ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of secreted frizzled related protein 1（SFRP1） via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on calcification of vascular smooth muscle cell. MethodsPrimary human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells were transfected with SFRP1-specific small interfering RNA （siSFRP1） to knock down SFRP1 expression， transfected with lentiviral vector Lenti-Sfrp1 to overexpress SFRP1， and stimulated with 3 mmol/L sodium dihydrogen phosphate （Pi） to establish a cellular vascular calcification model. In vivo， a mouse model of acute vascular calcification was established using vitamin D₃ （VD₃） treatment. The SFRP1 inhibitor WAY-316606 was administered intraperitoneally （0.5 mg/kg daily for 7 days）. Aortic calcification was quantified by micro-computed tomography （micro-CT）. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers （RUNX2 and BMP2）， vascular smooth muscle cell contractile marker SM22α， and β-catenin protein in the Wnt signaling pathway. The severity of vascular calcification was evaluated through calcium content measurement and Alizarin Red staining. These approaches were employed to investigate the effect of SFRP1 on VSMC calcification. ResultsIn the primary human vascular smooth muscle cell calcification model and the acute vascular calcification model， the expression of SFRP1 protein was significantly down-regulated （0.30±0.02， P = 0.02； 0.15±0.03， P = 0.04）. The expression of RUNX2 （2.91±0.38， P ＜ 0.05） was significantly up-regulated and SM22α （0.48±0.08， P ＜ 0.05） were significantly down-regulated by small interfering RNA （siRNA）， whereas the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was also significantly activated （2.01±0.11， P = 0.003）. In vivo， inhibition of SFRP1 exacerbated aortic calcification and significantly up-regulated the expression of BMP2 （3.11±0.55， P = 0.04） and β-catenin （3.97±0.44， P = 0.03）. Lentiviral overexpression of SFRP1 significantly downregulated RUNX2 （1.34±0.04， P = 0.02） and β-catenin （1.06±0.06， P = 0.04） expression， while upregulating SM22α （0.74±0.03， P= 0.03）. Quantitative alizarin red staining and calcium content assays demonstrated that SFRP1 overexpression significantly inhibited vascular smooth muscle cell calcification （1.36±0.08， P=0.000 6；1.51±0.03，P=0.002 1）. ConclusionSFRP1 attenuates vascular smooth muscle cell calcification via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as the standard treatment for severe aortic stenosis, demonstrating comparable efficacy to traditional surgery in low and intermediate-risk patients. However, the bioprosthetic valves utilized in TAVR have a limited lifespan, and bioprosthetic valve failure, including calcification, rupture or infection may develop, leading to poor clinical outcomes. Elevated blood pressure has been identified as a key factor in aortic valve calcification, and its role in bioprosthetic valve failure is gaining increasing attention. Hypertension may accelerate the calcification process and exacerbate valve failure due to increased mechanical stress on the valve, activation of the renin-angiotensin system, and enhanced thrombus formation. Furthermore, elevated blood pressure interacts with prosthesis mismatch and paravalvular leak, jointly affecting valve durability. This review explores the impact of elevated blood pressure on bioprosthetic valve calcification and failure after TAVR, and emphasizes the importance of blood pressure control, optimized preoperative assessment, and appropriate valve selection in reducing valve failures.
Humans ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/adverse effects* ; Calcinosis/etiology* ; Bioprosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis/adverse effects* ; Prosthesis Failure ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Hypertension/physiopathology*

Tricuspid regurgitation associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) constitutes a significant subset of secondary tricuspid regurgitation, characterized by a multifactorial etiology involving pacing lead-mediated mechanical interference and CIED-related systemic factors. The pathogenesis of CIED-related tricuspid regurgitation encompasses direct mechanical trauma or functional disruption of the tricuspid valve apparatus by pacing leads, pacing mode-induced hemodynamic alterations, and clinical risk factors such as permanent atrial fibrillation, apical pacing, and high right ventricular pacing burden. The natural progression and clinical outcomes of CIED-related tricuspid regurgitation parallel those of tricuspid regurgitation stemming from other etiologies. Advanced imaging modalities, including echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, enable precise diagnosis and longitudinal assessment of CIED-related tricuspid regurgitation. Management strategies emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration as well as integration of preventive approaches-such as refined lead implantation techniques and tailored pacing modalities-with therapeutic interventions ranging from pharmacotherapy to surgical valve repair or replacement. This article reviews the current understanding of CIED-related tricuspid regurgitation to provide a reference for clinical practice and research.
Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Defibrillators, Implantable/adverse effects* ; Pacemaker, Artificial/adverse effects*

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

COMPERA 2.0 risk stratification has been demonstrated to be useful in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, its suitability for patients at risk for post-capillary PH or PH associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) is unclear. To investigate the use of COMPERA 2.0 in patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), who are at risk for post-capillary PH, a total of 327 eligible SAS patients undergoing TAVR at our institution between September 2015 and November 2020 were included in the study. Patients were classified into four strata before and after TAVR using the COMPERA 2.0 risk score. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression model. The study cohort had a median (interquartile range) age of 76 (70‒80) years and a pulmonary arterial systolic pressure of 33 (27‒43) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before TAVR. The overall mortality was 11.9% during 26 (15‒47) months of follow-up. Before TAVR, cumulative mortality was higher with an increase in the risk stratum level (log-rank, both P<0.001); each increase in the risk stratum level resulted in an increased risk of death (hazard ratio (HR) 2.53, 95% confidential interval (CI) 1.54‒4.18, P<0.001), which was independent of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin, albumin, and valve type (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.01‒3.07, P=0.047). Similar results were observed at 30 d after TAVR. COMPERA 2.0 can serve as a useful tool for risk stratification in patients with SAS undergoing TAVR, indicating its potential application in the management of PH-LHD. Further validation is needed in patients with confirmed post-capillary PH by right heart catheterization.
Humans ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/complications* ; Aged ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Aged, 80 and over ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Retrospective Studies

Considering the surgical risk stratification for patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis (AS), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a reliable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) (Fan et al., 2020, 2021; Lee et al., 2021). Despite the favorable clinical benefits of TAVR, stroke remains a dreaded perioperative complication (Auffret et al., 2016; Kapadia et al., 2016; Kleiman et al., 2016; Huded et al., 2019). Ischemic overt stroke, identified in 1.4% to 4.3% of patients in TAVR clinical practice, has been associated with prolonged disability and increased mortality (Auffret et al., 2016; Kapadia et al., 2016; Levi et al., 2022). The prevalence of hyperintensity cerebral ischemic lesions detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) was reported to be about 80%, which is associated with impaired neurocognitive function and vascular dementia (Vermeer et al., 2003; Barber et al., 2008; Kahlert et al., 2010).
Humans ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Stroke

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and prognosis of emergent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and to provide standardized procedural suggestion for the development of emergent TAVR in China.Methods:From January 2020 to April 2021, 12 patients who underwent emergent or salvage TAVR in the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine were retrospectively enrolled from the TORCH registry (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Single Center Registry in Chinese Population, a prospective cohort study; NCT02803294). Baseline, periprocedural and 30-day follow up data were collected. Post-operative data were compared with pre-operative data using Paired-Samples test.Results:Patients’ median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score (STS score) was 15.432%. There was a significant decrease of mean gradient after emergent TAVR procedure (1.69 m/s vs. 4.90 m/s, P<0.01). During the 30-day follow up, there were 1 patient (8.3%) died and 2 patients received permanent pacemaker implantation. No disabling stroke, acute kidney injury, major vascular complication occurred during the first month after emergent TAVR. Among the survival patients, there was a significant releasing of heart failure symptoms to New York Heart Association function stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ in 81.8% patients at 30-day follow up. Left ventricular ejection fraction also improved significantly from (47.4±9.5)% to 58.8±8.0% ( P= 0.026). The mean gradient were (1.57±0.30) cm 2 and no patients had a moderate or severe paravalvular leakage. Besides, a significant decrease of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (1 089.9 pg/mL vs. 12 215.5 pg/mL , P=0.001) and troponin T (0.020 ng/mL vs. 0.337 ng/mL, P=0.003) were found at 30 days after emergent TAVR. Conclusions:For patients with severe aortic stenosis and acute cardiac decompensated, emergent TAVR is a safe and effective rescue treatment.

Objective:To analysis the mid-stage prognosis of transapical aortic valve implantation(TA-TAVI) using J-Valve? system for the treatment of high-risk aortic regurgitation(AR) patients.Methods:Data of 25 patients with aortic regurgitation who had underwent transapical aortic valve implantation using J-Valve? system were collected in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of ZheJiang University from September 2016 to June 2020 . Analysis and summarize their postoperative all-cause mortality, the incidence of adverse events and the improvement in cardiac function.Results:There were 25 patients, including 19 males, the age rage from 59-83 years, the average age was(72.3±27.11) years. The levels of aortic regurgitation was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography preoperatively, showed that severe AR accounted for 88%. The New York Heart Association(NYHA) of grade 3 or above was 92%. The most common comorbidity was hypertension, accounted for 68%. Coronary heart disease and history of cardiac surgery was 5 and 3 relatively in this study. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons score before surgery was 1.511%-27.674%, the average of STS score was 4.27(2.914-6.033)%. Successful J-Valve implantation was obtained in all 25 cases, no conversion to thoracotomy. After surgery, 2 patients required permanent pacemaker implantation, 1 patient needed continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) due to acute kidney injury, 1 occurred moderate or above paravalvular leak. The results showed good therapeutic effects in early-stage, low incidences of adverse events. The continued improvement of cardiac function and ventricular reverse remodeling could be observed in mid-stage.Conclusion:In this study, we can summarize that high-risk patients with aortic regurgitation treated with transapical aortic valve implantation using J-Valve? system can acquire great perioperative safety and mid-stage prognosis.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a viable treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis regardless of its surgical risk stratification (Otto et al., 2021). Aortic angulation is usually measured as the angle between the horizontal and the aortic annulus planes based on preproced‍ural multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) (Al-Lamee et al., 2011). Extremely horizontal aorta, defined as an aortic angulation greater than 70°, is an unfavorable anatomic structure that poses particular technical challenges for TAVR. Abramowitz et al. (2016) have proved that an extremely horizontal aorta increased the risk of procedural complications, such as lower device success rates, more moderate or even severe perivalvular leakage (PVL), and the need for second valve implantation. Because of the long stent frame, inflexibility, and non-steerability, it is challenging to pass the delivery system of self-expanding valves (SEVs) through an extremely horizontal aorta. As a result, patients with an extremely horizontal aorta have always been excluded from the clinical trials of TAVR, and transfemoral (TF)-TAVR with SEV is considered as an "off-label" use of TAVR (Adams et al., 2014; Kaneko et al., 2020). Herein, we present a technically difficult case, in which a patient with an extremely horizontal aorta underwent TF-TAVR with SEV by applying a unique apical-to-femoral rail strategy.
Aorta ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement