Endovascular stent-graft for type B aortic dissection in elderly patients

Objective To report the clinical outcome and complications ofendovascular stent-graft treatment for type B aortic dissection in elderly patients, as compared with younger patients in a single medical center. Methods From May 2002 to July 2008, endovascular stent-graft implantation was performed in 124 patients with type B aortic dissection at the Department of Cardiology, Shenyang Northern Hospital. Among them, 39 patients were 60 yrs or older （ranging ~om 68 to 81 years） while 85 patients were younger than 60 years old （ranging from 31 to 58 years）. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 26 months （ranging from 1 to 78 months）. Clinical data were analyzed between the two groups. Results Comparing with the younger group, the elderly group had higher prevalence of coronary artery disease （59.0% vs 24.7%, P=0.001）. There was no significant difference of complication rates between the 2 groups （38.5% vs 31.8%, P=0.54）. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a similar 5-year survival rate（80.2% vs 89.6%; Log Rank, P=0.31） between the 2 groups. Conclusions Endovascular stent-graft implantation is safe and effective in the treatment of type B aortic dissection for both elderly and younger patients. The procedure-related complication rate seems independent of age .

Safety and feasibility of transradial coronary intervention in Chinese elderly patients

Objective To assess the feasibility and safety of transradial approach in Chinese elderly patients undergoing coronary intervention.Methods In this prospective study,764 elderly patients with coronary artery disease received percutaneous coronary intervention via either a transradial approach(TRA group)or a transfemoral approach(TFA group).The procedural success rate,success rate of artery access,puncture time,fluoroscopy time,dose of contrast,local complications and post-procedural pulmonary embolism were recorded and compared between 2 groups.Results There was no significant difference of the procedural success rate between the TRA group and the TRF group(96.3%vs.98.2%,P>0.05);there were also no differences of success rate of cannulation,mean fluoroscopy time and mean dose of contrast between the 2 groups.The mean puncture time was longer in the TRA group than in the TFA group(3.8±2.1 min vs.2.0±3.4 min,P<0.05).However,there were fewer access site-related complications in the TRA group than in the TFA group.Post-procedural pulmonary embolism occurred in 2 patients in the TFA group but none in the TRA group.Conclusion Transradial coronary intervention was feasible and safe in most Chinese elderly patients when performed by experienced operators.

Percutaneous coronary intervention following repair of type B aortic dissection:a report of 8 cases

Objective Patients with aortic dissection have a significant incidence of coronary artery disease.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of percutaneous coronary stent in patients who have undergone endovascular stent,and to assess the effect of anti-coagulant and anti-platelet treatment on patients'thrombosis process.Methods From January 2005 to July 2007,8 patients who had undergone endovascular stent-graft during the past 1 to 7 months for type B aortic dissection repair,underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)because of coexisting coronary artery disease.Anti-coagulant and anti-platelet treatments were administrated after PCI according to the standard protocol.Patients were followed up for a mean period of 23 months.Clinical and false lumen status data were collected during the follow-up.Results PCI were technically successful in all 8 patients and no severe complications such as death,paraplegia,renal failure occurred during hospitalization.Complete false lumen thrombosis was observed in 5 patients and incomplete false lumen thrombosis in the remained 3 patients at the end of follow up.There were no major complications such as death,dissection rupture or aneurysm development occurred during the follow-up period.Conclusion Our data implied that PCI can be safely performed in patients with type B aortic dissection who have undergone endovascular stent-graft,without interrupt-ing the thrombosis process.

基于自然的解决方案的高密度城市水鸟栖息地精细化生态修复模式探索——以中国深圳市福田红树林国家重要湿地为例

深圳湾是东亚-澳大利西亚国际候鸟迁徙的中转站和越冬地,也是社会经济发展活跃的高度城市化海湾。位于深圳湾东北部的福田红树林国家重要湿地是广东内伶仃福田国家级自然保护区的重要组成部分。作为中国面积最小且地处城市腹地的国家级自然保护区,其周边高强度城市环境对候鸟越冬栖息的影响显著,亟需针对水鸟保护的高质量、精细化生态修复。本项目以基于自然的解决方案为指导理念,建立了一套高密度城区滨海湿地水鸟栖息地精细化生态修复模式:通过研究鸟类行为和生境需求,提出了水面扩增、水位控制、水动力改善、光滩改造、植物适应性管理、避干扰控制六项策略,并建立了高、中、低适应途径以形成有效的策略包指导修复工程实施。修复工程实施后,黑脸琵鹭等目标鸟类的数量显著增加。2022年保护区内观测到的水鸟种类比上年增加33%,与2016年相比增加50.9%,海岸带生态系统服务功能明显增强。在中国城市更新进入存量发展的趋势下,这一修复模式可为滨海湿地鸟类保护生态修复提供借鉴,并为高质量建设深圳“国际红树林中心”提供重要支撑。

The Influence of Trans-1,4-poly(butadiene-co-isoprene) Copolymer Rubbers(TBIR) with Different Molecular Weights on the NR/TBIR Blends

The molecular weight of a polymer is of prime importance and greatly influences the processing and mechanical properties of the polymer. Trans-1,4-poly(butadiene-co-isoprene) multi-block copolymer rubbers(TBIR) exhibit outstanding fatigue resistance, low heat build-up and good abrasion resistance, and are expected to be desirable candidate for high performance tire. Study on the influence of TBIR with different molecular weights on the structure and properties of TBIR and natural rubber(NR)/TBIR blends is essential to understand its contribution to the greatly improved dynamic properties of the rubber vulcanizates. TBIR with different molecular weights characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, GPC, and DSC were highly trans-1,4-copolymers with similar chain sequence distribution and crystalline trans-1,4-polyisoprene(TPI) blocks. The green strength and modulus of TBIR increased with the increasing molecular weight.The NR/TBIR compounds filled with 40 phr carbon black were chemically cured by sulfur for the preparation of NR/TBIR vulcanizates.The compatibility between NR and TBIR, filler distribution, crosslinking bond and density, and properties of NR/TBIR vulcanizates were studied. The NR/TBIR vulcanizates showed increasing tensile strength, hardness, modulus, rebound, abrasion resistance, and flexural fatigue properties with increasing molecular weight of TBIR. Furthermore, they presented significant improvement in flexural fatigue resistance when compared with that of NR vulcanizate. The contribution mechanism of TBIR on the NR/TBIR blends was discussed. The TBIR with a wide range of molecular weight are ideal rubbers for high performance tires.

Host-mediated biofilm forming promotes post-graphene pathogen expansion via graphene micron-sheet

Graphene is a potential candidate for applications in biomedical field.It is inevitable that graphene is in contact with the ubiquitous bacterial environment.More attention has been paid to the antimicrobial activity of graphene derivatives(graphene oxide,reduced graphene oxide)than the interaction between graphene and bacteria.Herein,we explore interaction between graphene micron-sheet and bacteria from micro(gene expression)and macro(colonies)perspectives.Results demonstrate that graphene micron-sheet accelerates the biofilm forming thus promoting pathogen expansion toward both Gram-negative bacteria E.coli and Gram-positive bacteria S.aureus.The graphene micron-sheet acts as a“habitat”for increasing bacterial attachment and biofilm forming.For E.coli,graphene micron-sheet,firstly changes the integrity of periplasmic and outer membrane components,then makes membraneassociated and cell division genes increased,and finally promotes bacterial proliferation;For S.aureus,graphene micron-sheet can accelerate biofilm forming and develop bacterial expansion owing to the regulation of the quorum-sensing system and global regulatory proteins.The work can shed new light on the range of possible mode of actions,developing a better understanding of the capabilities of graphene micronstructures.