Human social isolation and stress: a systematic review of different contexts and recommendations for future studies

Abstract Objectives The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and social distancing measures adopted worldwide raised questions about the possible health effects of human social isolation. Methods We conducted a systematic review on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase electronic databases using terms related to human social isolation - defined as the isolation of an individual from regular routines and usual social contact - and psychological stress, searching for simulated or naturalistic isolation environments. We present the main results, as well as the validity and limitations of each model. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42021241880. Results Despite the diversity of contexts reviewed, some outcomes almost ubiquitously relate to psychological stress, i.e., longer periods, expectation of a longer period, confinement, lack of social interaction, and support. Based on the results, and considering that most studies were not designed for the purpose of understanding isolation itself, we propose a group of recommendations for future experimental or naturalistic research on the topic. Conclusion Evidence on the impact of different situations in which individuals are subjected to social isolation can assist in development of directed preventive strategies to support people under similar circumstances. Such strategies might increase the general public's compliance with social distancing as a non-pharmacological intervention for emerging infectious diseases.

La porosidad de la relación barrio-cárcel: un estudio de caso en dos prisiones chilenas / The porosity of the neighbourhood-prison relationship: a case study of two Chilean prisons / A porosidade da relação bairro-prisão: um estudo de caso de duas prisões chilenas

Las cárceles han llamado la atención de la sociología al ser una institución dentro de la sociedad y, al mismo tiempo, comportarse como una sociedad en sí misma, con sus propios códigos y normas. Sykes la llamó "sociedad de los cautivos", por cuanto asume que los procesos de adaptación tenían que ver con aspectos endógenos de la propia prisión y no con características exógenas, como las trayectorias de las personas encarceladas o los barrios de los que provienen. Esta investigación, realizada en dos cárceles chilenas usando una metodología cualitativa, analizó cómo se conforman los roles entre internos, para explorar la vigencia de lo señalado por Sykes. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que: (i) las relaciones entre internos se caracterizan por fuertes asimetrías de poder y (ii) los roles y funciones están marcados por lo que ocurre en los barrios de proveniencia, lo que sugiere que en el siglo XXI barrio y cárcel tienen fronteras porosas. Finalmente, discutimos las implicancias de esta porosidad para repensar los programas de reinserción.

Prisons have attracted the attention of sociology for being an institution within society and, at the same time, behaving as a society in its own right, with its own codes and norms. Sykes called it a "society of captives", as he assumes that the adaptation processes had to do with endogenous aspects of the prison itself and not with exogenous characteristics, such as the trajectories of the incarcerated persons or the neighbourhoods they come from. This research, carried out in two Chilean prisons using a qualitative methodology, analysed how roles are shaped among inmates, in order to explore the validity of Sykes' findings. Our findings suggest that: (a) relationships between inmates are characterised by strong power asymmetries and (b) roles and functions are shaped by what happens in the neighbourhoods of origin, suggesting that in the 21st century, neighbourhood and prison have porous boundaries. Finally, we discuss the implications of this porosity for rethinking reintegration programmes.

As prisões têm atraído a atenção da sociologia por serem uma instituição dentro da sociedade e, ao mesmo tempo, comportaremse como uma sociedade em si mesma, com códigos e normas próprios. Sykes a chamou "sociedade de cativos", pois supõe que os processos de adaptação têm a ver com aspectos endógenos da própria prisão e não com características exógenas, como as trajetórias das pessoas encarceradas ou os bairros de onde elas vêm. Nesta pesquisa, realizada em duas prisões chilenas, foi utilizada uma metodologia qualitativa e analisado como os papéis são moldados entre os detentos, a fim de explorar a validade das conclusões de Sykes. Nossos resultados sugerem que as relações entre os detentos sejam caracterizadas por fortes assimetrias de poder e que os papéis e as funções sejam moldados pelo que acontece nos bairros de origem, o que leva à hipótese de que, no século 21, o bairro e a prisão tenham sido fronteiras porosas. Por fim, discutimos as implicações dessa porosidade para repensar os programas de reintegração.

