Validation and comparison of pharmacogenetics-based warfarin dosing algorithms in Han Chinese patients / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess whether the existing three types of pharmacogenetics-based Warfarin dosing algorithms appropriately predict the actual maintenance dose in Han Chinese mechanical heart valve replacement patients (n = 130).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients' CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic polymorphisms were detected by PCR-RFLP. The genotype of CYP2C9, VKORC1 and other information were used to calculate predicted doses. Accuracy of the models was assessed using the absolute value of the difference between predicted dose and actual dose, calculated on both an absolute and percentage basis. Actual weekly dose was also regressed on predicted weekly dose, from which we obtained R(2) values. Clinical accuracy of the predictions was assessed by computing the proportion in which the predicted dose was 20% or more below the actual dose (under dosed), within 20% of the actual dose (ideally dosed), or 20% or greater above the actual dose (over dosed).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average absolute error is the smallest for the predictions made by the Wen model (3.74 mg/wk), followed by the Ohno model (4.07 mg/wk) and IWPC model (5.05 mg/wk). R(2) was 40.2% in the Wen model, 38.2% in the Ohno model and 26.7% in the IWPC model. When comparing the percentage of patients for whom the predicted doses were ideal, the Wen model works the best (50.0%) in low-dose group (≤ 21 mg/wk), but the Ohno model works the best (85.29%) in middle-dose group (21 - 49 mg/wk), followed by the Wen model.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The best accuracy is achieved by the Wen model and the best clinical accuracy is obtained by the Ohno model for predicting the actual maintenance dose in Han Chinese mechanical heart valve replacement patients.</p>

Outcome post orthotopic heart transplantation for patients with end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the outcome of orthotopic heart transplantation for patient with end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This retrospective review analyzed the clinical data of nine patients (7 males) undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation for end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in our center. All patients received induced therapy protocols peri-operative and standard triple maintenance immunosuppressive therapy postoperative.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One recipients developed acute renal failure due to renal artery embolism and allograft rejection in the early posttransplantive course, symptoms and signs were improved under continuous renal replacement therapy and steroid-pulse therapy, this patient died of sudden cardiac arrest at 32 months post transplantation. Another recipient developed demyelinating disease in frontal and parietal lobe and finally recovered with medical therapy. Eight patients survived the operation with good quality of life and there was no episode of rejection or infection or chronic graft arteriosclerosis during follow-up time. Three recipients developed left ventricular hypertrophy and there were no signs of grapg-vessel diseases in the survivals.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Heart transplantation is the best therapeutic option for selected patients with end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.</p>

Analysis of surgical treatment for Standford type A aortic dissection / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the surgical experience of type A aortic dissection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2001 to December 2006, 54 cases were admitted for Standford type A aortic dissection, including 36 cases of acute aortic dissection and 18 cases of chronic. Thirty-five cases underwent emergence operation and 11 cases underwent selective/limited operation, while 8 cases received medical treatment According to the modus operandi of root of aorta, 9 cases underwent ascending aorta replacement merely, 11 cases for Bentall operation, 12 cases for Wheat operation and ascending aorta replacement, 14 cases for David operation and ascending aorta replacement. According to the modus operandi of aortic arch and descendens, 6 cases underwent right hemiarch replacement, 25 cases for total arch replacement with four branches aortic graft, 24 cases for stent-graft elephant trunk technique. One patient of coronary heart disease and 1 patient of right coronary fracture underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Deep hyperthermic circulatory arrest and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion were applied with aortic arch operation. Surface cooling was applied with selective/limited operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four patients died in operation group (8.7%) and 8 died in non-operation group (75.0%). Postoperative complication included 1 mental symptom, 3 pleural/pericardial effusion, 1 hoarseness, 1 sternal rupture and poor wound healing. All the complication were cured. The operative out-hospital patients were followed up (13.0 +/- 14.2) months and the quality of life was satisfied.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Standford type A aortic dissection should be operated aggressively. Expected outcome could be acquired with optimum modus operandi, proper cerebral protection and dealing with postoperative complication timely.</p>

Early outcome of orthotopic heart transplantation: a report of 21 cases / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report the preliminary experience of 21 orthotopic heart transplantations without early death.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between April 2002 and June 2005, 21 patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation. Recipients' pulmonary vascular resistance ranged from 3.0 to 5.9 wood units [mean (4.3 +/- 1.4) wood units]; Stanford myocardial protective solution or HTK solution was perfused for donor heart myocardial preservation, donor heart cold ischemic period ranged from 52 to 310 min [mean (81 +/- 23) min]; Three patients had previous cardiac operations under cardiopulmonary bypass, conventional Stanford orthotopic cardiac transplantation in 20 cases and total heart technique in 1 case; Recipients received simulect preoperatively and cyclosporine A, cellcept and prednisone postoperatively for prevention of acute allograft rejection; Patients received appropriate medical control of hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and uricacidemia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acute right heart failure in 3 cases and pericardial effusion in 4 cases were observed at the early postoperative stage, but no any infection and acute rejection were found. All patients survived with good life quality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Heart transplantation may produce satisfying early results. Suitable selection of recipients with low pulmonary vascular resistance, excellent donor heart conservation, practised anastomotic technique, proper immunosuppression treatment and efficient postoperative management are key measures of orthotopic heart transplantation with excellent early outcome.</p>