Abstract: Objective To determine the effects of oxidative stress reaction on intima hyperplasia after autologous vein grafting. Methods Seventy female SpragueDawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group(n=10) and an experimental group (n=60). The experimental group was then divided into six time points of one day; one, two, four, and six weeks; and two months after surgery; with 10 rats for each time point. Autologous vein grafting models were established. At each time point the designated rats were anaesthetized, and the grafts were isolated and stained with HE. The same length of external jugular vein was cut from each rat in the control group. The neointima to tunica media area ratios (I/M) were measured with acomputerized digital image analysis system. Nuclear factorkappa B (NF-κB) and copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) were detected byimmunohistochemistry. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum was analyzed by colorimetry. Results In the control group, expression levels of NF-κB and CuZnSOD were low. In the experimental group, expression of NF-κB increased after the operation and peaked two weeks later. The plateau was sustained for about one month, and then the level of expression declined gradually, reaching the baseline at the twomonth time point. The expression of CuZnSOD increased gradually after the operation and peaked one week later, then declined to the normal level after 2-3 weeks at the plateau. In the control group, the concentration of serum MDA was 4.966±1.346 nmol/ml. In the experimental -group, the-MDA concentration increased dramatically after the operation, then-declined from its highest level at the oneday time point (21.161±2.174 nmol/ml) to the normal level at two months (6.208±2.908 nmol/ml) after the operation (P＜0.05). In the control group, I/M was 0.2096±0.0253, while in the experimental group, it was higher one week after the operation (0.6806±0.0737) and peaked at four weeks (1.4527±0.0824), falling to 1.0353±00656 at six weeks and 0.9583±0.0516 attwo months (P＜0.05) for the experimental and control groups). Conclusion Endothelial cell injury initiates an oxidative stress reaction after autologous vein grafting and augments inflammation by activating NF-κB, thus playing an important role in inducing restenosis of the grafted vein.
Objective To investigate the impact of different modes of cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） and cerebral perfusion on cerebral protection in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection （AD）. Methods Clinical data of 117 patients with Stanford type A AD who underwent surgical therapy from April 2007 to March 2012 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into 3 groups according to different modes of CPB and cerebral perfusion they received. In group 1，45 patients received CPB perfusion through the femoral artery and unilateral or bilateral antegrade selective cerebral perfusion （ASCP） after circulatory arrest. In group 2，38 patients received CPB perfusion through the subclavian artery or innominate artery and unilateral or bilateral ASCP after circulatory arrest. In group 3，34 patients received antegrade and retrograde CPB perfusion through both subclavian artery or innominate artery and femoral artery，and unilateral or bilateral ASCP after circulatory arrest. Postoperative occurrence of transient neurological dysfunction （TND），permanent neurological dysfunction （PND） and influential factors were compared between the 3 groups. Results Incidence of postoperative cerebral complications of group 1 was significantly higher than those of group 2 and 3 （37.77% vs. 13.16% vs. 14.71%，P ＜0.05）. During CPB，cooling time of group 3 was significantly shorter than those of group 1 and 2 （35.56±4.35 vs. 40.00±5.63 and 39.58±6.03，P ＜0.05）. There was no statisticaldifference in other influential factors among the 3 groups （P ＞0.05）. Conclusion Antegrade and retrograde CPB perfusionin combination with ASCP has a smooth and quicker cooling rate，may provide better protection for the spinal cord，kidney and intraperitoneal organs and especially decrease the incidence of postoperative cerebral complications，therefore is proved current best method for organ protection.
Objective To investigate activated toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) signaling pathway involved in pathophysiological mechanisms of type A aortic dissection (TAAD). Methods Specimens of full-thickness ascending aorta wall from the TAAD patients (n=12) and the controlled donors (n=12) were collected. Western blotting was used to examine the associated proteins' expression of TLR4 signaling pathway. Blood samples from TAAD (n=43) and controlled patients (n=50) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the circulating plasma cytokines levels of interleukin-1β (L-1β). Results In the aortic wall of TAAD, expression levels of TLR4 and protein expression of major molecule significantly elevated, and activated macrophages increased. Furthermore, elevated IL-1β levels were observed in the TAAD patients’ plasma compared with the control plasma. Multiple logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that elevated IL-1β could be a novel and promising biomarker with important diagnostic and predictive value in the identification of TAAD. Conclusion Activated TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway regulates inflammatory response to involve in pathophysiological mechanisms of type A aortic dissection and its regulated inflammatory products have important predictive value for patients with TAAD.