In this paper, the number of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere microbial organisms of fusarium wilt resistant and susceptible watermelon under soil culture and soilless substrate culture was studied by traditional culture methods. The results showed that, the number of rhizoshpere microorganisms was significantly higher than non-rhizosphere, and the number was changed with the stage of watermelon grow, the number was the lowest in seedling stage and increased with the watermelon grow, and achieved highest at the flowering and fruiting stage, decreased with the watermelon ageing. The fusarium wilt resistant of watermelon was correspondence with number of rhizosphere bacteria; the number of rhizosphere bacteria of resistant watermelon was higher than that of susceptible watermelon in each stage under soil culture and soilless culture. The fusarium wilt resistant of watermelon is no correspondence with number of rhizosphere fungi and actinomycete. The number of non-rhizosphere microbial organisms was changed in a small range in the whole growing stage. The non-rhizosphere bacteria have no significant change in the whole stage under soil culture and increased quickly under soilless substrate culture and decreased at the later stage. The non-rhizosphere fungi and actinomycete reached highest at the later stage under soil culture or soilless sub-strate culture.

The traditional culture methods and the molecular biology methods were used to study the rhizosphere bacterial diversity between fusarium wilt resistant and susceptible watermelon. The results showed that the diversity and the equality of cultured rhizosphere bacteria of resistant watermelon were higher than those of the susceptible watermelon. The reason was that the cultured rhizosphere bacterial di- versity index H′ and 1/D of the resistant watermelon were higher than those of the susceptible watermelon and that the cultured rhizosphere bacterial equality index E of the resistant watermelon were higher than those of the susceptible watermelon. The dominant cultured bacterial genotypes were different between re- sistant and susceptible watermelon. The genotype 1 is the dominant genotype of resistant watermelon, con- sists 51.1%. The genotype 7 is the dominant genotype of susceptible watermelon, consists 58.7%.

Severe tricuspid regurgitation with permanent pacemaker wire passing through the orifice of bioprosthetic tricuspid valve is extremely rare. We present a case of such kind of patient and redid bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement. A hawk mouth forceps for bone surgery was used to cut off the mental ring of ruined bioprosthetic tricuspid valve and the ruined valve was removed. A new bioprosthetic tricuspid valve was implanted and the wire of permanent pacemaker was left outside the ring of bioprosthetic tricuspid valve. This method may be helpful for such kind of patient.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Tricuspid Valve ; surgery

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of a new method of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(NOTES) -totally transtracheal endoscopic thyroidectomy(TTET) .Methods:Three miniature swines and 6 beagle dogs were underwent TTET.Under general anesthesia,special designed endotracheal tube with 2-channel was used and endoscope and instruments were inserted through the respective channel.Incision of tracheal anterior wall was accomplished and partial or subtotal thyroidectomy was performed.Finally,the defects in the trachea were sutured with ENDO STITCH instrument.Results:Partial thyroidectomy was successfully accomplished on 3 pigs and subtotal thyroidectomy was done on 6 dogs.No serious complications such as anoxia,asphyxia,airway obstruction and death occurred during the operation.Animals were sacrificed 2h after the procedure and incision of trachea was found to be closely sutured.There were no subcutaneous emphysema and haematoma formation.Conclusion:Preliminary experimental results showed the feasibility and safety of TTET.Transtracheal access maintains the integrity of cervical tissues and achieves an optimal cosmetic outcome.TTET may open up a new field of NOTES on thyroid surgery.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of sirolimus-based immunosuppression administered on heart transplant recipients with chronic renal dysfunction.

