Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

Objective:To assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods:This was a multicenter prospective cohort study, which was based on the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) project. The hospitalized patients with ACS aged between 18 and 80 years, registered in CCC project from November 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 were included. The included patients were categorized into four groups based on their BMI at the time of admission: underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m 2), normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m 2), overweight (BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m 2), and obese (BMI≥30.0 kg/m 2). Multivariate logistic regression models was used to analyze the relationship between BMI and the risk of in-hospital MACCE. Results:A total of 71 681 ACS inpatients were included in the study. The age was (63.4±14.7) years, and 26.5% (18 979/71 681) were female. And the incidence of MACCE for the underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese groups were 14.9% (322/2 154), 9.5% (3 997/41 960), 7.9% (1 908/24 140) and 7.0% (240/3 427), respectively ( P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a higher incidence of MACCE in the underweight group compared to the normal weight group ( OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.13-1.49, P<0.001), while the overweight and obese groups exhibited no statistically significant difference in the incidence of MACCE compared to the normal weight group (both P>0.05). Conclusion:ACS patients with BMI below normal have a higher risk of in-hospital MACCE, suggesting that BMI may be an indicator for evaluating short-term prognosis in ACS patients.

Objective:To revaluate the systematic review/meta-analysis on efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for knee osteoarthritis.Methods:We searched CNKI, VIP, WangFang, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library databases, Embase, from inception to December 15, 2020, to retrieve systematic reviews and/or meta analyses on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with acupuncture and moxibustion. Two researchers independently screened the literature and extracted data, used the AMSTAR2 scale to evaluate the methodological quality, and used the GRADE system to grade the quality of evidence.Results:A total of 11 systematic evaluations were included, including 44 outcomes. Methodological evaluation showed that all 11 literatures were of very low quality. The GRADE system evaluation showed that there were 13 intermediate evidences, 12 low evidences, and 19 very low evidences.Conclusion:The results of the existing systematic reviews show that acupuncture and moxibustion have a certain efficacy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, but the methodology and evidence level of the included studies are low, so this conclusion needs to be verified by further high-quality studies.

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) can lead to lower back pain and may be even accompanied by scoliosis, neurological dysfunction and other complications, which will affect the daily activities and life quality of patients. Vertebral augmentation is an effective treatment method for OVCF, but it cannot correct unbalance of bone metabolism or improve the osteoporotic status, causing complications like lower back pain, limited spinal activities and vertebral refracture. The post-operative systematic and standardized rehabilitation treatments can improve curative effect and therapeutic efficacy of anti-osteoporosis, reduce risk of vertebral refracture, increase patient compliance and improve quality of life. Since there still lack relevant clinical treatment guidelines for postoperative rehabilitation treatments following vertebral augmentation for OVCF, the current treatments are varied with uneven therapeutic effect. In order to standardize the postoperative rehabilitation treatment, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized relevant experts to refer to relevant literature and develop the "Guideline for postoperative rehabilitation treatment following vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (2022 version)" based on the clinical guidelines published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) as well as on the principles of scientificity, practicality and advancement. The guideline provided evidence-based recommendations on 10 important issues related to postoperative rehabilitation treatments of OVCF.

Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of step-by-step balloon dilatation combined with contineous biliary drainage in treating benign biliary-enteric anastomosis stricture.Methods The clinical data and imaging materials of 49 patients with benign biliary-enteric anastomosis stricture,who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from January 2008 to March 2014 to receive treatment,were retrospectively analyzed.Before treatment,the diagnosis of benign biliary-enteric anastomosis stricture was confirmed in all patients by color Doppler ultrasound,MRI and/or contrast-enhanced CT scan,endoscopic or DSA-guided anastomosis biopsy.Among the 49 patients,23 patients (study group) were treated with percutaneous transhepatic step-by-step balloon dilatation (the diameter of used balloon was 8 mm initially,then 10 mm balloon was used in the second month,and 12 mm balloon was used in the third month) together with contineous biliary drainage (lasting for 6 months);26 patients (control group) were treated with single percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation (balloon diameter of 6 mm or 8 mm) plus biliary drainage (lasting for 6 months).The improvement of clinical symptoms,the incidence of postoperative complications,and the anastomotic patency rate were compared between the two groups.Results Technical success was obtained in all patients.No procedure-related complications,such as biliary tract hemorrhage and perforation,occurred.One week after the treatment,the difference in bilirubin level between the two groups was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Although the difference in 3-month anastomotic patency rate between the two groups was not statistically significant,the 6-month,12-month and 24-month anastomotic patency rates of the study group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).Three patients in the study group developed recurrent jaundice at 11.2,14.3 and 17.6 months after treatment respectively;MRI and contrast-enhanced CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of anastomotic stricture recurrence,and balloon dilatation together with drainage tube placement had to be carried out again.In the control group,16 patients developed recurrent jaundice within 3.1-17.1 months after balloon dilatation management,among them one patient died of disseminated intravascular coagulation and the remaining 15 patients received balloon dilatation together with drainage tube placement again.Conclusion For benign biliary-enteric anastomosis strictures,step-by-step balloon dilatation combined with persistent biliary drainage is a safe and effective minimally-invasive treatment.

Objective To observe the effect of Ningxia aqueous extracts of fruitless lycium sprout (AEFLS) on cardiomyo cyte antioxidation and apoptosis-related protein expression in aging mice.Methods The natural aging C57BL/6J mice with 13 months old were randomly divided into aged control group,AEFLS low dose group (AEFLS1),AEFLS middle dose group (AEFLS2)and AEFLS high dose group(AEFLS3).The AEFLS1,AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups were respectively given with 5,10,20 mg/kg AEFLS gavage,while the aged control group was given with the normal saline gavage,for continuous8 weeks.The xan thine oxidase assay and thiobarbituric acid method were used for the determination of SOD and MDA in heart tissues.Western-blot and immunohistochemical method were used to detect the expressions of Bcl-2,Bax and Capase-3 in heart tissue.Results Compared with the aged control group,the MDA level in the AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups was decreased,while the SOD activity was increased,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).The Western-blot result showed that compared with the aged control group,the optical density value of Bcl-2 in the AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups was increased,but the optical density values of Bax and Capase-3 were decreased (P＜0.01);the immunohistochemical results showed that compared with the aged control group,the immunopositive(IP) expressions of Bcl-2 protein in heart tissues in the AEFLS2 and AEFLS3 groups were increased (P＜0.01),while the IP expressions of Bax and Capase-3 were decreased (P＜0.01).Conclusion Middle and high doses of AEFLS can increase the antioxidative ability of myocardial tissue,up-regulates the Bcl-2 expression,down-regulates the Bax and Capase-3 expressions and plays anti-cardiomyocyte apoptotic role.

Objective To investigate the different distribution of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD8+T cells in the local immune microenvironment of mucosal malignant melanoma and cutaneous malignant melanoma, and analyze the relationship between the two indicators and the prognosis of patients. Methods Immunohistochemistry staining was used to assess the ex?pression of Foxp3+Tregs and CD8+T cells in tumor microenvironment of 58 patients with malignant melanoma. The correlation between two factors, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis were analyzed. Results There is no correlation be?tween the expression of Foxp3 and CD8. The number of Foxp3+Tregs was significantly higher in mucosa malignant melanoma than that in cutaneous malignant melanoma (t=2.648, P=0.011). The proportion of Foxp3highTregs was significantly higher in pa?tients with tumor diameter≥3 cm, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis than that in patients with tumor diameter<3 cm, no lymph node metastasis and no distant metastasis (P<0.05). In addition, in patients with ulceration that proportion was significantly higher in CD8high group than that in patients without ulceration (33.3%vs 5.9%, P<0.05). The median progres?sion-free surial (PFS) was 12 months in Foxp3high group, which was significantly longer than that of Foxp3low group (31 months, P<0.05). The median PFS was significantly higher in CD8high group (25 months) than that of CD8low group (12 months, P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that the median PFS was 7 months in Foxp3high CD8low group, which was significantly lower than that of Foxp3highCD8high group (25 months) and Foxp3lowCD8low group (18 months, P=0.003). Univariate analysis showed that median PFS was different in patients with different tumor location, different number of Foxp3+Treg, different number of CD8+T cells, and distant metastases. Conclusion The number of Tregs is closely associated with metastasis in patients with malig?nant melanoma. Compared with cutaneous malignant melanoma, our results indicate that the poor prognosis of mucosal malig?nant melanoma may be associated with the infiltration of more Tregs.

Background The data on the prognostic values of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in patients with advanced symp-tomatic heart failure (HF) receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are scarce. The aim of present study was to investigate the association of serum hsCRP levels with left ventricle reverse remodeling after six months of CRT as well as long-term outcome. Methods A total of 232 CRT patients were included. The assessment of hsCRP values, clinical status and echocardiographic data were performed at baseline and after six months of CRT. Long-term follow-up included all-cause mortality and hospitalizations for HF. Results During the mean follow-up periods of 31.3 ± 31.5 months, elevated hsCRP (>3 mg/L) prior to CRT was associated with a significant 2.39-fold increase (P=0.006) in the risk of death or HF hospitalizations. At 6-month follow-up, patients who responded to CRT showed significant reductions or maintained low in hsCRP levels (–0.5 ± 4.1 mg/L reduction) compared with non-responders (1.7 ± 6.1 mg/L increase, P=0.018). Com-pared with patients in whom 6-month hsCRP levels were reduced or remained low, patients in whom 6-month hsCRP levels were increased or maintained high experienced a significantly higher risk of subsequent death or HF hospitalizations (Log-rank P<0.001). The echocardio-graphic improvement was also better among patients in whom 6-month hsCRP levels were reduced or remained low compared to those in whom 6-month hsCRP levels were raised or maintained high. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that measurement of baseline and follow-up hsCRP levels may be useful as prognostic markers for timely potential risk stratification and subsequent appropriate treatment strategies in patients with advanced HF undergoing CRT.

BACKGROUNDRenal insufficiency (RI) is significantly associated with clinical prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF), but direct evidences on the relation between renal function and clinical outcome in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are limited. The aim of the current study was to systematically evaluate the association of baseline and 6-month renal function with cardiac reverse remodeling and long-term outcome after CRT.

METHODSWe retrospectively evaluated 190 consecutive patients who underwent CRT at Fuwai Hospital from January 2008 to April 2013. Renal function tests, echocardiographic measurement, and clinical parameters at baseline and after 6 months of CRT were performed. Primary endpoint events included all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and unplanned hospitalizations for HF.

RESULTSAt baseline, compared with normal renal function or mild RI (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2)), moderate-to-severe RI (eGFR <60 ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2)) exerted a negative influence on cardiac reverse remodeling parameters. At 6-month follow-up, 114 (60.0%) patients were classified as responders and showed significant renal function improvement, whereas renal function deteriorated in non-responders and subsequently 41 (25.6%) patients developed worsening renal function (WRF). During the mean follow-up of (24.3±17.1) months, both patients with baseline eGFR <60 ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) and those with WRF experienced worse event-free survival (P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThis analysis identified that baseline eGFR as well as WRF after CRT were found to be independent determinants of the combined endpoints of all-cause mortality and HF-related hospitalizations in CRT recipients.

Aged ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; adverse effects ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Heart Failure ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Retrospective Studies

Background Renal insufficiency (RI) is significantly associated with clinical prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF),but direct evidences on the relation between renal function and clinical outcome in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are limited.The aim of the current study was to systematically evaluate the association of baseline and 6-month renal function with cardiac reverse remodeling and long-term outcome after CRT.Methods We retrospectively evaluated 190 consecutive patients who underwent CRT at Fuwai Hospital from January 2008 to April 2013.Renal function tests,echocardiographic measurement,and clinical parameters at baseline and after 6 months of CRT were performed.Primary endpoint events included all-cause mortality,cardiac transplantation,and unplanned hospitalizations for HF.Results At baseline,compared with normal renal function or mild RI (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ＞-60 ml·min-1·1.73 m-2),moderate-to-severe RI (eGFR ＜60 ml·min-1·1.73 m-2) exerted a negative influence on cardiac reverse remodeling parameters.At 6-month follow-up,114 (60.0％) patients were classified as responders and showed significant renal function improvement,whereas renal function deteriorated in non-responders and subsequently 41 (25.6％) patients developed worsening renal function (WRF).During the mean follow-up of (24.3±17.1) months,both patients with baseline eGFR ＜60 ml.min-1·1.73 m-2 and those with WRF experienced worse event-free survival (P ＜0.01,respectively).Conclusions:This analysis identified that baseline eGFR as well as WRF after CRT were found to be independent determinants of the combined endpoints of all-cause mortality and HF-related hospitalizations in CRT recipients.