Cavity Wall Research Articles

To study the effect of obesity on pulmonary functions in adults

Background: Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat in the body, resulting in adverse effects on the health of the individual. Obesity alters the relationship between the lungs, chest wall, and diaphragm. So, it has been expected to alter respiratory function. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to conduct a study of pulmonary function in obese (study group) and non-obese (control group) healthy college students. Materials and Methods: The present study involved 100 subjects in the age group of 18–25 years, both obese and non-obese, recruited from various colleges. Out of a total of 100 subjects, 50 were obese (study group) and 50 were non-obese (control group) subjects. Data were statistically analyzed using an unpaired Student “t” test; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, pulmonary functions such as peak expiratory flow rate and maximum voluntary ventilation decreased significantly (<0.05) in obese people when compared with non-obese people. forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) decreased in obese people when compared with non-obese people, but the results were not significant (>0.05). There was no change in FEV1/FVC%. Conclusion: Obesity can cause various deleterious effects on respiratory function. These changes in lung function are caused by extra adipose tissue in the chest wall and abdominal cavity compressing the thoracic cage, diaphragm, and lungs.

Impact of restorative material on fracture behaviors of class II restoration in endodontically treated deciduous molars.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fracture behavior of endodontically treated (ET) deciduous molar when directly restored with different restorative materials in Class II (MO) cavities in comparison with permanent teeth. MO cavities were prepared with 2.4-2.5 mm and 1.9-2.0 mm in buccolingual width, and mesiodistal width of each cavity walls, respectively, followed by direct restoration with different materials: resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC), composite resin (CR), and composite resin containing 25% short glass-fiber (SFRC). All specimens were subjected to mechanical loading tests at a speed of 1 mm/min and evaluated fracture resistance and fracture modes. A one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey multiple comparisons analysis was used. Deciduous-SFRC (3,310.5±396.2 N) were significantly higher fracture resistance than permanent-RMGIC (1,633.8±346.8 N) (p<0.001), and permanent-CR (1,400.0±381.3 N) (p<0.001). For the direct restoration of MO cavity after endodontic treatment, SFRC demonstrated its promising performance in load-bearing capacity and failure mode, especially in ET deciduous molars.

Effect of 12 mm PIT tags on the survival, growth, and ecologically significant behaviours of juvenile critically endangered endemic Zingel asper

Understanding the movement ecology and habitat use of freshwater fish is crucial for their conservation, with telemetry being an essential tool. Current tagging methods are restricted by the minimum body size of fish, as tags should not exceed 2% of the fish's body mass. This limitation hinders the study of juvenile small-bodied endangered species, as the reduced fitness of tagged individuals can negatively impact their populations. This study examines the feasibility of using 12-mm PIT tags on juvenile and subadult individuals (63–90 mm fork length) of the critically endangered Rhône streber, Zingel asper. Results indicate that tagging does not significantly affect survival, growth or behavioural traits, despite the tag weight being between 2.2% and 5.4% of the fish's weight. Tag retention was 100%, with 90% of individuals having the PIT tag fully encapsulated in the body cavity wall after 55 days. The only possible negative effect observed was a tendency, albeit statistically non-significant, for slower escape velocity in the smallest tagged individuals. These findings reduce the known minimum body size limit for 12-mm PIT tags for this species. However, the smallest individuals may be more sensitive to tagging, warranting careful consideration to avoid potential negative impacts on wild populations.

Hydraulic Characterization of Permeable Materials Used for Filling Mole Drain Channels in Structurally Unstable Soils

Highlights Permeable materials can be used to fill mole drains and provide support to the cavity walls in structurally unstable soils. Permeable materials extend the lifespan and improve the hydraulic performance of mole drainage systems. Darcy’s law for nonlinear porous flow explained the hydraulic performance of the permeable materials used in this study. A numerical method was established to assess the suitability of permeable materials of unknown hydraulic performance. Design guidelines were developed to assist in the planning of filled mole drainage systems installed in structurally unstable soils. Abstract. Mole drainage in soils with low permeability is a cost-effective technique for managing soil drainage. Following installation, the satisfactory performance of the system will depend on having sufficient soil fissure development extending from the soil surface to the roof of the mole channel and mole channel stability to avoid its collapse. Permeable materials such as river-run gravel and crushed stone can be used to fill mole channels to prevent channel collapse in halomorphic and high-silt content (e.g., 50%–70%) soils and extend the lifespan of the system. The objectives of this work were to: (i) characterize a range of permeable materials that can be used to fill mole drains and provide support to the cavity walls in structurally unstable soils; (ii) verify the applicability of Darcy’s law to explain the hydraulic performance of such materials, and (iii) develop a set of design and planning guidelines aimed at improving the performance of mole drainage systems that are filled with permeable materials. Five permeable materials were characterized, namely: three types of river-run gravels, crushed baked mud bricks, and crushed stone. The materials were characterized for their mechanical and hydraulic properties, and the applicability of Darcy’s law was experimentally determined. Small- and medium-sized gravels are easy to handle and apply during field installation due to their shape and flowability properties and the reduced risk of clogging when placed in the mole channel. However, the hydraulic performance of these materials would not allow for system designs longer than about 100 m, which therefore would limit their utilization in practice. Large-sized gravel offered an intermediate solution with overall satisfactory hydraulic performance. Crushed brick and crushed stone offered good alternatives to gravel, allowing for longer (e.g., &amp;gt;120 m) system designs for all combinations of drain spacing and drain gradient. However, their angularity, poor uniformity, and size range distribution can compromise the efficiency of handling and delivery in current mole plough systems. For all materials, the hydraulic conductivity (Kh) decreased with an increase in the hydraulic gradient. For a given hydraulic gradient, Kh was dependent on aggregate size, such that a larger D50 value led to increased Kh. The nonlinear performance of Darcy’s law was verified for all materials, and potential equations were fitted to represent such relationships, all showing acceptable fits to the nonlinear models (P&amp;lt;0.001). A linear relationship (P&amp;lt;0.05) between the parameter m of the potential model and total porosity was established. The set of equations developed by this study will enable estimating Kh based on the aggregate size distribution or as a function of the total porosity of the material. Crushed brick and crushed stone could provide a cost-effective solution for the installation of filled mole drain systems in structurally unstable soils. Keywords: Darcy’s law, Extreme rainfall, Halomorphic soils, Hydraulic conductivity, Reynolds number, Silty soils.

Varied etiology in patients presenting with non-puerperal mastitis: an observational study

Abstract Introduction: The etiology of nonpuerperal mastitis is more diverse varying from infections to autoimmune disorders. Most of them are misdiagnosed as pyogenic mastitis and are treated with routine antibiotics. In this study the various causes of nonpuerperal mastitis which required surgical intervention were evaluated. It was observed that some of the pre-malignant and malignant conditions were also presented as nonpuerperal mastitis. Materials and methods: All non-lactating women who presented with symptoms and signs of mastitis and did not respond to single course of antibiotics (active against staphylococcus) treated in tertiary care Hospital and in private practice of primary author between June 2021 to December 2022 and in those in whom the ultrasound of breast was also suggestive of inflammatory breast disease were included in the study and rest were excluded from study. The final etiological diagnosis of these patients is given by the histopathological examination of tissue taken from the wall of abscess cavity or of breast mass. Results: Total 21 patients were included in the study of which 7 patients had nonspecific infection, 3 patients were diagnosed to have tuberculous mastitis, 3 patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis, 2 patients with periductal mastitis, 1 patient with fat necrosis, 3 patients with atypical ductal hyperplasia and 2 patients were diagnosed to have invasive duct cell carcinoma. Conclusion: The etiology of nonpuerperal mastitis is diverse. Not only the benign conditions but premalignant conditions like ADH, DCIS and even invasive carcinoma can present with clinical symptoms and signs of inflammatory breast disease.

Mechanical support for bridge to transplant in an infant with post-cardiotomy end-stage heart failure and complete heart block: report of a case.

The patient was diagnosed with perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD). She underwent VSD closure and muscle bundle resection across right ventricular outflow tract at the age of 3 months. Since then, she had suffered from severe heart failure and complete heart block. Permanent pacemaker generator was implanted in the left hypochondrium. She was depended on continuous catecholamine administration, so transferred to our hospital for further management. On arrival, her body weight was 5686g (- 2.7 SD). She underwent Excor pediatric left ventricular assist device implantation at the age of 9 months. Because the position of the left ventricular assist device cannula interfered with the pacemaker, herein, the pacemaker pocket was newly created in the left thoracic cavity. An 1mm in thickness of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet was trimmed and sutured under the anterolateral wall of left thoracic cavity as a pacemaker pocket. Bipolar ventricular lead was sutured on left ventricular apex and basal wall to face each other, mimicking cardiac regeneration therapy. Even though she unfortunately required right diaphragmatic plication for iatrogenic phrenic nerve palsy, her respiratory function was well maintained; therefore, secondary right heart failure was not observed. Her cardiopulmonary function was quite stable until post-operative day 275 when the patient was transferred to another hospital for heart transplantation.

A Conformal Phased Array with Low Profile and Wide-Scanning Performance for SAR Application

A low-profile wide-scanning conformal phased array (CPA), with cavity-backed stacked patch elements, is presented in this paper. To reduce the array profile, a partially dielectric-filled cavity is employed in each element, and to enhance its scanning performance, the cavity walls are deliberately modified. Finally, the designed element operates in a frequency band of 1.45∼1.75 GHz, with a profile of 0.086 λh (λh is the free-space wavelength at 1.75 GHz), and achieves ±60° scanning in the E/H-planes, with the reflection coefficient below −7 dB. The proposed design method and all numerical results are experimentally verified by a 4 × 4 CPA prototype.

Simulation of Supercritical Water Gasification Reaction of Glycerol and Reactor Structure Study

The study established a reactor model with a volume of 500 ml that can withstand high temperature and high pressure, and firstly used the simulation software ANSYS FLUENT 2023R1 to simulate the process of generating H2-rich gaseous products by reacting glycerol in supercritical water at a temperature of 374°C and a pressure of 23 Mpa, and the results showed that the pressure and temperature were uniformly distributed in the fluid domain of the reactor. The results show that the pressure and temperature are uniformly distributed in the fluid domain of the reactor. Secondly, according to the pressure distribution obtained from the simulated reaction, the transient dynamics and thermo-mechanical coupling field analysis were applied to the inner wall of the reactor cavity in ANSYS Workbench to study the stress displacement. Finally, the results of the two analyses are compared to conclude that the pressure field can affect the trend of stress and displacement of the reactor structure, and the temperature field at higher temperatures can increase the values of stress and displacement.

Experimental assessment of concrete masonry units integrated with insulation and phase change material: A wall-pattern study

The installation of functional materials, including thermal insulation materials (TIMs) and phase change materials (PCMs), in concrete masonry unit (CMU) block (brick) walls is expected to obtain high thermal performance. However, since the apparent thermal capacity of PCMs is affected by a variety of factors, how to use PCMs rationally becomes a complex and systematic issue. At the same time, how to combine PCMs with TIMs in building envelope to achieve high stationary and transient thermal performances simultaneously is also an important issue that arises with the application of PCMs. The quantitative impact of the key factors, including the underlying patterns of the functional materials themselves, as well as others such as wall pattern, the location, quantity, and handling of the functional materials, is still not clear. In this study, a wall pattern analysis is experimentally performed for the integration of TIM and PCM in CMU-block walls. Walls equipped with various volumes of the two functional materials in eight placement modes under three representative thermal conditions are measured and discussed. The performance associated with the wall modes is completely analyzed. Thermal bridging is found to be a key factor in weakening the effect of the functional materials filled in wall cavities. In addition, the optimal locations and volumes of the functional materials are obtained. This study thermally reveals and gathers effect laws and applied principles, and provides data reference for the proper use of TIM and PCM outfitted building envelopes.

Lorentz force detuning in heterodyne gravitational wave experiments

Heterodyne cavity experiments for gravitational wave (GW) detection experience a rising interest since recent studies showed that they allow to probe the ultra high frequency regime above 10kHz\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$10\\,\ ext {kHz}$$\\end{document}. In this paper, we present a concise theoretical study of the experiment based on ideas from the former MAGO collaboration which already started experiments in turn of the millenium. It extends the former results via deriving an additional term originating from a back-action of the electromagnetic field on the cavity walls, also known as Lorentz Force Detuning. We argue that this term leads to a complex dependence of the signal power Psig\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$P_{\ ext {sig}}$$\\end{document} on the coupling coefficient between the mechanical shell modes and the electromagnetic eigenmodes of the cavity. It turns out that one has to adapt the coupling over the whole parameter space since the optimal value depends on the mechanical mode ωl\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\omega _l$$\\end{document} and the GW frequency ωg\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\omega _g$$\\end{document}. This result is particularly relevant for the design of future experiments.

Clinical experience with postpartum treatment of a patient with arteriovenous malformation of uterine vessels

Uterine arteriovenous malformation is a rare vascular dysplasia where the uterine veins communicate with the branches of arteries of varying calibers. Patient K., a 37-years-old patient, presented with genital tract bleeding. Her medical history included operative labor at 37 weeks with dichorionic diamniotic twins, with the placental site on the posterior uterine wall exhibited firm attachment. The uterine cavity walls were scraped, and the bleeding vessel in the placental site was sutured. The blood loss amounted to 750 mL, and reinfusion was conducted. Fourteen days after giving birth, a heavy bloody discharge with blood clots from the genital tract occurred. The blood tests revealed no abnormalities. Echography detected multiple tubular structures that were anechoic on the posterior wall of the uterus, from the endometrium to the serosa, with the CDC mode blood flow. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed hypervascularization with premature arteriovenous discharge. Superselective embolization was performed on uterine artery afferents, and complete blood flow reduction was achieved, leading to the cessation of bleeding. On postoperative day 17, the patient experienced considerable bloody discharge from the genital tract, causing the hemoglobin level to decrease to 88 g/L. The presence of an arteriovenous malformation in the uterine vessels accompanied by ineffective embolization necessitated uterine extirpation. The postoperative phase was uneventful, and the patient was discharged from the hospital in satisfactory condition, with no evidence of anemia (hemoglobin, 115 g/L).

Thermal interaction between water and liquid paraffin wax inside an intertwined enclosure: The role of natural convection in design of latent heat storage units

This work numerically investigated free convective heat transfer between water in a tank and melted paraffin-wax in an enclosure mounted inside the tank. The mediums were separated by thermally conductive walls. Three aspect ratios (AR = 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) and three Rayleigh numbers (Ra = 104, 105, and 106) were examined for side- and bottom-heating orientations. The computations were conducted separately for the convection and conduction cases to observe the effects of natural convective heat transfer between the enclosures of the storage tank. The results showed that the heating orientation had a remarkable impact on the heat transfer between two fluids inside the intertwined enclosures. In the side-heating orientation, the variation of the average Nusselt number (Nu) with respect to Ra did not exhibit a consistent trend. It increased by 23.1 % when Ra increased from Ra = 104 to 105, but it decreased by 52.8 % when Ra was further increased from Ra = 105 to 106, at AR = 0.5. The Nu along the bottom wall of the inner enclosure was up to 24-folds of that along its side walls for the side-heating orientation and was 2.45-folds in the bottom-heating orientation. Furthermore, accumulation of hot fluid around the inner cavity walls, which occurred in side-heating cases, reduced convective heat transfer because of the low temperature gradient in these regions. Considering the outcomes of the present work, the bottom-heating orientation with AR = 0.5 can be recommended for future applications involving phase change processes as it ensured an effective thermal interaction between the two fluids.

Analysis of Cavity Disk Heat Transfer by Solving Inverse Heat Transfer Problem

Abstract The flow and heat transfer within compressor rotor cavities of aero-engines is a conjugate problem. The operating conditions buoyancy forces, caused by radial temperature difference between the cold throughflow and the hotter shroud, can influence the amount of entrained air significantly. By this, the heat transfer depends on the radial temperature gradient of the cavity walls, and in turn, the disk temperatures are dependent on the heat transfer. In this article, disk Nusselt numbers are calculated in reference to the air inlet temperature and in comparison to a modeled local air temperature inside the cavity. The local disk heat flux is determined from measured steady-state surface temperatures by solving the inverse heat transfer problem in an iterative procedure. The conduction equation is solved on a 2D mesh using a validated finite element approach, and the heat flux confidence intervals are calculated with a stratified Monte Carlo approach. An estimate for the amount of air entering into the cavity is calculated by a simplified heat balance. The major influences on the Nusselt number were found to be the mass flowrate entering the cavity and the density of the fluid inside the cavity.

Design and control intended low-order model for transient investigation of an electric oven: Static mode

In general, electric ovens represent a low-efficiency class among home appliances, contributing to overall environmental changes in buildings and apartments. To improve their low efficiency, which is typically between 10% to 12%, industries are increasingly focused on developing effective technologies. One suitable strategy is to design and control the oven's center temperature, as specified by the EN 60350-1 European standard, which regulates the energy efficiency index (EEI) test. The present simulation study explains the transient thermo-fluid behavior of a domestic electric oven subjected to free convection, i.e., static mode. For this purpose, appropriate dynamic models are employed, intended for design and control. A lumped-parameter based methodology is considered to develop a low-order dynamic model, resulting in reduced computational cost and run time. A finite level of discretization is introduced into the model, enabling the capture of limited insights, such as temperature, heat flux, mass flow rate, pressure drop, etc., particularly at the cavity center, internal and external cavity wall surfaces, and at suction and exit openings. The electric oven is mainly divided into four sub-systems: door, cavity, ventilation, and cabinet. Each sub-system has a suitable level of discretization signifying a lumped mass parameter to reproduce the transient behavior within the electric oven. Heaters are considered as individual lumped masses and are integrated within the cavity sub-system. The above sub-systems employ both the first principle equations and correlations based on experimental data, giving a low-order grey-box identity to the system. In addition to conduction and convection, a non-linear form of radiation is considered to increase model accuracy. The developed model is further calibrated with available physical data. Once calibrated, the model is then compared with the remaining physical data produced at different heat loads to understand the accuracy in terms of transient temperature prediction at various temperature set points.

EHD flow and heat transfer of hybrid nanofluid in a free surface cavity fitted with an internal hot obstacle

The objective of this study is to numerically investigate the effects of electrohydrodynamics (EHD) on coupled free convective thermocapillary flow. The study focuses on a free-surface cavity filled with a hybrid nanofluid (MWCTN- Fe3O4-thermal oil) and containing a hot rigid obstacle. An electric field is applied between the obstacle and the lower cavity wall to induce additional instabilities in this region. This technique aims to eliminate the dead zone typically present in traditional natural convection and is expected to greatly improve heat transfer efficiency. To achieve this objective, the equations governing the EHD phenomenon, as well as the equations defining the physicochemical properties of the hybrid nanofluid, are solved using the finite volume method (FVM) coupled with a blocked-off region procedure. A parametric study is conducted, involving the Marangoni number (surface tension), the thermal Rayleigh number (buoyancy force), the electrical Rayleigh number (electrical force), the nanoparticle concentration, the size and the position of the obstacle. It has been demonstrated that applying of an electric field to the convective-thermocapillary flow of the nanofluid (combining two enhancement techniques) significantly enhances heat transfer, resulting in a more than 230 % increase in the Nusselt number.

Coupled effects of corrugation and rotation on the phase transition and thermal process in a vented cavity under MHD convection

One of the challenges in the utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) is their low thermal conductivity. Therefore, for effective usage of PCMs in thermal systems, novel methods for phase change process control such as geometry modification and incorporating different boundary conditions can be adopted. In this study, phase transition and thermal process in a triangular shaped wavy enclosure equipped with spherical shaped encapsulated PCM are explored under magneto-convection of nanofluid. The inner walls of region where PCM is embedded is rotating and sinusoidal form of corrugation is considered for the wavy wall of the triangular cavity. Numerical calculations are done for different values of Re (200≤Re≤1000), Rew (−2500≤Rew≤2500), Ha (0≤Ha≤60), wave amplitude (0≤Ap≤0.1H) and wave frequency (2≤Np≤8). It is observed that when rotations are active at Rew=100, phase transition time (TF) is reduced by 12.5% while it is increased by 16.6% at Rew=0. Magnetic field is effective when used without rotation of the inner part. The amount of reduction of TF with magnetic field at the highest strength is obtained as 15.8%. The heat transfer is reduced with higher Ha for stationary and rotating cases while reduction amount up to 14% can be achieved. Amplitude of the wavy form of cavity wall is influential on the phase change process at Rew=0 and TF is reduced by about 14.5%. The contribution of amplitude and frequency of the wave form on the heat transfer is very slight. Optimum parameter set for lowest TF is obtained at (Re, Rew, Ha, Ap, Np) = (600, 2500, 60, 0.075H, 2) while for highest heat transfer rate it becomes (Re, Rew, Ha, Ap, Np) = (1000, 2500, 0, 0.1H, 8). Generalized neural network based modeling is found to be an efficient way of predicting the time dependent behavior of phase change process with respect to changes in operating parameters such as Re, Rew and Ha.

Cylindrical conformation and miniaturization of cavity-backed magnetoelectric antenna with an outer Γ-shaped probe

Abstract In this article, the cylindrical conformation of a linearly polarized cavity-backed magnetoelectric (ME) antenna is studied. Starting from a planar ME antenna presenting a wide bandwidth due to a specific design of its feeding probe, the impact of conformation is shown; the coupling between the ME dipole and the cavity walls is demonstrated to be the key element to keep a wideband behavior. Conformal antennas offering the same impedance bandwidth as the planar antenna are presented operating at Global Navigation Satellite System frequencies (1.164–1.61 GHz). As a result of the conformation, the antenna size has to be reduced to maintain the coupling and a wideband behavior. A prototype conformed to a 44-mm radius cylinder was built using low-cost additive manufacturing. External dimensions of 62 × 62 × 35 mm3 (0.285 × 0.285 × 0.16λ03, where λ0 is the wavelength at 1.38 GHz) were obtained, showing a ground plane area reduction of 46% compared to the planar antenna with the same materials. The conformal antenna also exhibits very steady radiation properties with a gain of around 4.5 dBi and a very similar and stable 3 dB beamwidth around 113° in E- and H-planes. A relatively good agreement is found between measurements and simulation.

Advances in the Study of Pathological Histology and Pathogenesis of Endometrial Polyps

Endometrial polyps (EPs) are common gynecological diseases among women of childbearing age. They are formed by the proliferation of blood vessels and connective tissue in a portion of the endometrium, resulting in the formation of a polyp-like mass that protrudes into the uterine cavity and varies in size and number. Typically, the body of the uterus is the site of implantation of these polyp-like growths, which are attached to the medial wall of the uterine cavity by a long, thin tip. Irregular vaginal bleeding is the first clinical manifestation of endometrial polyps, and it can often lead to infertility. Studies have shown that the prevalence of endometrial polyps in the female population is approximately 25.0%. With the widespread use of hysteroscopic techniques in clinical practice, knowledge and diagnosis of endometrial polyps have significantly improved. However, pathological examination remains the “gold standard” for final diagnosis in clinical practice. This article aims to review the epidemiology, pathological histology, and pathogenesis of endometrial polyps to reveal their mechanisms and characteristics more accurately and guide further clinical research and treatment. The relevant progress in recent years in this field, both domestically and internationally, is reviewed below.

Guiqi Yiyuan Ointment protects rat left lung from bystander effect of right lung injury induced by ~(12)C~(6+) beam

This study observed the effects of Guiqi Yiyuan Ointment(GQYY) on the left lung subjecting to bystander effect of right lung injury induced by ~(12)C~(6+) beam in rats and decipher the underlying mechanism from NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1(caspase-1) pathway. Wistar rats were randomized into 7 groups: blank, model, inhibitor [200 mg·kg~(-1), N-acetylcysteine(NAC)], western drug [140 mg·kg~(-1) amifostine(AMI)], and high-, medium-, and low-dose(4.8, 2.4, and 1.2 g·kg~(-1), respectively) GQYY groups. The model of bystander effect damage was established by 4 Gy ~(12)C~(6+) beam irradiation of the right lung(with the other part shielded by a lead plate). The pathological changes in the lung tissue, the level of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in the lung tissue, and the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in the serum were observed and measured in each group. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65)/nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65) were determined. Compared with the blank group, the model group showed thickened alveolar wall, narrowed alveolar cavity, and presence of massive red blood cells and inflammatory infiltration in the alveolar wall and alveolar cavity. In addition, the model group showed elevated ROS levels in both left and right lungs, elevated MDA level, lowered SOD level, and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65. Compared with the model group, the drug administration in all the groups reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue. The inhibitor group and the western drug group showed enlarged alveolar cavity, thinned interstitium, and reduced inflammation. There was a small amount of alveolar wall rupture in the high-and medium-dose GQYY groups and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the low dose GQYY group. Compared with the model group, drug administration lowered level of ROS in the left and right lungs, lowered the MDA level, elevated the SOD level, and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65. GQYY can effectively reduce the damage caused by radiation and bystander effect, which may be associated with the ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Subcortical hemorrhage caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy compared with hypertensive hemorrhage

ObjectivesMost published reports on lobular hemorrhage in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) include patients diagnosed only by imaging studies. This study analyzed patients with subcortical hemorrhage histologically diagnosed as CAA or non-CAA (hypertensive). MethodsThis is a retrospective study analyzing data from 100 craniotomy cases. Tissue of hematoma cavity wall was collected for histological investigation in hematoma removal by surgery in patients with subcortical hemorrhage. Statistical analyses of blood pressure, hematoma location and volume, outcome, and mortality was performed in CAA and non-CAA groups. ResultsThere were 47 CAA and 53 non-CAA cases, and average age was significantly older in the CAA group (p < 0.01). Blood pressure was significantly lower (p < 0.01) but hematoma volume was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the CAA group. Rebleeding occurred in two CAA cases and one non-CAA case, but no re-operations were required. Average score of modified Rankin Scale, which is used to measure the degree of disability in patients who have had a stroke, at three months after surgery was not significantly different between the two groups (CAA: 3.94 ± 1.28, non-CAA: 3.58 ± 1.50). There were seven deaths in the CAA and six in the non-CAA group, and intraventricular hemorrhage highly complicated in the death cases in both groups. In the CAA group, average age of the fatal cases was significantly older than that of the surviving cases (p < 0.05) and six cases demonstrated dementia before onset of hemorrhage. ConclusionsSurgical removal of a subcortical hemorrhage caused by CAA is not contraindicated. However, age > 80 years, complication with intraventricular hemorrhage, hematoma volume ≥ 50 ml, and dementia before onset of hemorrhage contribute to high mortality, and craniotomy should be carefully considered for such patients. A limitation of this study is that comparison between CAA and non-CAA groups was performed in the patients with only surgically indicated ICH, and does not evaluate entire ICH cases with CAA. However, this study appropriately compared pathologically diagnosed CAA and non-CAA in patients with moderate to severe lobular ICH with surgical indications.