血管超声成像之高级功能的技术特点与临床应用

该文介绍了传统超声多普勒存在的角度依赖、混叠等主要技术缺陷,阐述了当前几项主流的血管超声血流成像的高级功能,并结合临床应用给出了一个综述性的总结。描述了超声向量血流成像的技术特点及其发展历程,重点介绍了V Flow技术及其临床应用结果,并同时对血管应用相关的其他高级功能进行了概述。传统超声多普勒结合血管超声的高级功能可为血管疾病的临床诊断提供一系列更有针对性的解决方案。     

Piper tectoniifolium Kunth: A New Natural Source of the Bioactive Neolignan (−)-Grandisin

The Piper species are a recognized botanical source of a broad structural diversity of lignans and its derivatives. For the first time, Piper tectoniifolium Kunth is presented as a promising natural source of the bioactive (−)-grandisin. Phytochemical analyses of extracts from its leaves, branches and inflorescences showed the presence of the target compound in large amounts, with leaf extracts found to contain up to 52.78% in its composition. A new HPLC-DAD-UV method was developed and validated to be selective for the identification of (−)-grandisin being sensitive, linear, precise, exact, robust and with a recovery above 90%. The absolute configuration of the molecule was determined by X-ray diffraction. Despite the identification of several enantiomers in plant extracts, the major isolated substance was characterized to be the (−)-grandisin enantiomer. In vascular reactivity tests, it was shown that the grandisin purified from botanical extracts presented an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect with an IC₅₀ of 9.8 ± 1.22 μM and around 80% relaxation at 30 μM. These results suggest that P. tectoniifolium has the potential to serve as a renewable source of grandisin on a large scale and the potential to serve as template for development of new drugs for vascular diseases with emphasis on disorders related to endothelial disfunction.     

A mathematical model for ATP-mediated calcium dynamics in vascular endothelial cells induced by fluid shear stress

In consideration of the mechanism for shear-stress-induced Ca^2＋ influx via ATP（adenosine triphosphate）-gated ion channel P2X4 in vascular endothelial cells, a modified model is proposed to describe the shear-stress-induced Ca^2＋ influx. It is affected both by the Ca^2＋ gradient across the cell membrane and extracellular ATP concentration on the cell surface. Meanwhile, a new static ATP release model is constructed by using published experimental data. Combining the modified intracellular calcium dynamics model with the new ATP release model, we establish a nonlinear Ca^2＋ dynamic system in vascular endothelial cells. The ATP-mediated calcium response in vascular endothelial cells subjected to shear stresses is analyzed by solving the governing equations of the integrated dynamic system. Numerical results show that the shear-stress-induced calcium response predicted by the proposed model is more consistent with the experimental observations than that predicted by existing models.     

Combination of micropreparative solution isoelectric focusing and high-performance liquid chromatography for differentiation of biofilm-positive and biofilm-negative Candida parapsilosis group from vascular catheter

This study utilizes the high-performance liquid chromatography technique in combination with the new micropreparative solution isoelectric focusing fractionation on non-woven fabric strip for the characterization and differentiation of biofilm-positive and biofilm-negative forms of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto on the basis of the changes in the composition of their cell-surface. Treatment of yeasts by boiling in distilled water relased surface substances from yeasts cells. Consequently, the optimized procedure has been used for fast identification of the highly pathogenic biofilm-positive Candida parapsilosis group in real clinical material – sonicate from vascular catheters. Moreover, the capillary isoelectric focusing was used as supporting and control technique. Obtained results suggest that this new method can be used to distinguish between biofilm-positive and negative forms of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto.     

局部狭窄血管中血液振荡流的速度和切应力

本文建立一种分析局部缓慢狭窄血管中血液振荡流的数学模型，给出了血液的轴向流速，径向流速和切应力的包含压力梯度项的解析表达式，并讨论了血管内由局部狭窄引起的压力梯度沿轴向变化的规律。文章以局部余弦狭窄为例进行数值计算，详细讨论上游均匀管段压力梯度的定常部分和不同次谐波对狭窄管段内流速和切应力的影响。数值结果表明，与均匀管情况相比，在狭窄段内，血液振荡流轴向流速无论平均值还是脉动幅值均明显增大，且径向流速不再为零。但径向流速仍远小于轴向流速。同时，切应力也不再仅由轴向流速梯度提供，径向流速梯度也将产生切应力，但是在计算管壁切向上的切应力时，径向流速梯度的贡献仍相当大。与均匀管管壁切应力沿流运方向保持恒定不同。狭窄管管壁切应力（平均值和脉动值）将随着狭窄高度的增大而增大，在狭窄最大高度处达到最大，因而沿流动方向产生了较大的切应力梯度。     

A rapid method for detection of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)

Detection of cell surface proteins is widely used as molecular markers for initiation, progression and severity of many diseases. In particular, detection of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on endothelial cells is important as it indicates the extent of inflammation associated with several diseases including arthritis, asthma, tumor metastasis, etc. Here, we report, a rapid method for detection of CAMs on endothelial cells by covalently immobilizing TNF-α induced cells on a photoactivated polystyrene microtiter plate at 50 °C in 45 min followed by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique at elevated temperature. Our method reduced the time of cell-ELISA to 3 h with results akin to conventional cell-ELISA carried out in 38 h. The method thus described herein could be potentially useful in clinical and research laboratories for rapid detection of cell surface proteins including CAMs on intact cell samples.     

Design,Preparation, and Performance of a Novel Bilayer Tissue‐Engineered Small‐Diameter Vascular Graft

In clinical practice, the need for small‐diameter vascular grafts continues to increase. Decellularized xenografts are commonly used for vascular reconstructive procedures. Here, porcine coronary arteries are decellularized, which destroys the extracellular matrix structure, leading to the decrease of vascular strength and the increase of vascular permeability. A bilayer tissue‐engineered vascular graft (BTEV) is fabricated by electrospinning poly(l ‐lactide‐co‐carprolactone)/gelatin outside of the decellularized vessels and functionalized by immobilizing heparin, which increases the biomechanical strength and anticoagulant activity of decellularized vessels. The biosafety and efficacy of the heparin‐modified BTEVs (HBTEVs) are verified by implanting in rat models. HBTEVs remain patent and display no expansion or aneurism. After 4 weeks of implantation, a cell monolayer in the internal surface and a dense middle layer have formed, and the mechanical properties of regenerated vessels are similar to those of rat abdominal aorta. Therefore, HBTEVs can be used for rapid remodeling of small‐diameter blood vessels.     

4D Biofabrication of Mechanically Stable Tubular Constructs Using Shape Morphing Porous Bilayers for Vascularization Application

This study reports the fabrication of highly porous electrospun self-folding bilayers, which fold into tubular structures with excellent mechanical stability, allowing them to be easily manipulated and handled. Two kinds of bilayers based on biocompatible and biodegradable soft (PCL, polycaprolactone) and hard (PHB, poly-hydroxybutyrate) thermoplastic polymers have been fabricated and compared. Multi-scroll structures with tunable diameter are obtained after the shape transformation of the bilayer in aqueous media, where PCL-based bilayer rolled longitudinally and PHB-based one rolled transversely with respect to the fiber direction. A combination of higher elastic modulus and transverse orientation of fibers with respect to rolling direction allowed precise temporal control of shape transformation of PHB-bilayer – stress produced by swollen methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HA-MA) do not relax with time and folding is not affected by the fact that bilayer is fixed in unfolded state in cell culture medium for more than 1 h. This property of PHB-bilayer allowed cell culturing without a negative effect on its shape transformation ability. Moreover, PHB-based tubular structure demonstrated superior mechanical stability compared to PCL-based ones and do not collapse during manipulations that happened to PCL-based one. Additionally, PHB/HA-MA bilayers showed superior biocompatibility, degradability, and long-term stability compared to PCL/HA-MA.