Application of transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in treatment of symptomatic portal hypertension with cavernous transformation of portal vein

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TmEPS)for the treatment of cavernous transformation of the portal vein(CTPV).Materials and methods:The clinical data of 20 patients with CTPV who underwent TmEPS between December 2020and January 2022 at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital were retrospectively collected.The superior mesenteric vein(SMV)trunk was patent or partially occluded in these patients.An extrahepatic portosystemic shunt between the inferior vena cava and the SMV was established using a stent graft through an infraumbilical median longitudinal mini-laparotomy.The technical success,efficacy,and complication rates were evaluated,and the preand postoperative SMV pressures were compared.Patients’clinical outcomes and shunt patency were assessed.Results:TmEPS was successfully performed in 20 patients.The initial puncture success rate of the balloon-assisted puncture technique is 95%.The mean SMV pressure decreased from 29.1±2.9 mmHg to 15.6±3.3 mmHg(p<0.001).All symptoms of portal hypertension resolved.No fatal procedural complications occurred.During the follow-up period,hepatic encephalopathy occurred in two patients.The remaining patients remained asymptomatic.All shunts were patent.Conclusions:TmEPS is a feasible,safe,and effective treatment option for patients with CTPV.

A canine model of aortic arch aneurysm created with autologous pericardium

Background:To establish a canine model of aortic arch aneurysm that is suitable for research on new devices and techniques applied to the aortic arch.Materials and methods:Fifteen mongrel dogs underwent surgery.The autologous pericardial patch was sewn on the aortotomy site in the anterior wall of the aortic arch.The animals were followed up for 3 months postoperatively.Computed tomography angiography was used to visualize and measure the aneurysm model.Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the histological characteristics of the aneurysm model.Changes in aneurysm diameter over time were analyzed using analysis of variance.Results:One dog died of hemorrhage during surgery.Fourteen dogs survived the surgical procedure.Two of them died on the first postoperative day because of ruptures at the suturing margin.The diameter of the aneurysm model was twice as large as that of the aortic arch.There was no significant change in the maximum diameter of the aneurysm model during the follow-up period.Conclusions:We established a controllable and stable aortic arch aneurysm model created with an autologous pericardium patch.The aneurysm model can be used to research endoleaks after thoracic endovascular aortic repair and new endovascular techniques can be applied to the aortic arch.

Directly Knitted Ruthenium Pincer Complexes with Enhanced Activity as Recyclable Single-Site Catalysts for Hydrogenation of CO_(2)to Methanol

Considering the importance of the valorization of CO_(2),a number of phosphine-containing ruthenium pincer complexes have been successfully heterogenized using a“direct knitting”strategy without any premodification.The resulting porous organometallic polymers(POMPs)with high specific-surface areas,hierarchical pores,and uniformly dispersed Ru single-sites exhibited outstanding catalytic activity toward the N-formylation of diverse amines with CO_(2).Besides excellent turnover number(TON,5×10^(5))and turnover frequency(TOF,5592 h-1),the obtained formamides were readily hydrogenated to methanol with the same catalyst.Consequently,an amine-assisted direct hydrogenation system of CO_(2)to methanol was established by POMPs with higher activity and TON(1.46×10^(4))than their molecular precursors,shedding light on the direct valorization of CO_(2)and carbon neutral recycling.

Five-wavelength optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy of blood and lymphatic vessels

Optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy(OR-PAM)has been developed for anatomical,functional,and molecular imaging but usually requires multiple scanning for different contrasts.We present five-wavelength OR-PAM for simultaneous imaging of hemoglobin concentration,oxygen saturation,blood flow speed,and lymphatic vessels in single raster scanning.We develop a five-wavelength pulsed laser via stimulated Raman scattering.The five pulsed wavelengths,i.e.,532,545,558,570,and 620∕640 nm,are temporally separated by several hundreds of nanoseconds via different optical delays in fiber.Five photoacoustic images at these wavelengths are simultaneously acquired in a single scanning.The 532-and 620∕640-nm wavelengths are used to image the blood vessels and dye-labeled lymphatic vessels.The blood flow speed is measured by a dual-pulse method.The oxygen saturation is calculated and compensated for by the Grüneisen-relaxation effect.In vivo imaging of hemoglobin concentration,oxygen saturation,blood flow speed,and lymphatic vessels is demonstrated in preclinical applications of cancer detection,lymphatic clearance monitoring,and functional brain imaging.

Review of photoacoustic imaging for microrobots tracking in vivo [Invited]

Microrobots-assisted drug delivery and surgery have been always in the spotlight and are highly anticipated to solve the challenges of cancer in situ treatment. These versatile small biomedical robots are expected to realize direct access to the tumor or disease site for precise treatment, which requires real-time and high-resolution in vivo tracking as feedback for the microrobots’ actuation and control. Among current biomedical imaging methods, photoacoustic imaging(PAI) is presenting its outstanding performances in the tracking of microrobots in the human body derived from its great advantages of excellent imaging resolution and contrast in deep tissue. In this review, we summarize the PAI techniques, imaging systems, and their biomedical applications in microrobots tracking in vitro and in vivo. From a robotic tracking perspective,we also provide some insight into the future of PAI technology in clinical applications.

Confocal visible/NIR photoacoustic microscopy of tumors with structural, functional, and nanoprobe contrasts

Distinguishing early-stage tumors from normal tissues is of great importance in cancer diagnosis.We report fiberbased confocal visible/near-infrared(NIR)optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy that can image tumor microvasculature,oxygen saturation,and nanoprobes in a single scanning.We develop a cost-efficient single laser source that provides 532,558,and 1064 nm pulsed light with sub-microseconds wavelength switching time.Via dual-fiber illumination,we can focus the three beams to the same point.The optical and acoustic foci are confocally aligned to optimize the sensitivity.The visible and NIR wavelengths enable simultaneous tumor imaging with three different contrast modes.Results show obvious angiogenesis,significantly elevated oxygen saturation,and accumulated nanoparticles in the tumor regions,which offer comprehensive information to detect the tumor.This approach also allows us to identify feeding and draining vessels of the tumor and thus to determine local oxygen extraction fraction.In the tumor region,the oxygen extraction fraction significantly decreases along with tumor growth,which can also assist in tumor detection and staging.Fiber-based confocal visible/NIR photoacoustic microscopy offers a new tool for early detection of cancer.

Stoichiometry design in hierarchical CoNiFe phosphide for highly efficient water oxidation

Rational composition design of trimetallic phosphide catalysts is of significant importance for enhanced surface reaction and efficient catalytic performance.Herein,hierarchical Co_(x)Ni_(y)Fe_(z)P with precise control of stoichiometric metallic elements(x:y:z=(1-10):(1-10):1)has been synthesized,and Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)P,as the most optimal composition,exhibits remarkable catalytic activity(η=320 mV at 10 mA cm^(−2))and long-term stability(ignorable decrease after 10 h continuous test at the current density of 10 mA cm^(−2))toward oxygen evolution reaction(OER).It is found that the surface P in Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)P was replaced by O under the OER process.The density function theory calculations before and after long-term stability tests suggest the clear increasing of the density of states near the Fermi level of Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)P/Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)O,which could enhance the OH−adsorption of our electrocatalysts and the corresponding OER performance.