大鼠后根第一级传入纤维在脊髓胶状质内的溃变和突触联系

用切断后根方法在透射电镜下观察了大鼠后根第一级传入纤维在脊髓胶状质内的溃变和突触联系。切断脊神经后根24小时后,胶状质内出现明显的溃变终末。量最多又持续时间最长的溃变是电子致密型溃变,此外,也观察到了少数的电子透明型溃变和神经微丝型溃变;溃变终末大部分位于胶状质突触小球的中央。据统计,电子致密型溃变作为突触前成分与胶状质内的树突或树突棘形成轴—树突触者占98.8％,作为突触后成分与周围轴突形成轴—轴突触者占1.2％。     

股动脉双路搭桥的血流动力学仿真

在传统股动脉搭桥术中，由于下游缝合区采用“端对侧”的“单路搭桥”缝合方式，移植管中血流会对缝合区底面产生很大冲击，引起局部血流动力学急剧变化，并可能因此而导致血管再狭窄和手术失败。由于缝合区几何结构的不对称必然导致流场的不均匀，本研究提出了“对称双路搭桥”的构想以图改善血流动力学。本研究对“单路”和“对称双路”两种连接模型中的血液流动进行了数值模拟。两种模型利用相同的几何参数进行建模，并采用了相同的边界条件。数值模拟结果包括流场、壁面切应力及其梯度等血流动力学参数。研究表明，“对称双路”模型比“单路”模型具有较大的纵向速度、较小的二次流、较均匀的壁面切应力等。因此，“对称双路”搭桥模型具有更好的血流动力学，可以减少股动脉搭桥术后内膜增生和再狭窄的可能性。     

S形动脉中的血流动力学研究

目的 探索动脉直径大小对S 形动脉血流动力学的影响。方法 利用数值模拟方法, 对具有不同直径的大小两种S 形动脉模型在相同的边界条件下的血流动力学时空分布进行了分析。结果 在大S形动脉中的二次流比小S形动脉中的要复杂; 在弯曲动脉的内弯区存在较强的涡流; 弯曲动脉中的压力和壁面切应力变化很剧烈, 特别是在大模型中。结论 S形弯曲动脉中的血流呈现复杂回流、二次流、压力和壁面切应力剧烈变化等特性, 这些都可能影响到动脉内皮的功能及内膜增生。在利用人造或自体血管修复旁路狭窄动脉的手术中, 应尽量避免采用S 形动脉模型。     

Biallelic mutations in Sperm flagellum 2 cause human multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) phenotype

Male patients with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) are infertile and exhibit absent, short, coiled, bent and/or irregular sperm flagella. Mutations in the SPEF2 gene reduce sperm motility and cause sperm tail defects in animal models and humans. In the present study, we performed a genetic analysis on an MMAF patient and identified novel biallelic mutations in the SPEF2 gene. The biallelic mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and in silico analysis revealed that, these variations were deleterious. The expression of truncated SPEF2 protein was reduced significantly in the patient's spermatozoa. The spermatozoa harbored biallelic mutations and showed severe ultrastructural defects in the axoneme and mitochondrial sheath. Our data suggest that biallelic mutations in SPEF2 can cause severe sperm flagellum defects, thus providing a novel candidate genetic pathogen for the human MMAF phenotype.     

Whole exome sequencing of men with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella reveals novel homozygous QRICH2 mutations

Multiple morphological anomalies of the sperm flagella (MMAF syndrome) is a severe male infertility phenotype which has so far been formally linked to the presence of biallelic mutations in nine genes mainly coding for axonemal proteins overexpressed in the sperm flagellum. Homozygous mutations in QRICH2, a gene coding for a protein known to be required for stabilizing proteins involved in sperm flagellum biogenesis, have recently been identified in MMAF patients from two Chinese consanguineous families. Here, in order to better assess the contribution of QRICH2 in the etiology of the MMAF phenotype, we analyzed all QRICH2 variants from whole exome sequencing data of a cohort of 167 MMAF-affected subjects originating from North Africa, Iran, and Europe. We identified a total of 14 potentially deleterious variants in 18 unrelated individuals. Two unrelated subjects, representing 1% of the cohort, carried a homozygous loss-of-function variant: c.3501C>G [p.Tyr1167Ter] and c.4614C>G [p.Tyr1538Ter], thus confirming the implication of QRICH2 in the MMAF phenotype and human male infertility. Sixteen MMAF patients (9.6%) carried a heterozygous QRICH2 potentially deleterious variant. This rate was comparable to what was observed in a control group (15.5%) suggesting that the presence of QRICH2 heterozygous variants is not associated with MMAF syndrome.     

Effect of the mechanical prosthetic mono- and bileaflet heart valve orientation on the flow field inside the simulated ventricle

Two groups of typical contemporary mechanical heart valves, the Advancing the Standard (ATS) and the Carbomedics (CM) valve (of bileaflet design) and the Bjork-Shiley (BS) mono and Bicer-Val (BV) valves (of tilting-disc design), were tested in the mitral position under the pulsatile-flow condition. This study extends a previous report studying the effect of orientation of the St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve, representing bilcaflet valve design, and the Meditronic-Hall (MH) valve, representing mono-leaflet valve design. The test program utilized a flow visualization technique to map the velocity field inside the simulated ventricle. The study was carried out using a sophisticated cardiac simulator in conjunction with a high-speed video system (200 frames·s⁻¹). The continuous monitoring of velocity-vector time histories revealed useful details about the complex flow and helped establish the locations and times of the peak parameter values. Comparison of the velocity profiles at corresponding flow phases reveals the effects of the differences in valve design and orientation. Based on precise examination of the data, the following general conclusions can be made: pulsatile flow creates three distinct flow phases consisting of accelerating, peak, and decelerating flow; the bileaflet CM and ATS valves in the antianatomical orientation generally create a single, large circulatory flow; the ATS valve scems to offer smoother flow patterns, similar to the SJM valve; and the monoleaflet BV valve and the BS monostrut valve seem to affect the flow characteristics more dramatically, with the posterior orientation exhibiting simple and stable circulatory flow.     

实体肿瘤血管任意方向生成的二维数值模拟

目的　二维数值生成实体肿瘤任意方向生长的血管网，为研究实体肿瘤内血液动力学、药物输运以及抗血管生成提供更趋真实的微血管网络结构。方法　将新生血管芽尖的内皮细胞迁移方向由先前模型的上、下、左、右四个方向扩展为任意方向，建立相应的二维离散模型，数值模拟实体肿瘤微脉管系统的生成过程，比较模拟结果与相关实验数据的符合程度。结果　对盲肠肿瘤微血管网进行数值模拟，与改进前的模型和其他模型比较，本模型生成的肿瘤微血管网结构特征，如血管的走向、扭曲、分叉与融合等，更接近生理实际，与实验观测图像的相似度更高。结论　该模型可模拟实体肿瘤的微血管网生成，为肿瘤内血液微循环、药物传递以及抗血管生成的理论研究提供较为接近实际的微血管网络结构。     

Effect of mechanical prosthetic heart valve orientation on the flow field inside the simulated ventricle: Comparison between St. Jude Medical Valve and Medtronic-Hall Valve

Two typical contemporary mechanical heart valves, with different designs (St. Jude Medical and Medtronic-Hall), were tested in the mitral position under pulsatile flow conditions. The test program used the flow visualization technique to map the velocity field inside the simulated ventricle. The study was carried out using a sophisticated cardiac simulator in conjunction with a highspeed video system (200 frames/s). The continuous monitoring of velocity vector time histories revealed useful details about the complex flow and helped establish the location and time of the peak parameter values. We conclude that (1) the SJM valve with antianatomical position creates a large single circulatory flow; and (2)the configuration of the MH valve seems to affect the flow characteristics more dramatically, and the posterior orientation exhibits a simple and stable circulatory flow.     

In vitro LDA and flow visualization analysis of the spiral vortex pump: effect of inlet valve orientation

The spiral vortex pump (SV), an innovative, penumatically driven ventricular assist device, was tested using the flow visualization technique and laser Doppler anemometry to study the effect of inlet valve orientation under steady and pulsatile flow conditions in a purposely constructed flow circuit aimed at obtaining flow field data. Qualitative information was obtained using the flow visualization technique. The slit-lighting technique and fluorescent bees provided a clear flow field view at the desired location, and a 200 frames/s high-speed video camera was used, capturing the vortex nature of the flow field. Mean velocity and fluctuating velocity profile were obtained using a Kanomax single-channel FLV system. Three diametrically transverse locations and three vertical locations were selected for measurements. The particle-tracking method was also incorporated to obtain velocity vectors. Based on the experimental data, the following general conclusions can be drawn: (1) The SV pump created a vortex flow field under steady and pulsatile flow conditions. (2) The inlet valve orientation sharply influenced the flow inside the SV pump. (3) A relatively strong circulatory flow field was observed when the major orifice was oriented toward the HD junction under steady flow. (4) A relatively weak circulatory flow field was observed when the major orifice was oriented toward the center under steady flow. (5) The directional flow field was more accentuated under pulsatile flow conditions. (6) A relatively stable flow field was observed when the major orifice was oriented upward (pump outlet direction). (7) Directional flow toward the diaphragm was observed when the major orifice was oriented downward. (8) A strong circulatory flow with possible colliding flow toward the peripheral area was observed when the major orifice was oriented outward. (9) A relatively weak circulatory flow was observed when the major orifice was oriented inward. (10) The strength of the circulatory flow during the peak flow phase under pulsatile conditions was not affected by the orientation of the inlet valve.     

Numerical Validation of MR-Measurement-Integrated Simulation of Blood Flow in a Cerebral Aneurysm

This study proposes magnetic resonance (MR)-measurement-integrated (MR-MI) simulation, in which the difference between the computed velocity field and the phase-contrast MRI measurement data is fed back to the numerical simulation. The computational accuracy and the fundamental characteristics, such as steady characteristics and transient characteristics, of the MR-MI simulation were investigated by a numerical experiment. We dealt with reproduction of three-dimensional steady and unsteady blood flow fields in a realistic cerebral aneurysm developed at a bifurcation. The MR-MI simulation reduced the error derived from the incorrect boundary conditions in the blood flow in the cerebral aneurysm. For the reproduction of steady and unsteady standard solutions, the error of velocity decreased to 13% and to 22% in one cardiac cycle, respectively, compared with the ordinary simulation without feedback. Moreover, the application of feedback shortened the computational convergence, and thus the convergent solution and periodic solution were obtained within less computational time in the MR-MI simulation than that in the ordinary simulation. The dividing flow ratio toward the two outlets after bifurcation was well estimated owing to the improvement of computational accuracy. Furthermore, the MR-MI simulation yielded wall shear stress distribution on the cerebral aneurysm of the standard solution accurately and in detail.     

Fundamental Study of Ultrasonic-Measurement-Integrated Simulation of Real Blood Flow in the Aorta

Acquisition of detailed information on the velocity and pressure fields of the blood flow is essential to achieve accurate diagnosis or treatment for serious circulatory diseases such as aortic aneurysms. A possible way to obtain such information is integration of numerical simulation and color Doppler ultrasonography in the framework of a flow observer. This methodology, namely, Ultrasonic-Measurement-Integrated (UMI) Simulation, consists of the following processes. At each time step of numerical simulation, the difference between the measurable output signal and the signal indicated by numerical simulation is evaluated. Feedback signals are generated from the difference, and numerical simulation is updated applying the feedback signal to compensate for the difference. This paper deals with a numerical study on the fundamental characteristics of UMI simulation using a simple two-dimensional model problem for the blood flow in an aorta with an aneurysm. The effect of the number of feedback points and the feedback formula are investigated systematically. It is revealed that the result of UMI simulation in the feedback domain rapidly converges to the standard solution, even with usually inevitable incorrect upstream boundary conditions. Finally, an example of UMI simulation with feedback from real color Doppler measurement also shows a good agreement with measurement.