Patients with Takayasu arteritis combined with aortic valve disease often have a poor prognosis following surgical valve replacement, frequently encountering complications such as perivalvular leakage, valve detachment, and anastomotic aneurysm. This article presents a high-risk case wherein severe aortic valve insufficiency associated with Takayasu arteritis was successfully managed through transcatheter aortic valve implantation via the transapical approach. The patient had satisfactory valve function with no complications observed during the six-month postoperative follow-up. This case provides a minimally invasive and feasible alternative for the clinical management of such high-risk patients.

Depression is a severe mental illness. Although existing antidepressant medications have shown efficacy in many patients, a significant proportion show poor responses to current treatments, necessitating the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Photobiomodulation (PBM), an emerging physical therapy, has recently shown promising efficacy in the treatment of depression, as indicated by two systematic reviews, and is characterized by high safety and good tolerability. However, challenges remain in areas such as light delivery techniques and optimization of treatment parameters. This review summarizes the antidepressant mechanisms of PBM, various methods of light transmission, and recent research progress on its application in the treatment of depression. It also discusses issues related to safety, tolerability, and impact of specific parameters, aiming to provide insights and recommendations for future research on PBM as a therapy for depression.

Depression is a severe mental illness. Although existing antidepressant medications have shown efficacy in many patients, a significant proportion show poor responses to current treatments, necessitating the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Photobiomodulation (PBM), an emerging physical therapy, has recently shown promising efficacy in the treatment of depression, as indicated by two systematic reviews, and is characterized by high safety and good tolerability. However, challenges remain in areas such as light delivery techniques and optimization of treatment parameters. This review summarizes the antidepressant mechanisms of PBM, various methods of light transmission, and recent research progress on its application in the treatment of depression. It also discusses issues related to safety, tolerability, and impact of specific parameters, aiming to provide insights and recommendations for future research on PBM as a therapy for depression.

Recent studies have revealed a strong association between the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and its associated pathways and neuroinflammation in schizophrenia. The activation of the NLRP3-inflammasome and aberrations in its associated pathways may be related to a certain extent to the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, neurotransmission dysfunction, impaired prepulse inhibition, and behavioural deficits observed in schizophrenic patients. A variety of antipsychotics can ameliorate neuroinflammation in schizophrenia by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles or blocking their associated pathways. This article summarizes and discusses the research findings related to NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles and their pathways in schizophrenic patients and their relevant animal models. It aims to explore the possibility and efficacy of treating schizophrenia by regulating the NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles and associated signaling pathways.

Recent studies have revealed a strong association between the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and its associated pathways and neuroinflammation in schizophrenia. The activation of the NLRP3-inflammasome and aberrations in its associated pathways may be related to a certain extent to the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, neurotransmission dysfunction, impaired prepulse inhibition, and behavioural deficits observed in schizophrenic patients. A variety of antipsychotics can ameliorate neuroinflammation in schizophrenia by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles or blocking their associated pathways. This article summarizes and discusses the research findings related to NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles and their pathways in schizophrenic patients and their relevant animal models. It aims to explore the possibility and efficacy of treating schizophrenia by regulating the NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles and associated signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between alcohol drinking and all-cause death in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Between January, 2010 and July, 2018, consecutive patients with first-episode ischemic stroke admitted in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University were enrolled, and all the patients were followed up every 3 months.Chi-square test was used to compare the differences in the baseline characteristics between the pre-stroke drinkers and the nondrinkers.The Cox regression model was used to analyze the effects of drinking status, drinking years, drinking frequency, average single alcohol intake before stroke and drinking status during the follow-up period on the mortality of patients after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 855 patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled, and deaths occurred in 140 of these patients.Chi-square test showed significant differences in gender ( < 0.001), weekly physical exercise time (=0.035), smoking ( < 0.001), and heart disease ( < 0.001) between the pre-stroke drinkers and nondrinkers.Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that drinking during the follow-up period (=0.001), drinking for less than 28 years before stroke (=0.035) and a moderate drinking frequency (5 to 20 times per month for males and 4 to 9 times per month for females; =0.030) were associated with a lowered risk of death after discharge.No significant effects of pre-stroke drinking status or average single alcohol intake were found on death after ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS The drinking years and drinking frequency before stroke and drinking status during the follow-up period are related to the all-cause mortality in patients with ischemic stroke.Investigations of the more specific variables of drinking behaviors during the follow-up period are needed to further clarify the association between drinking and death after ischemic stroke.
Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; China ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; etiology

Objective To assess reconstructive options for critical limb ischaemia in infrapopliteal arteries. Methods A retrospective review of all CLI patients who underwent infrapopliteal reconstruction was carried out. Patient history, demographics, procedure details, complications, and follow-up information were collected and analyzed. Patency, limb salvage rate was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results During the period (from December 2003 to January 2008 ), 123 CLI patients with arteriosclerosis occlusions were treated on an intention-to-treat basis with infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).Thirty-three thromboangiitis obliterans and twenty-three arteriosclerosis occlusions suffering CLI were treated by infrapopliteal bypass procedures. Primary patency and limb salvage rate of infrapopliteal PTA at 6, 12 and 24 months was 67%, 54%, 49% and 91%, 85%, 78% respectively, Primary patency and limb salvage rate of infrapopliteal surgical bypass at 6, 12 and 24 months was 90%, 83%, 79% and 92%,87%, 80% respectively, the patency of infrapopliteal PTA was lower than infrapopliteal surgical bypass (P ＜0. 01 ), but the limb salvage rate of infrapopliteal PTA and open surgery was no significant difference (P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusion Endovascular treatment (PTA) in patients with infrapopliteal arteriosclerosis occlusions and critical ischaemia is safe, effective. Infrapopliteal PTA can be used as the choice of therapy and surgical bypass reserved in those endovascular treatment failed. While in CLI patients with thromboangiitis obliterans infrapopliteal artery bypass remains the best treatment option.

Objective To assess the technical feasibility, patency and outcomes of subintimal angioplasty (SIA) for treatment of the lower extremity arteriosclerosis occlusions. Methods During the period from December 2003 to August 2008, 122 lower extremities with arteriosclerosis occlusions (median length, 10.25 cm;range, 4.5 to 28 cm) were treated on an intention-to-cure basis with SIA. Twenty-three lower extremities had disabling claudication and ninety-nine had limb-threatening ischemia. Patient history, demographics, procedural details, complications, and follow-up information were collected and analyzed. Patency, limb salvage, sustained improvement in claudication was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results The technical success rate of SIA was 83%. Following successful SIA, the mean ankle-brachial index increased from 0.19±0.11 to 0.67±0.29 (P<0.01). Primary patency at 12 and 24 months was 54%±5% and 45%±4% respectively, the clinical effective rates (rates of limb salvage and improvement in claudication) at 12 and 24 months were 82%±5% and 79%±4% respectively. No serious complications occurred. Conclusion In a selected group of patients, SIA is feasible with a high technical success rate and the clinical effective rates are satisfactory, there were no severe complications. SIA is a good treatment alternative in patients suffering from chronic ischemia with arteriosclerosis occlusions in the lower extremity.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the technical feasibility, safety and effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)for the treatment of severe limb ischemia caused by tibioperoneal arteries occlusion. Methods From June 2004 to May 2007,35 patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI)were treated on an intention-to-treat basis with tibioperoneal arterial PTA. Main outcome measures were technical success rate, primary patency rate, limb salvage rate and complications. Results The technical success rate of tibioperoneal arterial PTA Was 83%.Mean follow-up time was 11.5 months, primary patency rate and limb salvage rate were 57%and 82%,respectively.Mean length of tibioperoneal arterial PTA was 9.5 cm(4.5～14 cm),concurrent treatment of iliac artery or femoral-popliteal artery was carried out in 19 patients via either angioplasty or combined with stenting.There were three complications including arterial spasm and thrombosis in one, which Was relieved by thrombolysis and antispasmodics, and artery perforation in 2 cases, which was treated conservatively. Conclusion In tibioperoneal arterial occlusions in CLI patients, PTA is feasible with a high initial technical success rate and high limb salrage rate,tibioperoneal arterial PTA carries a lower morbidity and less severe complications. PTA is a safe, effective and good treatment alternative for CLI patients of tibioperoneal arterial occlusions.

Objective To analyze imaging findings of IPH and to study the correlation between the HRCT findings and the pulmonary function of IPH.Methods The information of 15 children with IPH were reviewed.Results The X-ray findings of IPH included ground glass opacity(n=9),exudative shadows(n=10),reticulonodular shadows(n=7),nodular shadows(n=6).The HRCT signs included abnormal bronchovascular bundles(n=12),ground glass opacity(n=12),exudative shadows ( n=11 ) ,disseminated micronodular shadows ( n=8 ) , thickened pulmonary lobular septa ( n=9 ) . The correlation between ground glass opacity and pulmonary function was 0.5394 ( P=0.134); The correlation between thickened pulmonary lobular septa and the pulmonary function was 0.9963(P=0.0001).Conclusion The HRCT examination is better than the X-ray examination. The positive correlation between thickened pulmonary lobular septa and pulmonary function change is significant,it is beneficial to estimate the damage of the palmonary.