Assessment of the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of a new electrospun polyurethane vascular prosthesis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a small-caliber vascular grafts and study its morphologies, mechanical properties and biocompatibility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effects of electrospinning conditions on the microstructure and porosity of the resulting scaffolds were investigated for preparation of a small-caliber (4 mm) polyurethane vascular grafts with optimum microstructures and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the prepared grafts were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The polyurethane vascular grafts showed a three-dimensional reticular structure consisting of nanofibers, with an average porosity of (51.48∓4.47)% and tensile strength of 5.85 ∓ 0.62 MPa. The grafts provided a better long-term support than e-PTFE graft for endothelial cell growth and endothelialization.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polyurethane vascular prosthesis possessed favorable microstructures, excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility for potential clinical application.</p>

RANTES expression in venous ulceration of lower limbs / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of RANTES in venous ulceration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From patients with lower limb venous ulceration, patients with non-ulcerous venous insufficiency, and healthy individuals, peripheral blood was collected from the lower limb veins for measurement of RANTES mRNA using RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the ulceration group, the expression of RANTES mRNA was significantly increased as compared with the other two groups (P<0.01). RANTES mRNA expression was also significant higher in the non-ulcerous group than the control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High expression of RANTES mRNA may be one of the important mechanisms of venous ulceration.</p>

Selection of the initial surgery extent for differentiated thyroid cancer without metastasis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the selection of the initial surgery extent for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) without metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 504 cases with DTC, who accepted the surgical treatment from Jan 1995 to Dec 2004, were analyzed and studied. There were 329 cases without metastasis. The operative extents less than total thyroidectomy were performed on 93 cases (92.1%) with stage T(1), 166 cases (88.3%) with stage T(2), 22 cases (91.7%) with stage T(3) and 12 cases (75.0%) with stage T(4). The recurrence situation after the initial surgery was compared between different T-stage groups and between different surgical extents, total and less than total thyroidectomy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recurrence of DTC was found in 37 cases of the follow-up cases (8.9%), including 29 cases without metastasis in the initial surgery. There was no significant difference in the recurrent rate between T(1) and T(2) groups (P>0.05). The significant difference was found in recurrent rate between T(1) and T(3) or T(4) groups, T(2) and T(3) or T(4) groups (P<0.05). No significant difference in the ratio of the initial surgical extent less than total thyroidectomy was found between stage T(1) and T(2) cases without metastasis (P>0.05). The rate of the recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was 1.2%. The transient hypoparathyroidism happened in 2% of the cases, without the permanent hypoparathyroidism.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The surgical extent less than total thyroidectomy, especially subtotal thyroidectomy, is rational and available to stage T(1) and T(2) cases of DTC without metastasis. It can effectively remove the tumor and avoid postoperative complications. Total thyroidectomy should be performed on stage T(3) and T(4) cases of DTC.</p>