Objective To investigate the correlation between blood pressure variability and variabilities of some feature variables extracted from photoplethysmography (PPG) signal.Methods Continuous blood pressure (BP) and PPG signal were collected simultaneously from 19 healthy subjects under rest and after exercise.Eight feature variables were extracted from the PPG signal.The relationship between the beat-to-beat variability of BP and feature variables extracted from PPG were quantified by calculating Person's correlation coefficient.Results The variability of the amplitude of PPG was highly correlated with systolic BP variability both under rest (0.75) and after exercise (0.76).Meanwhile,the correlations between systolic BP variability and the variability of the time from the trough to the dicrotic north were 0.74(under rest) and 0.78(after exercise).Conclusion The amplitude variability of PPG is highly correlated with systolic BP variability and can be potentially used for monitoring BP variability.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of using 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) data to generate 3D patient-specific model of mitral valve (MV) using 3D printing. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 30 patients, including 10 cases with normal MV, 10 cases with MV stenosis and 10 cases with MV prolapse. 3D-TEE volumetric data of 30 patients were acquired and postprocessed, and then soft MV models were made through injecting silicone into the molds. Measurements of MV annulus antero-posterior diameters, anterolaterior and posteromedial diameters, perimeter, area and MV opening width obtained from 3D-TEE images and from 3D models were compared, and the absolute differences of these values were calculated. Results: 3D-TEE volumetric data were successfully postprocessed, and then 3D MV models were made in all patients. The differences of MV parameters measured from 3D models were not statistically significant with those from 3D-TEE images (all P>0.05). Only less absolute differences of MV parameters were found between 3D models and 3D-TEE images. Conclusion: 3D printing of MV models based on 3D-TEE is feasible with high conserved fidelity.

Objective To explore the application value of Carbon Nanoparticles followed by microscale Methylthioninum Chloride in sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer.Methods Two hundred and eight breast cancer patients were selected in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during recent two years who performed sentinel lymph node biopsy.They were randomly divided into five groups according to different lymphatic tracer injected:Sequential group (A group,128 patients),Carbon Nanoparticles group (B group,44 patients) and Methylthioninum Chloride group (C group,36 patients).According to different Methylthioninum Chloride doses,sequential groups were randomly divided into low dose group (A1 group,48 patients),middle dose group (A2 group,42 patients),high dose group (A3 group,38 patients),If sentinel lymph nodes were negative no longer performed axillary lymph nodes dissection.Receive the five groups statistics of detection rate,the condition of lymphatic tracer,the incidence of local skin irritation and so on.Results (1) The detection rate of A,B and C three groups had no obvious difference.The incidence of lymphatic tracer dyed not ideal in B group was higher than A and B two groups,the incidence of local skin stimulation in C group was higher than A and B two groups.(2) A1,A2,A3,three groups had no difference of the detection rate and lymphatic tracer,but the incidence of local skin stimulation in A3 group is higher than A1,A2 two groups.3.5 groups of SLN detection rate had no relationship with patients' age,BMI,tumor size,tumor location,tumor molecular classification factors (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Carbon Nanoparticles followed by microscale Methyhhioninum Chloride detection rate was similar with two separate application,but can reduce the lymphatic vessels not developing situation when used Carbon Nanoparticles alone and reduce the local irritation caused by large dose of Methylthioninum Chloride,so it can be a good choice of SLNB in clinical.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels can secrete a variety of factors in the local lesion, and these factors can promote cel proliferation and inhibit cel apoptosis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on the aging heart of rats and to explore the possible mechanism of action. METHODS:Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: normal blank group, model group and treatment group. Aging models were made in the latter two groups by injection of D-galactose. Rats in the treatment group were given alogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel injection, once a week, totaly four times. At 1 week after final injection, the heart tissues were sliced into sections to observe the pathological changes using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in the heart tissues. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of p53 mRNA in the heart tissues. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation could improve the pathological morphology of the aging heart. Compared with the model group, the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in the heart tissues was significantly higher in the treatment group (P < 0.05), but the mRNA expression of p53 was lower (P < 0.05). It is speculated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels can interact with heart cels to secrete basic fibroblast growth factor and reduce p53 mRNA expression, thereby playing a curative effect on the aging heart.

BACKGROUND: MicroR-10 b can regulate the characteristics of breast cancer stem cells, and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is one of the most important markers of breast cancer stem cells. The interaction between them in breast cancer cells needs further explorations. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether over-expression of microRNA-10 b affects ALDH1 mRNA and protein levels in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. METHODS: hsa-miR-10 b mimics or its negative control was transfected into breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. At 48 hours after transfection, the mRNA and protein expression of ALDH1 in the cells was detected using real-time RT-PCR and western blot assays, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Over-expression of microR-10 b was found in the MCF-7 cell line transfected with hsa-miR-10 b mimics, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (P=0.003 47). Both of ALDH1 mRNA and protein levels were up-regulated in the MCF-7 cell line overexpressing microR-10 b, as compared with the control group (P=0.009 54 and P=0.003 11, respectively). To conclude, over-expression of microR-10 b induces the ALDH1 mRNA and protein expression in the breast cancer MCF-7 cell line, providing new evidence that microR-10 b regulates the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells.

Objective To obtain abundant anatomical information using fusion of ultrasonic valve images and CT heart images and provide new methods of image processing for 3D heart printing . Methods Cardiac examinations of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography ( 3D-TEE) and DICOM images of 41 patients who had atrial fibrillation without structural cardiac diseases were analyzed retrospectively and the data afterward were processed by using Mimics software . For the single-mode image group ,only the heart CT were invoked as the data sources . For the multimodel image group ,CT and ultrasound images were invoked as the data sources . Valve structures of the 3D reconstructions were graded and the circumferences ,areas and other parameters of the two groups were measured . The images of two groups were overlapped ,and the angles between the two valve planes of each heart were evaluated and analysed . Results Score of valves reconstructed by ultrasound 3D construction was higher than those by CT reconstruction . Measurements of correlated parameters between the 3D-TEE group and the CT group showed no significant statistical difference ( P ＞ 0 .05 ) , and the consistency was well . Ultrasound measurements of 3D reconstructed valves were well concordant with CT reconstructed valves by Bland-Altman analysis . Mean value and standard deviation of the angles between mitral valve annulus and aortic valve ring plane of each heart in the two group were ( 3 .15 ± 0 .88)°,( 2 .87 ± 0 .76)°,respectively . Conclusions Ultrasonic valve images can fuse precisely with CT images and it provides a better displayed morphology . This will help improving simulation quality of the 3D printed hearts .

Objective:To assess the effects of preoperative intravenous injection of tranexamic acid and postoperative local use of elastic bandage on blood loss in complex tibial plateau fractures (Schatzker types Ⅴ-Ⅵ).Methods:A sequence randomly generated by computer was used to randomize a cohort of 40 patients into 2 groups who were to receive surgery at Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Hong Hui Hospital from June 2018 to January 2019 for complex tibial plateau fractures. They were 24 men and 16 women, aged from 35 to 55 years (average, 46.0 years). In group A, intravenous injection of normal saline was conducted 5 to 10 min before surgical incision and no elastic bandage was used after surgery. In group B, a dose of 15 mg/kg tranexamic acid was intravenously given 5 to 10 min before surgical incision and elastic bandage was used to bandage the knee with compression after surgery. The 2 groups were compared in terms of total blood loss, hidden blood loss, transfusion rate, 48-h drainage flow, venous thromboembolism, postoperative wound complications, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), and D-dimer value 24 h after surgery.Results:There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age, gender, body mass index, smoking history, concomitant medical conditions, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, preoperative hemoglobin, preoperative hematocrit, preoperative D-dimerization or fibrin degradation products, showing comparability ( P>0.05). In groups A and B, hemoglobin values 24 h after surgery were 104.6 g/L ± 10.4 g/L versus 113.3 g/L ± 11.9 g/L, drainage volumes 48 h after surgery 277.1 mL ± 229.2 mL versus 207.1 mL ± 124.3 mL, hidden blood loss volumes 318.0 mL ± 83.4 mL versus 266.2 mL ± 60.9 mL, total blood loss volumes 792.8 mL ± 202.8 mL versus 692.2 mL ± 124.9 mL, D-dimer values 24 h after surgery 5.1 mg/L ± 1.3 mg/L versus 4.1 mg/L ± 0.7 mg/L, postoperative VAS scores 5.2 ± 0.9 versus 3.9 ± 1.1, lower limb cross-section diameters 24 h after surgery 35.5 cm ± 3.0 cm versus 34.4 cm ± 2.6 cm, lower limb cross-section diameters 72 h after surgery 33.8 cm ± 2.1 cm versus 32.8 cm ± 2.3 cm, postoperative rates of wound ecchymosis hematoma 20.0% (4 cases) versus 0 (0 cases), and hospital stays 6.6 d ± 1.0 d versus 6.2 d ± 1.2 d. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in all the above items ( P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in incidence of postoperative DVT, pulmonary embolism or other wound complications ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative intravenous injection of tranexamic acid and postoperative local use of elastic bandage is reasonable and safe for complex tibial plateau fractures, because it significantly reduces intraoperative blood loss but does not increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, and thus has a positive role in accelerating the recovery of patients.

Objective:To evaluate the accuracy and application value of the left atrial appendage(LAA) occlusion simulation in dynamic fluid in vitro based on left atrial appendage models. Methods:The preoperative two/three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(2D/3D-TEE) images of 21 patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous LAA occlusion were retrospectively analyzed. LAA models with different materials (silicone-hydrogel LAA models, silicone LAA models and Tangoplus LAA models) were obtained by 3D printing. After simulation evaluation set models in a dynamic fluid system to simulate the occlusion operation, the type of occluder was predicted, the correlation between them and the final occluder used in the operation was analyzed.According to 2D/3D-TEE monitoring in 21 patients, the compression ratio of occluders was measured and the residual leakage around occluders was observed. With the same type occluder as in surgery, the compression ratio of occluders and residual leakage around the occluders in the three LAA models were observed and compared with intraoperative measurements, the descriptive and correlation analyses were conducted.Results:The simulation score of silicone-hydrogel LAA models was higher than those of silicone LAA models and Tangoplus LAA models. The occluder size in silicone-hydrogel LAA models was more correlated to the size used in the operation( r=0.937, P<0.001) than silicone LAA models ( r=0.918, P<0.001) and Tangoplus LAA models ( r=0.895, P<0.001). With the same size of occluder, there was no significant difference between the compression ratio of the occluder in silicone-hydrogel LAA models and intraoperative ( P=0.908). In 21 patients, 7 cases of residual leakage of occluder were observed during operation, while 4 cases were observed in silicone-hydrogel LAA, 5 cases were observed in silicone LAA models and 5 cases in Tangoplus LAA models. Conclusions:Preoperative simulation system of left atrial appendage occlusion based on silica gel-hydrogel model is helpful for preoperative decision-making, simulation exercise and post-operative evaluation of percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion.

Objective:To investigate the effect of usage of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) on the prognosis of patients after acute kidney injury (AKI) in intensive care unit (ICU).Methods:The clinical data of patients with AKI in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-Ⅲ v1.4) database was collected retrospectively, and the patients were divided into TTE group (with TTE within 24 hours of AKI diagnosis) and No-TTE group (without TTE examination or first TTE examination was more than 24 hours after AKI diagnosis). Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to balance the baseline variables between the two groups and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent risk factors for 28-day all-cause mortality (the primary outcome). Moreover, after PSM, the effects of TTE usage on the second outcomes (including the volumes of intravenous fluid and urine output in the first, second and third 24-hour after the diagnosis of AKI; the total number of mechanical ventilation-free days, renal replacement therapy-free days and vasopressor-free days within 28 days after ICU admission; use of diuretics after the diagnosis of AKI; reduction in serum creatinine within 48 hours after the diagnosis of AKI; and the length of ICU stay and hospital stay) were also evaluated.Results:Among 23 945 eligible AKI patients, 3 365 patients (14.1%) patients received TTE within 24 hours after the diagnosis of AKI and finally there were 3 361 patients in TTE group and No-TTE group included in this study after PSM based on the ratio of 1∶1. After PSM, all variables in the two groups were well balanced (standardized mean difference<0.1, respectively). Before and after PSM, patients in TTE group had lower 28-day all-cause mortality compared with patients in No-TTE group (10.76% vs 13.04%, χ2=13.535, P<0.001; 10.65% vs 18.80%, χ2=88.932, P<0.001), and Kaplan-Meier survival curves also revealed that patients in the TTE group had higher cumulative survival rate compared with patients in No-TTE group (Log-rank χ2=15.438, P<0.001; Log-rank χ2=75.360, P<0.001, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that TTE was an independent influencing factor for 28-day all-cause mortality before and after PSM ( HR=0.80, 95% CI 0.73-0.89, P<0.001; HR=0.58, 95% CI 0.51-0.65, P<0.001). And all subgroup analyses showed the similar results. Compared with patients in the No-TTE group, patients in the TTE group had higher volume of intravenous fluid on the first day and the second day after the diagnosis of AKI (both P<0.01). Patients in the TTE group had higher volume of urine output on the first day and the third day after the diagnosis of AKI (both P<0.01). The patients in the TTE group had a significantly lower duration of vasopressor-free and mechanical ventilation-free (both P<0.01). The usage of diuretic was significantly higher in the TTE group compared with that in the No-TTE group (54.1% vs 44.2%, χ2=65.609, P<0.001). With respect to serum creatinine, the reduction in serum creatinine within 48 hours after the diagnosis of AKI was higher in the TTE group than that in the No-TTE group [36.6(23.0, 97.2) μmol/L vs 30.1(14.2, 61.9) μmol/L, Z=-9.549, P<0.001]. Moreover, TTE group had shorter ICU stay than that in the No-TTE group [5.03(3.40, 8.90) d vs 5.37(3.77, 10.00) d, Z=-6.589, P<0.001]. There were no significant difference between the two groups in other secondary outcomes (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Timely TTE utilization after AKI incident is associated with better clinical outcomes for ICU patients.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of echocardiography hemodynamic parameters on 30-day survival rate after veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in refractory cardiogenic shock.Methods:A total of 44 patients with refractory cardiogenic shock who passed VA-ECMO weaning trial were retrospectively analyzed from September 2014 to February 2021. According to their 30-day survival outcomes after VA-ECMO removal, these patients were divided into the survival group (32 cases) and the death group (12 cases). Baseline data and the change rate of echocardiographic parameters between the first day of VA-ECMO and the day on VA-ECMO removal were compared, and the ultrasonic indicators affecting the survival of VA-ECMO within 30 days after withdrawal were determined.Results:The change rate of left ventricular ejection fraction(ΔLVEF%), the change rate of velocity time integral of the left ventricular outflow tract(ΔLVOT-VTI%), the change rate of ΔSa% and the change rate of right ventricular fractional area change(ΔRVFAC%) were improved significantly in the survival group ( P<0.05). The correlation coefficients between ΔLVEF% and ΔLVOT-VTI%, ΔLVEF% and ΔSa%, ΔLVEF % and ΔRVFAC% were 0.885, 0.861, 0.675, respectively( P<0.001); The correlation coefficient between ΔLVOT-VTI% and ΔSa was 0.918( P<0.001). ROC curve showed that the cut off values of ΔLVEF%, ΔLVOT-VTI%, ΔSa% and ΔRVFAC% to predict 30-day survival rate were 23.6%, 20.1%, 22.8% and 23.2% respectively, the sensitivity was 89.5%, 93%, 89.5% and 74.6% respectively, specificity was 66.7%, 66.7%, 66.8% and 75% respectively, the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.841, 0.867, 0.841 and 0.768, respectively. Conclusions:ΔLVEF%, ΔLVOT-VTI%, ΔSa% and ΔRVFAC% are predictive indicators of VA-ECMO withdrawl in patients with refractory cardiac shock. ΔLVOT-VTI% is the most valuable indicator of predicting 30-day survival rate after VA-ECMO withdrawl. Patients who meet two or more VA-ECMO echocardiographic indicators are more likely to succeed in VA-ECMO withdrawl. The improvement of right ventricular systolic function is a prerequisite for survival after 30 days of VA-ECMO withdrawal, while LVEF is an important criterion for survival after 30 days of VA-ECMO withdrawal.