Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of a new homemade device for percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs) Methods Percutaneous closure of surgically created fossa ovalis ASD was attempted in 8 piglets The device was braided from Nitinol wires in the shape of two flat discs with a short connecting waist with a diameter corresponding to that of the defect to be closed Polyethylene filling was implanted to enhance thrombogenicity Pulmonary arteriography with levo phase was obtained before closure and immediately after closure Transthoracic echocardiography with color Doppler was used in all animals during closure and in follow up examinations The animals were killed at various intervals up to 6 months after occlusion for microscopic examination Results Successful placement of the device was achieved in all the 8 animals All ASDs were completely occluded in 1 month, observed by transthoracic echocardiography Postmortem gross and microscopic examination of the 8 specimens 1 to 6 months after placement showed complete or near complete fibrous neoendocardium coverage of both the right and left atrial discs Conclusion These observations show the feasibility of occlusion of secundum ASDs by the homemade device with the advantages of easy placement and repositionability in piglets

Objective To compare the impacts of right ventricular outflow tract pacing and right ventricular apical pacing on short-term cardiac function, QRS duration and pacing parameters in children undergoing VVI pacemaker therapy. Methods The clinical data of 38 children undergoing VVI pacemaker treatment in our department from July 2006 to November 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed to make grouping: 22 with right ventricular outflow tract pacing based on the operational records were assigned in one group and 16 with right ventricular apical pacing as the other group. The two groups were compared in terms of cardiac function indexes , QRS complex width and intra- and post- operative parameters of the implanted pacemakers. Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in pre-and post-operative cardiac function indexes , intra- and post-operative difference in pacing thresholds, pacing wire impedance and R-wave amplitude. The pre-and post-operative QRS duration [(134.95 ± 12.86)ms vs.(147.44 ± 22.35)ms, t=1.35, P=0.01] was statistically significant between the groups. Conclusion The right ventricular outflow tract pacing for children patients is safe and feasible. Although the two pacing approaches achieved lengthened duration of QRS, the right ventricular outflow tract pacing is more effective in lengthening the duration of QRS.

Objectives To summarize the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathy caused by inborn errors of metabo-lism (IEM). Methods The retrospective study included 11 cases diagnosed as metabolic cardiomyopathy through tandem mass spectrometry, activity of serum enzyme, detection of urine mucopolysaccharide and gene analysis from 2012 to 2013. Six cases were diagnosed as primary carnitine deficiency (PCD). Four cases were diagnosed as glycogen storage disease (GSD) and only 1 case was diagnosed as mucopolysaccharidosis. Six PCD cases received carnitine supplementation and anti-heart failure thera-py and received follow-up for 2-10 months. Other 5 cases received supportive treatment and follow-up. Results Patients with PCD recovered soon after treatment but other 5 cases have died within 5 months. Conclusion IEM is an important cause of chil-dren cardiomyopathy which varied in clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of different kinds of metabolic cardiomyopathy. Early diagnosis and treatment could be lifesaving for cardiomyopathy caused by IEM.

Objective To monitor the degradation and bio-safety features of the bioabsorbable iron-based stent planted in the pig pulmonary artery.Methods A total of 19 miniature pigs were randomly assigned into 3 groups.Three cases were assigned as the control group; ten cases were assigned as stent implantation group A with one stent implanted in the pig pulmonary artery; the other six cases were assigned as stent implantation group B with two stents implanted in the pig pulmonary artery.Follow-up studies for 24 months were conducted in all cases.Repeated measures ANOVA were used to collect and analyze statistical processing data at multiple time points of the follow-up.Results After surgery,pulmonary artery blood flow velocity and right ventricular pressure were measured by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization.There was no significant difference in pulmonary artery blood flow velocity (Fgroup×time =1.06,P =0.40) and right ventricular pressure (Fgroup ×time =0.58,P =0.86) among each group,and no vascular renarrow circumstance was indicated.Pulmonary artery diameter expansion rate between stent group and control group was statistically different (Fgroup =3.57,P =0.05 ; Ftime =12.89,P ＜ 0.001 ; Fgroup ×time =2.99,P =0.03),suggesting that the stent could maintain a good expansion of the role of vascular in the follow-up period even though in degradation.Difference in the level of serum iron concentrations among the groups was not statistically significant (Fgroup ×time =0.94,P =0.52),suggesting that there was no evidence of iron overload.All animals survived to the follow-up endpoint,and no serious side effects caused by stent implantation were found.Conclusions Bioabsorbable iron-based stent planted in the pig pulmonary artery may experience a certain degree of degradation,and it is safe and stabile in animals.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the characteristics of the intestinal microbial flora in the pregnant women with congenital heart disease fetus ( PW group) and normal pregnant women ( NW group) .METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 15 NW and 17 PW cases.The bacterial genomic DNA was extracted.The 16S rDNA was amplified by PCR, and the second generation of Illumina sequencing was conducted.RESULTS: We obtained 2 696 276 ( NW group) and 2 445 530 ( PW group) optimized sequences.The coverage was greater than 97%.We obtained 77 243 operational taxono-mic units ( OTUs) in NW group and 75 600 OTUs in PW group after a 97%similarity merge.In NW group, the Chao 1 in-dex and the Shannon index were greater than those in PW group.The diversity analysis of microbial population indicated that they were mainly composed of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria.In family, the Bifidobacteriaceae and Cori-obacteriaceae were significantly different through analysis of variance.CONCLUSION: The Bifidobacteriaceae and Cori-obacteriaceae may play an important role in the occurrence of congenital heart disease.

Objective: To evaluate the association between atmospheric inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀) concentration and cardiovascular diseases burden in Tianjin. Methods: The data on daily mean concentrations of main pollutants (PM₁₀, nitrogen dioxide(NO₂) and sulfur dioxide(SO₂)), meteorological factors (temperature and relative humidity) and population death monitoring data in Tianjin, from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2010, were collected and analyzed in this study. The death counts and years of life lost were simultaneously used as the indicators of disease burden. The generalized additive model was used to assess the associations between PM₁₀ and daily death counts and years of life lost due to cardiovascular system diseases in Tianjin by adjusting the confounding factors such as long-term trend, seasons, meteorological factors and other factors related to the long-term variability. Results: The daily average concentration of PM₁₀ was 117.6 μg/m³ in Tianjin during 2001 to 2011. The daily average number of deaths of cardiovascular system diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and ischemic heart diseases in Tianjin were 38.4, 14.8 and 17.2 people respectively, and the daily average years of life lost were 776.8, 306.5 and 326.1 person years respectively. The effects of PM₁₀ on the daily death counts of the three diseases categories were statistically significant (all P<0.01) in Tianjin and the maximum effect occurs at the moment when PM₁0 was at moving average concentration of today and lagged 1-day (Lag01). The effects of decreasing order were ischemic heart diseases, cardiovascular system diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, excess risks were 0.53% (95% CI 0.35%-0.71%), 0.40% (95%CI 0.28%-0.53%) and 0.38% (95%CI 0.19%-0.56%). The effects of atmospheric PM₁₀ on the years of life lost of the three diseases were also statistically significant on the different lag days (all P<0.01) in Tianjin and the maximum effect of PM₁₀ appeared in Lag01. The effects from the largest to the lowest were 2.86 (95%CI 1.79-3.93) person years for cardiovascular system diseases, 1.59 (95%CI 0.95-2.23) person years for ischemic heart diseases and 1.07 (95%CI 0.43-1.71) person years for cerebrovascular diseases, respectively. In multi-pollutant models, after controlling SO₂, the effect of PM₁₀ on the daily life loss of above 3 kinds of diseases was higher than that of single pollutant model. In contrast, after controlling SO₂ or SO₂ with NO₂, the effect was lower. After controlling NO₂, the effect of PM₁₀ on the daily life loss of cerebrovascular disease was no longer statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions Exposure to atmospheric PM₁₀ can significantly increase the cardiovascular diseases burden in Tianjin, especially for ischemic heart diseases. These results suggested that particular attention should be paid to reduce the exposure to atmospheric inhalable particulate matter for patients with ischemic heart diseases.

Objective To observe the effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation quadruple therapy on serum thromboxane A2 (TXA2), prostacyclin (PGI2) and platelet activating factor (PAF) levels in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods Ninety patients with AP admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of TCM from January 2016 to March 2017, and they were divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random numbers generated by computer inpatients, 45 cases in each group. The control group was given routine treatment of western medicine, and the observation group was given TCM syndrome differentiation quadruple therapy according to the patient's disease individual situation and on the basis of western medicine treatment. The TCM syndrome differentiation quadruple therapy included the following methods: intragastric administration of TCM decoction [gastrointestinal excess heat syndrome (rhubarb, sodium sulfate, aurantii fructus immaturus, magnolia bark, etc.), damp heat syndrome of liver and gallbladder (radix bupleuri, aurantii fructus immaturus, baical skullcap root, rhubarb, etc.), each group of above agents immersed in water and decocted to make juice 400 mL, once 100 mL taken orally, every 4 hours]; retention enema with TCM decoction [rhubarb, magnolia bark, aurantii fructus immaturus, sodium sulfate (dissolved) etc, each dose of agents forming decoction 400 mL, 200 mL taken for proctoclysis, once every 6 hours]; Chinese medicine package (boswellin, myrrha, dandelion, coptidis rhizoma and so on crushed and mixed with honey, then applied to the body surface of the pancreas and its periphery, 1 dose each time for 4 hours, once a day ); intravenous drip of blood-activating and stasis-resolving TCM (Dengzhanhuasu injection 100 mg added to 5% glucose solution 250 mL for intravenous drip). The times of disappearance of abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and the recovery times of bowel sound, blood amylase, lipase, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC) levels to normal were compared between the two groups; the modified CT severity index (MCTSI) score and the changes of serum TXA2, PAF and PGI2 levels were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Results The abdominal pain and abdominal distension disappearance times in observation group were shorter than those in control group [abdominal pain (days): 5.07±1.88 vs. 6.02±1.89, abdominal distension (days): 3.50±1.49 vs. 4.40±1.53, both P < 0.05]; the recovery times of bowel sounds, WBC, CRP, amylase and lipase to normal were shorter than those of the control group [bowel sounds (days): 4.05±1.79 vs. 5.00±1.55, WBC (days): 3.93±1.49 vs. 5.98±2.90, CRP (days): 6.17±2.46 vs. 7.92±2.84, blood amylase (days): 3.5 (3.0, 5.0) vs. 5.0 (3.0, 5.5), lipase (days): 5.0 (3.0, 7.0) vs. 6.5 (5.0, 9.0), all P <0.05]; the scores of MCTSI in the two groups were lower than those before treatment and the degree of decrease in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group [2 (0, 4) vs. 4 (0, 6), P < 0.05]. The TXA2 and PAF levels of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment and the level of PGI2 was significantly higher than that before treatment; after treatment for 3 days, the differences between the two groups showed statistical significance and on the 7th day after treatment, the degrees of improvement in observation group were more obvious than those of the control group [TXA2 (ng/L): 276.81±31.48 vs. 345.42±47.27, PAF (ng/L): 72.65±17.61 vs. 89.77±15.59, PGI2 (ng/L): 104.43±18.67 vs. 94.37±17.91, all P < 0.05]; on the 14th day after treatment, the values of the two groups were very close and there were no statistically significant differences (all P >0.05). Conclusions The TCM differentiation syndrome quadruple therapy for treatment of AP is beneficial to the disappearance of clinical symptoms of patients with different syndromes, recovery of abnormal signs and improvement of laboratory indexes, and its early use can significantly reduce the serum levels of TXA2, PAF and increase the level of PGI2 in patients with AP.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and experience in right ventricular pacing-percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (RVP-PBAV) for congenital aortic stenosis (AS).

METHODA total of sixteen children with AS accepted the treatment with RRVP-PBAV. The patients were at ages 6 months to 15 years, their median age was 5.4 years. Their body weight was between 8.5 and 59.0 kg, average (22.3 ± 16.5) kg. The gradient pressure across the aortic valve was measured for all the patients and aortic regurgitation was observed. The follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 5.5 years.

RESULTAll patients underwent RVP-PBAV successfully. The ratios of balloon/valve were 0.86 to 1.12. The gradient pressure varied from preoperative Δp = (96 ± 32) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) to the immediate postoperative ΔP = (41 ± 26) mmHg, (P < 0.05). One case had postoperative restenosis, and 3 cases were complicated with bicuspid aortic valve deformity.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment with RVP-PBAV for congenital aortic stenosis is safe and reliable. Rapid ventricular pacing is a safe procedure to stabilize the balloon during balloon aortic valvuloplasty and may decrease the incidence of aortic insufficiency.

Adolescent ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve ; abnormalities ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; therapy ; Balloon Valvuloplasty ; methods ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infant ; Postoperative Period ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Malformations

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutation and background of SLC22A5 in 6 patients with primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) who only presented as cardiomyopathy.

METHODGenomic DNA were abstracted from the blood of the patients and their parents. Using high-throughput sequencing to determine the mutation site.Using Sanger method to confirm the mutated alleles in PCD patients and detect the corresponding sequences in their patients. Using SIFT and PolyPhen to predict the function of protein for detected missense mutations.

RESULTThree different mutations were identified, including 2 nonsense mutations (R254X and R289X), 1 missense mutation (C113Y), R254X was the most frequently seen mutation. Four patients had compound heterozygous mutations and 2 patients had homozygous mutations. Their parents were found to have heterozygous mutations in corresponding alleles.

CONCLUSIONR254X, R289X and C113Y might be associated with primary carnitine deficiency.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Cardiomyopathies ; genetics ; Carnitine ; deficiency ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; genetics ; Infant ; Male ; Muscular Diseases ; genetics ; Mutation ; Organic Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Solute Carrier Family 22 Member 5