ObjectiveTo study the local vascular remodeling, inflammatory response, and their correlations following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) with different grades, and to assess the histological changes in SCI rats.MethodsOne hundred and sixteen adult female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=29). The rats in sham group were received laminectomy only. A standard MASCIS spinal cord compactor was applied with drop height of 12.5, 25.0, or 50.0 mm to establish the mild, moderate, or severe SCI model, respectively. Quantitative rat endothelial cell antigen 1 (RECA1) and CD68 positive areas and the correlations were studied by double immunofluorescent (DIF) staining at 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, and 28 days following SCI. Moreover, qualitative neurofilament-H (NF-H) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive glial cells were studied by DIF staining at 28 days. ELISA was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 in spinal cord homogenates at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 3 days, and the correlations between TNF-α, IL-1β, or IL-6 levels and microvascular density (RECA1) were accordingly studied. Moreover, the neural tissue integrity and neuron damage were assessed by HE staining at 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, and 28 days, and Nissl’s staining at 28 days following SCI, respectively.ResultsDIF staining revealed that the ratio of RECA1 positive area was the highest in moderate group, higher in mild and severe groups, and the lowest in sham group with significant differences between groups (P<0.05). The ratio of CD68 positive area was the highest in severe group, higher in moderate and mild groups, and the lowest in sham group with significant differences between groups (P<0.05), except the comparisons between mild and moderate groups at 24 hours and 28 days after SCI (P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between the RECA1 and CD68 expressions in sham group at different time points (P>0.05). At 12 and 24 hours after SCI, the RECA1 and CD68 expressions in mild and moderate groups showed significant positive correlations (P<0.05), while no significant correlation was found in severe group (P>0.05). No significant correlations between the RECA1 and CD68 expressions was shown in all SCI groups at 3 days and in severe group at 7 days (P>0.05), while the negative correlations were shown in mild and moderate groups at 7 days, and in all SCI groups at 28 days (P<0.05). In mild, moderate, and severe groups, the axons became disrupted, shorter and thicker rods-like, or even merged blocks with increased injury, while the astrocytes decreased in number, unorganized and condensed in appearance. ELISA studies showed that TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in sham group were significantly lower than those in other 3 groups at different time points (P>0.05). The differences in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels between SCI groups at different time points were sinificant (P<0.05), except IL-1β levels between the mild and moderate groups at 12 hours (P>0.05). Three inflammatory factors were all significantly correlated with the microvascular density grades (P<0.05). Histological analysis indicated that the damage to spinal cord tissue structure correlated with the extent of SCI. In severe group, local hemorrhage, edema, and infiltration of inflammatory cells were found the most drastic, the grey/white matter boundary was disappeared concurrently with the formation of cavity and shortage of normal neurons.ConclusionIn the acute stage following mild or moderate SCI, progressively aggravated injury result in higher microvessel density and increased inflammation. However, at the SCI region, the relation between microvessel density and inflammation inverse with time in the different grades of SCI. Accordingly, the destruction of neural structures positively relate to the grades of SCI and severity of inflammation.
Objective To investigate the change of vasa vasorum in vessel wall of varicose vein of the lower extre-mity. Methods Thirty-two patients with varicose vein of the lower extremity were collected， in which of 12 patients with simple varicose veins （varicose group）， 9 patients with recurrent varicose veins （recurrent group）， 11 patients withthrombophlebitis of varicose vein （thrombophlebitis group）， 9 patients with normal venous tissue as control group. HE staining was performed to observe the distribution of vasa vasorum and detect the vasa vasorum density. Results The increasing vasa vasorums were observed in the adventitia and media， but few was observed in the intima in the varicose， recurrent， and thrombophlebitis groups. The distribution of vasa vasorum was in the adventitia in the control group. The vasa vasorum densities （/mm2） in the varicose， recurrent， and thrombophlebitis groups （5.65±1.45，6.20±1.73， and 5.94±1.63， respectively） were greater than those in the control group （2.87±0.54）， the difference wasstatistically significant （P＜0.05）， but there was no significant difference of the vasa vasorum density among the varicosevein， recurrent， and thrombophlebitis groups （P＞0.05）. Conclusion Change of vasa vasorum is an important pathol-gical change with the nosogenis of varicose vein of the lower extremity.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of left atrial geometry before and after mitral valve replacement in patients with different types of mitral valve disease and different heart rhythm, and to identify factors determining left atrial remodeling after mitral valve replacement. MethodsA total of 215 consecutive patients of mitral valve replacement in Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2003 to March 2008 were selected and followed up for this study. There were 52 male and 163 female patients with their age of 40.58±10.54 years (ranged, 18-67 years). St. Jude Medical mechanical valves were used. According to the type of mitral valve diseases (mitral stenosis (MS) or mitral regurgitation (MR)) and heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR)), patients were divided into 4 groups. There were 54 patients with MS and SR (including 13 male and 41 female patients with their age of 39.31±9.46 years), 56 patients with MS and AF (including 14 male and 42 female patients with their age of 41.12±10.72 years), 52 patients with MR and SR (including 12 male and 40 female patients with their age of 39.71±10.09 years), 53 patients with MR and AF (including 13 male and 40 female patients with their age of 40.19±11.87 years). All patients had routine examinations and echocardiogram preoperatively and two years after surgery. Left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAD), left atrial area (LAA), left atrial volume (LAV) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) were used to analyze the changes of left atrial geometry. ResultsThere was no in-hospital death. Major postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome in 5 patients, pneumonia in 6 patients. LAVi were lower in mitral stenosis patients than that in mitral regurgitation patients (P<0.05), LAVi were lower in patients with sinus rhythm than that in patients with atrial fibrillation (P<0.05). Two years after mitral valve replacement, the extent of left atrial reverse remodeling were significantly greater in mitral regurgitation patients than in mitral stenosis patients (P<0.05), and the extent of left atrial reverse remodeling were significantly greater in patients with sinus rhythm than that in patients with atrial fibrillation (P<0.05). ConclusionsAge, atrial fibrillation, preoperative left atrial volume, mitral regurgitation, left ventricle end-diastolic diameter are important influencing factors of left atrial reverse remodeling after mitral valve replacement.
Objective To investigate the biological mechanism about autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation （ABSCT） derived neovascularization to lead and perfect the effect of ischemic state tissue of secondary blood flow remodeling. Methods Forty-two patients with critical limbs ischemia and 42 limbs in all from Mar. 2005 to Dec. 2005 in Yunnan Provincial Center of Vascular Surgery were selected，who treated by endovascular repair and ABSCT at the first flow reconstruction and the secondary flow reconstruction，respectively. The preoperative and postoperative effect degrees of limbs regional blood flow from cutaneous covering，blood vessel，and blood were measured by multifunction monitoring device，dopplor ultrasound monitoring device，percutem oxygen partial pressure （TcPO2）monitoring device and digital subtraction angiography （DSA）. The follow-up time was in four year after ABSCT.Results After ABSCT， the pain，cold or cool，and rest pain of leg were relieved. The distance of intermittent claudication after ABSCT was longer than that before ABSCT 〔（1 600.3±310.1） m versus （520.3±160.6） m，F=5.84，P＜0.05〕. The foot pain and limbs insensible feeling easement rates were 100% after ABSCT. Compared with beforeABSCT，the objective effect indexes of limbs regional blood flow after ABSCT were significantly improved 〔skin temperature index：1.63±0.31 versus 1.22±0.23，F=4.69，P＜0.05； TcPO2： （37.61±9.52） mm Hg versus （30.63±4.54） mm Hg，F=5.72，P＜0.05；ankle-brachium index：0.93±0.23 versus 0.33±0.24，F=6.72，P＜0.05；photoplethysmography index：0.81±0.12 versus 0.23±0.05，F=5.68，P＜0.05；saturation of blood oxygen： （79.44±20.42）% versus （42.43±10.41）%，F=5.68，P＜0.05； DSA score：1.34±0.23 versus 0.21±0.03，F=4.89，P＜0.05〕. Conclusions The results bly suggest that the ABSCT can promote blood flow remodeling in limbs ischemia，and stem cells derived neovascularization can significantly offer effective and permanent blood flow perfusions to the ischemic statetissue，and this biological effect play an important role in the ischemic state tissue for secondary blood flow remodeling.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of distal tears on postoperative aortic remodeling after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) for the patients with subacute stage of Stanford type B aortic dissection.MethodsForty three cases with Stanford type B aortic dissection, admitted in Anhui Provincial Hospital from July 2011 to April 2015, who underwent TEVAR to repair the proximal aortic entrance tear, after which the blood reflex from distal tears were still observed were analyzed retrospectively. According to the number of heart volume required to fill the two groups, group A (≤2 heart rate) group B （>2 heart rate）, We then assessed the changes of the true and false lumen area and analyzed the effects of direction of blood flow and the number of heart rate to fill the false lumen on formation of false lumen thrombosis in the period of 3–24 months.ResultsAll the stents were successful implanted. There was a statistically significant difference in lumen area between the two groups before and after surgery, and univariate analysis showed that the direction of distal rupture of blood flow into the false lumen had no effect on postoperative aortic remodeling (P<0.05), but postoperative hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) slows down the formation of false lumen thrombosis.ConclusionPatients had entrance tear in the distal of aortic, still broken and faster flow after TEVAR stent-graft implantation in the proximal closed entrance tear. Blood pressure should be strictly controlled and close follow-up also needed, meanwhile, the distal entrances can be closed the same period if there is a faster flow from them.
Abstract： Objective To investigate the effects of βreceptor blocker on intraventricular pressure gradient and left ventricle remodeling after valve replacement for critical aortic stenosis. Methods Fifty-six patients with critical aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement surgery from January 2008 to January 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Thirtytwo of them who were followed up were selected to be enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups under the same basis of clinical features. Twelve patients in the experimental group received oral βreceptor blocker (Metoprolol, 6.2525.00 mg once, twice daily). The rest 20 patients in the control group had no βreceptor blocker. The various indicators of ultrasound cardiogram (UCG) shortly after operation (within a week) and long after operation (6-24 months) were compared between the two groups. Results No death occurred in both groups, and chest distress, shortness of breath and other symptoms were obviously alleviated. Although left ventricular endsystolic dimension (LVESD) and left ventricular outflow tract dimension (LVOTD) of both groups increased 6-24 months after operation, compared with the early postoperative period, only the increase of LVOTD in the experimental group showed statistical difference (t=-47.937, P=0.001). In both groups, interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), filament band velocity of left ventricular outflow tract (V), intraventricular pressure gradient (G) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) of the later period after operation were significantly lower than those of the early postoperative period. All these indicators in the experimental group showed significant differences (t=7.781, P=0.001；t=5.749, P=0.001; t=2.637, P=0.023; t=7.167, P=0.001; t=100.061, P0.001), while only V, G， and LVMI showed statistical differences in the control group (t=4.051, P=0.001; t= 4.759, P= 0.001; t=-0.166,P=0.001). EF in the experimental group also indicated significant difference compared with early period after aortic valve replacement (t=-6.621, P=0.001). EF between two groups indicated no significant difference (t=-0.354,P=0.726). But differences between the two groups in LVEDD, IVS, G， and LVMI were all statistically significant in the later period after surgery (t=-2.494, P=0.018; t=-3.434, P=0.002;t=-2.171,P=0.038; t=-2.316, P=0.028). Conclusion β-receptor blocker is a safe and reliable drug for those patients who have undergone aortic valve replacement surgery for critical aortic stenosis, and can decrease significantly the residual intraventricular pressure gradient and accelerate left ventricular cardiac remodeling.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and prospect of nontransplantation surgical cardiac remodeling for endstage cardiac valve disease by performing the remodeling operation (including anatomical and functional remodeling) after strict perioperative adjustment for endstage cardiac valve disease. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 31 patients, including 14 males and 17 females, with endstage cardiac valve disease who were treated with surgical cardiac remodeling operation from December 2005 to July 2009 in the 2nd Hospital of Anhui Medical University . Their age ranged from 27 to 74 years with an average age of 40.4 years. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) was carried out 3 days before surgery in all patients and intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) was performed 1-3 days before operation in 9 patients. Among the patients, there were 13 patients of mitral valve replacement (MVR), 7 patients of aortic valve replacement (AVR), 4 patients of tricuspid valve replacement (TVR), and 7 patients of double valve replacement (DVR). At the same time, all patients underwent ventricular or atrial volume reduction operation, including 19 patients of left atrial partial excision or plication, 7 patients of partial left ventricular excision, 5 patients of left atrial and left ventricular volume reduction operation, 21 patients of partial right atrial excision, and 3 patients of partial right ventricular excision. Besides, there were 5 patients of De Vega plasty, 14 patients of annuloplasty and3 patients of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The echocardiogram was used to observe the change of heart function, atrium and ventricular in patients on postoperative and follow -up period. Results After surgery, one patient died of low cardiac output syndrome, and one other patient gave -up because of incision and mediastinum infection after reoperation for hemorrhage. Twentynine patients were followed -up for 3 to 12 months with 1 case lost. During the follow- -up, 3 patients died, of whom 2 died of deterioration of heart function and 1 died of sudden stroke. In the 12th month during the follow -up, heart function of all other 25 patients showed obvious improvements with 12 classⅠ, 7 classⅡ, 3 classⅢ and 3 classⅣ heart function according to NYHA classification. At the end of the follow -up, ejection fraction (5400%±800% vs. 2500%±300%) and cardiac index ［3.30±0.50 L/(min·m2) vs. 1.10±0.30 L/(min·m2)］ were significantly higher than those before operation (P＜0.05), whereas left ventricular end diastolic diameter (5200±1000 mm vs. 9500±1200 mm) and left atrial diameter (3900±800 mm vs. 7000±1200 mm) both decreased significantly than those before operation (P＜0.05). Conclusion Cardiac remodeling operation for endstage cardiac valve disease after active adjustment and preparation can achieve similar results to operation for severe valve diseases, providing a new choice for endstage heart disease.
Objective To study the expression difference of Sclerostin in the medial and lateral subchondral bone of the varus osteoarthritic knee plateau. Methods The tibial plateau was obtained from 20 patients with varus knee osteoarthritis receiving total knee arthroplasty from March to October 2015. There were 8 males and 12 females with an average age of 67.8 years (range, 61-78 years). The mean course of osteoarthritis was 3.2 years (range, 2-5 years). Before operation, the varus angle was 12.0-25.5° (mean, 17.6°) on the X-ray film. Five cases were rated as grade III and 15 cases as grade IV according to Kellgren-Lawrance classification. Micro-CT scan was performed on the medial and lateral subchondral bone to compare the changes of bone structure; bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), structure model index (SMI), and the trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) were measured. Immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were used to test the expressions of Sclerostin protein and sost gene. Results Micro-CT showed that BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th significantly increased in the medial subchondral bone when compared with the lateral part (P<0.05), but SMI and Tb.Sp significantly reduced (P<0.05). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR detection showed that sost gene expression level in the medial subchondral bone (1.000) was significantly lower than that in the lateral part (4.157±2.790) (t=2.371,P=0.040). The percentage of Sclerostin positive cells in the lateral subchondral bone (52.00%±0.19%) was significantly higher than that in the medial subchondral bone (7.20%±0.04%) (t=5.094,P=0.005). Conclusion Sclerostin plays an important role in the subchondral bone remodeling of the varus osteoarthritic knee. And the low expression of Sclerostin may be an important factor to promote bone remodeling and aggravate knee deformity.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. The metabolic changes of atrial myocytes, especially lipid metabolism, have a significant impact on the electrical signals and structural remodeling of atrial tissue, and play an important role in the occurrence and development of AF. The reduction of fatty acid oxidation ratio and increased aerobic glycolysis ratio are characteristic changes of tissue metabolic remodeling in AF. In this review, we will introduce the latest research status of lipid metabolism in AF from aspects of AF metabolism, clinical treatment and diagnosis and prognosis.
Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia associated with high mortality and morbidity, and the current treatment of atrial fibrillation is still limited. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and promotes the occurrence of atrial fibrillation. Inhibition of HDAC may be a new therapeutic strategy through the regulation of atrial remodeling. Therefore, we reviewed the research progress of the HDAC and atrial fibrillation.