙甘草汤组小鼠分别灌胃吡菲尼酮(50 mg/kg)和炙甘草汤（25.4 g/kg）,各组均连续给药4周后取材,记录各组小鼠的死亡情况,计算各组肺系数;观察肺组织切片病理变化;碱水解法检测肺组织羟脯氨酸（HYP）含量;比色法检测肺组织丙二醛（MDA）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的活性;免疫组化、荧光定量PCR检测α-SMA、COL1A蛋白和mRNA的表达水平。结果：炙甘草汤组小鼠死亡数减少,肺系数显著降低（P＜0.01）,炎性细胞浸润和胶原沉积面积大量减少,肺泡结构逐渐修复,HYP、MDA含量降低（P＜0.01）,SOD活性（P＜0.05）和GSH-Px活性（P＜0.01）显著增强;α-SMA、COL1A蛋白和mRNA表达均降低（P＜0.01）。结论：炙甘草汤通过抑制氧化应激反应,从而抑制成纤维细胞活化,减少细胞质基质沉积,从而减缓IPF疾病进程。     

GSK3β/eEF2K信号通路对小鼠肺纤维化过程的影响*

目的: 探讨糖原合成酶激酶-3(GSK3β)/真核延伸因子激酶2(eEF2K)信号通路对肺纤维化进程的影响,为临床治疗肺纤维化寻找新的思路。方法: 采用一次性气管注射法构建C57BL/6雄性小鼠博莱霉素肺纤维化模型,造模14 d后将动物分成模型组、阴性抑制组与抑制组(n=5),另设空白组不作处理。抑制组使用腹腔注射TDZD-8(4 mg/kg),阴性抑制组腹腔注射二甲基亚砜(DMSO)溶液,28 d后处死采集指标。采用苏木精-伊红染色法检测小鼠肺脏病变情况;试剂盒水解法检测肺组织中羟脯氨酸(Hyp)的含量;采用Western blot法检测肺脏中GSK3β、磷酸化GSK3β(p-GSK3β)、eEF2K、p-eEF2K(Ser70)、p-eEF2K(Ser392)、p-eEF2K(Ser470)、基质金属蛋白酶-2前体蛋白(pro-MMP-2)、基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)蛋白表达水平,使用免疫组织化学法检测肺脏中MMP-2、胶原蛋白I(Col I)、胶原蛋白Ⅲ(Col Ⅲ)、α-平滑肌蛋白(α-SMA)的表达。结果: 与空白组相比,模型组中GSK3β、p-GSK3β、p-eEF2K(Ser70)、p-eEF2K(Ser392)、p-eEF2K(Ser470)、pro-MMP-2、MMP-2、Col I、Col Ⅲ、α-SMA蛋白表达水平升高,eEF2K蛋白表达水平降低(P＜0.05);与模型组相比,抑制组GSK3β、p-GSK3β、p-eEF2K(Ser70)、p-eEF2K(Ser392)、p-eEF2K(Ser470)、pro-MMP-2、MMP-2、Col I、Col Ⅲ、α-SMA蛋白表达降低,eEF2K蛋白表达升高(P＜ 0.05)。结论: GSK3β能通过Ser70、Ser392、Ser470这3个位点磷酸化激活eEF2K,增加纤维化指标含量,促进肺纤维化形成,加重肺组织病变。