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Objective To explore the clinical significance of "Olive ⁃ Tipped" technique during cerebral venous sinus stenosis stenting. Methods A total of 79 patients (including 57 patients with intracranial hypertension and 22 patients with pulsatile tinnitus) who were diagnosed with cerebral venous sinus stenosis (VSS) and underwent stenting in Department of the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to May 2021 were retrospectively collected. The characteristics of Labbe vein in patients with "Olive⁃Tipped" technique, the changes of pressure difference at both ends of stenosis before and after surgery in patients with intracranial hypertension were analyzed. The improvement of postoperative stenosis and venous reflux, the improvement of postoperative intracranial hypertension and pulsatile tinnitus, the success rate of stenting and the utilization rate of "Olive ⁃ Tipped" technique were observed. Results All the stents were successfully placed (79/79). Immediate DSA after procedure showed no venous stasis in all patients, and residual stenosis was < 30%. "Olive⁃Tipped" technique was used in 23 patients (29.11%) to assist the stent in place due to the guiding catheter and stent could not reach the predetermined position smoothly. The diameter of the confluence of Labbe vein and venous sinus in the "Olive⁃Tipped" technique group was significantly larger than that in the conventional technique group (t = 7.041, P = 0.000). The pressure difference between the two ends of venous sinus stenosis in patients with intracranial hypertension was 15.00 (11.00, 21.50) mm Hg before surgery and 1 (0, 2) mm Hg immediately after surgery, the difference was statistically significant (Z = ⁃ 6.573, P = 0.000). The tinnitus sympoms of 22 patients with pulsatile tinnitus caused by cerebral venous sinus stenosis disappeared immediately or visibly lightened. Conclusions The diameter of the confluence of Labbe vein and venous sinus can be used as an index to evaluate whether the stent is easy to implant before the surgery. The dilated Labbe vein confluence is easy to cause the guiding catheter and stent to get stuck, and the stent is difficult to be in place. The use of "Olive⁃Tipped" technique can significantly improve the success rate of the surgery.

Abstract Background Multidetector CT is currently the best imaging method for detecting tracheal diverticulum (TD). Compared with CT, MRI is radiation-free and has higher resolution. However, the MRI characteristics of this disease have not been previously reported. The present retrospective study compared the MR and CT imaging features of TD, aiming to examine the role of MRI in TD diagnosis and management. Methods Imaging data were collected in 26 TD patients divided into two groups, including the uninfected and infected groups. The MR and CT imaging features (size/wall/channel) of uninfected patients were compared. The performances of MRI and CT in diagnosing and monitoring therapeutic efficacy in infected TD patients were comparatively assessed. Results The uninfected group comprised 25 cases with 25 lesions confirmed by CT, including 23 lesions (92%) detected by MRI, with an average diameter of 8.5 mm (range from 3 to 15 mm). Meanwhile, the average diameter was 7.8 mm as measured by CT (range from 2.8 mm to 14.7 mm). The lesion diameters of the two cases not detected by MRI were 2.3 mm and 2 mm. MRI detected walls of all the 23 lesions (23/23), while CT detected no wall (0/23). CT showed channels in 18 lesions (18/23) versus3 for MRI (3/23). The infected case presented with a paratracheal abscess; MRI clearly showed a relationship between the abscess and the trachea, while CT could not show the lesion source. MRI also sensitively showed the whole process of lesion absorption. Conclusions MRI can be used as a supplementary method for TD diagnosis, providing information about the wall that cannot be obtained by CT. MRI is superior to CT in diagnosing infected TD cases presenting with a paratracheal abscess, and in monitoring therapeutic efficacy in these patients.

BackgroundDysregulated bile acid (BA) metabolism has been linked to steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).AimTo determine whether circulating BA levels accurately stage liver fibrosis in NAFLD.MethodsWe recruited 550 Chinese adults with biopsy-proven NAFLD and varying levels of fibrosis. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was performed to quantify 38 serum BAs.ResultsCompared to those without fibrosis, patients with mild fibrosis (stage F1) had significantly higher levels of secondary BAs, and increased diastolic blood pressure (DBP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), body mass index, and waist circumstance (WC). The combination of serum BAs with WC, DBP, ALT, or Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance performed well in identifying mild fibrosis, in men and women, and in those with/without obesity, with AUROCs 0.80, 0.88, 0.75 and 0.78 in the training set (n = 385), and 0.69, 0.80, 0.61 and 0.69 in the testing set (n = 165), respectively. In comparison, the combination of BAs and clinical/biochemical biomarkers performed less well in identifying significant fibrosis (F2-4). In women and in non-obese subjects, AUROCs were 0.75 and 0.71 in the training set, 0.65 and 0.66 in the validation set, respectively. However, these AUROCs were higher than those observed for the fibrosis-4 index, NAFLD fibrosis score, and Hepamet fibrosis score.ConclusionsSecondary BA levels were significantly increased in NAFLD, especially in those with mild fibrosis. The combination of serum BAs and clinical/biochemical biomarkers for identifying mild fibrosis merits further assessment.

This research discusses the workspace of the industrial robot with six degrees of freedom(6-DOF) based on AutoCAD platform. Based on the analysis of the overall configuration of the robot, this research establishes the kinematic mathematical model of the industrial robot by using DH parameters, and then solves the workspace of the robot consequently. In the AutoCAD, Auto Lisp language program is adopted to simulate the two-dimensional(2D) and three-dimensional(3D) space of the robot. Software user interface is written by using the dialog box control language of Visual LISP. At last, the research analyzes the trend of the shape and direction of the workspace when the length and angle range of the robot are changed. This research lays the foundation for the design, control and planning of industrial robots.

Cumulating evidence demonstrated that chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) had beneficial effects on the body. This study investigated the role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in ameliorating effect of CIHH on vascular reactivity by adiponectin in mesenteric artery of metabolic syndrome (MS) rats. Main methods: 6-week-old male Sprague -Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (CON), MS model, CIHH treatment, and MS + CIHH treatment group. The size of adipocytes in PVAT was measured by scanning electron microscopy. Serum adiponectin was measured. The microvessel recording technique was used to observe the effect of CIHH on contraction and relaxation in mesenteric artery rings. Also, the expressions of interleukin-1[beta], tumor necrosis factor-[alpha], adiponectin, AdipoR1, AdipoR2, APPL1, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were assayed by Western blotting. Key findings: in MS rats, adipocyte size increased, serum adiponectin decreased, contraction reaction increased while relaxation reaction decreased, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was upregulated, while adiponectin was downregulated in PVAT, and the expressions of AdipoR1, AdipoR2, APPL, and phosphorylatedeNOS were downregulated in mesenteric artery. All aforementioned abnormalities of MS were ameliorated in MS + CIHH rats. We concluded that CIHH treatment improves vascular reactivity through upregulating adiponectin expression and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokine expression of PVAT in MS rats. Key words: chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia, metabolic syndrome, vascular reactivity, perivascular adipose tissue, adiponectin, 1. Introduction Metabolic syndrome (MS), characterized by obesity, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, etc., has become a common disease that seriously affects human health and quality of life. It has a [...]