Preparation of the Flexible Green Body of YAG Ceramic Fiber by Melt Spinning.

YAG ceramic fiber, with its high thermal conductivity and easy to achieve limit size, provides design flexibility as a laser gain medium. Its mainstream forming method was mainly high-pressure extrusion, but there were disadvantages, such as lack of flexibility. In this work, the flexible green body of YAG ceramic fiber was prepared by melt spinning. The melting characteristics of TPU with four different Shore hardnesses were systematically investigated. The microstructure, element homogeneity of the surface and fracture SEM images of the prepared ceramic fiber were also analyzed in detail. The optimized process parameters of YAG ceramic fiber preparation were as follows: the melting temperature was 220 °C, the screw feed rate of the double-cone screw extruder was F = 15.0 mm/min and the TPU-95A# was used. The ceramic fiber with the mass ratio of TPU-95A# to ceramic powder = 4:6 had the best microstructure quality. It had good flexibility and could be knotted with a bending radius of about 2.5 mm, and the tensile strength reached approximately 20 MPa. These results are crucial for advancing YAG ceramic fiber applications.

Risk Factor Assessment of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With FIGO Stage IB1 Cervical Cancer.

Objectives: To assess the risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with FIGO stage (2009) IB1 cervical cancer (CC). Methods: Patients with FIGO stage IB1 CC who underwent radical resection between 2012 and 2018 were recruited. The risk factors for LNM were analysed. A recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was used to divide the patients into risk groups and assess their risk of LNM. Results: The 5-year overall survival rate was 91.72%, while 80.0% and 93.5% for patients with or without LNM (P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that lymphovascular invasion (LVI), depth of invasion (DI), tumour size (TS), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen level were independent risk factors (all P<0.05). Patients were divided into low-risk (no LVI, DI <1/2, TS <2 cm), intermediate-risk (no LVI, DI <1/2, TS ≥2 cm; no LVI, DI ≥1/2, normal SCC level; LVI, DI <1/2, TS <2 cm), and high-risk (no LVI, DI ≥1/2, SCC level ≥1.5 ng/ml; LVI, TS <2 cm, DI ≥1/2; LVI, TS ≥2 cm) groups by RPA according to these four factors. The incidence of LNM among the three groups was 0.00%, 4.40%, and 24.10%, respectively (all P<0.001). The 5-year overall survival rates differed among the groups (98.2%, 92.7%, 83.0%, respectively, P=0.001). Conclusions: LNM affects the prognosis of patients with FIGO stage IB1 CC. Lymphadenectomy may be avoided for patients in the low-risk group and recommended for those in the high-risk group. Whether dissection is performed in the intermediate-risk group depends on the lymph node biopsy results.

[Clinical significance of ropivacaine local infiltration for postoperative analgesia after total laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the analgesic effects and postoperative recovery of ropivacaine incision infiltration in elderly patients after total laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. METHODS: The clinical data were obtained prospectively from 61 elderly patients ( ≥ 65y) undergoing traditional total laparoscopic radical gastrectomy under standard general anesthesia at our department during January 2012 and September 2013. After surgery, they were randomly double-blindly divided into 3 groups: local infiltration of ropivacaine group (0.5% ropivacaine incision infiltration, 40 ml, n = 22), local infiltration of sodium chloride group (0.9% sodium chloride injection incision infiltration, 40 ml, n = 20) and control group (no analgesic, n = 19). The intensity of postoperative pain was evaluated by numeric rating scale (NRS). And 10 mg of morphine was administered intramuscularly as rescue medication when NRS exceeded 4.NRS, cases on remedy analgesia and associated side effects were observed and recorded after 6 h postoperatively. A comparative study was made for postoperative first ambulation time, intestinal function recovery time, complication incidence, postoperative hospital stay and medical expenses among three groups. RESULTS: Significant postoperative difference existed in NRS at 6, 12, 24, 48 h among ropivacaine, sodium and control groups respectively (6 h: 2.65 ± 0.25 vs 5.47 ± 0.12 vs 5.63 ± 0.27, 12 h: 2.42 ± 0.34 vs 5.82 ± 0.63 vs 5.67 ± 0.49, 24 h: 2.27 ± 0.83 vs 3.95 ± 0.51 vs 3.84 ± 0.60, 48 h: 2.05 ± 0.90 vs 3.75 ± 0.72 vs 3.74 ± 0.56, P < 0.05) . The patients with ropivacaine local infiltration had a lower rate of remedy analgesia than those with sodium chloride injection incision infiltration or without analgesic (both P < 0.05). There was no obvious adverse effect of ropivacaine infiltration at 48 h postoperatively. Both postoperative first ambulation and peristalsis recovery time were shorter (P < 0.05) in ropivacaine group ((53 ± 9) and (80 ± 6) h) than sodium group ((91 ± 11) and (105 ± 9) h) and control group ((93 ± 11) and (109 ± 10) h) . Meanwhile, ropivacaine group had significance decreased postoperative hospital stay and medical expenses than that in local infiltration of sodium group and control group ((10.2 ± 1.3) vs (12.6 ± 1.3), (12.9 ± 1.6) days, (57 000 ± 5 000) vs (63 000 ± 6 000), (65 000 ± 6 000) yuan) (all P < 0.05). Occurrence of complications significantly differed among three groups (local infiltration of ropivacaine group 9.10% (2/22), local infiltration of sodium chloride group 25.00% (5/20) and control group 21.05% (4/19), P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine infiltration may reduce postoperative pain after total laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, enable faster recovery and provide an alternative analgesia in elderly patients.

[Effect of angiotensin II and aldosterone on the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of angiotensin II (ang II), aldosterone (ald) and their receptor antagonists losartan (los) and spironolactone (spi) on the proliferation and collagen production of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in rats. METHODS: CFs were isolated from neonatal SD rats by collagenase II method and purified with differential attachment and detachment method. The 3 or 4 passages of the CFs were divided into the following groups: angiotensin II, angiotensin II+aldosterone, aldosterone, angiotensin II+losartan, and aldosterone+spironolactone. The cell viability of the CFs was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) after the drug administration. The mRNA and protein expression levels of COL1A1, COL3A1, MMP1 and TIMP1 were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot respectively. RESULTS: Ang II and Ald facilitated the proliferation rate of the CFs independently compared with that in the control group (38.5% vs 28.5%; P<0.05), and the proliferation rate in the ang II+ald group was higher than that in the ang II group and ald group alone (54.4%, P<0.05). Los and spi inhibited the effect induced by ang II and ald respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, ang II and ald significantly enhanced COL1A1, COL3A1 and MMP1 expression both at the mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05), but the TIMP1 expression was inhibited (P<0.05), which could be abolished by corresponding receptor antagonists los and spi (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ang II and ald can promote the proliferation of CFs, and the COL1A1 and COL3A1 expression is enhanced both at mRNA and protein levels. Ang II and ald have synergistic effect when they are used together, while los and spi may restrain the effect. The mechanism is probably linked with the balance of MMPs/TIMPs.

[Conivaptan inhibites cell proliferation and collagen production of cardiac fibroblasts induced by arginine vasopressin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and its receptor antagonist conivaptan (CON) on the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and the production of collagen I and III. METHODS: CFs were isolated by collagenase II method and purified with differential attachment and detachment methods. The cell viability of CFs after AVP and/or CON administration was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The expressions of COL1A1 and COL3A1 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein levels of (collagen type 1, alpha 1, COL1A1) and COL3A1 were assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: At 24 h after intervention, 10(-7); mol/L AVP promoted the proliferation of CFs in comparison with that in control group (P<0.01), and 10(-7); mol/L CON inhibited the effect significantly (P<0.01). At 12 h after intervention, 10(-7); mol/L AVP significantly enhanced the expressions of COL1A1 and COL3A1 at both mRNA and protein levels, and 10(-7); mol/L CON inhibited the effect again. CONCLUSION: AVP promoted the proliferation of CFs and enhanced the COL1A1 and COL3A1 expressions at both mRNA and protein levels, while CON could restrain the AVP effects partially.

[Screening for genes associated with cardiac fibrosis induced by aldosterone].

AIM: To investigate differently expressed genes associated with cardiac fibrosis induced independently by aldosterone. METHODS: Fetal cardiac fibroblasts (FCFs)were isolated and cultured. Total RNA was extracted 8 hours after aldosterone administration. Then gene chips were used to screen these RNA samples. Some of candidate genes were confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Differently expressed 1519 genes were screened. Up-regulated genes were 714 while down-regulated genes were 805. The expression of CCL7, MMP-26 and IL31RA was tested by RT-PCR and western blot, the results is identical with those by gene chips. CONCLUSION: Gene chip can efficiently single out differently expressed genes induced dependently by aldosterone in FCFs. CCL7, MMP-26 and IL31RA may be associated with cardiac fibrosis induced by aldosterone.

[The effect of Aldosterone on the proliferation and collagen production of cardiac fibroblasts].

AIM: To investigate the effect of aldosterone (ALD) on the proliferation of fetal cardiac fibroblasts (FCFS) and the production of collagen I and collagen III in FCFS. METHODS: FCFS were isolated by collagenase II and purified with differential attachment and detachment method. The proliferation of FCFS after ALD administration was assessed by CCK-8. The mRNA expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1 were assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the protein production of COL1A1 and COL3A1 were assessed by Western blot. RESULTS: ALD facilitated the proliferation of FCFS concentration-dependently. ALD with lower concentration (10(-9);, 10(-8);, 10(-7); mol/L) significantly improved the expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1, while ALD with higher concentration of had no obvious effect. CONCLUSION: ALD improved the proliferation of FCFS concentration-dependently. And in a certain concentration range, ALD improved the expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1 while higher concentration had opposite effect. There is no linear relationship among the effects of ALD on the proliferation of FCFS, expression and protein production of COL1A1 and COL3A1.

Omeprazole affects clopidogrel efficacy but not ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole, usually used in the antiplatelet therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), has been reported to increase ischemic events in retrospective studies. However, other clinical trials gave paradoxical results. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of omeprazole on clopidogrel efficacy and clinical events. METHODS: All patients (n = 172) received aspirin (loading dose 300 mg and maintenance dose 100 mg/d) and clopidogrel (loading dose 600 mg and maintenance dose 75 mg/d) during the therapy. They were randomized to receive omeprazole (20 mg/d) or placebo for 30 days. Residual platelet activities in the adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) pathway were detected on the fifth day after PCI with thrombelastography (TEG)-mapping. The clinical events were recorded after one month. RESULTS: According to the five levels of platelet activities, the frequency distributions of the inhibition rates were significantly different (P = 0.0062). However, no significant change was seen in the distribution among the highest or the lowest inhibiting levels (> 95% and < 30% inhibition rate). And there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in events incidence, while gastro-intestinal bleeding decreased in co-administration of omeprazole. CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole significantly blunts clopidogrel efficacy while not exacerbates ischemic events in ACS undergoing PCI. Omeprazole even can decrease gastro-intestinal bleeding in those patients.