Flat Detector Computed Tomography-Based "Dual Vessel Fusion" Technique for Diagnosis and Surgical Planning in the Management of Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.

Objective: To explore the value of flat detector computed tomography-based vessel fusion technique for visualizing and evaluating anatomic structures and hemodynamic features of patients diagnosed with dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF).

Methods: Eleven patients with DAVF were investigated. The 3-dimensional structure of the DAVF fistula point, feeding arteries, and draining veins were reconstructed from separately acquired rotational angiographic images and then displayed as a single image in a fused manner.

Formulation strategies and particle engineering technologies for pulmonary delivery of biopharmaceuticals.

Biopharmaceuticals including recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibody and nucleic acid based therapeutics have become more and more important to improve the quality of life of patients. However, the administration of biopharmaceuticals was mainly limited to parenteral routes and their delivery remains the most significant challeng to their clinical adoption due to their unfavorable intrinsic physicochemical properties. Among noninvasive administration routes the lung has been attempted intensively to be an alternative to injection to deliver the biopharmaceuticals, and has shown to be promising.

Redo coronary artery bypass grafting: on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting revascularization techniques.

Objective: To analyze the short-term outcomes of redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using on-pump and off-pump CABG techniques.

Methods: From January 2003 to August 2013, non-randomized 80 patients were treated with redo CABG in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital. Among these patients, 40 underwent on-pump CABG technique (redo-ONCAB group) and 40 underwent off-pump CABG technique (redo-OPCAB group).

SATB1 overexpression regulates the development and progression in bladder cancer through EMT.

The global gene regulator Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein-1 (SATB1) has been reported to induce EMT-like changes and be associated with poor clinical outcome in several cancers. This study aims to evaluate whether SATB1 affects the biological behaviors of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) and further elucidate if this effect works through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. The expression of SATB1, E-cadherin (epithelial markers), vimentin (mesenchymal markers) in BTCC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues, as well as in two cell lines of bladder cancer were investigated.

Pharmaceutical microparticle engineering with electrospraying: the role of mixed solvent systems in particle formation and characteristics.

Microparticles of Celecoxib, dispersed in a matrix of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), were prepared by electrospraying using different solvent mixtures to investigate the influence upon particle formation and the resulting particle characteristics. Mixtures consisting of a good solvent, acetone, and an anti-solvent, methanol, for PLGA were studied in different ratios. Properties of the spraying solutions were examined and the resulting microparticles were characterized with regard to size, morphology, porosity, solid state form, surface chemistry and drug release.

[Physical exercise improves erectile function in young and middle-aged men].

Objective: To assess the association between physical exercise and erectile function in young and middle-aged men.

Methods: Using Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and IIEF-15, we conducted an investigation among 30- to 45-year-old male outpatients at the clinic of urology. Based on the physical activity described in PPAQ, the patients were divided into a sedentary group (≤ 1,400 Kcal/wk) and an exercise group (> 1,400 Kcal/wk).

Raman mapping of mannitol/lysozyme particles produced via spray drying and single droplet drying.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a model protein on the solid state of a commonly used bulk agent in spray-dried formulations.

Methods: A series of lysozyme/mannitol formulations were spray-dried using a lab-scale spray dryer. Further, the surface temperature of drying droplet/particles was monitored using the DRYING KINETICS ANALYZER™ (DKA) with controllable drying conditions mimicking the spray-drying process to estimate the drying kinetics of the lysozyme/mannitol formulations.

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of Pogostone.

Background: Our pervious antibacterial studies on several traditional Chinese medicines have found that Patchouli oil from Pogostemon cablin had significant antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which has spread worldwide and infected innumerable people. In order to find the more active natural substances in Patchouli oil, one of the major components, Pogostone, was isolated and its antibacterial activity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo in this study.

Methods: In vitro test, Pogostone was screened for antimicrobial properties against 83 bacteria comprising 35 gram positive and 48 gram negative bacteria strains via the agar double dilution method.

Sternal reconstruction of deep sternal wound infections following median sternotomy by single-stage muscle flaps transposition.

Objective: To assess clinical effectiveness of using bilateral pectoralis major or plus rectus abdominis muscle flaps in treating deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) following median sternotomy.

Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2013, 19 patients with DSWI after median sternotomy for cardiac surgery were admitted to our hospital, including 14 males (73.7%) and 5 females (26.

Dynamic peripheral visual performance relates to alpha activity in soccer players.

Many studies have demonstrated the relationship between the alpha activity and the central visual ability, in which the visual ability is usually assessed through static stimuli. Besides static circumstance, however in the real environment there are often dynamic changes and the peripheral visual ability in a dynamic environment (i.e.

Neural stem cells preferentially migrate to glioma stem cells and reduce their stemness phenotypes.

Glioma stem cells (GSCs), characterized by self-renewal, multi-potentiality and tumorigenicity, are responsible for the tumor propagation, recurrence and resistance to traditional treatments, representing a critical therapeutic target. Neural stem cells (NSCs) possess inherent tropism to brain tumor cells and inhibit their growth. However, there is a limited understanding of the mechanism underlying NSC tropism and the effect of NSC migration on GSC stemness phenotypes.

Resting alpha activity predicts learning ability in alpha neurofeedback.

Individuals differ in their ability to learn how to regulate the brain activity by neurofeedback. This study aimed to investigate whether the resting alpha activity can predict the learning ability in alpha neurofeedback. A total of 25 subjects performed 20 sessions of individualized alpha neurofeedback and the learning ability was assessed by three indices respectively: the training parameter changes between two periods, within a short period and across the whole training time.

Identification of two chemotypes of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. through DNA barcodes.

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. is an important medicinal plant in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Because of differences in the chemical composition, this species has been classified into two major chemotypes, i.

The mean platelet volume is a potential biomarker for cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients.

Background/aims: In recent years, a great interest has been dedicated to the development of noninvasive predictive models to substitute liver biopsy for cirrhosis assessment and follow-up. Our aim was to provide a simple marker for predicting liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients based on routinely available clinical parameters.

Methodology: Three hundred and fifty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B, including 144 with cirrhosis, 210 without cirrhosis, and 68 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

Modulating protein release profiles by incorporating hyaluronic acid into PLGA microparticles Via a spray dryer equipped with a 3-fluid nozzle.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to modulate the release profiles of the model protein drug from spray dried poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles by incorporating hyaluronic acid (HA) in the formulation.

Methods: Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded PLGA microparticles with or without HA were prepared using a spray dryer equipped with a 3-fluid nozzle. The effects of HA on the surface tension and the rheological behavior of the inner feed solution were investigated.

Overexpression of SATB1 is associated with biologic behavior in human renal cell carcinoma.

Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein-1 (SATB1) has been reported to be aberrantly expressed in various cancers and correlated with the malignant behavior of cancer cells. However, the function of SATB1 in RCC remains unclear. With the combination of immunohistochemistry, western blotting, immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays, we found that levels of SATB1 mRNA and protein were dramatically increased in human ccRCC tissues (P<0.

Hemodynamic effects of various support modes of continuous flow LVADs on the cardiovascular system: a numerical study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the hemodynamic effects of various support modes of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) on the cardiovascular system using a numerical cardiovascular system model.

Material And Methods: Three support modes were selected for controlling the CF-LVAD: constant flow mode, constant speed mode, and constant pressure head mode of CF-LVAD. The CF-LVAD is established between the left ventricular apex and the ascending aorta, and was incorporated into the numerical model.

Evaluation of an automated microplate technique in the Galileo system for ABO and Rh(D) blood grouping.

Background: A number of automated devices for pretransfusion testing have recently become available. This study evaluated the Immucor Galileo System, a fully automated device based on the microplate hemagglutination technique for ABO/Rh (D) determinations.

Methods: Routine ABO/Rh typing tests were performed on 13,045 samples using the Immucor automated instruments.

Objective evaluation of fatigue by EEG spectral analysis in steady-state visual evoked potential-based brain-computer interfaces.

Background: The fatigue that users suffer when using steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can cause a number of serious problems such as signal quality degradation and system performance deterioration, users' discomfort and even risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures, posing heavy restrictions on the applications of SSVEP-based BCIs. Towards alleviating the fatigue, a fundamental step is to measure and evaluate it but most existing works adopt self-reported questionnaire methods which are subjective, offline and memory dependent. This paper proposes an objective and real-time approach based on electroencephalography (EEG) spectral analysis to evaluate the fatigue in SSVEP-based BCIs.

Development of ventricular assist devices in China: present status, opportunities and challenges.

The growing number of heart failure patients and the scarcity of organ donors account for the huge need for the development of mechanical circulatory systems, including ventricular assist devices (VADs) and artificial hearts, in China. Several research programmes on blood pumps have been under way for the last three decades. However, unlike in other countries, the development of VADs has been extremely slow, and no system is currently approved and available for clinical application.

One-step production of protein-loaded PLGA microparticles via spray drying using 3-fluid nozzle.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using a spray-dryer equipped with a 3-fluid nozzle to microencapsulate protein drugs into polymeric microparticles.

Methods: Lysozyme and PLGA were used as a model protein and a model polymer, respectively. The effects of process and formulation variables, such as i) the type of organic solvent, ii) the feeding rate ratio of the outer PLGA-containing feed solution to inner lysozyme-containing feed solution, and iii) the mass ratio of PLGA to protein, on the properties (morphology, internal structure, protein surface enrichment and release profiles) of the spray dried microparticles were investigated to understand protein microencapsulation and particle formation mechanisms.

Therapeutic potential of histone deacetylase inhibitors in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a dismal prognosis. Surgical resection is the only curative option but is heavily hampered by delayed diagnosis. Due to few therapeutic treatments available, novel and efficacious therapy is urgently needed.

TET2 plays an essential role in erythropoiesis by regulating lineage-specific genes via DNA oxidative demethylation in a zebrafish model.

Although epigenetic modulation is critical for a variety of cellular activities, its role in erythropoiesis remains poorly understood. Ten-eleven translocation (TET) molecules participate in methylcytosine (5mC) hydroxylation, which results in DNA demethylation in several biological processes. In this research, the role of TETs in erythropoiesis was investigated by using the zebrafish model, where three TET homologs were identified.

P21-dependent protective effects of a carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-3 in pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) represent a pharmacological alternative to CO gas inhalation. Here, we questioned whether CORM-3, a well-characterized water-soluble CORM, could prevent and reverse pulmonary hypertension (PH) in chronically hypoxic mice and in smooth muscle promoter 22 serotonin transporter mice overexpressing the serotonin transporter in smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

Approach And Results: Treatment with CORM-3 (50 mg/kg per day once daily) for 3 weeks prevented PH, right ventricular hypertrophy, and distal pulmonary artery muscularization in mice exposed to chronic hypoxia and partially reversed PH in smooth muscle promoter 22 serotonin transporter mice by reducing Ki67 dividing pulmonary artery SMCs (PA-SMCs).