Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia infected by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Sm) after open heart surgery.Methods The infections of Sm were proved by sputum culture.The data of risk factors?clinical feature and drug susceptibility were collected.Results Pneumonia of Sm occurred in 8 patients.They were often in poor conditions,in need of continuous mechanical ventilation and other inventions, and in use of extend-spectrum antibiotics.The infections of Sm hadn't special clinical manifestations. The isolates of Sm resistant to many antibiotics were usually found with other microorganisms.Conclusion It is important to pay more attention to pneumonia of Sm and to complete microbiological examinations in time,because patients after cardiosurgery are in great risk of the infection.

Objective:To observe whether transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-?1) can improve the mechanical properties of tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV) prepared by TGF-?1 and myofibroblasts.Methods:Myofibroblasts were isolated,cultured,identified,and seeded onto the decellularized aortic valve leaflet.In the experimental group,TEHV were cultured with DMEM containing 10 ng/ml TGF-?1 for 14 days.In the control group,TEHV were cultured with DMEM only for 14 days.The contents of lysyl oxidase (LOX) and hydroxyproline,the expression of LOX and COLL-1 mRNA,and the mechanical properties of the TEHVs were analyzed in each group.Results:The contents of LOX and hydroxyproline,expression of LOX and COLL-1 mRNA,Max-load,and Max-stress were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the control group (all P

Objective To understand the status and pathogenic characteristics of healthcare-associated infection (HAI)in cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit (ICU)patients undergoing heart transplantation.Methods Pa-tients who underwent heart transplantation in a hospital between July 1 ,2013 and June 30,2014 were performed targeted monitoring.Results Of 66 patients undergoing heart transplantation,16 developed 18 times of HAI,inci-dence of HAI was 24.24%.Incidence of HAI and ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP)in patients undergoing heart transplantation were both higher than non-transplantation patients (24.24% vs 6.24%,χ2 =33.718;7.58%vs 1 .72%,χ2 =12.199,respectively,both P <0.001 ).The infection tyes were as follows:lower respiratory tract infection(n=7),VAP (n=6),bacteremia (n=3),superficial incision infection (n =1 ),as well as skin and soft tissue infection (n = 1 ). The isolated pathogens were fungus (n = 8 ),Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3 ), Staphylococcus aureus (n=2),Acinetobacter baumannii (n=2),Enterobacter cloacae (n=1 ),Acinetobacter hae-molyticus (n=1 ),and Citrobacter freundii (n =1 ).Conclusion Incidence of HAI is high in patients undergoing heart transplantation,the main infection type is lower respiratory tract infection,the major pathogen is fungus.

The cell adhesive properties of decellularized valve scaffolds were promoted by immobilization of valve scaffold with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-containing peptides. Porcine aortic valves were decellularized with trypsin/EDTA, and detergent Triton X-100. With the help of a coupling reagent Sulfo-LC-SPDP, the valve scaffolds were immobilized with glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-serine-proline-cysteine (GRGDSPC) peptide. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used for surface structure analysis. Myofibroblasts harvested from rats were seeded onto the valve scaffolds. Cell count by using microscopy and modified MTT assay were performed to assess cell adhesion. Based on the spectra of XPS, the conjugation of GRGDSPC peptide with decellularized valve scaffolds was confirmed. Both cell count and MTT assay showed that myofibroblasts were much easier to adhere to the modified valve scaffolds, which was also confirmed histologically. Our findings suggest that it is feasible to immobilize RGD-containing peptides onto decellularized valve scaffolds. And the technique can effectively promote cell adhesion, which is beneficial for in vitro tissue engineering of heart valves.

As a landmark masterpiece in the development of acupuncture-moxibustion history,Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) has been studied by numerous scholars. This article tried to find out the acupoints selection rules for heat diseases inA-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion by taking the heat diseases as the focus and using statistical methods, for promoting the application in clinic.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated that smooth muscle injury or ischemia/reperfusion injury result in tissue factor (TF) increasing. However, few reports concern the expression and mechanism of TF in venous bypass grafting.OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in TF protein expression in response to venous bypass grafting.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The animal observation experiment was performed at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from May 2006 to May 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.METHODS: Rats were underwent interposition bypass grafting of the common carotid artery via the ipsilateral external jugular vein. Namely, the proximal end of external jugular vein was ligated at the joints of external jugular vein and internal jugular vein, and the distal end of external jugular vein was ligated before branches. The proximal and distal ends of common carotid artery were occluded by artery clamp, and a 5 mm artery was removed. The proximal end of artery was anastomosed with distal end of artery, and the frontal wall was sutured with posterior wall. After that, the proximal end of external jugular vein was cut down and coincided with the distal end of common carotid artery.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expression of TF and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Meantime, TF activity in vessel protein extracts was determined with TF activity assay kit, and the thickness of intima, media were calculated by computer imaging analysis system. The contralateral external jugular veins were served as the control.RESULTS: The adventitia of all vessels showed abundant TF staining. In early vein grafts, TF staining was markedly increased in the intima and media. However, intimal and media TF staining was absent in the contralateral control jugular veins and late vein grafts. The number of PCNA positive cells was increased in the vein grafts at day 3 after grafting, obvious increased at day 7, and reached the peak at day 14. TF activity in whole-vessel protein extracts was similar in control veins and early and late vein grafts. The thickness of neointima of the vein graft increased significantly at days 7, 14, and 28, and the thickness of media increased significantly at days 14 and 28.CONCLUSION: The changes of TF expression at various time points may relate to hyperplasia of neointima.

Objective To establish and evaluate 3 kinds of minimally-invasive valve implantation model in vivo.Methods A novel tissue engineered heart valve(TEHV) manufactured by branched polyethylene glycol cross-linked acellular porcine valve and a minimally-invasive valve implantation system according to the design of Corevalve revalving system were adopted.After anesthesia,18 adult male goats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the ulrasound-directed orthotropic group (group A,n =6),angiography-directed orthotropic group (group B,n =6) and direct-released heterotopic group (group C,n =6),and all received minimally-invasive valve implantation orthotropically or heterotopically.4 weeks later,the valvular function was evaluated by CTA and/or echocardiography.Results All 3 kinds of caprine model were successfully constructed.The operation success rate of each group was A: 66.7％,B: 50.0％ and C: 100.0％,respectively(multiple x2 analysis,group A and B P ＞0.05; group A and C,group B and C,P ＜0.05).The operation-time of each group was A: (79 ± 18) min,B:(61 ±23) min,C: (45 ± 15) min(one-way ANOVA,P ＜0.05).The survival rate at4 weeks was A: 100％,B: 100％ and C: 83.3％ (multiple x2 analysis,P ＞ 0.05).Echocardiography and CTA proved the short-term function of implanted TEHV was satisfactory.Conclusion All 3 kinds of caprine valve implantation model can be established without cardiopulmonary bypass and blood transfusion.The devices and equipments required in group A is relatively simple,but the procedure cost longer time for it is hard to determine the right position by ultrasound.The application of angiography made the positioning much easier in group B while the procedure had to be performed in specific operation room with angiographic apparatus.Group C did rely on neither special equipments nor complex operation,but the valve leaflets cannot work normally,so this model was only suitable for testing in vivo characteristics such as biocompatiblities.

The purpose of this study was to fabricate decelluarized valve scaffold modified with polyethylene glycol nanoparticles loaded with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), by which to improve the extracellular matrix microenvironment for heart valve tissue engineering in vitro. Polyethylene glycol nanoparticles were obtained by an emulsion-crosslinking method, and their morphology was observed under a scanning electron microscope. Decelluarized valve scaffolds, prepared by using trypsinase and TritonX-100, were modified with nanoparticles by carbodiimide, and then TGF-β1 was loaded into them by adsorption. The TGF-β1 delivery of the fabricated scaffold was measured by asing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whether unseeded or reseeded with myofibroblast from rats, the morphologic, biochemical and biomechanical characteristics of hybrid scaffolds were tested and compared with decelluarized scaffolds under the same conditions. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed a typical delivery of nanoparticles. The morphologic observations and biological data analysis indicated that fabricated scaffolds possessed advantageous biocompatibility and biomechanical property beyond decelluarized scaffolds. Altogether this study proved that it was feasible to fabricate the hybrid scaffold and effective to improve extracellular matrix microenvironment, which is beneficial for an application in heart valve tissue engineering.

Objective To assess the value of wave intensity (WI) on the discrimination of hypertension with concentric hypertrophy and non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(NOHCM).Methods 36 patients with hypertension with concentric hypertrophy,30 patients with NOHCM and 36 healthy volunteers were randomly selected to perform routine ultrasound examination and carotid arterial WI test.The conventional parameters,inlcuding interventricular septal thickness in diastole (IVSTd),left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole(LVPWd),left ventricular diameter in diastole(LVIDd) and WI parameters,including the first peak (W1),the second peak (W2),negative area (NA),the interval between the R wave of the ECG and the peak of W1 (R-1st),the interval between the peaks of W1 and W2 (1st-2nd) were archived and compared among the different groups.Results ① There were statistical significances in IVSTd among the three groups(P ＜0.01).LVPWd of hypertension group was obviously higher than that of normal and NOHCM groups (P ＜0.01),but there were no statistical significances in NOHCM and normal groups(P ＞0.05).There were no statistical significances in LVIDd among different groups(P ＞ 0.05).②Compared with the normal group,W1 in NOHCM group increased significantly,whereas W2 and R-1st was much lower (P ＜0.01);W1 and NA in hypertension group was obviously higher(P ＜0.01).W2 and R-1st in NOHCM group were much smaller than those of hypertension group (P＜0.01).③W2 in 850 mmHg · m · s-3 was an optimal cutoff value to identify NOHCM and hypertension and to yield the sensitivity of 78.9％ and specificity of 72.4％.R-1st in 98.5 ms was a cutoff point to discriminate NOHCM and hypertension and to bring the sensitivity 65.8％ and specificity 72.4％.Conclusions WI analysis can effectively distinguish the difference of NOHCM and hypertension and provide a new viewpoint for the discrimination of hypertension with concentric hypertrophy and non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objective To investigate global cerebral blood flow perfusion in fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD)by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound (3D PD).Methods The vascular index (VI),flow index (FI)and vascular/flow index (VFI)in the global cerebral were prospectively compared in 1 12 fetuses with CHD and 1 12 normal fetuses using 3D PD.Correlations between the 3D PD indices and neurodevelopment scores were assessed.Results Compared with the controls,the VI,FI and VFI of the global brain were significantly increased in fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and left sided obstructive lesions (LSOLs)(P <0.001).The mean psychomotor development index (PDI) and mental development index (MDI)scores were significantly lower than normal (P < 0.001 ).FI was positively correlated with PDI (r =0.342,P =0.029)and MDI (r =0.339,P =0.030).Conclusions Global cerebral blood flow perfusion was significantly increased in most fetuses with CHD and had association with neurodevelopment scores.3D PD ultrasound might help to identify cases of brain vasodilatation earlier and inform parental counseling.