Currently, transcatheter intervention is the preferred treatment for patients with anatomically suitable atrial septal defects. However, the use of nickel-titanium alloy occluders in interventional procedures results in lifelong presence of the implant in the body, leading to complications such as metal allergies and arrhythmias in some patients. To overcome the short-term and long-term complications associated with the presence of metal, and to avoid radiation exposure and metal toxicity, this paper reports a case of successful transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in a pediatric patient with metal allergies using fully biodegradable occluder under ultrasound guidance, achieving excellent results by interventional therapy.

Background::Due to the wide variety of morphology, size, and dynamics, selecting an optimal valve size and location poses great difficulty in percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI). This study aimed to report our experience with in vitro bench testing using patient-specific three-dimensional (3D)-printed models for planning PPVI with the Venus P-valve. Methods::Patient-specific 3D soft models were generated using PolyJet printing with a compliant synthetic material in 15 patients scheduled to undergo PPVI between July 2018 and July 2020 in Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University.Results::3D model bench testing altered treatment strategy in all patients (100%). One patient was referred for surgery because testing revealed that even the largest Venus P-valve would not anchor properly. In the remaining 14 patients, valve size and/or implantation location was altered to avoid valve migration and/or compression coronary artery. In four patients, it was decided to change the point anchoring because of inverted cone-shaped right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) ( n = 2) or risk of compression coronary artery ( n = 2). Concerning sizing, we found that an oversize of 2-5 mm suffices. Anchoring of the valve was dictated by the flaring of the in- and outflow portion in the pulmonary artery. PPVI was successful in all 14 patients (absence of valve migration, no coronary compression, and none-to-mild residual pulmonary regurgitation [PR]). The diameter of the Venus P-valve in the 3D simulation group was significantly smaller than that of the conventional planning group (36 [2] vs. 32 [4], Z = -3.77, P <0.001). Conclusions::In vitro testing indicated no need to oversize the Venus P-valve to the degree recommended by the balloon-sizing technique, as 2-5 mm sufficed.

Transcatheter intervention for congenital heart disease has been developed for 40 years in China, it has experienced the transition of learning to self-dependent innovation, and witnessed the intervention therapy system starting from scratch and gradually reaching the top level and gaining high achievements in the world scale. With the continuous development of interventional technology and devices, cutting-edge ideas and viewpoints are constantly discussed. This review summarized the development of intervention techniques and devices, hoping to provide some experience for the further development of transcatheter interventions for congenial heart disease.

Objectives: Users share valuable information through online smoking cessation communities (OSCCs), which help people maintain and improve smoking cessation behavior. Although OSCC utilization is common among smokers, limitations exist in identifying the smoking status of OSCC users (“quit” vs. “not quit”). Thus, the current study implicitly analyzed user-generated content (UGC) to identify individual users’ smoking status through advanced computational methods and real data from an OSCC. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using data from 3,833 users of BcomeAnEX.org. Domain experts reviewed posts and comments to determine the authors’ smoking status when they wrote them. Seven types of feature sets were extracted from UGC (textual, Doc2Vec, social influence, domain-specific, author-based, and thread-based features, as well as adjacent posts). Results: Introducing novel features boosted smoking status recognition (quit vs. not quit) by 9.3% relative to the use of text-only post features. Furthermore, advanced computational methods outperformed baseline algorithms across all models and increased the smoking status prediction performance by up to 12%. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the current research method provides a valuable platform for researchers involved in online cessation interventions and furnishes a framework for on-going machine learning applications. The results may help practitioners design a sustainable real-time intervention via personalized post recommendations in OSCCs. A major limitation is that only users’ smoking status was detected. Future research might involve programming machine learning classification methods to identify abstinence duration using larger datasets.

Objectives: Users share valuable information through online smoking cessation communities (OSCCs), which help people maintain and improve smoking cessation behavior. Although OSCC utilization is common among smokers, limitations exist in identifying the smoking status of OSCC users (“quit” vs. “not quit”). Thus, the current study implicitly analyzed user-generated content (UGC) to identify individual users’ smoking status through advanced computational methods and real data from an OSCC. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using data from 3,833 users of BcomeAnEX.org. Domain experts reviewed posts and comments to determine the authors’ smoking status when they wrote them. Seven types of feature sets were extracted from UGC (textual, Doc2Vec, social influence, domain-specific, author-based, and thread-based features, as well as adjacent posts). Results: Introducing novel features boosted smoking status recognition (quit vs. not quit) by 9.3% relative to the use of text-only post features. Furthermore, advanced computational methods outperformed baseline algorithms across all models and increased the smoking status prediction performance by up to 12%. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the current research method provides a valuable platform for researchers involved in online cessation interventions and furnishes a framework for on-going machine learning applications. The results may help practitioners design a sustainable real-time intervention via personalized post recommendations in OSCCs. A major limitation is that only users’ smoking status was detected. Future research might involve programming machine learning classification methods to identify abstinence duration using larger datasets.

Objective    To assess the feasibility and safety of percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in outpatients. Methods    From December 2016 to June 2018, 50 simple ASD patients underwent TTE-guided transcatheter closure in the outpatient operating room of our hospital (a TTE group) including 22 males and 28 females at the age of 16-48 (27.40±6.95) years. Fifty patients with simple ASD treated with the guidance of conventional fluoroscopy during the same period were treated as a control group, including 22 males and 28 females at the age of 15-48 (28.58±6.96) years. Both groups were re-examined by TTE during follow-up at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Results    The mean age, body weight, the size of ASD and occluder and success rate had no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the TTE group had significantly lower mean operation time (P<0.01) and less cost (P<0.01) since patients need not to be hospitalized. No related complications were found in the TTE group during follow-up. Conclusion    Percutaneous transcatheter closure of ASD guided by TTE appears safe and effective for outpatients, and can significantly reduce the cost.

Objective To study the effect of intercellular adhesion of tumor cells on immune response of human body. Methods A tumor growth-cellular immune feedback model was developed based on cellular Potts model (CPM) to simulate the progression of tumor cells and the cellular immune feedback system, and the influence of adhesion between tumor cells on the immune system was analyzed. Results Under the condition of tumor intercellular adhesion with normal intensity, tumor cells could escape when the immune system was weak and be eliminated when the immune system was strong. Under the condition of tumor intercellular adhesion with low intensity, tumor cells could escape when the immune system was weak, while exhibited behavior of oscillation and could not be eliminated when the immune system was strong. Conclusions Higher adhesion between tumor cells inhibited escape of tumor cells from the immune system, while lower adhesion between tumor cells could effectively help the tumor escape killing from the immune system. When the tumor was extremely spread, the immune system could not completely eliminate tumor cells.

Objective To observe the effects of suspension training along with chiropractic on degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods From June to December, 2016, 64 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were randomly divided into control group (n=32) and treatment group (n=32). The control group accepted McKenzie approach, lumbar traction and functional training, while the treatment group accepted suspension training and chiropractic, for 45 days. They were evaluated with Meyerding Rating, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before and after treatment. Results The scores of Meyerding Rating, VAS and ODI improved in both groups after treatment (t>9.157, P<0.001), and improved more in the treatment group than in the control group (t>2.069, P<0.05). Conclusion Suspension training combining with chiropractic is safe and effective for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Objective: To explore the short and mid-term efficacy of device closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) for treating the patients with PFO combining cryptogenic stroke (CS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods: A total of 56 PFO patients with CS and TIA receiving device closure in our hospital from 2009-05 to 2015-12 were retrospectively studied. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray were examined at 24h, 1 month, 3 and 6 months after theoperation; telephone visit was conducted every 6 months thereafter. Results: There were 54/56 PFO patients combining CS and 2 combining TIA; 53 (94.6%)patients received PFO occluder from Starway medical technology. Aspirin was used for 6 months after the operation. The patients were followed-up for the average of (34.67±23.24) months. No body suffered from post-operative stroke and TIA; no residual shunt was observed. Conclusion: The short and mid-term efficacy of device closure has been satisfactory for treating the patients with PFO combining CS and TIA; its overall clinical value should be further investigated in large population and long-term study.

Objective The postoperative outcomes of transposition of the great arteries with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) are still controversial. Based on relative large data, we evaluated the relationship between preoperative pulmonary hypertension and postoperative early and midterm clinical outcomes. Methods In this retrospective study, a cohort of consecutive patients with TGA was studied. One hundred and one patients underwent artery switch operation between February 2004 and October 2007. Preoperative medical records were reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 22.6 months. All artery switch operations were performed through a median sternotomy utilizing extracorporeal circulation. Deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest were used in 6 patients. After sternotomy, pulmonary arterial pressure was measured directly. According preoperative mean pulmonary pressure ( mPAP), patients were divided into three groups: normal group ( mPAP ＜25mmHg, n =43), moderate PH group ( mPAP between 25 to 50mmHg, n = 47) and severe PH group ( mPAP ≥50mmHg, n = 11 ). The methods of coronary anastomosis were "open trap door" ( 39 cases), "bay window" (61 cases) and "pulmonary artery tunnel" ( 1 case)techniques. Besides repairing of atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect, ligation of patent ductus arteriosus, concomitsnt operations also involved mitral valvuloplasty (5 patients), tricuspid valvuloplasty (2 patients), pulmonary valvuloplasty (5 patients), pulmonary artery transplantation ( 1 patient ), subvalvular membrane resection ( 2 patients), widening of the right ventricular outflow tract ( 1 patient ) and collateral circulation occlusion ( 1 patient). The early and late postoperative results were compared among different groups. Results After operation, mPAP in severe PH group decreased from (61.2 ± 8.6 ) mmHg to ( 34.6 ± 13.6 ) mmHg( P ＜ 0.01 ). In moderate PH group it decreased from ( 34.5 ± 6.7 ) mmHg to ( 21.3 ± 5.6) mmHg( P ＜ 0.0l ). mPAP was not significantly changed in the control group. Operative mortality was 7.9% ( 8 patients ).The causes of early death were low output syndrome in 3 patients, septicemia in 4, central nervous system complications in 1.There was no difference in the postoperative complication rates among three groups. Also, no significant differences were found between groups regarding the early operative mortality (control group: 7.0%, moderate PH group: 8.5%, severe PH group:9.1%, P = 0.953 ). Combined abnormity contributed to postoperative death. Patients with ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus had a higher mortality rate. During follow-up 8 patients died: 5 in control group ( 11.6% ), 5 in moderate PH group ( 10.6% ) and 6 in severe PH group (54.5% ), P ＜ 0.01. Causes of midterm death were sudden death in 10, progressive heart failure in 4, pneumonia in 2. The rates of midterm mortality of the three groups were significantly different ( 11.6%,10.6% and 54.5% for control, moderate PH and severe PH group, respectively, P = 0.001 ). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for patients with different age groups showed that survival rate in group with age older than 1 year was lower ( P = 0.029 ).Conclusion In TGA/PH patients, mPAP lower than 50 mmHg is suitable for artery switch operation and can get satisfying postoperative outcomes. If mPAP higher than 50 mmHg, even though the operation may decrease the pulmonary pressure, radical artery switch operation should not be recommended because of higher late mortality.