Extensive replacement of the aorta from the ascending aorta to the supraceliac abdominal aorta during a one-stage operation

A successful replacement of the aorta from the ascending aorta to the supraceliac abdominal aorta in one operation is herein reported. The patient was 66-year-old woman who had DeBakey type I chronic aortic dissection with a pre-disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) condition. The image diagnosis revealed a markedly enlarged false lumen with a narrow true lumen in the ascending aorta extending to the diaphragm level while below the diaphragm level, the aortic dilatation was mild. The operation was performed through both a thoracoabdominal incision and a median sternotomy to expose the whole thoracic aorta, and the aorta was replaced from the ascending aorta to the supraceliac abdominal aorta. Selective cerebral perfusion was used for cerebral protection and this was a useful adjunct since no time limitations were thus required during repair of the aortic arch. Although the patient developed several complications postoperatively, she eventually recovered and was discharged from the hospital without any neurological disorders.     

Ross procedure in an infant weighing 4.5 kg

A 6 month-old male infant (weight: 4.5 kg) with congenital aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure). The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was reconstructed with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-valved equine pericardial conduit. At the age of 5, re-RVOT reconstruction with an equine pericardial patch bearing a PTFE monocusp was required because of severe pulmonary stenosis resistant to 2 attempts of percutaneous transluminal pulmonary valvotomy. Currently, at the age of 8, the degree of aortic regurgitation is trivial and the pulmonary autograft is free of functional deterioration despite somatic growth.     

The limitation of staged repair in the surgical management of congenital complex heart anomalies with aortic arch obstruction

OBJECTIVE: Severe aortic arch obstruction including an interrupted aortic arch in congenital complex heart anomalies remains a challenge in surgical management. METHODS: Treatment and outcomes in 75 consecutive patients who underwent an aortic arch repair as the first step of the staged repair protocol between 1975 and 2000 were reviewed. Their ages at repair ranged from 1 day to 8.5 months. RESULTS: Cross-sectional postoperative follow-up data were available in all the patients. The follow-up period ranged from 0 to 27.6 years (mean: 7.3 +/- 7.3 years). There were 20 postoperative hospital deaths (27%) and 7 late deaths. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival was 81.3% +/- 4.5% at 1 month, 68.0% +/- 5.4% at 1 year, 65.0% +/- 5.5% at 5 years, 63.1% +/- 5.7% at 10 years, 63.1% +/- 5.7% at 20 years. By Cox regression analysis, body weight of 2.5 kg or less is the only independent determinant of postoperative mortality (p = 0.04, multivariable odds ratio: 2.50, [95% confidence interval: 1.02-6.1]). The aortic arch morphology, the primary cardiac lesion, or date of operation did not reach a statistically significant level to show correlation with mortality. Reintervention to reconstruct the aortic arch was performed at 9 occasions in 8 of the 55 patients who survived the primary operation (14.5%). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the reintervention-free rate was 91.3% +/- 4.2% at 5 years, 85.5% +/- 5.6% at 10 years, 75.6% +/- 8.2% at 20 years. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, interrupted aortic arch (versus aortic coarctation) was the only independent predictor of a shorter time to reintervention (p = 0.001, multivariable odds ratio: 16.1, [95% confidence interval: 3.2-80.2]). CONCLUSIONS: The staged repair protocol was associated with significant limitations in patient survival and with the development of recurrent aortic arch obstruction. Thus, a primary repair protocol may serve as an alternate approach, especially in patients with low weight or with an interrupted aortic arch.     

Symmetry主动脉吻合器对大隐静脉移植物的损伤

目的　观察使用Symmetry主动脉吻合器时对大隐静脉移植物内皮有无损伤。 方法　对 10例使用Symmetry主动脉吻合器行冠状动脉旁路移植术患者进行自身对照研究。在主动脉吻合器使用前和使用后 ,切取自体大隐静脉片断 ,进行Ⅷ因子免疫组化染色 ,对照血管内皮损伤情况。结果　血管内皮细胞均匀着色 ,为深褐色颗粒 ,损伤处褐色颗粒排列中断。吻合器组内皮损伤处平均为 2 .5 5处 ,对照组为 2 .0处。结论　Symmetry主动脉吻合器对静脉内皮细胞无明显的机械损伤     

Evaluation of an aortic stent graft for use in surgery on esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta

Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether aortic stent grafting can be applied to the treatment of an esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta. Methods: The canine thoracic aorta was partially resected without aorta being clamped after emplacement of an endovascular stent graft. Study I; The aortic whole layer of 1 cm in length and 1/4 of the circumference was resected and was covered by a free fascia patch of the abdominal rectal muscle immediately after stent graft placement. Study II; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of the same size was resected on day 3, 7,14, 21, and on day 28, after the stent graft placement. The resected portion was covered by the free fascia patch in half experimental dogs, and was uncovered in the others. Study III; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of 1 cm in length and 1/2 of the circumference was resected and was uncovered on day 7 after stent graft placement. Histological examinations were performed on day 28 and at one year after aortic resection. Results: The aortic wall could be resected in all cases with no complication, except in resection of 1/2 the circumference where the aorta had become narrow. There was no difference in healing of the resected portion of the aorta between with and without fascia covering. Conclusion: An aortic endovascular stent graft could be applied to surgery for an esophageal cancer involving the aorta.     

Relationships between Activators and Inhibitors of Plasminogen, and the Progression of Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: plasmin is a common activator of the known proteolytic systems involved in the aneurysmal degradation, and is reported to be associated with the expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The aim of this study was to study the activating pathways of plasminogen as predictors of the progression of AAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: one hundred and twelve of 122 male patients with a small AAA (def.: +3cm) were interviewed, examined, had blood samples taken at diagnosis, and scanned annually for 1-5 years (mean 3.5 years), and referred for surgery if the AAA exceeded 5cm in diameter.A random sample of 70 of the 112 cases had plasma levels of urokinase-like-plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue-type-plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), macrophage inhibiting factor (MIF), tumour-growth-factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), homocysteine, and serum levels of IgA-antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae (IgA-CP) and Cotinine (a nicotine metabolite) measured. Spearmans correlation analysis was used for statistics. RESULTS: the annual expansion rate correlated positively with tPA, IgA-CP and S-Cotinine; r =0.37 (p=0.002), 0.29 (p=0.006) and 0.24 (p=0.038), while PAI1, uPA, TGF-beta1, homocysteine, and MIF did not. S-Cotinine did also correlate positively with tPA, r=0.24 (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: the aortic matrix degradation in AAA may be partly caused by an activation of plasminogen by tPA, but apparently not by uPA, which usually dominates matrix degradation. Smoking seems to be a factor for this pathway, while the pathways of IgA-CP and MIF, a new marker of aneurysmal progression, seem different. The latter observations suggest that other proteolytic pathways are involved in the aortic wall degradation in AAA.     

三种去神经法对清醒大鼠动脉压力感受性反射功能的影响

目的：测定急、慢性去主动脉神经（ＡＤ）、去颈动脉窦神经（ＳＤ）、同时去主动脉和窦神经（ＳＡＤ）后大鼠动脉压力感受性反射对血压控制（ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ）和心动周期控制（ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ）的影响。方法：测定ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ采用阻断动脉压力感受性反射传出通路前后，比较机体对去氧肾上腺素升压反应面积差异的方法，所得数值与改良的Ｓｍｙｔｈ方法测定的ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ值进行比较。结果：（１）大鼠ＳＡＤ后ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ为零，且代偿不明显；而ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ约为３０％，且代偿明显；（２）ＳＤ后ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ与ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ无显著差异，而ＡＤ和ＳＡＤ后ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ的作用显著大于ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ的作用。结论：（１）大鼠的ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ传入冲动全部来自于主动脉弓和颈动脉窦的压力感受器，而ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ传入冲动大部分来自于这两处的感受器；（２）主动脉神经和窦神经感受传入在ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ中的作用是相当的，并有明显的相互代偿；而在ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ中，主动脉神经的作用比窦神经重要，其代偿能力也比窦神经显著。     

Morphometric analysis of the great vessels in early fetal life

Pathological examination of the heart and great vessels wasperformed in 61 specimens obtained after surgical terminationof pregnancy for psychosocial indications at 9–18 weeksof gestation. The aorta and pulmonary trunk were identifiedand external diameters were measured at the level of, and distalto the aortic valve and pulmonary valve, the level of the aorticisthmus and thoracic aorta, and the proximal and distal ductusarteriosus. All eight vessel diameters increased linearly withgestational age and the ratio of the diameter of the aorticisthmus to that of the aortic valve or the distal ductus arteriosusalso increased with gestation. Early pregnancy is characterizedby rapid growth of the fetal head and this may well be the consequenceof a preferential distribution of left ventricular output infavour of the head due to relative narrowing of the aortic isthmusat this gestation.     

呼吸道真菌感染核酸胶体金试纸条快速检测方法的建立和评价

目的 采用聚合酶链式反应（PCR）技术和胶体金技术建立一种呼吸道真菌感染核酸胶体金试纸条检测方法,并对其检测效果进行评价。 方法 根据GenBank数据库选择真菌内转录间隔区（ITS）基因片段作为靶基因,应用DNAMAN软件对真菌ITS基因片段进行分析,并分别在真菌通用引物5'端用生物素（Biotin）和异硫氰酸荧光素（FITC）进行修饰标记;建立PCR体系,进行体系的最佳条件优化;确定胶体金免疫层析试纸条标记链霉亲和素的最佳标记量和质控线及检测线最佳包被物浓度,组装核酸胶体金试纸条,对试纸条的特异度、灵敏度、重复性和稳定性进行验证。 结果 水煮法提取白假丝酵母菌、新生隐球菌和毛霉菌DNA,浓度为180 μg·L^－1以上,纯度为1.60~2.10;在pH 7.0条件下,每100 μL胶体金溶液中制备胶体金标记链霉亲和素最佳标记量为 3.3 μg,质控线包被Biotin化牛血清白蛋白（BSA-Biotin）浓度为2.00 g·L^－1,检测线包被抗FITC抗体浓度为1.00 g·L^－1。核酸试纸条的特异度与电泳结果一致,仅白假丝酵母菌、新生隐球菌和毛霉菌出现阳性结果,与金黄色葡萄球菌、肺炎链球菌、乙型溶血性链球菌、铜绿假单胞菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌和大肠埃希菌等常见呼吸道感染细菌无交叉反应。灵敏度检测,白假丝酵母菌、新生隐球菌和毛霉菌的DNA浓度分别为10^－4、10^－2和10^－3 mg·L^－1时核酸试纸条仍可准确检出,而普通PCR电泳结果显示白假丝酵母菌、新生隐球菌和毛霉菌最低检测浓度分别为0.01、1.00和0.10 mg·L^－1;重复性检测,在不同实验室不同操作人员对核酸试纸条进行验证,结果一致,重复性良好;稳定性检测,核酸试纸条在第6、9和12个月进行检测,结果符合预期,稳定性良好。 结论 本研究建立的呼吸道真菌感染核酸胶体金试纸条可以检测白假丝酵母菌、新生隐球菌和毛霉菌等真菌,特异度和灵敏度均较高,操作简便且快速。