A Pilot First-in-Human Study of Embrace,a Polyethylene Glycol-Based Liquid Embolic Agent,in the Embolization of Malignant and Benign Hypervascular Tumors

PurposeTo investigate the safety and efficacy of an aqueous polyethylene glycol-based liquid embolic agent, Embrace Hydrogel Embolic System (HES), in the treatment of benign and malignant hypervascular tumors.Materials and MethodsA prospective, single-arm, multicenter study included 8 patients, 5 males and 3 females, with a median age of 58.5 years (30–85 years), who underwent embolization in 8 tumors between October 2019 and May 2020. Technical success was defined as successful delivery of HES to the index vessel, with disappearance of >90% of the targeted vascular enhancement or, for portal vein embolization, occlusion of the portal branches to the liver segments for future resection. The volume of HES administered, ease of use (5 point Likert scale), administration time, and adverse events (AEs) were recorded. Evaluation was performed at 7, 30, and 90 days via clinical assessment and blood testing, and follow-up imaging was performed at 30 days.ResultsEight patients were enrolled, and 10 embolizations were performed in 8 lesions. Tumors included hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 4), renal angiomyolipoma (n = 3), and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1). Technical success was 100%, and the average ease of use was 3.3 ± 1.0 SD. The HES delivery time was 1–28 minutes (median, 16.5 minutes), and the HES volume injected was 0.4–4.0 mL (median, 1.3 mL). All patients reached 30-day follow-up with imaging, and 6 patients reached 90-day follow-up. There were 3 serious AEs in 2 patients that were unrelated to the embolic agent.ConclusionHES resulted in a 100% embolization technical success rate. The product ease of use was acceptable, and no target vessel recanalization was noted on follow-up imaging at 30 days.     

The vascular endothelium plays a role in insulin action

The endocrine system relies on the vasculature for delivery of hormones throughout the body, and the capillary microvasculature is the site where the hormones cross from the blood into the target tissue. Once considered an inert wall, various studies have now highlighted the functions of the capillary endothelium to regulate transport and therefore affect or maintain the interstitial environment. The role of the capillary may be clear in areas where there is a continuous endothelium, yet there also appears to be a role of endothelial cells in tissues with a sinusoidal structure. Here we focused on the most common endocrine disorder, diabetes, and several of the target organs associated with the disease, including skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas. However, it is important to note that the ability of hormones to cross the endothelium to reach their target tissue is a component of all endocrine functions. It is also a consideration in organs throughout the body and may have greater impact for larger hormones with target tissues containing a continuous endothelium. We noted that the blood levels do not always equal interstitial levels, which is what the cells are exposed to, and discussed how this may change in diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance. The capillary endothelium is, therefore, an essential and understudied aspect of endocrinology and metabolism that can be altered in disease, which may be an appropriate target for treatment.     

The Present and Future of Clinical Psychology in Private Practice

This article discusses clinical psychologists' current concerns, challenges, and opportunities in private practice. The future of clinicians in independent practice is presented within two paradigms, namely, psychology as a health profession, and psychology as life enhancement. Finally, the author argues that psychotechnology, corporate clinical psychology, and psychology as life enrichment will evolve within the future of clinical psychological independent practice.     

绞股蓝总皂甙对自由基损伤血管内皮的保护作用

本文观察了绞股蓝总皂苷(Gypenosides,GYP)对电解性自由基(OFR)损伤离体兔胸主动脉和脑基底动脉内皮的保护作用:电解性OFR使乙酰胆碱(Ach)诱导的兔主动脉环舒张百分率明显降低,舒张比值(RR)变小,使离体兔脑基底动脉灌流压升高。结果显示绞股蓝能保护血管内皮免受OFR损伤,且呈剂量依赖性,并明显抑制OFR所致灌流压升高。作用似二甲亚砜(DMSO),说明GYP对外源性OFR损伤具保护作用。     

血管内皮细胞受损后急性低氧性肺血管收缩反应减弱

为了探明血管内皮细胞在急性低无性肺动脉高压中的作用进行了本研究。雄性ＳＤ大鼠经２０％乌拉坦麻醉，气管插管，呼吸机通气。动物分为两组：单纯低氧组（ｎ＝１０只）吸１０．５％低氧混合气体５分钟；另一组为肺损伤低无组（ｎ＝７只），ＡＮＴＵｌｍｇ／ｋｇ缓慢注入肺动脉内，再吸入１０．５％低氧混合气体。实验结果表明：大鼠吸入低氧混合气体后肺动脉平均压ＰＰａ）增加２０．４±６．５％，而肺损伤后再吸入低氧气体，ＰＰａ仅增加８．７±３．８％，显著低于单纯低氧组（Ｐ＜０．０１）．结果提示：血管内皮细胞受损后急性低氧性肺血管收缩反应明显减弱。     

显露血管内皮下层纤维连接素的方法

本文报道了一种显露内皮下层纤维连接素的理想方法。大白鼠主动脉壁分别用1.0％NP-40作用5min,30.0mmol/L KCl作用10min后,内皮细胞全部脱离,内皮下层大部分纤维连接素被保留。本法适用于建立细胞与血管壁相互作用的体外实验模型。     

循环内皮细胞水平与糖尿病肾病的相关性及银杏达莫的干预作用

目的:探讨外周血循环内皮细胞(CEC)和糖尿病肾病(DN)的相关性,以及银杏达莫注射液在DN防治中的可能作用。方法:检测65例2型糖尿病患者24h尿白蛋白排泄率(UAER)及CEC数,分析两者的相关性。将UAER为30~300mg·d-1的45例患者随机分为两组,常规治疗组22例,进行常规降血糖、控制血压等治疗;银杏达莫治疗组23例,在常规治疗基础上静脉滴注银杏达莫注射液2周。比较两组治疗前后血糖、血压、UAER及CEC水平的变化。结果:单纯糖尿病(SDM)组和早期糖尿病肾病(EDN)组的外周血CEC水平比对照组(NC)显著性升高,并呈逐渐增高的趋势(P<0.01)。UAER与收缩压(SBP)、外周血CEC水平呈正相关(P<0.01)。EDN组中,银杏达莫治疗后UAER及CEC明显降低(P<0.01);而常规治疗组无明显变化。线性多元逐步回归分析表明,银杏达莫治疗后UAER的改变与CEC数的变化成正相关(P<0.01)。结论:血管内皮细胞(VEC)损伤在DN发生发展中起重要作用,银杏达莫对VEC的保护作用可能是其延缓DN发展的重要机制。     

烧伤兔血清对培养内皮细胞的影响

本实验采用血管内皮细胞培养模型，动态观察了家兔烧伤（３０％Ⅲ度）早期烧伤表对内皮细胞结构和功能的影响，通过相差显微动态观察、台盘菜染色、ＨＥ染色光镜检查及扫描电镜观察。同时检测孵育不同时相点增减液中ＬＤＨ、６－ｋｅｔｏ－ＰＧＥ１α、ｔＰＡ及内皮细胞抗上板粘附能力变化。结果显示：（１）烧伤血清对内皮细胞有明显的损伤作用功能改变早于结构损害，而结构损害又以细胞间连接及其表达结构改变为早；（２）烧伤血