The effect of rheumatic mitral valve repair using "standardized 4 steps" / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of "standardized 4 steps" in rheumatic mitral valve repair.Methods:We retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 136 rheumatic mitral valve disease patients undergoing mitral valve repair with "standardized 4 steps" from June 2016 to July 2019 and investigate its clinical outcome. The clinical outcome was compared with those of patients undergoing rheumatic mitral valve replacement.Results:The perioperative mortality was 2.94% in patients with mitral valve repair. Compared with preoperative period, left atrial diameter was significantly reduced and the early diastolic blood flow velocity across mitral valve(E peak) was significantly decreased at 1-week postoperative and follow-up period. The elimination rate of atrial fibrillation was 80.7% during follow-up period. The early clinical outcome and related complications had no difference between mitral repair group and mitral valve replacement group. The main echocardiographic indexes in two groups also had no statistical significance.Conclusion:The early clinical outcome of rheumatic mitral valve repair with "standardized 4 steps" is satisfactory. Rheumatic mitral valve repair with "standardized 4 steps" is feasible, safe and effective.

Comparison of different ways of anticoagulation for pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valves / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To explore some reasonable ways of anticoagulation for pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valves.Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted for 27 women with mechanical prosthetic valves who have born children after their cardiac surgeries.Numbers of pregnancies,ages,ways of anticoagulation during pregnancy,ways of anticoagulation before pregnancy,valve thrombosis events,thromboembolism events,bleeding events,outcomes of pregnancy and ways of delivery were collected and studied.Comparing adverse events and outcomes of different ways of anticoagulation which those women used during their pregnancies.Results 27 women with mechanical prosthetic valves experienced 41 pregnancies,and bore 28 children.24 pregnancies used oral low does warfarin(＜ 5 mg/day) to anticoagulate,2 minor bleeding events and 10 early abortion occurred,no abnormal neonates were found,14 healthy neonates were born.6 pregnancies used low-molecularweight heparin to anticoagnlate from 6th week to 12th week,they used oral warfarin to anticoagulate in rest weeks of pregnancy.1 late abortion occurred,1 fetus with hydrocephalus was found at 20th week,then induced labour was conducted.4 healthy neonates were born.11 pregnancies used low-molecular-weight heparin to anticoagulate until delivery,1 early abortion,2 minor bleeding events and 1 valve thrombosis occurred.10 neonates were born,and 1 of them has hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,the other 9 neonates were healthy.Conclusion For pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valves,using oral low does warfarin throughout pregnancy is a reasonable way of anicoagnlation with low risk of maternal and fetal adverse events except high risk of abortion.Low-molecular-weight heparin is hopeful anticoagulant agent for pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valves,but more studies about its safety and effectiveness should be conducted.

Clinical analysis of tricuspid valve replacement / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize the outcome of tricuspid valve replacement.
@*METHODS@#A total of 28 patients (15 males and 13 females) underwent tricuspid valve replacement from March 2000 to February 2015 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were recruited. Among them, 16 patients were Ebstein's anomaly, 7 had rheumatic valve heart disease, 3 and 2 suffered from infective endocarditis and degenerative tricuspid lesions, respectively.
@*RESULTS@#One patient died of multiple organ failure. Four patients were implanted permanent cardiac pacemaker because of third degree atrioventricular block occurring in the 5th day (2 patients) and in the 9th day (2 patients) after the operation, respectively. Twenty-seven patients were followed up from 1 month to 15 years. The prosthetic valves and permanent pacemakers worked well.
@*CONCLUSION@#Third degree of atrioventricular block, mostly appearing in early postoperative period, is the most common and severe complication of tricuspid valve replacement. The key point for prevention of damage is to accurately identify the anatomical relationship among the tricuspid valve, atrioventricular node, and conduction bundle.

Effects of 20-minute warm ischemia on coronary endothelial function of pig donor hearts after cardiac death / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Myocardial and coronary endothelial injury occurs in donor hearts due to warm ischemia during cardiac transplantation. Coronary endothelial structure and function play a critical role in long-term outcomes for patients after cardiac transplantation. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of hypoxia-induced warm ischemia (20 minutes) on coronary endothelial function of porcine donor hearts after cardiac death (DCD). METHODS:Sixteen healthy Swedish domestic pigs were randomized into control (n=6), DCD (n=5), and DCD plus cold storage (n=5) groups, respectively. A DCD model in pigs was established using the method of hypoxia-induced 20-minute warm ischemia in the DCD and DCD plus cold storage groups. Isolation of the heart left anterior descending coronary artery or combined with heart preservation pretreatment for 4 hours was performed in the DCD and DCD plus cold storage groups. The maximum coronary endothelium-dependent relaxation was determined in the three groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no significant differences in the maximum coronary endothelium-dependent relaxation and the minus logarithmic of substance concentration induced 50%maximal relaxation among three groups (P>0.05). These results indicate that 20-minute warm ischemia cannot lead to obvious coronary endothelial dysfunction. In addition, DCD combined with 4-hour cold storage does not affect coronary endothelial function.

