Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

Objective To introduce a modified technique of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve crafted from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to summarize the early single-center experience. Methods Patients with complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) who underwent RVOT reconstruction with a handmade ePTFE bicuspid pulmonary valve due to pulmonary regurgitation at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 were selected. Postoperative artificial valve function and right heart function indicators were evaluated. Results A total of 17 patients were included, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of (18.18±12.14) years and a mean body weight of (40.94±19.45) kg. Sixteen patients underwent reconstruction with a handmade valved conduit, with conduit sizes ranging from 18 to 24 mm. No patients required mechanical circulatory support, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 12.89 months, only one patient developed valve dysfunction, and no related complications or adverse events were observed. The degree of pulmonary regurgitation was significantly improved post-RVOT reconstruction and during follow-up compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). Postoperative right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation area were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 0.1 mm ePTFE handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve for RVOT reconstruction in complex CHD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique.

OBJECTIVE To study the way in which hypidone hydrochloride(code:YL-0919)improves motor function after ischemic stroke(IS)and explore the related mechanism.METHODS Adult male SD rats were used to establish a middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model that simulated acute IS.All animals were randomly divided into four groups:sham group,MCAO group,MCAO+YL-0919 group,and MCAO+YL-0919+erastin(Era,ferroptosis inducer)group.The drug administration groups received the first ip injection 6 h after operation,followed by continuous ip injection once per day.After 7-10 d of drug administration,the effect of YL-0919 on motor function after IS were evaluated via neu-rological function test,adhesive-removal test,rotarod test,balance beam test and open field test.After 7 d of drug administration,TTC staining was used to detect the cerebral infarction area while the colo-rimetry method was used to measure the contents of glutathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA),and ferrous ions(Fe2+)in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),solute carrier family 7 member 11(xCT),acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4),and transferrin receptor 1(TFR1)in the cortical penumbra.RESULTS Compared with the sham group,the MCAO group showed higher neurological function scores(P<0.01),with notably prolonged time for tape removal and first contact with the right forepaw(P<0.01),spent significantly more time crossing the balance beam(P<0.01)but endured a notably shorter duration on the rotarod(P<0.01),reduced the movement distance in the open field(P<0.01),had a remarkably increased infarct area(P<0.01)but significantly level of GSH in the cortical penumbra region decreased(P<0.01),while MDA and Fe2+levels were markedly increased(P<0.01).Protein expression levels of GPX4 and xCT were reduced(P<0.05),while those of ACSL4 and TFR1 were elevated(P<0.05).Compared with the MCAO group,these changes were significantly reversed after YL-0919 administration.However,when Era and YL-0919 were administered simultaneously,the reversal effect of YL-0919 was significantly weakened.CONCLUSION YL-0919 can improve motor function impairment and reduce cerebral infarction areas in rats after IS,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of ferroptosis.

Objective:To investigate the causal relationship between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors (betaine, carnitine, and choline) and pancreatic diseases based on the Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:Genome-wide association study data of TMAO, betaine, carnitine, choline, acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and circulating immune cell characteristics (white blood cell, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil) were collected. According to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)-MR reporting guidelines, the available genetic variants [single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)] were strictly screened. The causal relationship between exposure (TMAO and its precursors) and outcomes (pancreatic diseases and circulating immune cell characteristics) was evaluated using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression and weighted median. The reliability of the results was evaluated by sensitivity analysis based on MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, Cochrane's Q test and leave-one-out method. Results:A total of 36 SNP associated with TMAO and its precursors were included. Five of these were associated with TMAO, 13 with betaine, 12 with carnitine, and 6 with choline. ① MR analysis showed that TMAO may increase the risk of AP [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.100, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.008-1.200, P = 0.032], and choline may reduce the risk of alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP; OR = 0.743, 95% CI was 0.585-0.944, P = 0.015). The analysis results of MR-Egger regression and weighted median were consistent with the IVW results. There is no evidence to support a causal relationship between TMAO and its precursors and the risk of CP and PC. Sensitivity analysis indicated that SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and low pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. ② There was a positive causal relationship between plasma TMAO level and circulating monocyte count ( OR = 1.017, 95% CI was 1.000*-1.034, P = 0.048, * represented that the data was obtained by correcting to 3 decimal places from 1.000 1). The causal effect obtained by MR-Egger regression and weighted median analysis was consistent with the results of IVW. Sensitivity analysis illustrated SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. Conclusion:TMAO and choline may change the risk of AP, and TMAO may contribute to the increase of circulating monocyte count in AP.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of Neuroform Atlas stent assisted coil embolization in intracranial wide-necked aneurysms, and analyze the risk factors for procedure-related complications.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; the clinical data of 367 patients with 374 intracranial wide-necked aneurysms accepted Neuroform Atlas stent assisted coil embolization from January 2021 to February 2024 were collected. Clinical prognosis, immediate postoperative and 6-12 months postoperative angiography, and procedure-related complications (including perioperative complications and complications during follow-up) were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors for procedure-related complications.Results:Immediate postoperative Raymond-Roy Occlusion Classification (RROC) grading I was noted in 323 aneurysms (86.4%), grading II in 42 aneurysms (11.2%), and grading III in aneurysms (2.4%). Perioperative complications occurred in 26 patients (7.1%): 19 (5.2%) were ischemic complications, while 7 (1.9%) were hemorrhagic complications. A total of 260 aneurysms (69.5%) underwent follow-up angiography, including 229 aneurysms (88.1%) with RROC grading I, 25 aneurysms (9.6%) with grading II and 6 aneurysms (2.3%) with grading III. During the follow-up, 5 patients (1.9%) developed stent stenosis, but only 1 patient had transient ischemic attack, and all of them had boundless vessel occlusion. At the last follow-up, 10 patients (2.7%) had poor prognosis, including 8 (2.2%) with severe disabilities (7 with modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores of 3 and 1 with mRS scores of 4), and 2 (0.5%) deaths (mRS scores of 6). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that large aneurysms and posterior circulation aneurysms were independent risk factors for procedure-related complications ( OR=6.299, 95% CI: 1.131-35.094, P=0.036; OR=3.654, 95% CI: 1.478-9.035, P=0.005). Conclusion:Neuroform Atlas stent assisted coil embolization in intracranial wide-necked aneurysms is safe and feasible; patients with large aneurysms and posterior circulating aneurysms are more likely to have procedure-related complications.

Objective To investigate the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors on the level of inflammation and ven-tricular remodeling after PCI in ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.Methods A total of 220 patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who received percutaneous coronary artery intervention in the Emergency Center of Qingdao Central Hospital from April 2021 to July 2023 were randomly divided into two groups,110 patients in the control group were treated with conventional treatment,and 110 patients in the PCSK9i group were treated with PCSK9 inhibitors on the basis of conventional treatment.Compared before and after treatment left ventricular endsystolic diameter(LVESD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and triglycerides(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),total cholesterol(TC).C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α).The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)(including myocardial infarction,recurrence of heart failure,malignant arrhythmia,and cardiovascular death)was compared.Results After 6 months of treatment and follow-up,LVEDD(mm),LVESD(mm),TG(mmol/L),TC(mmol/L),LDL-C(mmol/L),CRP(mg/L),TNF-α(pg/mL)and JL-6(ng/mL)after PCSK9i treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant[(51.32±5.84)vs.(54.43±2.91);(34.88±2.69)vs.(36.96±3.19);(1.41±0.61)vs.(2.13±1.26);(3.53±1.06)vs.(3.98±0.93);(0.95±0.36)vs.(1.79±0.27);(5.18±1.92)vs.(7.69±2.61);(36.43±9.41)vs.(57.79±14.43);(17.4±0.68)vs.(28.55±8.92),All P<0.01],and the LVEF(%)and HDL-C(mmol/L)in the PCSK9i group were higher than patients in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant[(46.69±3.63)vs.(41.34±3.42),P<0.05,(1.35±0.29)vs.(1.29±0.27),P<0.01].The incidence of MACE events in the PCSK9i group was obviously lower than patients in the control group(5.2%vs.13.6%,P<0.05).Conclusion The application of PCSK9 inhibitors after PCI in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction can better reduce blood lipids,stabilize coronary plaque,reduce local and circula-tory inflammatory responses after myocardial infarction,improve ventricular adverse remodeling after myocardial infarction,inhibit ventricular remodeling,and reduce the total incidence of MACE,worthing promoting use.

Objective:To analyze the nomogram risk model of lower alveolar neurovascular bundle injury after mandibular impacted wisdom tooth extraction.Methods:The clinical data of 193 patients who received mandibular impacted wisdom tooth extraction in Baoji Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2022 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. 3 months after surgery, the patients were divided into the occurrence group and the non-occurrence group according to whether the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle injury occurred. By comparing the clinical data of the two groups, the influencing factors of lower alveolar neurovascular bundle injury after mandibular impacted wisdom tooth extraction were analyzed, and the risk model of lower alveolar neurovascular bundle injury after mandibular impacted wisdom tooth extraction was constructed and verified.Results:3 months after operation, the incidence of lower alveolar neurovascular bundle injury in 193 patients was 12.95%(25/193). In the occurrence group ( n=25), the age was ≥25 years old, the gender was female, the depth of impacted was low impacted, the relationship was classified as ClassⅢ, the lower alveolar canal (IAC) was offset, the orientation relationship between impacted teeth and IAC was class Ⅱ-Ⅲ, and the contact relationship between impacted teeth and IAC was class Ⅱ-Ⅲ, the proportion of cases in the occurrence group was higher than that in the non-occurrence group ( n=168) (all P<0.05). Age ( OR=5.280, 95% CI: 1.856-15.025), depth of impacted teeth ( OR=5.766, 95% CI: 2.026-16.407), direction relationship between impacted teeth and IAC ( OR=4.504, 95% CI: 1.583-12.816), and the contact relationship between impacted teeth and IAC ( OR=3.991, 95% CI: 1.403-11.356) were the influencing factors of lower alveolar neurovascular bundle injury after mandibular impacted wisdom tooth extraction (all P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve were 88.00%, 91.07%, and 0.906(95% CI: 0.748-0.959) for the prediction of inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle injury after mandibular impacted wisdom tooth extraction. Conclusions:The risk model of lower alveolar neurovascular bundle injury after mandibular impacted wisdom tooth extraction was established based on age, depth of impacted teeth, direction relationship between impacted teeth and IAC, and contact relationship between impacted teeth and IAC, which is helpful for early assessment of lower alveolar neurovascular bundle injury risk.

Objective:To compare percutaneous Kirschner wiring and elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction in the treatment of radial neck fractures in children.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 96 children with radial neck fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, Children's Hospital of Anhui Province from January 2020 to January 2023. They were 51 boys and 45 girls with an age of (7.0±2.5) years. By the Judet classification, there were 74 cases of type Ⅲ and 22 cases of type IV. Twenty-one cases were treated with percutaneous Kirschner wiring after ultrasound-guided reduction (Kirschner wire group) while 75 cases with elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction (intramedullary nail group). The surgical time, fluoroscopy frequency, fracture healing time, and incidence of complications were compared between the 2 groups. Their postoperative X-ray films were evaluated according to the Métaizeau criteria, and elbow joint function was evaluated according to the Steel and Gtrham scoring at the last follow-up.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The 96 pediatric patients were followed up for (10.6±4.2) months after surgery. The surgical time [(18.5±2.6) minutes] and fluoroscopy frequency [4.0 (3.0, 4.0) times] in the Kirschner wire group were significantly less than those in the intramedullary nail group [(30.9±2.7) minutes, 8.0 (7.0, 9.0) times] ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in fracture healing time, good and excellent rate of postoperative reduction by the Métaizeau criteria, good and excellent rate of elbow joint function by the Steel and Gtrham scoring at the last follow-up, or incidence of complications ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of radial neck fractures in children, both ultrasound-guided percutaneous Kirschner wiring and elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction can lead to similar therapeutic effects, but the former can shorten surgical time, reduce intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and spare a secondary surgery.

Objective:To investigate the standard imaging features of distal humerus epiphysis in children of different ages under ultrasound imaging, and to lay a foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of distal humerus epiphysis injury by ultrasound.Methods:The ultrasound imaging data of 3 283 children who voluntarily underwent distal humerus ultrasound at the Department of Orthopedics and Emergency of Anhui Children′s Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected, and the relevant epidemiological data of all cases were described. The distal humerus was scanned by ultrasound from 8 dimensions to investigate the characteristics of ultrasonic images at different ages and to measure the changes of distal humerus epiphysis angle.Results:The ratio of sex (male, female) and side (left, right) of all 3 283 children included were about 1∶1, the ratio of Han nationality to other ethnic groups was about 24∶1. The ultrasonographic findings showed that the ossification center of the distal humerus increased with age. The ossification center of the small head of the humerus first appeared, followed by the ossification center of the internal epicondyle of the humerus, then the ossification center of the trochlear of the humerus appeared, and finally the secondary ossification center of the external epicondyle appeared. With age, the distal lateral epicondyle, capitulum and trochlea of the humerus became completely ossified and fused with the metaphyseal, but the fusion time of the internal epicondyle of the humerus was late. The distal humerus epiphysis angle in male was (48.49±7.24)° and (50.14±7.64)° in female. The measured value in female was slightly higher than in male, but there was no significant difference between the sexes ( P>0.05). The anterior tilt angle of humerus small head increased with age( P<0.001). Conclusions:Ultrasound imaging can observe the anatomical characteristics of the distal humerus bone in children, and can observe the changes of the size and shape of the secondary ossification center of the small head of humerus and the changes of the distal humerus epiphysis angle at different ages, laying a foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of distal humerus epiphysis injury.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of modified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills on tumor growth and T-cell subsets in H22 hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing mice and to provide an experimental basis for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with modified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills combined with immune checkpoint antibodies. MethodA H22 hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing mouse model was established. The modeled mice were randomized into model， cisplatin， low- （4 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium- （8 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose （16 g·kg^-1·d^-1） modified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills groups. After continuous administration for 14 days， the mice were sacrificed on day 15. The tumor volume was measured on days 0， 4， 8， 12， 15 of drug administration. Tumors were weighed and thymus index and spleen index were calculated. Spleen lymphocytes were co-cultured with H22 hepatoma cells， and the tumor cell-killing rate was detected by the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8）. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was carried to determine the mRNA levels of programmed cell death protein-1 （PD-1） and lymphocyte activation gene-3 （LAG-3） in spleen and tumor tissues. The number of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and the expression of PD-1 and LAG-3 were detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. ResultOn day 8 of drug administration， tumor volumes in all treatment groups decreased compared with that in the model group. On day 15， both tumor volume and tumor weight were significantly lower in the treatment groups than in the model group （P<0.01）， with the cisplatin group showing the most pronounced reduction. Compared with the model and cisplatin groups， medium- and high-dose modified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills increased the thymus index （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups showed increased spleen index （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with the cisplatin group showing the most significant increase. Compared with the model and cisplatin groups， all the groups of modified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills demonstrated increased number of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and tumor cell-killing rate in the spleen and tumor tissues （P<0.01） and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of LAG-3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The high-dose group of modified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills had lower mRNA level of PD-1 in the tumor tissue than the model and cisplatin groups （P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills may promote the proliferation and tumor microenvironment infiltration of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in H22 tumor-bearing mice by down-regulating LAG-3 expression， thereby improving T-cell immune activity and inhibiting tumor growth. This study provides an experimental basis for the combination of modified Danggui Beimu Kushen pills and immune checkpoint antibodies in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.