ABSTRACT
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of percutaneous transauricular artery access for hepatic artery catheterization using a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) device and hepatic artery catheterization through auricular approach. Methods: Ten New Zealand White rabbits were used to establish a VX2 liver tumor model. Hepatic artery angiography and embolization were performed 3 weeks after inoculation. The rabbits were restrained in supine position under anesthesia. Intra-arterial access was accomplished with percutaneous Seldinger technique through the auricular artery using a PICC device. The hepatic artery catheterization was performed with a microcatheter and guide wire. The rate of technical success and procedure time was investigated. Results: Two rabbits failed initial percutaneous transauricular arterial access, with success in a contralateral attempt. Thus, percutaneous transauricular arterial access was achieved in 10 of 12 auricular arteries, with a technical success rate of 83.3%. The time needed to obtain intra-auricular access was 7.2 ± 3.1 min. Hepatic artery catheterization, angiography, and embolization were accomplished through the auricular approach in all 10 rabbits. Conclusion: Arterial access in rabbits can be achieved through the auricular artery. Hepatic artery catheterization, angiography, and embolization can be performed through auricular arterial access
ABSTRACT
Objective: to determine the frequency of duodenal ulcer [DU], as well as other clinical characteristics occurring after endoscopic variceal ligation [EVL] of the esophagus
Study Design: descriptive study
Place and Duration of Study: the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China, from April 2012 to April 2013
Methodology: a total of 47 patients with esophageal varices [EVr] who had also undergone EVL and gastroscopic follow-up within 3 months of the procedure was retrospectively analyzed. The status of Helicobacter pylori [Hp] infection, Child-Pugh classification, and the grades of portal hypertensive gastropathy [PHG] were collected. Sixty EVr patients without EVL treatment, but with clinical data available, served as the control group
Results: the frequency of DU in the EVL group [29.8%, 14/47] was higher than the control group [6.7%, 4/60] [p=0.02]. Hp infection rate in EVL group was 19.15% [9/47], while in control group was 21.67% [13/60] [p=0.813]. Hp positive rate [12.5%, 1/8] in patients exhibited new DUs after EVL was comparable to the patients without DU in the EVL group [12.1%, 4/33] [p=1.00]. Patients with DU after EVL received 18.79 +/- 8.48 of ligating bands, while in those who did not exhibit DUs received 13.85 +/- 6.47 [z = -2.042, p = 0.041]. Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of DU was not associated with age, gender, Child-Pugh classification, or the grade of PHG [p > 0.05]
Conclusion: esophageal EVL is associated with a higher frequency of developing DU, which is related to a larger number of applied bands but is not correlated with Hp infection status or other variables
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: The association between α-adducin gene G614T polymorphism and essential hypertension (EH) is not clear. The present study was carried out to examine a possible association between α-adducin gene G614T mutation and essential hypertension in Chinese population. Methods: A total of 170 patients with essential hypertension (EH group) and 154 normotensive subjects (Control group) were genotyped for the cytoskeletal protein single nucleotide polymorphism G614T of the α-adducin gene by PCR-RFLP technique. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), left atrial diameter (LA DIA), left ventricular diameter (LV DIA) and other parameters were recorded in EH group. Results: There was significant association between EH and α-adducin genotypes (P<0.05). GT and TT genotypes in EH group had higher LDL levels as compared to GG carriers (P<0.05). The LDL concentration was significantly elevated in patients with GT and TT genotypes. The LDL levels also differed significantly in male patients with all the three genotypes. Interpretation & conclusions: A significant association was found between ADD1 gene G614T polymorphism and EH in Chinese patients. Further studies need to be done to confirm these findings in a large sample.