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The presence of endoleak was associated with the failure of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) treatment. The key to eliminating type II endoleak has shifted from reintervention to prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of applying fibrin sealant to prevent type II endoleak in conjunction with EVAR.All patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent EVAR from June 2019 to July 2021 were reviewed. Patients were grouped as Group A: standard EVAR with preemptive embolization and Group B: standard EVAR alone. The primary endpoint was the incidence of type II endoleak. The secondary endpoints were aneurysm sac regression, the inferior mesenteric artery patency, the numbers of patent lumbar arteries, and all-cause mortality.A total of 104 patients were included in Group A, and 116 were included in Group B. Technical success rate was 100%. The overall incidence of type II endoleak in Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B (4.8% vs 19.0%). The mean time of freedom from type II endoleak was 22.71 months for Group A (95% confidence interval, 21.59-23.83 months) and 19.89 months for Group B (95% confidence interval, 18.08-21.70 months). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of freedom from type II endoleak showed a significantly longer duration of freedom from type II endoleak in Group A (81.0% vs 95.2%). Group A showed a continuous sac regression tendency. In Group B, the sac volume decreased within 12 months but increased by 3.07 cmNonselective preemptive embolization with porcine fibrin sealant during EVAR was safe and effective in preventing type II endoleak in the short and mid-term. Preemptive embolization can lead to a significantly higher sac regression rate. Larger patient populations and longer follow-ups with randomized control designed trials are expected to verify the long-term effectiveness and safety of preemptive embolization in preventing type II endoleak.

This paper investigates tensile performances of strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) with different curing ages varying from 3d to 28d. Cracking properties of SHCC specimens like the evolution of the number of cracks and the crack opening under direct tension was monitored simultaneously by using the digital images correlation (DIC) technique. Results show that the ultimate tensile strain in specimens cured for 7d is higher than that in specimens cured for 3d and 28d. The strain-hardening process involves three stages such as the initial, the intermediate, and the final stage, which are determined in terms of their cracking properties. Cracking properties of specimens cured for 3d and 7d display different rules from those of specimens cured for 28d at the intermediate strain-hardening stage, leading to different shape of stress-strain curve. Curing age influences fiber bridging stress-crack opening relation ( σ ( δ ) ) and interfacial mechanical behavior between PVA fiber and the matrix. σ ( δ ) gained by the DIC technique is similar to that observed in the tensile testing on notched specimens. The energy-based index of specimens cured for 7d has greater margin than that of specimens cured for 3d and 28d. The interfacial bond between fiber and matrix in specimens cured for 28d is larger than that in specimens cured for 3d and 7d.

Four series of pipes such as reinforced strain hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) pipe (RSHCCP), plain SHCC pipe (SHCCP), reinforced cement mortar pipe (RMP) and plain cement mortar pipe (MP) were investigated by means of Three-Edge Bearing Testing (TEBT) under monotonic and cyclic loading. Results show that RSHCCP had the highest load-carrying capacity and deflection ratio among them. The synergy reinforced effect of PVA fiber and reinforcing steel to improve load-carrying capacity and deflection ratio of pipe was validated. Under cyclic loading, the irreversible deflection at the crown of pipe increased gradually. The envelope of the load–deflection response of cyclically loading pipe was consistent with the load–deflection curve of monotonically loading pipe. The pipe stiffness of concrete pipe under TEBT was characterized using the ratio of load to the reversible deflection at the crown of pipe during cyclic loading. The pipe stiffness of RSHCCP decreased continuously after the applied load exceeded the elastic range while the pipe stiffness of SHCCP, RMP, and MP remained stable unless the imposed load was close to the ultimate load. The pipe stiffness of RSHCCP could satisfy the requirements for the installation flexural stiffness ratio of semi-rigid pipe as the applied load was more than 70% of its ultimate load. The deflection ratio of RSHCCP was greater than the minimum deflection ratio level (i.e. 3%) of semi-rigid pipe.

Purpose: To investigate effects and heat distribution of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on vertebral tumors in vitro and in vivo swine experiments and its clinical application. Materials and methods: RFA was performed on the swine spine in vitro and in vivo for 20 min at 90 °C at the electrode tip, and the temperature at the electrode tip and surrounding tissues were recorded. Clinical application of ablation combined with vertebroplasty was subsequently performed in 4 patients with spinal tumors. Results: In the in vitro study, the mean temperature at the front and ventral wall of the spinal canal was 50.8 °C and 43.6 °C, respectively, at 20 mm significantly greater than 37.7 °C and 33.7 ± 1.7 °C, respectively, at 10 mm ablation depth. The coagulative necrosis area was significantly (P

Reactions of divalent metal salts with N,N’-bis(3-pyridyl)terephthalamide (L) and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (1,3,5-H3BTC) under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions afforded five coordination polymers, {[Cd(L)(1,3,5-HBTC)]∙2H2O}n, 1, {[Cu(L)(1,3,5-HBTC)]•H2O}n, 2, {[Zn(L)(1,3,5-HBTC)]∙2H2O}n, 3, {(H2L)0.5[Ni(L)(1,3,5-BTC)(H2O)2]•H2O•}n, 4, and {[Ni1.5(L)1.5(1,3,5-BTC)(CH3OH)2]•3CH3OH}n, 5, which have been structurally characterized by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 - 3 adopt the 3,5-connected 2D nets with the {42.67.8}{42.6}-3,5L2 topology, whereas 4 shows a 1D column with the 2,4C6 topology and 5 exhibits a 2D double layer with the hexagonal channels and the 3,4,4L35 topology, indicating the significant effect of the cocrystallized solvent molecules on the structural diversity of 4 and 5. Moreover, complex 5 can be transformed to 4 irreversibly under solvothermal condition, which can be ascribed to the various coordination modes of the benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate anions. The thermal properties of complexes 1–5 and the luminescent properties of 1 and 3 are also discussed.

Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC) is a kind of micromechanically designed cement-based composite with ultra high tensile ductility. It is used to fabricate an innovative concrete pipe to improve the structural performance of concrete pipe. The load-carrying capacity, deflection to diameter ratio, circumferential strain and crack patterns of reinforced SHCC pipes (SHCCP) in comparison to these of conventional reinforced cement mortar pipes (RMP) have been investigated under the Three-Edge Bearing Testing (TEBT). Results show that resulting from high tensile strength and high ductility of SHCC the ultimate load and deflection diameter ratios has increased about 200% and 340% for SHCCP relative to RMP. So, SHCCP had thinner walls relative to standard reinforced concrete pipes. SHCCP with diameter of 375 mm and wall thickness of 25 mm could bear the specified D ult for Class III pipes according to ASTM C76 . SHCCP also possessed high residual load-carrying capacity. SHCCP could endure higher tensile strain than RMP. The maximum tensile strain of the crown and the springline of SHCCP reached 10,000 μe and 6400 μe. The multiple cracking characteristic of SHCC existed in SHCCP under TEBT. SHCCP exhibited high ductility so that it has the potential to be classified as a type of semi-rigid pipe.

Background: Clinical trials assessing the effects of salt substitutes on blood pressure (BP) have reported mixed results. Objectives: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to evaluate the effect of salt substitutes on BP, including systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP). Design: Studies were identified via systematic searches of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases through December 2013. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled mean differences in SBP and DBP. Results: Six cohorts from 5 articles (1 trial enrolled 2 cohorts for independent intervention) consisting of 1974 participants were included. Pooled results showed that salt substitutes had a significant effect on SBP (mean difference: 24.9 mm Hg; 95% CI: 27.3, 22.5 mm Hg; P , 0.001) and DBP (mean difference: 21.5 mm Hg; 95% CI: 22.7, 20.3 mm Hg; P = 0.013). Significant heterogeneity was found for both SBP (I 2 = 76.7%) and DBP (I 2 = 65.8%). The sensitivity analysis indicated that the pooled effects of salt substitutes on SBP and DBP were robust to systematically dropping each trial. Furthermore, no evidence of significant publication bias from funnel plots or Egger’s tests (P = 0.17 and 0.22 for SBP and DBP, respectively) was found. Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that salt-substitution strategies are effective at lowering SBP and DBP, which supports a nutritional approach to preventing hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr 2014;100:1448‐54.