BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease (VHD) has become increasingly common with the aging in China. This study aimed to evaluate regional differences in the clinical features, management strategies, and outcomes of patients with VHD across different regions in China. METHODS: Data were collected from the China-VHD Study. From April 2018 to June 2018, 12,347 patients who presented with moderate or severe native VHD with a median of 2 years of follow-up from 46 centers at certified tertiary hospitals across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in Chinese mainland were included in this study. According to the locations of the research centers, patients were divided into five regional groups: eastern, southern, western, northern, and central China. The clinical features of VHD patients were compared among the five geographical regions. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the cumulative incidence rate. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients (mean age, 61.96 years; 6877 [55.70%] male), multiple VHD was the most frequent type (4042, 32.74%), which was mainly found in eastern China, followed by isolated mitral regurgitation (3044, 24.65%), which was mainly found in northern China. The etiology of VHD varied significantly across different regions of China. The overall rate of valve interventions was 32.67% (4008/12,268), with the highest rate in southern China at 48.46% (205/423). In terms of procedure, the proportion of transcatheter valve intervention was relatively low compared to that of surgical treatment. Patients with VHD in western China had the highest incidence of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Valve intervention significantly improved the outcome of patients with VHD in all five regions (all P  <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients with VHD in China are characterized by significant geographic disparities in clinical features, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Targeted efforts are needed to improve the management and prognosis of patients with VHD in China according to differences in geographical characteristics. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03484806.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Heart Valve Diseases/therapy* ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: To create a mixed valvular heart disease (MVHD)-related age-adjusted comorbidity index (MVACI) model for predicting mortality risk of patients with MVHD. METHODS: A total of 4080 patients with moderate or severe MVHD in the China-VHD study were included. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality. A MVACI model prediction model was constructed based on the mortality risk factors identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess the relationship between MVACI scores and 2-year all-cause mortality. The optimal threshold, determined by the maximum Youden index from receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, was used to stratify patients. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate 2-year all-cause mortality and compared using the Log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were employed to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), evaluating the association between MVACI scores and mortality. Paired ROC curves were used to compare the discriminative ability of MVACI scores with the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation Ⅱ(EuroSCORE Ⅱ) or the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) in predicting 2-year clinical outcomes, while calibration curves assessed the calibration of these models. Internal validation was performed using the Bootstrap method. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on etiology, treatment strategies, and disease severity. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified the following variables independently associated with 2-year all-cause mortality in patients: pulmonary hypertension, myocardiopathy, heart failure, low body weight (body mass index <18.5 kg/m²), anaemia, hypoalbuminemia, renal insufficiency, cancer, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and age. The score was independently associated with the risk of all-cause mortality, and exhibited good discrimination (AUC=0.777, 95%CI: 0.755-0.799) and calibration (Brier score 0.062), with significantly better predictive performance than EuroSCORE Ⅱ or ACCI (both adjusted P<0.01). The internal validation showed that the MVACI model's predicted probability of 2-year all-cause mortality was generally consistent with the actual probability. The AUCs for predicting all-cause mortality risk were all above 0.750, and those for predicting adverse events were all above 0.630. The prognostic value of the score remained consistent in patients regardless of their etiology, therapeutic option, and disease severity. CONCLUSIONS The MVACI was constructed in this study based on age and comorbidities, and can be used for mortality risk prediction and risk stratification of MVHD patients. It is a simple algorithmic index and easy to use.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Comorbidity ; Heart Valve Diseases/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Age Factors ; Risk Assessment ; Adult ; ROC Curve

Glaesserella parasuis is the causative agent of Gl?sser's disease in pigs.However,the pathogenic mechanisms underlying its virulence is not yet fully understood.The RuvB protein,a member of the AAA+superfamily,is implicated in various cellular processes,yet its specific role in the virulence of Glaesserella parasuis has not been fully characterized.In this study,we con-structed a RuvB gene deletion mutant,designated ΔRuvB,using the serotype 13 Glaesserella pa-rasuis strain ZJ1208 and a suicide plasmid-mediated natural transformation approach.To elucidate the functional role of the RuvB gene,we comprehensively evaluated the biological characteristics of the ΔRuvB strain through a series of assays,including growth kinetics,colony morphology,bac-terial staining,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),osmotic stress tolerance,high-tempera-ture tolerance,heat shock resistance,UV resistance,capsular polysaccharide quantification,serum bactericidal assays,and murine virulence experiments.Our findings revealed that the growth rate of ΔRuvB showed no significant difference compared to the parental strain.TEM revealed a notable increase in bacterial cell length;however,the number of outer membrane vesicles(OMVs)on the surface of ΔRuvB did not significantly increase.Notably,the ΔRuvB strain displayed a significant reduction in capsular polysaccharide production and serum resistance,as well as diminished toler-ance to UV radiation and high temperatures.Significant alterations were observed in its resistance to osmotic stress or oxidative stress.In the mouse toxicity challenge experiment,in com-parison with the parental strain ZJ1208,the mortality rate dropped by 20 percentage points,suggesting that the virulence of ΔRuvB has been weakened to some extent.Collectively,these results underscore the critical role of the RuvB gene in enhancing the environmental adaptability of Glaesserella parasuis.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the serotypes,virulence factors and drug resist-ance of clinical isolates of Pasteurella rnultocida of porcine origin in recent years.Morphological screening and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)were used to isolate and identify 119 isolates from nasal swabs and lung tissue samples sent from swine farms in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2024.The isolates of Pasteurella multocida were subjected to capsular polysaccharide serotyping,lipopolysaccharide serotyping,virulence factor detection and drug resistance analysis by PCR and Kirby-Bauer disc agar diffusion method(K-B).The results showed that there were 64 strains(53.7％)of A-type,54 strains(45.3％)of D-type and 1 strain(0.9％)of F-type among the capsu-lar polysaccharide serotypes,and 10 strains(8.4％)of L1-type,20 strains(16.8％)of L3-type,86 strains(72.2％)of L6-type,and 3 strains(2.6％)of undetermined type among the lipopolysaccha-ride serotypes.The amplification results of 10 virulence genes showed that the detection rate of virulence genes hgbA,higbB and fimA was over 86.0％,the detection rate of toxA was 8.4％,while the virulence gene tbpA was not detected.There were also differences in the distribution vir-ulence genes in different capsular polysaccharide serotypes.Virulence factor pfhA was detected in type A and F but not in type D.The detection rate of adhesin gene tadD in serotype A(92.2％)was significantly higher than that of type D(9.3％),and,on the contrary,the detection rate of ad-hesin gene hsf-l in serotype D(90.7％)was significantly higher than that of type A(20.3％).Drug resistance analysis revealed that Pasteurella multocida showed high susceptibility to antimi-crobial drugs such as amoxicillin,ampicillin,cephalosporins,doxycycline,fosfenicol and ciprofloxa-cin,and showed strong resistance to antimicrobial drugs such as lincomycin,cotrimoxazole,genta-micin and amikacin,and there were 54 multi-drug resistant strains(78.3％).In summary,capsular polysaccharide serotypes were dominated by type A and D,lipopolysaccharide serotypes were dom-inated by L6,the distribution of some virulence genes varied greatly among different serotypes,and the proportion of multi-resistant strains was high,which provide reference for the prevention and control of this disease.

Glaesserella parasuis is the causative agent of Gl?sser's disease in pigs.However,the pathogenic mechanisms underlying its virulence is not yet fully understood.The RuvB protein,a member of the AAA+superfamily,is implicated in various cellular processes,yet its specific role in the virulence of Glaesserella parasuis has not been fully characterized.In this study,we con-structed a RuvB gene deletion mutant,designated ΔRuvB,using the serotype 13 Glaesserella pa-rasuis strain ZJ1208 and a suicide plasmid-mediated natural transformation approach.To elucidate the functional role of the RuvB gene,we comprehensively evaluated the biological characteristics of the ΔRuvB strain through a series of assays,including growth kinetics,colony morphology,bac-terial staining,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),osmotic stress tolerance,high-tempera-ture tolerance,heat shock resistance,UV resistance,capsular polysaccharide quantification,serum bactericidal assays,and murine virulence experiments.Our findings revealed that the growth rate of ΔRuvB showed no significant difference compared to the parental strain.TEM revealed a notable increase in bacterial cell length;however,the number of outer membrane vesicles(OMVs)on the surface of ΔRuvB did not significantly increase.Notably,the ΔRuvB strain displayed a significant reduction in capsular polysaccharide production and serum resistance,as well as diminished toler-ance to UV radiation and high temperatures.Significant alterations were observed in its resistance to osmotic stress or oxidative stress.In the mouse toxicity challenge experiment,in com-parison with the parental strain ZJ1208,the mortality rate dropped by 20 percentage points,suggesting that the virulence of ΔRuvB has been weakened to some extent.Collectively,these results underscore the critical role of the RuvB gene in enhancing the environmental adaptability of Glaesserella parasuis.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the serotypes,virulence factors and drug resist-ance of clinical isolates of Pasteurella rnultocida of porcine origin in recent years.Morphological screening and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)were used to isolate and identify 119 isolates from nasal swabs and lung tissue samples sent from swine farms in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2024.The isolates of Pasteurella multocida were subjected to capsular polysaccharide serotyping,lipopolysaccharide serotyping,virulence factor detection and drug resistance analysis by PCR and Kirby-Bauer disc agar diffusion method(K-B).The results showed that there were 64 strains(53.7％)of A-type,54 strains(45.3％)of D-type and 1 strain(0.9％)of F-type among the capsu-lar polysaccharide serotypes,and 10 strains(8.4％)of L1-type,20 strains(16.8％)of L3-type,86 strains(72.2％)of L6-type,and 3 strains(2.6％)of undetermined type among the lipopolysaccha-ride serotypes.The amplification results of 10 virulence genes showed that the detection rate of virulence genes hgbA,higbB and fimA was over 86.0％,the detection rate of toxA was 8.4％,while the virulence gene tbpA was not detected.There were also differences in the distribution vir-ulence genes in different capsular polysaccharide serotypes.Virulence factor pfhA was detected in type A and F but not in type D.The detection rate of adhesin gene tadD in serotype A(92.2％)was significantly higher than that of type D(9.3％),and,on the contrary,the detection rate of ad-hesin gene hsf-l in serotype D(90.7％)was significantly higher than that of type A(20.3％).Drug resistance analysis revealed that Pasteurella multocida showed high susceptibility to antimi-crobial drugs such as amoxicillin,ampicillin,cephalosporins,doxycycline,fosfenicol and ciprofloxa-cin,and showed strong resistance to antimicrobial drugs such as lincomycin,cotrimoxazole,genta-micin and amikacin,and there were 54 multi-drug resistant strains(78.3％).In summary,capsular polysaccharide serotypes were dominated by type A and D,lipopolysaccharide serotypes were dom-inated by L6,the distribution of some virulence genes varied greatly among different serotypes,and the proportion of multi-resistant strains was high,which provide reference for the prevention and control of this disease.

African swine fever virus(ASFV)I177L gene deletion vaccine is one of the key directions of African swine fever(ASF)live attenuated vaccine research and development.In order to effec-tively distinguish between the wild-type ASFV strain and the I177L gene-deleted strain,specific primers and probes were designed based on ASFV B646L and I177L genes,respectively.After screening and optimization,a duplex real-time PCR method was developed that can simultaneously detect these two genes.The results showed that ASFV B646L and I177L genes were detected spe-cifically and simultaneously by the method developed without cross-reactions with porcine circovir-us type 2,Seneca virus A,classical swine fever virus,foot-and-mouth disease virus,porcine respira-tory and reproductive syndrome virus.The detection limits of the duplex real-time PCR for recom-binant plasmids pUC57-B646L and pUC57-I177L were 1×103 copies/mL.The intra-and inter-as-say coefficients of variation were less than 4％,respectively.Detection of 122 pork and pork prod-ucts using the duplex real-time PCR developed and the real-time PCR recommended by WOAH showed that the coincidence rates of the two methods for B646L gene detection was 100％with two amplification curves appeared in the positive results of the established methods.The method established in this study can be used for the detection of ASFV I177L gene deletion strains,which provides technical support for ASF surveillance and epidemiological investigation.

In the past few years, there has seen an increase in the detection rate of early upper gastric cancer. Early upper gastric cancer is of good prognosis. How to further enhance the postoperative quality of life of patients has increasingly become an issue of concern. This has naturally given rise to function-preserving proximal gastrectomy. However, due to its damage to the original structure of cardia and its vicinity, proximal gastrectomy is prone to postoperative reflux. To prevent postoperative reflux, various ways of digestive tract reconstruction have emerged one after another, but the optimal way thereof remains controversial. Therefore, reducing postoperative reflux through an appropriate way of digestive tract reconstruction has been taken as a focus of proximal gastrectomy. Esophagogastric anastomosis with seromuscular flap technique, as a way of digestive tract reconstruction, builds an "artificial cardia" on the basis of guarantee of normal entry of food into the digestive tract, and functions against postoperative reflux. For its good anti-reflux effect, eso-phagogastric anastomosis with seromuscular flap technique has gradually become a research focus. On top of the latest research progress at home and abroad and relevant evidence-based medicine, the authors provide on the principles, key points, improvement, postoperative status, and applica-tion of esophagogastric anastomosis with seromuscular flap technique in laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted inters-phincteric resection (ISR) with different surgical approaches for low rectal cancer.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 90 patients with low rectal cancer who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2016 to December 2020 were collected. There were 58 males and 32 females, aged (60±9)years. Of 90 patients, 60 cases underwent laparoscopic assisted ISR with transpelvic approach, 30 cases underwent laparoscopic assisted ISR with transabdominal and transanal mixed approach. Observation indicators: (1) clinicopathological characteristics of patients with transpelvic approach and mixed approach; (2) intraoperative and postoperative conditions of patients with transpelvic approach and mixed approach; (3) postoperative complications of patients with transpelvic approach and mixed approach; (4) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted by telephone interview and outpatient examination once every 3 months within postoperative 3 years, once every six months in the postoperative 3 to 5 years and once a year after postoperative 5 years to detect tumor recurrence and metastasis, and survival of patients.Follow-up was up to March 2021 or patient death. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and the t test was used for comparison between groups. Measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was performed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed by the non-parametric rank sum test. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curves and calculate survival rates, and survival analysis was performed by the Log-Rank test. Results:(1) Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with transpelvic approach and mixed approach. The sex (males, females), distance from the distal margin of tumor to anal margin were 34, 26, (4.5±0.5)cm for patients with transpelvic approach, versus 24, 6, (3.5±0.5)cm for patients with mixed approach, respectively, showing significant differences between them ( χ2=4.75, t=8.35, P<0.05). (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions of patients with transpelvic approach and mixed approach. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, distance from the postoperative anastomosis to anal margin were (187±9)minutes, 50(range, 20?200)mL, (3.4±0.7)cm for patients with transpelvic approach, versus (256±12)minuets, 100(range, 20?200)mL, (2.6±0.7)cm for patients with mixed approach, showing significant differences between them ( t=?26.99, Z=?2.48, t=4.67, P<0.05). None of the 90 patients had a positive distal margin. The stoma reversal rates of patients with transpelvic and mixed approach were 93.3%(56/60) and 90.0%(27/30), respectively. Of the 60 patients with transpelvic approach, 3 cases had no stoma reversal due to anastomotic complications, and 1 case was not yet to the reversal time. Of the 30 patients with mixed approach, 2 cases had no stoma reversal due to anastomotic complications, and 1 case was not yet to the reversal time. The 1-, 3-month Wexner scores after stoma reversal were 15(range, 12?17), 12(range, 10?14) for patients with transpelvic approach, versus 16(range, 14?18), 14(range, 12?16) for patients with mixed approach, showing significant differences between them ( Z=?4.97, ?5.49, P<0.05). The 6-month Wexner score after stoma reversal was 10(range, 9?12) for patients with transpelvic approach, versus 11(range, 8?12) for patients with mixed approach, showing no significant difference between them ( Z=?1.59, P>0.05). (3) Postoperative complications of patients with transpelvic approach and mixed approach. The complications occurred to 16 patients with transpelvic approach and 9 patients with mixed approach, respectively, showing no significant difference between them ( χ2=0.11, P>0.05). Cases with postoperative anastomotic fistula, cases with anastomotic bleeding, cases with anastomotic stenosis, cases with intestinal obstruction, cases with incision infection, cases with urinary retention, cases with pelvic infection, cases with pulmonary infection, cases with incisional hernia, cases with chylous fistula, cases with abdominal and pelvic abscess were 5, 2, 1, 7, 0, 1, 5, 3, 1, 1, 1 for patients with transpelvic approach, versus 6, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1 for patients with mixed approach, showing no significant difference between them ( P>0.05). The same patient could have multiple postoperative complications. (4) Follow-up. All the 90 patients were followed up for 27(range, 6?62)months. The follow-up time of 60 patients with transpelvic approach was 27(range, 8?62)months. The follow-up time of 30 patients with mixed approach was 28(range, 6?53)months. Of the 60 patients with transpelvic approach, 3 cases had local recurrence, 4 cases had liver metastasis, 3 cases had lung metastasis, and all of them survived with tumor. Of the 30 patients with mixed approach, 1 case had local recurrence, 2 cases had liver metastasis, 1 case had lung metastasis, and all of them survived with tumor. There was no death. The 3-year disease-free survival rates of patients with transpelvic approach and mixed approach were 84.7% and 87.9%, respectively, showing no significant difference between them ( χ2=0.39, P>0.05). Conclusions:Lapa-roscopic assisted ISR via transpelvic approach or mixed approach for low rectal cancer are safe and feasible. Compared with transanal mixed approach, the transpelvic approach of laparoscopic-assisted ISR has shorter operation time, less volume of intraoperative blood loss and longer distance from the postoperative anastomosis to anal margin.

In recent years, the detection rate of early gastric cancer in China has increased. Early gastric cancer has a good prognosis, and how to further improve the postoperative quality of life for patients has become an increasingly concerned problem in the treatment of early gastric cancer. Therefore, function preserving gastrectomy has emerged. Function preserving gastrectomy aims to reduce the resection scope and preserve part of the gastric function on the premise of radical tumor resection. As a representative of function preserving gastrectomy, pylorus-preserving gastrec-tomy is suitable for early gastric cancer in middle segment. Compared with distal gastrectomy, laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy not only has the advantage of less trauma, but also can reduce the incidence of postoperative dumping syndrome, bile reflux gastritis and gallstones, and improve postoperative nutritional status. However, the practice of pylorus-preserving gastrectomy is still in controversial. Based on the new Japanese guidelines for the treatment of gastric cancer, and combined with the latest domestic and foreign research trends and relevant evidence-based medicine basis, the authors review the definition and indications, safety, advantages, technical points, digestive tract reconstruction methods, postoperative complications and other aspects of laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy.