Objective: To investigate the regional differences in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma among kidney transplant recipients between northern and southern China，so as to provide reference for early diagnosis of this disease. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases，including CNKI，Wanfang，CBM，and PubMed，using the keywords “kidney transplantation” and “tumor” to collect clinical data from qualified kidney transplant centers.The latest and most complete literature data published by 17 transplant centers in northern China and 14 in southern China were included.Statistical analyses were performed to compare the incidence of post-transplant urothelial carcinoma and non-urothelial malignancies. Results: A total of 37 475 kidney transplant recipients were included，among whom 837 (2.23%) developed post-transplant malignancies，including urothelial carcinoma (366/837，43.73%)，non-urothelial carcinoma (444/837，53.05%)，and malignancies with unspecified pathology (27/837，3.23%).The incidence of malignancies was significantly higher in northern China than in southern China [(2.82±1.39)% vs. (1.67±0.83)%，P=0.011]，with a particularly pronounced difference in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma [(1.68±1.12)% vs. (0.32±0.32)%，P<0.001].No significant difference was observed in the incidence of non-urothelial carcinoma between the two regions [(1.11±0.56)% vs. (1.35±0.65)%，P=0.279].Additionally，female transplant recipients exhibited a higher incidence of malignancies than males in both regions (southern China：2.38% vs. 1.80%; northern China：8.93% vs. 2.52%). Conclusion: The incidence of urothelial carcinoma following kidney transplantation is significantly higher in northern China than in southern China，underscoring the importance of implementing regular tumor screening for kidney transplant recipients，particularly for female patients in northern China，to facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the application of transesophageal echocar-diography assessment for mitral valve in patients with atrial septal defects undergoing repair surgery. METHODS: The study group comprised of thirty-two adult patients with atrial septal defect who underwent thoracoscopic repair surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University from March to September 2022. Two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional transesophageal ultrasonography of the mitral valve were performed after anesthesia. The parameters of the mitral valve structure at the late diastolic and late systolic stages were recorded, including anteroposterior and left-right annular diameters, anterior and posterior valves lengths, the vertical distance from the coaptation point of leaflet zone 2 during systole to the annular plane (mitral valve coaptation depth) and mitral valve coaptation length. Data from 32 patients with normal intracardiac structure and no mitral valve regurgitation (control group) were also collected and compared with those of the study group. Concurrent mitral valvoplasty was performed during the atrial septal defect repair surgery for 7 patients with significant mitral valve structural abnormalities and 2 patients with significantly increased mitral regurgitation after cardiac resuscitation. The study group was followed up with transthoracic echocardiography for 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: In the study group, 26 (81.3%) patients had varying degrees of mitral valve morphological abnormalities. Among them, 10 (31.3%) patients had short mitral valve coaptation length or depth, 12 (37.5%) patients had closure point malposition, and 4 (12.5%) patients had different bulge of anterior and posterior leaflets. Compared with the control group, the study group had significantly smaller systolic and diastolic mitral left-right annular diameter, mitral posterior valves lengths, mitral coaptation length or depth (all P<0.05), a higher pulmonary systemic flow ratio (P<0.01), and a lower maximum blood flow velocity across the mitral valve (P<0.05). After 2 years of follow-up, among the 9 patients who underwent concurrent mitral valvoplasty, the mitral valve maintained no or little regurgitation, and the average mitral valve pressure difference was less than 5 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Among the 23 patients without concurrent mitral valvoplasty, 2 patients had moderate regurgitation 1 year after surgery, with a pulmonary/systemic flow ratio larger than 2.8. CONCLUSIONS Patients with large atrial septal defects often have abnormal mitral valve structure. Therefore transesophageal echocardiography is recommended for mitral valve assessment during the surgery. If significant mitral valve structural abnormalities are detected, concurrent mitral valvoplasty is recommended.
Humans ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/diagnostic imaging* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal/methods* ; Mitral Valve/surgery* ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging*

Objective:To investigate the clinical application value of a novel filter's retraction hook capture technique of pull-assisted method for the endovascular retrieval of conical inferior vena cava (IVC) filters whose hook attached to the wall.Methods:From January 2020 to December 2024, patients with conical filters whose hook attached to the wall admitted at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital were enrolled consecutively.Results:A total of 46 patients underwent filter retrieval using filter's retraction hook capture technique of pull-assisted method. Among these patients, 39 cases (84.8%) were successful in filter retrieval, with the penetration distance of cranial anchor vertex of 3.3(2.5, 4.4) mm, and 13 (33.3%) filters were deformed. The other 7 cases were unsuccessful, with a penetration distance of cranial anchor vertex of 5.0 (4.3, 5.0) mm, and 6 (85.7%) filters were deformed. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05). One case (2.2%) had IVC injury, one case (2.2%) experienced filter fracture, and no symptomatic pulmonary embolism occurred. Logistic regression analysis showed that filter deformation was an independent dangerous factor for filter's retraction. Conclusions:Filter's retraction hook capture technique of pull-assisted method is effective in removing conical filters whose hook attached to the wall, with no symptomatic PE occurring. This method can be considered as a new adjuvant technique for filter retrieval.

Objective This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Compound Fufangteng Mixture(CFM)on myocardial fibrosis(MF)and explore its action targets and mechanisms through a combination of animal pharmacodynamics,cell biology,and network pharmacology approaches.Methods Thirty-five male C57BL/6J mice were divided into the normal group,model group,CFM low-dose(0.72 g/kg)group,CFM high-dose(1.44 g/kg)group,and sacubitril valsartan sodium group(20 mg/kg)based on random number table,with 7 mice in each group.Except for the normal group,the mice in the other groups were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol(20 mg/kg)at multiple points once daily for 21 consecutive days to establish the MF model.The CFM groups were pre-administered by gavage 3 days before modeling,the sacubitril valsartan sodium group was administered starting from the day of modeling,and the normal group and model group were given an equal volume of distilled water.The active ingredients in CFM were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC).On days 7,14,and 21 of modeling,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVIDd),and left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVIDs)of mice were detected by ultrasound.The degree of myocardial fibrosis in mice was assessed by Masson staining.The levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),type I collagen(COL I),and type Ⅲcollagen(COL Ⅲ)in the myocardial tissue of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The average fluorescence intensity of α-SMA in myocardial tissue was detected by immunofluorescence.In addition,by integrating Cellular Thermal Shift Assay(CETSA),QE proteomic analysis,and network pharmacology techniques,we systematically explored the potential core targets and mechanisms of action by which CFM improves MF,and validated these findings using western blotting analysis.Results Main eight chemical components were identified from CFM.Compared with the normal group,the model group exhibited a decrease in LVEF and LVFS,an increase in LVIDd and LVIDs,a higher heart weight to tibia length ratio,and an increased collagen volume fraction(P<0.05),along with aggravated MF.Concurrently,the myocardial tissue showed elevated levels of TGF-β1,α-SMA,COL I,and COL Ⅲ(P<0.05),with enhanced α-SMA fluorescence signal intensity.In comparison to the model group,all groups of CFM and the sacubitril valsartan sodium group demonstrated an increase in LVEF and LVFS,and a decrease in LVIDd,LVIDs,and the heart weight to tibia length ratio(P<0.05).Simultaneously,the collagen volume fraction decreased,and the levels of TGF-β1,α-SMA,COL I,and COL Ⅲ in myocardial tissue were down-regulated(P<0.05).The degree of MF was reduced,and the fluorescence signal intensity of α-SMA expression was weakened.Furthermore,the combined analysis of CETSA,QE proteomics,and network pharmacology revealed that heat shock protein A family member 8(HSPA8)may be a potential core target for CFM in ameliorating MF.CETSA-western blotting analysis further confirmed that CFM could enhance the thermal stability of HSPA8 protein and down-regulate the relative expression level of HSPA8 protein in mouse myocardial tissue(P<0.05).Conclusion CFM can ameliorate isoproterenol-induced cardiac dysfunction in mice,reduce collagen deposition,and reverse the pathological progression of MF.The underlying mechanism may be associated with the regulation of HSPA8.

Objective This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Compound Fufangteng Mixture(CFM)on myocardial fibrosis(MF)and explore its action targets and mechanisms through a combination of animal pharmacodynamics,cell biology,and network pharmacology approaches.Methods Thirty-five male C57BL/6J mice were divided into the normal group,model group,CFM low-dose(0.72 g/kg)group,CFM high-dose(1.44 g/kg)group,and sacubitril valsartan sodium group(20 mg/kg)based on random number table,with 7 mice in each group.Except for the normal group,the mice in the other groups were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol(20 mg/kg)at multiple points once daily for 21 consecutive days to establish the MF model.The CFM groups were pre-administered by gavage 3 days before modeling,the sacubitril valsartan sodium group was administered starting from the day of modeling,and the normal group and model group were given an equal volume of distilled water.The active ingredients in CFM were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC).On days 7,14,and 21 of modeling,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVIDd),and left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVIDs)of mice were detected by ultrasound.The degree of myocardial fibrosis in mice was assessed by Masson staining.The levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),type I collagen(COL I),and type Ⅲcollagen(COL Ⅲ)in the myocardial tissue of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The average fluorescence intensity of α-SMA in myocardial tissue was detected by immunofluorescence.In addition,by integrating Cellular Thermal Shift Assay(CETSA),QE proteomic analysis,and network pharmacology techniques,we systematically explored the potential core targets and mechanisms of action by which CFM improves MF,and validated these findings using western blotting analysis.Results Main eight chemical components were identified from CFM.Compared with the normal group,the model group exhibited a decrease in LVEF and LVFS,an increase in LVIDd and LVIDs,a higher heart weight to tibia length ratio,and an increased collagen volume fraction(P<0.05),along with aggravated MF.Concurrently,the myocardial tissue showed elevated levels of TGF-β1,α-SMA,COL I,and COL Ⅲ(P<0.05),with enhanced α-SMA fluorescence signal intensity.In comparison to the model group,all groups of CFM and the sacubitril valsartan sodium group demonstrated an increase in LVEF and LVFS,and a decrease in LVIDd,LVIDs,and the heart weight to tibia length ratio(P<0.05).Simultaneously,the collagen volume fraction decreased,and the levels of TGF-β1,α-SMA,COL I,and COL Ⅲ in myocardial tissue were down-regulated(P<0.05).The degree of MF was reduced,and the fluorescence signal intensity of α-SMA expression was weakened.Furthermore,the combined analysis of CETSA,QE proteomics,and network pharmacology revealed that heat shock protein A family member 8(HSPA8)may be a potential core target for CFM in ameliorating MF.CETSA-western blotting analysis further confirmed that CFM could enhance the thermal stability of HSPA8 protein and down-regulate the relative expression level of HSPA8 protein in mouse myocardial tissue(P<0.05).Conclusion CFM can ameliorate isoproterenol-induced cardiac dysfunction in mice,reduce collagen deposition,and reverse the pathological progression of MF.The underlying mechanism may be associated with the regulation of HSPA8.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application value of a novel filter's retraction hook capture technique of pull-assisted method for the endovascular retrieval of conical inferior vena cava (IVC) filters whose hook attached to the wall.Methods:From January 2020 to December 2024, patients with conical filters whose hook attached to the wall admitted at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital were enrolled consecutively.Results:A total of 46 patients underwent filter retrieval using filter's retraction hook capture technique of pull-assisted method. Among these patients, 39 cases (84.8%) were successful in filter retrieval, with the penetration distance of cranial anchor vertex of 3.3(2.5, 4.4) mm, and 13 (33.3%) filters were deformed. The other 7 cases were unsuccessful, with a penetration distance of cranial anchor vertex of 5.0 (4.3, 5.0) mm, and 6 (85.7%) filters were deformed. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05). One case (2.2%) had IVC injury, one case (2.2%) experienced filter fracture, and no symptomatic pulmonary embolism occurred. Logistic regression analysis showed that filter deformation was an independent dangerous factor for filter's retraction. Conclusions:Filter's retraction hook capture technique of pull-assisted method is effective in removing conical filters whose hook attached to the wall, with no symptomatic PE occurring. This method can be considered as a new adjuvant technique for filter retrieval.