Nifedipine promotes formation of autophagosomes and enhances expression of Beclinl in hepatoma cell line Huh-7 / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of nifedipine on the formation of autophagosomes in hepatoma cell line Huh-7 and its mechanism.Methods Different concentrations of nifedipine were used to interfere with the proliferation of Huh-7 cells in vitro.The effect of nifedipine on the proliferation of Huh-7 cells was detected by cell proliferation experiment and colony formation experiment.The expressions of Beclin1 and LC3B-Ⅱ were detected by Western blot.The effect of nifedipine on the formation of autophagosomes in Huh-7 cells was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy.Results Nifedipine significantly inhibited the proliferation of Huh-7 cells in a time-and concentration-dependent manner.The IC50 of nifedipine on day 2 was 22.7 mg·L-1.Nifedipine at the concentration of 25 mg·L-1 significantly reduced the colony formation rate of Huh-7 cells compared with the control group, and the inhibition rate of colony formation was(95.46±0.45)%.Western blot analysis showed that nifedipine significantly up-regulated the protein expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3B-Ⅱ.The amount of autophagosomes in nifedipine group cells were more than that of control group, which was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy.Conclusions Nifedipine significantly inhibits the proliferation of Huh-7 cells and promotes the formation of autophagosomes, which may be related to the up-regulation of Beclin1 protein expression by nifedipine.

Left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacing through a left lateral thoracotomy to treat pediatric complete atrioventricular block / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility, advantages and efficacy of implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemaker to treat pediatric complete atrioventricular block.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Eleven children with median age 4.0 years (0.5-7.6 years) diagnosed as complete atrioventricular block resisting to drug therapy received implantations of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemakers. Six were male and five female. Temporal or permanent right ventricular pacing was used for all of them before implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemakers. Three cases showed cardiac dysfunction. Left lateral thoracotomy was performed at 4th intercoastal space along anterior axillary line under general anesthesia, the pericardium was incised vertically anterior to the phrenic nerve, two pacing leads were individually located at left atrial appendage and left ventricular lateral wall. After all the parameters were detected to be satisfactory, a pouch was made at left abdomen under coastal margin. Dual chamber pacemaker was connected with pacing leads through subcutaneous tunnels. The sizes of heart chambers, cardiac functions, parameters of pacemaker, sensitivity, pacing status, PR interval and QRS interval were closely followed up post-operatively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Implantations of pacemakers were successful for all of the patients with no complications associated with operations. Preoperative electrocardiograms showed QRS interval (180 ± 33)ms under right ventricular pacing, it decreased to (140 ± 24)ms after implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemaker, significantly lower than right ventricular pacing (t = 8.8, P < 0.05) . Atrioventricular (AV) interval was set at 90 ms, PR interval (124 ± 4)ms. Echocardiograms performed within 2-3 days after implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemakers showed that for the 3 cases who were previously under right atrial and right ventricular dual chamber pacing presenting cardiac dysfunction, their left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDd) decreased from (46.3 ± 12.5) (32.0-55.0) ms to (44.7 ± 12.0) (31.0-53.0) mm and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 30% ± 15% (18%-47%) to 44% ± 18% (33%-65%). During 2-14 months' follow up, LVEF increased progressively which became significantly higher than before (65% ± 8% vs. 30% ± 15%, t = 5.6, P < 0.05) . Cardiac chamber sizes and left ventricular systolic function for the other 8 patients maintain normal during follow up. Pacing status and sensitivity were satisfactory for all these patients during follow up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial pacemaker might be considered for children diagnosed as complete atrioventricular block for whom endocardial pacemaker could not be implanted, due to its utmost protection for cardiac function with minimal injury and its ability to prevent or reverse pacemaker syndrome. Left atrial and left ventricular epicardium should be regarded as the first-choice and routine locations for epicardial pacing.</p>

One-stage repair of congenital aortic arch disease with other cardiac defects by using autologous pulmonary artery tissue / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the surgical strategy and result of one-stage repair for congenital aortic arch disease associated with other cardiac anomalies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between April 1993 and November 2009, 25 consecutive patients aged 26 d to 6.5 years underwent one-stage repair for congenital aortic arch disease with other cardiac anomalies. Among them, 6 patients had coarctation of aorta, 6 patients had interrupted aortic arch, and 13 cases had hypoplasia of aortic arch. The surgical techniques include excision of the anterior wall of pulmonary artery, resection of patent ductus arteriosus tissue, aortic arch reconstruction with autologous pulmonary artery wall, reconstruction of the pulmonary artery and repair of the associated defects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-four patients survived and recovered uneventfully. One patient died of pulmonary hypertension crisis in hospital. The reconstruction of the aorta and the correction of the intracardiac anomalies were proved by postoperative echocardiography and CT scan. There were no neurological or other complications. The follow-up showed that all patients developed normally and there were no restenosis of the aorta arch.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>With the benefits of growth potential and less tension, autologous pulmonary artery tissue is an optimal choice in aortic arch reconstruction. One-stage repair of congenital aortic arch disease associated with other cardiac anomalies can achieve good results.</p>

