A Novel Sirolimus-eluting Biodegradable Magnesium-based Alloy Scaffold: Six-month Results In Porcine Peripheral Arteries.

PURPOSE: Magnesium-based alloy scaffold is a promising biodegradable stent due to its intrinsic mechanical performance and biocompatibility. Based on our preliminary experiments, we designed a novel sirolimus-eluting magnesium-based alloy scaffold. This work aimed to assess its safety and degradation performance in vivo. METHODS: The scaffolds were implanted in the lower limb arteries of Bama mini-pigs. Safety was defined as no immediate thrombosis or >30% residual stenosis, which was assessed with optical coherence tomography and digital subtraction angiography. Blood biochemical analyses were performed to evaluate hepatorenal toxicity. The degradation process of the scaffolds, the endothelialization, and lumen loss of the stented-vessels were detected with scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemical, hematoxylin-eosin staining and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Twenty-four scaffolds were successfully implanted in six pigs with no signs of immediate thrombosis or >30% residual stenosis. The scaffolds were covered by endothelium at one month and absolutely resorbed at six months post implantation. Blood analysis showed that the hepatorenal function except for alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was normal. Obvious intimal hyperplasia and lumen loss were found in the stented vessels at three months, while the diameters and inner lumen areas of stented segments had increased significantly at six months (p.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of fatty pancreas in Yangzhou, China: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of fatty pancreas in Yangzhou, China. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Initially, 2093 subjects were included in the study. After the exclusion of 865 subjects based on incomplete information, a total of 1228 subjects were selected for further analysis. The subjects were stratified into two groups (the fatty pancreas group and the non-fatty pancreas group) based on the results. Anthropometric and biochemical findings were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Among the 2093 study subjects, 56 (2.7%) had fatty pancreas. Overall, 53 out of 1228 subjects were diagnosed with fatty pancreas and included into the fatty pancreas group. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in age and the prevalence of general obesity, central obesity, alcohol consumption, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver between the two groups (all p < 0.01). The fatty pancreas group had higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, serum uric acid, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein, and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein than did the non-fatty pancreas group (all p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (p = 0.007), central obesity (p = 0.002) and fatty liver (p = 0.006) were independent risk factors for fatty pancreas, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.034 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.009-1.059), 5.364 (95% CI: 1.890-15.227), and 2.666 (95% CI: 1.332-5.338), respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of fatty pancreas in the examined population is approximately 2.7%. Increased age, central obesity and fatty liver disease are independent risk factors for fatty pancreas.

Impact of the Action Time of Inducers on Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Cells.

Objective To explore the effect of the action time of inducers on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes. Methods According to the "Cocktail" method,3T3-L1 cells were divided into three groups according to the action time of inducers,with the action time being 2,3 or 4 days,respectively. Cell morphology was observed using inverted microscope and adipose content were detected by Oil red "O" staining and detection of triglyceride. The cell viability was identified by trypan blue staining method. Results The proportion of samples (n=12) with differentiation rate above 80% in group A was 66% (12/18),while the differentiation rate of all the samples (n=18)in group B and group C were above 80%. For the Oil red "O",the OD value at 510 nm in group C was 2.59±0.17,which was significantly higher than that in group A (2.12±0.47;F=6.62,P=0.0001)and group B (2.20±0.17;F=5.15,P=0.0001),while no significant difference was found between group A and group B (F=1.14,P=0.74). As for the triglyceride,the value in group C was (1351.04±119.01)ng/ml,which was significantly higher than that in group A[ (1077.88±272.75)ng/ml;F=6.73,P=0.001] and group B [(1089.38±115.39)ng/ml;F=5.78,P=0.001],while no difference was found between group A and group B (F=0.27,P=0.64). The cell viability in group A,B,and C was (98.3±1.2)%,(98.5±1.8)%,and (98.9±2.1)%,respectively,showing no significant difference (F=0.18,P=0.83). Conclusions The modified procedure for the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes can increase the differentiation rate and thus may be applied for establishing adipocyte models. The recommended action time is three days.

Dose-Response Relationship Between Physical Activity and the Incidence of Peripheral Artery Disease in General Population: Insights From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Purpose: A low ABI, ≦0.9, indicates peripheral artery disease (PAD) and physical activity (PA) represents an important non-surgical treatment for patients with PAD. However, as for the general population, the associations between PA, PAD, and their mutual dependence are not well-defined. Here we aimed to determine whether there is a dose-response relationship between PA and incidence of PAD in the general population using restricted cubic spline (RCS). Patients and methods: This study analyzed 1,370 adults aged ≧40 years who had participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 1999-2004. The ABI of the participants were measured by trained technicians, and PAD was defined as ABI ≦0.9. PA was obtained with a standard questionnaire, and metabolic equivalents (MET) were used to quantify the PA level. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between PA and incidence of PAD, and the dose-response relationship was analyzed with RCS. Results: PAD was present in 6.2% of the participants: 5.6% of males and 6.9% of females. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with the first quartile (Q1) of MET, the odds ratios (ORs) of PAD for those with Q2, Q3, and Q4 of MET were 0.688 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.684-0.692], 0.463 (95% CI = 0.460-0.466), 0.816 (95% CI = 0.812-0.821), respectively (all p < 0.0001). The RCS regression showed that physical activity was related to the incidence of PAD in a non-linear manner (p for non-linearity < 0.0001). For females, the prevalence of PAD decreased as physical activity increased, reaching the minimum for activity at ~5,800 MET-min month-1 (OR = 0.425, 95% CI = 0.424-0.426), and for males, no plateau was found in this study. Conclusion: The prevalence of PAD is inversely associated with PA, and vigorous activities might help decrease PAD risk for general population. The prevalence of PAD reaches the minimum at ~5,800 MET-min month-1, representing a recommended PA value.

Synchronous vs sequential laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystocholedocholithiasis.

AIM: To compare synchronous laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and sequential LC combined with EST for treating cholecystocholedocholithiasis. METHODS: A total of 150 patients were included and retrospectively studied. Among these, 70 were selected for the synchronous operation, in which the scheme was endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography combined with EST during LC. The other 80 patients were selected for the sequential operation, in which the scheme involved first cutting the papillary muscle under endoscopy and then performing LC. The indexes in the two groups, including the operation time, the success rate, the incidence of complications, and the length of the hospital stay, were observed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the numbers of patients, sex distribution, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, serum bilirubin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, mean diameter of common bile duct stones, and previous medical and surgical history (P = 0.54, P = 0.18, P = 0.52, P = 0.22, P = 0.32, P = 0.42, P = 0.68, P = 0.70, P = 0.47 and P = 0.57). There was no significant difference in the surgical operation time between the two groups (112.1 ± 30.8 min vs 104.9 ± 18.2 min). Compared with the sequential operation group, the incidence of pancreatitis was lower (1.4% vs 6.3%), the incidence of hyperamylasemia (1.4% vs 10.0%, P < 0.05) was significantly reduced, and the length of the hospital stay was significantly shortened in the synchronous operation group (3 d vs 4.5 d, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For treatment of cholecystocholedocholithiasis, synchronous LC combined with EST reduces incidence of complications, decreases length of hospital stay, simplifies the surgical procedure, and reduces operation time.

Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury and its possible mechanism in rats.

Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide (AMP), a traditional Chinese medicine, is thought to have protective effects against liver injury. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the effects of AMP on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and elucidate the possible mechanisms. Ninety-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups with 24 rats per group: a normal control group, an IRI group, an AMP-treated group (0.4 g/kg/d) and a bifendate-treated group (100 mg/kg). Rats were treated with AMP or bifendate once daily for seven days by gastric gavage. The normal control group and the IRI model group received an equivalent volume of physiological saline. At 1, 6 and 24 h after surgery, the rats were killed and liver tissue samples were obtained to determine interleukin-1 (IL-1) expression by Western blotting and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression by immunohistochemistry. Liver morphology was assessed by microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Blood samples were obtained to measure liver function (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin). AMP significantly reduced the elevated expression of markers of liver dysfunction and the hepatic morphologic changes induced by hepatic IRI in rats. AMP also markedly inhibited IRI-induced lipid peroxidation and altered the activities of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels. Moreover, pretreatment with AMP suppressed the expression of interleukin-1ß and NF-kB in IRI-treated rats. These results suggest that AMP exerts protective and therapeutic effects against hepatic IRI in rats, which might be associated with its antioxidant properties and inhibition of NF-κB activation. More studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of AMP on hepatic IRI.

Intratumoral injection of 32P-chromic phosphate in the treatment of implanted pancreatic carcinoma.

AIM: The aim of this study was to observe the biological distribution and anticancer effect of (32)P-chromic phosphate colloid (Cr(32)PO(4), (32)P-CP) after intratumoral injection to Pc-3 human pancreatic carcinoma-bearing nude mice. METHODS: Eighty-four (84) BALB/c nude mice with transplanted tumor were allocated to 11 groups. Groups 1-5 (n = 6) were intratumorally injected with 14.8 MBq of (32)P-CP and sacrificed at 2, 24, 48, 72, and 168 hours, respectively. Groups 6-11 (n = 9) received injections of 3.7, 7.4, 14.8, 18.5, 29.6, and 0 MBq of (32)P-CP, respectively, and the tumor volume on body surface was measured daily. The animals (n = 6) were sacrificed at 14 days after administration. The dynamic distribution of radioactivity in body (percentage of injected dose per g), morphological changes, the tumor-inhibiting rate (TIR), proliferating index (PI), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) tumor microvascular density (MVD), continuous counting of white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets (PLTs) in venous blood, body weight, and toxic reactions were observed. RESULTS: The injected (32)P-CP mainly accumulated in the tumor mass and was retained for a long time. The TIR of each dosage group in order was 21.68%, 39.73%, 50.43%, 71.18%, and 74.09% (F = 159.74; p < 0.001), PI was 70.85, 67.90, 46.70, 20.66, 10.75, and 90.11 (F = 509.54; p < 0.001), and MVD count was 39.19, 28.33, 17.45, 8.89, 8.10, and 64.80 (F = 643.26; p < 0.001), respectively. The data for WBC, PLT, and body weight observed for 28 days in the treatment groups did not indicate significant differences compared with those of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Interstitial injection of (32)P-CP seems to be a safe and effective interventional nuclide therapy for pancreatic carcinoma-bearing nude mice.

[Effect of Shark Chondroitin on T Lymphocyte Subsets of Cancer Patients]

The objective of the study is to find out the effect of shark chondroitin on T lymphocyte subsets in cancer patients. Patients were divided into two groups. One group was treated with chemotherapy alone, and the other group was treated with chemotherapy plus shark chondroitin. Using immunofluorescence technique, T lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood were determined in two groups before and after chemotherapy. The results showed that CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio increased in the patients received shark chondroitin. In the chemotherapy group, CD3(+) had no change, but CD4(+) decreased while CD8(+) increased significantly. The results suggest that shark chondroitin could enhance immune function in cancer patients, especially during chemotherapy.