OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression pattern of FHL2, which is an intracellular signaling transcription molecule during mineralization in cultured human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) in vitro.

METHODShPDLCs were cultured in vitro. Test group was cultured with mineral induction media while control group without induction media. 0, 14, 28 days after culture, alizarin red staining was used to measure the mineral nodules formation. Immunocytochemistry was used to examine the expression of FHL2 protein 0 day and 14 days after mineral induction. Meanwhile, mRNA expression level of FHL2 was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on the 0, 14, 28 days after induction.

RESULTS14 and 28 days after cultivation, mineral nodules formed and were stained positively with alizarin red staining in test group while no mineral nodule formed in control group. Immunocytochemical results indicated that hPDLCs in test group expressed FHL2 positively. According to RT-PCR results, 14 and 28 days after mineral induction, the expression levels of FHL2 both increased significantly when compared with 0 day (P<0.01), and the expression level at 14 days was 1.4 folds of 0 day.

CONCLUSIONFHL2 protein is found to be involved in the in vitro mineralization of hPDLCs. FHL2 protein may play a role in the differentiation and mineralization of hPDLCs.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; LIM-Homeodomain Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Muscle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Periodontal Ligament ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis

Objective    To evaluate the clinical efficacy of preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion in patients with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) surgery. Methods    The clinical data of 130 patients who underwent OPCABG with IABP from 2015 to 2019 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups, including a group A (preoperative IABP insertion, n=72) and a group B (emergent IABP insertion, n=58). There were 42 males and 30 females in the group A with an average age of 60-72 (65.0±5.2) years. There were 32 males and 26 females in the group B with an average age of 56-73 (62.3±7.6) years. The in-hospital mortality rate and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Results    The in-hospital mortality rate in the group A (4.2%) was significantly lower than that in the group B (12.1%, P=0.002). The IABP time (40.8±10.3 min vs. 65.3±15.6 min), mechanical ventilation time (18.7±6.1 min vs. 48.7±10.5 min) and ICU stay time (48.1±7.8 min vs. 90.2±21.3 min) of the group A were shorter than those of the group B (P<0.05). The number of bypass grafts was not significantly different between the two groups (3.6±1.2 vs. 3.8±1.0, P=0.387). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality included age [OR=1.04, 95%CI (1.01, 1.10), P=0.030], female [OR=2.56, 95%CI (1.53, 6.12), P=0.000] and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [OR=1.05, 95%CI (1.01, 1.13), P=0.030]. Preoperative IABP support was the protective factor [OR=0.17, 95%CI (0.01, 0.78), P=0.005]. Conclusion    Patients undergoing OPCABG with preoperative IABP insertion may reduce in-hospital mortality rate and improve outcomes.

Objective    To evaluate the short- and mid-term outcomes of sequential anastomosis and simple anastomosis of saphenous vein in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods    The clinical data of 438 patients who underwent sequential anastomosis of saphenous vein and 165 patients who underwent simple anastomosis of saphenous vein from 2015 to 2018 in Daxing Teaching Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. After propensity score matching, 130 pairs of patients were included in the sequential anastomosis group [78 males and 52 females, aged 60 (52, 68) years] and simple anastomosis group [80 males and 50 females, aged 61 (52, 70) years]. The short- and mid-term clinical outcomes were compared. Results    The two propensity score-matched groups had similar baseline clinical data. No significant difference was found between sequential anastomosis and simple anastomosis groups in the in-hospital outcomes, including in-hospital death (1.5% vs. 1.5%, P=1.000), the incidence of complications (4.6% vs. 6.2%, P>0.05), and the mean flow of grafts (30.0±11.8 mL/min vs. 28.0±9.5 mL/min, P=0.597). The operation time of the sequential anastomosis group was shorter than that of the simple anastomosis group (142.5±21.2 min vs. 186.3±27.6 min, P<0.001). The drainage of the sequential anastomosis group was less than that of the simple anastomosis group (204.7±39.6 mL vs. 271.3±48.3 mL, P<0.001). The follow-up time was 12-60 (28.3±8.9) months, during which the mortality of the two groups was not statistically different (3.2% vs. 4.0%, P=0.796). Conclusion    The saphenous vein sequential anastomosis of saphenous vein is superior to the simple anastomosis. Sequential anastomosis technique can reduce aortic anastomosis,  shorten operation time, and reduce bleeding drainage during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. The short- and mid- term clinical effects are satisfactory.