Objective To explore the effects of mid-term (4 weeks) and long-term (8 weeks) simulated microgravity on calcification of the common carotid artery in the rats. Methods Hindlimb-unweighted (HU) rat model was used to simulate the effects of weightlessness on the cardiovascular system. Seventy-five male SD rats were randomized into the control group, 4-week HU group (HU4w), and 8-week HU group (HU8w). After the common carotid arteries were separated, the quantification of calcium content and the alizarin red staining were used to detect the calcium salt deposition in the common carotid arteries. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of common carotid arteries was measured. Western blotting and the real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) were performed to measure the protein and mRNA levels of Runx2, Msx2, BMP2, osteocalcin, and SM22α. Results Compared with the control group, the calcium content and the calcium salt deposition were increased, meanwhile, the ALP activity was enhanced in the common carotid arteries of 4-week and 8-week HU rats. Besides, the protein and mRNA levels of Runx2, Msx2, BMP2, osteocalcin were increased, while those of SM22α were decreased in the common carotid arteries of 4-week and 8-week HU rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Interestingly, there was no statistically significant difference of above tests between the HU4w and HU8w groups. Conclusion Mid- and long-term simulated microgravity induced the osteogenic transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cells and calcification in the common carotid artery of rats, while the degree of calcification did not change significantly with the prolonged period of simulated microgravity.

Objective To investigate the relationship of longitudinal trajectory of systolic blood pressure (SBP) to new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods A prospective cohort study was performed with a total of 13 985 on job and retired Kailuan Group employees who met the standard and participated in health examination. SAS Proc Traj program was used to identify the longitudinal trajectories of SBP of the first three times health examination, and 5 different SBP trajectory groups formed: low-stability trajectory group (106.42-109.43 mmHg, n=2927), medium-stability trajectory group (120.63-124.46 mmHg, n=6916), medium-high trajectory group (132.22-142.97 mmHg, n=2716), high-medium trajectory group (156.77-134.15 mmHg, n=668) and high-stability trajectory group (154.65-158.98 mmHg, n=758). Log-rank test was performed to compare the differences of new-onset CKD cumulative incidence among different SBP trajectory groups during follow-up; Multi-Cox regression model was used to analyze the effect of different SBP longitudinal trajectories on new-onset CKD. Results The mean age of 13 985 subjects was (49.5±11.0)years, including 10 712 males (76.6%) and 3273 females (23.4%), the mean follow-up time was (6.8±1.0) years. The cumulative incidence of CKD was 13.9% (1187/13 985). The cumulative incidences of CKD in low-stability trajectory group, medium-stability trajectory group, medium-high trajectory group, high-medium trajectory group and high-stability trajectory group were 7.7% (147/2927), 12.2% (514/6916), 17.8% (291/2716), 21.9% (93/668), and 35.4% (142/758), respectively, the incidence of CKD increased with elevated stability trajectory (log-rank χ²=177.561, P<0.001). Multi-Cox regression model analysis showed that with adjusted confounding factors, compared with the subjects in low-stability trajectory group, SBP longitudinal trajectories were the risk factors for new-onset CKD in medium-high trajectory group, high-medium trajectory group and high-stability trajectory group, and the HR and 95%CI were 1.36 (1.04-1.77), 1.62 (1.08-2.43) and 2.06 (1.40-3.02), respectively. And the influence of SBP longitudinal trajectory on new-onset CKD was better than that of baseline SBP level. Conclusion Elevated longitudinal trajectory of SBP is the risk factor for new-onset CKD in Kailuan group population.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency and safety of single ProGlide pre-suture technique for hemostasis of vein puncture point after removal of the sheath tube in patients undergoing percutaneous intervention with large-caliber femoral vein sheath. Methods A total of 26 patients were enrolled in present retrospective analysis, including 18 patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 8 patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation operation for arrhythmia. Clinical evaluation and vascular ultrasound examination were performed for all the subjects after operation to observe, record and evaluate the success rate of single ProGlide pre-suture technique and the incidence of complications at venipuncture points during hospitalization. Results Twenty males and 6 females with average age of (66.5±11.7) years were recruited in present study, including 10 cases of hypertension (38.5%),7 cases of diabetes (26.9%), 4 cases of chronic renal insufficiency (15.4%), 2 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7.7%)and 17 cases of peripheral arterial disease (65.4%). The achievement ratio of single ProGlide pre-suture technique was 96.2%, only one patient required hemostasis by manual compression after removal of the sheath and suture. No complications related to venipuncture occurred during hospitalization period. Conclusion In percutaneous intervention, rapid, safe and effective hemostasis of vein puncture point can be achieved with single ProGlide pre-suture technique after removal of the large-caliber vein sheath.

Objective To investigate the effects of simulated 2-week microgravity on the ocular fundus hemodynamics of central retinal artery and the retinal and choroidal thickness in autogenous rats. Methods Eight healthy SD rats were designed in self-control, designed for the control before tail suspension, the tail suspension for 1, 4, 7 and 14 d. A rat model of simulated microgravity method was established by tail suspension. The peak maximum systolic velocity (PSV) of central retinal artery(CRA) in rats was detected and analyzed by color Doppler ultrasonography. The retinal and choroidal thicknesses were measured by the enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT). Results The PSV value in each different period after tail suspension was decreased compared with that in the control before tail suspension (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in PSV value between the tail suspension for 1 d and both the tail suspension for 4 d and 7 d (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference between the tail suspension for 1 d and the tail suspension for 14 d (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in retinal thickness between the control and the each different periods after tail suspension (P>0.05). The choroidal thickness was lower in the control before tail suspension than that in each different period after tail suspension (P<0.05). Compared with the tail suspension for 1 d, the choroidal thickness of the rats was significantly increased in the tail suspension for 4, 7 and 14 d respectively (P<0.05). Conclusions Two-week simulated microgravity environment has significant effects on the fundus blood flow and choroid thickness in rats, but has no obvious effect on the retinal thickness in rats. The fundus flow velocity would decrease and choroid thickness would increase with the prolongation of the tail suspension time.