[Analysis on missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery by echocardiography from one single medical center].

Objectives: To analyze the reasons of missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis on anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) by echocardiography. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients with ALCAPA who underwent surgical treatment in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from August 2008 to December 2021 were included. According to the results of preoperative echocardiography and surgical diagnosis, the patients were divided into confirmed group or missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis group. The results of preoperative echocardiography were collected, and the specific echocardiographic signs were analyzed. According to the experience of the doctors, the echocardiographic signs were divided into four types, namely clear displayed, vague/doubtful displayed, no display and no notice, and the display rate of each sign was calculated (display rate=number of clearly displayed cases/total number of cases×100%). By referring the surgical data, we analyzed and recorded the pathological anatomy and pathophysiological characteristics of the patients, and the rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis of echocardiography in patients with different characteristics was compared. Results: A total of 21 patients were enrolled, including 11 males, aged 1.8 (0.8, 12.3) years (range 1 month to 47 years). Except for one patient with anomalous origin of left anterior descending artery, the others were all originated from the main left coronary artery (LCA). There were 13 cases of ALCAPA in infant and children, and 8 cases of adult ALCAPA. There were 15 cases in the confirmed group (diagnostic accuracy was 71.4% (15/21)), and 6 cases in the missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis group (three cases were misdiagnosed as primary endocardial fibroelastosis, two cases were misdiagnosed as coronary-pulmonary artery fistula; and one case was missed diagnosis). The working years of the physicians in the confirmed group were longer than those in the missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group ((12.8±5.6) years vs. (8.3±4.7) years, P=0.045). In infants with ALCAPA, the detection rate of LCA-pulmonary shunt (8/10 vs. 0, P=0.035) and coronary collateral circulation (7/10 vs. 0, P=0.042) in confirmed group was higher than that in missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group. In adult ALCAPA patients, the detection rate of LCA-pulmonary artery shunt was higher in confirmed group than that in missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group (4/5 vs. 0, P=0.021). The missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis rate of adult type was higher than that of infant type (3/8 vs. 3/13, P=0.410). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis was higher in patients with abnormal origin of branches than that of abnormal origin of main trunk (1/1 vs. 5/21, P=0.028). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis in patients with LCA running between the main and pulmonary arteries was higher than that distant from the main pulmonary artery septum (4/7 vs. 2/14, P=0.064). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension was higher than that in patients without severe pulmonary hypertension (2/3 vs. 4/18, P=0.184). The reasons with an echocardiography missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis rate of≥50% included that (1) the proximal segment of LCA ran between the main and pulmonary arteries; (2) abnormal opening of LCA at the right posterior part of the pulmonary artery; (3) abnormal origin of LCA branches; (4) complicated with severe pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions: Echocardiography physicians' knowledge of ALCAPA and diagnostic vigilance are critical to the accuracy of diagnosis. Attention should be paid to the pediatric cases with no obvious precipitating factors of left ventricular enlargement, regardless of whether the left ventricular function is normal or not, the origin of coronary artery should be routinely explored.

[CD7 expression and its prognostic significance in acute myeloid leukemia patients with wild-type or mutant CEBPA].

Objective: To analyze the prognostic value of CD7 expression in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and to further explore the correlation between CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation, and to clarify the prognostic value of CD7(+) in AML patients with wild-type (WT) or mutant-type (MT) CEBPA. Methods: The clinical data of 298 newly diagnosed non-M(3) AML patients between January 2010 and December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of CD7(+) and CD7(-) patients were respectively compared in all patients, and in patients with WT and MT CEBPA. The relationship between CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation was determined by chi-square, and the effects of CEBPA mutation on survival and prognosis in CD7(+) group by Kaplan-Meier method. Results: In CD7(+) group, the frequencies of CEBPA mutation were 10.1% (single site) and 33.9% (double site) , significantly higher than those of the CD7(-) group (5.3% and 4.2%) (P=0.000) . Subgroup prognostic analysis showed a lower CR rate (P=0.001) and a higher RR (P=0.023) in CD7(+) group comparing to those of CD7(-) group in AML patients with wild type CEBPA. There were no statistical difference between CD7(+) group and CD7(-) group in overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (P>0.05) , while in the CEBPA mutant group the CD7(+) group has higher OS (P=0.019) and DFS (P=0.010) . Based on the CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation, 298 cases were divided into 3 subgroups, named as CD7(+)-CEBPA MT group, CD7(-) and CD7(+)-CEBPA WT group. The 3-year OS of the 3 groups were 80.2%, 48.0% and 30.6%, respectively (P<0.001) , and the 3-year DFS were 74.1%, 37.4% and 22.2%, respectively (P<0.001) . Conclusion: The CEBPA mutation rate was higher in CD7(+) AML patients then that of CD7(-) patients. CD7 expression has opposite prognostic significance in AML patients carrying the wild-type or mutant-type CEBPA. Based on CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation, a new risk stratification model can be established, which is helpful to guide the clinical individualized treatment for AML patients.

[Differences in myringoplasty between endoscopic and microscope].

Objective:The intraoperative and postoperative clinical indexes of myringoplasty performed by endoscope or by microscope were collected retrospectively, the differences between the two different surgical methods were analysized. Method:Retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 70 cases (70 ears) udergoing myringoplasty in the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, at the Second People's Hospital of Kashi from June 2014 to August 2015. According to the surgical approach cases were divided into two groups, 30 cases in group A by endoscopic myringoplasty and 40 cases in group B by microscope myringoplasty. The operation time, blood loss, postoperative dry ear time, wound healing scar hyperplasia, tympanic membrane perforation rate and hearing improvement rate were compared between the two groups, and SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used to analyze the differences between the two groups. Result:The operation time: Group A had an average of (35.23±6.38)min, less than group B (42.60±7.97)min, with statistical difference (P<0.05). The intraoperative blood loss: the average of group A was (7.33±2.11)ml, less than group B (17.93±3.84)ml, with statistical difference (P<0.05). The postoperative dry ear time more than 1 month: group A was 40%, lower than Group B (75%), with statistical difference (P<0.05). The postoperative incision healing scar hyperplasia: group A was 0%, lower than group B (5%), no significant difference (P>0.05). The tympanic membrane perforation rate: group A was 3.33%, lower than group B (7.5%), no significant difference (P>0.05). The postoperative hearing improvement rate: group A was 76.67%, lower than group B (80.00%), no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the traditional microscope surgery, endoscopic myringoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical technique which can get the same curative effect, but with a shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, dry ear in shorter time , recovery more quickly, beautiful incision and other advantages. So it is worthy of clinical application.

[Analysis of curative effect on chronic suppurative otitis media by tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy].

Objective:Analysis of perforation rate and hearing improvement rate of patients with chronic suppurative otitis media after operation, to observe the effect of tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy.Method:Retrospective analysis the clinical data of EENT Hospital of Fudan University from January 2011 to December 2016, 167 cases (ears) by tympanoplasty. According to the surgical approach were divided into simple tympanoplasty in 108 cases (group A), tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy in 59 cases(group B)(CWU in 23 cases, IBM in 11 cases, CWD in 25 cases). Endoscopy and pure tone audiometry after 3 to 6 months, using SPSS19.0 software to compare the difference of tympanic membrane perforation rate and hearing improvement rate. Result:The tympanic membrane perforation rate of group A and group B were 8.33%(9/108) and 5.08%(3/59),there was no significant difference(χ²= 0.604, P> 0.05). The hearing improvement rate of group A and group B were 83.33%(90/108) and 77.97%(46/59), there was no significant difference (χ²= 0.727, P> 0.05).Conclusion:For chronic suppurative otitis media with lesions confined to the mastoid and tympanic sinus, the removal of mastoid lesions in the treatment of tympanic membrane healing and improvement of hearing can not achieve better results than simple tympanoplasty.

[Clinical analysis of tympanoplasty combined with ventilation tube insertion in otitis media].

Objective:The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility and clinical effect of tympanoplasty combined with ventilation tube insertion in otitis media.Method: Retrospective analysis of 35 patients with eustachian tube obstruction or tympanic adhesions for tympanoplasty combined with ventil ation tube insertion in otitis media in EENT Hospital of Fudan University from April 2008 to December 2010. Preoperative routine hearing tests and temporal bone CT examination. Completely remove of lesions at the same time and as much as possible to protect the integrity of the tympanic wall mucosa during operation. Reconstruction of the ossicular chain and simultaneous tympanic membrane hole and placed silicone T-type ventilation tube. All patients were tested for pure tone auditory threshold at 3 months after operation. The patients were followed up for 12 to 44 months.Result:The average hearing level of PTA (0.5,1.0,2.0 kHz) was (31.71±12.25) dBHL. 28 cases (80.0%) had improved to 40 dBHL after operation, 5 cases (14.3%) had hearing enhancement of 10-20 dBHL, and 2 patients (5.7%) had no change in hearing. The number of cases with air bone gap (ABG)(0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kHz) reduced to less than 20 dBHL was 25, 32 and 34 after operation. Ventilation tube self-prolapse in15 cases, 12 cases of artificial removal and 8 cases of inpatient. Twenty seven cases were left perforation of tympanic membrane, of which 22 cases (81.5%) were spontaneously healed and 5 cases(18.5%) were left with small perforations less than 2 mm in diameter. All of them had dry ear after operation, none of them had recurrence after operation, 33 cases (94.3%) had dry ear within 12 weeks, and only 2 cases(5.7%) had dry ear for more than 6 months.Conclusion: Tympanoplasty combined with ventilation tube insertion for the middle ear mucosal dysfunction and eustachian tube mucosal dysfunction of otitis media treatment effect is obvious. It does not extend the dry ear time and cause postoperative recurrence. This operation is feasible, reliable and effective.

Comparative analysis of platelet 5-HT concentrations in Han and Li patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

We investigated the role of serotonin (5-HT) in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by determining the platelet 5-HT concentrations in Li and Han patients with PTSD in Hainan Province, China. Li and Han control groups of the same sample size have no statistical differences in gender and age distribution compared to those in the PTSD groups who were also examined. The platelet 5-HT concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, the patients and controls were evaluated by the impact of event scale-revised (IES-R). IES-R showed that the total and sub-scale scores of three factors (avoidance, intrusion, and hyperarousal) of Li patients with PTSD were significantly higher than those of Han patients with PTSD. Scores of both PTSD groups were higher than those of their respective control groups. The platelet 5-HT concentration of the Li patients with PTSD (120.56 ± 118.05 ng/10(9) platelets) was lower than that of the Han patients with PTSD (271.43 ± 181.66 ng/10(9) platelets) and that of both Li and Han control groups (338.54 ± 156.46, 350.58 ± 169.19 ng/10(9) platelets, respectively). Differences existed in symptoms of PTSD in terms of avoidance, intrusion, and hyperarousal in the Li and Han patients with PTSD. The diminished 5-HT activity in patients with PTSD may be relevant to biochemical changes in the brain and body. The differences in these factors between ethnic groups could be due to their customs, social status, and culture.

[Echocardiographic features of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm extending into left ventricle].

OBJECTIVE: To observe image features of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) extending into left ventricle by echocardiography. METHODS: Echocardiographic features of 5 cases of SVA extending into left ventricle and underwent surgery at Union Hospital from July 1995 to September 2015 were reviewed retrospectively and image and surgical findings were compared. A total of 4 patients were diagnosed by conventional and 3D echocardiography before surgery, and 1 patient was diagnosed by conventional echocardiography. RESULTS: The origin, extending position, rupture status, complications of the SVA and associated cardiovascular lesions determined by echocardiography were entirely consistent with surgical findings in all cases, with the exception of one failed diagnosis of hypoplasty of an adjacent aortic cusp. Besides the common features of SVA, echocardiographic features of SVA extending into left ventricle included a thin-walled saccular lesion arising from the aortic root in continuation with the aortic annulus, with significant morphological changes and movement. Moreover, following features were observed: very low origin of the saccular lesion arising between the sinus base and the aortic annulus; the aneurysm going back and forth between the aortic root and the left ventricular outflow tract in 4 cases with an intact interventricular septum, and between the left ventricle and the right ventricle through the septal defect in another case complicated by a huge ventricular septal defect; diastolic shunt into the left ventricle when ruptured; displacement of the adjacent aortic annulus due to compression of aneurismal origin and prolapse of both aortic valve and annulus observed in all cases, resulting in a severe aortic regurgitation; obstructions of the left ventricular outflow tract due to the space-occupying effect were also found in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: The SVA extending into left ventricle has distinguished echocardiographic characteristics, which could be accurately diagnosed either by conventional or real-time 3D echocardiography.

Monofunctional polymer nanoparticles prepared through intramolecularly cross-linking the polymer chains sparsely grafted on the surface of sacrificial silica spheres.

Herein we report preparation of polymeric monofunctional nanoparticles (PMNs) through intramolecularly cross-linking the polymer chains sparsely grafted on the surface of sacrificial silica spheres, and a one-to-one coupling reaction between PMNs and linear polymer chains and that between two PMNs.

Modeling oil spill trajectory in coastal waters based on fractional Brownian motion.

This paper proposes a numerical method to simulate oil spill trajectories, which are affected by the combination of advection, turbulent diffusion and mechanical spreading process, based on a particle tracking algorithm. Recent studies have shown that the trajectories of drifters on the ocean surface have a fractal structure that is far from being described using ordinary Brownian motion. Thus, in modeling the diffusion process, a discrete method has been employed for the generation of fractional Brownian motion (fBm) to illustrate superdiffusive transport. The algorithm is implemented to predict oil slick trajectories following the "Arteaga" oil spill accident that occurred near the Dalian coastal region in 2005. When compared with the observed data and the results of traditional diffusion modeling, the numerical results based on the fBm model are encouraging.

Evaluation of mitral valve prolapse by four-dimensional echocardiography.

To observe the stereoscopic structure and the motion of the prolapsing mitral valve and its regurgitant jet in comparison with the normal mitral valve, four-dimensional (or dynamic three-dimensional) echocardiography of mitral valve apparatus was obtained in 20 patients with mitral valve prolapse and 10 unaffected subjects by use of transthoracic and transesophageal methods. The normal mitral valve apparatus has a consistent saddle-shaped configuration, with its anterior and posterior high points located near the aortic root and posterior left ventricular wall, respectively, and its low points located medially and laterally. In mitral valve prolapse, the spatial relation of mitral leaflets and anulus can be observed in four dimensions either from the left ventricle toward the left atrium or from the left atrium toward the left ventricle; the position, size, shape, motion, and extent of functional abnormality of the prolapsing mitral valve were clearly displayed. On the long-axis view of the left ventricle and the apical four-chamber view of four-dimensional echocardiography, the part of prolapsing mitral valve that protruded into the left atrium appeared as a spoon-like depression. We also obtained four-dimensional images of regurgitant blood flow to observe the stereoscopic view of blood flow column and its cross-sectional area, spatial position, and dynamic changes. This technique is of great value in evaluating patients with mitral valve prolapse, increasing the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, and giving assistance to the surgeons in making preoperative therapeutic decisions and assessing the intraoperative and postoperative results.

Four-dimensional echocardiography: methods and clinical application.

4DE (i.e., dynamic three-dimensional) echocardiography is a new developing technique in recent years. In our study, a three-dimensional echo scan computer system was used to acquire and store the two-dimensional information, then to reconstruct the stereoscopic image of the heart according to its space-time continuum. It can yield a better approach, which can help identify the various structures of the heart and great arteries and facilitate understanding of spatial relations and motion. In addition, it can display physiologic information such as the direction, course, size, and shape of the blood flow. We have examined 138 patients by both transthoracic and transesophageal approaches. Our preliminary experience shows that 4DE is of great value in diagnosing congenital heart disease and valvular disease.