Integrity of the pancreatic duct-acinar system in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas that frequently involves peripancreatic tissues and at times remote organ systems. For a long time, the etiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis has been intensively investigated worldwide, but the pathogenetic theories are controversial. The integrity of the pancreatic duct-acinar system might play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. DATA SOURCES: Web of Science and PubMed databases were searched for published studies (between January 1966 and June 2009) to identify relevant articles using the keywords 'acinar hyperstimulation', 'pathogenesis', 'acute pancreatitis', 'pancreatic duct-acinar system', and 'pancreatic duct pressure'. Most of the relevant articles were reviewed. RESULTS: From critical reading of the relevant articles, we found that the underlying mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis are still under debate and ill-understood. On the basis of the relevant studies, we propose a hypothesis for the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, in which the integrity of the pancreatic duct-acinar system plays an essential role in the onset and progression of various forms of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: In our hypothesis, pancreatic duct obstruction and hyperstimulation of the exocrine pancreas are preconditions for the onset of acute pancreatitis; under the common conditions of pancreatic duct obstruction and acinar hyperstimulation, acute pancreatitis arises and develops. This may be an important common pathophysiological mechanism causing various forms of acute pancreatitis. (Hepntobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2010; 9: 242-247)

Simulation of Variable Air Volume System with Different Duct Layout

The duct static pressure reset (DSPR) control method is a popular modern control method widely applied to variable air volume (VAV) systems of commercial buildings. In this paper, a VAV system simulation program was used to predict the system performance and zone air temperature of two kinds of layouts that were applied to a typical floor of an existing building office in Hong Kong. The position where the static pressure sensor was placed should affect the zones temperature and energy consumption. The comparison of predictions of the two kinds of layouts indicates that with the same DSPR control method the layout of the air duct might influence the fan control result and energy savings.

Acute pancreatitis:Etiology and common pathogenesis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas.The etiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis have been intensively investigated for centuries worldwide.Many causes of acute pancreatitis have been discovered,but the pathogenetic theories are controversial.The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstone impacting the distal common bile-pancreatic duct.The majority ofinvestigators accept that the main factors for acute billiary pancreatitis are pancreatic hyperstimulation and bile-pancreatic duct obstruction which increase pancreatic duct pressure and active trypsin reflux.Acute pancreatitis occurs when intracellular protective mechanisms to prevent trypsinogen activation or reduce trypsin activity are overwhelmed.However,little is known about the other acute pancreatitis.We hypothesize that acute biliary pancreatitis and other causes of acute pancreatitis possess a common pathogenesis.Pancreatic hyperstimulation and pancreatic duct obstruction increase pancreatic duct pressure,active trypsin reflux,and subsequent unregulated activation of trypsin within pancreatic acinar cells.Enzyme activation within the pancreas leads to auto-digestion of the gland and local inflammation.Once the hypothesis is confirmed,traditional therapeutic strategies against acute pancreatitis may be improved.Decompression of pancreatic duct pressure should be advocated in the treatment of acute pancreatitits which may greatly improve its outcome.

Effects of Rising Angle on Upstream Blades and Intermediate Turbine Duct

With the improvement of requirement,design and manufacture technology,aero-engines for the future are characterized by further reduction in fuel consumption,cost,but increment in propulsion efficiency,which leads to ultra-high bypass ratio.The intermediate turbine duct(ITD),which connects the high pressure turbine(HPT) with the low pressure turbine(LPT),has a critical impact on the overall performances of such future engines.Therefore,it becomes more and more urgent to master the design technique of aggressive,even super-aggressive ITDs.Over the last years,a lot of research works about the flow mechanism in the diffuser ducts were carried out.Many achievements were reported,but further investigation should be performed.With the aid of numerical method,this paper focuses on the change of performance and flow field of ITD,as well as nearby turbines,brought by rising angle(RA).Eight ITDs with the same area ratio and length,but different RAs ranges from 8 degrees to 45 degrees,are compared.According to the investigation,flow field,especially outlet Ma of swirl blade is influenced by RA under potential effect,which is advisable for designers to modify HPT rotor blades after changing ITD.In addition to that,low velocity area moves towards upstream until the first bend as RA increases,while pressure loss distribution at S2 stream surface shows that hub boundary layer is more sensitive to RA,and casing layer keeps almost constant.On the other hand,the overall total pressure loss could keep nearly equivalent among different RA cases,which implies the importance of optimization.

Effects of Nozzle-Strut Integrated Design Concepton on the Subsonic Turbine Stage Flowfield

In order to shorten aero-engine axial length,substituting the traditional long chord thick strut design accompanied with the traditional low pressure(LP) stage nozzle,LP turbine is integrated with intermediate turbine duct(ITD).In the current paper,five vanes of the first stage LP turbine nozzle is replaced with loaded struts for supporting the engine shaft,and providing oil pipes circumferentially which fulfilled the areo-engine structure requirement.However,their bulky geometric size represents a more effective obstacle to flow from high pressure(HP) turbine rotor.These five struts give obvious influence for not only the LP turbine nozzle but also the flowfield within the ITD,and hence cause higher loss.Numerical investigation has been undertaken to observe the influence of the Nozzle-Strut integrated design concept on the flowfield within the ITD and the nearby nozzle blades.According to the computational results,three main conclusions are finally obtained.Firstly,a noticeable low speed area is formed near the strut's leading edge,which is no doubt caused by the potential flow effects.Secondly,more severe radial migration of boundary layer flow adjacent to the strut's pressure side have been found near the nozzle's trailing edge.Such boundary layer migration is obvious,especially close to the shroud domain.Meanwhile,radial pressure gradient aggravates this phenomenon.Thirdly,velocity distribution along the strut's pressure side on nozzle's suction surface differs,which means loading variation of the nozzle.And it will no doubt cause nonuniform flowfield faced by the downstream rotor blade.