Multiple left ventricular myxomas combined with severe rheumatic valvular lesions: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary cardiac tumors are uncommon, of which cardiac myxoma accounts for 50%-80%. Left ventricular myxoma has been rarely reported, accounting for only 3%-4% of all cardiac myxomas. Multiple left ventricular myxomas are, relatively, even rarer. CASE SUMMARY: In this report, we present a case of multiple left ventricular myxomas combined with severe rheumatic valve lesions. Symptomatically, the patient presented with fatigue, shortness of breath, and palpitation after activities. The patient underwent complete surgical resection of multiple left ventricular myxomas combined with mechanical replacement of the mitral and aortic valves, tricuspid valvuloplasty. The patient recovered well after the operation, with no obvious related complications. CONCLUSION: Multiple left ventricular myxomas may coexist with severe rheumatic valve disease. Operation is an effective treatment.

Comparison of two radiofrequency ablation devices for atrial fibrillation concomitant with a rheumatic valve procedure.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative and median-term follow-up outcomes have not been compared among procedures using radiofrequency ablation devices for permanent atrial fibrillation with concomitant rheumatic valve disease. We compared the sinus rhythm restoration efficacy of "non-irrigation" ablation forceps and an "irrigation" ablation device in patients with rheumatic valve disease undergoing a modified Cox maze radiofrequency ablation procedure due to permanent atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Data of 278 patients with rheumatic valve disease from the Cardiac Surgery Department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital who underwent the modified Cox maze radiofrequency ablation procedure between May 2013 and May 2017 were reviewed. The procedure was performed using "non-irrigation" ablation forceps (AtriCure, group A) in 149 patients and an "irrigation" ablation device (Medtronic, group M) in 129 patients. Data were collected prospectively, and follow-up was documented and compared between the groups. RESULTS: The radiofrequency procedure duration was 28.9 ±â€Š3.8 min in group A and 29.5 ±â€Š2.8 min in group M (t = 1.623, P = 0.106). The predicted radiofrequency time to the left atrium diameter was (Ya = 0.4964 X + 0.3762, R = 0.74) in group A and (Ym = 0.4331 X + 4.3563, R = 0.8435) in group M. The sinus rhythm (SR) conversion rate without use of anti-arrhythmic drugs was similarly good in groups A and M, with 75.2%, 72.5%, and 70.5% vs. 73.6%, 71.3%, and 69.8% at discharge, 6 and 12 months, respectively (F = 0.084, F = 0.046, F = 0.046, P > 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Two types of radiofrequency ablation devices characteristic of "non-irrigation" and "irrigation" bipolar ablation forceps were similarly efficient at SR restoration.

Charge separation between polar {111} surfaces of CoO octahedrons and their enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Crystal facet engineering of semiconductors has been proven to be an effective strategy to increase photocatalytic performances. However, the mechanism involved in the photocatalysis is not yet known. Herein, we report our success in that photocatalytic performances of the Cl(-) ion capped CoO octahedrons with exposed {111} facets were activated by a treatment using AgNO3 and NH3·H2O solutions. The clean CoO {111} facets were found to be highly reactivity faces. On the basis of the polar structure of the exposed {111} surfaces, a charge separation model between polar {111} surfaces is proposed. There is an internal electric field between polar {111} surfaces due to the spontaneous polarization. The internal electric field provides a driving force for charge separation. The reduction and oxidation reactions selectively take place on the positive and negative polar {111} surfaces. The charge separation model provides a clear insight into charge transfer in the semiconductor nanocrystals with high photocatalytic activities and offer guidance to design more effective photocatalysts, solar cells, photoelectrodes, and other photoelectronic devices.

A simple and general method for preparing antibody-PEG-PLGA sub-micron particles using electrospray technique: an in vitro study of targeted delivery of cisplatin to ovarian cancer cells.

Cisplatin-encapsulating maleimide-polyethylene glycol- Poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolide) (cis-encapsulating mal-PEG-PLGA) particles were produced using the electrospray technique and bioconjugated with CD44 monoclonal antibody, targeting the counterpart receptor. The produced suspension of cis-encapsulating CD44-PEG-PLGA particles contains an antibody loading of 12.65-15.17 µg/mL and efficiently targets a CD44-overexpressed ovarian cancer cell line, such as CP70 and SKOV-3, within 6h of treatment, which was determined by Bradford assay, immunofluorescence analysis, and confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) study. Most importantly, no tedious multi-step bioconjugation procedures are needed to synthesize mal-PEG-PLGA vehicles for antibody and drug loading, avoiding the undesirable hydrolysis of mal-PEG moiety and so successfully generating the cis-encapsulating mal-PEG-PLGA particles within one step. After conjugation of the CD44 antibody, the produced cis-encapsulating CD44-PEG-PLGA particles exhibited a better anti-proliferative ability against ovarian cancer cells compared to free form of cisplatin and PLGA particles without CD44 conjugation. Notably, the cis-encapsulating CD44-PEG-PLGA particles have approximately 10-14% greater the anti-proliferative ability against CP70 and SKOV-3 cells at a concentration of 1.25 µM, which falls within the concentrations used in chemotherapy. The proposed antibody-functionalization strategy represents an excellent platform for preparing particles with targeting ability in cancer therapy in vitro or in vivo.