Staged total cavopulmonary connection for complex congenital heart diseases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To review the experience of staged total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in complex congenital heart diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 1998 to March 2008, 22 patients underwent staged TCPC for complex congenital heart diseases. Among them, 9 were univentricular and pulmonary artery valve stenosis; 3 were univentricular and pulmonary artery atresia; 1 was transposition of great arteries, crisscross heart and pulmonary artery valve stenosis; 1 was complete atrioventricular canal defects, left ventricular hypoplasia, pulmonary artery atresia and atrioventricular valvular regurgitation; 1 was complete atrioventricular canal defects, left ventricular hypoplasia, pulmonary artery valve stenosis and atrioventricular valvular regurgitation after Glenn procedure; 1 was mirror image dextrocardia, single ventricle, pulmonary artery atresia, major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) and right pulmonary arteriovenous fistula after Glenn procedure; 4 were tricuspid atresia and pulmonary artery valve stenosis; 1 was tricuspid atresia and pulmonary atresia; 1 was mirror image dextrocardia, double-outlet of right ventricle, left ventricular hypoplasia, pulmonary artery valve stenosis, tricuspid incompetence, and MAPCAs. Among them, 5 patients received systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt, bidirectional Glenn procedure and TCPC. Seventeen patients received bidirectional Glenn procedure, the mean age was (5.9+/-4.4) years old. Pulmonary artery pressure pre-Glenn procedure was 17 to 20 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa). Atrioventricular valve incompetence in 3 patients. Nakata index was less than 200 mm2/m2 in 4 patients before the first stage operation. The age of TCPC procedure was (9.6+/-4.9) years old, the interval time was (3.7+/-1.2) years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was one in-hospital death, the mortality was 4.5%. The patient with univentricular and pulmonary atresia, received systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt, bidirectional Glenn procedure and TCPC and died of pneumorrhagia. Other patients were recovered well, postoperative central venous pressure was 12 to 18 mm Hg, percutaneous oxygen saturation was 90% to 96%. The cardiac function were in NYHA class I to II.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The staged TCPC was a good procedure in high-risk Fontan candidates. The results were satisfactory for those patients. This staged strategy may extend the operative indications for the Fontan procedure.</p>

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients over 70 years old / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To retrospectively analyze the experiences, indications, technique, and results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients over 70 years old.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-one patients received coronary artery bypass grafting from March 2004 to March 2008. Ages ranged from 70 to 83 years old, 22 patients over 75 years old. Conventional CABG (CCABG) in 72 patients, off-pump CABG (OPCAB) in 19 patients. Clinical data has no significant differences in two groups. The rate of using left internal mammary artery was 96.7%. The number of grafts in CCABG and OPCAB group were 2 to 5 (3.5 +/- 0.8) and 1 to 4 (2.9 +/- 0.7) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In-hospital death in 2 cases, both were from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary infection. Cerebral infarction in 1 case and pulmonary infection in 2 cases in CCABG group, but no significant difference between two groups, and no difference in intubation, ICU stay, respiratory failure, renal function failure. But number of grafts in CCABG was significantly more than that in OPCAB (P < 0.01). Postoperative follow-up was 3 to 36 months, 1 case with recurrent angina in OPCAB.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>According to the characteristic of coronary artery disease in elderly, fully revascularization and improving myocardial blood supply, patients over 70 years old with CABG can obtain the same efficacy as younger patients. There were not significant difference between CCABG and OPCAB.</p>

Surgical treatment of complex congenital heart diseases with extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report the experience of extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection (ECTCPC) in surgical treatment of complex congenital heart diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 1998 to 2006, 68 patients underwent ECTCPC for complex congenital heart diseases. Among them, 45 had functional univentricle with transposition of the great artery (TGA) and pulmonary artery valve stenosis, 19 had tricuspid atresia with hypoplasia of right ventricle, 4 had Ebstein's anomaly with hypoplasia of right ventricle. Six had left superior vena cava, 18 had received Bidirectional Glenn operation; Fifty-seven cases were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with general anesthesia and hypothermia, 11 cases were performed without cardiopulmonary bypass.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were two death, the mortality was 2.9%. All patients were followed up from 1 to 8 years with no clinical symptoms and have been doing well. The arterial oxygen saturation was 90% - 96%, the cardiac function were in NYHA class I - II.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The extra cardiac conduit TCPC is a simple procedure and superior to other type of Fontan procedure in most patients.</p>