Endothelial function,regulation of angiogenesis and embryonic central hemodynamics in ART-conceived pregnancies

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare the concentrations of pro- and anti-angiogenic growth factors, nitric oxide (NO) stable metabolites in maternal serum and embryonic left ventricular (LV) isovolumic relaxation time (IRT, ms) during the first trimester in two groups of women: with pregnancy conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART, n?=?39) and normally conceived (control group, n?=?68) pregnancy. The concentration of vasoconstrictor endothelin 1 was 45.5 times more in ART than in control group. On the contrary, the concentrations of NO stable metabolites in ART were 1.9 times less than in control women. The assessment of angiogenic suppressors in ART women demonstrates the decrease in s-endoglin concentration was 1.6 times and in soluble receptor to vascular endothelial growth factor concentration was 2.0 times in comparison with control group. There was a significant increase in LV IRT in ART embryos in comparison to control ones. These data suggest significant changes in pro- anti-angiogenic factors balance and increase in vascular impedance in ART-conceived embryos.     

The Presence of Portal Vein Thrombosis Alters the Classic Enhancement Associated with Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - To determine whether the presence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) where venous flow within the liver may be altered may delay the diagnosis of HCC and be...     

Effect of Tropicamide on Laser Flare Meter Measurements in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the effect of 1% tropicamide on anterior chamber aqueous flare (ACAF) measurements acquired with laser flare meter in patients with pseudoexfoliation.     

腹腔镜"蘑菇状"剜除术治疗外生性肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤的临床应用

目的对比研究腹腔镜下外生性肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤"蘑菇状"剜除与标准肾部分切除术的安全性及有效性，为肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤腹腔镜下"蘑菇状"剜除术术式的建立提供临床依据。 方法选取海南医学院第二附属医院与解放军总医院2018年1月至2019年5月期间，接受腹腔镜手术的肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤患者53例，其中25例沿肿瘤假包膜行"蘑菇状"剜除术(A组)、28例行肾部分切除术(B组)。比较两组手术患者的肾动脉阻断时间、手术时间、术中出血量、术后24 h血红蛋白、术后eGFR(estimated glomerular filtration rate,估计肾小球率过滤)的变化、术后住院时间和术后肿瘤复发率。 结果53例手术无术中转开放，无死亡病例。肾动脉阻断时间：A组(11.9±2.2)min、B组(21.5±6.5) min(P<0.001)。手术时间：A组(87.9±24.8)min、B组(114.3±38.9) min(P<0.001)。术中出血量：A组20 ml(20～40)ml、B组50 ml(50～100)ml(P<0.001)。术后24 h血红蛋白变化：A组(7.4±4.3) g/L、B组(12.4±8.8) g/L(P＝0.013)。术后24 h eGFR变化：A组(6.2±7.2 )ml(min·1.73 m²)，B组(12.7±12.8)ml(min·1.73 m²)(P＝0.027)。术后6个月eGFR变化：A组(1.5±3.7)ml(min·1.73 m²)、B组(6.5±5.6)ml(min·1.73 m²)(P<0.001)。术后住院时间：A组4.0 d(3～4)d、B组4.5 d(3～6)d(P＝0.023)。术后随访两组术后肿瘤均无复发。 结论采用腹腔镜"蘑菇状"剜除术治疗外生性肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤在肾动脉阻断时间、术中出血量、术后24 h血红蛋白、术后eGFR变化、术后住院时间等方面均优于传统肾部分切除术，两组术后肿瘤均无复发；该方法安全、有效，适于临床推广。     

Subscapularis Transthoracic Versus Posterolateral Approaches in the Surgical Management of Upper Thoracic Tuberculosis: A Prospective,Randomized Controlled Study

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes of a subscapularis transthoracic surgical approach and a posterolateral surgical approach with debridement, bone graft fusion, and internal fixation for the treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis.There is currently debate over the best surgical approach for the treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis. Traditionally, the subscapularis transthoracic approach has been preferred; however, the posterolateral approach has gained popularity in the past few years.A prospective, consecutive cohort of 43 upper thoracic tuberculosis patients with a mean age of 39 years (range: 20–52 years) was followed up for a minimum of 12 months (range: 12–60 months). Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A (n = 21) was treated by the subscapularis transthoracic approach and group B (n = 22) was treated by the posterolateral approach. All cases were evaluated for clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes. Intraoperative blood loss, operative duration, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospital stay, the cure rate, fusion time, and the Frankel scale were used for clinical and functional evaluation, whereas the kyphosis angle was used for radiological evaluation.Grafted bones were fused by 10 months in all cases. There was no statistically significant difference between groups before surgery in terms of gender, age, segmental tuberculosis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Frankel scale, or Cobb''s angle (P > 0.05). The average operative duration for Group B was lower than that of Group A. There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospital stay, grafted bone fusion time, or cure rate between groups (P > 0.05). The Cobb''s angle correction rate for group B (68.5%) was significantly better than that of group A (30.9%). The neurological score showed significant postoperative improvement in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups.The subscapularis transthoracic approach and the posterolateral approach with debridement, bone graft fusion, and internal fixation are both sufficient and satisfactory for the surgical treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis. However, the posterolateral approach is superior to the subscapularis transthoracic approach in terms of surgical trauma, operative time, and kyphosis correction.     

Sexual dimorphism in shape and size of the neurocranium

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Sex identification is a primary step in forensic analysis of skeletal remains. The accuracy of sex estimation methods greatly depends on the sexual...