温经通络汤联合针灸治疗风寒湿痹型关节炎的疗效及对患者血清Wnt-3α,β-catenin及BMP-2表达的影响

目的:探讨温经通络汤结合针灸治疗风寒湿痹型关节炎的疗效及对患者血清分泌型糖蛋白(Wnt)-3α,β-链蛋白(β-catenin)及骨形成蛋白-2(bone morphogenetic proteins-2,BMP-2)表达的影响。方法:选自天津中医药大学第一附属医院2015年2月—2016年11月收治的112例风寒湿痹型类风湿性关节炎(RA)患者,按照随机数字表将其分成观察组与对照组,每组56例。观察组给予温经通络汤联合针灸治疗,对照组给予塞来昔布联合来氟米特治疗,比较两组临床疗效、治疗前后中医临床证候积分、红细胞沉降率(erythrocyte sedimentation rate,ESR),C反应蛋白(C-reaction protein,CRP)及类风湿因子(rheumatoid factor,RF)变化情况以及血清Wnt-3α,β-catenin及BMP-2水平变化情况。结果:治疗后,观察组总有效率为94.64%,对照组总有效率为74.00%,观察组优于对照组(P0.01)。两组治疗后中医临床证候积分均较治疗前显著下降(P0.01),与对照组治疗后比较,观察组降低更显著(P0.01)。两组治疗后ESR,CRP,RF水平均较治疗前显著下降(P0.01),与对照组治疗后比较,观察组下降更显著(P0.05)。与治疗前比较,观察组治疗后血清Wnt-3α,β-catenin及BMP-2水平均显著下降(P0.01),对照组治疗前后比较无统计学差异。结论:温经通络汤结合针灸治疗风寒湿痹型关节炎疗效显著,其可下调Wnt-3α,β-catenin,BMP-2表达,缓解关节疼痛及改善关节功能。     

Shear-dependent platelet aggregation size

Nonsurgical bleeding is the most frequent complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. Supraphysiologic shear rates generated in LVAD causes impaired platelet aggregation, which increases the risk of bleeding. The effect of shear rate on the formation size of platelet aggregates has never been reported experimentally, although platelet aggregation size can be considered to be directly relevant to bleeding complications. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of shear rate and exposure time on the formation size of platelet aggregates, which is vital in predicting bleeding in patients with an LVAD. Human platelet-poor plasma (containing von Willebrand factor, vWF) and fluorochrome-labeled platelets were subjected to a range of shear rates (0-10 000 s⁻¹) for 0, 5, 10, and 15 minutes using a custom-built blood-shearing device. Formed sizes of platelet aggregates under a range of shear-controlled environment were visualized and measured using microscopy. The loss of high molecular weight (HMW) vWF multimers was quantified using gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. An inhibition study was also performed to investigate the reduction in platelet aggregation size and HMW vWF multimers caused by either mechanical shear or enzymatic (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13—ADAMTS13, the von Willebrand factor protease) mechanism under low and high shear conditions (360 and 10 000 s⁻¹). We found that the average size of platelet aggregates formed under physiological shear rates of 360-3000 s⁻¹ (200-300 μm²) was significantly larger compared to those sheared at >6000 s⁻¹ (50-100 μm²). Furthermore, HMW vWF multimers were reduced with increased shear rates. The inhibition study revealed that the reduction in platelet aggregation size and HWM vWF multimers were mainly associated with ADAMTS13. In conclusion, the threshold of shear rate must not exceed >6000 s⁻¹ in order to maintain the optimal size of platelet aggregates to “plug off” the injury site and stop bleeding.     

Design of a chattering-free integral terminal sliding mode approach for DFIG-based wind energy systems

This article proposes a Fuzzy Second Order Integral Terminal Sliding Mode (FSOITSM) control approach for DFIG-based wind turbines subject to grid faults and parameter variations. Since traditional terminal sliding mode control (SMC) suffers from singularity, a novel integral terminal sliding manifold is proposed to eliminate chattering and improve the wind turbine's performance in the presence of faults and disturbances. A fuzzy system is proposed to auto-tune the controllers' gains and ensures the invariance of the sliding surfaces even under heavy uncertainties, thus further improving the reliability and performance of the proposed controller. The performance of the proposed approach was assessed under various operating conditions. A comparison analysis with a standard SMC approach as well as the state of the art in voltage sag mitigation was also carried over. Reliability, robustness, and power availability under faulty grid conditions are among the main features of the proposed approach. In addition, the proposed approach exhibited chattering free dynamics and enabled the finite time convergence of the sliding manifold and overcame the singularity problem associated with standard TSMC.     

血管内皮细胞糖萼与脂蛋白

血管内皮细胞糖萼是位于内皮细胞表面的一层多糖蛋白复合结构,在内皮细胞表面形成选择性通透屏障。在对糖萼进行概述后,主要针对在流动剪切力作用下,糖萼与物质传输,尤其是与大分子物质如低密度脂蛋白(low density lipoprotein,LDL)的关系展开论述。其关系体现为:一方面,糖萼的厚度和完整性影响LDL的浓度极化及跨内膜输运;糖萼中的硫酸肝素蛋白聚糖参与残余脂蛋白代谢的全过程。另一方面,LDL的氧化产物ox-LDL会破坏内皮细胞糖萼层的主要成分硫酸肝素。研究糖萼与脂蛋白的关系,将为阐明动脉粥样硬化的发病机理提供新的线索,并为将糖萼作为新的防治靶点提供更多依据。     

Effect of different surface treatments on the shear and microtensile bond strength of resin-modified glass ionomer cement to dentin

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surface treatments on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) and shear bond strength (SBS) of resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) to dentin. Materials and methods. Fifty-two extracted human molars were flattened to obtain dentin surfaces. For SBS assessment 40 teeth were divided into four groups according to their surface treatments (acid etching, Er:YAG laser QSP mode, Er:YAG laser MSP mode and control-SiC) (n = 10). A plastic cylinder was placed over the differently treated dentin surfaces and RMGIC was placed into the rings and polymerized. Twelve teeth were used for the μTBS test. The treated dentin surfaces described above were restored with 4 mm high RMGIC and light cured; then, the specimens were sectioned into serial sticks (n = 15) and μTBS and SBS were tested for failure in a testing machine with a 1 mm/min crosshead speed. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (α = 0.05). Results. Acid etching showed significantly higher SBS than the other groups (p < 0.05). Er:YAG QSP and MSP-treated groups showed higher SBS values than the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Er:YAG MSP showed the highest μTBS value followed by acid etching, whereas the control group exhibited the lowest value (p < 0.05) and the differences between the control group and Er:YAG QSP were not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions. The application of Er:YAG MSP mode and acid etching to dentin can be used for improving the bond strength of RMGIC.     

In vitro and preliminary in vivo validation of echo particle image velocimetry in carotid vascular imaging

Noninvasive, easy-to-use and accurate measurements of wall shear stress (WSS) in human blood vessels have always been challenging in clinical applications. Echo particle image velocimetry (Echo PIV) has shown promise for clinical measurements of local hemodynamics and wall shear rate. Thus far, however, the method has only been validated under simple flow conditions. In this study, we validated Echo PIV under in vitro and in vivo conditions. For in vitro validation, we used an anatomically correct, compliant carotid bifurcation flow phantom with pulsatile flow conditions, using optical particle image velocimetry (optical PIV) as the reference standard. For in vivo validation, we compared Echo PIV-derived 2-D velocity fields obtained at the carotid bifurcation in five normal subjects against phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI)-derived velocity measurements obtained at the same locations. For both studies, time-dependent, 2-D, two-component velocity vectors; peak/centerline velocity, flow rate and wall shear rate (WSR) waveforms at the common carotid artery (CCA), carotid bifurcation and distal internal carotid artery (ICA) were examined. Linear regression, correlation analysis and Bland-Altman analysis were used to quantify the agreement of different waveforms measured by the two techniques. In vitro results showed that Echo PIV produced good images of time-dependent velocity vector maps over the cardiac cycle with excellent temporal (up to 0.7 ms) and spatial (∼0.5 mm) resolutions and quality, comparable with optical PIV results. Further, good agreement was found between Echo PIV and optical PIV results for velocity and WSR measurements. In vivo results also showed good agreement between Echo PIV velocities and phase contrast MRI velocities. We conclude that Echo PIV provides accurate velocity vector and WSR measurements in the carotid bifurcation and has significant potential as a clinical tool for cardiovascular hemodynamics evaluation. (E-mail: Robin.shandas@ucdenver.edu)