Objective:To investigate the values of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic parameters in predicting pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in chronic pulmonary thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods:A total of 141 patients diagnosed with CTEPH in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2015 to December 2022 were included. Two-dimensional echocardiographic indicators reflecting PVR were constructed according to the calculation formula of PVR: echocardiographic estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP Echo)/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd), echocardiographic estimated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP Echo)/LVIDd. sPAP Echo/left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), sPAP Echo/left ventricular cardiac output (LVCO) were measured by three-dimensional echocardiography. The correlations between two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic ratios and invasive PVR were then analyzed using the Spearman correlation method. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, cut-off values for the ratios were generated to identify patients with PVR>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5. Pre- and postoperative hemodynamics and echocardiographic data were analyzed, as well as the correlation between the reduction rate of the echocardiographic index and PVR in 54 patients who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). Results:sPAP Echo/LVIDd, sPAP Echo/LVEDV and sPAP Echo/LVCO were moderately correlated with PVR( rs=0.62, 0.52, 0.63, both P<0.001). The ratio of sPAP Echo to LVEDV, when greater than or equal to 1.41, had a sensitivity of 0.800 and a specificity of 0.930 for determining PVR >1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.860, P<0.001). Similarly, the ratio of sPAP Echo to LVIDd, when greater than or equal to 2.14, had a sensitivity of 0.647 and a specificity of 0.861 for determining PVR >1000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.830, P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd significantly decreased after PEA (both P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd reduction rate (ΔsPAP Echo/LVIDd and ΔmPAP Echo/LVIDd) were significantly correlated with PVR reduction rate (ΔPVR), respectively ( rs=0.61, 0.63, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Two-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd and three-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVEDV can be used to noninvasively estimate PVR in CTEPH patients. The conventional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd is convenient and reproducibly suitable for monitoring the improvement of PVR before and after treatment, and its ratio of 2.14 can predict the significant increase of PVR in CTEPH patients (>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5).

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with end-stage heart failure who receive heart transplant under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.Methods:The clinical data of 12 pediatric patients who received heart transplant with ECMO support in the Seventh Medical Center of Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital and Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital, from January 2019 to December 2023 was collected. The data included sex, age, weight, diagnosis, pre-ECMO lactate level, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), and preoperative ECMO running time. Surgical data included cold ischemia time of the donor heart, cardiopulmonary bypass time, intraoperative use of immunosuppressant, postoperative use of ECMO, duration of postoperative ECMO, rate of successful weaning from ECMO, and survival discharge rate. The paired t-test was performed to compare cardiac function indices before and after left ventricular decompression. Results:The 12 patients ranged in age from 1.1 to 15.8 years, and weighted from 8 to 63 kg. Ten children were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, one with myocardial underdensification, and one with a novel heterozygous mutation of the SCN5A gene causing overlap syndrome complicated by fatal arrhythmia. Before ECMO, the lactate ranged from 0.6 to>15.0 mmol/L, the LVEF from 6.5% to 43%, and VIS from 3 to 108. Four patients underwent left ventricular decompression supported by preoperative ECMO, and their pulse pressure was significantly increased after decompression ((17.8±2.1) vs. (9.8±1.5) mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa, t=11.31, P=0.001), while there was no apparent change in LVEF ((26.8±4.4)% vs. (24.9±4.9)%, t=1.75, P=0.178). A total of 7 children received a second run of ECMO after surgery and 3 of them successfully weaned off ECMO and survived to discharge. In the entire cohort, 10 were successfully weaned from ECMO and 8 survived to discharge. Conclusions:For children with end-stage heart failure supported by ECMO, left ventricular decompression can significantly improve pulse pressure. These patients will eventually require heart transplantation.

Objective:To investigate the practical efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound(LIPUS)and its effects on hemodynamics in patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.Methods:As a single-center randomized controlled study, 66 elderly patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris treated at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between November 2021 and August 2022 were consecutively recruited.Participants were divided into an ultrasound group and a control group via the random number table method, with 33 in each group.Both groups were given conventional drug treatment, and the ultrasound group was supplemented with LIPUS treatment.After 20 sessions of treatment, the clinical efficacy, blood lipid levels, inflammatory factors and hemodynamics from noninvasive monitoring before and after treatment were compared.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in baseline data between the two groups( P>0.05). After treatment, marked effectiveness was seen in 12 cases(36.4%), effectiveness in 18 cases(54.5%), ineffectiveness in 2 cases(6.1%)and aggravation in 1 case(3%)in the ultrasound group, with a total effectiveness rate of 90.9 %.In the control group, marked effectiveness was seen 2 cases(6.1%), effectiveness in 19 cases(57.6%)and ineffectiveness in 9 cases(27.3%), with a total effectiveness rate of 63.6%.Statistically significant favorable results were achieved in the ultrasound treatment group, compared with the control group( P<0.05). Also, compared with the control group, patients in the ultrasound group showed lower total cholesterol[(2.31±1.03)mmol/L vs.(4.36±0.76)mmol/L, P<0.01], decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol[(1.24±0.70)mmol/L vs.(1.74±0.44)mmol/L, P<0.01], decreased triglycerides[(1.04±0.40)mmol/L vs.(1.28±0.49)mmol/L, P<0.05], decreased apolipoprotein B[(0.67±0.25)g/L vs.(0.90±0.14)g/L, P<0.01], decreased interleukin-6[(2.87±2.52)ng/L vs.(4.66±3.30)ng/L, P<0.05], and decreased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein[(1.04±1.41)mg/L vs.(3.80±5.78)mg/L, P<0.05]. Concerning hemodynamics, there was an increase in cardiac output[(4.92±1.05)L/min vs.(4.39±0.97)L/min, P<0.05], stroke volume[(75.85±17.50)ml/beat vs.(66.97±15.57)ml/beat, P<0.05], cardiac index[(37.50±7.14)ml·beat -1·m -2vs.(43.29±7.96)ml·beat -1·m -2, P<0.01], and stroke volume index[(3.05±0.45)L/min 2vs.(2.51±0.43)L/min 2, P<0.01], but a decrease in systemic vascular resistance[(1 358.29±325.23)dyne·s -1·cm -5vs.(1 617.94±526.27)dyne·s -1·cm -5, P<0.05], total vascular resistance[(4.07±24.30)% vs.(21.32±31.94)%, P<0.05], and average heart rate[(63.43±7.42)beats/min vs.(69.11±10.89)beats/min, P<0.05]. Conclusions:LIPUS treatment can improve symptoms, blood lipid profiles, inflammatory factors and hemodynamics in patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.It is a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for elderly patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the status and effect of influenza vaccination among some elderly population and their cognition of influenza vaccination in Shenzhen Pingshan district， and to provide reference for improving the vaccination willingness of the elderly population. METHODS Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the status quo of influenza vaccination among some elderly populations in Pingshan district； the Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influential factors of influenza vaccination； the serum antibody levels of the elderly population were analyzed before and after influenza vaccination. RESULTS Totally 140 effective survey question naires were collected from elderly. The elderly who participated in the survey had a better cognition of the main transmission mode of the influenza virus， 122 people answered correctly， and the accuracy was 87.1%. Age， knowledge that influenza vaccine should be given once a year and knowledge of Shenzhen’s free vaccination policy were the promoting factors for influenza vaccination behavior among the elderly. The positive rates of the four influenza antibodies （type A H1， type A H3， type B Victoria， type B Yamagata） after inoculation were higher than before inoculation， with statistical significance. The antibody titer levels after vaccination were generally higher than before. CONCLUSIONS The positive rate of antibody testing and antibody titer in the elderly population after influenza vaccination are higher than before， which effectively protects the health of the elderly population. It is necessary to continuously improve the awareness of the elderly population about influenza vaccination and free vaccination policies.

This study aims to develop a method to detect bovine multi-cytokines based on flow cytometry. Previously we have prepared and screened monoclonal antibodies against bovine cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IP-10 and MCP-1. These bovine cytokine monoclonal antibodies were fluorescently labeled, and the combination of antibody and cell surface molecules were used to develop the method for detecting bovine multi-cytokines. Subsequently, the developed method was used to determine the cytokine expression profile of Mycobacterium bovis BCG infected bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, and evaluate the cytokine expression level of peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells of tuberculosis-positive cattle. The bovine multi-cytokine flow cytometry detection method can effectively determine the cytokine expression of BCG-infected bovine peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Among them, the expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α continue to increase after 40 hours of infection, while the expression levels of IP-10 and MCP-1 decreased. The combined detection of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α on CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of cattle can effectively distinguish tuberculosis-positive and tuberculosis-negative samples. This method may facilitate evaluating the level of cellular immune response after bovine pathogen infection and vaccine injection.
Cattle ; Animals ; Cytokines ; BCG Vaccine/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2 ; Flow Cytometry/methods* ; Chemokine CXCL10/metabolism* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Tuberculosis ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism*

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the effect of enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)on left ventricular function in elderly patients with coronary slow flow phenomenon(CSFP)using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(2D-STE).Methods:This prospective case-control study included 30 patients aged ≥60 years with no stenotic lesions in the coronary arteries but with slow blood flow phenomenon in more than one major coronary artery who were treated at the Department of Geriatrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, between December 2017 and December 2018, and were divided into a medication group with 16 participants and a medication plus EECP group with 14 participants, using the numerical lottery method.Patients in the group treated with EECP received 6-week 36-h EECP therapy in addition to lifestyle modification and drug treatment.Fourteen patients with normal coronary blood flow served as the control group.Conventional echocardiography and 2D-STE were used to evaluate changes in left ventricular function in the CSF patients before and after drug treatment and EECP.Results:Compared with the control group before treatment, patients in the drug treatment group and the drug treatment plus EECP group showed a decrease in mitral annular early diastolic velocity( P<0.01), an increase in the ratio of peak mitral early diastolic blood flow velocity to the mean peak mitral annular early diastolic velocity( P<0.05), and a decrease in left ventricular longitudinal strain during systole( P<0.01), the longitudinal systolic myocardial strain rate( P<0.01)and the early diastolic longitudinal peak strain rate( P<0.01).There was no statistically significant difference in values from conventional echocardiographic parameters before and after treatment in CSF patients of the medication group(all P>0.05).In the group receiving EECP, there were statistically significant differences in pre-and post-treatment values in ventricular septal early diastolic velocity[(6.22 ± 0.64)cm/s vs.(6.69 ± 0.44)cm/s], lateral wall early diastolic velocity[(8.01±0.68)cm/s vs.(8.41±0.29)cm/s], mitral valve to mitral annulus early diastolic peak velocity ratio[(10.51±1.38) vs.(9.74±0.37)], longitudinal left ventricular systolic strain[(-16.21±0.46)% vs.(-16.80±0.48)%], left ventricular systolic longitudinal strain rate[(-1.29±0.03)s -1vs.(-1.35±0.04)s -1], and early diastolic longitudinal strain rate[(1.35±0.03)s -1vs.(1.40±0.03)s -1](t-values were -3.70、-2.74、2.23、10.25、12.30、-19.15, all P<0.05). Conclusions:2D-STE can evaluate subclinical myocardial dysfunction early and quantitatively in elderly patients with CSF, and objectively reflect changes in left ventricular function before and after clinical intervention with EECP.

Objective:To explore the effects of hospital-community-family continuous nursing mode in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) .Methods:Totally 140 CHF patients admitted to Hefei First People's Hospital from November 2020 to October 2021 were selected by convenience sampling and divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table, with 70 cases in each group. Patients in the control group was given routine cardiovascular care, while patients in the observation group received hospital-community-family continuous care on this basis. The scores of Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-Ⅱ (HPLP-Ⅱ) were compared between the two groups of patients at admission and 3 months after discharge.Result:At admission, there was no significant difference in the scores of MLHFQ, SCHFI and HPLP-Ⅱ between the two groups ( P>0.05) ; 3 months after discharge, the score of MLHFQ in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, and the scores of SCHFI and HPLP-Ⅱ were higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.01) . Conclusions:The hospital-community-family continuous nursing model can improve the self-care ability, health behavior and quality of life of CHF patients, which is worth promoting in clinical practice.

Objective:To analyze the clinical outcome of vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) in infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) combined with insulin resistance (IR) .Methods:A total of 257 PCOS infertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET from Jan. 2018 to Dec. 2020 were included and retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into IR group (HOMA-IR≥2.5, 130 cases) and non-IR group (HOMA-IR<2.5, 127 cases) according to the level (median 2.5) of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) . The levels of basic sex hormones [follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) , luteinizing hormone (LH) , estradiol (E2) , testosterone (T) , progestational hormone (P) , anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) ] and numbers of basic sinus follicles, levels of blood glucose and insulin at 30min, 60min and 120min after glucose administration and fasting and proconceptive pregnancy outcome indicators[gonadotropin (Gn) use time and dose, number of eggs obtained, fertilization rate, high-quality embryonic rate, occurrence rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) , implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, live birth rate and pregnancy complications] were compared between the two groups. The influencing factors of clinical outcomes were analyzed by Logistic regression.Results:The levels of basic LH [ (8.86±1.60) mIU/ml vs (6.54±1.12) mIU/ml], T[ (63.20±7.47) ng/dl vs (52.11±5.69) ng/dl] in IR group was significantly higher than those in non-IR group ( P<0.05) . At different time-point, the levels of blood glucose and insulin in IR group were significantly higher than those in non-IR group ( P<0.05) . The Gn dose [ (1947.35±129.13) IU vs (1522.70±88.41) IU] and abortion rate [32.69% (17/52) vs 13.70% (10/73) ] in IR group was significantly higher than those in non-IR group ( P<0.05) , and the clinical pregnancy rate [40.00% (52/130) vs 57.48% (73/127) ] and live birth rate [51.92% (27/52) vs 72.60% (53/73) ] was significantly lower than those in non-IR group ( P<0.05) . Logistic regression analysis showed that age, BMI, basic LH, basic T and HOMA-IR was independent risk factors for clinical outcome of IVF/ICSI-ET in infertility patients with PCOS ( P<0.05) , and basic AMH and Gn dose were protective factors for clinical outcome ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:IR negatively affects the clinical outcome of IVF/ICSI-ET in infertile patients with PCOS, HOMA-IR is a risk factor for clinical outcomes, and IR should be evaluated in time for infertile patients with PCOS.

The majority of diagnosed cases of gastric cancer are in the middle and late stages, while less than 10% of patients are diagnosed in the early stages in China. The standard treatment strategy for patients with progressive gastric cancer is surgery combined with postoperative adjuvant therapy or preoperative neoadjuvant followed by surgery combined with postoperative adjuvant therapy. Immunotherapy is now recognized as an innovative approach for cancers. It is worth exploring how to best use immunotherapy in neoadjuvant therapy to achieve better clinical benefit. Therefore, this paper reviews the progress of immunotherapy in neoadjuvant therapy for GC. Further studies and the understanding of immune system function by neoadjuvant therapy combined with immunotherapy will help to improve the treatment of gastric cancer.

Genome-scale metabolomics analysis is increasingly used for pathway and function dis-covery in the post-genomics era.The great potential offered by developed mass spectrometry(MS)-based technologies has been hindered,since only a small portion of detected metabolites were iden-tifiable so far.To address the critical issue of low identification coverage in metabolomics,we adopted a deep metabolomics analysis strategy by integrating advanced algorithms and expanded reference databases.The experimental reference spectra and in silico reference spectra were adopted to facilitate the structural annotation.To further characterize the structure of metabolites,two approaches were incorporated into our strategy,i.e.,structural motif search combined with neutral loss scanning and metabolite association network.Untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed on 150 rice cultivars using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap MS.Consequently,a total of 1939 out of 4491 metabolite features in the MS/MS spectral tag(MS2T)library were annotated,representing an extension of annotation coverage by an order of magnitude in rice.The differential accumulation patterns of flavonoids between indica and japon-ica cultivars were revealed,especially O-sulfated flavonoids.A series of closely-related flavonolignans were characterized,adding further evidence for the crucial role of tricin-oligolignols in lignification.Our study provides an important protocol for exploring phytochemical diversity in other plant species.