Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of Remodeling+Ring (modified Yacoub) for patients with aortic root aneurysm. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent modified Yacoub surgery at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July 2020 to May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Four male patients were enrolled, with an average age of (47.3±10.3) years and body surface area of (1.9±0.2) m2. One patient had bicuspid aortic valve. Aortic valve regurgitation was mild in three patients and moderate in one patient. Preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function was gradeⅠin one patient and gradeⅡin three patients. The maximum diameter of the aortic sinus was (59.3±8.1) mm. All four patients recovered and were discharged without a second thoracotomy. No postoperative complications such as brain injury, infection, respiratory failure or renal insufficiency occurred. During the follow-up of (17.0±13.1) months, two patients showed no regurgitation of the aortic valve, two patients exhibited mild regurgitation. Three patients had a heart function of gradeⅠ and one patient of gradeⅡ. Conclusion Modified Yacoub technique is safe and effective for patients with aortic root aneurysm.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of chemokine CXCR4 on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway and to explore the related mechanisms.Fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of the chemokine CXCR4 in human gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues(PCT).Next,CXCR4 knockdown and overexpression were achieved by transfecting SGC7901 gastric cancer cell line with lentiviral vectors.TUNEL staining was used to evaluate the apoptosis of SGC7901 cells,while MTT assay was employed to measure cell proliferation.Western blot was conducted to determine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl2.Further,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was employed to measure the secretion levels of inflammatory cytokines.Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-PCR)was utilized to quantify the expression of IL-6 mRNA in the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway,and Western blot was performed to analyze the expression of STAT3-Ser727 protein.In addition,after knocking down CXCR4 in SGC7901 cells,IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway agonist lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was transfected,while in CXCR4-overexpressing SGC7901 cells,IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitors angoline or bruceantinol were transfected.Then TUNEL staining was used to assess cell apoptosis,and Western blotting was performed to examine the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl2 in these cells.Data showed that the expression of immune chemokine CXCR4 was increased in gastric cancer tissues,as compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues.Single-cell gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that knockdown or overexpression of CXCR4 do not induce DNA damage in SGC7901 cells.TUNEL staining,MTT cell proliferation assay and Western blotting demonstrated that knockdown of CXCR4 in SGC7901 cells promoted the apoptosis in SGC7901 cells,while overexpression of CXCR4 inhibited the apoptosis.ELISA showed that knockdown of CXCR4 in SGC7901 cells promotes the expression of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α,while inhibited the expression of anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and TGF-β.Conversely,overexpression of CXCR4 demonstrated opposite effects.Finally,the activation of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway significantly reduced the apoptosis induced by knocking down CXCR4 in iSGC7901 cells,whereas the inhibition of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway can significantly suppressed the induction of SGC7901 cells proliferation induced by CXCR4 overexpress.In conclusion,immunochemokine CXCR4 regulates gastric cancer cell apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines secretion through IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To assess the clinical value of helium-free magnetocardiography(MCG) in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods:A total of 213 patients with suspected CAD undergoing MCG in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent coronary CT angiography/invasive coronary angiography(CCTA/ICA) within 48 hours after MCG scanning. The parameters of MCG, including magnetic field multipolarization, magnetic field unipolarization, T-wave flattened, change in magnetic field distribution at TT segment, abnormal T-peak amplitude ration of maximum to minimum, significant movement of poles, magnetic field angle deviation and abnormal distribution of positive pole were used for the evaluation of the stenosis of coronary arteries.Results:Among 213 patients, MCG scanning was completed in 193 cases(90.6%), while 20 cases were excluded for various reasons. The CCTA/ICA results were taken as gold standard, the total coincidence rate of MCG with the degree of stenosis was 88.60%(95% CI: 83.25%-92.72%), the sensitivity and specificity of MCG in the diagnosis of CAD was 89.63%(95% CI: 83.21%-94.21%) and 88.23%(95% CI:78.12%-94.78%), respectively; the positive and negative predictive value were 93.80%(95% CI:88.72%-96.68%) and 81.08%(95% CI:72.15%-87.64%), respectively. Conclusion:MCG is highly accurate in the diagnosis of CAD, it may be widely used clinically as an non-invasive method free of radiation or contrast agent.

Objective To compare the value of serum cystatin C (CysC),urine β2-microglobulin (β2-MG),and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a test panel with that of traditional indicators,serum Cr and urea,for detection of early renal damage in lung cancer patients after chemotherapy.Methods This prospective study collected data at our hospital on levels of serum cystatin C (CysC),urine β2-microglobulin (β2-MG),and neutrophil-gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) from 63 lung cancer patients aged 60 and over.In addition,levels of traditional indicators including serum Cr and urea were also measured.Participants were divided into three groups:a prechemotherapy group,an under chemotherapy group,and a post-chemotherapy group.Results Levels of serum CysC,urine β2-MG,and NGAL in the post-chemotherapy group markedly increased,whereas levels of serum Cr and urea had no significant increase;furthermore,levels of serum CysC,urine β2-MG,and NGAL went up steadily as the time of exposure to chemotherapy drugs increased.Pearson's test showed that the sensitivity of CysC,beta 2-MG and NGAL as a panel was statistically significant for both the under chemotherapy group and the post-chemotherapy group (x2 =31.32,P=0.00;x2 =60.38,P=0.00).Conclusions Serum CysC,urine β2-MG and NGAL as a panel have good diagnostic value for early renal function damage in lung cancer patients after chemotherapy and are superior to traditional renal function indicators such as serum creatinine and urea.