Calcification of bioprosthetic valve materials remains a major issue affecting the long-term survival of patients after heart valve replacement. The classic glutaraldehyde cross-linking technology has problems such as aldehyde toxicity, inflammatory response, and calcium salt deposition, which easily lead to valve calcification and deterioration. Moreover, the loss of glycosaminoglycan is also a cause of the deterioration of bioprosthetic valve materials. This article elaborates on the progress in the calcification mechanism of bioprosthetic valves and the 1, 4- Butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) cross-linking technology in enhancing the enzyme resistance of hyaluronic acid and inhibiting the calcification process.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of surgical treatment for patients with malignant tumor complicated with coronary heart disease.Methods:The medical records of 12 patients with malignant solid tumor complicated with coronary heart disease who were treated by the same surgical team in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from January 2018 to May 2025 were collected retrospectively, including 8 cases of digestive system tumors, 3 cases of lung tumors and 1 case of urinary system tumor. All patients underwent simultaneous (4 cases) or staged (8 cases) coronary artery bypass grafting and tumor resection. Coronary artery bypass grafting under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in 2 cases, and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in the remaining 10 cases. Postoperative follow-up was conducted.Results:None of the 12 patients died during hospitalization, and all were cured and discharged. No perioperative myocardial ischemia or infarction occurred during hospitalization, and no postoperative surgical bleeding occurred. The 12 patients were followed up for 1 month to 7 years and 5 months. One patient with rectal cancer complicated with coronary heart disease had liver and lung metastases 13 months after surgery and died suddenly during the second cycle of chemotherapy 16 months after surgery. The remaining 11 patients survived.Conclusions:It is feasible to perform coronary artery bypass grafting and tumor resection in patients with coronary heart disease complicated with malignant tumor, and the short-term and medium-term effects are satisfactory.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of surgical treatment for patients with malignant tumor complicated with coronary heart disease.Methods:The medical records of 12 patients with malignant solid tumor complicated with coronary heart disease who were treated by the same surgical team in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from January 2018 to May 2025 were collected retrospectively, including 8 cases of digestive system tumors, 3 cases of lung tumors and 1 case of urinary system tumor. All patients underwent simultaneous (4 cases) or staged (8 cases) coronary artery bypass grafting and tumor resection. Coronary artery bypass grafting under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in 2 cases, and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in the remaining 10 cases. Postoperative follow-up was conducted.Results:None of the 12 patients died during hospitalization, and all were cured and discharged. No perioperative myocardial ischemia or infarction occurred during hospitalization, and no postoperative surgical bleeding occurred. The 12 patients were followed up for 1 month to 7 years and 5 months. One patient with rectal cancer complicated with coronary heart disease had liver and lung metastases 13 months after surgery and died suddenly during the second cycle of chemotherapy 16 months after surgery. The remaining 11 patients survived.Conclusions:It is feasible to perform coronary artery bypass grafting and tumor resection in patients with coronary heart disease complicated with malignant tumor, and the short-term and medium-term effects are satisfactory.

Calcification of bioprosthetic valve materials remains a major issue affecting the long-term survival of patients after heart valve replacement. The classic glutaraldehyde cross-linking technology has problems such as aldehyde toxicity, inflammatory response, and calcium salt deposition, which easily lead to valve calcification and deterioration. Moreover, the loss of glycosaminoglycan is also a cause of the deterioration of bioprosthetic valve materials. This article elaborates on the progress in the calcification mechanism of bioprosthetic valves and the 1, 4- Butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) cross-linking technology in enhancing the enzyme resistance of hyaluronic acid and inhibiting the calcification process.

Background::Ebstein’s anomaly (EA) is a rare and complex congenital heart anomaly, and the effect of surgical treatment is not ideal. This study aims to introduce our experience in management strategies, surgical techniques, and operative indications for patients with Ebstein’s anomaly.Methods::A retrospective study of 258 operations was performed in 253 patients by the same cardiac surgeon in The First Hospital of Tsinghua University between March 2004 and January 2020. 32 patients had previously received cardiac surgery in other hospitals. The clinical data including diagnosis, operative indications, techniques, pathological changes, and survival rates were collected and analyzed.Results::Anatomical correction was performed in 203 (78.7%) operations, 1? ventricle repair in 38 (14.7%) operations, tricuspid valve repair only in four operations (1.6%), tricuspid valve replacement in ten (3.9%), total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in two (0.8%), and Glenn operation in one operation (0.4%). Reoperation was performed in five patients (2.0%) during hospitalization. Among them, tricuspid valve replacement was performed in one patient, 1? ventricle repair in two patients, and tricuspid valve annulus reinforcement in two patients. Five patients died with an early mortality rate of 2.0%. Complete atrioventricular conduction block was complicated in one patient (0.4%). A total of 244 patients was followed up (four in the 253 patients lost) with a duration of 3.0-168.0 (87.6 ± 38.4) months. Cardiac function of 244 patients improved significantly with mean New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class recovery from 3.5 to 1.1. The mean grade of tricuspid valve regurgitation improved from 3.6 to 1.5. Three late deaths (1.2%) occurred. The survival rates at five and ten years after surgery were 98.6% and 98.2%, respectively. Reoperation was performed in five patients (2.0%) during the follow-up period.Conclusion::Based on our management strategies and operative principles and techniques, anatomical correction of EA is capable of achieving excellent long-term results, and low rates of TCPC, 1? ventricle repair and valvular replacement.

Since the utilization of anthracyclines in cancer therapy, severe cardiotoxicity has become a major obstacle. The major challenge in treating cancer patients with anthracyclines is minimizing cardiotoxicity without compromising antitumor efficacy. Herein, histone deacetylase SIRT6 expression was reduced in plasma of patients treated with anthracyclines-based chemotherapy regimens. Furthermore, overexpression of SIRT6 alleviated doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in cardiomyocytes, and potentiated cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in multiple cancer cell lines. Moreover, SIRT6 overexpression ameliorated doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and potentiated antitumor efficacy of doxorubicin in mice, suggesting that SIRT6 overexpression could be an adjunctive therapeutic strategy during doxorubicin treatment. Mechanistically, doxorubicin-impaired mitochondria led to decreased mitochondrial respiration and ATP production. And SIRT6 enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy by deacetylating and inhibiting Sgk1. Thus, SIRT6 overexpression coordinated metabolic remodeling from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration during doxorubicin treatment, which was more conducive to cardiomyocyte metabolism, thus protecting cardiomyocytes but not cancer cells against doxorubicin-induced energy deficiency. In addition, ellagic acid, a natural compound that activates SIRT6, alleviated doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and enhanced doxorubicin-mediated tumor regression in tumor-bearing mice. These findings provide a preclinical rationale for preventing cardiotoxicity by activating SIRT6 in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, but also advancing the understanding of the crucial role of SIRT6 in mitochondrial homeostasis.

Objective:To discuss the influence of high load and weightlessness environment on intervertebral disc by observing and analyzing the imaging changes of the spines in New Zealand white rabbits and the content changes of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in the intervertebral disc under high load and weightlessness environment, and to provide theoretical basis for prevention and delay of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration under high load and weightlessness environment.Methods:A total of 120 New Zealand white rabbits with balanced age and body weight were randomly and averagely divided into control groups (further grouped by 30 d, 60 d and 90 d) and high load/weightlessness groups (further grouped by 30 d, 60 d and 90 d) with residual single-blind method. High load was simulated by animal centrifuge and weightlessness was simulated by tail suspension. The imaging changes and the positive expression rates of MMP1, MMP3 and TIMP1 in intervertebral disc were detected, and the statistical differences between the high load/weightlessness group and the control group in different time periods were compared, as well as among the different exposure time in load/weightlessness groups.Results:From the imaging observation, the T2-weighted images of lumbar 6 sacral 1 intervertebral disc in experimental animals decreased to some extent. The positive rates of MMP1 and MMP3 in each high load/weightlessness group were higher than those in the control group for the same exposure time, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=22.97-145.51,all P<0.001). The positive rates of MMP1 and MMP3 increased with the extension of exposure time, and there were statistically differences among the groups with different exposure time in high load/weightlessness group ( F=2531.10, 1758.80, both P<0.001). The positive rate of TIMP1 in each high load/weightlessness group was higher than that in the control group for the same exposure time, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=29.34-65.05, all P<0.001). There was statistically difference on TIMP1 positive rate among different load/weightlessness exposure time groups ( F=462.20, P<0.001). Conclusions:High load/weightlessness can cause the MMP1, MMP3 and TIMP1 content changes in animal lumbar disc. The changes of TIMP1 are obvious in the early stage and the sensitivity is decreased in the late stage. High load/weightlessness may lead to changes in the contents of MMP and TIMP in intervertebral discs, which may accelerate intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective:To explore the application value of dual contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of renal cystic lesions.Methods:Eighty-four cases with renal cysts who were diagnosed by routine ultrasound in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital from January 2019 to October 2020 were included in the study. Intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced MRI were performed to differentiate benign and malignant cysts. Patients with benign cysts underuent intravenous pyelography and intracapsular contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Before sclerotheraphy to exclude renal pelvic cysts. The diagnostic results of dual radiography were compared with MRI and intravenous pyelography.Results:Among 84 patients with suspected renal cysts, the diagnostic accuracy of enhanced MRI for cystic renal cancer was 97.62%, and the sensitivity was 97.62%. The diagnostic accuracy of intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound was 98.81, the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 98.73%. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). 77 cases were diagnosed as benign renal cysts, the detection rate of intravenous pyelography was 9.1% (7/77), the detection rate of renal pelvic cysts by intracystic ultrasonography was 6.5% (5/77). With intravenous pyelography as the gold standard, the diagnostic accuracy of intracapsular contrast-enhanced ultrasound was 97.4% (75/77), the sensitivity was 71.4% (5/7), and the specificity was 100% (70/70). Conclusions:Compared with enhanced magnetic resonance and intravenous pyelography before renal cyst sclerosing therapy, there is no difference in diagnostic efficiency of double contrast ultrasound for benign and malignant cysts. The diagnostic efficiency of renal pelvic cysts is high, and the operation is convenient. It can identify cystic renal cancer and cysts from the renal pelvis and improve the safety of sclerotherapy.

Objective:To discuss the influence of high load and weightlessness environment on intervertebral disc by observing and analyzing the imaging changes of the spines in New Zealand white rabbits and the content changes of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in the intervertebral disc under high load and weightlessness environment, and to provide theoretical basis for prevention and delay of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration under high load and weightlessness environment.Methods:A total of 120 New Zealand white rabbits with balanced age and body weight were randomly and averagely divided into control groups (further grouped by 30 d, 60 d and 90 d) and high load/weightlessness groups (further grouped by 30 d, 60 d and 90 d) with residual single-blind method. High load was simulated by animal centrifuge and weightlessness was simulated by tail suspension. The imaging changes and the positive expression rates of MMP1, MMP3 and TIMP1 in intervertebral disc were detected, and the statistical differences between the high load/weightlessness group and the control group in different time periods were compared, as well as among the different exposure time in load/weightlessness groups.Results:From the imaging observation, the T2-weighted images of lumbar 6 sacral 1 intervertebral disc in experimental animals decreased to some extent. The positive rates of MMP1 and MMP3 in each high load/weightlessness group were higher than those in the control group for the same exposure time, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=22.97-145.51,all P<0.001). The positive rates of MMP1 and MMP3 increased with the extension of exposure time, and there were statistically differences among the groups with different exposure time in high load/weightlessness group ( F=2531.10, 1758.80, both P<0.001). The positive rate of TIMP1 in each high load/weightlessness group was higher than that in the control group for the same exposure time, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=29.34-65.05, all P<0.001). There was statistically difference on TIMP1 positive rate among different load/weightlessness exposure time groups ( F=462.20, P<0.001). Conclusions:High load/weightlessness can cause the MMP1, MMP3 and TIMP1 content changes in animal lumbar disc. The changes of TIMP1 are obvious in the early stage and the sensitivity is decreased in the late stage. High load/weightlessness may lead to changes in the contents of MMP and TIMP in intervertebral discs, which may accelerate intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) histogram analysis for thyroid malignant solitary coarse calcification nodules (MSCN).Methods A total of 89 thyroid solitary coarse calcification nodules (coarse calcification ≥5 mm,no definite soft tissue around calcification) confirmed either by surgery or histopathological examination in 86 patients enrolled in this study from Jan.2009 to Dec.2015 were evaluated,including 33 MSCN from 32 patients and 56 benign solitary coarse calcification nodules (BSCN) from 56 patients.Overall,27 cut-off values were calculated by N (4 ≤ N ≤ 30) times of 50 Hounsfield units (HU) in the range of 200 HU to 1500 HU,and each cut-off value and the differences in the corresponding area percentages in the CT histogram were recorded for MSCN and BSCN.The optimal cut-off value and the corresponding area percentage were established by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results In the 24 groups with an ROC area under the curve (AUC) of more than 0.7,at a cut-off value of 1150 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 98.4％,the ROC AUC reached a maximum of 0.86,and the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 70.8％,93.9％,and 57.1％,respectively.At a cut-off value of 450 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 46.3％,the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 76.4％,48.5％,and 92.9％,respectively.At a cut-off value of 550 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 81.5％,the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 75.3％,33.3％,and 100％,respectively.Conclusions In comparison with the cut-off value of 1150 HU with an area percentage of no less than 98.4％,the sensitivities for the cut-off value of 450 HU with an area percentage of no less than 46.3％ and for the cut-off value of 550 HU with an area percentage of no less than 81.5％ were lower;however,the specificities increased significantly,providing an important basis for reducing the misdiagnosis of MSCN.