Objective To compare the clinical effect of left atrial appendage(LAA)plus atrial septal defect(ASD)closure therapy and ASD closure therapy in treating ASD associated with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods A total of 102 patients with ASD complicated by non-valvular AF,who were admitted to the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command of China from January 2016 to December 2023,were enrolled in this study.Of the 102 patients,simultaneous one-stop interventional transcatheter LAA plus ASD closure was performed in 52(LAA+ASD closure group)and ASD closure was performed in 50.(ASD closure group).The perioperative and postoperative 30 d,90 d,180 d clinical safety and efficacy were compared between the two groups.Telephone follow-up was conducted,the complications such as embolization and bleeding were recorded,and the medium-to-long-term follow-up results were compared between the two groups.Results The immediate surgical success rate in both groups was 100％.The immediate postoperative monitoring showed that the occlusion effect was satisfactory.In LAA plus ASD closure group,LACBES LAA occluder was used in 27 patients and LAmbre LAA occluder was adopted in 25.There were no statistically significant differences in the patients' baseline characteristics between the two groups(all P＞0.05).In the LAA+ASD closure group,3 patients developed cardiac tamponade,among them 2 patients were cured after pericardiocentesis drainage and one patient was referred to the surgery department to receive occluder removal and intracardiac repair.Medium-to-long-term follow-up was conducted in 101 patients with a median follow-up period of 37.6 months.The incidence of embolic events in the LAA+ASD closure group was lower than that in the ASD closure group(3.9％vs.18.0％,P=0.028).The incidence of bleeding events in the ASD closure group was higher than that in the LAA+ASD closure group(16.00％vs.1.96％,P=0.016).Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the risk of occurring embolic events and bleeding events in the LAA+ASD closure group was strikingly lower than that in the ASD closure group(HR=4.295 and 7.888 respectively,95％CI:1.317-14.010 and 2.135-29.140 respectively,P=0.040 9 and P=0.020 8 respectively).Conclusion Simultaneous interventional transcatheter LAA plus ASD closure can effectively prevent embolic events such as stroke,etc.in patients with ASD complicated by AF,and its bleeding risk is lower than simple ASD closure.

AIM:This study aims to explore the impact of Escherichia coli(E.coli)high-pathogenicity island(HPI)on pyroptosis and intestinal inflammation.METHODS:Kunming mice and IPEC-J2 cells(porcine small intesti-nal epithelial cells)were treated with HPI-containing E.coli strain(HPI+),HPI-deleting E.coli strain(ΔHPI),or lipo-polysaccharide(LPS).The intestinal lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)activity,superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,IgA expression and secretory IgA(SIgA)content were assessed in mice.The expression of key regulatory factors in the nucleo-tide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/caspase-1 signaling pathway-related proteins in mouse intestinal tract and IPEC-J2 cells was analyzed by RT-qPCR,immunohistochemical staining and Western blot.The levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-18 in mouse serum and IPEC-J2 cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA.The pivotal role of NLRP3 in HPI+infection was confirmed by silencing NLRP3 in IPEC-J2 cells using siRNA.RE-SULTS:The HPI+infection markedly decreased SOD activity,increased IgA+B cell count,and induced the LDH release and SIgA secretion in the mouse intestine compared with ΔHPI infection.The results of ELISA,HE staining and TUNEL staining indicated that E.coli HPI triggered DNA damage,tissue injury and inflammation in mouse intestinal epithelial cells.Western blot revealed an increase in intestinal gasdermin D N-terminal fragment(GSDMD-N)protein level with HPI+infection compared with ΔHPI infection.E.coli HPI significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18 in mouse intestinal tissues and IPEC-J2 cells,accompanied by the elevated secretion of IL-1β and IL-18.The confo-cal microscopy demonstrated an enhanced assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome with HPI+infection compared with ΔHPI infection,leading to colocalization of NLRP3 and caspase-1.Furthermore,NLRP3 silencing in IPEC-J2 cells attenuated E.coli HPI-induced cell inflammation,damage,and NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway activation.CONCLUSION:The presence of HPI enhances the virulence of E.coli and exacerbates intestinal inflammation.Moreover,pyroptosis,regu-lated by the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway,plays a pivotal role in the intestinal injury induced by E.coli HPI.

Objective::This study aims to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity on the accuracy of echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods::Patients who were diagnosed with PAH and had a right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiography examination were selected retrospectively from May 2018 to December 2021. sPAP measured by RHC is used as the gold standard. A difference in sPAP of less than 10 mmHg between echocardiographic estimation by peak TR velocity and RHC measurement was defined as accurate, with a difference ≥10 mmHg considered inaccurate. The factors affecting the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results::A total of 138 patients aged (45.57 ± 15.97) years with PAH were enrolled. sPAP measured by echocardiography and RHC were (80.83 ± 23.46) and (81.62 ± 30.05) mmHg, respectively. The values of the 2 methods were highly correlated ( r = 0.809, P < 0.01) and Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency. The accuracy rate of sPAP estimation by echocardiography was 42.03% (58/138). In the 57.97% (80/138) of patients where echocardiography was inaccurate, sPAP was overestimated in 28.26% (39/138) and underestimated in 29.71% (41/138). Univariate analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the accurate and inaccurate groups in World Health Organization-Function Class, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, severity of TR, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), sPAP-RHC, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the TR severity (odds ratio = 2.292, 95% confidence interval: 1.126–4.667, P = 0.022) and TAPSE (odds ratio = 0.733, 95% confidence interval: 0.621–0.865, P < 0.001) as independent predictors for the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation. Conclusion::Higher TR severity and lower TAPSE values reduce the accuracy of sPAP estimated by echocardiography. Therefore, TR severity and right heart function should be considered when echocardiography is used to estimate sPAP by the TR velocity.

Objective::This study aims to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity on the accuracy of echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods::Patients who were diagnosed with PAH and had a right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiography examination were selected retrospectively from May 2018 to December 2021. sPAP measured by RHC is used as the gold standard. A difference in sPAP of less than 10 mmHg between echocardiographic estimation by peak TR velocity and RHC measurement was defined as accurate, with a difference ≥10 mmHg considered inaccurate. The factors affecting the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results::A total of 138 patients aged (45.57 ± 15.97) years with PAH were enrolled. sPAP measured by echocardiography and RHC were (80.83 ± 23.46) and (81.62 ± 30.05) mmHg, respectively. The values of the 2 methods were highly correlated ( r = 0.809, P < 0.01) and Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency. The accuracy rate of sPAP estimation by echocardiography was 42.03% (58/138). In the 57.97% (80/138) of patients where echocardiography was inaccurate, sPAP was overestimated in 28.26% (39/138) and underestimated in 29.71% (41/138). Univariate analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the accurate and inaccurate groups in World Health Organization-Function Class, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, severity of TR, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), sPAP-RHC, mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the TR severity (odds ratio = 2.292, 95% confidence interval: 1.126–4.667, P = 0.022) and TAPSE (odds ratio = 0.733, 95% confidence interval: 0.621–0.865, P < 0.001) as independent predictors for the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation. Conclusion::Higher TR severity and lower TAPSE values reduce the accuracy of sPAP estimated by echocardiography. Therefore, TR severity and right heart function should be considered when echocardiography is used to estimate sPAP by the TR velocity.

Objective:To investigate the alterations of brain gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) in parents with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who lost their only child. The correlation of the GMV and FC with the severity of CAPS symptoms was also explored.Methods:A total of 19 parents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD group), 28 parents without PTSD (non-PTSD group), and 27 healthy controls (HCs), admitted in our hospital from October 2017 to May 2019, were recruited in our study. The three groups were matched in age, gender and education level. All the participants were scanned by 3.0T MRI examination, followed by a clinical evaluation with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) for the PTSD diagnosis and to assess the severity. A whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach was used to characterize the GMV. The brain regions with significant differences in gray matter volume between the PTSD group and the non-PTSD group were used as seed points, and based on the seed points, the whole brain was explored its functional connection. The ANOVA and two sample t-test were used to compare the differences in GMV and FC values among groups. The AlphaSim correction was carried out and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The correlations of the GMV and FC values in significant regions with clinical scale scores were also analyzed. Results:Compared to the non-PTSD group, the PTSD patients showed decreased GMV in the left superior frontal gyrus and right precuneus and increased GMV in left fusiform gyrus; compared to the HCs, the non-PTSD group showed increased GMV in right hippocampus, right rolandic operculum and right precuneus. Seed-based FC analyses showed that the PTSD patients had decreased FC in bilateral orbitofrontal gyrus, left cerebellum and left hippocampus, which were positively correlated with the CAPS scores; while increased FC in right insula and right angular gyrus, which were negatively correlated with the CAPS scores (all P<0.01). In the PTSD group, GMV in the left fusiform gyrus was negatively correlated with the avoidance/numbing symptom ( r=-0.555, P=0.014), while positively associated with the time since trauma ( r=0.457, P=0.049). Conclusion:There are alterations of GMV and functional connectivity in multiple brain regions in parents who have lost their only child. Less connectivity in the prefrontal-medial temporal lobe (MTL) circuit and more activation of the key node within fear network may contribute to the development of PTSD, while the structural compensation in brain region associated with visual processing may be an important factor in relieving PTSD symptom and PTSD duration.

Objective:To investigate the alterations of brain gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) in parents with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who lost their only child. The correlation of the GMV and FC with the severity of CAPS symptoms was also explored.Methods:A total of 19 parents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD group), 28 parents without PTSD (non-PTSD group), and 27 healthy controls (HCs), admitted in our hospital from October 2017 to May 2019, were recruited in our study. The three groups were matched in age, gender and education level. All the participants were scanned by 3.0T MRI examination, followed by a clinical evaluation with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) for the PTSD diagnosis and to assess the severity. A whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach was used to characterize the GMV. The brain regions with significant differences in gray matter volume between the PTSD group and the non-PTSD group were used as seed points, and based on the seed points, the whole brain was explored its functional connection. The ANOVA and two sample t-test were used to compare the differences in GMV and FC values among groups. The AlphaSim correction was carried out and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The correlations of the GMV and FC values in significant regions with clinical scale scores were also analyzed. Results:Compared to the non-PTSD group, the PTSD patients showed decreased GMV in the left superior frontal gyrus and right precuneus and increased GMV in left fusiform gyrus; compared to the HCs, the non-PTSD group showed increased GMV in right hippocampus, right rolandic operculum and right precuneus. Seed-based FC analyses showed that the PTSD patients had decreased FC in bilateral orbitofrontal gyrus, left cerebellum and left hippocampus, which were positively correlated with the CAPS scores; while increased FC in right insula and right angular gyrus, which were negatively correlated with the CAPS scores (all P<0.01). In the PTSD group, GMV in the left fusiform gyrus was negatively correlated with the avoidance/numbing symptom ( r=-0.555, P=0.014), while positively associated with the time since trauma ( r=0.457, P=0.049). Conclusion:There are alterations of GMV and functional connectivity in multiple brain regions in parents who have lost their only child. Less connectivity in the prefrontal-medial temporal lobe (MTL) circuit and more activation of the key node within fear network may contribute to the development of PTSD, while the structural compensation in brain region associated with visual processing may be an important factor in relieving PTSD symptom and PTSD duration.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of transhepatic arterial embolization with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and lipiodol (LIP) for the treatment of VX2 tumor in rabbits.Methods:Twenty-four rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumors by surgical implantation were randomly divided into 4 groups and treated with transhepatic arterial embolization of 4 different agents as follows (n=6 each):doxorubicin (DOX) group,DOX-LIP group,SPIO-DOX group,and SPIO-DOX-LIP group.Liver function (AST and ALT) was measured at 0,1,3,5 and 7 d after transhepatic arterial embolization.The serum DOX level was measured at 0,5,15,30,60,and 120 minutes after transhepatic arterial embolization.MRI was performed at 7 d after the treatment to assess the distribution of SPIO in the SPIO-DOX group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group,while CT was performed to assess the distribution of LIP in the DOX-LIP group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group.All the rabbits were sacrificed and their livers were removed at 7 d after treatment for the detection of tissue DOX level.The histopathologic examinations were performed including HE staining,Prussian blue staining and TUNEL assay,and then the tumor necrosis percentage and apoptosis index were calculated.Results:Compared to the DOX group,the levels of AST and ALT in other 3 groups were significantly elevated at 1 and 3 d after embolization (P＜0.05).The levels of ALT and AST in the DOX group,DOX-LIP group or SPIO-DOX-LIP group returned to the baseline at day 7,there were no significant differences (P＞0.05).The SPIO-DOX-LIP group exhibited the lowest serum DOX level at all time points up to 120 minutes after embolization (P＜0.05).However,the tissue DOX level in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group was the highest among all groups at day 7 (P＜0.05).The SPIO-DOX group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group showed significantly lower MRI signal intensity of tumors in T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) at day 7.Meanwhile DOX-LIP group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group showed that high-density lipiodol was deposited in the tumors in CT images.Histopathologic findings showed an almost complete central necrosis coagulation of tumors in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group,and the tumor necrosis percentage and tumor apoptosis index were significantly increased in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group compared to those in other 3 groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion:This novel drug-delivery system of SPIO nano-drug carrier together with LIP is safe and feasible when it is used for transhepatic arterial embolization for liver tumor.It provides an excellent MR and CT visualization and improves the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of rabbit VX2 liver tumor.

Objective To study the management of vascular injury.Methods Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 59 cases of vascular injury,including 55 cases of vascular injury in neck and(extremity) and 4 cases of portal vein and vena cava injury.Among them,21 cases had femoral artery injury with infection and 4 cases had vascular injury due to intervention therapy.All patients with vascular wound of extremity or neck had undergone hemostasis by compression and antishock treament before hospital admission.All cases of femoral artery injury with infection underwent hemostasis by arterial ligation and incision and(drainage) of abscess.Vascular anastomosis was performed in 11 cases,vascular grafting in 12 cases,and(vascular) repair in 14 cases.Results There were 2 deaths.5 cases had amputation(including a case of(femoral) embolism due to intervention trerapy).Postoperative intermittent claudication,decreased skin(temperature) and other signs of ischemia occurred in 21 cases of femoral artery injury with infection,but none developed limb gangrene. The other cases were discharged in good health.Conclusions In the treatment of vascular injury,wound hemostasis and antishock treatment should be done first to save the patient′s life and the management of the vascular injury depends on the situation,with the aim to try by all means to save the extremity.Vascular reconstruction is the main method for treatment of vassular injury.Vascular ligation can be done in cases of femoral artery injury with infection.

Objective To evaluate the effects of surgical treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis (DV T) of lower extremity. Methods Thirty-six patients with a cute DVT of lower extremity were treated by thrombectomy with thrombolytic,a nticoagulant and compression on the affected lower extremity during and after op eration. Results No death and serious complications happened i n this series. Thirty-one patients were followed-up for 2 to 20 months with a n average of 9 months. Symptoms disappeared totally in 23 patients , 8 patien ts had slight edema in the lower extremities. Conclusions Com bination of thrombectomy the thrombolytic and anticoagulant agent,and comp ression of the affected lower extremity is a safe and effective method in the t reatment of acute DVT of lower extremity.