Objective To study the efficacy of performing transvaginal Prosima mesh with high uterosacral ligament suspension (HUS) in treatment of severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP).Methods From July 2010 to February 2011,70 patients with severe POP underwent transvaginal prosima mesh with HUS in First Affiliated Hospital,General Hospital of People's Liberation Army.Clinical parameters of perioperation were collected.After 1 month and 2 - 3 months,perineal two-dimensional ultrasound examination was performed to measure mesh length in midsagittal plane.Validated prolapse quality of life questionnaires,pelvic floor distress inventsry short form 20 (PFDI-20) and pelvic floor impact questionnaire short form 7 (PFIQ-7) were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect.The mean results of pre-operative PFIQ-7 and PFDI-20 was 54 and 51,respectively.Results Median operation time was ( 195 ± 47 ) min and median blood loss was (160 ±64) ml.All the patients were followed for a mean time of 13 months (2 - 19 months).Seven cases were found with mesh exposure with less than 1 cm2.The objective cure rate was 100％.The mean score of post-operative PFIQ-7 and PFDI-20 were both 19,which were significantly lower than those of preoperation ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Anterior Prosima mesh was 3.5 cm at 1 month by ultrasound examination,and the second result of ultrasound scans was 2.8 cm at 2 - 3 month,which were both shortened 2.5 cm and 3.2 cm when compared with that of original size.Conclusions Transvaginal Prosima mesh placement with HUS is a safe and efficient surgery with less complication.Although mesh became shorter after 2 - 3 month,it did not affect surgery efficacy.

Objective To investigate the relationship and clinical significance of blood plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and Keshan Disease (KD). Methods Seventy KD patients and 30 healthy volunteers in endemic area were investigated with Doppler Echocardiography for the measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and the plasma BNP levels were determined with microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Results The BNP levels in plasma in KD patients [(444.61±102.31), (87.21±23.15)ng/L] were significantly higher than that of healthy volunteers [(34.91±15.21)ng/L],the differencesbeing statistical significant (q=39.74,5.82,P<0.01). The BNP levels in chronic KD patients were higher than that of latent KD patients (q=37.62,P<0.01). The plasma BNP levels in KD patients with LVEDD 60 nun [(928.80±134.27)ng/L] were significantly higher than those of patients with LVEDD 55～60 mm [(89.24±52.31)ng/L] and LVEDD<55 nun [(67.14±6.92)ng/L],the differencesbeing statistical significant (q=44.30,48.16, P<0.01), The plasma BNP levels in KD patients with LVEF<35%[(1654.21±421.35) ng/L] were significantly higher than those of patients with 35% ~ 50%[(421.54±112.32)ng/L] and50% [ (81.21±72.85 ng/L)], the differencesbeing statistical significant(q=24.91,72.66, P<0.01), The BNP levels in LVEF 35%～50% were higher than that of 50% (q=11.84,P<0.01). Conclusion The plasma BNP levels were important for the diagnosis, grouping, therapeutic effect and prognostic evaluation of KD.

Objective To investigate the impact of colpocleisis on body image in women with severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods From Oct. 2005 to Feb. 2010,60 POP patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ by POP quantitation system underwent total or partial colpocleisis. Patients received body image evaluation before and 1 year after operation. Results One year after operation, 52 (87% , 52/60) patients completed body image evaluation. Before and 1 year after operation, the ratio of answer Not at all of questions such as Have you felt less physically attractive as a result of your vaginal prolapse? , Have you been feeling less feminine as a result of your vaginal prolapse? , Did you find it difficult to look at yourself naked? , Have you been feeling less sexually attractive as a result of your vaginal prolapse?, Have you felt dissatisfied with your body? were 25% and 96% ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) , 21% and 96% ( P ＜ 0. 01) , 37% and 67% (P = 0.018), 29% and 96% (P＜0.01), 12% and 83% (P＜0.01), respectively, indicating significant improvement on body image after operation for patients treated by colpocleisis. Conclusion Women underwent colpocleisis for severe POP could not decrease their body image as a result of the disability of vaginal intercourse.

Objective To assess the long-term effectiveness of the transvaginal high uterosacral ligament suspension (HUS) in women suffering from advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP).Methods A retrospective review of records identified 118 women who underwent transvaginal HUS with or without additional concomitant anterior and (or) posterior repairs from June 2003 to August 2009 in the First Affiliated Hospital,General Hospital of People's Liberation Army.Of 118 women,104 women completed the follow-up during study period;these 104 women were analysed.Follow-up visits were performed 2,6 and 12 months after surgery and then annually.Anatomic results of POP was established by pelvic examination using pelvic organ prolapse quantitation system (POP-Q) staging.Funtional results were obtained by patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I),pelvic floor distress inventory-short form 20 (PFDI-20) and pelvic floor impact questionnaire short form (PFIQ-7).Surgical success required the fulfillment of all 3 criteria:(1) prolapse leading edge of 0 cm or less and apex of 1/2 total vaginal length or less;(2) the absence of pelvic organ prolapse symptoms as reported on the PFDI-20 question No.3 (Do you usually have a bulge or something falling out that you can see or feel in your vaginal area?);and (3) no prolapse reoperations or pessary use during the study period.Results The mean follow-up time was (9.1 ± 1.5) years.The overall surgery success rate was 91.3％ (95/104) according to above all 3 criteria.Prolapse recurrence rates were isolated anterior 6.7％ (7/104),isolated apical 0,isolated posterior 2.9％ (3/104) and multiple compartments 1.0％ (1/104).Five women (4.8％,5/104) developed bothersome vaginal bulge symptoms.None of recurrent women underwent retreatment,including either surgery or use of a pessary at last follow-up.The subjective satisfaction rate was 90.4％ (94/104).PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores showed a statistically significant improvement from preoperative 72 and 65 points to postoperative 17 and 9 points respectively (all P＜0.01).There was a 2.9％ (3/104) rate of intraoperative ureteral kinking and 3.8％ (4/104) rate of postoperative morbidity.Conclusions The transvaginal HUS for vault prolapse offers good long-term anatomical results with excellent vault suspension.With additional concomitant anterior and (or) posterior repairs,it will be a reconstructive surgery for the majority of advanced POP.It is minimal traumatic and appropriate for different type of POP,especially for the eldly patients.It is worthy of being popularized for clinical application.

Objective:To evaluate the indications, surgical skills and clinic outcomes of abdominal minimal incision sacrocolpopexy (AMISC) for treatment of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP).Methods:The retrospective study analyzed 30 women with advanced POP who underwent AMISC between June 2016 and October 2019, including 9 cases of recurrent prolapse and 10 cases of vault prolapse. AMISC was especially applicable to: (1) patients with several medical complications who was unable to tolerate general anesthesia or laparoscopic surgery, but able to tolerate combined spinal-epidural anesthesia and open surgery; (2) other abdominal procedures were indicated to perform with AMISC simultaneously, such as myomectomy, subtotal hysterectomy etc, the specimens were easy to get out of the abdominal cavity and morcellation was avoided; (3) surgeons preferring open surgery to laparoscopic surgery or skilled in open surgery; (4) patients with prior pelvic operations, presenting severe abdominal and pelvic adhesions. Objective outcomes were assessed by pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) system. Subjective outcome were assessed by pelvic floor distress inventory-short form 20 (PFDI-20), pelvic floor impact questionnaire-short form (PFIQ-7) and patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I).Results:All patients with 1-3 medical complications were successfully performed with AMISC without stopping procedure, enlarging the incision or changing to other procedure, the operation duration was (110±19) minutes. The mean time of follow-up was (33.5±12.4) months (range: 8-49 months). The postoperative points of Aa, Ba, C, Ap, Bp reduced significantly and point C improved from (2.33±2.50) cm to (-7.54±1.18) cm after AMISC ( P<0.01). The objective cure rates were both 100% (30/30) in apex and posterior compartment, while 97% (29/30) in anterior compartment. Postoperative scores of PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 were all significant decreased (all P<0.01). About PGI-I, 29 patients chose “significant improvement”, subjective satisfaction was 97% (29/30). Anterior sacral plexus hemorrhage occurred in 2 cases (7%, 2/30). There was no intestinal obstruction or injury of bladder, bowel and ureter intra- and postoperation. Two cases (7%, 2/30) had mesh exposure. Conclusion:AMISC is a safety, convenient, minimal traumatic and durable procedure for apical prolapse with short learning curve in the most of cases.

BACKGROUNDAdvances in catheter ablation procedures for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias have created the need to understand better the morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of the inferior nodal extension (INE) and transitional cellular band (TCB) in the atrioventricular (AV) junctional area.

METHODSFirstly, we observed the histological features of 10 rabbit AV junctional areas by serial sections under light microscopy. Then we recorded the action potentials (APs) of transitional cells (TCs) in the INE, TCBs, AV node, and ordinary right atrial myocytes from the AV junctional area of 30 rabbits using standard intracellular microeletrode techniques.

RESULTSUnder light microscopy, the INE appeared to be mostly composed of transitional cells linking upward to the AV node. Four smaller TCBs originated in the orifice of the coronary sinus, the region between the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve and the coronary sinus, the inferior wall of the left atrium, and the superior interatrial septum, respectively, all linking to the INE or the AV node. Compared with ordinary atrial myocytes, the AP of the TCs in both the INE and the TCBs had a spontaneous phase 4 depolarization (not present in ordinary atrial myocytes), with a less negative maximum diastolic potential, a smaller amplitude, a slower maximum velocity of AP upstroke, and a longer action potential duration at 50% repolarization (APD50) and at 30% repolarization (APD30). The AP characteristics of these TCs were similar to those of the AV node, except that the velocities of the phase 4 spontaneous depolarization were slower and their action potential durations at 90% repolarization (APD90) were shorter. Moreover, APD50 and APD30 of the TCs of the TCBs were shorter than in the case of TCs of the AV node.

CONCLUSIONSThe TCs of the INE and TCBs are similar to slow response automatic cells. They provide a substrate for slow pathway conduction. In addition, repolarization heterogeneity exists in the AV junctional area.

Action Potentials ; Animals ; Atrioventricular Node ; cytology ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Rabbits

Objective To evaluate the physiological and anatomic basis,indications,surgical skills, prevention of ureter injury and clinic outcomes of using high uterosacral ligament suspension(HUS)for correction of advanced uterine prolapse by the vaginal route.Methods Fifty women with advanced uterine prolapse underwent transvaginal HUS after vaginal hysterectomy with reconstruction of pubocervical and rectovaginal fascia to correct their uterine prolapse between June 2003 and September 2007.The average age of the women was 60.1 years.The mean follow-up period was 24 months(range 4-51 months).The degree of pelvic organ prolapse preoperatively and anatomic outcomes postoperatively were assessed with pelvic organ prolapse quantification system(POP-Q).Results The remnants of the uterosacral ligaments were clearly identified and palpated posterior and medial to the ischial spines by traction with a 24 cm long Allis clamp and used for successful vaginal vault suspension and reconstruction in all 50 consecutive advanced uterine prolapse patients.The ureter injury was avoided by complete knowledge of the ureter's course from the cervix/apex toward its insertion in the sacral region and how far outside of the uterosacral ligament,by uteri palpation and by suturing purposefully placed"deep"dorsally and posteriorly toward the sacrum,as well as by cystoscopy examination of the spillage of urine from both ureters.Mean POP-Q point C improved from 1.5 to-7.5 cm with a median follow-up of 24 months.If the successful HUS was defined as point C≤stage I prolapse,both the objective and subjective cure rates were as high as 100% with a maximum follow-up of 51 months.None of the 50 patients had repeat operation for recurrence of prolapse.There was no major intra-or postoperative complications,such as ureter and other pelvic organ injury.Conclusion HUS with fascial reconstruction seems to be a safe,minimal traumatic,tolerable and highly successful procedure for vaginal repair of advanced uterine prolapse.Because of the use of native tissue as suspension site HUS is more physiologic and cost effective.

BACKGROUNDUsing tissue Doppler imaging and conventional echocardiographic technique, we examined the cardiac function and synchronicity in individuals with isolated right bundle branch block (RBBB) or left bundle branch block (LBBB) and assessed the relationship between QRS duration and synchronicity.

METHODSSubjects with isolated RBBB (n = 20), LBBB (n = 10) and normal controls (n = 20) were studied with conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. The difference between aortic and pulmonary preejection intervals was defined as interventricular delay. Parameters in septum and lateral wall were measured using tissue Doppler imaging, including peak sustained systolic velocity (S(M)), peak early (E(M)) and late (A(M)) diastolic velocities as well as time to peak velocities (T(S), T(E) and T(A)).

RESULTSSubjects with LBBB had lower S(M) and longer T(S) than did the RBBB and control groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.001 respectively). A significant difference was observed in E(M), being the lowest in the LBBB and the highest in the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, T(E) was longer in the LBBB group compared with the other two groups (P < 0.001). Both A(M) and T(A) were similar among three groups (P > 0.05). In the bundle branch block groups, one ventricle lagged about 40 ms behind the other. A significant correlation was found between interventricular delay and QRS duration (r = 0.713, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSCardiac ventricles were not well synchronized with one ventricle lagging about 40 ms behind the other in subjects with LBBB or RBBB, even though only LBBB group showed barely perceptible, impaired cardiac function. In addition, QRS duration and cardiac asynchronicity were positively correlated.

Adult ; Aged ; Bundle-Branch Block ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Diastole ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Systole

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUNDPrevious clinical studies have suggested that patients with congestive heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay could benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Implantation of left ventricular lead is a complex procedure with some potential for complications. This study was conducted to analyse the complications of CRT in patients with congestive heart failure.

METHODSTotally 117 patients, 86 males and 31 females, mean age of 53 years, with congestive heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay were enrolled in this study. Venography was performed on all patients. Different types of coronary sinus leads were used to pace the left ventricle.

RESULTSLeft ventricular lead was attempted to implant through coronary sinus for all the 117 patients and was successfully implanted in 111 patients. The success rate was 94.9%. Main complications rate was 6.8%, including coronary sinus dissection in 4 patients, phrenic nerve stimulation required lead repositioning in 2 patients and lead dislodgement in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible and safe to pace left ventricle through coronary sinus. However, there are some procedural complications.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Female ; Heart Failure ; complications ; therapy ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged