Objective:To analyze the efficacy and safety of a fully biodegradable occluder for the treatment of ventricular septal defects through percutaneous and transthoracic strategies.Methods:A case series study was conducted.The clinical data of 38 pediatric patients with a ventricular septal defect treated with a fully biodegradable occluder at Central China Fuwai Hospital from January 2023 to July 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Among these patients, 15 received the percutaneous approach(percutaneous approach group) and the other 23 adopted the transthoracic approach(transthoracic approach group).The diagnosis was confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography before operation in all patients.The percutaneous approach was defined as establishing a venous-arterial track through X-ray and then placing an occluder under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiograph.The transthoracic approach was achieved by establishing a delivery track with a special hollow bougie through a small right subaxillary incision under the real-time guidance of esophageal ultrasound and then delivery and put an occluder.The clinical data of the patients, including general characteristics, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and the biodegradable occluder system were collected and analyzed.Categorical variables were tested using the chi-square or Fisher′s exact test.Continuous variables were verified using the t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The patients were aged (5.7±3.9) years on average, with an average weight of 19.5(14.9, 25.9) kg.There were 39.5%(15 cases) of males among the patients included.The average size of the ventricular septal defect was 4.1(4.0, 5.0) mm.A simple perimembrane ventricular septal defect was detected in 29 patients (76.3%), concomitant membranous aneurysm in 4 patients (10.5%), an intracristal ventricular septal defect in 3 patients (7.9%), and a muscular ventricular septal defect in 2 patients (5.3%).Preoperative aortic and tricuspid valve regurgitations accounted for 5.3%(2/38) and 81.6%(31/38), respectively.The average age was (9.0±3.9) years in the percutaneous approach group and (3.6±1.9) years in the transthoracic approach group.In terms of the cardiac structure, the percutaneous approach group had smaller Z values of the left atrial anterior-to-posterior diameter (-0.5±0.6 vs.0.5±1.0, P<0.01) and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (-0.5±1.1 vs.0.8±0.8, P<0.01), and a smaller ventricular septal defect [4.0(3.9, 4.2) mm vs.4.5(4.0, 5.5) mm, P=0.01] than the transthoracic approach group.Regarding the operation, the percutaneous approach group had a larger difference between the waist diameter of the selected occluder and the diameter of the ventricular septal defect [2.8(2.0, 3.0) mm vs.2.0(1.5, 2.5) mm, P=0.02], shorter operative time [(61.5±27.3) minutes vs.(91.5±31.4) minutes, P=0.01], and a shorter hospital stay [8(5, 9) days vs.12(9, 15) days, P<0.01] than the transthoracic approach group.Both groups achieved immediate occlusion postoperatively, with no residual shunts and no grade Ⅲ atrioventricular conduction block.Five new cases of bundle branch blocks and 1 case of trivial aortic valve regurgitation occurred in the transthoracic approach group. Conclusions:Both percutaneous and transthoracic approaches are safe and effective in interventional closure of ventricular septal defects, but the former is more applicable to slightly older or heavier patients with a smaller ventricular septal defect, who need a larger occluder.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and safety of a fully biodegradable occluder for the treatment of ventricular septal defects through percutaneous and transthoracic strategies.Methods:A case series study was conducted.The clinical data of 38 pediatric patients with a ventricular septal defect treated with a fully biodegradable occluder at Central China Fuwai Hospital from January 2023 to July 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Among these patients, 15 received the percutaneous approach(percutaneous approach group) and the other 23 adopted the transthoracic approach(transthoracic approach group).The diagnosis was confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography before operation in all patients.The percutaneous approach was defined as establishing a venous-arterial track through X-ray and then placing an occluder under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiograph.The transthoracic approach was achieved by establishing a delivery track with a special hollow bougie through a small right subaxillary incision under the real-time guidance of esophageal ultrasound and then delivery and put an occluder.The clinical data of the patients, including general characteristics, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and the biodegradable occluder system were collected and analyzed.Categorical variables were tested using the chi-square or Fisher′s exact test.Continuous variables were verified using the t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The patients were aged (5.7±3.9) years on average, with an average weight of 19.5(14.9, 25.9) kg.There were 39.5%(15 cases) of males among the patients included.The average size of the ventricular septal defect was 4.1(4.0, 5.0) mm.A simple perimembrane ventricular septal defect was detected in 29 patients (76.3%), concomitant membranous aneurysm in 4 patients (10.5%), an intracristal ventricular septal defect in 3 patients (7.9%), and a muscular ventricular septal defect in 2 patients (5.3%).Preoperative aortic and tricuspid valve regurgitations accounted for 5.3%(2/38) and 81.6%(31/38), respectively.The average age was (9.0±3.9) years in the percutaneous approach group and (3.6±1.9) years in the transthoracic approach group.In terms of the cardiac structure, the percutaneous approach group had smaller Z values of the left atrial anterior-to-posterior diameter (-0.5±0.6 vs.0.5±1.0, P<0.01) and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (-0.5±1.1 vs.0.8±0.8, P<0.01), and a smaller ventricular septal defect [4.0(3.9, 4.2) mm vs.4.5(4.0, 5.5) mm, P=0.01] than the transthoracic approach group.Regarding the operation, the percutaneous approach group had a larger difference between the waist diameter of the selected occluder and the diameter of the ventricular septal defect [2.8(2.0, 3.0) mm vs.2.0(1.5, 2.5) mm, P=0.02], shorter operative time [(61.5±27.3) minutes vs.(91.5±31.4) minutes, P=0.01], and a shorter hospital stay [8(5, 9) days vs.12(9, 15) days, P<0.01] than the transthoracic approach group.Both groups achieved immediate occlusion postoperatively, with no residual shunts and no grade Ⅲ atrioventricular conduction block.Five new cases of bundle branch blocks and 1 case of trivial aortic valve regurgitation occurred in the transthoracic approach group. Conclusions:Both percutaneous and transthoracic approaches are safe and effective in interventional closure of ventricular septal defects, but the former is more applicable to slightly older or heavier patients with a smaller ventricular septal defect, who need a larger occluder.

Objective:To investigate the rates of low disease activity and clinical remission in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)in a real-world setting,and to analyze the related factors of low disease activity and clinical remission.Methods:One thousand patients with SLE were enrolled from 11 teaching hospitals.Demographic,clinical and laboratory data,as well as treatment regimes were collec-ted by self-completed questionnaire.The rates of low disease activity and remission were calculated based on the lupus low disease activity state(LLDAS)and definitions of remission in SLE(DORIS).Charac-teristics of patients with LLDAS and DORIS were analyzed.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the related factors of LLDAS and DORIS remission.Results:20.7％of patients met the criteria of LLDAS,while 10.4％of patients achieved remission defined by DORIS.Patients who met LLDAS or DORIS remission had significantly higher proportion of patients with high income and longer disease duration,compared with non-remission group.Moreover,the rates of anemia,creatinine eleva-tion,increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)and hypoalbuminemia was significantly lower in the LLDAS or DORIS group than in the non-remission group.Patients who received hydroxychloroquine for more than 12 months or immunosuppressant therapy for no less than 6 months earned higher rates of LLDAS and DORIS remission.The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that increased ESR,positive anti-dsDNA antibodies,low level of complement(C3 and C4),proteinuria,low household in-come were negatively related with LLDAS and DORIS remission.However,hydroxychloroquine usage for longer than 12 months were positively related with LLDAS and DORIS remission.Conclusion:LLDAS and DORIS remission of SLE patients remain to be improved.Treatment-to-target strategy and standar-dized application of hydroxychloroquine and immunosuppressants in SLE are recommended.

Modulating Tankyrases (TNKS), interactions with USP25 to promote TNKS degradation, rather than inhibiting their enzymatic activities, is emerging as an alternative/specific approach to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Here, we identified UAT-B, a novel neoantimycin analog isolated from Streptomyces conglobatus, as a small-molecule inhibitor of TNKS-USP25 protein-protein interaction (PPI) to overcome multi-drug resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The disruption of TNKS-USP25 complex formation by UAT-B led to a significant decrease in TNKS levels, triggering cell apoptosis through modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Importantly, UAT-B successfully inhibited the CRC cells growth that harbored high TNKS levels, as demonstrated in various in vitro and in vivo studies utilizing cell line-based and patient-derived xenografts, as well as APC^min/+ spontaneous CRC models. Collectively, these findings suggest that targeting the TNKS-USP25 PPI using a small-molecule inhibitor represents a compelling therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment, and UAT-B emerges as a promising candidate for further preclinical and clinical investigations.

Objective To investigate the effects of menaquinone-4(MK4)on the activation and function of CD8+T cells.Methods An in vitro culture system for primary mouse CD8+T cells was established by isolating these cells from the spleen using CD8a T cell isolation kit.The isolated CD8+T cells were then incubated and activated in a 96-well plate coated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies.The impact of MK4 on the activation and cytokine secretion of CD8+T cells was explored by quantifying the expression levels of CD8+T cell activation receptors and cytokines using flow cytometry.Additionally,the concentrations of these cytokines in the culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The influence of MK4 on the anti-tumor function of CD8+T cells was evaluated by co-culturing colorectal cancer MC38 cells of mice with CD8+T cells at different ratios,and the effect of MK4 was assessed by detecting tumor cell apoptosis.Results High-purity primary CD8+T cells of mice(97.5％)were isolated using the magnetic bead,which could be activated by pre-coated CD3/CD28 antibodies and showed proliferation.Compared with the control group,the MK4-treated group exhibited increased expressions of CD25,CD69 and CD44 on CD8+T cells,as well as higher production and secretion levels of interleukin-2(IL-2),interferon-γ(IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and granzyme B.In addition,CD8+T cells in the MK4-treated group induced a higher percentage of tumor cell apoptosis(36.7％)compared with the control group(29.1％).Conclusion MK4 can enhance the activation of CD8+T cells and promote anti-tumor functions.

Objective:To analyze the short and mid-term efficacy of aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium on children with aortic valve diseases.Methods:A total of 26 children with aortic valve diseases (stenosis or regurgitation) who underwent aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from September 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The short-term and mid-term follow-up data were collected.The maximum aortic valve pressure gradient, subaortic regurgitation area, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared before and after operation.Paired t test was used to analyze the short-term and mid-term efficacy of aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium on children with aortic valve diseases. Results:All 26 cases were successfully operated, and there were no deaths and serious complications during the follow-up period of (22.96±6.45) months.There was a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative maximum aortic valve pressure gradient at 1 month ( t=7.85, P<0.05), 6 months ( t=6.43, P<0.05), 1 year ( t=6.16, P<0.05) and 2 years postoperatively ( t=4.22, P<0.05) in children with aortic stenosis or that combined with mild-to-moderate closure.The follow-up data of 9 children with simple aortic stenosis showed that there was a significant difference between the preoperative (8.87±3.57) cm 2 and postoperative aortic regurgitation area at 1 month ( t=6.85, P<0.05), 6 months ( t=5.13, P<0.05), 1 year ( t=6.62, P<0.05) and 2 years postoperatively ( t=5.41, P<0.05). The LVEDV of 26 children was significantly lower at 6 months[(63.54±27.61) mL], 1 year [(53.61±20.20) mL] and 2 years postoperatively [(64.39±17.78) mL] compared with that of preoperative level[(89.42±45.89) mL]( t=3.89, 4.67, 3.58, all P<0.05). The left ventricular pressure and volume decreased, the enlarged heart was narrowed down, and the geometry of the heart was restored.The LVEF of 26 patients also from (61.65±9.67)% before surgery increased to (67.88±4.69)% 6 months after surgery( t=3.68, P<0.05), and increased to (68.62±4.46)% 1 year after surgery( t=4.01, P<0.05), and increased to (67.55±3.09)% 2 years after operation( t=3.01, P<0.05), and the heart function was improved. Conclusions:Aortic valvuloplasty with autopericardium presents an effective short and mid-term efficacy on children with aortic valve diseases, which prevents or delays the aortic valve replacement.

Objective:To summarize the thoracic and abdominal CT presentations after endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFR) and to analyze its significance in the evaluation and management of postoperative complications.Methods:Data of 82 patients who underwent gastrointestinal EFR at the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and received a chest and/or abdominal CT within 1 week from September 2016 to September 2021 were collected retrospectively. The patients were divided into the intervention group ( n=38) and the control group ( n=44) according to the presence or absence of special postoperative interventions or prolonged hospital stays. The differences in the incidence of abnormal CT presentations between the two groups were analyzed. Risk factors for abnormal CT presentation were explored by multifactorial analysis. Results:Among the 82 patients, the main CT presentations were pneumoperitoneum in 51 patients (62.2%), abdominal and pelvic effusion in 30 patients (36.6%), pneumothorax in 5 (6.1%), pleural effusion in 43 (52.4%), and pulmonary inflammation in 16 (19.5%). The incidence of pelvic and abdominal effusions ( W=637.48, P=0.031) and pleural effusions ( W=622.06, P=0.031) in CT was higher in the intervention group than that in the control group. Age was an independent risk factor for air-related complications after EFR (>60 years old VS ≤60 years old: OR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.05-0.56, P=0.002). Conclusion:CT presentations of pelvic and abdominal effusion and pleural effusion after EFR is of great significance in suggesting complications, while patients with other CT presentations often do not require special intervention or prolonged hospital stay. Postoperative CT in elderly patients is less likely to detect air-related complications.

Objective:To investigate the application value of peri-gastric devasculariza-tion without dissociation of esophagus for portal hypertension.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 94 patients with portal hypertension who were admitted to three medical centers, including 75 cases in the People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 12 cases in the People′s Hospital of Wuhai and 7 cases in the People′s Hospital of Wuzhong, from July 2018 to December 2022 were collected. There were 68 males and 26 females, aged 46(range, 21-70)years. All 94 patients underwent peri-gastric devascularization without dissociation of esophagus. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative condition; (2) postoperative complications; (3) follow-up. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measure-ment data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results:(1) Intraoperative condition. All 94 patients underwent surgery success-fully without operation death, including 82 cases receiving open surgery and 12 cases receiving laparoscopic surgery. The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were (183±85)minutes and 289(range, 158-560)mL, respectively, for the 94 patients. (2) Postoperative complications. Of 94 patients, early portal vein thrombosis occurred in 24 cases, intra-abdominal infection occurred in 2 cases, hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 1 case, pulmonary embolism occurred in 1 case, intra-abdominal hemorrhage requiring operation to stop bleeding occurred in 1 case and pleural effusion requiring drainage occurred in 1 case. All patients with postoperative complications were cured after treatment. None of the 94 patient had postoperative esophageal complications such as odynophagia or dysphagia. (3) Follow-up. All 94 patients were followed up for 38(range, 6-60)months. Of the 45 patients with paraesophageal vein, there were 36 cases of thinner and 9 cases of occlusion of the distal subphrenic paraesophageal vein after surgery, respectively. Cases with esophageal varices disappearance, cases with mild and moderate residual of esophageal varices, cases with severe residual of esophageal varices, cases with recurrence of esophageal varices, cases with esophageal varices bleeding were 7, 70, 9, 4, 4 in the 94 patients after surgery. Cases with esophageal varices disappearance was 7 in the 45 patients with paraesophageal vein, versus 0 in the 49 patients without paraesophageal vein, showing a significant difference between them ( P<0.05). Of 94 patients, 17 cases developed postoperative late portal vein thrombosis and cavernous transformation, 7 cases developed liver cancer, 1 case had hepatic encephalopathy, and 6 cases died. Conclusion:Peri-gastric devascularization without dissociation of esophagus is safe and feasible for the treatment of portal hypertension.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) plus oxiracetam in treating mild vascular dementia (VD) and seek its underlying mechanism. Methods: Ninety-six patients with mild VD were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 47 cases in the observation group and 49 cases in the control group. The control group received oral oxiracetam capsules for treatment, and the observation group was given additional Tuina treatment. Before and after treatment, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was adopted to assess the patient's cognitive function; the activities of daily living (ADL) scale was used to evaluate their ability to conduct daily activities; changes in the serum inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators were also detected. Results: After treatment, the serum content of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased in both groups (P<0.05) and was lower in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05); the serum contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) increased in both groups (P<0.05) and were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05); the serum contents of interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, and IL-8 declined in both groups (P<0.05) and were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). After the intervention, the levels of systolic velocity (Vs) and mean velocity (Vm) of the middle cerebral artery elevated, and the pulsatility index (PI) dropped in patients in the two groups, showing significant intra-group differences (P<0.05); the levels of Vs and Vm in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the PI was lower in the observation group than in the control group, showing significant between-group differences (P<0.05). The MMSE and ADL scores increased in both groups after the intervention (P<0.05) and were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: In the treatment of mild VD, Tuina plus oxiracetam can improve the cerebral blood supply, ADL, and cognitive function; the mechanism may be associated with the reduction of oxidative stress damages and inflammatory reactions.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of short-term transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE）-radiofrequency ablation （RFA） sequential therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The clinical data of 117 patients with advanced HCC enrolled in the Central Hospital of Lishui from March 2010 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received TACE and RFA sequential therapy. The patients were divided into 2 groups including short interval group (interval≤7 d, 61 cases) and long interval group (interval>7 d, 56 cases) according to interval between TACE and RFA. The difference of response rate was analyzed by Wilcoxon test. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to calculate the overall survival (OS) time and progression free survival (PFS) time.The risk factors of TACE-RFA sequential therapy were tested using Cox multivariate analysis. The complications in the two groups were compared using χ 2 test. Results:The response rate in the short interval group (72.1%, 43/61) was significantly higher than that in the long interval group (41.1%，23/56) with significant difference ( Z=-2.50, P=0.01). The median PFS in the short interval group (14.9 months) was longer than that in the long interval group (9.1 months). The difference of PFS survival curve between the 2 groups was statistically significant (χ2 =5.90, P=0.01).The median OS in the short interval group (34.7 months) was longer than that in the long interval group (20.3 months). The difference of OS survival curve between the 2 groups was statistically significant (χ2 =6.60, P=0.01). Cox multivariate analysis showed that tumor size [hazard ratio (HR)=2.42, P<0.01], cirrhosis (HR=2.04, P<0.01), interval (HR=0.44, P<0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (HR=1.71, P=0.03) were the independent risk factors for advanced HCC.There were no significant differences in the complication incidence between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Short-term interval TACE-RFA sequential therapy as a protective factor is efficient and safe for advanced HCC treatment.