Transcatheter closure in various types of congenital coronary artery fistula: a follow-up study / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the short- and medium-term efficacy, complications, and anti-coagulation therapies related to transcatheter closure (TCC) of coronary artery fistula (CAF) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 12 children with CAF who underwent TCC between January 2006 and January 2014, focusing on details such as preoperative, radiographic, and postoperative follow-up data, to record closure methods for CAF, anti-coagulation therapies, postoperative complications, and results of auxiliary examinations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 12 cases who underwent successful TCC and whose age was 1-158 months, four patients had proximal/medium-sized CAF, five had proximal/large CAF, and three had distal/medium-sized CAF. The mean period of postoperative follow-up was 3.5±2.4 years. Eleven patients took aspirin for 6 months post closure, and one took it for 18 months. Neither coronary thrombosis nor interventional complications were found. Left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiothoracic ratio, pulmonary artery pressure, and the diameters of coronary artery lesions decreased post TCC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TCC is feasible and safe in proximal and distal/medium-sized CAF patients. Postoperative anti-coagulation with aspirin may prevent short- and medium-term thrombosis, but treatment course and safety need to be investigated by further follow-ups.</p>

Evaluation of tumor angiogenesis using microbubbles conjugated with RGD peptides and contrast enhanced ultrasound / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the feasibility of usage of microbubbles conjugated with RGD peptides and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEU) in detection of tumor angiogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Lipid microbubbles (MB) were prepared, and the RGD peptides were covalently conjugated to the lipid shell of MB (MB(RGD)). Six nude mice with tumor created by dorsal inoculation of HepG2 tumor cells were used as the test group. Six nude mice without tumor were served as the control group. 10 minutes after bolus injection of MB and MB(RGD) randomly (30 min interval) via a tail vein catheter, CEU was performed on the tumors of the test group and the thigh skeletal muscles of control group. The video intensity (VI) of tumors and the skeletal muscles were measured. The tumors and the skeletal muscles were harvested for immunohistochemical examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Only a slight contrast enhancement of the tumor was seen with MB, and the VI was 5.33 ± 1.71. While a remarkable enhancement of the tumor was observed after injection of MB(RGD). The VI was up to 17.03 ± 3.58, 3.18 folds higher as compared with that obtained by injection of MB (P < 0.05). As expected, there were no obvious contrast enhancement of the skeletal muscles with both MB(RGD) and MB. There was a high expression of αvβ3-integrin in tumor neovascular endothelium, however, no apparent expression of αvβ3-integrin was observed in the skeletal muscle vascular endothelium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CEU with MB(RGD) can be used to effectively evaluate the angiogenesis of tumors, and it may greatly contribute to the early judgement of the nature of tumor.</p>