Objective To assess the correlation of promoter methylation of DAPK1,RAR-β and MGMT with cervical lesions from cytology to histology,and to reveal the clinical value of DNA methylation in diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).Methods A total of 103 random-selected cervical samples were collected from residual liquid-based cytology specimens after clinical use in cytopathological diagnosis in outpatient clinic of obstetrics and gynecology,Peking Union Medical Collage Hospital from March 2010 to October 2010.Informed consent was obtained from each woman before the initiation of the study.The methylation seusitive-high resolution melt (MS-HRM) assay was used to evaluate promoter methylation of three genes ( DAPKI,RAR-β and MGMT) in 103 biopsy-confirmed liquid-based cervical cytology samples.Methylation levels and high-risk HPV DNA loading ( HC Ⅱ values) were analyzed in relation to both cytological and histological diagnosis.Results The methylation level of all three genes showed significant difference among the different cytological groups ( P =0.000,0.011 and 0.002,respectively).The methylation level of DAPK1 and RAR-β showed significant difference among the different histological groups ( P =0.000 and 0.021 ),while there was no significant difference for MGMT.DAPK1 methylation levels was 1.47％ in the CIN Ⅱ/high-grade precancerous lesions group,and 20.98％ in the normal/CIN I groups ( P =0.000 ),but there was no significant difference between CIN I/high-grade precancerous lesions and normal/CIN Ⅰ groups for RAR-β and MGMT.The combination of DAPK1/HR-HPV loading showed a sensitivity of 0.825 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.695 as diagnostic methods for detecting CIN Ⅱ/high-grade precancerous lesions.Conclusions DNA methylation such as DAPK1 and RAR-β,in combination with HR-HPV detection,may serve as biomarkers to detect CIN Ⅱ/high-grade precancerous lesions.Detection of methylated DNA from liquid-based cervical cytology specimens is technically feasible with the MS-HRM assay.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic bipolar radio-frequency ablation in the treatment of isolated paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.Methods From September 2010 to December 2016,Seventy-two consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic bipolar radio-frequency ablation at Fuwai Hospital.There were 50 males and 22 females with an average age of(56.5 ± 10.5) years and duration of atrial fibrillation with (6.5 ± 4.8) years.45 patients had previous catheter ablation.The patients were followed up at postoperative 3 months,6 months,1 year and annually.Success of ablation was defined as sinus rhythm and no duration of ≥30 s for rapid atrial arrhythmias,including atrial fibrillation,atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia in 24 h Holter examination.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence.Results One patient converted to sternotomy due to bleeding on operation.All patients were successfully discharged.69 patients completed follow-up,with an average follow-up of(28 ± 18)months(3-60 months).The overall success rate was 73.9％,and the success rate without antiarrhythmic drug was 62.3％.Subgroup analysis showed that the success rate was 80％ when left atrial anterior and posterior diameter(LAD) ≤40 mm,and 57.9％ when LAD ＞ 40 mm (P =0.035).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LAD ＞40 mm was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence of atrial fibrillation.Conclusion Video-assisted thoracoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation,especially in patients with LAD≤40 mm.

Objective    To summarize the clinical characteristics and the long-term results of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) in the chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients with unilateral main pulmonary artery occlusion. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 15 CTEPH patients with unilateral main pulmonary artery occlusion in Fuwai Hospital between 2004 and 2018. There were 11 males and 4 females aged 34.1±12.0 years at operation. Results    The mean circulatory arrest was 31.1±12.1 minutes. The ICU stay was 5 (2-29) d. The hospital stay was 15 (8-29) d. There was no hospital death. There was a decline in systolic pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP, 69.9±27.9 mm Hg to 35.1±9.7 mm Hg, P=0.020) after surgery. On postoperative V/Q scan, only 6 patients (40.0%) had significant improvement in reperfusion (≥75% estimated) of the occluded lung. There was no death during the median observation period of 49 months follow-up, while 2 patients had recurrence of pulmonary embolism. Conclusion    CTEPH patients with unilateral main pulmonary artery occlusion represent a challenging cohort. PTE is a curative resolution in both early- and long- term results, although there is a high requirement of perioperative management and a high risk of postoperative complications and rethrombosis.

Objective     To evaluate a score system to allow stratification of complexity in degenerative mitral valve repair. Methods     We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 312 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for mitral valve repair and whose preoperative echocardiography was referable in our hospital from January 2012 to December 2013. A scoring system for surgical complexity was used based mainly on the preoperative echocardiography findings. Complexity of mitral valve repair was scored as 1 to 9, and patients were categorized into 3 groups based on the score for surgical complexity: a simple group (1 point), an intermediate group (2-4 points) and a complex group (≥5 points). There were 86 males and 35 females in the simple group (n=121) with an average age of 51.6±12.6 years, 105 males and 53 females in the intermediate group (n=158) with an average age of 51.1±12.8 years and 25 males and 8 females in the complex group (n=33) with an average age of 49.3±13.0 years. Results     There was significant difference in surgical complexity in different groups. In the simple, intermediate and complex groups, the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 111.7±45.5 min, 117.7±40.4 min and 153.4±74.2 min (P<0.001), the mean cross-clamping time was 77.5±33.8 min, 83.2±29.9 min and 108.8±56.2 min (P<0.001), and the mean number of repair techniques utilized was 2.1±0.4, 2.4±0.6 and 2.8±0.8 (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the early and late outcomes in different groups. Conclusion     It is feasible to use echocardiography to quantitatively evaluate the difficulty of mitral valvuloplasty.

Objective     To evaluate the safety and efficacy of skeletonized and pedicled harvesting of bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods     From December 2015 to May 2017, 152 patients (128 males, 24 females, age of 56.5±6.8 years) underwent CABG using either skeletonized BIMA (s-BIMA group, n=73) or pedicled BIMA(p-BIMA group, n=79). The operative data and post-operative outcomes were analyzed in the s-BIMA group (61 males, 12 females, age of 56.6±7.0 years) and the p-BIMA group (67 males, 12 females, age of 56.3±6.7 years). Results     There was no peri-operative mortality. There was no statistical difference in operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time or internal mammary artery graft flow between the two groups. One patient(1.4%) in the s-BIMA group suffered from severe sternal wound complication, which was major sternal wound complication. Five patients (6.3%) in the p-BIMA group suffered from sternal wound complications, including 1(1.3%) with severe complication and 4(5.1%) with minor complication. One(1.4%) patient in the s-BIMA group and 7 (8.9%) patients in the p-BIMA group suffered from chylothorax. The chest tube drainage significantly reduced in the s-BIMA group, both in postoperative day 1(P=0.000) and postoperative day 1-3 (P=0.001). CT angiography showed no stenosis of BIMA in both groups. Conclusion     The use of skeletonized BIMA for CABG is safe and efficacious, with less sternal wound complications, chylothorax and chest tube drainage. Skeletonization should be   suggested if BIMA is harvested in CABG.

Objective To evaluate the influence of diabetes on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA). Methods From December 2015 to August 2017, 182 patients (153 males, 29 females, age of 56.5±6.8 years) underwent CABG using BIMA. The propensity score was used to create matched diabetes (n=66) and non-diabetes (n=66) cohorts. The operative data, post-operative outcomes and coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the diabetes group (53 males, 13 females, age of 57.8±7.2 years) and the non-diabetes group (56 males, 10 females, age of 56.3±6.0 years) were analyzed retrospectively. Results There was no peri-operative mortality. There was no difference in operative sternal wound complication (P=0.466), or graft patency (P=0.730 for internal mammary arteries and 0.684 for saphenous vein grafts) between the matched diabetes and the non-diabetes groups. However, patients with elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (n=54) had more sternal wound complications (P=0.006). The level of Hb1Ac of the patients with sternal wound complication was significantly higher than that of the patients without sternal wound complication. Conclusion BIMA grafting may be performed routinely even in diabetic patients, without increased complications. However, elevated HbA1c level should be avoided to reduce sternal wound complication.

Objective    To evaluate short-term clinical outcomes of skeletonized bilateral internal mammary artery (sBIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods    The clinical data of 62 patients (54 males and 8 females with an average age of 56.8±6.0 years) undergoing isolated CABG using sBIMA in our hospital from October 2016 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The coronary graft flow, perioperative clinical outcomes and CT results were reviewed. Results    All the operations were carried out under extracorporeal circulation. Anastomosis of 124 internal mammary arteries was performed and 116 great saphenous veins were used simultaneously with an average anastomosis site of 4.5±0.8 for each patient. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 116.4±22.9 min, aortic clamping time was 83.0±18.3 min, mechanical ventilation time was 20.8±21.3 h and ICU stay was 2.7±1.7 d. The graft flow of left internal mammary artery (LIMA), right internal mammary artery (RIMA) and great saphenous vein were 28.8±12.4 mL/min, 32.8±13.8 mL/min and 41.5±21.5 mL/min, respectively. There was no significant difference in the graft flow between LIMA and RIMA (P=0.112). There was no perioperative mortality, myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. Only one male patient suffered sternal complication and poor wound healing and then received debridement as well as suturing. Coronary CT angiography showed that distal anastomosis of 7 vein grafts and 5 artery grafts was demonstrated shallow and 1 vein graft was undemonstrated, suggesting occlusion. Conclusion    CABG with sBIMA is a safe and reliable technique with excellent early results.

Objective To verify whether hybrid surgical and interventional ablation(HA) for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is superior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical radiofrequency ablation (VATS-RA). Methods From September 2010 to December 2017, 79 consecutive patients with persistent AF underwent VATS-RA or HA in Fuwai Hospital. VATS-RA was performed in sixty patients (a stand-alone surgical group, 48 males and 12 females, at average age of 56.0±7.6 years, and HA was performed in nineteen patients (a hybrid group, 14 males and 5 females, at average age of 58.0±7.3 years). Follow-up was completed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and annually thereafter. Postoperative sinus rhythm was defined as sinus rhythm recorded in 24-hour or 7-day Holter during follow-up, without exhibited rapid atrial tachyarrhythmia≥30 s including AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia. Results Seventy-eight patients (98.7%) completed the follow-up. Although the preoperative left atrial diameter (49.1±5.3 mm) in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (41.7±6.2 mm, P<0.001). Overall sinus rhythm maintenance rate in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (94.7% versus 64.4%, P=0.011). And sinus rhythm maintenance rate free from anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) and catheter ablation in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (84.2% versus 50.8%, P=0.010). Conclusion HA is superior to VATS-RA in the treatment of persistent AF, but a larger sample size is needed for further validation in prospective randomized studies.