Objective: To investigate the relationship between senile degenerative valvular heart disease (SDVHD) and heart failure. Methods:86 cases of SDVHD consisted of 67 males and 19 females, with the mean age of 60 -93(78?9)yr . 86 cases of controls with comparable gender, age and baseline conditions were include in the control group. Morbidity rate of heart failure were compared between the two groups during 12 years follow-up. Heart function was determined by color Doppler ultrasonography. Results:Prevalence of left heart failure and whole heart failure in SDVHD group were 75. 5% and 22. 0% , respectively, significantly higher than the control group ( 16. 2% and 7. 0% , respectively). Ejection fraction ( Ef) in SDVHD group was significantly lower than the control group [ (43?7 ) % vs (71?6)%,P

Objective To assess the effects of thalidomide on VEGF mRNA level in human breast cancer cell lines. Methods Breast cancer cells were treated with thalidomide for 24～72h, RT-PCR was uced to detect the level of VEGF mRNA expression. Results When the concentration of drug is 50μg/L,thalidomide strongly inhibited the level of VEGF mRNA expression. Conclusion Within certain concentration range of thalidomide can inhibit the level of VEGF mRNA expression in breast cancer cell.

Objective:To confirm the safety and feasibility of totally thoracoscopic repair with leaflet folding, multiple artificial chordae implantation and ring annuloplasty for mitral regurgitation(MR) in Barlow disease.Methods:From June 2018 to December 2019, 10 consecutive Barlow’s disease patients underwent totally thoracoscopic repair with leaflet folding, multiple artificial chordae implantation and ring annuloplasty. The safety and feasibility of this technique was evaluated by its early clinical outcomes.Results:8 males and 2 females. The mean age was(33.5±11.0) years.There was no operative death and related complications. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) time was(142±26)(112-194)min, and the aortic clamping time was(96±18)(78-128) min. The average number of artificial chordae implantation was(3.4±0.7)(2-4) pairs/case. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) showed the mean mitral valve coaptation length and transvalvular pressure gradient was(1.2±0.2)(0.8-1.5) cm and(1.2±0.4) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively, without MR or systolic anterior motion(SAM). During a follow-up of 1-18 months, there were 7 cases with no MR and 3 with trace MR, with a mean transvalvular pressure gradient of( 1.5±0.6 )mmHg.Conclusion:Totally thoracoscopic repair with leaflet folding, multiple artificial chordae implantation and ring annuloplasty was a safe and effective procedure with satisfied early clinical outcomes for MR in Barlow’s disease. However, further randomized and long-term follow-up studies were warranted to determine its clinical effects.

Objective: To examine minimally invasive tricuspid valve operations applied in tricuspid valve insufficiency patients with previous left-sided valve surgery. Methods: Between September 2017 and June 2019, thirty-six consecutive patients received minimally invasive totally thoracoscopic tricuspid surgery through right thoracotomy at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fisrt Medical Center, People′s Liberation Army General Hospital. There were 13 males and 23 females, aging (56±11) years (range: 43 to 79 years). All the patients had isolated significant tricuspid regurgitation after previous left-sided cardiac surgeries. A right anterolateral thoracotomy incision about 4 cm was made from the fourth intercostal space as main operating port. The arterial cannula was placed in femoral artery. The venous cannula was placed in femoral vein using Seldingger technique. Tricuspid valve operation was performed on beating heart by assist of vena vacuum. Results: Tricuspid valve repair was performed in 7 patients. Tricuspid valve replacement with bioprosthesis was performed in 29 patients. The operation time was (2.9±0.3) hours (range:2.5 to 3.6 hours). There was no conversion to sternotomy during operation. There was no severe complications during operation period. There were no complications related to this cannulation technique. The time of cardiopulmonary bypass establishment was (22±5) minutes (range: 12 to 24 minutes) and pump time was (82±16) minutes (range: 62 to 93 minutes). The length of hospital stay was (9±3) days after operation (range: 5 to 13 days). There was no early death in hospital. All patients were followed up for 3 to 22 months. No patient died. Conclusions One single port-based minimally invasive approach seems to be safe, feasible, and reproducible in case of redo tricuspid valve operations. Only cannulation of inferior vena cava significantly simplified the complexity of isolated redo tricuspid surgery.

Objective:The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of a totally thoracoscopic repeat mitral valve surgery under hypothermic ventricular fibrillation with those of a conventional median sternotomy approach for repeat mitral valve surgery and to explore the safety of the totally thoracoscopic repeat mitral valve surgery under hypothermic ventricular fibrillation.Methods:Patients requiring repeat mitral valve surgery admitted by the same surgeon at Cardiovascular Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to January 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into the totally thoracoscopic group under hypothermic ventricular fibrillation and the conventional median sternotomy group according to the procedure, and the preoperative baseline data and perioperative outcomes were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.0.Results:A total of 91 patients matched the criteria for study enrollment, 25 in the totally thoracoscopic group and 66 in the median sternotomy group. There was no statistical difference in the preoperative baseline data between the two groups. The totally thoracoscopic group has advantages in mitral valvuloplasty rate(32.0% vs. 7.6%, P=0.008), transfusion rate(72.0% vs. 98.5%, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation time [(19.0±27.8)h vs.(43.3±58.3)h, P=0.009], chest drainage tube time [(2.2±1.9)days vs.(3.7±2.4)days, P=0.004], postoperative chest drainage volume [(489.6±319.1)ml vs.(913.6±568.4)ml, P=0.001], postoperative discharge time[(8.0±2.7)days vs.(13.9±12.8)days, P=0.026]. The totally thoracoscopic group had a longer cardiopulmonary bypass time [(180.8±41.7)min vs.(143.2±39.7)min, P<0.001], and it had an intraoperative ventricular fibrillation time of(100.2±42.5)min. There were no statistically significant differences in the postoperative complication rate(12.0% vs. 21.2%, P=0.481) and mortality(4.0% vs. 4.5%, P=1.000) between the two groups. Conclusion:The totally thoracoscopic approach has the characteristics of less invasion and faster recovery compared with the median sternotomy approach. Hypothermic ventricular fibrillation simplifies the procedure at the ascending aorta while reducing myocardial injury than conventional occlusion of the ascending aorta. Totally thoracoscopic mitral valve surgery under hypothermic ventricular fibrillation is a safe minimally invasive technique.

Objective To investigate the effect of Danhuangsan on high glucose-induced vascular endothelial cell injury based on PINK 1/Parkin signaling pathway,and to explore its specific mechanism.Methods Human um-bilical vein endothelial cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group,growth factor group,Danhuangsan group,high glucose group,high glucose+growth factor group,high glucose+Danhuangsan group,with 3 cases in each group,treated for 48 hours.Cell scratch test was used to detect cell migration rate,and Transwell test was used to detect cell invasion rate.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2,Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic protein Bax.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of PINK 1,Parkin and LC 3-Ⅱ.Results Cell scratch test and Transwell test showed that under normal environment and high glucose treatment,Danhuangsan could reduce the cell migration and invasion rate(P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence assay showed that under normal environment and high glucose treatment,Danhuang-san up-regulated the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Beclin-1 protein in cells(P＜0.05).Western blot results showed that under normal environment and high glucose treatment,Danhuangsan increased the protein expression levels of PINK 1,Parkin and LC 3-Ⅱ in cells and down-regulated the expression levels of Bax protein(P＜0.05),and the effects of Danhuang powder were significantly better than those of blank serum and growth factor(P＜0.05).Conclusion Danhuangsan can alleviate high glucose-induced endothelial cell injury by activating PINK 1/Parkin pathway,and the mechanism may be related to promoting mitophagy and enhancing the repair of damage.

Objective:To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of prosthetic valve dysfunction and evaluate the safety of operation.Methods:The clinical data of 142 patients admitted by the same cardiovascular surgeon from January 2015 to December 2019 at the first medical center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, including 60 males (42.25%) and 82 females (57.75%), with an average age of 59.4 years old. Inclusion criteria: patients received redo-valvuloplasty or valve replacement after valvuloplasty or replacement, excluding mitral balloon dilatation and tricuspid valvuloplasty without implantation of annuloplasty ring.Results:The reasons of redo heart valve surgery in the same valve position including: bioprosthetic valve failure, mechanical prosthetic valve dysfunction, valve dysfunction after valvuloplasty, prosthetic valve infectious endocarditis, perivalvular leakage. There was 2 death in 142 cases, and the operative mortality rate was 1.41%. The reasons of the perioperative period death include cerebral hemorrhage, coagulation dfsfunction; perioperative complications include low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, respiratory failure, tracheal re-intubation, re-thoratomy for hemaostsis.Conclusion:There are many reasons for reoperation of prosthetic valve dysfunction, and the reoperation surgery is a difficult procedure. However, choosing the suitable surgical option, strengthening the perioperative management of such patients can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative mortality and complications, minimally invasive surgery can reduce the mortality and complications.

Objective:To summarize the clinical data of mitral valve surgery completed in a single surgical team in one year, to discuss the etiologic characteristics, methods, results and early postoperative outcomes of mitral valvuloplasty surgeries, and to analyze the epidemiologic trends of mitral valve diseases admitted to the hospital.Methods:A total of 209 mitral valve surgeries completed by the same surgeon in the single surgical team at the Cardiovascular Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, from January 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Mitral valve surgery accounted for 53.6% of all surgeries in this team during the same period. There were 100 cases(47.8%) in males and 109 cases(52.2%) in females, aged 11-85 years old, with a mean of(53.5±15.2) years old. There were 121 cases(57.9%) of NYHA class Ⅱ and 88 cases(42.1%) of class Ⅲ/Ⅳ.Results:Of the 152 mitral valvuloplasty surgeries, 117(77%) were performed with a totally Thoracoscopic approach. Annuloplasty rings were applied in 145 cases(95.4%), including semi-rigid closed Physio II annuloplasty rings in 118 cases(81.4%), Gore-Tex artificial chordae were applied in 89 cases(58.6%) for a total of 145, leaflet repair in 15 cases(9.9%), edge-to-edge repair in 2 cases(1.3%), commissure suture in 34 cases(22.4%), and chordae tendineae and papillary muscle splitting in 15 cases(9.9%). The repair rate of degenerative mitral valve disease was 100%, and the repair rate of rheumatic mitral valve disease was 48.1%. The echocardiogram was received about one week after surgery, and there was no or trace regurgitation in 91 cases(59.9%), mild in 58 cases(38.2%), and moderate in 3 cases(2.0%). There were 2 cases(1.3%) of all-cause death.Conclusion:Degenerative mitral valve disease have become the leading cause of mitral valve disease in our center, and the proportion of rheumatic mitral valve disease has decreased. Degenerative mitral valve disease has a very high repair rate, and rheumatic mitral valve disease has a relatively low repair rate due to its special pathologic and anatomic characteristics. Most mitral valvuloplasty procedure can be performed in a totally thoracoscopic approach. The application of a mitral valvuloplasty ring combined with Gore-Tex artificial chordae by an experienced surgeon can achieve reliable repair results.

Objective:Reported our experience of 100 consecutive cases of thoracoscopic mitral valvuloplasty in the early period.Methods:Between September 2017 and December 2019, 100 consecutive cases of thoracoscopic mitral valvuloplasty had been completed in our institution. There were 56 males and 44 females. The mean age was(49.2±14.7) years old, ranging from 15 to 75 years old.The safety and feasibility of this technique was evaluated by its early clinical outcomes.Results:Mitral valve(MV) repair techniques included leaflet folding in 5 cases, cleft suture in 10, commissuroplasty in 15, edge to edge in 1, artificial chordae implantation in 76 cases with mean of(2.5±1.6)(1-4) pairs, and prosthetic annuloplasty in all cases. Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography(TEE) revealed no mitral regurgitation(MR) in 95 cases and a mild in 2 cases with all coaptation length more than 5 mm. The rest 3 cases with moderate or more MR were successfully reconstructed after being blocked again. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) time was(164.4±51.0 )min and aortic clamping time was(119.7 ± 39.1) min, and the latest 10 cases were(140.2±45.3 )min and(96.3±25.4) min, the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). There was one operative death for avulsion of left atrial suture after operation and 2 intraoperative re-exploration for bleeding. Severe MR was observed in 2 patients 3 months after operation, and mitral valve replacement(MVR) was performed through median sternotomy. Conclusion:Totally thoracoscopic mitral valvuloplasty is technically feasible, safe, effective and reproducible in clinical practice after crossing the learning curve. The short-term effect is satisfactory, however, further randomized and long-term follow-up studies are warranted to determine its clinical effects.

Objective:To examine the therapeutic strategy and its impacting factors by analyzing the perioperative outcomes of total thoracoscopic repeat mitral valve surgery under moderate hypothermia-induced ventricular fibrillation with cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods:This study is a retrospective case series. Totally 63 patients who underwent repeat mitral valve surgery by the same surgeon from January 2021 to December 2023 in Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the First Medical Center of People′s Liberation Army General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. There were 28 males and 35 females with an age of (58.3±15.9) years (range: 13 to 84 years). Surgery was performed using a totally thoracoscopic approach under moderate hypothermia-induced ventricular fibrillation. Mitral valvuloplasty was completed in 32 cases and mitral valve replacement in 31 cases. Preoperative baseline data and perioperative outcomes of the patients were collected and Logistic regression was used to analyze independent influencing factors of premature ventricular contractions in the early postoperative period.Results:The intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass time was (191.5±50.9) minutes (range: 95 to 286 minutes), and the hypothermic ventricular fibrillation time was (99.0±39.8) minutes (range: 34 to 203 minutes). The anal temperature before the start of cardiopulmonary bypass was (36.3±0.5) ℃ (range: 35.2 to 38.0 ℃), the lowest intraoperative anal temperature was (27.3±1.3) ℃(range: 23.7 to 30.1 ℃), and the anal temperature at the time of the cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass was (36.3±0.4) ℃ (range: 35.2 to 37.0 ℃), and excessive rewarming was observed in 33 cases. Six cases applied the artificial heart assist device. Seventeen cases developed premature ventricular contractions in the early postoperative period. Two cases developed neurologic complications. Five cases developed respiratory complications. One case developed urological systemic complications. Six cases were mechanically ventilated for more than 3 days, and the duration of ICU stay in 16 cases was more than 3 days and the postoperative discharge time of ( M(IQR)) 8.0 (3.5) days (range: 3 to 26 days). Two cases died or were discharged voluntarily. Logistic regression results showed that persistent preoperative atrial fibrillation ( OR=11.424, 95% CI: 1.477 to 144.564, P=0.033) and excessive rewarming ( OR=15.249, 95% CI: 1.357 to 279.571, P=0.038) were independent risk factors for the appearance of premature ventricular contractions in the early postoperative period. Conclusions:The technique of total thoracoscopic surgery under induced moderate hypothermic ventricular fibrillation with cardiopulmonary bypass could be applied to repeated mitral valve surgeries with less trauma and faster recovery. Persistent preoperative atrial fibrillation and excessive rewarming are independent risk factors for the occurrence of premature ventricular contractions in the early postoperative period.