Abstract： Objective To summarize the experiences and analyze the efficacy of mitral valvuloplasty in treating anterior leaflet prolapse. Methods A total of 152 consecutive nonrheumatic heart disease patients including 96 males and 56 females with anterior leaflet prolapse who underwent mitral valvuloplasty from February 1997 to March 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The age of these patients ranged from 10 to 73 years old (38.54±17.22 years). There were 119 cases of mitral degenerative prolapse or chordae rupture, 24 of ongenital heart disease, 3 of ischemic mitral insufficiency, and 6 of native valve endocarditis. Echocardiography before operation showed the degree of mitral regurgitation was severe in 19, moderate to severe in 63, and moderate in 70 patients. Among the patients, 87 had anterior prolapse and 65 had bilateral prolapse. All patients underwent mitral valve repair under standard cardiopulmonary bypass. Results During the operation, transesophageal echocardiography and saline injection test showed satisfying results in all the patients. No early death occurred after operation. Followup was done to 135 patients for 3 months to 8.5 years with a followup rate of 88.82%. During the follow up, 93 patients were in New Yoke Heart Association（NYHA）class Ⅰ, 35 in Class Ⅱ, 3 in class Ⅲ and 4 in class Ⅳ. The Echocardiography showed that postoperative left atrium diameter (41.09±10.40 mm vs. 45.32±10.07 mm, t=4.186, P=0.000) and left ventricular enddiastolic dimension (52.04±7.74 mm vs. 60.70±7.72 mm,t=9.676, P=0.000) were significantly smaller than that before operation. No or trace mitral regurgitation (MR) was found in 36 patients, mild MR in 45 patients, mild to moderate MR in 38 patients, moderate MR in 9 patients, and moderate to severe MR in 7 patients. Mitral valve replacement was performed in 5 patients after valvuloplasty. Three died during the follow-up. Two of them died of heart failure and one of unknown cause. Conclusion In spite of the complexity, the longterm results of mitral valve repair for anterior leaflet prolapse are satisfactory if the best surgery method is chosen.
Objective To investigate the application of sequential noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in weaning patients off mechanical ventilation after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods From July 2007 to July 2009, 52 patients who underwent CABG with mechanical ventilation for no less than 24 hours and P/F Ratio lower than 150 mm Hg were divided into two groups with random number table. In the sequential NIV group (SNIV group), there were 19 patients including 16 males and 3 females whose ages were 69.26±8.10 years. In the prolonged mechanical ventilation group (PMV group), there were 33 patients including 28 males and 5 females whose ages were 70.06±7.09 years. Clinical data of these two groups were compared and the influence of NIV on the circulation and respiration of the patients were observed. Results The SNIV group weaned off mechanical ventilation earlier than the PMV group (26.46±3.66 h vs. 38.65±9.12 h, P=0.013). The SNIV group held shorter total ventilation time (29.26±21.56 h vs.54.45±86.57 h,P=0.016), ICU stay time (2.44±2.99 d vs. 4.89±7.42 d, P=0.028) and postoperative hospital time (10.82±4.31 d vs. 14.01±19.30 d, P=0.039) than the PMV group. Furthermore, the SNIV group had lower pneumonia rate (5.26% vs. 30.30%, P=0.033) and total postoperative complication rate (10.53% vs.45.45%, P=0.030) than the PMV group. However, there was no significant difference (Pgt;0.05) between the two groups in the successful weaning rate, repeated tracheal intubation rate, tracheotomy rate and mortality 30 days after operation. After NIV, SNIV group had no significant change in heart rate, central vein 〖CM(1585mm〗pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure than the baseline value, while systolic pressure (129.66±19.11 mm Hg vs. 119.01±20.31 mm Hg, P=0.031), cardiacindex ［3.01±0.30 L/(min.m2) vs. 2.78±0.36 L/(min.m2), P=0.043］ and P/F Ratio (205.95±27.40 mm Hg vs. 141.33±9.98 mm Hg, P=0.001) were obviously elevated. Conclusion Sequential NIV is a effective and safe method to wean CABG patients off mechanical ventilation.
Objective To observe the effect of transfer of immature mouse myeloid dendritic cells （DC） generated with low-dose granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor （GM-CSF） on cardiac allograft survival. Methods Mouse DC were generated with standard doses or low doses GM-CSF from bone marrow cells, the phenotype and functional properties of these DC were compared through fluorescence-activated cell sorting（FACS） analysis and mixed lymphocyte reaction（MLR）, 1. 0 × 106 DC generated with low doses GM-CSF were administered to the recipients 7 days before transplantation, and the cardiac allograft survival were observed. Results In contrast to DC generated with standard doses, DC generated with low doses were phenotypically immature DC （CD11c＋, CD80- , CD86- , MHCⅡlow）, and induced allogeneic T cell unresponsiveness, and administration of these DC to recipients prolonged cardiac allograft survival from 6.3±1.2 days to 14.3±1.9 days. Conclusions DC generated from mouse bone marrow progenitors in low doses of GM-CSF are phenotypically and functionally immature, and prolong cardiac allograft survival when they are administered 7 clays before transplantation.
Objective To summarize the experiences of surgical treatment for partial atrioventricular canal defect. Methods The data of 66 patients of surgical treatment for partial atrioventricular canal defect from January 1984 to December 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The cleft of mitral valve presented in all of those patients. There were 52 cases with direct suture on cleft, 8 cases with direct suture with commissurroplasty, 1 case with posterior leaflet plasty, 3 cases with direct suture St.Jude ring and 2 cases mitral valve replacement. The ostium primum atrial septal defects were repaired with patches of Dacron in 12 cases and autologous pericardium in 54 cases. Coronary sinus was situated on the left atrium in 5 and ostium primum atrial septal defects were repaired in Kirklin’s way; the others in MeGoon’way. Meanwhile other heart abnormalities were done. Results There were two early deaths (3.03%), one patient died of heart arrhythmia and one patient died of respiratory failure. Complications of total A-V block was in 2 cases. Both of them were replanted with pace makers.52 cases were followed up, followup time was 5 months to 22 years(mean follow-up 15 years). All patients had better life. Four patients have been re -operated for different reasons post primary operation. One had good result after re-mitral valve replacement. One case died of acute renal failure and the other two died of low cardiac output syndrome. Conclusions Early operation is definitely recommended when the diagnosis is confirmed. Because the structure or function of mitral valve is saved, pulmonary hypertension is avoided and the mortality is lower in the future. The key points of operation are to rectify the mitral insufficiency, repair ostium primum atrial septal defects and avoid atrioventricular block. The patients of mild regurgitation of mitral valve have good results. Provided in those have more than middle regurgitation of mitral valve then their longterm results are poor.
Objectives To investigate the effects of the distribution of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) on prognosis in the patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods The number of CD68+ macrophages in 136 lung cancer nest and stroma was counted simultaneously by labelled streptavidin biotin method(LSAB）,and its correlation with patient postoperation prognosis was analyzed. Results CD68 macrophas were observed in both inside and around the cancer tissue,The mean TAMs in cancer stroma (36.00/HFP) was higher than that in cancer nest (23.80/HFP,Plt;0.05). Mean TAMs in nest of stage Ⅰ＋Ⅱ cancer was significantly higher than that of stageⅢ＋Ⅳ cancer（32.60/HFP vs. 14.80/HFP,Plt;0.05）,and mean TAMs in stroma of stage Ⅰ＋Ⅱ cancer was significantly lower than that of stage Ⅲ＋Ⅳ cancer（24.30/HFP vs. 47.60/HFP,Plt;0.05）.The number of TAMs in cancer nest and the ratio of nest TAMs /stoma TAMs were both positively correlated with the patient survival time (rs=0.510, 0.633, respectively). Otherwise the number of TAMs in cancer stroma was negatively correlated with the patient survival time (rs=-0.187). Five-year survival rate in patients with high density TAMs in cancer nest was significantly higher than that in patients with low density TAMs (51.4% vs. 11.1%, Plt;0.05), while reverse correlation between TAMs in cancer stroma and patient 5-year survival rate was observed (18.9% vs. 44.4%,Plt;0.05). And 5 year suvival rate in patients with high ratio of nest/stroma TAMs was higher than that with low ratio (58.1% vs.4.2%,Plt;0.01). Conclusion Cox regressive prognostic analysis showed that the higher the nest/stroma TAMs ratio, the higher probability of the patients survival time. While the higher number of TAMs in the cancer stroma, the lower probability of the patients survival time. Our results showed that distribution pattern of TAMs in cancer nest and cancer stroma could possibly be used to estimate the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of using acellular bovine pericardium as a viable tissue engineering vascular patch.MethodsFresh bovine pericardium was treated by enzyme detergent cell extraction, then they were used as vascular patches, ovine jugular vein segments were harvested, separated into endothelial and myofibroblast cells, expanded in cell culture, sequentially seeded onto acellular bovine pericardium patches (3cm×3cm). After 7 days of in vitro culture, the autologous cell/patches as experimental group ( n =5) were used to replace partial pulmonary artery wall. Animals were sacrificed at 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 weeks. The acellular bovine pericardium patches without autologous cells were used as control group ( n =3). Animals were sacrificed at intervals of 4, 12 and 24 weeks. Explanted patches were evaluated by macroscopic and histologic examinations, assayed for calcium, elastin and collagen content.ResultsAll animals were survived without complications of thrombosis and aneurysm before sacrificed; there was no significant difference in calcium content in two groups; elastin ratio assay showed progressive increase over 4 to 24 weeks, similar to normal pulmonary artery wall, suggesting an ongoing tissue remodeling.ConclusionThe acellular bovine pericardium patch with or without autologous cell seeded to a certain extent can be changed into viable vascular wall tissue after being used to replace partial ovine pulmonary artery wall.
Objective To summarize the experiences of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (off-pump CABG) and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (onpump CABG) for patients with coronary artery diseases and to improve the surgical techniques and clinical results. Methods Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) were performed from January 2000 to March 2009 on 698 consecutive cases, including 551 male and 147 female with a mean age of 67.2 years(range, 28.0-79.0). There were 552 cases with angina pectoris and 131 with old myocardial infarction. Preoperative cardiac function showed 301 cases in New York Heart Association classⅡ, 339 in class Ⅲ,and 58 in class Ⅳ. Coronary angiography revealed single vessel disease in 21 cases, 2vessel disease in 87, 3vessel disease in 590, and 201 cases had concomitant left main lesions.There were 687 elective CABG and 11 emergency / urgent ones. Offpump CABG were performed on 346 cases and the others received onpump CABG . Results A total number of 2 025 grafts ( range,1-6 grafts, mean, 2.9 grafts /case ) were constructed with 693 left internal mammary arteries,115 free right mammary arteries,229 left radial arteries, and 81 right radial arteries. Total arterial bypass grafting was feasible on 126 cases. Postoperative ventilation duration varied from 0-127 hours (mean, 11.5 hours). Fasttrack procedure was offered to 38 cases with good results.Introaortic balloon pump support were provided to 1 patient preoperatively and 27 postoperatively. There were 25 deaths with a mortality of 3.64% for the elective cases with the cause of acute myocardial infarction ( 5 cases ), low cardiac output syndrome (3 cases),protamine reaction (2 cases),respiratory failure (3 cases), renal failure (2 cases),and multiorgan failure (10 cases).Four deaths occurred to urgent cases with a mortality of 36.36% from low cardiac output syndrome ( 3 cases) and acute myocardial infarction (1 case). One hundred and fiftyone cases（21.63%）developed atrial fibrilation among which 147（97.35%）returned to sinus rhythem with administration of electrolytes and Amiodarone. Resternotomy were performed for bleeding in 12 cases. Upon discharge from the hospital, 511 patients were free from angina while 20 other patients still had coexisting relieved angina. Postoperative followup was carried out on 415 cases（62.03%）for a period of 1month to 8.2 years with 3 deaths for lung cancer (1 case), car accident(1case), and unknown reasons (1 case). Number of patients who were free from angina was 317 and 21 for those who had recurrent angina. The cardiac function improved with 269 cases（65.29%）in New York Heart Association class Ⅱ, 142（34.46%）class Ⅲ, and 1（0.24%） class Ⅳ. Conclusion Good surgical results could be achieved with careful analysis of native Chinese patients’ coronary vessels, individualized operative plan, control of operative risk factors, and proper selection of bypass conduits. Aggressive use of IABP can provide essential support for patients with poor left ventricular function and other high risk factors.
Objective To investigate the effect of lung volume reduction surgery （LVRS） on messenger RNA expression levels of cytoskeletal proteins in diaphragmatic muscle tissues of emphysematous rabbits. Methods A total of 40 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups （10 rabbits in each group） ：normal control group, emphysema group, sham operation group and LVRS group. Rabbits in control group were intratracheally administered with 0.9% normal sodium, but those in other groups were intratracheally administered with 0.4% papain at the dose of 0.5 ml/kg and inhaled cigarette smoke to induce emphysema model. Then, rabbits in emphysema group were fed routinely, however, after median sternotomy , bilateral LVRS was performed in LVRS group but not in sham operation group. The mRNA expression levels of titin and nebulin in the diaphragmatic muscles of rabbits in each group were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR）. Results Compared with control group, the mRNA expression levels of titin and nebulin in the rabbit diaphragm of emphysema groups and sham operation group decreased significantly （P〈0.01 ）, so did those in LVRS group （P〈0.05）. But it increased significantly in LVRS group compared with emphysema group and sham operation group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion LVRS can increase the mRNA expression levels of titin and nebulin in diaphragmatic muscle tissues of emphysematous rabbits, which may be the associated mechanisms at the molecular level in restoring the functions of the emphysematous diaphragm by LVRS.
Objective To insure early detection and hence efficient prevention of allograft rejection in transplanted heart, investigate possible applications of NAD(P)H fluorescence components analysis at the level of living cardiac cells to propose new approaches for diagnosis of rejection. Methods NAD(P)H was studied for noninvasive fluorescent probing of the mitochondrial function. Human cardiomyocyte were isolated from one additional endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) of 14 pediatric patients with heart ransplantation. Rat cardiomyocyte (n=5, 13-14 week old) were also isolated by the same approach for human myocytes. Autofluorescence(AF) was recorded in living cardiomyocytes following excitation with 375 nm UVlight and detection by spectrallyresolved time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC), based on the simultaneous measurement of the fluorescence spectra and lifetimes. Rat cardiac cells were divided into four groups: normoxic condition, normoxia with Rotenone, ischemic condition and ischemia with Rotenone. Comparison of cardiomyocyte AF between human and rat; compared kinetics of rat cardiomyocytes AF in normoxic conditions to ischemiamimicking ones, induced at physiological temperatures by reducing cell pH and oxygen content; comparison of cardiomyocyte AF dynamic changes in transplanted pediatric patients presenting either no rejection (R0) or mild rejection (R1). Results We have achieved appropriate isolation of living cardiomyocytes from human biopsies, as well as from rat cardiac tissues and determined their AF. At least a 3-exponential decay with 0.5-0.7ns, 1.9-2.4 ns and 9.0-15.0 ns lifetime pools is necessary to describe human cardiomyocyte AF within 420560 nm spectral range. Rat cardiomyocyte steadystate AF in ischemiamimicking condition was significantly increased when compared normoxic ones (Plt;0.05); application of Rotenone induced a significant increase in AF intensity in ischemic and normoxic condition, however no significant difference between the two groups (Plt;0.05).Human cardiomyocyte AF was found significantly lower in comparison to experimental rat model in the same condition(Plt;0.05). A correlation between changes in steadystate NAD(P)H fluorescence and rejection grades was found when comparison of R1 to R0. R1 showed significantly increased fluorescence intensity (Plt;0.05), without change in the spectra shape, results can be comparable to the effect of ischemiamimic conditions. Conclusion Our studies clearly demonstrated that spectrallyresolved fluorescence spectral analysis coupled to fluorescence lifetime are high sensitive approaches to examine mitochondrial metabolic oxidative state directly in living human cardiomyocytes with good reproducibility. Human cardiomyocytes are more metabolically active than the rat ones, while this activity (and thus ATP production) seems lowered during rejection process. In perspective, the advantage of this method is the possibility of its combination to multiphoton confocal microscopy, which can result in the adaptation of this approach directly to tissue biopsy, as well as in vivo directly via cardiac catheterization without the necessity of cell isolation. This approach provides promising new tool for clinical diagnosis and treatment of allograft rejection, and will enhance our knowledge about cardiomyocyte oxidative metabolism and/or its dysfunction at a cellular level.
Objective To investigate the risk factors and the prevention and cure methods of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Methods From March 2004 to July 2008，twentythree patients with ischemic stroke after mechanical heart valve replacement had been researched(ischemic stroke group). One hundred and twenty patients who had undergone mechanical heart valve replacement were randomly chosen in the same period as control group. Gender, age, the dose of warfarin , anticoagulation intensity(INR), INR review interval, left atrial diameter and heart rhythm were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors of ischemic stroke were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results (1) Patients in ischemic stroke group all discharged from hospital after treatment, and they were followed up for 1 month-3 years after discharged. All the patients’ neurological complications improved obviously, and no recurrent embolism and severe hemorrhage was found. (2) There was no statistical significance between two groups in gender, age and the dose of warfarin（Pgt;0.05）. (3) Nonconditional logistic regression analysis on influence factors showed that atrial fibrillation（P=0.000）, left atrial enlargement（P=0.002）, low anticoagulation intensity（P=0.012） and longtime INR review interval（P=0.047）were the risk factors of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Conclusions (1)The prognosis of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement is better than that of intracranial hemorrhage, and the occurrence of ischemic stroke is related to many risk factors. (2)The influences of risk factors should be minimized in order to avoid ischemic stroke. (3) Early low intensity anticoagulation therapy is safe and effective for patients with ischemic stroke after heart valve replacement.