48 h) in the IABP Group (14/19) was significantly higher than that in the Control Group (19/45) ( ? 2=4 110, P =0 043). Conclusions In the absence of prophylactic IABP, OPCAB can be safely operated on in patients with low ejection fraction.

Aim To investigate the role of ATP-sensi-tive potassium channels-Akt pathway in exogenous hy-drogen sulfide( H2 S) inhibiting the high glucose( HG)-induced injury in H9c2 cardiac cells. Methods The expression level of Akt protein was tested by Western blot assay. The cell viability was measured by cell counter kit-8(CCK-8 assay). The number of apoptotic cells was tested by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining fol-lowed by photofluorography. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) were detected by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography. Mi-tochondrial membrane potential ( MMP ) was examined by JC-1 staining followed by photofluorography. Results H9c2 cells were treated with 35 mmol·L-1 glucose (high glucose, HG) for 0 ~24 h respectively. After treating for 3 h, the expression level of phosphorated ( p )-Akt protein began to be obviously reduced, the maximum reduced expression level was observed after the cells were exposed to HG for 24 h. Pretreatment of the cells with 50 μmol · L-1 pinacidil ( Pin, a KATP channel opener) or 400 μmol·L-1 NaHS( a donor of H2 S) prior to exposure to HG considerably blocked the down regulation of p-Akt expression level induced by HG. However, pretreatment with 1 mmol · L-1 KATP channel blocker glibenclamide( Gli) obviously attenua-ted the inhibitory effect of NaHS on HG-induced down-regulation of p-Akt expression level. On the other hand, the protective effects of NaHS against the HG-induced cardiomyocyte injury were markedly blocked by 30 μmol·L-1 Ly294002(an inhibitor of Akt), as indicated by the decrease in cell viability and MMP dissipation as well as the increases in the number of apoptotic cells and ROS generation. Conclution KATP channels-Akt pathway mediates the protective effect of H2 S against the HG-induced cardiac injury.

Objective: To compare the blood lfow of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft vessel between minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) and traditional median sternotomyin off-pump coronary artery bypass (Traditional OPCAB) by transit-time lfow meter (TTFM). Methods: We retrospectively studied 300 patients who received OPCAB in our hospital from 2013-01 to 2015-07, all patients had LIMA to left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) anastomosis. The patients were divided into 2 groups: MIDCAB group, n=70 and Traditional OPCAB group,n=230. Intra-operative blood lfow in graft vessel was measured by transit-time lfow meter. Pre- and post-operative indexes and the mean lfow (MF), pulsatile index (PI), diastolic fraction (DF) of LIMA graft were compared between 2 groups. Results: The following indexes in Traditional OPCAB group and MIDCAB group were as below: intra-operative transfusion was (3.00±5.42) U vs (1.06±2.17) U, post-operative peak value of cTnI was (2.84±9.93) ng/ml vs (0.69±1.74) ng/ml, mechanical ventilation time was (27.9±66.9) h vs (14.2±20.8) h and ICU stay time was (64.1±89.6) h vs (35.2±39.2) h, allP<0.05; while for the graft from LIMA to LAD, MF was (29.45±18.19) ml/min vs (29.04±15.85) ml/min, PI was (2.68±1.19) vs (2.44±0.84) and DF was (71.47±11.12) % vs (70.25±11.30) %, allP>0.05. Conclusion: With LIMA to LAD graft, MIDCAB may achieve the same effect as traditional OPCAB, the early post-operative anastomosis has been reliable.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of antibiotics after coronary artery bypass.METHODS Forty patients were assigned into two groups,vancomycin group and cefradine group.Each included 20 patients.We compared the infection cases,cost of hospitalization,and cost of medicine after CABG.RESULTS There were no difference of(infection) between two groups,the cost of hospitalization was fewer in cefradine group.(CONCLUSIONS) The short-term use of cefradine after CABG could achieve the goals of preventing infection of CABG,and save medical resources.

Objective:To analyze and compare difference of ultrasonic blood flow of left internal mammary artery(LIMA) and right internal mammary artery(RIMA)as graft to left anterior descending artery(LAD) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCABG).Methods:From October 2017 to October 2019, a total of 363 patients who underwent OPCAB including 329 patients in LIMA-LAD group and 34 patients in RIMA-LAD group, were included in this study. Transthoracic ultrasound examination on IMA was performed before OPCABG. The blood flow , the value of PI(pulsation index) and diastolic flow(DF) of LIMA and RIMA to left anterior descending were measured and recorded by intraoperative TTFM. Patients underwent coronary artery CT examinations at 1 week after OPCABG to discover the patency of grafts.Results:The pre-operative diameter of RIMA was larger and the blood flow and pulsation index of RIMA was better than that of LIMA before OPCABG( P<0.001). But there was no significant difference in the flow, pulsation index and DF value of graft between the two groups after IMA were anastomosed to LAD( P>0.05). In situ skeletonized graft of RIMA did not show the advantage of increased blood flow. Compared with the preoperative parameters of flow of internal mammary artery, both the left and right grafts of IMA were significantly better in blood flow and pulsation index( P<0.001). Considering the remarkable difference in age between the two groups, Flow, PI and DF were compared again after propensity score matching, and there was still no statistical difference between the two groups( P>0.05). A total of 313 patients in LIMA-LAD group completed coronary CTA examination one week after surgery, among which 4 grafts had different degrees of problems. A total of 34 patients in RIMA-LAD group completed coronary CTA examination, one case indicated that the CTA imaging in distal segment was not clear, and the other results had no obvious abnormality. There was no significant difference in postoperative rate of coronary CTA completion( P=0.381) and rate of graft failure( P=0.405) between the two groups. Conclusion:Compared with the preoperative parameters of blood flow of internal mammary artery, both the left and right IMA grafts are significantly better in flow and pulsation index. The pre-operative diameter of RIMA is larger and the blood flow and pulsation index of RIMA is better than that of LIMA before OPCABG. But there is no significant difference in the flow, pulsation index and DF value of graft between the two groups after IMA are anastomosed to LAD. In situ skeletonized graft of RIMA do not show the advantage of increased blood flow.

AIM:To investigate whether the opening of ATP-sensitive K+(KATP) channels protects H9c2 car-diac cells against high glucose ( HG)-induced injury and inflammation by inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 )/nu-clear factor-κB ( NF-κB) pathway.METHODS:The protein levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 were determined by Western blot.The levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were detected by ELISA.The cell viabil-ity was measured by CCK-8 assay.Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was examined by rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) staining followed by photofluorography.The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) were detected by 2′, 7′-
dichlorfluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining followed by photofluorography.The number of apoptotic cells was ob-served by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography.RESULTS: After the H9c2 cardiac cells were treated with HG (35 mmol/L glucose) for 24 h, the protein levels of TLR4 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 ( p-NF-κB p65) were significantly increased.Pretreatment of the cells with 100 μmol/L diazoxide ( DZ, a KATP channel opener) for 30 min before exposure to HG considerably blocked the up-regulation of the TLR4 and p-NF-κB protein levels induced by HG.Moreover, co-treatment of the cells with 30 μmol/L TAK-242 (an inhibitor of TLR4) obviously inhibited the HG-in-duced up-regulation of the p-NF-κB p65 protein level.On the other hand, pretreatment of the cells with 100 μmol/L DZ had a clear myocardial protection effect, which attenuated the HG-induced cytotoxicity, inflammatory response, mitochon-drial damage, oxidative stress and apoptosis, evidenced by an increase in the cell viability, and decreases in the levels of IL-1βand TNF-α, MMP loss, ROS generation and the number of apoptotic cells.Similarly, co-treatment of H9c2 cardiac cells with 30μmol/L TAK-242 or 100μmol/L PDTC ( an inhibitor of NF-κB) and HG for 24 h also obviously reduced the above injuries and inflammation induced by HG.CONCLUSION: The opening of KATP channels protects H9c2 cardiac cells against HG-induced injury and inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

AIM:To study whether hydrogen sulfide (H2S) protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes against high glucose ( HG)-induced injury by inhibiting necroptosis .METHODS:The protein levels of RIP3 ( an indicator of necroptosis ) and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot .The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The intracellular le-vels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by 2’, 7’-dichlorfluorescein diacetate staining followed by photofluo-rography.Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was examined by rhodamine 123 staining followed by photofluorogra-phy.The number of apoptotic cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography .RE-SULTS:After the H9c2 cells were treated with HG (35 mmol/L glucose) for 0~24 h, the protein expression of RIP3 in the H9c2 cells was significantly increased at 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h and 24 h, reaching the maximum level at 24 h.Pretreat-ment of the cells with 400μmol/L NaHS (a donor of H2S) or co-treatment of the cells with necrostatin-1 (Nec-1;a speci-fic inhibitor of necroptosis) considerably blocked the up-regulation of RIP3 protein induced by HG.Moreover, pretreatment with NaHS or co-treatment with Nec-1 obviously inhibited HG-induced injuries , leading to an increase in the cell viability , and decreases in the generation of ROS and MMP loss .On the other hand , pretreatment with NaHS also reduced the num-ber of apoptotic cells and the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 in the HG-treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes .CONCLUSION:H2 S protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes against HG-induced injury by inhibiting necroptosis .

This study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on NAFLD in MSG-IR mice and to provide mechanism insights into its therapeutic effect. The MSG-IR mice with insulin resistance were treated with high dose (0.1 micromol.kg-1d-1) and low dose (0.025 micromol.kg-1d-1) of FGF21 once a day for 5 weeks. Body weight was measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, serum lipids, insulin and aminotransferases were measured. Hepatic steatosis was observed. The expression of key genes regulating energy metabolism were detected by real-time PCR. The results showed that after 5 weeks treatment, both doses of FGF21 reduced body weight (P<0.01), corrected dyslipidemia (P<0.01), reversed steatosis and restored the liver morphology in the MSG model mice and significantly ameliorated insulin resistance. Additionally, real-time PCR showed that FGF21 significantly reduced transcription levels of fat synthetic genes, decreased fat synthesis and promoted lipolysis and energy metabolism by up-regulating key genes of lipolysis, thereby liver fat accumulation was reduced and liver function was restored to normal levels. In conclusion, FGF21 significantly reduces body weight of the MSG-IR mice, ameliorates insulin resistance, reverses hepatic steatosis. These findings provide a theoretical support for clinical application of FGF21 as a novel therapeutics for treatment of NAFLD.

Aim To investigate the role of the interac-tion between necroptosis ( Nec ) and p38 mitogen-acti-vated protein kinase ( MAPK) pathway in the high glu-cose (HG)-induced H9c2 cardiac cells injury.Meth-ods The cell viability was measured by cell counter kit-8 assay .The intracellular level of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) was tested by DCFH-DA stating fol-lowed by photofluorography .Mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) was detected by Rhodamine 123 stai-ning followed by photofluorography . The expression levels of receptor interaction protein 3 ( RIP3, an indi-cator of Nec ) and p38 MAPK protein were tested by Western blot assay .Results The treatment of H9c2 cardiac cells with 35 mmol? L-1 glucose ( high glu-cose, HG) for 24 h induced considerable injuries , in-cluding a decrease in cell viability , increases in ROS generation as well as MMP loss .The co-treatment of the cells with 100 μmol? L-1 necrostatin-1(Nec-1,a specific inhibitor of Nec ) and HG for 24 h or the pre-treatment of the cells with 3 μmol? L-1 SB 2 0 3 5 8 0 ( an inhibitor of p38MAPK) for 60 min before HG exposure attenuated the above injuries induced by HG .Moreo-ver, the treatment of the cells with HG for 1,3,6,9, 12 ,24 ,36 and 48 h significantly increased the expres-sion levels of RIP3, peaking at 24 h.The co-treatment of the cells with 100 μmol? L-1 Nec-1 or the pre-treatment of the cells with 3 μmol? L-1 SB203580 considerably blocked the up-regulation of RIP3 expres-sion induced by HG .On the other hand , the co-treat-ment of the cells with 100 μmol? L-1 Nec-1 alleviated the HG-induced up-regulation of the expression of p-p38MAPK.Conclusion The interaction between Nec and p38 MAPK pathway mediates the HG-induced inju-ry in H9c2 cardiac cells.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of simultaneous carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with concomitant severe carotid and coronary artery disease.Methods:The clinical data of 19 patients with concomitant severe carotid artery stenosis and coronary artery disease undergoing simultaneous CEA and CABG at Peking University People′s Hospital from Jan 2011 to Dec 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:The mean ages was 69 years old.The operation adopted the strategy of CEA first and then CABG. Conventional CEA with carotid arterial shunting was performed. The primary composite end points were perioperative cardiovascular and neurological adverse event rates, as well as the late follow-up outcomes. The technical success rate was 100%. There were no adverse cardiovascular events during the perioperative period. Ischemic stroke occurred in 2 patients. No early death was observed. Seventeen cases were successfully followed up for 1-103 months. One patient developed cerebral infarction after 8 months, one developed acute myocardial infarction 43 months after surgery. No cases suffered from carotid artery restenosis. The 5-year overall survival rate was 91%.Conclusions:Simultaneous CEA and CABG treatment for patients with concomitant carotid and coronary artery disease is safe with few perioperative cardiovascular events and no deaths.