Objectives:This study aims to investigate the incidence,characteristics and clinical outcomes of vagal response(VR)during pulmonary vein isolation(PVI).Methods:A total of 702 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(AF)who received the first PVI radiofrequency ablation in Central China Fuwai Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were consecutively enrolled.PVI was initiated from right superior pulmonary vein(RSPV),followed by other pulmonary veins(PVs).The VR was defined as atrioventricular block(AVB),asystole or a 50%increase in the RR interval.Results:Among 702 patients with AF,380 patients(54.1%)were paroxysmal AF and 322 patients(45.9%)were persistent AF.77 patients(11.0%)developed 81 VR episodes,which were more common in paroxysmal group than in persistent AF group(19.5%vs.0.9%,P<0.001).VR manifestations included 51 sinus arrest(63.0%),26 sinus bradycardia(32.1%),and 4 atrioventricular block(AVB,4.9%).Most VR episodes were observed in the left superior ganglionated plexi(67[82.7%]).Paroxysmal AF(OR=18.667,95%CI:6.638-52.491,P<0.001),body mass index(BMI)≥28.0 kg/m2(OR=2.361,95%CI:1.376-4.051,P=0.002)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)≥62.0%(OR=1.964,95%CI:1.119-3.447,P=0.019)were independent risk factors of VR.During a mean of(13.0±7.1)months follow up,among paroxysmal AF patients,6 patients(8.1%)with VR and 33 patients(10.8%)without VR experienced AF recurrence(P=0.496).Kaplan-Meier curves estimated that the AF-free survival rate was similar between VR group and non-VR group among paroxysmal AF patients(log-rank P=0.735).Conclusions:The most common sites of VR when initiating PVI from right RSPV occur in left superior ganglionated plexi.Paroxysmal AF,BMI≥28.0 kg/m2 and LVEF≥62.0%are independent risk factors of VR.VR does not affect AF-free survival.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the incidence,characteristics and clinical outcomes of vagal response(VR)during pulmonary vein isolation(PVI).Methods:A total of 702 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(AF)who received the first PVI radiofrequency ablation in Central China Fuwai Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were consecutively enrolled.PVI was initiated from right superior pulmonary vein(RSPV),followed by other pulmonary veins(PVs).The VR was defined as atrioventricular block(AVB),asystole or a 50%increase in the RR interval.Results:Among 702 patients with AF,380 patients(54.1%)were paroxysmal AF and 322 patients(45.9%)were persistent AF.77 patients(11.0%)developed 81 VR episodes,which were more common in paroxysmal group than in persistent AF group(19.5%vs.0.9%,P<0.001).VR manifestations included 51 sinus arrest(63.0%),26 sinus bradycardia(32.1%),and 4 atrioventricular block(AVB,4.9%).Most VR episodes were observed in the left superior ganglionated plexi(67[82.7%]).Paroxysmal AF(OR=18.667,95%CI:6.638-52.491,P<0.001),body mass index(BMI)≥28.0 kg/m2(OR=2.361,95%CI:1.376-4.051,P=0.002)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)≥62.0%(OR=1.964,95%CI:1.119-3.447,P=0.019)were independent risk factors of VR.During a mean of(13.0±7.1)months follow up,among paroxysmal AF patients,6 patients(8.1%)with VR and 33 patients(10.8%)without VR experienced AF recurrence(P=0.496).Kaplan-Meier curves estimated that the AF-free survival rate was similar between VR group and non-VR group among paroxysmal AF patients(log-rank P=0.735).Conclusions:The most common sites of VR when initiating PVI from right RSPV occur in left superior ganglionated plexi.Paroxysmal AF,BMI≥28.0 kg/m2 and LVEF≥62.0%are independent risk factors of VR.VR does not affect AF-free survival.

Objectives:The present study evaluated the impact of ablation pain during pulmonary vein isolation(PVI)on catheter-tissue contact at different regions. Methods:Forty consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)referred to Central China Fuwai Hospital for catheter radiofrequency ablation from February to May 2023 were enrolled.The pulmonary veins on each side were divided into 8 regions.The catheter-tissue contact force(CF)and the number of ablation contact stability(>50%catheter attach time CF≥10 g)of each ablation lesion were analyzed.Pain scores during the ablation were assessed using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised and the maximum score was taken for each ablation region.Based on the pain scores,in each region,20 cases with higher pain scores were categorized into the pain group and 20 cases with lower pain scores were categorized into the normal group.The CF characteristics of each region and the relationship with ablation induced pain were analyzed. Results:A total of 3 832 lesions were recorded in 40 patients with AF,with a mean CF of(12.2±7.8)g.Among them,the CF in the pain group was significantly lower than that in the normal group([11.1±5.1]g vs.[13.4±4.8]g,P<0.05).The top region of the right pulmonary vein was the region with the largest CF(16.5±5.8)g,and the upper part of the left anterior wall(at the ridge between the left atrial appendage)was the region with the smallest CF(7.5±3.7)g.At the bottom of right pulmonary vein,right lower posterior wall,left pulmonary vein,and left posterior wall,as well as the middle region of left posterior wall,and upper region of left posterior wall,the CF was significantly smaller in the pain group than that in the normal group(all P<0.05).Of the 3 832 lesions,2 193(57.2%)were stable lesions,and the proportion of stable lesions in the pain group was significantly lower than that in the normal group(55.2%vs.59.5%,P<0.05).In the right pulmonary vein bottom,right lower posterior wall,left lower anterior wall,left pulmonary vein bottom,and left lower posterior wall,the proportion of stable lesions was significantly lower in the pain group than in the normal group(all P<0.05).In addition,the ratio of stable lesions in left pulmonary vein regions was lower than in the right(54.2%vs.60.5%,P<0.05).In the upper part of the left anterior wall(at the ridge between the left atrial appendage),only 88(39.3%)of the 224 lesions in 40 patients were stable lesions. Conclusions:Pain during ablation significantly affects the stability of the catheter to tissue.Monitoring real-time CF during PVI may have important implications for improving ablation efficacy,especially in regions with more intense pain.

Objective To investigate the value of quantitative parameters(Kep and Ktrans)of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI),in predicting perineural invasion(PNI)in peripheral prostate cancer(PCa).Methods The clinical and preoperative MRI data of 45 patients with peripheral PCa who underwent radical prostatectomy(RP)were analyzed retrospectively.According to the pathological results,the patients were divided into PNI group(n=27)and non-PNI group(n=18).Various parameters,including age,total prostate specific antigen(tPSA),Ktrans value,Kep value,apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)value,prostate volume,maximum lesion diameter,and prostate-specific antigen density(PSAD)were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of PNI,and a joint prediction model was established.The DeLong test was used to compare differences in the area under the curve(AUC)between the joint prediction model and each independent predictor.Results The univariate analysis identified statistically significant differences in the tPSA,Ktrans value,ADC value,maximum lesion diameter,and PSAD between the two groups(P＜0.01).The multivariate analysis showed that the Ktrans value and the maximum lesion diameter were independent predictors of PNI,with AUC of 0.854 and 0.874,respectively(P＜0.01).The AUC of the joint prediction model for PNI diagnosis was 0.955(P＜0.001).The DeLong test showed that the AUC of the joint prediction model for PNI diagnosis was better than that of the Ktrans and the maximum lesion diameter(P＜0.05).Conclusion The Ktrans value can be used to predict PNI.Furthermore,the combination of the Ktrans value and the maximum lesion diameter is more effective for predicting PNI than traditional methods.This provides more reference basis for the selection of clinical treatment methods.

Objective:To investigate the changes in the morphology, structure and function of the bladders and their effects on the upper urinary tract dilatation(UUTD) after lumbosacral nerve transecting in rats.Methods:A total of 45 female SD rats were included, randomly divided into 3 groups with 15 rats in each group. Two groups were performed bilateral lumbar 6(L6) and cauda equina nerve shearing to establish neurogenic bladder(NB) model, which were nerve transected for 4 weeks(NB-4W) group and nerve transected for 12 weeks(NB-12W) group. Another group was performed bilateral L6 nerves and cauda equine exposing but not transecting, which was sham-operation (Sham) group. Cystometry and renal ultrasound examination were performed and rats in each group were killed to collect the kidney and bladder tissues in NB-4W group at 4 weeks, in Sham group and NB-12W group at 12 weeks after operation. HE, Masson staining, immunohistochemical staining and western blot were used to detect histological changes, expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Results:All rats in NB-4W and NB-12W group showed acontractile detrusor. In the NB-4W and NB-12W group, the maximum cystometric capacity [(5.84±0.33) ml and (3.13±0.35) ml], the detrusor leak point pressure [(25.41±0.86) cm H 2O and (27.36±2.04) cm H 2O] (1 cm H 2O = 0.098 kPa), were significantly higher than those in the Sham group [(0.98±0.14) ml, (7.13±0.90) cm H 2O, both P<0.05]. Compliance in NB-4W group [(0.28±0.21) ml/cm H 2O] and NB-12W group [(0.17±0.12) ml/cm H 2O] were significantly lower than that of the Sham group [(0.34±0.26) ml/cm H 2O], and the compliance of NB-12W group was lower than that of NB-4W group significantly (all P<0.05). HE staining of the bladder showed that the inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious in the NB-4W and NB-12W group. Bladder collagen volume fractions in NB-4W group [(30.5±1.5) %] and NB-12W group [(45.2±3.8) %] were both higher than that of Sham group [(20.7±2.2) %, both P<0.05]. The expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in the bladder tissue of NB-4W group were higher than those of sham group, and that of NB-12W group were higher than NB-4W group. In NB-4W group and NB-12W group, 3 (20.0 %) and 7 (46.7 %) rats were found hydronephrosis, respectively. Additionally, HE staining showed that the degree of renal tubule injury and the number of inflammatory cell infiltration in the NB-4W and NB-12W group were higher than those in the Sham group. Masson staining showed that the volume fraction of collagen in kidneys of NB-4W and NB-12W group were (13.1±1.4) % and (21.6±1.9) %, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in sham operation group [(4.6±0.7) %, both P<0.05]. Conclusions:Bilateral L6 + cauda equina nerve transecting can induce NB with hydronephrosis in parts of rats. The degree of bladder fibrosis gradually increased with the time of nerve transection, and the incidence and severity of UUTD also increased with the time of nerve transection.

Objective:To explore the urodynamic characteristics of bladder function in patients with abnormal urination after radical hysterectomy of cervical cancer.Methods:In a prospective self-controlled study, a total of 84 patients with cervical cancer and clinical stage of ⅠB to ⅡA, meeting the preoperative inclusion criteria in our hospital from January 2016 to June 2018 were enrolled.All patients were tested for urodynamic testing 1 week before and 6 months after surgery.Patient bladder function status was observed and evaluated before and after surgery and urodynamic examination results were analyzed.Results:Of 84 study cases, the 58 patients developed abnormal urination after radical surgery, there were no urination abnormalities in 26 cases.There was no significant difference in age, clinical stage and pathological diagnosis between patients with and without urination abnormalities.Abnormal urination after radical surgery included difficulty in urinating(55%), frequent urination with a feeling of urination not complete(34%), stress urinary incontinence(7%), and urinary incontinence(4%). Among the 26 patients without urination abnormalities after radical surgery, only one case showed an abnormal urodynamic examination(abnormal bladder sensation). In patients without abnormal urination after surgery, differences in the urodynamic examination findings between pre-and post-surgery were not statistically significant(all P> 0.05). At the same time, in all cases of abnormal urination after radical hysterectomy of cervical cancer, 43 patients(74%)with bladder dysfunction had normal urination pattern before operation, but after operation, the urination abnormality required abdominal pressure.Of the patients with bladder dysfunction after surgery, the maximum flow rate(Qmax)was(12.9±10.3)ml/s, the average flow rate(Qave)was(6.0±4.2)ml/s, the voided volume was(148.0±36.8)ml, voiding time was(32.9±22.1)s, maximum flow time was(11.4±5.0)s, postvoid residual urine was(260.2±219.2)ml, maximal detrusor pressure was(12.1±8.9)cmH 2O, bladder compliance was(16.1±4.3)ml/cmH 2O, normal desire to void was(354.5±204.3)ml, maximal capacity was(587.4±152.5)ml, maximum urethral pressure was(97.6±33.1)cmH 2O, maximum urethral closure pressure was(89.9±36.4)cmH 2O, and function urethral length was(29.6±6.5)mm; In comparison, the above indexes-corresponding values at 1 week before surgery were respectively as follows: the Qmax was(25.1±11.4)ml/s, the Qave was(11.4±6.6)ml/s, the voided volume was(318.6±96.4)ml, voiding time was(29.2±18.5)s, maximum flow time was(6.7±3.9)s, postvoid residual urine was(29.9±21.5)ml, maximal detrusor pressure was(31.9±21.4)cmH 2O, bladder compliance was(78.1±33.9)ml/cmH 2O, normal desire to void was(258.2±185.5)ml, maximal capacity was(335.1±124.9)ml, maximum urethral pressure was(96.4±33.9)cm H 2O, maximum urethral closure pressure was(88.5±35.2)cmH 2O, and function urethral length was(37.2±7.2)mm.It can be seen that Qmax, Qave, voided volume, maximum detrusor pressure, bladder compliance, and functional urethral length in patients with abnormal urination are significantly lower after radical hysterectomy of cervical cancer than before the surgery.While, normal desire to void, maximum capacity, maximum flow time, and postvoid residual urine volume were higher after radical hysterectomy than before surgery( P<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in voiding time, maximum urethral pressure and maximum urethral closure pressure between pre-and post-operation.Besides, it is worth noting that there was no significant difference in preoperative urodynamic test results between patients without abnormal urination versus patients with abnormal urination( P>0.05), and the difference in urodynamic test results between the two groups is statistically significant( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in abnormal urination and in urodynamic test results between different clinical stages and between different pathological types( P>0.05). Conclusions:The characteristics of urinary dynamics in patients with abnormal urination after radical hysterectomy of cervical cancer are mainly manifested as decreased bladder sensory function and abnormal detrusor function.And the urodynamic test can provide objective clinical indicators for early diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate changes in the bladder morphological structure and function and the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) pathway-related proteins in the bilateral spinal nerve amputated neurogenic bladder(NB) rat.Methods:A total of 64 female SD rats were included, and 32 of them underwent bilateral spinal nerve L6+ S1 amputation to construct the NB model and the others were used as sham operation controls.Rats in both NB and control groups received bladder cystometry 3, 6, 12, 24 weeks after corresponding operation.Collagen fibers in their bladder tissues were detected by Masson staining and Sirius scarlet staining.TGF-β1, Smad2 and Smad6 proteins were checked by immunohistochemical staining.TGF-β1 receptor Ⅰ protein was measured by Western blot.Results:Bladders in the NB group were instable, with bladder leak point pressure(BLPP) and underactive voiding pressures.The basal pressure [(22.10±2.51), (18.20±1.52), (31.20±2.82), (41.10±3.41) cmH 2O(1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa)] and bladder volume [(22.30±1.72), (49.10±5.54), (30.30±2.68), (13.50±1.52) mL] of the NB rats at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks were significantly higher than those of the sham operation controls[(3.51±0.45) cmH 2O and (0.52±0.04) mL], and the difference were significant(all P<0.05). The bladder size and thickness in the NB group firstly increased (3, 6 weeks) and then decreased (12, 24 weeks), but the bladder weight increased continuously.Masson staining showed disordered fibrous connective tissues, disintegrated layered bla-dder wall, hypertrophied smooth muscle tissues and deposited intramuscular collagen on the nerve-amputated bladder wall.Sirius scarlet staining suggested that 24 weeks after nerve amputation, collagen Ⅲ increased greatly, and the ratio of type Ⅲ/Ⅰ collagen fibers (3.14±0.71) was significantly higher than that in the sham group (0.88±0.21) ( t= 7.48, P<0.01). According to the immunohistochemical staining results, the expressions of TGF-1β and Smad2 increased while the pathway inhibitory protein Smad6 decreased with time in the NB group.Western blot showed that the expression of TGF-β1 receptor Ⅰ in the amputated bladder was 1.3 and 1.6 folds higher than that in the sham group 12 weeks and 24 weeks after operation( t=6.06, 14.45, all P<0.01). Conclusions:In NB rats with bilateral spinal nerve amputated, bladder contraction becomes paralysis, intravesical pressure increases, bladder normal structure disintegrates and the fibrosis pathway TGF-β1/Smads is activated.Therefore, the key step of development of pediatric NB is bladder fibrosis, which should be prevented as early as possibly in the clinical practice.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides a global assessment of the integrative exercise responses involving the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems by testing the gas exchange in airway. CPET is commonly used to evaluate the presence and severity of coronary ischemia, as well as exertional symptoms, heart rate and blood pressure responses and estimated aerobic capacity. CPET has become an important global clinical detection tool, while fewer related researches are carried out in China. The parameters, methods, exercise protocol, equipment, cardiopulmonary function evaluation and clinical application of CPET are introduced in this review.

Objective To explore the effect of thyroxine (TH) on the migration of hippocampal neurons in newborn rat exposed to tritiated water (HTO).Methods The hippocampal neurons from neonatal rats were primarily cultured,7 days later,randomly divided into control group,HTO group,TH group and HTO + TH group(3.7 × 105 Bq/ml HTO and 0.3 μg/ml TH were simultaneously added).After 24 h,the distance of neuronal migration was measured with Leica AF 6000,the expressions of BDNF and Reelin mRNA in neurons were analyzed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),the expression of β-tubulin protein in neurons was assayed with Western blot and immunocytochemical staining.Results Compared with control group,the expression of Reelin mRNA,BDNF mRNA and β-tubulin in HTO group were significantly reduced(t =5.80,5.48,5.47,P ＜ 0.01),but those in HTO + TH group and TH group were obviously increased (t =7.75,12.06,13.65,P ＜ 0.01 ;t =4.34,5.47,5.65,P ＜0.01)and higher than that in HTO group (t =2.92,10.32,8.76,P ＜ 0.01 ;t =18.07,20.55,40.13,P ＜0.01).Accordingly,the neuronal migration distance in HTO group was much shorter than that in control (t =8.62,P ＜ 0.01),and in HTO + TH group and TH group was far longer than that in control(t =7.64,4.93,P＜0.01).Moreover,the neuronal migration distance in HTO + TH group was notably elongated in comparison with that in HTO group(t =11.32,12.31,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Thyroxine may promote the migration of hippocampal neurons in newborn rat exposed to HTO.

Objective To analyze risk factors in order to predict the in-hospital mortality of patients with se-vere acute pancreatitis (SAP), especially the factor of total cholesterol. Method Factors for predicting in-hospi-tal mortality were evaluated retrospectively from the clinical data collected from 338 SAP patients of Tianjin Nankai Hospital between January 1999 and December 2008 according to the Guidelines for for clinical diagnosis and classi-fication of Acute Panereatitis set by the Society of Chinese Medical Association in 2003. The patients were treated with intensive care, blood routine examination, blood biochemical test and even computed tomography within 24 hours after admission. The patients were divided as per outcome into deceased and survivor group. All patients were admitted within 72 hours after the onset of symptoms. The Off-square test was used for univariate analysis and multivariate test was performed by logistic regression. Results Compared with TC≤3.67 mmol/L, when the TC was between 3.67 -4.37 mmol/L, OR was 0.664 (P = 0.412), while TC was between 4.37 mmol/L and 5.23 mmol/L, OR was 0.144 (P =0.021).The OR was 1.013 (P =0.018) when TC was ≥5.23 mmol/L. The variation of serum TC levels was accompanied with the changes of C-reactive protein (CRP). When the CRP was ≥170 mg/L, OR was 7.074 (P =0.031). When the serum ALB≤30 g/L, OR was 7.224 (P =0.029).Conclusions The CRP, ALB, TC can be used for early predicting the in-hospital mortality of SAP patients. TC is a protective factor when it was between 4.37 mmol/L and 5.23 mmol/L, while it is a risk factor when ≥5.23 mmol/L or≤3.67 mmol/L. CRP> 170 mg/L or ALB < 30 g/L increases the probability of fatal outcome. Low level of albumin is a stronger predictor than the high level of CRP. Moderate elevation of TC level seems to in-crease the resistance to inflammation and hence improving the survival rate of patients with SAP and reducing the in-hospital mortality.