Integrated management during the perinatal period for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of integrated management during the perinatal period for fetuses diagnosed with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) by prenatal echocardiography.@*METHODS@#Clinical data of 64 cases of TAPVC fetuses diagnosed by prenatal echocardiography and managed with integrated perinatal care in Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Integrated perinatal care included multidisciplinary collaboration among obstetrics, fetal medicine, ultrasound, pediatric cardiology, pediatric anesthesia, and neonatology.@*RESULTS@#Among the 64 TAPVC fetuses, there were 29 cases of supracardiac type, 27 cases of intracardiac type, 2 cases of infracardiac type, and 6 cases of mixed type. Chromosomal analysis was performed in 42 cases, and no obvious abnormalities were found. Among the 64 TAPVC fetuses, 37 were induced labor, and 27 were followed up until term birth. Among the 27 TAPVC cases, 2 cases accepted palliative care, 2 cases were referred to another hospital for treatment and lost to follow-up, while the remaining 23 cases underwent primary repair surgery. One case died within 6 months after the operation due to low cardiac output syndrome, while the other 22 cases were followed up for (2.1±0.3) years with good outcomes (2 cases underwent a second surgery within 1 year after the first operation due to anastomotic stenosis or pulmonary vein stenosis).@*CONCLUSIONS@#TAPVC fetuses can achieve good outcomes with integrated management during the perinatal period.

Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on functional connectivity in the related brain regions of patients with depression based on the resting-state fMRI / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the brain effect mechanism and the correlation between brain functional imaging and cognitive function in treatment of depressive disorder (DD) with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) based on the resting-state functional magenetic reasonance imaging (rs-fMRI).@*METHODS@#Thirty-two DD patients were included in a depression group and 32 subjects of healthy condition were enrolled in a normal group. In the depression group, the taVNS was applied to bilateral Xin (CO15) and Shen (CO10), at disperse-dense wave, 4 Hz/20 Hz in frequency and current intensity ≤20 mA depending on patient's tolerance, 30 min each time, twice daily. The duration of treatment consisted of 8 weeks. The patients of two groups were undertaken rs-fMRI scanning. The scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) were observed in the normal group at baseline and the depression group before and after treatment separately. The differential brain regions were observed before and after treatment in the two groups and the value of degree centrality (DC) of fMRI was obtained. Their correlation was analyzed in terms of HAMD, HAMA and WCST scores.@*RESULTS@#The scores of HAMD and HAMA in the depression group were all higher than those in the normal group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of HAMD and HAMA were lower than those before treatment in the depression group; the scores of total responses, response errors and perseverative errors of WCST were all lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The brain regions with significant differences included the left inferior temporal gyrus, the left cerebellar peduncles region 1, the left insula, the right putamen, the bilateral supplementary motor area and the right middle frontal gyrus. After treatment, the value of DC in left supplementary motor area was negatively correlated to HAMD and HAMA scores respectively (r=-0.324, P=0.012; r=-0.310, P=0.015); the value of DC in left cerebellar peduncles region 1 was negatively correlated to the total responses of WCST (r=-0.322, P=0.013), and the left insula was positively correlated to the total responses of WCST (r=0.271, P=0.036).@*CONCLUSION@#The taVNS can modulate the intensity of the functional activities of some brain regions so as to relieve depressive symptoms and improve cognitive function.

Effects of intravenous treprostinil in high-risk patients after total cavo-pulmonary connection / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To explore the effects of intravenous treprostinil in different doses on the hemodynamics and postoperative outcomes after high-risk total cavo-pulmonary connection (TCPC). Methods    From 2018 to 2021, among 189 patients who underwent TCPC in the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai Hospital, 26 high-risk patients who received the intravenous treprostinil therapy were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 14 females, with an age of 4 (3, 6) years and a weight of 17.6±6.2 kg. The patients were divided into two groups: a high-dose group [15 patients, maintaining dose>10 ng/(kg·min)] and a low-dose group [11 patients, maintaining dose≤ 10 ng/(kg·min)]. The hemodynamics before treprostinil using and during the first 24 hours after reaching the maintaining dose of treprostinil, and postoperative outcomes of the two groups were investigated. Results    The incidence of heterotaxia was higher in the high-dose group (66.7% vs. 18.2%, P=0.021). During the observation period, the mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 11.9±3.6 mm Hg to 11.0±3.3 mm Hg in the low-dose group (P=0.013), and from 12.9±4.7 mm Hg to 10.2±3.4 mm Hg in the high-dose group (P=0.001). The decreasing effect in the high-dose group was better than that in the low-dose group (P=0.010). There was no statistical difference in the postoperative outcomes between the two groups (P>0.05). In terms of side effects, patients needed temporarily increased dosage of vasoactive drugs to maintain stable blood pressure during 6-12 h after treprostinil therapy in the high-dose group. Conclusion    In patients after high-risk TCPC, intravenous high-dose treprostinil has a better therapeutic effect on reducing pulmonary artery pressure. However, it should be noted that increased dosage of vasoactive agents may be required to maintain blood pressure stability in patients with high-dose treprostinil.

A comparative study of three palliative surgical approaches for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To compare and investigate the efficacy and differences of modified B-T shunt, central shunt and right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) connection in the treatment of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods    A total of 124 children with PA/VSD underwent initial palliative repair in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from September 2014 to August 2019, including 63 males and 61 females, aged 7 days to 15 years. They were divided into in a modified B-T shunt group (55 patients), a central shunt group (22 patients) and a RV-PA connection group (47 patients). The clinical data of these children were retrospectively analyzed. Results    There were 9 early deaths after palliation, with an early mortality rate of 7.3%. The mean follow-up time was 26.5±20.3 months, with 5 patients lost to follow-up, 5 deaths during the follow-up period, and 105 survivors. The 1-year and 5-year survival rates were both 89.7%. The monthly increased Nakata index was 5.2 (–0.2, 12.3) mm2/m2, 9.2 (0.1, 23.6) mm2/m2, 6.3 (1.8, 23.3) mm2/m2 in the modified B-T shunt group, the central shunt group, and the RV-PA connection group, respectively, with no statistical difference among the three groups. The 1-year survival rate was 85.3%, 78.4%, 95.2%, and the 5-year (4-year in the central shunt group) survival rate was 85.3%, 58.8%, 95.2% in the three groups, respectively, with a statistical difference among them (P<0.05). The complete repair rate was 36.5%, 19.0% and 67.4% in the three groups, respectively, with a statistical difference among the three groups (P<0.001). Conclusion    All these three palliative surgical approaches can effectively promote pulmonary vascular development. But compared with systemic-pulmonary shunt, RV-PA connection has a lower perioperative mortality rate and can achieve a higher complete repair rate at a later stage, which is beneficial for long-term prognosis.

Direction Selectivity of TmY Neurites in Drosophila / 神经科学通报·英文版

The perception of motion is an important function of vision. Neural wiring diagrams for extracting directional information have been obtained by connectome reconstruction. Direction selectivity in Drosophila is thought to originate in T4/T5 neurons through integrating inputs with different temporal filtering properties. Through genetic screening based on synaptic distribution, we isolated a new type of TmY neuron, termed TmY-ds, that form reciprocal synaptic connections with T4/T5 neurons. Its neurites responded to grating motion along the four cardinal directions and showed a variety of direction selectivity. Intriguingly, its direction selectivity originated from temporal filtering neurons rather than T4/T5. Genetic silencing and activation experiments showed that TmY-ds neurons are functionally upstream of T4/T5. Our results suggest that direction selectivity is generated in a tripartite circuit formed among these three neurons-temporal filtering, TmY-ds, and T4/T5 neurons, in which TmY-ds plays a role in the enhancement of direction selectivity in T4/T5 neurons.

Study of government responsibility on village clinics construction / 中华医院管理杂志

As the " bottom" of the rural three-level medical and health network, the village clinic is the closest medical and health institution to the villagers. Through field research on H District of Beijing, the author found that the government implemented the management responsibility of village clinics by issuing health policies to carry out the standardization construction, strengthened the practice management of village doctors, and stabilized the income source of rural doctors, so that village doctors could better assume the functions of village level public health and prevention and treatment of common diseases. However, the unclear ownership relationship of village clinics and the labor relationship of village doctors, the differences in hardware configuration and the convergence of post responsibilities under different management systems affected the government′s implementation of the management responsibility of village clinics. Therefore, it could be necessary to pay attention to the change of policy environment, timely reform and mechanism integration of village clinics, and establish a career development mechanism connecting counties and villages. The bottleneck in the construction of village clinics will be broken, and the goal of " quality medical and health services nearby" for rural residents will be realized.

Clinical characteristics of pulmonary vein stenosis in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) in children, and to explore its treatment and prognostic factors.Methods:The clinical data of 19 children with PVS treated in Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2016 to March 2022 were analyzed retrospectively.There were 16 males and 3 females.The median age at diagnosis was (2.81±1.95) years.A descriptive analysis of clinical characteristics of children was made.Results:Of the 19 children, 14 cases (73.7%) had primary PVS and 5 cases (26.3%) had secondary PVS after surgery of anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC). Thirteen children (68.4%) had hemoptysis.In the hemoptysis children, 5 cases had life-threatening massive hemoptysis, and 11 cases (57.9%) had a history of recurrent respiratory tract infection or pneumonia.Other manifestations of hemoptysis included failure to thrive (6 cases), cyanosis (5 cases), and dyspnea (3 cases). Complications were pulmonary hypertension (6 cases) and right heart failure (3 cases). There were 16 cases (84.2%) of unilateral PVS and 3 cases of bilateral PVS.Interlobular septal thickening, grid shadow and ground glass opacities were found on CT of all PVS cases.Ten cases underwent surgery, and 2 cases of them received angioplasty, but restenosis occurred in both of them.Eight children underwent pulmonary lobectomy, and their clinical symptoms were all relieved after operation.Nine patients were treated conservatively, and 3 cases of them died of bilateral PVS secondary to APVC.The remaining 6 alive cases still had intermittent clinical symptoms during follow-up.Conclusions:Hemoptysis and recurrent respiratory tract infection are the main clinical manifestations of PVS in children, and life-threatening massive hemoptysis can occur.Lobectomy is an effective treatment for unilateral PVS.The prognosis of secondary PVS after APVC is poorer and its mortality is higher, compared with primary PVS.

Role and possible mechanism of estrogen receptor α down-regulation leading to damage of TM4 Sertoli cell connectivity in mice / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the role of autophagy in the dysfunction of testicular TM4 cell junction induced by ERα down-regulation. Methods TM4 cells were treated with different concentrations of E R a inhibitor ICI182780 (ICI), and the proliferative activity of TM4 cells was detected by CCK-8 method. The number and morphological changes of TM4 cells were observed by light microscope. The levels of E R a, junction function related proteins and autophagy marker proteins were detected by Western blot. The expression and localization of Cx43 were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The cells were treated with chloroquine (CQ) and ICI for 24 h. The expression levels of autophagy and junction function related proteins were detected by Western blot. Results When ICI concentration was 50 nmol • L ~ or above, the cell viability decreased significantly. The increase of cell vacuoles in ICI group was observed by light microscope. Compared with normal control group, the protein expression levels of E R a, ZO-1, occludin, claudin-11, p-catenin and Cx43 in ICI groups significantly dropped, while the expression levels of N-cadherin and E-cadherin had no significant changes; LC3 II significantly rose, while p62 expression significantly fell. The results of immunofluorescence showed that the fluorescence expression of Cx43 in ICI group decreased significantly, but the position of CX43 did not change significantly. Compared with ICI group, the expression levels of LC3 II, p62, Cx43, ZO-1 and β-Catenin significantly increased. Conclusions The down-regulation of E R a leads to damage of TM4 cell junction function, which may be related to the activation of autophagy.

Effect of Xinnao Shutong capsule and its active ingredients on damage of cerebral microvascular endothelial cell barrier integrity caused by oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation and its mechanism / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of XNST and its monomeric components on the barrier structure and tight junction protein expression of brain microvascular endothelial cells damaged by oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and the possible mechanism. Methods The mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line bEnd. 3 was inoculated in the upper layer of the Transwell chamber to establish an OGD/R damage model, and the effect of the drug on the integrity of the endothelial cell barrier was investigated by the transmembrane resistance value and fluorescein-so-dium transmittance. Claudin-5 immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the changes of tight junction structure between endothelial cells. RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of tightly linked proteins Claudin-5 , Occludin, ZO-1. Western blot was applied to detect the expression levels of MAPKs (JNK, p38, ERK) , I kappa B a, I kappa B kinase phosphorylated protein expression, and Western blot and immunofluorescence were utilized to detect NF-K.B/p65 nucleation expression. Results XNST and its three monomers could significantly increase endothelial cell resistance and de- crease fluorescein-sodium transmittance. Claudin-5 fluorescence staining showed that the tight junction between cells in the model group was significantly damaged , while XNST and its monomer components could significantly improve its tight structure. RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that it could significantly upregulate the expression of mRNA and protein of Claudin-5, Occludin and ZO-1, and further study on the mechanism showed that XNST and its monomer components could significantly inhibit the phosphoryla-tion of JNK, p38 and ERK, inhibit the phosphorylation of I kappa B a and I kappa B kinases, and significantly inhibit the nuclear translocation of NF-KB/p65. Conclusion Both XNST and its monomeric components can exert cerebroprotective effects by increasing the tight junction structure between cells to promote barrier integrity, and the mechanism may be related to inhibition of NF-kB and MAPKs signaling pathway activation.

Patent Vertical Vein Device Closure: Peri Procedural Anesthetic Management

We present the peri?procedural anesthetic management in a case of transcatheter closure of an unligated patent vertical vein (VV) in a 2?year?old male child operated case of obstructed supra cardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) who presented with significant left to right shunt causing symptoms of right heart failure. The procedure was carried out successfully under deep sedation and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and had some specific clinical implications from the anesthetic management perspective which are highlighted and discussed in this report.

Coronary Artery Connection Abnormality Revealed by Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Coronary artery connection abnormalities are rare with an angiographic prevalence of approximately 1%. Their symptomatology is very varied, from incidental discovery to sudden death by myocardial ischemia, especially during exercise, hence the importance of early diagnosis and management. Angiographic diagnosis is generally easy, but it is sometimes difficult to specify the initial course of the ectopic vessel, hence the interest of non-invasive imaging, in particular the coronary CT scan. This latter represents the innovative imaging of choice for assessing the anatomical risk and selecting candidates for surgical treatment. We report a case of abnormal connection of the left coronary revealed by an acute coronary syndrome and we present a review of the literature on the different anatomical forms of the pathology and its management.

Transcatheter management of post-surgical superior vena cava obstruction

Obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) is a rare complication after cardiac surgery in infants and children. We present the case of a 2-year-old male child who underwent surgery to repair a mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. After 18 months of surgery, the child developed SVC syndrome. Transcatheter stenting was performed to relieve the SVC obstruction detected with transthoracic echocardiography. The patient was discharged after 5 days of hospitalization. The patient was doing well at follow-up appointments, with good laminar flow through the stent. In conclusion, transcatheter management of post-surgical complications of SVC obstruction was successful in this patient.

The management of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and risk factors for postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To discuss the treatment strategies and experiences of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) and study the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO).Methods:Clinical data of 125 children with TAPVC in the Children Heart Center of Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were included in this study and analyzed retrospectively.Of the 125 cases, 116 were treated surgically.They were divided into 2 groups according to whether PVO appeared after repair of TAPVC.The t-test or chi- square test was used to compare the clinical data of the 2 groups, and Logistic regression analysis was adopted to analyze the risk factors for postoperative PVO. Results:Among the 116 patients undergoing surgery, including 73 males (62.9%) and 43 females (37.1%), and according to Darling′s classification, there were 58 cases (50.0%) of supracardiac, 35 cases(30.2%)of intracardiac, 15 cases(12.9%) of infracardiac and 8 cases (6.9%) of mixed.The median age and body weight during surgery were 3.0 (1.2, 7.0) months and 5.0 (4.0, 6.8) kg.There were 13 deaths (11.2%), and recurrent PVO was observed in 18 patients (15.9%). Statistically significant diffe-rences were observed in terms of Darling′s classification (supracardiac 27.8% vs.56.6%, intracardiac 27.8% vs.31.6%, infracardiac 27.8% vs.10.5%, mixed 16.6% vs.5.3%, χ2=8.571, P=0.036) of PVO group and non-PVO group after operation preoperative PVO (83.3% vs.21.1%, χ2=25.293, P<0.01), with confluence (55.6% vs.81.1%, χ2=6.049, P=0.014), preoperative critical state (83.3% vs.31.6%, χ2=12.938, P<0.01), cardiopulmonary bypass time[ (128.800±47.254) min vs.(106.700±37.288) min, t=-2.094, P=0.039 ], delayed thoracic closure(27.8% vs.5.3%, χ2=6.227, P=0.013), and anastomotic velocity at 1 day after operation[1.0(0.9, 1.4) m/s vs.0.9(0.8, 1.1) m/s, Z=-2.004, P=0.045], anastomotic velocity at 1 week after operation[1.4 (1.3, 1.8) m/s vs.0.9 (0.7, 1.1) m/s, Z=-4.446, P<0.001], and mechanical ventilation time[121.0 (76.8, 246.9) h vs.91.5 (60.4, 135.9) h, Z=-1.989, P=0.047]. All of these data were included in the Logistic regression analysis.The results showed that preoperative PVO ( OR=797.179, 95% CI: 8.074-78 712.270, P=0.004) and increased anastomotic flow velocity at 1 week after operation ( OR=11 848.376, 95% CI: 23.746-5 912 017.803, P=0.003) were associated with postoperative PVO. Conclusions:Surgical correction in patients with TAPVC with a biventricular anatomy in this center is satisfactory.Preoperative PVO and early anastomotic flow velocity increase after operation are the high risk factors for postoperative PVO.

A modified sutureless technique treating total anomalous pulmonary venous connection / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To introduce a modified sutureless technique and its surgical results in the treatment of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Methods    Clinical data of 11 patients with TAPVC who underwent the modified sutureless technique treatment from 2014 to 2019 in our center were retrospectively analyzed, including 4 males and 7 females. The median surgical age was 1.4 (0.3, 27.0) months. The median weight was 4.3 (3.5, 8.5) kg. Six (54.5%) patients were of supracardiac subtype, and five (45.5%) patients were of infracardiac subtype. Five (45.5%) patients had preoperative severe pulmonary hypertension, and three (27.3%) patients had preoperative pulmonary vein obstruction. The surgical results were compared with those of 10 patients treated with conventional surgical technique. Results    The median follow-up was 12 (range, 1-65) months. During the follow-up, no death or postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction occurred in the modified sutureless technique group. The perioperative data and relief of re-obstruction were superior in the modified sutureless technique group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The postoperative survival of the the modified sutureless technique group was better than that of the traditional surgery group (P=0.049). Conclusion    The modified sutureless technique which includes partial suture and then incising, and eversion of pulmonary vein incision, is a safe and reliable method for the treatment of TAPVC with satisfactory short-term results.

Surgical management of total cavopulmonary connection procedure in functional single ventricle with separate hepatic venous drainage / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the management of hepatic vein (HV) in patients with functional single ventricle (FSV) and separate hepatic venous drainage (SHVD) undergoing total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) and evaluate this kind of surgery. Methods    The clinical data of 32 consecutive patients with SHVD who underwent modified TCPC operation from August 2005 to January 2017 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. There were 25 males and 7 females with an average age of 2-19 (8.0±5.0) years and body weight of 11-66 (25.4±15.8) kg. Results    There were 20 patients with heterotaxy syndrome and 12 patients with other types of FSV. SHVD was diagnosed preoperatively in 27 patients, among whom 20 patients were connected by intra-extracardiac Gore-Tex conduit, and the other 7 patients were connected by extracardiac Gore-Tex conduit. Because of the missed diagnosis of SHVD, the other 5 patients showed severe decrease of blood oxygen saturation in the early postoperative period and underwent re-operation soon. The postoperative blood oxygen saturation was 92.0% (90.0%, 96.0%), central venous pressure was 10-23 (15.5±3.5) mm Hg, mechanical ventilation assisted time was 16.0 (7.5, 24.0) h, and ICU stay time was 3.0 (2.0, 5.5) d. There were 3 early and 1 late deaths. Conclusion    Intra-extracardiac conduit is an effective and feasible modified TCPC operation for patients with FSV and SHVD, while the surgical details need to be formulated in combination with individual anatomical structure. Preoperative missed diagnosis of SHVD must be avoided. Otherwise, after TCPC, a large amount of stealing blood from HV with low circulation pressure into atrium would lead to unacceptable hypoxemia.

A Double Connection of Mixed Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection : Successful Patch Closure of Residual Shunt / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Double drainage sites from a common venous confluence of the pulmonary veins of a mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a rare condition that is called a “double connection.” There have been very few reports of reoperation for minor drainage of a double connection. A 28-year-old male with double connection type (Ia: major drainage + IIa: minor drainage) mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) was referred to our institution. He had undergone TAPVC type Ia (major drainage) repair at the age of 1 year. Postoperative enhanced computed tomography showed residual TAPVC IIa (minor drainage) at the age of 15 years. Therefore, the definitive diagnosis was double connection-type mixed TAPVC. Residual shunt gradually increased, and cardiac catheterization revealed an increased pulmonary blood flow/systemic blood flow ratio. Echocardiography showed enlarged shunt vessel and mild tricuspid regurgitation. Catheter intervention was considered too risky and, therefore, we performed patch closure of the residual shunt through a right atriotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and follow-up computed tomography showed shrinkage of the shunt vessel without any thromboembolic events.

Treatment of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in a single center / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the surgical results of patients with supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) in a single pediatric cardiac center. Methods    A retrospective study was conducted on 98 pediatric patients with supracardiac TAPVC receiving surgical repair from 2014 to 2019 in our center. There were 64 males and 34 females with a median surgical age of 3.0 (1.5, 7.0) months and a median weight of 5.0 (4.0, 6.0) kg. Twenty-three (23.5%) patients had preoperative pulmonary vein obstruction. Ninety-two (93.9%) patients received conventional surgical repair, while six (6.1%) patients were treated with the sutureless technique. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the data. Results    The median follow-up time was 26.50 (5.75, 44.25) months. There were 9 (9.2%) deaths. Lower weight at the time of repair (P=0.013) and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (P=0.007) were associated with mortality. Postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction was observed in 8 (8.2%) patients. Associated risk factors for postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction included lower weight at the time of repair (P=0.042) and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (P=0.002). Conclusion    Surgical repair of supracardiac TAPVC has achieved satisfactory results in our center. Risk factors such as lower weight at the time of repair and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time are associated with a poor prognosis.

Research progress on the interaction between myopia and visual cortex / 中华眼底病杂志

Myopia is a major problem of public health in China, and even in the world, and slowing down the progress of myopia has become a hot issue of concern. However, the effects of the current therapeutic and interventional modalities to myopia, including optical lenses, chemical drugs, and laser surgery, the effect of treatment and intervention is not very satisfactory, and these modalities may incur some side effects. This situation suggests that the pathogenic and regulatory mechanisms of myopia remain elusive, and the myopia treatments lack the accurate and effective targets to the etiology. A complete visual experience depends on the entire visual pathway from the retina to the visual cortex, in which any structural and functional defect can lead to visual abnormalities. In recent years, with the advances in the infrared spectroscopy and the magnetic resonance imaging technology, more and more evidence has shown that the progression of myopia is related to the visual cortex. Improving the functional connectivity and blood prefusion between different regions of the visual cortex may impede myopia profession. In-depth understanding of the interaction between myopia and the visual cortex is helpful to search for accurate and effective myopia treatment targets and novel intervention strategies.