BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease (VHD) has become increasingly common with the aging in China. This study aimed to evaluate regional differences in the clinical features, management strategies, and outcomes of patients with VHD across different regions in China. METHODS: Data were collected from the China-VHD Study. From April 2018 to June 2018, 12,347 patients who presented with moderate or severe native VHD with a median of 2 years of follow-up from 46 centers at certified tertiary hospitals across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in Chinese mainland were included in this study. According to the locations of the research centers, patients were divided into five regional groups: eastern, southern, western, northern, and central China. The clinical features of VHD patients were compared among the five geographical regions. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the cumulative incidence rate. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients (mean age, 61.96 years; 6877 [55.70%] male), multiple VHD was the most frequent type (4042, 32.74%), which was mainly found in eastern China, followed by isolated mitral regurgitation (3044, 24.65%), which was mainly found in northern China. The etiology of VHD varied significantly across different regions of China. The overall rate of valve interventions was 32.67% (4008/12,268), with the highest rate in southern China at 48.46% (205/423). In terms of procedure, the proportion of transcatheter valve intervention was relatively low compared to that of surgical treatment. Patients with VHD in western China had the highest incidence of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Valve intervention significantly improved the outcome of patients with VHD in all five regions (all P  <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients with VHD in China are characterized by significant geographic disparities in clinical features, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Targeted efforts are needed to improve the management and prognosis of patients with VHD in China according to differences in geographical characteristics. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03484806.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Heart Valve Diseases/therapy* ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of molecular classification and PTEN, KRAS and PIK3CA gene mutation on the outcome of fertility-preserving treatment in the patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) and endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH). Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study. A total of 135 patients with EEC and EAH receiving fertility-preserving treatment and molecular classification were reviewed. The distribution of the four types of molecular classification was described. The impact of non-specific molecular profile (NSMP), mismatch repair-deficiency (MMRd), and PTEN, KRAS and PIK3CA gene mutation on the outcome of fertility-preserving treatment was analyzed. Results: Of the patients analyzed, 86.7% (117/136) were classified as having NSMP; 14 (10.4%), MMRd; 1 (0.7%), POLEmut EAH; and 3 (2.2%), p53abn EEC. The patients having NSMP and MMRd achieved similar 16-, 32-, and 48-week complete response rates. The patients harboring tier I and tier II PTEN mutations (PTENmut-Clin) achieved lower cumulative 32-week CR rates than those with PTEN-others (without PTENmut-Clin) (22/47, 46.8% vs. 50/74, 67.6%; p=0.023; odds ratio=0.422; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.199–0.896). Insulin-resistance (hazard ratio [HR]=0.435; 95% CI=0.269–0.702; p=0.001) and PTENmut-Clin (HR=0.535; 95% CI=0.324–0.885; p=0.015) were independent negative predictors for lower 32-week CR rates. Conclusion PTENmut-Clin is an independent risk factor for unfavorable fertility-preserving treatment outcomes in the patients with EEC and EAH. The patients with MMRd receiving fertility-preserving treatment achieved outcomes similar to those of the patients with NSMP. The molecular profiles might guide fertility-preserving treatment in the prognosis and clinical decisions.

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate long-term survivals and toxicities of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in endemic area, evaluating the role of chemotherapy in stage II patients. Materials and Methods: Totally 187 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and restaged American Joint Committee on Cancer/ International Union Against Cancer 8th T1-2N0-1M0 were retrospectively recruited. All received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)±chemotherapy (CT) from 2001 to 2010. Results: With 15.7-year median follow-up, 10-year locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were 93.3%, 93.5%, 92.9% and 88.2%, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed cervical lymph nodes positive and pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index ≥ 52.0 could independently predict DMFS (p=0.036 and p=0.011), DSS (p=0.014 and p=0.026), and OS (p=0.002 and p < 0.001); Charlson comorbidity index < 3 points could predict DSS (p=0.011); age > 45 years (p=0.002) and pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 240 U/L (p < 0.001) predicted OS. No grade 4 late toxicity happened; grade 3 late toxicities included subcutaneous fibrosis (4.3%), deafness or otitis (4.8%), skin dystrophy (2.1%), and xerostomia (1.1%). No differences on survivals were shown between IMRT+CT vs. IMRT alone in stage II patients, even in T2N1M0 (p > 0.05). Unsurprising, patients in IMRT+CT had more acute gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppression, mucositis, late ear toxicity, and cranial nerve injury (all p < 0.05) than IMRT alone group. Conclusion Superior tumor control and satisfying long-term outcomes could be achieved with IMRT in early-stage NPC with mild late toxicities. As CT would bring more toxicities, it should be carefully performed to stage II patients.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) in predicting the prognosis of patients with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).Methods:The clinical data of patients undergoing ECMO admitted to Intensive Care Unit of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2015 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the survival group and death group according to the prognosis during ICU hospitalization. The patients' basic data , acute physiology and chronic health score system Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ), RDW and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) at 72 hours after treatment with ECMO were compared between the two groups. Univariate and Logistic regression multivariate analyses were used to analyze the prognostic factors of patients with ECMO, predictive models and death warning scores were established. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of RDW and death warning scores for the prognosis of patients with ECMO.Results:A total of 71 patients with ECMO who met the inclusion criteria were included, including 38 patients in the death group and 33 patients in the survival group. The age, APACHE-Ⅱscore, 72 h RDW and 72 h APTT in the death group were higher than those in the survival group. Respectively, the hospitalization time of ICU in the death group was significantly lower than that in the survival group ( P< 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that APACHE-Ⅱscore ( OR=1.117, P=0.047)、72 h RDW( OR=1.102, P=0.029) and 72 h APTT ( OR=1.049, P=0.029) were independent risk factors for death in patients with ECMO. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of the APACHE-Ⅱ, score 、72 h RDW and 72 h APTT were 0.691, 0.691 and 0.632( P<0.05), Respectively, the combined AUC was 0.764, the sensitivity was 0.526, and the specificity was 0.909. The death warning score of patients with ECMO was established according to the Predictive model , which is less than 2 points with low risk of death and more than 2 points with high risk of death. The area under the ROC curve of death warning score is 0.8, the sensitivity is 0.607 and the specificity is 0.923. Conclusions:The RDW at 72 hours after treatment with ECMO has a good value in predicting the prognosis of patients with ECMO. Besides, a greater predictive value for the prognosis of patients with ECMO by combining 72 hours RDW, 72 hours APTT with APACHE-Ⅱscore than that of any separate indicator.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and influencing factors on clinical outcome of patients receiving extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).Methods:A total of 78 patients receiving ECPR admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital) from March 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into the survival group and death group according to clinical outcome. Their baseline data, CPR associated parameters, and pre-ECPR laboratory tests were compared between the two groups.Results:Of the 78 included patients, 51 patients were male and 27 female. Twenty-three patients finally survived, including 10 males and 13 females. There were no significant differences in age, body mass index and underlying diseases (hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease) between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The proportion of male patients in the survival group was lower than that in the death group ( P=0.017). Meanwhile Survival After Veno-Arterial ECMO (SAVE) score was significantly higher in the survival group than that in the death group[ (-1.57±4.15) vs. (-9.36±5.36), P<0.001]. The proportion of by-stander CPR in the survival group was higher than that in the death group ( P=0.014). The pre-ECPR serum AST, ALT, and Cr levels in the survival group were significantly lower than those in the death group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that by-stander CPR ( OR=0.114, 95% CI: 0.015~0.867, P=0.036) and SAVE score ( OR=0.625, 95% CI: 0.479~0.815, P=0.001) were independent risk factors predicting ICU death in patients receiving ECPR. Conclusions:ECPR is an efficient tool to improve clinical outcomes of patients with cardiac arrest. By-stander CPR and SAVE score are independent risk factors predicting ICU death in patients receiving ECPR.

Objective:To explore the predictive factors of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients.Methods:The clinical data of 68 ECMO patients treated at Emergence Department of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) was used to assess the usage of vasoactive-inotropic drugs on day 1, 2 and 3 of ECMO (24 h VIS, 48 h VIS, and 72 h VIS). According to received RRT or not, patients were divided into the RRT group and non-RRT group. Age, gender, weight, VIS, presence of cardiac arrest before ECMO, ECMO mode, and ECMO treatment time were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for RRT in ECMO patients.Results:Of the enrolled patients, 73.5% of ECMO patients received RRT. The mean age, 24 h VIS, ECMO failure and mortality of the RRT group were significantly higher than those of the non-RRT group ( P <0.05). The use of RRT was 87.8% in elderly ECMO patients (> cutoff age of 38.5 years). According to the cutoff value of 24 h VIS (33.75), ECMO patients were divided into the high VIS group and low VIS group. The rates of RRT and mortality were both exceeded 90% in the high VIS group, which was significantly higher than that of the low VIS group ( P <0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.223) and 24 h VIS ( OR=1.033) were predictive factors of RRT in ECMO patients ( P <0.05). Conclusions:Age and 24 h VIS show the predictive value for RRT in ECMO patients.

Objective:To analyze the effect of troponin T decrease rate on the prognosis of patients with acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Methods:AFM patients treated with ECMO from April 2015 to December 2018 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. According to the hospital survival, patients were divided into the survival group and non-survival group. The decrease rate of troponin T within 24, 48 and 72 h were compared in the two groups.Results:A total of 18 patients with a mean age of 31 years were enrolled. Fifteen patients survived and 3 patients died with an in-hospital survival rate of 83.3%. The decrease rate of troponin T within 24 h was higher in the survival group than that in the non-survival group (49.36% vs.-59.57%, P<0.05), while there were no statistical differences in 48 h and 72 h between the two groups (57.17% vs.-35.67%, 65.53% vs. 58.96%; all P>0.05). Conclusions:ECMO is an effective treatment for cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest caused by AFM. The decrease rate of troponin T within 24 h supported by ECMO is higher in the survival group.

Objective:To identify the impact of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) on neurological outcome and survival in adults with cardiac arrest (CA).Methods:Totally 31 adult patients with ECPR were enrolled from March 2015 to June 2019 in Emergency Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nangjing Medical University (Jiangsu People Hospital). Patients were divided to the survival group ( n=12) and death group ( n=19). Duration of conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and other mechanical support were compared between groups. Cerebral performance category (CPC) and hospital survival were also evaluated according to the duration of CCPR before ECPR. Results:The duration of CCPR before ECPR was significantly shorter in the survival group than that in the death group ( P=0.002). Duration of ECMO had no significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.478). The location of CA occurrence had no impact on the hospital survival rate ( P=0.716). ECPR in combination with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) also had no impact on the hospital survival rate ( P=0.174), and patients received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) had higher hospital survival than patients without CRRT ( P = 0.032). Patients with CCPR duration ≤ 60 min had higher rates of ROSC and hospital survival ( P <0.001). CPC evaluation showed no difference between the two groups. Conclusions:ECMO can provide effective life support to CA patients, and improve their survival rates. It is recommended to initiation of ECMO implantation within 60 min after CCPR.

Objective To deveplope construct and validate a novel multiplex PCR system comprised of 30 Y-STR markers only with low and moderate mutation rates. Methods 30 Y-STRs characterized by low/moderate mutation rate and middle/high polymorphic was amplified simultaneously in a multiplex PCR system using the six color labeling fluorescence. PCR product was analyzed in a ABI 3500XL Genetic Analyzer. The accuracy, specifity, sensitivity and stability of the system and its validation on the mixtures were evaluated. Results The validation studies demonstrated that the system is a stable, accurate, and sensitive multiplex PCR system. The sensitivity was 0.0625ng DNA. Y-STR could be detection in a male/female DNA mixture ratio of 1:4. Conclusion The primary study demonstrates that this multiplex PCR system is effective and reliable for forensic routine DNA analysis. It will be very helpful for constructing Chinese forensic Y-STR database and population genetic research.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate mutations of 41 STR loci. Methods 4546 bloodstain samples were typed from 1932 father–mother–child trios by using AGCU_21+1, AGCU_EX22 and GlobalFiler_ExpressTM amplification Kit. Calculate the mutation rates of STR loci. Results 154 mutations were identified at 32 of the 41 loci. The average mutation rate was 1.0×10-3per locus(95%CI: 0.8~1.1×10-3), and the mutations of SE33 was highest. 152(98.7%) mutation events were one-step mutation, 2(1.3%) events were two-steps. The mutation events occurred in 150 father–mother–child triplets. The mutations in 146(97.3%) triplets occurred at single locus, 8 mutations were observed at two loci in 4(2.7%) triplets simultaneously. 104 paternal and 22 maternal mutations could be determined under 79212 paternal and maternal allelictransfers. The ratio of paternal versus maternal mutations was 4.7:1, and 28 unassigned mutations were observed. Conclusion STR mutation are common in paternity testing, and we should pay more attention to it.