Transcatheter closure of multiple coronary artery fistulas: a coronary computed tomography angiography-based anatomic classification.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the anatomical characteristics and classification of multiple coronary artery fistulas (MCAFs), and to compare the outcomes of transcatheter closure between MCAFs and single fistulas. METHODS: All patients who underwent attempts at transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) at Fuwai Hospital from 2010 to 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into single fistula and MCAFs groups, and anatomical characteristics and transcatheter closure outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: This retrospective study included 146 patients who underwent attempted transcatheter closure of CAFs, with a 14.38% failure rate. Among the 146 patients with CAFs, 32.19% were identified as having MCAFs, with types I, II, and III constituting 40.43%, 42.55%, and 17.02%, respectively. Unlike single fistulas, which predominantly originated from the right coronary artery and terminated in the left ventricle, MCAFs mainly had simultaneous origins from the right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery (29.79%), and predominantly drained into the pulmonary artery (70.21%), with a notable prevalence of plexus-like morphology (38.3% vs 2.02%, P < .001). The success rate of transcatheter closure was significantly lower for multiple fistulas compared with single fistula (64.29% vs 84.34%, P = .011). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the risk of closure failure for MCAFs was 2.64 times that of single fistulas. CONCLUSIONS: MCAFs are common among CAFs and can be classified into 3 types based on the number and location of their origins and terminations. The risk of failure of transcatheter closure is significantly higher in MCAFs than in single fistulas.

Factors influencing senior care and living preferences among older adults in Jiangsu, China: a cross-sectional survey study.

BACKGROUND: As the population ages, senior care for older adults in China has become increasingly important and has attracted the attention of both government and society. This study aimed to explore preferences and influencing factors related to senior care among older Chinese adults and thus propose effective and targeted strategies for the development of a comprehensive care system for older adults in the aging Chinese population. METHODS: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey conducted in sixteen communities or villages in Jiangsu Province, China, from July to September 2021. Guided by the Andersen Behavioral Model, multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with preferences for senior care arrangements. RESULTS: A total of 870 respondents were included in the study, 60.11% of whom preferred receiving care in their own homes, while only 13.68% chose residential care facilities (RCFs). For predisposing factors, rural respondents preferred receiving care in their own homes compared to urban respondents (children's home: OR = 0.55, P < 0.01; RCF: OR = 0.58, P < 0.01). Concerning enabling factors, respondents who were not employed (OR = 2.30, P < 0.01) and those without financial support (OR = 2.73, P < 0.05) preferred RCFs to their own homes. Respondents receiving life assistance (sometimes: OR = 2.76, P < 0.001; regularly: OR = 2.57, P < 0.01; every day: OR = 3.57, P < 0.001) preferred their children's homes to their own homes. In terms of need factors, respondents with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs, OR > 1, P < 0.05), those who knew about RCFs (some: OR = 0.53, P < 0.005; no: OR = 0.10, P < 0.001) and those with a good impression of RCFs (fair: OR = 3.72, P < 0.05; good: OR = 11.91, P < 0.001) preferred receiving care in RCFs compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Older Chinese adults' senior care preferences were affected by predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need factors. Policy-makers should consider targeted measures to identify more precise senior care services and thus address aging challenges in China.

Outcomes of Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Left Circumflex Coronary Artery Fistula.

BACKGROUND: Congenital left circumflex coronary artery fistula (LCX-CAF) is a relatively rare type of coronary artery fistula (CAF); little is known about the outcomes of transcatheter closure (TCC) of LCX-CAF.Methods and Results: All consecutive patients admitted to Fuwai Hospital and scheduled for TCC of LCX-CAF between January 2012 and December 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Of the 25 consecutive patients (mean [±SD] age 34±20 years; 48% male) admitted and scheduled for TCC of congenital LCX-CAF, the procedure was feasible in 22 (77.3%). The mean (±SD) diameter of the fistulas was 6.99±2.04 mm; 21 (84%) patients had a large fistula (i.e., diameter >2-fold greater than non-feeding coronary artery). Occluders were deployed via a transarterial approach and arteriovenous loop in 6 (27.3%) and 16 (72.7%) patients, respectively. No procedural complications were recorded. Although the procedural success rates are similar for single LCX-CAF and left anterior descending CAF (81.25% vs. 92.86%; P=0.602), the mean time from initial angiography to first occluder deployment is significantly longer for LCX-CAF (83.06±36.07 vs. 36.00±9.49 min; P<0.001). The mean (±SD) follow-up time was 62.2±45.5 months. The incidence of myocardial infarction and recanalization of the fistula was 4.5% (1/22) and 9.1% (2/22), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TCC of LCX-CAF is a feasible and effective alternative to surgical repair, with comparable outcomes in selected patients. Optimal medical therapy to prevent post-closure myocardial infarction requires further investigation.

Bayesian response adaptive randomization design with a composite endpoint of mortality and morbidity.

Allocating patients to treatment arms during a trial based on the observed responses accumulated up to the decision point, and sequential adaptation of this allocation, could minimize the expected number of failures or maximize total benefits to patients. In this study, we developed a Bayesian response-adaptive randomization (RAR) design targeting the endpoint of organ support-free days (OSFD) for patients admitted to the intensive care units. The OSFD is a mixture of mortality and morbidity assessed by the number of days of free of organ support within a predetermined post-randomization time-window. In the past, researchers treated OSFD as an ordinal outcome variable where the lowest category is death. We propose a novel RAR design for a composite endpoint of mortality and morbidity, for example, OSFD, by using a Bayesian mixture model with a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling to estimate the posterior probability distribution of OSFD and determine treatment allocation ratios at each interim. Simulations were conducted to compare the performance of our proposed design under various randomization rules and different alpha spending functions. The results show that our RAR design using Bayesian inference allocated more patients to the better performing arm(s) compared to other existing adaptive rules while assuring adequate power and type I error rate control across a range of plausible clinical scenarios.

Outcomes following transcatheter closure or surgical repair of coronary-left ventricular fistula: A single-center study with 10-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Coronary arteries drain into the left ventricle, known as coronary-left ventricular fistula (CLVF), an extremely rare anomalous coronary artery disease. Little is known about the outcomes following transcatheter closure (TC) or surgical closure (SC) of CLVF. METHOD: This was a single-center retrospective study including 42 consecutive patients who underwent either the TC or SC procedure from January 2011 to December 2021. The baseline and anatomic characteristics of the fistulas, procedural outcomes, and late outcomes were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 31.6 ± 16.2 years, with 28 male patients (66.7%). Fifteen patients underwent SC group and the remaining received TC group. There were no differences in age, comorbidities, clinical presentations, and anatomic characteristics between the 2 groups. The procedural success rate was similar (93.3% vs. 85.2%, P = 0.639) without operative and in-hospital mortality in both groups. Notably, patients who underwent TC had a significantly shorter postoperative in-hospital length of stay (2.11 ± 1.49 vs. 7.73 ± 2.37 days, P<0.001). The median follow-up time was 4.6 years (2.5-5.7 years, TC group) and 3.98 years (0.42-7.15 years, SC group), respectively. No difference was observed in the incidence of recanalization of the fistula (7.4% vs. 6.7%, P = 1) and myocardial infarction (0% vs. 0%). Cerebral infarction due to discontinuation of anticoagulants happened to two patients in the TC group. Importantly, thrombotic occlusion of the fistulous tract with patent parent coronary artery was found in 7 patients of the TC group. CONCLUSION: Both transcatheter and SC are safe and effective for patients with CLVF. Thrombotic occlusion is a noteworthy late complication, and its presence indicates the use of anticoagulants lifelong.

Interventional Occlusion of Large Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Adults with Severe Pulmonary Hypertension.

(1) Background: the indications for transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) are still unclear, and scholars have not fully elucidated the factors that affect PH prognosis. (2) Methods: we retrospectively enrolled 134 consecutive patients with a PDA diameter ≥10 mm or a ratio of PDA and aortic >0.5. We collected clinical data to explore the factors affecting follow-up PH. (3) Results: 134 patients (mean age 35.04 ± 10.23 years; 98 women) successfully underwent a transcatheter closure, and all patients had a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) >50 mmHg. Five procedures were deemed to have failed because their mPAP did not decrease, and the patients experienced uncomfortable symptoms after the trial occlusion. The average occluder (pulmonary end) size was almost twice the PDA diameter (22.33 ± 4.81 mm vs. 11.69 ± 2.18 mm). Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), mPAP, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) significantly reduced after the occlusion, and LVEF recovered during the follow-up period. In total, 42 of the 78 patients with total pulmonary resistance >4 Wood Units experienced clinical outcomes, and all of them had PH in the follow-up, while 10 of them had heart failure, and 4 were hospitalized again because of PH. The results of a logistic regression analysis revealed that the postoperative mPAP had an independent risk factor (odds ratio = 1.069, 95% confidence interval: 1.003 to 1.140, p = 0.040) with a receiver operating characteristic curve cut-off value of 35.5 mmHg (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: performing a transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus is feasible, and postoperative mPAP was a risk factor that affected the follow-up PH. Patients with a postoperative mPAP >35.5 mmHg should be considered for targeted medical therapy or should undergo right heart catheterization again after the occlusion.

Transcatheter closure of inferior sinus venosus defect using a patent ductus arteriosus occluder following simulation with a 3D-printed model.

Background: Transcatheter closure of inferior sinus venosus defect (ISVD) is still contraindication. To explore whether transcatheter closure with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occluders is possible for ISVD. Methods: From June 2014 to March 2021, 12 patients were recruited diagnosed as <25 mm ISVD. The three-dimensional printing (3DP) heart model was produced based on multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) scans. Preoperative closure simulation was planned on the personalized 3D model for each patient. Follow-up including electrocardiography (ECG), transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and X-ray was traced. Results: 3DP models of 12 patients were successfully printed. Twelve patients had been diagnosed with <25 mm ISVD and 4 of them had another secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). All patients were produced interventional therapy successfully. PDA occluder was implanted to closed ISVD, and ASD was closed using ASD occluder simultaneously. The average diameter of ISVD measured by TTE was (12.67±3.80), and the average diameter of sagittal axes and longitudinal axes measured by the 3D-printed model was (17.08±3.20) and (18.42±4.62) mm, respectively. The average size of PDA (diameter of pulmonary artery side) was (28.17±3.35) mm. Compared with the preoperative, the X-ray cardiothoracic ratio (0.51±0.04 vs. 0.47±0.06, P=0.007) and the right ventricle anterior-posterior diameter (31.17±5.65 vs. 24.58±3.75 mm, P<0.001) of postoperative was significantly decreased. During the average (47.75±27.52) months follow-up, it has achieved satisfying results, and there were no severe adverse events such as device transposition, death, and pericardial tamponade occurred. Conclusions: Assisting by 3D heart model, transcatheter closure of ISVD with PDA occluder had an excellent outcome. This method provides a new considerable treatment strategy for ISVD.

Transbrachial Access for Transcatheter Closure of Paravalvular Leak Following Prosthetic Valve Replacement.

Background: Transcatheter closure of paravalvular leak (PVL) has evolved into an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients. In this study, we introduce a new access for transcatheter closure of PVL and seek to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this access. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing transbrachial access for transcatheter mitral or aortic PVL closure (August 2017-November 2019) at our hospital. All patients underwent puncture of the brachial artery under local anesthesia. Results: The study population included 11 patients, with an average age of 55.91 ± 14.82 years. Ten out of 11 patients were successfully implanted with devices via the brachial artery approach, and one patient was converted to the transseptal approach. The technical success rate of transbrachial access was 90.9%. Mean NYHA functional class improved from 3.1 ± 0.5 before the procedure to 1.9 ± 0.5 after PVL closure. Severe paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) in five patients and moderate PVR in six patients prior to the procedure were significantly reduced to mild in four patients and none in seven patients after the procedure. Complications included one case of pseudoaneurysm and one case of moderate hemolysis aggravation after closure. One patient had an unknown cause of sudden death within 24 h after the procedure. The half-year mortality rate during follow-up was 9.1% (1/11). Conclusions: Transbrachial access for transcatheter closure of PVL may be a feasible and safe treatment and should include well-selected patients. It has several potential advantages of simplifying the procedure process and reducing postprocedural bed rest time.

Detecting survival-associated biomarkers from heterogeneous populations.

Detection of prognostic factors associated with patients' survival outcome helps gain insights into a disease and guide treatment decisions. The rapid advancement of high-throughput technologies has yielded plentiful genomic biomarkers as candidate prognostic factors, but most are of limited use in clinical application. As the price of the technology drops over time, many genomic studies are conducted to explore a common scientific question in different cohorts to identify more reproducible and credible biomarkers. However, new challenges arise from heterogeneity in study populations and designs when jointly analyzing the multiple studies. For example, patients from different cohorts show different demographic characteristics and risk profiles. Existing high-dimensional variable selection methods for survival analysis, however, are restricted to single study analysis. We propose a novel Cox model based two-stage variable selection method called "Cox-TOTEM" to detect survival-associated biomarkers common in multiple genomic studies. Simulations showed our method greatly improved the sensitivity of variable selection as compared to the separate applications of existing methods to each study, especially when the signals are weak or when the studies are heterogeneous. An application of our method to TCGA transcriptomic data identified essential survival associated genes related to the common disease mechanism of five Pan-Gynecologic cancers.

Transcatheter Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus via Different Approaches.

Background: There have been marked advances in devices such as Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO-II) or vascular plug through 5Fr delivery sheath for closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the past five decades, making it possible for cardiologists to deliver occluders via different approaches. However, comparisons of these different approaches have not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to summarize and compare the advantages of different approaches for PDA closure, and to guide clinical strategies. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients undergoing transcatheter closure of PDA from 2019 to 2020. Patients were matched by 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). The retrograde femoral artery approach (FAA) and simple vein approach (SVA) groups were compared with the conventional arteriovenous approach (CAA). Results: The average age of the 476 patients was 21.05 ± 21.15 years. Their average weight was 38.23 ± 24.1 kg and average height was 130.14 ± 34.45 cm. The mean diameter of the PDA was 4.29 ± 2.25 mm. There were 127 men and 349 women, comprising 205 adults and 271 children. Among them, 197 patients underwent CAA, 223 underwent SVA, and 56 underwent retrograde FAA. The diameter in the FAA group was smaller than that in the other two groups, but was similar in adults and children. In the PSM comparison of CAA and SVA, 136 patients with CAA and 136 patients with SVA were recruited. Simple vein approach was associated with markedly reduced length of hospital stay, length of operation, and contrast medium usage as compared with CAA (all P < 0.05). In the PSM comparison of FAA and CAA, 30 patients with CAA and 30 patients with FAA were recruited. The operation duration was longer in the CAA than in the FAA group. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications among groups. Conclusion: Patent ductus arteriosus closure by using the SVA and FAA is safe and effective, and has certain advantages in some respects as compared with CAA.

Degradation of hydroxypropyl guar gum at wide pH range by a heterogeneous Fenton-like process using bentonite-supported Cu(0).

To seek for efficient Fenton-like oxidation processing for treatment of waste fracturing fluid containing hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPGG), in heterogeneous reaction, five bentonite-supported zero-valent metal catalysts were prepared by liquid-phase reduction. The results showed that the bentonite-supported zero-valent copper exhibited best catalytic performance, attributed to the high dispersion of active sites of zero-valent copper. The effects of the most relevant operating factors (H2O2 concentration, catalyst dosage, temperature and pH) were evaluated in detail. Moreover, the chemical oxygen demand removal rate of HPGG can achieve 76% when the reaction time was selected at 45 min under optimal experimental conditions. The stability evaluation showed that the catalytic performance was almost unaffected after the catalyst was recycled and used once more showing the good stability of the bentonite-supported zero-valent copper in the application process.

Serial Measurement of Cell-Cycle Arrest Biomarkers [TIMP-2] · [IGFBP7] and Risk for Progression to Death, Dialysis, or Severe Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Septic Shock.

Rationale: Urinary TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2) and IGFBP7 (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7) can predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with sepsis.Objectives: To address critical questions about whether biomarkers can inform the response to treatment and whether they might be used to guide therapy, as most sepsis patients present with AKI.Methods: We measured [TIMP-2] · [IGFBP7] before and after a 6-hour resuscitation in 688 patients with septic shock enrolled in the ProCESS (Protocol-based Care for Early Septic Shock) trial. Our primary endpoint was stage 3 AKI, renal replacement therapy, or death within 7 days.Measurements and Main Results: The endpoint was reached in 113 patients (16.4%). In patients with negative [TIMP-2] · [IGFBP7] at baseline, those who became positive (>0.3 U) after resuscitation had three-times higher risk compared with those who remained negative (21.8% vs. 8.5%; P = 0.01; odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-6.87). Conversely, compared with patients with a positive biomarker at baseline that were still positive at Hour 6, risk was reduced for patients who became negative (23.8% vs. 9.8%; P = 0.01; OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.17-3.95). A positive [TIMP-2] · [IGFBP7] after resuscitation was associated with worse outcomes in both patients with and without AKI at that time point. The clinical response to resuscitation, as judged by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, was weakly predictive of the endpoint (area under the curve, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.62-0.73) and improved with addition of [TIMP-2] · [IGFBP7] (0.72; 95% CI, 0.66-0.77; P = 0.03). Different resuscitation protocols did not alter biomarker trajectories, nor did they alter outcomes in biomarker-positive or biomarker-negative patients. However, biomarker trajectories were associated with outcomes.Conclusions: Changes in urinary [TIMP-2] · [IGFBP7] after initial fluid resuscitation identify patients with sepsis who have differing risk for progression of AKI.Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00510835).

Synthesis of hierarchical MgO based on a cotton template and its adsorption properties for efficient treatment of oilfield wastewater.

A biomorphic MgO nanomaterial was fabricated via a facile and low-cost immersion method using cotton as the template. The obtained materials were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The as-prepared MgO retained the structure of cotton, with a porous hierarchical structure and a high specific surface area, which endowed it with great potential due to its excellent adsorption properties for the adsorption of additives in oil field wastewater. It also exhibited the maximum adsorption capacity of 391.36 mg g-1 for sulfonated lignite. The adsorption process of sulfonated lignite on biomorphic MgO was systematically investigated and was found to obey the pseudo-second-order rate equation and the Langmuir adsorption model. The negative values of Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) showed that the adsorption process was feasible and spontaneous. The endothermic process was depicted with a positive value for ΔH.

Derivation, Validation, and Potential Treatment Implications of Novel Clinical Phenotypes for Sepsis.

Importance: Sepsis is a heterogeneous syndrome. Identification of distinct clinical phenotypes may allow more precise therapy and improve care. Objective: To derive sepsis phenotypes from clinical data, determine their reproducibility and correlation with host-response biomarkers and clinical outcomes, and assess the potential causal relationship with results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Design, Settings, and Participants: Retrospective analysis of data sets using statistical, machine learning, and simulation tools. Phenotypes were derived among 20 189 total patients (16 552 unique patients) who met Sepsis-3 criteria within 6 hours of hospital presentation at 12 Pennsylvania hospitals (2010-2012) using consensus k means clustering applied to 29 variables. Reproducibility and correlation with biological parameters and clinical outcomes were assessed in a second database (2013-2014; n = 43 086 total patients and n = 31 160 unique patients), in a prospective cohort study of sepsis due to pneumonia (n = 583), and in 3 sepsis RCTs (n = 4737). Exposures: All clinical and laboratory variables in the electronic health record. Main Outcomes and Measures: Derived phenotype (α, ß, γ, and δ) frequency, host-response biomarkers, 28-day and 365-day mortality, and RCT simulation outputs. Results: The derivation cohort included 20 189 patients with sepsis (mean age, 64 [SD, 17] years; 10 022 [50%] male; mean maximum 24-hour Sequential Organ Failure Assessment [SOFA] score, 3.9 [SD, 2.4]). The validation cohort included 43 086 patients (mean age, 67 [SD, 17] years; 21 993 [51%] male; mean maximum 24-hour SOFA score, 3.6 [SD, 2.0]). Of the 4 derived phenotypes, the α phenotype was the most common (n = 6625; 33%) and included patients with the lowest administration of a vasopressor; in the ß phenotype (n = 5512; 27%), patients were older and had more chronic illness and renal dysfunction; in the γ phenotype (n = 5385; 27%), patients had more inflammation and pulmonary dysfunction; and in the δ phenotype (n = 2667; 13%), patients had more liver dysfunction and septic shock. Phenotype distributions were similar in the validation cohort. There were consistent differences in biomarker patterns by phenotype. In the derivation cohort, cumulative 28-day mortality was 287 deaths of 5691 unique patients (5%) for the α phenotype; 561 of 4420 (13%) for the ß phenotype; 1031 of 4318 (24%) for the γ phenotype; and 897 of 2223 (40%) for the δ phenotype. Across all cohorts and trials, 28-day and 365-day mortality were highest among the δ phenotype vs the other 3 phenotypes (P < .001). In simulation models, the proportion of RCTs reporting benefit, harm, or no effect changed considerably (eg, varying the phenotype frequencies within an RCT of early goal-directed therapy changed the results from >33% chance of benefit to >60% chance of harm). Conclusions and Relevance: In this retrospective analysis of data sets from patients with sepsis, 4 clinical phenotypes were identified that correlated with host-response patterns and clinical outcomes, and simulations suggested these phenotypes may help in understanding heterogeneity of treatment effects. Further research is needed to determine the utility of these phenotypes in clinical care and for informing trial design and interpretation.

Safety and efficacy of percutaneous closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous closure in patients with a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 29 patients with RSVA were retrospectively enrolled in our study. All patients were successfully treated by percutaneous closure and had a complete closure at discharge; however, two patients had a trivial procedure-related aortic regurgitation (AR) after the procedure. On a mean follow-up of 29.7±23.8 months (range 1-83 months), the two procedure-related AR disappeared three months and two years after the procedure, respectively. Trivial residual shunt was found in one patient, sinus of Valsalva aneurysm ruptured again in one patient and trivial to moderate AR was found in two patients during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In appropriately selected patients with RSVA, percutaneous closure is an attractive alternative to surgery with high technical success and good short-term and midterm outcomes; however, long-term follow-up is mandatory.

Changes in inflammatory endometrial cancer risk biomarkers in individuals undergoing surgical weight loss.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity has been strongly linked to endometrial cancer (EC) risk. A number of potential EC risk biomarkers have been proposed, including heightened pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines. To evaluate if bariatric surgery can serve as a means for altering levels of such EC risk biomarkers, we investigated changes in these biomarkers after weight loss. METHODS: Blood samples were collected pre-operatively and 6months post-operatively in 107 female bariatric surgery patients aged 18-72years. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare biomarker levels (measured using xMAP immunoassays) pre- and post-surgery. Normative comparisons were implemented to contrast 6-month post-surgery biomarker levels to levels in a sample of 74 age-matched non-obese women. Linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between biomarker expression at baseline and 6months post-surgery and the relationship between race and biomarker levels. RESULTS: On average, participants lost 30.15kg (SD: 12.26) after the bariatric intervention. Levels of C-peptide, insulin, CRP, leptin, IL-1Rα, and IL-6 significantly decreased, while levels of SHBG, IGFBP1, and adiponectin significantly increased with weight loss. Normative comparisons showed the levels of SHBG, C-peptide, insulin, IGFBP1, adiponectin, CRP, and TNFα after bariatric intervention approached the level of markers in comparison group. Multiple regression analyses revealed significant relationships between changes in BMI and changes in biomarker levels. The changes in IL-1Rα were significantly associated with race. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that normalization of EC risk biomarkers can be achieved with bariatric surgery. Improved understanding of biological mechanisms associated with weight loss may inform preventive strategies for EC.

Outcomes of Percutaneous Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus Accompanied With Unilateral Absence of Pulmonary Artery.

BACKGROUND: Limited data have reported the outcomes of percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in patients with unilateral absence of pulmonary artery (UAPA). This study aimed to evaluate the symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy, especially the transcatheter closure of PDA in patients with PDA associated with UAPA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PDA and UAPA were retrospectively enrolled from August 2010 through January 2016. Clinical data, treatment and follow-up information were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (6 males and 7 females) were diagnosed with PDA associated with UAPA. Percutaneous closure was successfully conducted in 6 patients successfully. The median age was 7 years (7 months to 37 years). The mean diameter of the PDA and occluders were 4.7 ± 1.8mm (2-7mm) and 11.3 ± 3.9mm (6-14mm), respectively. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was 41.5 ± 13.5mmHg (25-62mmHg). The diameter of PDA has no relationship with the degree of pulmonary artery pressure (r = 0.239, P = 0.648). In 4 patients, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure decreased significantly after closure with 69.0 ± 10.7 versus 48.0 ± 11.3mmHg (P = 0.146), and also the mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 54.5 ± 5.7 mm Hg versus 30.5 ± 3.9mmHg (P = 0.04). In all, 1 patient had a trace residual shunt, which disappeared within 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: In appropriate patients with PDA associated with UAPA, transcatheter closure of PDA has the potential to improve the pulmonary artery hypertension. Further follow-up is required to monitor the long-term outcomes.

Simultaneous Transcatheter Closure of Multiple Atrial Septal Defects Using Dual Amplatzer Septal Occluder Devices.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure has been a recognised treatment strategy for multiple atrial septal defects (mASDs). This study aimed to examine the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of transcatheter closure of mASDs using dual Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) devices. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 34 patients who underwent transcatheter closure of mASDs using dual ASO devices from April 2005 to December 2014. RESULTS: Eight men and 26 women who successfully underwent transcatheter closure of mASDs were included. Ten (29.4%) patients had 3 defects or more. The mean diameters of the larger and smaller defects were 14.0±3.9 mm (8-20 mm) and 9.1±2.6 mm (4-15 mm), respectively. The mean diameters of the larger and smaller devices were 22.2±4.8 mm (13-30 mm) and 17.3±4.1 mm (10-26 mm), respectively. Devices were deployed by the "sandwiches" technique or an interleaved pattern. Immediately after the procedure, 23 (67.6%) patients had complete closure and 11 patients had a residual shunt (6 trivial, 3 small, 1 moderate, 1 large). During the 6 months of follow-up, 30 (88.2%) patients had complete closure of the shunt and 4 patients had a residual shunt (1 large, 3 small). Complications included 2 cases of pericardial effusion, which disappeared at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous device implantation in transcatheter closure of mASDs is feasible and effective. The incidence rate of residual shunts is slightly high in the short term, but tends to decrease during mid-term follow-up.

Incidence and predictors of asymptomatic pericardial effusion after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect.

AIMS: Pericardial effusion (PE) without obvious periprocedural complications (e.g., cardiac perforation, device erosion) may occur after transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD). The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence and predictors of PE unrelated to procedural complications. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included all patients who had undergone successful percutaneous ASD closure from June 2009 to April 2014 (n=2,652) with no pre-existing PE or cardiac perforation or erosion. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed during the procedure and one, three, and six months postoperatively. After device implantation, fifty patients (1.9%) developed new-onset PE (37 immediately, 13 during follow-up). These patients were asymptomatic, stable haemodynamically, and had no new arrhythmias. PE appeared mild (5.1±1.9 mm) and homogeneously echolucent by TTE. PE diminished spontaneously. Compared with 2,602 patients without PE, factors independently predicting asymptomatic PE were the device touching the atrial free wall, device size, patient age, and total defect size. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.78 (p<0.001), 0.66 (p<0.001) and 0.77 (p<0.001) for device size, patient age, and total defect size, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic report of a new type of PE. Our data provide new insights into new-onset PE after percutaneous ASD closure.