Objective:To systematically evaluate the association between maternal arsenic exposure and spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and preterm birth.Methods:Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI database, the VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform were searched for studies on the association between maternal arsenic exposure and spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and preterm birth before December 2023. Meta-analysis of binary variables was conducted using Stata MP 17.0 software, with OR value(95% CI) as the effect analysis indicator, and subgroup analysis was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Results:A total of 21 articles were included ( n = 5 150 286). The meta-analysis results showed that maternal arsenic exposure was positively correlated with spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and preterm birth, with pooled OR values (95% CI) of 1.48 (1.28 - 1.70), 1.98 (1.60 - 2.45), and 1.05 (1.02 - 1.07), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that arsenic exposure was positively correlated with the risk of preterm birth in both prospective cohort studies ( OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.27) and cross-sectional studies ( OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.15). Internal exposure to arsenic ( OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04 - 1.28) presented a more pronounced risk of preterm birth compared to external exposure ( OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.10). Moreover, the impact was more substantial in developing countries ( OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.29), while it was not statistically significant in developed countries [1.04 (1.00 - 1.09), P > 0.05]. Conclusion:There is a positive association between maternal arsenic exposure and spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and preterm birth.

Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of minimally invasive therapy for aortic arch pathology after ascending aortic replacement.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2016 to 2024. After multidisciplinary discussion, these included patients were evaluated to be at high risk for traditional open surgery. Various minimally invasive repair techniques were employed, including Ⅳb hybrid technique, physician-modified endograft and novel unibody endograft. The study outcomes were technical success, in-hospital and follow-up mortality, stroke, endoleak, and the patency of the supra-aortic vessels.Results:A total of 40 patients(32 males and 8 females) with a median age of 60 years old were included in this study. The technique success rate was 100%, with no deaths or strokes reported. The patency of the supra-aortic vessels was 100%. 10 patients underwent Type Ⅳb hybrid surgery without any endoleaks occurring. Among the 22 patients who received physician-modified endograft, endoleaks were observed in 2 cases. One of these type Ⅰc endoleaks persisted and underwent reintervention. One patient underwent femoral artery replacement due to vascular injury. For the 8 patients who received novel unibody endograft, one case required reintervention due to persistent type Ⅰc endoleaks.Conclusion:With the development of different endovascular techniques and novel branched endograft, patients with aortic arch pathology who are at high risk for redo open surgery can achieve favorable outcomes with various minimal invasive techniques. However, long-term and large-sample follow-up studies are needed for further evaluation.

Arsenic (organoarsenic) compound is one of the oldest drugs used by humans to treat various diseases. From its initial application in treating various skin diseases to the 1970s when arsenic trioxide (ATO) was proven to be able to significantly relieve acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds gradually occupied an important position in the history of medical development. This article reviews the pharmaceutical research progress of inorganic arsenic compounds and organic arsine compounds, covering anticancer, antiparasitic, antiviral and antibiotic aspects. It further explores the potential for developing new arsenic (organoarsenic) drugs with higher efficacy and lower toxicity, aiming to provide new research directions and ideas for the application of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds in disease treatment.

Arsenic (organoarsenic) compound is one of the oldest drugs used by humans to treat various diseases. From its initial application in treating various skin diseases to the 1970s when arsenic trioxide (ATO) was proven to be able to significantly relieve acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds gradually occupied an important position in the history of medical development. This article reviews the pharmaceutical research progress of inorganic arsenic compounds and organic arsine compounds, covering anticancer, antiparasitic, antiviral and antibiotic aspects. It further explores the potential for developing new arsenic (organoarsenic) drugs with higher efficacy and lower toxicity, aiming to provide new research directions and ideas for the application of arsenic (organoarsenic) compounds in disease treatment.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the association between maternal arsenic exposure and spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and preterm birth.Methods:Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI database, the VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform were searched for studies on the association between maternal arsenic exposure and spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and preterm birth before December 2023. Meta-analysis of binary variables was conducted using Stata MP 17.0 software, with OR value(95% CI) as the effect analysis indicator, and subgroup analysis was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Results:A total of 21 articles were included ( n = 5 150 286). The meta-analysis results showed that maternal arsenic exposure was positively correlated with spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and preterm birth, with pooled OR values (95% CI) of 1.48 (1.28 - 1.70), 1.98 (1.60 - 2.45), and 1.05 (1.02 - 1.07), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that arsenic exposure was positively correlated with the risk of preterm birth in both prospective cohort studies ( OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.27) and cross-sectional studies ( OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.15). Internal exposure to arsenic ( OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04 - 1.28) presented a more pronounced risk of preterm birth compared to external exposure ( OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.10). Moreover, the impact was more substantial in developing countries ( OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.29), while it was not statistically significant in developed countries [1.04 (1.00 - 1.09), P > 0.05]. Conclusion:There is a positive association between maternal arsenic exposure and spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and preterm birth.

Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of minimally invasive therapy for aortic arch pathology after ascending aortic replacement.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2016 to 2024. After multidisciplinary discussion, these included patients were evaluated to be at high risk for traditional open surgery. Various minimally invasive repair techniques were employed, including Ⅳb hybrid technique, physician-modified endograft and novel unibody endograft. The study outcomes were technical success, in-hospital and follow-up mortality, stroke, endoleak, and the patency of the supra-aortic vessels.Results:A total of 40 patients(32 males and 8 females) with a median age of 60 years old were included in this study. The technique success rate was 100%, with no deaths or strokes reported. The patency of the supra-aortic vessels was 100%. 10 patients underwent Type Ⅳb hybrid surgery without any endoleaks occurring. Among the 22 patients who received physician-modified endograft, endoleaks were observed in 2 cases. One of these type Ⅰc endoleaks persisted and underwent reintervention. One patient underwent femoral artery replacement due to vascular injury. For the 8 patients who received novel unibody endograft, one case required reintervention due to persistent type Ⅰc endoleaks.Conclusion:With the development of different endovascular techniques and novel branched endograft, patients with aortic arch pathology who are at high risk for redo open surgery can achieve favorable outcomes with various minimal invasive techniques. However, long-term and large-sample follow-up studies are needed for further evaluation.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with Perceval sutureless aortic bioprosthesis in upper ministernotomy or right anterior thoracotomy. Methods From March to November 2022, the patients with simple aortic valve disease were enrolled in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. After preoperative evaluation, Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis was successfully used to perform aortic valve replacement through the upper ministernotomy or right anterior thoracotomy. The perioperative clinical data and ultrasonic measurement data of all patients were recorded. Results A total of 5 patients with simple aortic valve disease were included, including 3 females and 2 males, with a mean age of 71.2 years. Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis was successfully implanted in 5 patients, with a success rate of 100%. There were 3 patients receiving upper ministernotomy and 2 patients receiving right anterior thoracotomy. Two patients underwent ascending aortic plasty at the same time. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 61.0 min, and aortic cross-clamping time was 32.2 min. All patients were discharged successfully without perivalvular leakage, atrioventricular block or stroke. Conclusion The implantation method of Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis is simple, which can effectively reduce the perioperative risk by shortening the overall operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time. At the same time, its clinical application has promoted the development and popularization of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement, which together with Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis effectively combinates surgical effect and minimally invasive treatment, and has a good clinical application prospect because of its reliable safety and effectiveness.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of two-stage retrograde hybrid repair for acute aortic dissection involving the aortic arch complicated with distal malperfusion syndrome. Methods From May 2019 to December 2022, the patients presented with acute aortic dissection involving the aortic arch complicated with distal malperfusion syndrome treated in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University were enrolled. After preoperative evaluation, all patients underwent priority emergency interventional surgery to improve distal malperfusion, and then underwent two-stage hybrid surgery to repair proximal aortic lesions. The perioperative clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. Results Five patients were collected, including 4 males and 1 female, with a median age of 58 years. The main manifestations were lower limb ischemia and renal insufficiency in 3 patients, and poor intestinal perfusion in 2 patients. All patients were given priority to interventional surgery to implant graft stents or bare stents and necessary branch artery intervention, and then successfully performed two-stage hybrid surgery, including type Ⅰhybrid surgery for 2 patients, type Ⅱ hybrid surgery for 1 patient and type Ⅲ hybrid surgery for the other 2 patients, with a success rate of 100.0%. All patients were discharged successfully, and the function of the organs with poor perfusion returned to normal. Only 1 patient recovered to grade 4 muscle strength of the diseased lower limbs upon discharge. No adverse events such as amputation, exploratory laparotomy and intestinal resection or long-term hemodialysis occurred. Conclusion The application of two-stage retrograde hybrid repair in the surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection involving the aortic arch complicated with distal malperfusion syndrome is safe and effective, and is helpful to improve the perioperative survival rate, and clinical outcomes of such patients.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the correlation between maternal arsenic exposure during pregnancy and congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring.Methods:Literature search was performed through databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP.com to include epidemiological literature on association between maternal arsenic exposure during pregnancy and offspring CHD published domestically and internationally. The search was conducted from database establishment until November 2, 2022. Stata MP15 software was used for meta-analysis of binary variables, and I 2 statistics and Q test were used for heterogeneity test, fixed effect model or random effect model was selected based on the test results. Using OR value (95% CI) as the effect evaluation indicator, subgroup analysis was conducted based on CHD subtypes [conotruncal defects (CTD), atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO), atrial septal defect (ASD)/ventricular septal defect (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)]. Results:Nine articles were finally included, including two Chinese and seven English articles. Among them, 8 articles had CHD as the outcome, 5 articles had ASD/VSD as the outcome, 4 articles had CTD as the outcome, 3 articles had LVOTO as the outcome, 2 articles had PDA as the outcome, and 1 article had RVOTO as the outcome. An analysis was conducted on 8 articles with CHD as the outcome. After heterogeneity testing, I 2 = 88.5% and P < 0.001, indicating significant heterogeneity. A random effect model was used for meta-analysis, and the combined OR value (95% CI) was 1.51 (1.40 - 1.62). The results of CHD subgroup analysis showed that the combined OR values (95% CI) for ASD/VSD, CTD, LVOTO, PDA, and RVOTO were 1.68 (1.53 - 1.84), 1.64 (1.29 - 2.09), 2.89 (1.82 - 4.61), 1.78 (1.53 - 2.08), and 0.81 (0.64 - 1.03), respectively. Conclusion:Maternal arsenic exposure during pregnancy is associated with development of offspring CHD, including ASD/VSD, CTD, LVOTO, and PDA as the common lesions in offspring CHD.

Objective:To study the role and specific mechanisms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a key enzyme for glycometabolism, mediated reduction stress in arsenic-induced malignant transformation of cells.Methods:Immortalized human skin keratinocyte-forming cells (HaCaT cells) were treated with sodium arsenite (NaAsO 2) at a concentration of 0.0 (control group) and 1.0 μmol/L (arsenic group), and malignant transformation indicators were tested using cell growth kinetics assay, cell scratch assay, and soft agar colony formation assay. At different stages of arsenic treatment (0, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 passages of cells), the effects of NaAsO 2 on glycometabolism in HaCaT cells were determined using corresponding reagent kits and Western blot, including glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), lactate, acetyl CoA, G6PD levels, as well as protein expression levels of hexokinase 2 (HK-2), 6-phosphofructose-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-diphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), 6-phosphoglucose dehydrogenase (PGD), and G6PD. Mitochondria were extracted, and the effects of NaAsO 2 on HaCaT cells and mitochondrial redox [reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP +) ratio, reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio] were determined using corresponding reagent kits. The effect of G6PD on reduction stress and NaAsO 2-induced malignant transformation of HaCaT cells was determined using small interfering RNA (siRNA) intervention method. Results:Compared 1.0 μmol/L NaAsO 2-cultured HaCaT cells up to 35 generations (T-HaCaT cells) with matching passage 0.0 μmol/L NaAsO 2-cultured HaCaT cells [(33.797 ± 0.280) h, 0.177 ± 0.015, 13.667 ± 2.625], the multiplication time [(24.042 ± 0.479) h] was shorter ( t = 30.45, P < 0.001), the cell migration rate (0.396 ± 0.039) was higher ( t = 9.08, P < 0.001), and the number of colonies formed in soft agar (73.667 ± 4.450) was higher ( t = 20.11, P < 0.001). Compared with matching passage control group cells and 0 generation of the same group, G6P level in the arsenic group was higher at passages 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), lactate and G6PD levels were higher at passages 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), acetyl CoA level was lower at passages 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), and protein expression levels of HK-2, PFKFB3, PDK1, PGD, and G6PD were higher at passages 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05). The NADPH/NADP + ratio of cells was higher at passages 1, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), GSH/GSSG ratio was higher at passages 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05). The ratio of mitochondrial NADPH/NADP + was higher at passages 1, 7, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), the GSH/GSSG ratio was higher at passages 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05). G6PD expression was silenced by siRNA in T-HaCaT cells, compared with the T-HaCaT con siRNA-treated group, the T-HaCaT G6PD siRNA-treated group had lower NADPH/NADP + and GSH/GSSG ratios in both cells and mitochondria ( P < 0.05), longer cell multiplication time, lower cell migration rate, and fewer soft agar colonies ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:During the malignant transformation of HaCaT cells induced by NaAsO 2, G6PD and other enzymes related to glycometabolism are activated, leading to reprogramming of glycometabolism, resulting in an imbalance of cell redox homeostasis and enhanced reduction stress in cells and mitochondria, thereby promoting NaAsO 2 induced malignant transformation of HaCaT cells.