Inline Balloon Occlusion–Assisted Delivery of Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer for Peripheral Arterial Applications: A Multicenter Case Series

PurposeTo assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of balloon-assisted delivery of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) for a range of peripheral arterial applications.Materials and MethodsSix academic medical centers entered retrospective data on 46 consecutive patients (27 men, 19 women; ages, 11–94 y; mean age, 50.3 y) who underwent 60 balloon-assisted EVOH procedures. The cohort was restricted to procedures involving peripheral, nonneural arteries 1–5.5 mm in diameter. Clinical indications included a wide range of vascular pathologic conditions (most commonly arteriovenous malformations [n = 20], renal angiomyolipomas [n = 8], and acute hemorrhage [n = 9]) and targeted visceral and musculoskeletal peripheral arteries. Data collected included sex, age, clinical indication, arterial pathology, arteries embolized, type of occlusion balloon microcatheter, type and concentration of EVOH agent, effectiveness as an embolic backstop, vessels protected, adequacy of EVOH cast penetration, catheter extraction, nontarget embolization, and complications.ResultsBalloon occlusion prevented EVOH reflux in 59 of 60 procedures (98.3%). Nontarget EVOH embolization occurred in 2 procedures (3.3%). Adequate EVOH cast penetration and complete filling of the target pathologic structure were seen in 57 of 60 procedures (95%). Balloon deflation and uneventful extraction occurred in all procedures; small EVOH fragments detached into target arteries in 2 cases. One major (1.7%) and 2 minor (3.3%) complications occurred.ConclusionsBalloon-assisted EVOH embolization of peripheral arteries is feasible, safe, effective, and versatile. The primary advantage of balloon-assisted EVOH embolization is the ability to apply more injection pressure to advance the EVOH cast assertively into the pathologic structure(s).     

Prostatic Artery Embolization—Anatomic Predictors of Technical Outcomes

PurposeTo determine if cone-beam CT and digital subtraction angiography analysis of pelvic arterial anatomy has predictive value for radiation exposure and technical success of prostatic artery embolization (PAE).Materials and MethodsThis prospective, nonrandomized, single-center study included 104 consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cone-beam CT was performed in 160/208 (76.9%) hemipelves to determine prostatic artery (PA) origin. Classification of pelvic arterial tortuosity was possible in 73/104 (70.2%) patients. Learning curves of 2 interventionalists who performed 86.5% of PAEs were analyzed.ResultsTortuosity of pelvic arteries was classified as mild in 25 (34.2%) patients median age 64 years, moderate in 40 (54.8%) patients median age 69 years, and severe in 8 (11.0%) patients median age 70 years (mild vs moderate, P = .002; mild vs severe, P = .019); median fluoroscopy times were 24, 36, and 46 minutes (P = .008, P = .023); median contrast volumes were 105, 122.5, and 142 mL (P = .029, P = .064); and bilateral PAE rates were 84.0%, 77.5%, and 62.5% (P = .437), respectively. PA origin from superior vesical artery was most frequent (27.5%) and showed higher dose area product (median 402.4 vs 218 Gy ∙ cm², P = .033) and fluoroscopy time (median 42.5 vs 27 min, P = .01) compared with PA origin from obturator artery, which was least frequent. Interventionalist experience revealed significant impact on procedure times (median 159 vs 130 min, P = .006).ConclusionsTortuosity of pelvic arteries was more frequent in older patients and predicted worse technical outcomes of PAE. PA origin from obturator artery was associated with lower dose area product and fluoroscopy time, especially compared with PA origin from superior vesical artery. Interventionalist experience showed significant influence on technical outcome.     

数字减影血管造影与介入治疗在胃肠道动脉性出血中的应用价值

目的 探讨数字减影血管造影(DSA)诊断与介入治疗在胃肠道动脉性出血中的应用价值.方法 回顾性总结78例消化道动脉性出血患者的DSA表现和动脉栓塞、药物灌注的治疗经验.结果 本组患者十二指肠溃疡15例,胃溃疡5例,胃癌2例,Dieulafoy病1例,血管畸形和发育不良9例,胃肠术后吻合口出血8例,肝胆疾患术后肝动脉破裂出血10例,Crohn病5例、肠道憩室出血6例、小肠炎或溃疡6例,小肠息肉3例,小肠中度恶性间质瘤1例,小肠高分化平滑肌肉瘤2例,直结肠癌5例.74%(58/78)的患者DSA造影阳性,造影剂外溢直接征象者33%(26/78),术后吻合口出血直接征象者83%(15/18).介入治疗的病例中动脉药物灌注15例,技术成功率60%(9/15),临床成功率40%(6/15);栓塞36例,技术成功率86%(31/36),临床成功率72%(26/36);介人治疗后再出血率16%(8/51),其中1例栓塞后再呕血经胃镜治疗无效死亡.DSA造影和介入治疗后手术者27例,造影与术后病理诊断的符合率为78%(21/27).随访时间2个月至3年,未发生胃肠道缺血坏死等并发症.结论 DSA对消化道动脉性出血的定位、定性有着重要价值,选择性动脉栓塞及药物灌注止血安全有效,有助于择期手术和并发症处理.     

Screening Mouse Genes Related to Blastocyst Implantation by Using PCR Subtraction

Objective To identify genes that may be related to embryo implantation Materials & Methods The PCR subtraction technique was applied at implantation and inter-plantation sites on day 4. 5 of pregnancy in mice. Two novel Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs ), EST8 and EST81 were identified; their expression in tissues was analyzed by Northern blotting, and their full-length cDNAs were synthesized by PCR.Results We found that these two novel ESTs (EST8and EST81) were noticeably expressed in implantation site in the mouse on day 4. 5 of pregnancy. EST8 was expressed at high level in livers and implantation sites of the mice, while at low level in ovaries and inter-plantation sites. EST81 was predominantly expressed in implantation site and ovary, and at low level in all other tissues. Their complete cDNAs, 1 665bp and 1 264 bp respectively, were synthesized by using PCR.Conclusion The two full-length cDNAs were responsible for embryo implantation,and their functions need to be further studied.     

Kindergarten children's representation and understanding of written number symbols

Two samples of kindergarten children's representation and understanding of written number symbols were examined in two time points in one academic year. About 85% of Chinese five year olds (mean = 5 years 10 months) were able to use conventional number symbols to represent the quantity of 30 or larger. At the end of the kindergarten year, 94% of Chinese six year olds (mean = 6 years 4 months) were able to use conventional number symbols to represent the quantity of 100 or larger. Some Chinese six year olds had problems in representing written addition and subtraction tasks. Children's ability to represent written number symbols, ability to represent written addition and subtraction formula and their performance on written addition and subtraction were closely related. The performance of children in a university-affiliated childcare center was better than that of the center serving working-class families in Time 1, but the performance reversed at the end of the kindergarten year.     

早期DSA检查对蛛网膜下腔出血的临床意义

蛛网膜下腔出血（subarachnoid hemorrhage，SAH）是临床发病率和死亡率均较高的急性脑血管病之一，并呈逐年增高趋势。随着神经介入影像学的发展，对急性SAH患早期（72h内1开展数字减影血管造影（digital subtraction angiography．DSA）检查，使SAH的早期病因诊断及病因治疗成为可能，患的预后也得到显改善。我院自2003年1月至2006年4月收治96例SAH患行早期DSA检查并给予相应的病因治疗．取得较好的临床疗效。现将有关资料与临床治疗总结报道如下。[第一段]     

Observation on 108 Normal Ophthalmic Arteries in 80 Patients by Digital Subtraction Angiography

By digital subtraction angiography(DSA), the authors made observations on 108 normal ophthalmic arteries in 80 patients with regard to the origins, courses, branching, morphology and anastomoses of the vessels. The merits and demerits of DSA in observing the ophthalmic artery were discussed. Eye Science 1994; 10: 157- 162.     

数字减影子宫输卵管造影术

目的:介绍和评价数字减影与自动高压注射器联合应用于子宫输卵管造影(HSG)。方法:自行设计造影用硅胶管使之能与自动高压注射器相联接,用40%泛影葡胺和数字减影方法作造影;随机抽取常规透视点片碘油造影片44份,数字减影泛影葡胺造影片50份进行对照分析。结果:两组比较:清晰度宫腔无显著性差异(P>0.05),输卵管有显著性差异(P<0.05);输卵管通畅率、血管或(和)淋巴管回流率有显著性差异(P<0.05)。盆腔涂布无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:采用数字减影与高压注射器行子宫输卵管造影能提高造影质量。     

Abnormal sensorimotor integration is related to disease severity in Parkinson's disease: a TMS study.

Hyperexcitability of the motor system has been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). We evaluate how cutaneous afferents modulate motor excitability in PD patients and whether abnormal modulation is correlated to parkinsonian symptoms. Digital stimulation causes abnormal enhancement of motor responses in patients. This effect may be one of the features of motor hyperexcitability in PD. Cutaneomotor hyperexcitability correlates with clinical scores, suggesting that abnormal processing of cutaneous inputs might contribute to the pathogenesis of parkinsonian symptoms.     

左心室造影功能成像的临床应用

为探讨左心室造影功能成像的价值与限度，我们选择冠脉及左心室造影者38例行左室功能成像，观察左室壁运动情况并与节段法室壁运动定量分析比较。结果示左室收缩正常18例，其各节段EF值平均39％，节段性收缩减弱7例，无收缩3例，矛盾收缩4例，普遍性收缩减弱6例，病变节段的EF值平均5～19％，明显低于正常者（P＜0．01）。结论：左室功能成像效果直观且客观，可作为室壁运动定量分析的一个重要补充。