Aortic intramural hematoma and pulmonary embolism are two rapidly progressive and life-threatening diseases. A 65-year-old male patient with descending aortic intramural hematoma and pulmonary embolism underwent pulmonary embolectomy and descending aortic stent-graft placement, with good postoperative results.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of prednisone combined with standard quadruple antituberculosis therapy (HRZE) in the treatment of tuberculous pleurisy.Methods:A prospective study was conducted involving 120 patients with tuberculous pleurisy who were admitted to the Shaanxi Provincial Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Hospital from February 2021 to February 2023. The patients were randomly assigned to a study group and a control group, with 60 patients in each group, using a computer-generated randomization method. The control group received HRZE alone, while the study group received prednisone therapy and HRZE. The efficacy, clinical indicators, adverse reactions, and serum inflammatory factor levels were compared between the two groups.Results:The total response rate in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group [93.33% (56/60) vs. 78.33% (47/60), χ2 = 5.55, P < 0.05). In the study group, the time for clinical symptom improvement was (10.34 ± 1.65) days, the time for pleural effusion absorption was (21.37 ± 4.16) days, the pleural thickness measured (2.15 ± 0.35) mm, and the duration of hospitalization was (23.19 ± 4.56) days. They were significantly shorter or smaller than those in the control group [(13.27 ± 2.30) days, (27.25 ± 4.95) days, (2.62 ± 0.40) mm, (28.42 ± 5.60) days, t = 8.02, 7.04, 6.85, 5.61, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (χ2 = 2.91, P > 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, all serum inflammatory factors improved in both groups compared with baseline levels. In the study group, levels of interleukin-6 [(90.37 ± 12.05) ng/L] and interleukin-18 [(270.94 ± 14.58) ng/L] were significantly lower than those in the control group [(110.59 ± 16.90) ng/L, (296.10 ± 25.29) ng/L, t = 7.55, 6.68, both P < 0.05]. Levels of interleukin-10 [(78.91 ± 8.25) ng/L] and soluble interleukin-2 receptor [(1875.82 ± 359.23) pg/L] in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(70.40 ± 7.16) ng/L, (1566.87 ± 311.02) pg/L, t = -6.03, -5.04, both P < 0.05]. Conclusion:The combination of prednisone and HRZE demonstrates good efficacy and safety, and it is beneficial for improving inflammatory factors.

Objective:To analyze and evaluate the safety and efficacy of a Chinese domestically manufactured Heart Con-type implantable third-generation magnetic and hydrodynamic levitation left ventricular assist device(LVAD) for the treatment of end-stage heart failure(ESHF), by reporting the results of eleven-center clinical trial on 50 cases.Methods:This study was a multicenter clinical trial, designed by means of prospective, multicenter and single-group target value. 50 subjects with ESHF were competitively enrolled and treated with HeartCon as the LVAD in eleven centers. The primary efficacy measure was survival, defined as either the subjects experiencing the transition to heart transplantation(HT) or myocardial recovery assisted by the device within 90 days, or as successfully assisted by the LVAD for full 90 days after implantation. The target survival rate was 60%, other observations included implantation success rate, mortality, pump failure needing replacement or emergency heart transplantation.Results:All enrolled 50 patients received LVAD implantation successfully, 46 survived with the pump for 90 days, 1 patient transitioned to heart transplantation, and 3 patients experienced pump thrombosis, within which 2 patients underwent pump replacement and continued to live with the pump for 90 days, and the other one received emergency heart transplantation. There were no dropout subjects. The survival rate at full 90 days after HeartCon implantation was 100%. The survival rates with pump in the full set analysis and the protocol set analysis were 96.00% and 95.92% respectively, which were higher than the target value of 60%. The differences were both statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:The results of the multicenter clinical trial with the largest sample size in China using domestically manufactured third-generation LVAD has demonstrated that, HeartCon is a safe and effective LVAD to treat ESHF patients.

Objective    To explore the differential expression of Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) in type A aortic dissection at diverse ages. Methods    The expression of SIRT1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in aortic tissue of the patients with type A aortic dissection (an aortic dissection group) and coronary heart disease (a control group) from 2019 to 2020 in the First Hospital of China Medical University was analyzed. In each group, the patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to the age (a younger subgroup, <45 years; a middle age subgroup, 45-60 years; an elderly subgroup, > Compared with the control group, SIRT1 protein expression decreased significantly in the aortic dissection group (the younger group: 0.64±0.18 vs. 1.18±0.47; the middle age group: 0.43±0.26 vs. 0.69±0.32; the elderly group: 0.31±0.24 vs. 0.45±0.29, P<0.01). The Western blotting results showed that the expression of SIRT1 protein in the aortic dissection group decreased with age (P<0.01). The MCP-1 protein expression of younger and middle age patients in the aortic dissection group was increased compared with that in the control group (the younger group: 0.65±0.27 vs. 0.38±0.22; the middle age group: 1.08±0.30 vs. 0.46±0.36, P<0.001). MCP-1 expression increased with age (P<0.01). The result of immunohistochemical staining for SIRT1 protein was similar to that of Western blotting. Conclusion    The expression of SIRT1 decreases in patients with aortic dissection disease, and declines with age. SIRT1 may play an important role in the treatment and screening of type A aortic dissection.60 years). The quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunochemical stainning were used to detect the mRNA or protein expression of SIRT1 and MCP-1. Results    A total of 60 patients were included in each group, including 79 males and 41 females. There were 20 patients in the yonger, middle age and elderly subgroups for the two groups, respectively. Compared with the control group, the expression of SIRT1 mRNA decreased in the aortic dissection group (the younger subgroup: 4.54±1.52 vs. 8.78±2.57; the middle age group: 2.70±1.50 vs. 5.74±1.07; the elderly group: 1.41±1.33 vs. 3.09±1.14, P<0.001). Meanwhile, SIRT1 mRNA in the aortic dissection group declined with age (P<0.01).

Objective    To evaluate the preoperative risk factors for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ASTAAD) patients in our country by collecting multi-center data. Methods    We consecutively enrolled 700 patients who underwent surgery for ASTAAD in the multi-center hospital database from January 2018 to January 2020. According to the ascending aorta size (AAS), the patients were divided into two groups: a group AAS≥55 mm and a group AAS< 55 mm. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the related preoperative risk factors for the onset of ASTAAD. Results    According to the exclusion criteria, a total of 621 patients were finally enrolled, including 453 males and 168 females with an average age of 48.24±11.51 years, and 509 (81.94%) patients had AAS< 55 mm. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses showed that smoking, hypertension, preoperative cardiac troponin I, and left ventricular ejection fraction were related to the occurrence of ASTAAD. The mortality rate of the patient during hospitalization was 13.04% (81 patients). Conclusion    In clinical practice, various preoperative risk factors affect ASTAAD patients, which should be paid attention to. Comprehensive evaluation and an individualized analysis of patients and timely prevention and intervention improve patients' survival rate.

Objective:To investigate the preoperative ascending aorta diameter in patients with acute type A aortic dissection in the Chinese population, compares and analyze the differences in preoperative blood biomarkers, and evaluate the impact of the preoperative ascending aorta diameter in this part of patients on the short-term prognosis of patients.Methods:A collection of 641 patients with acute type A aortic dissection who were enrolled in the " Acute Aortic Syndrome High-Risk Early Warning and Intervention Study" project from January 2018 to January 2020 were collected. Divide the patients into two groups (group Ⅰ<55 mm, group Ⅱ≥55 mm) according to the preventive intervention value of ascending aorta diameter recommended by the guideline for studying preoperative ascending aorta diameter difference in blood biomarkers and the influence of ascending aorta diameter on the short-term prognosis of patients. All patients had CT scans to assess the diameter of the ascending aorta before operation.Results:In this study, all patients with acute type A aortic dissection had a mean preoperative ascending aorta diameter of (46.9±9.7)mm. The preoperative ascending aorta diameter of all patients was less than 55 mm, accounted for 84.1%. Male patients were more likely to have aortic dissection than females; most patients' age was less than 60 years old. The preoperative blood inflammatory index counts were higher in the ascending aorta diameter ≥55 mm group. However, the long-term prognosis of patients with different ascending aorta diameters before surgery was not apparent in this study. The preoperative survival rate and short-term survival rate of patients with ascending aorta diameter <55 mm were higher than those of other groups, but the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusion:In patients with acute type A aortic dissection, the diameter of the ascending aorta is usually less than 55 mm. Moreover, the blood inflammatory index counts are high in the preoperative ascending aorta diameter ≥55 mm group. Meanwhile, patients with smaller ascending aorta diameter have better survival rate and short-term prognosis.

Objective    To investigate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), to explore the risk factors and prognosis of postoperative AKI, and to establish a relatively accurate preoperative risk assessment strategy and prevention measures. Methods    The clinical data of 252 patients who underwent deep hypothermic circulatory surgery in our hospital from January 2014 to October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 179 males and 73 females with an average age of 53.6±11.6 years. The patients were divided into an AKI group and a non-AKI group according to the AKI diagnostic criteria developed by kidney disease improving global outcomes (KDIGO). The data of the two groups were compared, and the risk factors related to AKI after DHCA were analyzed by single factor and multivariate logistic regression. Results    Among the 252 patients enrolled, the incidence of AKI was 69.0%. The postoperative hospital mortality rate was 7.9% (20/252). The univariate analysis showed that the patient's age and body mass index (BMI)≥28 kg/m2, left ventricular ejection fraction<55%, preoperative serum creatinine (Scr)≥110 μmol/L, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), Cleveland score and intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass time, intraoperative infusion of red blood cells, intraoperative infusion of plasma, postoperative  mechanical ventilation time≥40 h and other indicators were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05); multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was significant difference between the two groups in age (OR=1.040, 95% CI 1.017–1.064, P=0.001), BMI≥28 kg/m2 (OR=2.335, 95%CI 1.093–4.990, P=0.029), eGFR<90 mL/(min·1.73 m2) (OR=2.044, 95%CI 1.082–3.863, P=0.028), preoperative Cleveland score (OR=1.300, 95%CI 1.054–1.604, P=0.014) and intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR=1.009, 95%CI 1.002–1.017, P=0.014). Conclusion    The incidence of AKI is higher after DHCA. Patients with postoperative AKI have longer hospital stay and higher risk of hospitalization death. The age of patients, BMI≥28 kg/m2, eGFR<90 mL/(min·1.73) m2, Cleveland score, intraoperative extracorporeal circulation time are independent risk factors for AKI after DHCA.

Objective To investigate the carrying status and characteristics of Clostridium difficile isolated from infants.Methods Two hundred and thirty-eight stool specimens were collected from infant younger than 1 year old,that were hospitalized or outpatient from August to November 2015.Immunochromatography targeted GDH and toxin A&B of C.difficile was used for C.difficile screening,and those positive specimens were inoculated in CDIF and anaerobic culture.C.difficile isolates were genotyped by using slpA sequence typing (slpA ST),and tcdA,tcdB,cdtA and cdtB of C.difficile isolates were detected by PCR.Results Fifty C.difficile strains were isolated from 238 stool samples,and the isolated rates of C.difficile from <3 months,3 months to <6 months,and 6 months to 1 years old groups were 9.3%,17.6% and 27.3%(χ2=6.940,P=0.031<0.05),respectively.52.0%(26/50) of the C.difficile isolates were toxigenic,and 69.2% (18/26) toxigenic isolates harbored tcdA+tcdB+cdtA-cdtB-.Fifty C.difficile isolates were genotyped as 11 slpA STs,slpA ST fr-02 and kr-02 were the commonest genotypes in toxigenic C.difficile isolates;however,that was slpA ST xr-03 in non-toxigenic isolates.Conclusion High C.difficile carriage is found in infants younger than 1 year old,and more than half of C.difficile isolates are toxigenic.Most of toxigenic isolates harbored toxin A and B.The genotype of C.difficile isolates is different between toxigenic isolates and non-toxigenic isolates.

Objective: To observe the perioperative changes of serum thrombomodulin in patients with and without cardiogenic shock undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Methods: A total of 66 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery between June and December 2015 in our hospital were included in this study.The patients were divided into non-cardiogenic shock group (n=51) and shock group (n=15) according to the absence or presence of cardiogenic shock.The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed.Arterial blood samples were collected immediately after anesthesia, and at 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery.The levels of serum thrombomodulin were tested with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: (1)The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher (64.7%(33/51) vs. 20.0%(3/15), P<0.01), while prevalence of myocardial infarction was significantly lower (41.2%(21/51)vs. 100%(15/15), P<0.01) in non-cardiogenic shock group than in cardiogenic shock group.(2)The peak plasma creatinine level, troponin I level and creatine kinase MB level were significantly lower in the non-cardiogenic shock group than in the cardiogenic shock group ((88.5±36.7) μmol/L vs. (122.6±71.1) μmol/L, 1.3(0.2, 2.7) μg/L vs. 16.4(5.8, 23.4) μg/L and (18.8±4.7) μg/L vs.(49.3±15.9) μg/L, respectively, all P<0.05). (3)Mechanical ventilation time was significantly longer (11.5 (9.0, 18.0) hours vs. 20.0 (8.5, 82.5) hours, P=0.02), and frequency of intra-aortic balloon pump use (0 vs. 100%, P<0.01) was significantly higher in the cardiogenic shock group than in the non-cardiogenic shock group.(4) Prevalence of atrial fibrillation (5.9%(3/51) vs. 80.0%(12/15)) and myocardial infarction (19.6%(10/51)vs. 93.3%(14/15)) that occurred during and after surgery was significantly lower in the non-cardiogenic shock group than in the shock group(all P<0.01). (5)The serum thrombomodulin concentration was similar among various time point in the non-cardiogenic shock group: 3.30(2.68, 7.44), 4.09(2.95, 7.18), 4.35(2.68, 8.22), 3.50(2.95, 8.00), 3.41(2.60, 5.97), 3.30(2.65, 5.42)and 3.94(2.82, 5.60) μg/L, taken immediately after anesthesia, and at 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery respectively, and was 2.44(1.97, 2.67), 2.21(1.93, 2.83), 2.64(2.29, 2.67), 2.84(2.26, 2.94), 3.35(2.43, 4.05), 2.76(2.73, 2.97) and 3.81(2.96, 5.96)μg/L respectively, in the cardiac shock group (all P>0.05). The serum thrombomodulin levels at 4 and 8 hours after surgery were higher in the non-cardiogenic shock group than cardiogenic shock group(all P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with the non-cardiogenic shock group, the peak serum thrombomodulin level appears later and recovers slower in cardiogenic shock patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of mild hypothermia and the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in postcardiac surgical patients with severe heart failure. Methods Twelve patients took combination therapy of IABP and mild hypothermia after cardiac surgery, which did not improve the low cardiac output with massive doses of catecholamine, were included in this study. The values of cardiac index (CI), mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), urine volume and creati-nine (Cr) were measured before and after treatment. Results After combination therapy of IABP and mild hypothermia, the value of CI was improved obviously [L/(min·m2):2.4±0.5 vs 1.6±0.2], the value of SvO2 increased (0.65±0.07 vs 0.52±0.05 ), urine output increased obviously [mL/(kg·h):2.9±1.9 vs 1.2±0.9 ] and the value of Cr decreased obviously (mmol/L:95±10 vs 282±25 ). Conclusion The combination therapy of mild hypothermia and IABP is an effective and simple procedure for the postcardiac surgical patients with severe heart failure.