Stent placement with iodine-125 seeds strand effectively extends the duration of stent patency and survival in patients with unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice.

This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes and safety between stent placement with or without Iodine- (I) seeds strand for patients with unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ). A total of 84 patients with unresectable MOJ treated in our hospital were retrospectively included and divided into the stent group ( = 54) undergoing biliary stent placement and the stent + seeds group ( = 30) receiving stent placement with I seeds strand. The therapeutic outcome, postoperative complications, duration of patient survival and stent patency were compared between groups.

The enhancement of TXA receptors-mediated contractile response in intrarenal artery dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice.

Thromboxane A (TXA) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study investigated the alterations in TXA receptor signal transduction in type 2 diabetic renal arteries. The contraction of renal arterial rings in control (db/m+) mice and type 2 diabetic (db/db) mice was measured by a Multi Myograph System.

Inhibition of Orai1 Store-Operated Calcium Channel Prevents Foam Cell Formation and Atherosclerosis.

Objective: To determine the role of orai1 store-operated Ca(2+) entry in foam cell formation and atherogenesis.

Approach And Results: Acute administration of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) activates an orai1-dependent Ca(2+) entry in macrophages. Chelation of intracellular Ca(2+), inhibition of orai1 store-operated Ca(2+) entry, or knockdown of orai1 dramatically inhibited oxLDL-induced upregulation of scavenger receptor A, uptake of modified LDL, and foam cell formation.

[Transarterial chemoembolization plus computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for small hepatocellular carcinoma in special locations].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in special locations.

Methods: From June 2008 to December 2011, a total of 36 patients with small HCC (39 lesions) received TACE plus CT-guided percutaneous RFA at our hospital. The follow-up period was over 6 months.

Effects of percutaneous transhepatic interventional treatment for symptomatic Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to hepatic venous obstruction.

Objective: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare and life-threatening disorder characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction. The management of BCS includes anticoagulation and thrombolysis, percutaneous transhepatic stent angioplasty (PTSA), and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), but the effect of these approaches varies greatly. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the medium-term effects of PTSA and TIPS of BCS secondary to hepatic venous outflow obstruction and to determine the critical factors affecting the efficacy.

[Clinical study of percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt].

Objective: To introduce an innovative procedure for portal hypertension with preliminary results and assess the technical feasibility and efficacy of portosystemic shunt creation through percutaneous transhepatic approach with its potential clinical significance.

Methods: Between November 2009 and January 2011, 8 patients with complicated portal hypertension underwent percutaneous transhepatic intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PTIPS). The severity of liver disease was Child's A (n = 2), Child's B (n = 3) and Child's C (n = 3).

Uterine artery embolization combined with methotrexate in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy: results of a case series and review of the literature.

Purpose: To explore the clinical value of uterine artery embolization (UAE) combined with methotrexate in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) before and after uterine curettage.

Materials And Methods: From August 2009 to April 2012, 15 patients with CSP treated with UAE (before or after uterine curettage) were analyzed retrospectively. Eleven subjects with a definite diagnosis of CSP were offered preventive UAE combined with methotrexate before uterine curettage.

[Multimodality interventional treatments for biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation: a preliminary study].

Objective: To describe the technique, efficacy, and safety of multimodality interventional treatments for biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The core of multimodality interventional treatments is percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD).

Methods: From January 2006 to May 2008, seventy-two patients with biliary complications afte OLT were closed in our study.

MR tracking of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells in rats with liver fibrosis.

Purpose: In vivo magnetic resonance (MR) tracking of magnetically labeled bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) administered via the mesenteric vein to rats with liver fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: Rat BMSCs were labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and the characteristics of the BMSCs after labeling were investigated. Eighteen rats with CCL4-induced liver fibrosis were randomized to three groups to receive SPIO-labeled BMSCs (BMSC-labeled group), cell-free SPIO (SPIO group), or unlabeled BMSCs (control group).

[The role of early hepatic artery ischemia on biliary complications after liver transplantation and hepatic arterial interventional therapy].

Objective: To explore the influence of early hepatic artery ischemia on the occurrence and prognosis of biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and the value of early hepatic arterial interventional therapy.

Methods: In the 720 recipients who received OLT in our hospital from October 2003 to June 2007, 32 cases were detected hepatic artery stenosis (HAS, 30 cases) or hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT, 2 cases) by color Doppler Ultrasound from 4 to 65 days (mean, 25 +/- 15) after OLT. All of them were confirmed by DSA and/or CT angiography.

[Transportal variceal sclerotherapy with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate for gastric fundal varices].

Objective: To evaluate the technique, safety and clinical efficacy of transportal variceal sclerotherapy with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for gastric fundal varices.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with gastric fundal varices confirmed by endoscopy were enrolled in this study. The causes of the gastric varices were cirrhosis caused by hepatitis virus B or C (n = 16) and hepatocellular carcinoma with portal venous obstruction (n = 5).

[Radiofrequency ablation with or without transcather arterial chemoembolization for management of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 62 small HCC cases undergoing RFA with or without TACE, and in each case, the tumors were not more than 3 with a diameter below 5 cm. Nineteen cases were managed with RFA alone (RFA group) while the other 27 underwent RFA combined with TACE (TACE+RFA group).

Role of interventional therapy in hepatic artery stenosis and non-anastomosis bile duct stricture after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Aim: To analyze the clinical manifestations and the effectiveness of therapy in patients with orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT)-associated hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) and non-anastomosis bile duct stricture.

Methods: Nine cases were diagnosed as HAS and non-anastomosis bile duct stricture. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed in four HAS cases, and expectant treatment in other five HAS cases; percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage, balloon dilation, stent placement were performed in all nine cases.

[Static pressure induces vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and apoptosis].

Objective: To study the role of static pressure on proliferation and apoptosis of the vascular smooth muscle cells.

Methods: Vascular smooth muscle cell line A10 were cultured at normal atmosphere, 80 mmHg, 100 mmHg, 200 mmHg static pressure respectively. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, cell cycle and apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometer.