ABSTRACT
As the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and peripheral vascular diseases rises, the constraints of autologous transplantation remain unavoidable. As a result, artificial vascular grafts must be developed. Adhesion of proteins, platelets and bacteria on implants can result in stenosis, thrombus formation, and postoperative infection, which can be fatal for an implantation. Polyurethane, as a commonly used biomaterial, has been modified in various ways to deal with the adhesions of proteins, platelets, and bacteria and to stimulate endothelium adhesion. In this review, we briefly summarize the mechanisms behind adhesions, overview the current strategies of surface modifications of polyurethane biomaterials used in vascular grafts, and highlight the challenges that need to be addressed in future studies, aiming to gain a more profound understanding of how to develop artificial polyurethane vascular grafts with an enhanced implantation success rate and reduced side effect.
Subject(s)
Humans , Polyurethanes , Biocompatible Materials , Blood Vessel Prosthesis/adverse effects , Cardiovascular DiseasesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effect of 3 minimally invasive approaches for ureteral calculi removal and analyze their respective advantages and limitations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was conducted in 326 patients receiving extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URL) or percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) for ureteral calculi. The clinical data including the stone-free rate and complications were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The stone free rate was 78.5% (146/186), 91.2 (93/102) and 100% (38/38) in the 3 groups, respectively. According to the stone size, the ESWL group were divided into 3 groups with stone sizes of 0.5-1.0 cm, 1.0-2.0 cm and beyond 2.0 cm, and the stone-free rates were 90.8% (89/98), 69.3% (52/75), and 30.8% (5/13), respectively, showing significant difference between them (P<0.01). In URL group, surgical failure occurred in 9 cases, including 3 cases with difficult entry of the ureter, 5 with stone displacement to the kidneys, and 1 with residual stones over 4 mm. In PCNL group, the percutaneous renal access was successfully established and immediate phase I lithotripsy was performed in all the patients without severe complications recorded during nephrolithotripsy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ESWL is the best option for cases with stone smaller than 10 mm. URL suits most of ureteral calculus cases, but successful entrance of the ureteroscope is a prerequisite and retrograde stone displacement is the primary reason for surgical failure. PCNL is effective in the management of complex upper ureteral stones, especially in cases of failed ESWL or ureteroscopy.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Lithotripsy , Methods , Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures , Methods , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Ureteral Calculi , General Surgery , UreteroscopyABSTRACT
Objective To understand well this disease,8 children with familial periodic paralysis(FPP) were reported and the(rela)-ted literatures were reviewed.Methods The hereditary characters,clinical manifestations,auxiliary examination and managements were summarized retrospectively in 8 cases of FPP patients hospitalized from January 1996 to December 2005,and etiopathogenis and diagnosis were also analyzed.Results Six cases of FPP were diagnosed as hypokalemic periodic paralysis,and all occured as an autosomal dominant condition.During paralytic episodes,the patients showed obviously low serum potassium levels [1.9-2.8 mmol/L,(2.4?0.38) mmol/L)] and hypokalemic electrocardiogram findings,such as U-wave.The level of blood glucose was lower than normal range.Other 2 cases with normal serum potassium ion level at attack were diagnosed as normokalemic periodic paralysis with autosomal dominant pattern.One of the two cases,the level of blood glucose was lower.Thyroid functions,renal functions and electromyograms were all normal in 8 cases.Conclusions FPP is a group of relatively uncommon inherited disorders known as the skeletal muscle channelophathies.It can be diagnosed by hereditary characters,clinical manifestataions,auxiliary examinations.