Objective To investigate the influence on right-to-left shunt (RLS) of patent foramen ovale with contrast transcranial Dopple (cTCD) in different positions.Methods 276 consecutive patients included ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD),migraine,episodic vertigo and syncope.They underwent cTCD at rest and after Valsalva maneuver in 4 positions:upright sitting,supine,left lateral decubitus and right lateral decubitus,in random order.RLS was graded 0 (no microbubbles detected),1 (1-10microbubbles),2 (＞ 10 microbubbles but no curtain),and 3 (curtain,shower of microbubbles).Meanwhile,each patients was examined by contrast transthoracic echocardiography(cTTE),contrast transesophageal echocardiography (cTEE) or right heart catheterization.Results RLS detection rate was 48.2％ (133/276)through cTCD.They were also confirmed patent foramen ovale by 82 cases in cTTE,28 cases in cTEE,and 23 patients in right heart catheterization.At rest,RLS detection rate and microbubbles of 4 positions had no significant difference (P ＞0.05).After the Valsalva maneuver,RLS detection rate and microbubbles of each position were significantly higher than at rest (P ＜0.001),and the RLS detection rate and microbubbles in upright sitting were higher than that at rest(P ＜0.05).Conclusions RLS is best detected in the upright sitting position with Valsalva maneuver with cTCD.Upright sitting detection helps to improve the detection rate and microbubbles of RLS.

Objective:To observe the effect of ketogenic diet on the growth of human colon cancer cells in nude mice and to de-termine its possible mechanisms. Methods:A total of 24 male BALB/C nude mice were injected subcutaneously with the tumor cells of the colon cancer cell line HCT116. These animals were randomized into two feeding groups. One group was fed with a ketogenic diet (KD group;n=12), and the other group was given a standard diet (SD group;n=12) ad libitum. Experiments were completed upon at-taining a target tumor volume of 600 mm3 to 700 mm3. The two diets were compared based on body weight, serum glucose, ketone body, insulin, tumor growth, and survival time, which is the interval between tumor cell injection and attainment of target tumor vol-ume. Results:The tumor growth was significantly more delayed in the KD group than in the SD group. Tumors in the KD and SD groups reached the target tumor volume at 33.8 ± 6.7 days and 24.8 ± 3.1 days, respectively. The ketone body in the KD group was ele-vated with a slight reduction in serum insulin, and the difference in serum glucose in the two groups was insignificant. Importantly, the KD group had significantly larger necrotic areas and less vessel density than the SD group. Conclusion:The application of an unre-stricted ketogenic diet delayed tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Further studies are needed to address the mechanism of this diet intervention and its effect on other tumor-relevant functions, such as invasive growth and metastasis.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine on sedation in post-cardiac surgery patients with NIV intolerance.The changes of respiratory function and hemodynamics of the patients as well as non-invasive ventilation (NIV) failure rate were also under evaluation.Methods Thirty-five post-cardiac surgery patients with NIV intolerance and hypoxemia were enrolled in this prospective study.All patients were sedated with dexmedetomidine.NIV was standardized according to the uniform protocol.The main outcome was NIV success (avoiding endotracheal intubation) or NIV failure (requiring endotracheal intubation or die).The cardiorespiratory parameters (BP,HtR and RR) and artery blood gas analysis were prospectively recorded before and after sedation.The respiratory function and hemodynamics changes in both groups (NIV success group and NIV failure group) were then evaluated.Factors independently associated with NIV failure were identified using a logistic regression model.Results Twenty out of 35 patients (57.14％) survived while 15 (42.86％) patients failed NIV.After 1 h and 4 h of NIV with dexmedetomidine sedation,respiratory rate in both groups were decreased compared with baseline,especially in NIV success group.The PaO2/FiO2 was also improved after 1h and 4h of NIV treatment compared with baseline.The improvement was more significantly in NIV success group.The heart rate was decreased compared with baseline with no differences between two groups.There were no significant changes on PaCO2 and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the treatment.The respiratory and hemodynamics variables identified as predictors of NIV failure were included in a multivariate logistic regression.RR ＞ 23 time/min (OR =3.2,95％ CI:2.043 ～ 4.301,P ＜ 0.01) 1 h after NIV,RR ＞ 20 time/min (OR =2.1,95％ CI:1.659～3.231,P=0.025) 4 h after NIV,PaO2/FiO2 ＜178 mmHg (OR=2.4,95％CI:1.892 ～ 3.287,P ＜0.01) 1 h after NIV and PaO2/FiO2 ＜ 185 mmHg (OR =1.7,95％ CI:1.243 ～ 2.365,P =0.041) 4 h after NIV independendy predicted NIV failure.Conclusions Dexmedetomidine might be considered as an effective and safe sedative for post-cardiac surgery patients with NIV intolerance.Early identification of predictors of NIV failure may facilitate early intervention.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the feasibility of terminal intestinal exteriorization (exteriorization without ileostomy) in laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 77 patients undergoing laparoscopic anterior resection for low rectal cancer in our department from January 2011 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. After laparoscopic rectal resection, 32 patients received terminal intestinal exteriorization (exteriorization group) and 45 patients received preventive ileostomy (ileostomy group). Anastomosis-related, stoma-related and intestinal stoma closure-related morbidity was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in operative time, blood loss and overall hospital stay between the two groups (all P>0.05). The total hospital cost was (5.39±1.74)×10(4) yuan in the exteriorization group, and (6.98±1.37)×10(4) yuan in the ileostomy group(P<0.01). The incidences of postoperative anastomotic fistula was not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05). Three patients(9.4%) developed anastomotic leak in the exteriorization group and 2(4.4%) in the ileostomy group. The anastomotic leak was managed by opening the external intestinal wall and maturating an ileostomy under local anaesthesia. All these 5 patients were cured with nutritional support, antibiotics, continuous local drainage. In the exteriorization group, 5 patients had complications related to stoma and intestinal stoma closure operation(15.6%), which was lower than(42.2%) in the ileostomy group(P=0.013).

CONCLUSIONTerminal intestinal exteriorization in laparoscopic anterior resection is a safe and feasible surgical procedure with little trauma and less hospital cost, which can be an alternative as a prophylactic treatment for patients with high risk of anastomotic leak.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Anastomotic Leak ; Drainage ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Stomas

Objective To study the incidence,possible risk factors,and influence on patient outcomes of diaphragmatic dysfunction in patients after surgical treatment of type A aortic dissection using ultrasound.Methods Patients who received replacement of hemiarch or total arch with concomitant procedures concerning aortic pathology,and an elephant trunk procedure for the descending aorta were prospectively enrolled in this study from February to May 2017.After surgery,they were transferred to the cardiac surgical intensive care unit.They were divided into two groups based on diaphragmatic excursion:diaphragmatic dysfunction (DD) group and diaphragmatic function normal (DN) grouBilateral diaphragmatic excursions were evaluated using ultrasound during spontaneous breathing trial by T-tube.The differences in demographic characteristics,operation-related variables and outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 42 patients were enrolled in this study,and 32 of them suffered from diaphragmatic dysfunctions.Compared with DN group,the excursion of the influenced diaphragm in DD group was significantly reduced[(0.450 ± 0.331)cm vs.(1.801 ± 0.616)cm,P＜0.01],while the excursion of the non-influenced diaphragm was not reduced[(2.013±0.655)cm vs.(1.801 ±0.616) cm,P=0.254].Diaphragmatic thickness was comparable [(0.184±0.028)cm vs.(0.189±0.028)cm,P=0.559 ] between the two groups while thickening fraction was significantly reduced in DD group[(4.67％±3.63)％ vs.(23.58％±10.69)％,P＜0.01].Meanwhile,respiratory rate was significantly higher in DD group as compared to DN group [(24.13 ± 4.98)times/min vs.(20.50 ± 3.17)times/min,P=0.037].Patients in DD group showed longer cross-clamp duration[(121.78±27.75)min vs.(93.10±18.84)min,P=0.004] and longer cardiopulmonary bypass duration [(208.09±32.78)min vs.(182.70±24.38)min,P=0.03] than patients in DN grouFurthermore,binary logistic analysis indicated that longer cross-clamp duration was the potential risk factor for diaphragmatic dysfunction after type A aortic dissection surgery.Mechanical ventilation duration was longer in DD group than in DN group (88 h vs.37 h,P=0.194) but without statistical significance.The usage of noninvasive ventilation was significantly increased in DD group as compared to DN group (46.88％ vs.10％,P=0.036).Other outcomes such as post-operative complications,mortality,ICU length of stay were comparable between the two groups.Conclusions Diaphragmatic dysfunction was very common after surgical treatment of type A aortic dissection.Longer duration of cross-clamp was considered as a potential risk factor of diaphragmatic dysfunction.A sequential management of noninvasive ventilation after extubation was feasible for diaphragmatic dysfunction after surgical treatment of type A aortic dissection.

Hepatic fibrosis is a common pathological stage of many chronic liver diseases. Activation of hepatic stellate cells is considered as a key event in the progression of hepatic fibrosis. The pathogenesis of liver fibrosis is modulated by various cytokines involved in several signal pathways, including NF-κB, TGF-β/Smad, Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog etc. With the rapid development of modern pharmacology and biotechnology, the underlying molecular mechanism of anti-liver fibrosis of active components from traditional Chinese medicine has been further elucidated. This article summarizes scientific outcomes of signal pathways involved in liver fibrosis and how active components of Chinese herbal medicines exhibit anti-liver fibrosis effects, aiming to provide a potential drug candidate as a treatment for liver fibrosis and to open up a new research field of therapeutics for liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To sum up experience in unibody bifurcation stent graft in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm with aortic bifurcation stenosis. METHODS: Clinical data of 19 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortic bifurcation stenosis received endovascular treatment using unibody bifurcation stent graft in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital during March 2009 and March 2018 were collected. The clinical characteristics, surgery procedure and follow-up results were reviewed. RESULTS: Stent graft was successful in all patients, and the average operation time was (70.0±2.3) min. Leakage was found in 3 patients, in which 2 patients with type Ⅰ leakage and 1 patient with type Ⅱ leakage. All leakage disappeared 15 days after surgery. The 19 cases were followed-up for 9-48 months with the median follow-up time of 27 months, and no displacement, leakage and lower limb ischemia was observed. CONCLUSIONS Unibody bifurcation stent graft is of satisfactory long-term effect for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortic bifurcation stenosis, and can avoid displacement of stent graft after operation.
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; surgery ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

As a chronic liver inflammation disease caused by the lack of immune tolerance, autoimmune hepatitis is regulated by various signaling pathways, such as the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, the Hippo-YAP/TAZ pathway, the JAK/STAT pathway, the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the TRAF6/JNK pathway. These pathways can play a role against autoimmune hepatitis by participating in the processes including the proliferation and apoptosis of cytokines, immune response, and oxidative stress. In view of the problems of suboptimal response, obvious adverse reactions, and high recurrence rate in the clinical application of hormones and immune preparations for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis, this article summarizes the research articles on autoimmune hepatitis-related signaling pathways and the mechanism of effective constituents (glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, quinones, and phenols) in traditional Chinese medicine intervening against the disease process of autoimmune hepatitis through the above signaling pathways, in order to provide a theoretical basis for scientific and effective utilization of effective constituents in traditional Chinese medicine to develop anti-autoimmune hepatitis drugs.

Chest trauma is one of the most common injuries. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) as a common complication of chest trauma seriously affects the quality of patients′ life and even leads to death. Although there are some consensus and guidelines on the prevention and treatment of VTE at home and abroad, the current literatures lack specificity considering the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of VTE in patients with chest trauma have their own characteristics, especially for those with blunt trauma. Accordingly, China Chest Injury Research Society and editorial board of Chinese Journal of Traumatology organized relevant domestic experts to jointly formulate the Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of chest trauma venous thromboembolism associated with chest trauma (2022 version). This consensus provides expert recommendations of different levels as academic guidance in terms of the characteristics, clinical manifestations, risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of chest trauma-related VTE, so as to offer a reference for clinical application.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of manual reduction with inverse shift for pronation-extorsion trimalleolar fracture by applying the finite element method combined with clinical experience. Methods Based on CT images and anatomical features of bone, ligaments and other tissues as well as material parameters, a normal ankle model with completed muscles and bones for a Chinese young male was established. According to the related characteristics of the pronation-extorsion trimalleolar fractures, fracture was simulated in the proper position to make osteotomy model. The finite element model of pronation-extorsion trimalleolar fractures was thus established and then applied with mechanical loading to simulate manual reduction with inverse shift. Results The established finite element model of pronation-extorsion trimalleolar fractures was effectively restored by the displacement loading. Conclusions The finite element analysis on pronation-extorsion trimalleolar fractures by inverse shift maneuver could further prove the feasibility, effectiveness and scientificity of manual reduction with inverse shift based on clinical experience.