Pycnogenol attenuates atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism through the TLR4-NF-kappaB pathway

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death worldwide and is characterized by lipid-laden foam cell formation. Recently, pycnogenol (PYC) has drawn much attention because of its prominent effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its protective effect against atherosclerosis and the underlying mechanism remains undefined. Here PYC treatment reduced areas of plaque and lipid deposition in atherosclerotic mice, concomitant with decreases in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increases in HDL cholesterol levels, indicating a potential antiatherosclerotic effect of PYC through the regulation of lipid levels. Additionally, PYC preconditioning markedly decreased foam cell formation and lipid accumulation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human THP-1 monocytes. A mechanistic analysis indicated that PYC decreased the lipid-related protein expression of adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) and adipocyte lipid-binding protein (ALBP/aP2) in a dose-dependent manner. Further analysis confirmed that PYC attenuated LPS-induced lipid droplet formation via ADRP and ALBP expression through the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway, because pretreatment with anti-TLR4 antibody or a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB (PDTC) strikingly mitigated the LPS-induced increase in ADRP and ALBP. Together, our results provide insight into the ability of PYC to attenuate bacterial infection-triggered pathological processes associated with atherosclerosis. Thus PYC may be a potential lead compound for the future development of antiatherosclerotic CVD therapy.

A novel rat model of cardiopulmonary bypass for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest without blood priming / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Large animal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) models are expensive, and prevent assessment of neurocognitive function, and difficulties with long-term recovery. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel rat model of cardiopulmonary bypass for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest without blood priming.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 450-560 g were randomized to CPB with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) and control groups, with 10 rats each. The experimental protocols, including blood and crystalloid fluid administration, anesthesia, orotracheal intubation, ventilation, cannulation, and heparinization were identical in both groups. After inducing cardiac arrest, the circuit was turned off and rats were left in a DHCA state for 15 minutes. Rats were rewarmed to 34°C to 35°C over a period of 36 to 42 minutes using CPB-assisted rewarming, a heating blanket, and a heating lamp along with administration of 0.1 mEq of sodium bicarbonate and 0.14 mEq of calcium chloride. The remaining priming volume was reinfused and animals were weaned from CPB.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All CPB with DHCA processes were successfully achieved. Blood gas analysis and hemodynamic parameters were in the normal range. The vital signs of all rats were stable.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our CPB circuit has several novel features, including a small priming volume, active cooling/rewarming processes, vacuum-assisted venous drainage, peripheral cannulation without thoracotomy or sternotomy, and an accurate means of monitoring peripheral tissue oxygenation.</p>

A novel, minimally invasive rat model of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass model without blood priming / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been shown to be associated with systemic inflammatory response leading to postoperative organ dysfunction. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms and developing protective strategies for the pathophysiological consequences of CPB have been hampered due to the absence of a satisfactory recovery animal model. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel, minimally invasive rat model of normothermic CPB model without blood priming.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 450-560 g were randomly divided into CPB group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). All rats were anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated. The carotid artery and jugular vein were cannulated. The blood was drained from the right atrium via the right jugular and further transferred by a miniaturized roller pump to a hollow fiber oxygenator and back to the rat via the left carotid artery. The volume of the priming solution, composed of 6% HES 130/0.4 and 125 IU heparin, was less than 12 ml. The surface of the hollow fiber oxygenator was 0.075 m(2). CPB was conducted for 60 minutes at a flow rat of 100-120 ml × kg (-1)× min(-1) in CPB group. Oxygen flow/perfusion flow was 0.8 to 1.0, and the mean arterial pressure remained 60-80 mmHg.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All CPB processes were successfully achieved. Blood gas analysis and hemodynamic parameters of each time point were in accordance with normal ranges. The vital signs of all rats were stable.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The establishment of CPB without blood priming in rats can be achieved successfully. The nontransthoracic model should facilitate the investigation of pathophysiological processes concerning CPB-related multiple organ dysfunction and possible protective interventions. This novel, recovery, and reproducible minimally invasive CPB model may open the field for various studies on the pathophysiological process of CPB and systemic ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo.</p>

Ventricular septal plication for post infarction anterior and anterior-septal aneurysm of the left ventricle / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the use of septal plication with Dor or Cooley procedure for post infarction anterior and anterior-septal aneurysm of the left ventricle.@*METHODS@#A total of 23 patients with post infarction anterior and anterior-septal aneurysm of the left ventricle underwent septal plication and Dor or Cooley procedure along with coronary artery bypass grafting concomitantly. Data of NYHA grading, left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end systolic volume index (LVESVI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were recorded before the surgery, before discharge and 3 months after the surgery.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the preoperative data, the NYHA grading before the discharge and 3 months after the surgery improved from 3.21 ± 0.62 to 1.72 ± 0.31 and 1.57 ± 0.23(P<0.05); LVEDVI decreased from (102.31 ± 18.71) mL/m² to (62.11 ± 6.21) mL/m² and (54.63 ± 4.54) mL/m² (P<0.05); LVESVI decreased from (69.32 ± 17.48) mL/m² to (30.23 ± 3.25)mL/m² and (28.34 ± 3.12) mL/m²; while LVEF increased from (32.92 ± 8.12)% to (48.78 ± 4.51)% and (50.52 ± 4.68)% (P<0.05), respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Ventricular septal plication combined with Dor or Cooley procedure can remarkably improve the left heart function in patients with post infarction ventricular aneurysm.

Influence of oxidized low density lipoprotein on the proliferation of human artery smooth muscle cells in vitro / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on the proliferation of cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) were investigated in vitro. By using NaBr density gradient centrifugation, LDL was isolated and purified from human plasma. Ox-LDL was produced from LDL by being incubated with CuSO(4). ox-LDL was then added to the culture medium at different concentrations (35, 60, 85, 110, 135 and 160 microg/mL) for 7 days. The influence of ox-LDL on vSMC proliferation was observed in growth curve, mitosis index, and in situ determination of apoptosis. The data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. The results showed that the ox-LDL produced in vitro had a good purity and optimal oxidative degree, which was similar to the intrinsic ox-LDL in atherosclerotic plaque. ox-LDL at a concentration of 35 microg/mL demonstrated the strongest proliferation inducement, and at a concentration of 135 microg/mL, ox-LDL could inhibit the growth of vSMC. ox-LDL at concentrations of 35 and 50 microg/mL presented powerful mitotic trigger, and with the increase of ox-LDL concentration, the mitotic index of vSMC was decreased gradually. ox-LDL at higher concentrations promoted more apoptotic vSMCs. ox-LDL at lower concentrations triggered proliferation of vSMCs, and at higher concentrations induced apoptosis in vSMCs. ox-LDL played a promotional role in the pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis by affecting vSMC proliferation and apoptosis.

Influence of Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein on the Proliferation of Human Artery Smooth Muscle Cells in vitro / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on the proliferation of culturedhuman vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) were investigated in vitro. By using NaBr density gradient centrifugation, LDL was isolated and purified from human plasma. Ox-LDL was produced from LDL by being incubated with CuSO4. ox-LDL was then added to the culture medium at different concentrations (35, 60, 85, 110, 135 and 160 μg/mL) for 7 days. The influence of ox-LDL on vSMC proliferation was observed in growth curve, mitosis index, and in situ determination of apoptosis. The data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. The results showed that the ox-LDL produced in vitro had a good purity and optimal oxidative degree, which was similar to the intrinsic ox-LDL in atherosclerotic plaque. ox-LDL at a concentration of 35 μg/mL demonstrated the strongest proliferation inducement, and at a concentration of 135 μg/mL, ox-LDL could inhibit the growth of vSMC. ox-LDL at concentrations of 35 and 50 μg/mL presented powerful mitotic trigger, and with the increase of ox-LDL concentration, the mitotic index of vSMC was decreased gradually. ox-LDL at higher concentrations promoted more apoptotic vSMCs. ox-LDL at lower concentrations triggered proliferation of vSMCs, and at higher concentrations induced apoptosis in vSMCs. ox-LDL played a promotional role in the pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis by affecting vSMC proliferation and apoptosis.

Effects of perfusion pressure with cold cardioplegic solution on porcine coronary arterial endothelial and smooth muscle function / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the effects of perfusion pressure with a cardioplegic solution on endothelium-dependent relaxation and smooth muscle function of porcine coronary artery. Methods The hearts were infused with a modified St.Thomas’ hospital solution at the pressures of 40, 60 and 80 mmHg. The distal part of porcine left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) having a diameter of 1.0-1.5 mm, was dissected free from the surrounding tissue, cut into 1 mm long segments, immediately transferred to organ baths for the evaluation of endothelial and smooth muscle function. Results Smooth muscle function was not affected after cardioplegic flushing at the pressures used in this study. The maximal endothelium-dependent relaxations of the vessels in 40 and 60 mmHg groups were not reduced compared to fresh segments . The maximal EDR was significantly reduced to (90.8?2.2)% (P

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of ruptured aneurysm in sinus of Valsalva / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the methods used to diagnose and surgically treat ruptured aneurysm in sinus of Valsalva (RASV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-seven hospitalized patients with ruptured aneurysms in the sinus of Valsalva from September 1981 to April 2001, including 21 cases (56.7%) of RASV associated with ventricular septal defects (VSD) and 11 (29.7%) with aortic valvular prolapse were given surgical interventions. Under hypothermia and extracorporeal circulation, we successfully performed the surgical correction of RASV for all 37 patients VSD repair in 21 patients, aortic valvuloplasty in 6 and aortic valvular replacement in 2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no hospital deaths among these patients, although residual shunting occurred in two patients and acute renal failure was found one. Follow-up study of one month to 20 years in the patients undergoing repair of RASV revealed that the mostly individuals treated with operation obtained satisfactory cardiac function.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Correct diagnosis of ruptured aneurysm in sinus of Valsalva should be confirmed immediately and surgical correction should be carried out as soon as possible.</p>