METHODSFrom June 2004 to December 2008, standard calcineurin inhibitors (CNI)-based immunosuppressive regimen was changed to reduced-dose CNI plus sirolimus due to CNI-related chronic renal dysfunction in 20 out of 138 cardiac transplant recipients at Fuwai Hospital. The standard immunosuppressive regimen included steroid, CNI (cyclosporine or tacrolimus), and mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine. Sirolimus was started at 0.75 - 1.50 mg/d with titration to achieve levels of 5 - 15 µg/L, and CNI dose was reduced gradually to 1/2-2/3 of the baseline level. Patients were followed for changes in renal function, lipid level and clinical side effects related to immunosuppressive therapy. Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) was performed routinely at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months after transplantation. EMB was also performed at 3 months after regimen change within 1 year post-transplantation or when rejections were suspected in patients beyond 1 year post-transplantation. Echocardiography was performed for monitoring purpose.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up after regimen change was (7.9 ± 6.3) months. Final sirolimus dose was (0.89 ± 0.22) mg/d and blood drug level was (7.6 ± 3.8)µg/L. Cyclosporine dose was reduced from (191.7 ± 60.0) mg/d to (123.6 ± 34.8) mg/d, with blood drug concentration reduced from (175.5 ± 58.0) µg/L to (111.9 ± 56.0) µg/L in 18 patients (P < 0.01). Tacrolimus average dose was reduced from 4.25 mg/d to 3.00 mg/d, with blood drug concentration reduced from 13.5 µg/L to 10.5 µg/L in 2 patients. Serum creatinine level fell from (160.4 ± 25.5) µmol/L to (134.4 ± 26.8) µmol/L (P < 0.01) and urea nitrogen fell from (13.8 ± 4.7) µmol/L to (10.4 ± 3.0) µmol/L (P < 0.01) at one month after regimen change. Twenty two EMBs were performed in 11 patients within 1 year post-transplant, there were 4 episodes of acute rejected (ISHLT grade 2). Twenty patients are all alive and cardiac function was normal. The most common side effect was hyperlipidemia, and triglycerides, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly increased at 1 month post regimen change (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Leukocyte, hemoglobin and platelet as well as liver function remained unchanged at 1 month post regimen change (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results show that change from CNI-based immunosuppressive regimen to reduced-dose CNI plus sirolimus is an effective and safe approach for the management of patients with CNI-related chronic renal dysfunction, leading to an improvement in renal function without compromise in anti-rejection efficacy and with tolerable side effects.

Calcineurin Inhibitors ; Female ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate effectiveness of surgical correction in patients with anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

METHODSBetween April 1999 and August 2005, 12 patients with anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the pulmonary artery underwent surgical correction. There were 8 patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), and 4 patients with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA). Eight patients underwent direct aortic reimplantation, and 4 patients underwent a Takeuchi procedure (intrapulmonary artery baffle with an autologous pericardial patch). Simultaneous mitral annuloplasty was performed in 7 patients of ALCAPA with moderate and severe mitral regurgitation. One patient of ARCAPA was associated with an atrial septal defect (ASD) which was closed with an amplatzer septal occluder through right atrium under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) without CPB.

RESULTSThere were neither early and late deaths nor postoperative complications. Follow-up of all patients ranged from 7 to 83 months (mean, 32 +/- 24 months). The left ventricular function after operation improved from a preoperative fractional shortening (FS) of 0.21 +/- 0.09 to 0.35 +/- 0.06 (P = 0.006) for patients with ALCAPA. Preoperative mitral regurgitation decreased in 7 patients of ALCAPA after mitral annuloplasty at the follow-up. All patients were doing well and their exercise tolerance improved to normal. They were free from symptoms.

CONCLUSIONSReestablishment of a two-coronary system is necessary for patients with anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. The left ventricular function improved after 2-coronary repair. We recommend that the simultaneous mitral annuloplasty should be performed at the time of operation for patients who have moderate and severe mitral regurgitation with ALCAPA. Surgical correction of ARCAPA and ARCAPA show good early and mid-term results, long-term results need to be followed up.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aorta ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; surgery ; Coronary Vessels ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the eGFR as a risk factor for long-term (4-year) outcome in Chinese renal insufficiency patients after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at our institution.

METHODSFrom January 1999 to September 2003, 3371 consecutive patients who underwent isolated CABG were retrospectively reviewed. Of these patients, 549 (16.29%) patients were female, 1979 (58.71%) patients with hypertension, 866 (25.69%) patients with diabetes, 1130 (33.52%) patients with hyperlipidemia, 1011 (29.99%) patients with left main stenosis > 50%, and 1150 (34.11%) patients undergoing off-pump procedures. The mean age was (60 +/- 9) years old. Estimated GFR was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. The main outcomes were in-hospital mortality, in-hospital morbidity and long-term mortality. COX analysis was used in this study.

RESULTSThere were 649 patients with glomerular filtration rate estimates < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)) and 2722 patients with glomerular filtration rate estimates > 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)). The in-hospital mortality and follow-up mortality was higher in the estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)) group (2.77% vs. 0.77%, P < 0.01), (6.81% vs. 2.63%, P < 0.01). The COX analysis result confirmed eGFR < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)), derived using the Cockcroft-Gault formula (HR: 1.948, 95%CI: 1.357 to 2.797, P < 0.01) was an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

CONCLUSIONSThe estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)) derived using the Cockcroft-Gault formula is an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; mortality ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency ; mortality ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDKawasaki disease (KD) is the leading cause of pediatric ischemic heart disease. The incidence of serious coronary sequelae is low and about 2% - 3% of patients with KD, but once myocardial infarction occurs in children, the mortality is quite high and 22% at the first infarction.This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with KD.

METHODSEight patients with a history of KD underwent CABG between October 1997 and July 2005. The number of bypass grafts placed was 2 to 4 per patient (mean 2.5 +/- 0.8). Various bypass grafts were used in patients, i.e. the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in 3 patients, bilateral internal mammary artery (IMA) in 2 patients, LIMA plus gastroepiploic artery (GEA) in 1 patient and total saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) in 2 patients. The combined procedures included ventricular aneurysmectomy in 1 patient, mitral valve plasty in 1 and right coronary aneurysmectomy in 1. One patient was not able to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), after being supported with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), the patient was weaned from CPB successfully.

RESULTSOne patient died of low cardiac output syndrome and acute renal failure 19 days after operation. Other patients recovered and were discharged uneventfully. During the follow-up that ranged from 3 to 57 months (mean 27 months), clincal angina disappeared or improved. Cardiac function was in Class I - II (NYHA).

CONCLUSIONCABG is a safe and effective procedure for Kawasaki coronary artery disease. However long-term results need to be followed up.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; pathology ; surgery ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the experience on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in adult patients with cardiac failure.

METHODSFrom February 2005 to June 2008, 45 patients (male 34, female 11) undergoing cardiogenic shock required temporary ECMO support. Average age was (49.0 +/- 14.1) years. Average body weight was (67.0 +/- 12.8) kg. Coronary heart disease occupied in 21 cases, valve disease occupied in 8 cases, and cardiomyopathy occupied in 7 cases. All the patients could be divided into 3 groups: post-cardiotomy (group 1, n = 31), post-transplantation (group 2, n = 5), decompensate of chronic heart failure (group 3, n = 9). Fourteen patients need cardiac resuscitation before ECMO support. ECMO implantation was performed through the femoral vessels or axillary artery or through the right atrium and ascending aorta.

RESULTSAverage support duration of ECMO was (126.7 +/- 104.3) h. Twenty-seven patients could be successfully weaned from support (60.0%), additionally, 5 were bridged to heart transplantation. The in-hospital mortality was 42.2% (19/45). Twenty-six patients (57.8%) could be successfully discharged. The discharge rate was 58.1% in group 1, 4/5 in group 2 and was 4/9 in group 3. Twelve patients were re-operated for hemostasis. Three patients need femoral arterial thrombectomy because of ischemia of lower extremity. Additional intra-aortic balloon pumps were used in 11 patients, with 6 patients successfully discharged. The mortality rate for patients with acute renal failure treated by continuous renal replacement therapy under ECMO support was obviously high (7/9). The dominant mode of death was multisystem organ failure (9/19).

CONCLUSIONEarly indication, control of complications, and paying attention to the treatment after ECMO support could improve our results with increasing experience.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMechanical ventricular assistance is an important therapeutic method for severe heart failure patients. A variety of ventricular assist devices have been designed for use. The purpose of this report was to describe the experience of using Abiomed BVS5000 as a means of left ventricular support as a clinical treatment for heart failure patients.

METHODSFrom February 2004 to April 2006, 12 male patients were supported with Abiomed BVS5000 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) at Fu Wai Hospital. The average age was (55.2 +/- 9.6) years (range 39 to 68 years). The mean body surface area was (1.76 +/- 0.1) m(2) (range 1.6 to 1.9 m(2)). Devices were inserted for post-cardiotomy shock after coronary artery bypass graft in 11 patients (92%) and in 1 dilated cardiomyopathy patient for acute cardiogenic shock. Modified cannulation methods by inserting the arterial cannulae in femoral artery and inserting the venous cannula in left atrium through a segment of bovine jugular vein were used in 7 patients. In this way, the device could be taken off without re-sternotomy when support was finished. A comparison was made between the modified method and routine left atrium-to-ascending aorta cannulating method.

RESULTSThe median duration of support was 5 (3 - 43) days, with support flow rate of 3.8 - 4.5 L/min. There were 9 (75%) patients weaned from support and 8 (67%) patients discharged from the hospital. Four (33%) patients were dead. The most common morbidity was adverse neurological events. There is no statistical difference between modified and routine method on average in BVS5000 support duration, in assisted flow rate, in mechanical ventilation duration, in the intensive care unit stay and thoracic drainage.

CONCLUSIONSThe Abiomed BVS5000 is valuable to support patients with acute cardiogenic shock for short-term use. By the modified cannulating method, the weaning procedure can be effectively simplified. Optimization of inserting indication remains challenging and attributes to a successful assist program.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Device Removal ; Heart Failure ; surgery ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome