Objective To investigate the effects of nuclear transcription factor- kappa B (NF-!B) and activated protein- 1 (AP- l) on rheumatic myocardial fibrosis. Methods Thirty rheumatic myocardial specimens and 10 normal samples were examined by Masson′s staining, immunohistochemical staining and image analy- sis. Results Both NF- !B and AP- 1 were expressed in the nuclei of myocardium with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The degree of positive staining in myocardiurn with RHD was significantly correlated with the cardial collagen volume (NF-!B: r=0.8945, AP- 1: r=0.9011, P

BACKGROUND:On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)is replaced by off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting step by step.Effects of the two operations on liver and renal function deserve further studies.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the postoperative changes in liver and renal function between off-pump and on-pump CABG.DESIGN.TIME AND SETTING:Controlled study.The experiment was conducted at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery.General Hospital of Chinese PLA.Beijing between June and November 2005.PARTICIPANTS:Fifty patients undergoing elective CABG at General hospital of PLA from June to November 2005 were enrolled in the study.All patients had normal liver and renal function before surgery.None of them developed severe acute liver and renal function.METHODS:All patients were allocated to either off-pump coronary bypass(OPCAB)(n=30)or on-pump conventional CABG (CCABG)(n=20)group according to patient's intention and condition.No significant difference was detected in age,gender,body mass index,preoperative ejection fraction,preoperative liver and renal function and operation risk factors between both groups(P>0.05).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),blood urea nitrogen (BUN)and creatinine(Cr)were respectively measured in patients of both groups before surgery,1 day,1 week and 2 weeks after surgery.RESULTS:A total of 50 patients were involved in the final analysis.Changes in liver function:Serum ALT and AST Ievels in the OPCAB group were significantly lower than those in the CCABG group at 1 day after surgery(P<0.05).The level of two parameters recovered to the baseline at 2 week after surgery in both group.Changes in renal function:Serum BUN and Cr levels in the OPCAB group were significantly lower compared to the CCABG group at the first postoperative day(P<0.05).BUN and Cr levels recovered to the preoperative levels at 2 weeks after surgery in bOth group.CONCLUSl0N:CABG has an adverse effect on liver and renal function.which can recover in the early postoperative period.OPCAB has the less adverse effect on liver and renal function and offers a better liver and renal protection compared to CCABG.

0.05). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were respectively measured in patients of both groups before surgery, 1 day, 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were involved in the final analysis. Changes in liver function: Serum ALT and AST levels in the OPCAB group were significantly lower than those in the CCABG group at 1 day after surgery (P

Objective To investigate the interstitial revascularization and related cytokine regulation in myocardium of rheumatic heart disease.Methods The specimens were stained by HE to examine the ratios between arteriolar inner and outer diameters and by immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization to measure the expression of bFGF,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),? SMA and mRNA of bFGF.Then the relationship between ratios of arteriolar inner and outer diameters and expression of bFGF,VEGF and ? SMA.Results The imaging analysis indicated that there was significant myocardium fibrosis,and the arteriolar wall became thick (0 68?0 15 vs 0 40?0 04).The expression of bFGF,VEGF and ? SMA in the myocardium of rheumatic heart disease was significantly higher than that of healthy adult control group.There was a positive relationship between ratios of arteriolar inner and outer diameters and expression of bFGF,VEGF and ? SMA (bFGF r =0 719, P

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze clinical data of patients who has left-side valvular disease combined with severe tricuspid regurgitation and evaluate the effect of our modified tricuspid annuloplasty with enforcement of artificial felt strip.Methods76 patients who had left-side valvular disease combined with severe tricuspid regurgitation received operations between Jan.2008 and Jun.2010.The average age of the patients was 53.5 years old (32 male and 44 female).Besides the severe tricuspid regurgitation, other combined cardiac impairments included mitral valvar disease (52 cases), aortic valvar disease(5 cases), double valvar disease(19 cases) and left atrial thrombosis(22 cases).6 patients had grade II cardiac function according to the NYHA criteria, while 47 and 23 were in grade III and IV, respectively.Other signs included cyanosis(5cases), jaundice(11 cases), neck vein engorgement(48 cases) , ascites(22 cases), hepatomegaly(41 cases) and pitting edema in the lower limbs(68 cases).The concomitant operative procedures included mitral valve replacement in 52 patients,aortic valve replacement in 5 patients, double valve replacement in 19 patients, removal of left atrial thrombus in 22 patients,left atrium folding in 21 patients and left atrium appendage suture in 68 patients.Left-sided valve disease were corrected first,TAP was performed on the beating heart after the heart had been defibrillated.The anteroseptal commissure was plicated first.A double-armed 3-0 pledgeted suture was taken through the base of the septal leaflet, 5-6 mm from the commissure, extending along the annulus, and out from the point in the anterior annulus 10-12 mm from the anteroseptal commissure.Both ends of the suture was tied until the two Teflon pledgets approximated each other near the commissure.Then a semicircular De Vega type of plicating with a 3-0 prolene was taken, starting just from the anterior annulus near the anteroposterior commissure, and extending clockwise to a point just cephalad to the posteroseptal commissure.The suture was tied with positioning a 27-29 mm valve siser across the tricuspid valve.At last, a 3-5 mm width felt strip was prepared and was sutured to the plicated posterior annulus region with interrupted mattress sutures of 2 to 3 2-0 prolene.A favorable result was considered when TR was not marked by saline injection.Echocardiography was routinely examined one week postoperatively and patients were followed up 6 month after discharge.ResultsThere is no death in all patients.The CVP diminished significantly from 16mmHg preoperatively to 8mmHg postoperatively (P = 0.0021).The systomic pulmonary pressure diminished from 59 mmHg preoperatively to 41 mmHg postoperatively (P = 0.038).Echo one week postoperative showed no tricuspid regurgitation in 56 patients and mild in 18 patients, while 2 had moderate tricuspid regurgitation.The diameter of right atrium diminished significantly postoperatively, too.The ejection fraction was improved even though there was not significant difference as compared with preoperative data.The cardiac function of all patients improved and the signs of right heart failure were alleviated or disappeared.Follow up 1 to 36 months showed no change of the regurgitation except for one become moderate from mild when discharged.No hepatic congestion or edema was observed in all patients.ConclusionThese new modifications make the technique more selective in the remodeling of the tricuspid annulus.It could achieve better coaptation of the anterior leaflet with the others, successful annular reduction, better maintenance of the contractile property of the tricuspid ring, better distribution of pursing force in the more dilated region.It could prevent the tear of the endocardium in the posteroseptal region in the long period of time postoperatively.

Objective To summarize the experience with resurgery for recurrent valvular heart diseases.Methods From June 2004 to June 2015, 28 patients (15 males and 13 females) with ages ranging from 44 to 67 years (55.6±6.5 years) with recurrent heart valve disease underwent resurgery. The reasons for resurgery included perivalvular leakage (7 cases), bioprosthetic valve decline (6 cases in mitral valve and 3 in tricuspid valve), mechanical prostheses dysfunction (2cases), infective endocarditis after valve replacement (2 cases), restenosis of repaired native valve (1 case), and severe tricuspid insufficiency after left-side valve surgery (7 cases). Resurgery included mitral valve replacement in 18 patients and tricuspid valve replacement in 10. All the patients underwent third or fourth or even fifth cardiac surgery for valve replacement.Results There were 2 hospital deaths with a mortality of 7.1% (2/28). The main causes of early-stage deaths were low cardiac output syndrome. The main postoperative complications were respiratory failure in 3, low cardiac output syndrome in 2, reexploration for bleeding in 2 and serious infectious shock in 1. All the patients were found with the great improvement in heart function and the re-implanted prostheses worked well during follow-up.Conclusions Although resurgery for recurrent heart valve disease poses a continuing challenge to cardiac surgeon, it could be performed with the satisfactory results. The keys to a successful cardiac resurgery include appropriate operational timing, refined surgical technique and reasonable perioperative managements.

Objectives To establish a cost-effective and reproducible procedure for induction of chronic left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) in rabbits. Methods Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in 35 rabbits via concomitant ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and the circumflex (Cx) branch at the middle portion. Development of AMI was co n-firmed by ST segment elevation and akinesis of the occluded area. Echocardiography, pathological evaluation, and agar i n-tra-chamber casting were utilized to validate the formation of LVA four weeks after the surgery. Left ventricular end systolic pressure (LVESP) and diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were measured before, immediately after and four weeks after ligation. D i-mensions of the ventricular chamber, thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) and the left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) and systolic volume (LVESV), and ejection fraction (EF) were recorded by echo-cardiography. Results Thirty one (88.6%) rabbits survived myocardial infarction and 26 of them developed aneurysm (83.9%). The mean area of aneurysm was 33.4% ± 2.4% of the left ventricle. LVEF markedly decreased after LVA formation, whereas LVEDV, LVESV and the thickness of IVS as well as the dimension of ventricular chamber from apex to mitral valve annulus significantly increased. LVESP immediately dropped after ligation and recovered to a small extent after LVA formation. LVEDP progressively increased after ligation till LVA formation. Areas in the left ventricle (LV) that underwent fibrosis included the apex, anterior wall and lateral wall but not IVS. Agar intra-chamber cast showed that the bulging of LV wall was prominent in the area of aneurysm. Conclusions Ligation of LAD and Cx at the middle portion could induce develo pment of LVA at a mean area ratio of 33.4%±2.4%which involves the apex, anterior wall and lateral wall of the LV.

Objective To assess the result of aortic valve replacement(AVR) for patients of severe aortic stenosis(AS)with low transvalvular gradients(TVG) and severe left ventricular dysfunction,and try to identify the determinants of survival,functional status and change in left ventricular ejection fraction(LNEF) during follow-up.Methods From 2005 to 2011,35patients with aortic valve area(AVA) ＜ 1 cm2,LN EF ＜ 0.40 and mean TVG ＜ 30 mm Hg underwent AVR in our hospital.The average age of the patients was 58 yeats old,and 88.6％ of the patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class Ⅲ/IV at admission to the hospital.The AVA was (0.70 ± 0.09) cm2,LVEF was 0.276 ± 0.020,TVG was (26.0 ± 2.3) mm Hg,and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LNEDD) was (6.3 ±0.4) cm respectively.35 prosthetic valves were implanted,including 20 mechanical prostheses and 15 biological prostheses with the mean sizs of (23 ± 1) mm.Concomitant procedures included mitral valvularplasty in 5.tricuspid valve repair in 3 and coronary artery bypass grafting in 4.Results The perioperative mortaiity was 8.6％.Follow-up period was 3 to 60 monthes.The survival rates were:1-year 78％,2-year 68％,5-year 60％.LVEF increased significantly to 0.358 ± 0.047 one week postoperatively (P =0.008) and 0.426 ± 0.031 six months later (P ＜ 0.01)).LNEDD decreased to (5.7 ± 0.4) cm one week later(P =0.062) and (5.3 ±0.3)cm 6 months postoperatiwely (P ＜ 0.01).NYHA functional class improved from 88.6％ in class Ⅲ/Ⅳ to 35％ (P ＜0.01).Compared with those who surviwd during follow-up,the patients who died during follow-up were older in the year of operation[(63 ± 10) vs (54 ± 11),P =0.017],their NYHA functional class was higher[(3.9 ±0.2) vs (2.9 ±0.3),P =0.003]and the LVEDD for them in one week postoperatively was larger[(6.0 ± 1.0) cm vs (5.5 ± 0.3) cm,P =0.031].Conclusion The left ventricle contractile reserve seems to play an essential role for surgery in patients of severe aortic stenosis with low transvalvular gradients and severe left ventricular dysfunction.AVR can be performed for them with acceptable results.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the blood flow in sequential and individual saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) and to analyze the influence of the location of the target vessel in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). METHODS: A total of 464 SVGs in 412 patients receiving OPCAB were nested into individual SVG (n=206), double (n=241) or triple sequential SVG (n=15), and analyzed. RESULTS: The blood flow in double and triple SVGs was significantly higher than in individual SVGs [(43.4±22.5), (43.7±19.2) and (28.9±18.7) mL/min, respectively, P<0.001, P=0.047]. There were no differences between flow in double and triple SVGs (P=0.96). Pulsatility index (PI) of the three groups were similar (2.6±1.2, 2.5±1.6, 2.8±0.9, respectively, P=0.49, P=0.49). In individual SVGs to right coronary artery, the blood flow was higher than in the posterior descending branch (PDA) (P=0.047) and posterior branch of left ventricle (PBLV), the flow-time in systole period was longer than diagonals (P=0.003), obtuse marginal (OM) (P=0.013) and PDA (P=0.002), PI was significantly lower than PDA (P=0.033) and PBLV (P=0.032). The blood flow in individual SVGs to diagonals was significantly lower than in other target vessels except for PBLV (P<0.05). Flow in double SVGs to PDA-PBLV was significantly lower than in PDA-OM. CONCLUSION The mean blood flow in double and triple sequential SVGs is about 1.5 times higher than in individual SVGs. Individual, double, and triple SVGs have similar pI. Flow in individual SVGs to diagonals was significantly lower than in other target vessels except for PBLV.
Adult ; Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; surgery ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; methods ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Disease ; surgery ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Saphenous Vein ; physiopathology ; transplantation

Objective To study the correlation between characteristic parameters of photoplethysmography( PPG)and severity of coronary artery lesions.Methods Two hundred and twenty-six CHD patients who underwent CAG in our hospital from August 2018to November 2018were divided into single-vessel lesion group(n=55),double-vessel lesion group(n=74)and multi-vessel lesion group(n=97)according to their CAG.Their stiffness index(SI),crest time(CT),normalized crest time(NCT)and crest time ratio(CTR)were recorded by PPG and analyzed by correlation analysis.Results The SI was significantly different in single-vessel lesion group,double-vessel lesion group and multi-vessel lesion group(6.479±0.819m/s,6.692±1.051m/s and 6.943±1.096m/s,P=0.024).No significant difference was detected in CT,NCT and CTR among single-vessel lesion group,double-vessel lesion group and multi-vessel lesion group(P＞0.05).The SI was positively correlated with the severity of coronary artery lesions(r=0.162,P=0.015).Conclusion The SI is correlated with the severity of coronary artery lesions,which is of a certain value in predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions.