Laparoscopic antireflux surgery or PPIs in the management of reflux-related esophageal stricture.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often associated with esophageal stricture, particularly benign esophageal stricture. We aimed to evaluate the effects of balloon catheter dilation (BD) combined with laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) surgery and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with reflux-induced esophageal strictures.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients with reflux-induced benign esophageal strictures who underwent balloon dilatation therapy combined with PPIs (BD-PPIs group, n = 58) and balloon dilatation combined with LF (BD-LF group, n = 58).

Design and characterization of small-diameter tissue-engineered blood vessels constructed by electrospun polyurethane-core and gelatin-shell coaxial fiber.

Substitution or bypass is the most effective treatment for vascular occlusive diseases.The demand for artificial blood vessels has seen an unprecedented rise due to the limited supply of autologous blood vessels. Tissue engineering is the best approach to provide artificial blood vessels.

Endoscopic cardial constriction with band ligation in the treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: a preliminary feasibility study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common digestive disease, could cause extra-esophageal symptoms. Peroral endoscopic cardial constriction with band ligation (PECC-b) is a minimally invasive method for the treatment of GERD in recent years. The goals of this study were to evaluate the clinical efficacy of PECC-b to treat gastroesophageal reflux-related symptoms.

Gelatin coating promotes endothelialization of electrospun polycaprolactone vascular grafts.

Rapid endothelialization is crucial for tissue engineering vascular grafts to prevent graft failure in the long-term. Gelatin is a promising nature material that can promote endothelial cells (ECs) adhesion, proliferation, and migration. In this study, the internal surface of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) vascular grafts was coated with gelatin.

Porcine carotid arteries decellularized with a suitable concentration combination of Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate for tissue engineering vascular grafts.

Tissue engineering vascular grafts (TEVGs) constructed by decellularized arteries have the potential to replace autologous blood vessels in bypass surgery for patients with cardiovascular disease. There are various methods of decellularization without a standard protocol. Detergents approaches are simple, and easy control of experimental conditions.

The phosphorylation of CHK1 at Ser345 regulates the phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Background And Aims: DNA damage and repair have been shown to be associated with carotid artery restenosis and atherosclerosis. The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is the main cause of artery stenosis. This study aims to define the relationship between DNA damage and VSMCs proliferation.

Phenotypic Switching of Atherosclerotic Smooth Muscle Cells is Regulated by Activated PARP1-Dependent TET1 Expression.

Aim: During the development of atherosclerosis, the vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) undergo phenotypic switching from contractile phenotype to synthetic phenotype. This study aimed at examining the role of DNA modification mediated by the oxidative stress dependent ten eleven translocation enzymes (TETs) expression at early stage of phenotypic switching.

Methods: Based on the in vitro SMCs calcification model, DNA damage, phenotypic switching and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) were examined by comet assay, alkaline DNA unwinding assay, immunofluorescence staining, Dot blotting and Western blotting.

Efficacy evaluation of pepsin in laparoscopic antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: The false positive rate of the PPI test for the diagnosis of typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is extremely high.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of the pepsin test on GERD and laparoscopy-assisted anti-reflux surgery for GERD.

Methods: A total of 30 GERD patients were enrolled into this study, and the pre-diagnosis of GERD was determined by symptom evaluation, impedance-pH examination, gastroscopy and pepsin test.

Decellularization, cross-linking and heparin immobilization of porcine carotid arteries for tissue engineering vascular grafts.

Tissue engineering vascular grafts (TEVGs) have the potential to replace small-diameter grafts in bypass surgery which is good news for patients with cardiovascular disease. Decellularized arteries can be ideal TEVGs because their natural three-dimensional structures support the migration of host cells and vascular remodeling. There are many methods for decellularization without a standard protocol.

Role of fundoplication in treatment of patients with symptoms of hiatal hernia.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often associated with hiatal hernia (HH). However, the need for fundoplication during hiatal hernia repair (HHR) remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HHR with concomitant laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (HHR-LNF) in HH patients.

Midterm Outcome of Directional Atherectomy Combined with Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty Versus Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty Alone for Femoropopliteal Arteriosclerosis Obliterans.

Background: The "leave nothing behind" strategies have been becoming a popular treatment for femoropopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans. Atherectomy before drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty may have an advantage in improving the efficiency of drug delivery into the blood vessel wall. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of directional atherectomy combined with DCB angioplasty with DCB angioplasty alone in the treatment of femoropopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans.

Typical symptoms and not positive reflux-cough correlation predict cure of gastroesophageal reflux disease related chronic cough after laparoscopic fundoplication: a retrospective study.

Background: The effect of laparoscopic fundoplication on reflux-related chronic cough is unpredictable, the aim of the study is to investigate the predictive effect of positive reflux-cough correlation on the resolution of reflux-related chronic cough after anti-reflux surgery.

Methods: A 5 years retrospective review was performed. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors on the cure of chronic cough.

Upregulation of circulating miR130a is correlated with development of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is one of the major known risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Circulating miRNAs are emerging as predictive biomarkers for early detection of malignancy. However, the potential for circulating miRNAs to be used as biomarkers for BE neoplastic progression to EAC has not been well characterized.

Dysregulation of PARP1 is involved in development of Barrett's esophagus.

Aim: To investigate the potential role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in the development of Barrett's esophagus (BE).

Methods: A BE mouse model was established to examine the esophageal morphological changes and molecular changes. Microarray analysis was performed to compare the gene expression profiles between BE patients and healthy controls.

Directional Atherectomy Is Associated with Better Long-Term Efficiency Compared with Angioplasty for Common Femoral Artery Occlusive Disease in Rutherford 2-4 Patients.

Background: Despite increased interest in treating common femoral artery (CFA) with endovascular technology, there are little data regarding the long-term outcomes of different endovascular treatment modalities. We report the results after endovascular therapy of symptomatic obstructions of the CFA in a single center.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients with eligible CFA lesions who were treated with endovascular methods between 2011 and 2013.

Three-Year Clinical Results of Carotid Artery Stenting in Treating Patients with Contralateral Carotid Artery Occlusion.

Background: Patients presenting a carotid stenosis and contralateral carotid occlusion (CCO) have been historically considered at high risk of carotid surgical treatment, and there are few data regarding short-term recovery after stenting therapy in patients with CCO. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short-term recovery and safety of stenting for patients with CCO and different subgroup population.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients with CCO who were treated with stenting endovascular methods between 2008 and 2014.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor-associated protein regulates carotid intimal hyperplasia through controlling apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Intimal hyperplasia is the main cause of restenosis after carotid artery injury, and the underlying mechanism involves the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor-Associated Protein (ATRAP) has been reported to withstand intimal hyperplasia by inhibiting VSMCs proliferation and migration; however, whether the beneficial effect of ATRAP associates with VSMCs apoptosis remains unclarified. We demonstrated that the adenoviral-mediated overexpression of ATRAP induced VSMC apoptosis, alleviating the balloon injury-induced neointima formation in rats.

Contribution of hiatal hernia to asthma in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: To determine the correlation between asthma and hiatal hernia (HH) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related asthma requiring laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-six GERD patients with medically refractory asthma with (80 patients) or without HH (56 patients) were enrolled. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was assessed by endoscopy, esophageal manometry, reflux monitoring and symptom questionnaires, and treated with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) or LNF with concomitant hiatal hernia repair (LNF-HHR).

The diagnostic value of pepsin detection in saliva for gastro-esophageal reflux disease: a preliminary study from China.

Background: None of current diagnostic methods has been proven to be a reliable tool for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Pepsin in saliva has been proposed as a promising diagnostic biomarker for gastro-esophageal reflux. We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of salivary pepsin detection for GERD.

The Role of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Provoking High Blood Pressure Episodes in Patients With Hypertension.

Goals: We assessed the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension and whether antiacid therapy could be used to control blood pressure (BP) on hypertension in patients with GERD.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may provoke cardiovascular disease. Many factors are involved in the development of essential hypertension, but whether GERD has a role needs further study.

Laparoscopic Nissen (total) versus anterior 180° fundoplication for gastro-esophageal reflux disease: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) has been the gold standard for the surgical management of Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Laparoscopic anterior 180° fundoplication (180° LAF) is reported to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications while obtaining similar control of reflux. The present meta-analysis was conducted to confirm the value of the 2 techniques.

Mesoatrial Shunt for Budd-Chiari Syndrome.

Background: The long-term efficacy of mesoatrial shunt (MAS) for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is not well studied. The purpose of our study was to investigate the long-term outcome and efficacy of MAS for BCS.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients who underwent MAS for BCS from April 1986 to November 1995.

Nissen fundoplication proton pump inhibitors for laryngopharyngeal reflux based on pH-monitoring and symptom-scale.

Aim: To compare the outcomes between laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) therapy in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and type I hiatal hernia diagnosed by oropharyngeal pH-monitoring and symptom-scale assessment.

Methods: From February 2014 to January 2015, 70 patients who were diagnosed with LPR and type I hiatal hernia and referred for symptomatic assessment, oropharyngeal pH-monitoring, manometry, and gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled in this study. All of the patients met the inclusion criteria.