Mitral valve replacement is one of the most common heart valve surgeries in China. In recent years, with the increase in degenerative valve diseases, older patients, and the progress of anti-calcification technology of biological valves, the proportion of mitral valve biological valve replacement has been increasing year by year. After the damage of traditional mitral valve biological valves, re-operation of valve replacement with thoracotomy is required. However, the adhesion between the heart and sternum, as well as the damage caused by cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest, can cause significant trauma to elderly patients and those with multiple organ dysfunction, leading to increased mortality and complication rates. In recent years, interventional valve surgery, especially transcatheter valve-in-valve surgery, has developed rapidly. This procedure can correct the damaged mitral valve function without stopping the heart, but there are still many differences between its technical process and conventional aortic valve replacement surgery. Therefore, organizing and writing multicenter expert recommendations on the technical process of transcatheter valve-in-valve surgery for damaged mitral valve biological valves is of great significance for the training and promotion of this technology.

The minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery developed rapidly in last decades. In order to promote the development of minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery in China, the Chinese Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery Committee (CMICS) has gradually standardized the collection and report of the data of Chinese minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery since its establishment. The total operation volume of minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery in China has achieved substantial growth with a remarkable popularization of concepts of minimally invasive medicine in 2019. The data of Chinese minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery in 2019 was reported as a paper for the first time, which may provide reference to cardiovascular surgeons and related professionals.

Objective     To report our experience with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in patients undergoing transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to determine perioperative predictors for ERAS failure. Methods     Between May 2018 and January 2019, 80 patients undergoing TAVI in our hospital were recruited. Among them, 40 patients (24 males, 16 females, aged 73.0±5.0 years) successfully received ERAS, defined as successful extubation in operating room (an ERAS group) and the other 40 patients (28 males, 12 females, aged 73.0±7.0 years, a non-ERAS group) failed to perform ERAS.  Results     Compared with the non-ERAS group, patients in the ERAS group were associated with a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications (30.0% vs. 52.5%, P=0.04), shorter postoperative ICU stay (2.2±0.4 d vs. 4.0±4.8 d, P=0.00) and hospital stay (7.0±2.3 d vs. 9.5±4.8 d, P=0.00), and less medical cost (311±20 thousand yuan vs. 347±80 thousand yuan, P=0.00). Independent predictors of ERAS failure were poor preoperative heart function and elevated B-type natriuretic peptides.  Conclusion     ERAS protocol is feasible and effective in patients undergoing TAVI. Poor preoperative heart function is an independent predictor of failure in early extubation which, in turn, is associated with prolonged ICU and hospital stay and dramatic worsening of patient outcomes.

Objective     To discuss the key points of anesthesia for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) surgery. Methods     We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of 70 patients who underwent TAVI in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital from March 2014 to October 2015. There were 39 males and 31 females with an average age of 73.7±4.5 years. The perioperative preparation and anesthesia points of TAVI were summarized. Results     All of the 70 included patients were aged and at high risk severe comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease and stroke. The aortic stenosis and regurgitation occurred in 39 and 31 patients respectively. No patients died during the surgery. The total success rate was 95.7%. Conclusion     TAVI is a complex procedure for high risk patients and need more attention during anesthesia. The successful conduction of the procedure requires the whole team to prepare carefully and cooperate closely.

BACKGROUNDIntegrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) is increasingly used for the preoperative nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of PET/CT in comparison with CT in detection of nodal metastasis and preoperative nodal staging in patients with NSCLC, and to analyze the causes of the PET/CT false-negative and false-positive results.

METHODSConsecutive patients with pathologically proven NSCLC who underwent staging using PET/CT from July 2008 to February 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Nodal staging was pathologically confirmed on tissue specimens obtained at thoracotomy. The accuracy of PET/CT and CT in the assessment of intrathoracic nodal involvement was determined using histological results as the reference standard. Logistic regression was used to define the causes of the false-negative and false-positive results.

RESULTSA total of 528 lymph node stations were evaluated in 101 patients. Lymph nodes were positive for malignancy in 43 out of 101 patients (42.6%), and 101 out of 528 nodal stations (19.2%). PET/CT was significantly more accurate for nodal staging than CT. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of PET/CT for detecting nodal metastasis were 51.5%, 95.8%, 74.3%, 89.3%, and 87.3% and the corresponding data by CT were 45.5%, 87.1%, 45.5%, 87.1%, and 79.2%, respectively. PET/CT confers significantly higher specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy than CT in detecting nodal metastasis. False-negative results by PET/CT are significantly associated with smaller lymph node size, whereas false-positive results are related to a combination of inflammatory disorders and larger lymph node size.

CONCLUSIONPET/CT confers significantly higher accuracy than CT in nodal staging, and is more specific and accurate than CT in detecting nodal metastasis but has a low sensitivity and high false-negative rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Preoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This study was aimed to compare the differences of adhesion properties of endothelial cells (EC) from arteries (AEC), veins (VEC) and capillaries (MVEC) under shear stress condition, and to explore whether they can get the same adhesive ability as graft in similar shear stress conditions. With mended parallel plate flow apparatus and peristalsis pump providing fluid shear stress used, endothelial culture models were established in vitro with the same environmental factors as steady culture. To compare the adhesion among three kinds of endothelial cells under dynamic condition and static condition, the dynamic change of cytoskeletal actin filaments and the effects of different adhesive proteins coated on the adhesion of EC to the glass were studied. The cultured endothelial cells under flow conditions were extended and arranged along the direction of flow. The adhesive ability from high to low under static condition were AEC, MVEC and VEC (VEC compared with AEC or MVEC, P < 0.05), sequentially. The adhesion of endothelial cells from variety sources under dynamic culture condition was significantly increased than that of the static groups. The ratio of cell retention was not significantly different between AEC and MVEC. But VEC was significantly different (P < 0.05) compared with AEC or MVEC. The actin filaments (F-actin) were bundled together and arranged along the direction of flow after fluid culture. Dense peripheral band (DPB) gradually disappeared and distinct stress fibers were formed, which even interconnected to form a whole in the MVEC. The adhesion of AEC, VEC and MVEC under shear stress conditions are more significantly increased than those under the static culture conditions, and the MVEC can achieve the same adhesion as AEC.
Arteries ; cytology ; Capillaries ; cytology ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeleton ; physiology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Shear Strength ; Stress, Mechanical ; Veins ; cytology

Lining the inner surface of the walls of blood vessels, Endothelial cells (ECs) go beyond providing selective membrane to maintain the natural structure and function of vessels; they also synthesize varieties of vasoactive proteins to modify the pressure shift in the local flow field and hence they adapt the physiological activities of vessels. In this experiment, ELISA and RT-PCR technologies were adopted. We set up five different pressure loaded ECs groups,one non-activated cultured ECs group and one single shear stress loaded ECs group. Such a design was intended to demonstrate the effects of pressure shift on the expression of vasoactive protein synthesized by ECs [Endothelin-1(ET-1), endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS), Cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor(VEGF)]. Our aim was to elucidate the mechanism of the pressure shift mediated dysfunction in ECs and the related dose-effect relationship. Based on these data, we suggest that ECs could modify the expression of vasoactive protein for adapting to the pressure shift in the local flow field; while in the process of--40 cmH2O induced ECs' dysfunction, the vasoactive proteins eNOS, COX-2 and VEGF play an important role in protecting ECs.
Cells, Cultured ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Endothelin-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pressure ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Background and purpose: Currently endoscopic ultrasonography is clinically accepted for preoperative staging of gastric cancers. Endoscopic raucosai resection (EMR) and endoscopic subraucosal dissection (ESD) have been widely applied in the treatment of early gastric cancer. We need to improve the accuracy of pre-operative staging of gastric cancers, especially of early gastric cancers. This paper was to investigate the clinical significance of high frequency endoscopic ultrasound mini probe (UMP) in the preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer. Methods: Both UMP and MSCT were performed in 63 patients with pathologically proven gastric cancer frora Oct. 2008 to Apr.2009, and the results of UMP and MSCT were compared with surgical pathologic findings. Results: The accuracy of UMP and MSCT in T staging was 82.26% (51/62) and 88.71% (55/62) respectively, and there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). The accuracy of UMP and MSCT for early gastric cancer was 100.00% and 88.89% respectively.The accuracy of UMP and MSCT for advanced gastric cancer was 79.25% and 88.68% respectively. Conclusion: UMP appears to have a substantial diagnostic value for early stage gastric cancer. It is the approach of choice for superficial lesions.

The changes of pressure in local circulation flow field and the alterations of biorheological characteristics in Endothelial cells (ECs) would follow the geometric changes of cardiovascular wall structures and would further result in distinct pathophysiological changes of endothelial cellular proliferation and vitality. This experiment is designed to observe the effects of pressure shift on ECs proliferation, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-associated protein, to elucidate the influences of pressure shift on the vitality of ECs, and to shed light on the dose-effect relationship concerned. By adopting flow cytometery, transmission electron microscopy, real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting, we set the levels of pressure loading ECs groups and set down the non-activated cultured ECs,single shear stress loading ECs as the control group for studies on the ultra-structure alterations, on the distribution of cell cycle and the changes of proliferation and apoptosis in ECs. We also investigated the changes of the expression of Caspase-3 gene and the changing regularity of P53, Bcl-2 and Fas protein at the translation level. When ECs being exposed to decreased pressure shift (-40 cmH2O), distinct apoptosis in ECs could be observed and a pattern of duration-dependence was seen. The expressions of P53, Bcl-2 and Fas proteins are essential for regulating the genesis and process of ECs apoptosis induced by -40 cmH2O pressure.
Apoptosis ; physiology ; Apoptosis Inducing Factor ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pressure ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rheology ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology