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:This study aims to investigate the mechanism and potential effects of two exposures to 100 dB sound pressure level（SPL） broadband white noise, with a 14-days interval, on the myelin sheath of the cochlear auditory nerve in mice. The research provides experimental evidence for understanding the pathophysiological processes of noise-induced hearing loss and hidden hearing loss. Methods:Fifteen 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice with normal hearing thresholds were randomly divided into three groups: a control group（no noise exposure）, a single noise exposure group, and a double noise exposure group. The single noise exposure group was exposed to 100 dB SPL white noise for 2 hours, and ABR thresholds were measured 1 day（P1） and 14 days（P14） after the exposure. The double noise exposure group was exposed to the same conditions of 100 dB SPL white noise for 2 hours, followed by a second identical exposure 14 days later. ABR thresholds were measured 1 day（P15） and 14 days（P28） after the second exposure. The cochleae of all three groups were then collected for immunofluorescence observation of the basilar membrane and transmission electron microscopy to observe changes in the structure of the auditory nerve myelin sheath. Results:In the single noise exposure group, ABR thresholds at all frequencies were significantly elevated compared to the control group at P1. There were no significant changes in ABR thresholds at any frequency at P14. In the double noise exposure group, ABR thresholds at all frequencies were significantly elevated compared to the control group at P15 and P28（P<0.001）. After the first noise exposure, immunofluorescence observation revealed no significant weakening of the auditory nerve myelin sheath signal; transmission electron microscopy showed no significant changes in myelin sheath morphology. However, after the second noise exposure, immunofluorescence observation revealed a weakening of the myelin sheath signal, and transmission electron microscopy showed thinning of the myelin sheath, disruption of the lamellar structure, and separation from the axon, indicating demyelination. Conclusion:Two exposures to 100 dB SPL broadband white noise can lead to damage to the auditory nerve myelin sheath in mice, whereas a single exposure does not cause significant changes.
Animals ; Male ; Myelin Sheath/pathology* ; Mice ; Cochlear Nerve/pathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Noise/adverse effects* ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/physiopathology* ; Cochlea ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of endolymphatic sac tumor（ELST）, and improve the experience of diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with ELST who underwent surgical treatment by the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2015 to December 2024.The clinical and image features, perioperative management, surgical methods and follow-up results of the disease were summarized. Results:Of the 6 cases, 4 were male and 2 were female. The primary clinical characteristics were hearing loss（6 cases）, tinnitus（5 cases）, dizziness（2 cases）, facial paralysis（1 case）, and headache（1 case）. CT and MRI of temporal bone were performed in all cases. The manifestation of CT was a space occupying lesion centered on the region of endolymphatic sac, accompanied by bone destruction and intertumoral calcification. MRI showed tumor center isosignal and peripheral hypersignal in T1 and T2 sequences in 3 cases, and mixed hypersignal in T1 and T2 sequences in 3 cases. Enhancement was observed in all cases on the enhanced scan. 5 cases underwent DSA examination and showed the tumors were supplied by the occipital artery（2 cases）, posterior auricular artery（4 cases）, and the bunch of internal carotid artery（1 case）. Embolization of the feeding artery was performed in 3 patients. Five patients underwent tumor resection. Translabyrinthine approach were performed in 4 cases, and middle cranial fossa approach was performed in 1 case. All cases followed up for 24 to 70 months with no distant metastases or death. Two patients experienced twice recurrences and were treated with surgical operation. The tumors were found to be closely related to the internal auditory canal or dura during the surgery. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of ELST are not typical, and hearing loss is the most common clinical symptom. CT and MRI exhibit typical imaging characteristics. ELST has a risk of recurrence, and the tumor should be carefully managed when invade to the internal auditory canal and dura to reduce postoperative recurrence.
Humans ; Endolymphatic Sac/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Ear Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective : To illuminate the distribution of brucellosis patients and the epidemic typologies as well as the genetic attributes of brucellosis in Bozhou City,Anhui Province,thereby furnishing a substantive foundation for formulating efficacious prevention and control strategies for this disease within the region. Methods : The rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and the tube agglutination test(TAT) were conducted on a total of 698 blood samples that had been collected.Epidemiological data of the tested subjects were meticulously collected,followed by statistical analyses of the obtained results.The genomic DNA of positive bacterial strains was cultured and extracted.Molecular identification and typing of the isolated strains were executed through 16 S rRNA sequencing.Sequence alignment was conducted employing Clustal W and MEGA 7,with comparisons made against the outcomes of AMOS-PCR and BCSP31-PCR. Results : A total of 66 positive samples were detected through serological assays,with a positive rate of 9.46%.The demographic cohort demonstrating the highest detection rate primarily comprised individuals engaged in live sheep slaughtering.The 1 6 S rRNA gene sequencing on ten positive strains disclosed close phylogenetic affinities with Brucella melitensis.Moreover,the phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that these strains coalesced within the same branch,the findings were in alignment with the results obtained from BCSP31-PCR and AMOS-PCR assays. Conclusion Brucella melitensis assumes a predominant position in the transmission dynamics within this area,identifying individuals involved in sheep breeding,slaughtering,vending,and related occupations as high-risk groups.The outcomes of this study offer molecular biological substantiation for the distribution of brucellosis patients in this region,contribute to genotyping endeavors and tracing studies associated with the pathogen,and concurrently verify the efficacy of 16S rRNA molecular tracing.

Objective:To analyze the diagnosis and surgical treatment of high-risk anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery (AAOCA).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From January 2016 to July 2023, 24 cases of high-risk AAOCA underwent surgical treatment in Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. There were 18 males and 6 females, operatively aged ( M (IQR)) 13 (26) years (range: 0.3 to 57.0 years). They were confirmed by cardiac ultrasound and cardiac CT, all of which had anomalous coronary running between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. There were 15 cases of the right coronary artery from the left aortic sinus of Valsalva, 6 cases of left coronary artery from the right aortic sinus of Valsalva, 3 cases of the sigle coronary artery. Only 3 patients had no obvious related symptoms (2 cases were complicated with a positive exercise stress test and 1 case with other intracardiac malformations), 21 cases had a history of chest tightness, chest pain, or syncope after exercise. Three patients suffered syncope after exercise and underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (2 cases were treated with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenerator (ECMO)). The gap from the first symptom to the diagnosis was 4.0 (11.5) months (range: 0.2 to 84.0 months). The detection rate of coronary artery abnormalities suggested by the first cardiac ultrasound was only 37.5% (9/24). Seven patients were complicated with other cardiac diseases (4 cases with congenital heart defects, 2 cases with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, 1 case with mitral valve disease). Results:All 24 patients underwent surgical treatment (23 cases underwent abnormal coronary artery unroofing, 1 case underwent coronary artery bypass grafting), and 5 patients underwent other intracardiac malformation correction at the same time. There were no death or surgery related complications in the hospital for 30 days after the operation. A patient with preoperative extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was continuously assisted by ECMO after emergency AAOCA correction and had complications such as limb ischemia necrosis and renal dysfunction after the operation. During the follow-up of 2.2 (3.3) years (range: 1 month to 7.2 years), one patient who previously underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with a stent implant experienced significant postoperative symptomatic relief, and the other discharged patients had no related symptoms.Conclusions:The accurate rate of initial diagnosis for high-risk AAOCA is still low, but the risk of cardiovascular accidents is high. For sports-related chest pain and other symptoms, more attention should be paid to the detection of AAOCA, especially for adolescents. Exercise stress testing can be helpful in evaluating the cardiovascular risk of asymptomatic AAOCA. Instant surgical treatment can achieve satisfactory curative effects.

Objective:To analyze the diagnosis and surgical treatment of high-risk anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery (AAOCA).Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. From January 2016 to July 2023, 24 cases of high-risk AAOCA underwent surgical treatment in Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. There were 18 males and 6 females, operatively aged ( M (IQR)) 13 (26) years (range: 0.3 to 57.0 years). They were confirmed by cardiac ultrasound and cardiac CT, all of which had anomalous coronary running between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. There were 15 cases of the right coronary artery from the left aortic sinus of Valsalva, 6 cases of left coronary artery from the right aortic sinus of Valsalva, 3 cases of the sigle coronary artery. Only 3 patients had no obvious related symptoms (2 cases were complicated with a positive exercise stress test and 1 case with other intracardiac malformations), 21 cases had a history of chest tightness, chest pain, or syncope after exercise. Three patients suffered syncope after exercise and underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (2 cases were treated with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenerator (ECMO)). The gap from the first symptom to the diagnosis was 4.0 (11.5) months (range: 0.2 to 84.0 months). The detection rate of coronary artery abnormalities suggested by the first cardiac ultrasound was only 37.5% (9/24). Seven patients were complicated with other cardiac diseases (4 cases with congenital heart defects, 2 cases with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, 1 case with mitral valve disease). Results:All 24 patients underwent surgical treatment (23 cases underwent abnormal coronary artery unroofing, 1 case underwent coronary artery bypass grafting), and 5 patients underwent other intracardiac malformation correction at the same time. There were no death or surgery related complications in the hospital for 30 days after the operation. A patient with preoperative extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation was continuously assisted by ECMO after emergency AAOCA correction and had complications such as limb ischemia necrosis and renal dysfunction after the operation. During the follow-up of 2.2 (3.3) years (range: 1 month to 7.2 years), one patient who previously underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with a stent implant experienced significant postoperative symptomatic relief, and the other discharged patients had no related symptoms.Conclusions:The accurate rate of initial diagnosis for high-risk AAOCA is still low, but the risk of cardiovascular accidents is high. For sports-related chest pain and other symptoms, more attention should be paid to the detection of AAOCA, especially for adolescents. Exercise stress testing can be helpful in evaluating the cardiovascular risk of asymptomatic AAOCA. Instant surgical treatment can achieve satisfactory curative effects.

Aural vertigo frequently encountered in the otolaryngology department of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） mainly involves peripheral vestibular diseases of Western medicine， such as Meniere's disease， benign paroxysmal positional vertigo， vestibular neuritis， and vestibular migraine， being a hot research topic in both TCM and Western medicine. Western medical therapies alone have unsatisfactory effects on recurrent aural vertigo， aural vertigo affecting the quality of life， aural vertigo not relieved after surgery， aural vertigo with complex causes， and children's aural vertigo. The literature records and clinical practice have proven that TCM demonstrates unique advantages in the treatment of aural vertigo. The China Association of Chinese medicine sponsored the "17th youth salon on the diseases responding specifically to TCM： Aural vertigo" and invited vertigo experts of TCM and Western medicine to discuss the difficulties and advantages of TCM diagnosis and treatment of aural vertigo. The experts deeply discussed the achievements and contributions of TCM and Western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of aural vertigo， the control and mitigation of the symptoms， and the solutions to disease recurrence. The discussion clarified the positioning and advantages of TCM treatment and provided guidance for clinical and basic research on aural vertigo.

Objective:This study aimed at reviewing surgical experiences and exploring risk factors for mortality and postoperative complications in patients with infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).Methods:This retrospective study included 74 infants who underwent conventional repair (28 cases) and sutureless repair (46 cases) in one hospital from February 2009 to December 2022. Clinical data were reviewed to assess risk factors for mortality and postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). Kaplan- Meier curves and cox regressions were applied to analyze the overall survival. Cumulative incidence curve and sub-distribution hazard models were used to evaluate postoperative PVO. Results:There were 4 early deaths and 3 late deaths, and the overall survival rate was 90.5%. A total of 12 patients complicated postoperative PVO. The median follow-up was 39.4 months ( IQR: 13.3 to 73.7 months). The overall survival rate was higher in the sutureless group than the conventional group ( P=0.003). The incidence rate of postoperative PVO in the conventional group was higher than that in the sutureless group ( P= 0.008). Risk factors for recurrent PVO included longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, the increase of direct bilirubin level and international normalized ratio level before surgical repair. Conclusion:Both sutureless and conventional repairs for patients with infracardiac TAPVC can achieve acceptable postoperative outcomes. Sutureless repair has a higher survival rate and a lower incidence of re-stenosis in pulmonary veins and anastomosis.