Alteration of Elastin, Collagen and their Cross-links in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVES: although the mechanism of arterial dilation and aneurysm development has not been clarified, the degradation of elastin and collagen plays undoubtedly a critical role. We evaluated the elastin and collagen content through the detection of their cross-links in aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal abdominal aortic walls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: in 26 human abdominal aortic aneurysm specimens obtained during surgery and in 24 autopsy control samples of non-aneurysmal abdominal aorta the tissue content of elastin and collagen cross-links were measured by HPLC. Collagen was also detected by evaluating two characteristic amino acids, 4-hydroxyproline (4-hypro) with a colorimetric method and 5-hydroxylysine (5-hylys) by gas chromatography. RESULTS: significantly fewer elastin cross-links were found in aneurysm samples compared to controls (desmosines and isodesmosines: 90% reduction; p<0.01). The opposite was true for pyridinoline collagen cross-links (350% increase) and deoxypyridinolines (100% increase, p=0.01). Tissue content of 5-hylys, 4-hypro and total amino acids were reduced significantly by 50% in aneurysmal samples. CONCLUSIONS: beside confirming decreased elastin content in aneurysmal walls, these results show a concurrent increase of collagen cross-links. Since total collagen markers were decreased (decreased 4-hypro and 5-hylys) it is reasonable to suggest that in aneurysmal aortic walls old collagen accumulates cross-links while new collagen biosynthesis is somehow defective.     

脉动真空灭菌器内室气体流向监测报警装置的研制

本文针对XGI型脉动真空灭菌柜出现的蒸汽倒流故障设计出一种内室气体流向监测报警装置，对管道中的蒸汽流向和空气流向进行监测。当出现倒流现象时，报警装置发出报警信号，提醒工作人员采取措施排除故障。经在两台灭菌柜上使用，证明此方案是一种行之有效的方法。     

吸入一氧化氮对心瓣膜置换术后肺动脉高压患者血流动力学的影响

目的：观察吸入一氧化氮（ＮＯ）对心瓣膜置换术后肺动脉高压患者血流动力学的影响。方法：选择９例心瓣膜置换术后伴肺动脉高压的病人，吸入ＮＯ０．００３％，观察三个时象点：吸入ＮＯ前；开始吸入ＮＯ后１５分钟；停止吸入ＮＯ后１５分钟。结果：吸入ＮＯ能显著降低肺动脉压和肺循环阻力指数（Ｐ＜０．０１），停止吸入ＮＯ１５分钟后，肺动脉压和肺循环阻力指数恢复到原有水平。在整个观察过程中，心率、平均动脉压、中心静脉压、肺动脉楔压、体循环阻力指数和心脏指数均无显著变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论：吸入ＮＯ具有选择性肺血管扩张作用，是治疗心瓣膜置换术后肺动脉高压的较理想药物。     

Traumatic or septic aortic regurgitation: diagnosis by oesophageal echocardiography

Severe aortic regurgitation was discovered in a young man 21 days after blunt chest trauma and after a prolonged febrile state with positive blood cultures. Using transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), it was possible to make the differential diagnosis between traumatic rupture and endocarditis as the cause of valvular insufficiency. The use of TEE in the initial evaluation of severe thoracic trauma with an unclear clinical picture is recommended. This method is easy to use at the bedside and gives precise information on the aortic valve and the ascending aorta.     

Extracardiac Right Atrium-to-Right Ventricle Homograft for Uncorrectable Tricuspid Valve Disease

Surgically uncorrectable tricuspid valve disease in children is rare. However, when it happens the surgical options are very limited. Tricuspid valve replacement using a mechanical valve or stented bioprosthesis is impractical. Use of homografts in the “anatomic position” has its limitations. We report here the use of an extracardiac homograft connection between the right atrium and right ventricle in a 16-month-old boy in whom severe tricuspid valve stenosis developed after surgical repair of a complex ventricular septal defect associated with dextrocardia and anomalous systemic venous drainage. The patient remains well receiving no cardiac medication 12 months after the procedure.     

超微孔膨体聚四氟乙烯人工心脏瓣膜体外流体力学的评价

目的采用新型高分子材料制备人工心脏瓣膜,并对其体外流体力学特征作出评价。方法将片状超微孔膨体聚四氟乙烯材料缝制于弹性支架上做成人工心脏瓣膜,以Baxter人工双叶机械瓣作对照,对新型瓣膜进行了静态泄漏和定常流测试。结果两种瓣膜静态泄漏率无显著差异(P>0.05),定常流下高分子瓣膜跨瓣压差更低,两组间存在显著差异(P<0.001)。结论新型高分子人工心脏瓣膜体外流体动力学性能优于Baxter机械瓣。     

Aortic regurgitation secondary to diastolic prolapse of a tubular intimal flap into the left ventricle in a patient with anuloaortic ectasia

A 32-year-old man with distal skeletal manifestations of Marfan's syndrome had experienced shortness of breath and orthopnea for one month. Physical examination showed the presence of severe aortic regurgitation. Both noninvasive and invasive studies revealed that the aortic regurgitation was induced by previously undescribed peculiar and unusual etiology: diastolic prolapse of a circumferentially dissected tubular intimal flap into the left ventricle. The patient underwent surgical repair with striking clinical improvement.     

Advantages of using the midline incision right retroperitoneal approach for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

This study was conducted to compare the midline incision right retroperitoneal approach for repairing abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) with the transperitoneal approach. The intra- and postoperative course of 15 patients who underwent AAA repair using the transperitoneal approach between 1987 and 1991 and another 15 patients who underwent AAA repair using the retroperitoneal approach between 1991 and 1994 were evaluated. The incidence of postoperative wound complications was also assessed. There was no operative or hospital death in either group. Although a significantly longer interval was required from the incision to the aortic clamp using the extraperitoneal method, there were no statistical differences in the aortic clamping time, total operation time, or blood loss between the two groups. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant improvement in bowel function and a significant reduction in the length of postoperative hospitalization following the extraperitoneal procedure. Furthermore, no wound complications such as those associated with the left flank incision developed after the extraperitoneal procedure. Thus, we recommend the midline incision right retroperitoneal approach for AAA as it does not involve muscle division and is associated with fewer complications.     

3-D echocardiographic imaging of double aortic arch.

Delineation of arch abnormalities is difficult by conventional 2-D echocardiography and MRI has been the investigation of choice. 3-D echocardiography is increasingly used in congenital heart disease for both functional anatomy and morphology. This case report demonstrates that 3-D echocardiography can be used in delineating arch anomalies, which can avoid further imaging that needs a general anaesthetic.     

The posterior urethral valve uropathy: Results of treatment

Nineteen children treated for posterior urethral obstruction due to congenital valve in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, over a 9-year period have been analysed. Their ages ranged from birth to 12 years. Results show that associated kidney pathology may be irreversible even after successful excision of the valve. This determines the final prognosis, which is worse the younger the child at presentation.