Objective To analyze the influencing factors of survival of patients with airway stenosis requiring clinical interventions after lung transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 66 patients with airway stenosis requiring clinical interventions after lung transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox’s regression models were adopted to analyze the influencing factors of survival of all patients with airway stenosis and those with early airway stenosis. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival and delineate the survival curve. Results For 66 patients with airway stenosis, the median airway stenosis-free time was 72 (52,102) d, 27% (18/66) for central airway stenosis and 73% (48/66) for distal airway stenosis. Postoperative mechanical ventilation time [hazard ratio (HR) 1.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.005-1.070, P=0.024] and type of surgery (HR 0.400, 95%CI 0.177-0.903, P=0.027) were correlated with the survival of patients with airway stenosis after lung transplantation. The longer the postoperative mechanical ventilation time, the higher the risk of mortality of the recipients. The overall survival of airway stenosis recipients undergoing bilateral lung transplantation was better than that of their counterparts after single lung transplantation. Subgroup analysis showed that grade 3 primary graft dysfunction (PGD) (HR 4.577, 95%CI 1.439-14.555, P=0.010) and immunosuppressive drugs (HR 0.079, 95%CI 0.022-0.287, P<0.001) were associated with the survival of patients with early airway stenosis after lung transplantation. The overall survival of patients with early airway stenosis after lung transplantation without grade 3 PGD was better compared with that of those with grade 3 PGD. The overall survival of patients with early airway stenosis after lung transplantation treated with tacrolimus was superior to that of their counterparts treated with cyclosporine. Conclusions Long postoperative mechanical ventilation time, single lung transplantation, grade 3 PGD and use of cyclosporine may affect the survival of patients with airway stenosis after lung transplantation.

With the optimization of surgical technologies and postoperative management regimens, the number of lung transplantation has been significantly increased, which has become an important treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease. However, due to the impact of comprehensive factors, such as bronchial ischemia and immunosuppression, the incidence of airway stenosis after lung transplantation is relatively high, which severely affects postoperative survival and quality of life of lung transplant recipients. In recent years, with the improvement of perioperative management, organ preservation and surgical technologies, the incidence of airway stenosis after lung transplantation has been declined, but it remains at a high level. Early diagnosis and timely intervention play a significant role in enhancing clinical prognosis of patients with airway stenosis. In this article, the general conditions, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of airway stenosis after lung transplantation were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for comprehensive management of airway stenosis after lung transplantation and improving clinical prognosis of lung transplant recipients.

Objectives:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of simultaneous bilateral adrenal vein sampling(AVS)via the basilic vein approach. Methods:21 consecutive patients with primary aldosteronism(PA)who underwent simultaneous bilateral AVS via the basilic vein in Fuwai Hospital between July 2023 and November 2023 were enrolled in this study.The puncture site,catheter used in AVS,operation time,fluoroscopy time,contrast agent dosages,success rate of bilateral sampling,adverse events,and complications were recorded and analyzed.Successful sampling was determined by a selectivity index(cortisol in the adrenal vein/cortisol in inferior vena cava)greater than or equal to 2. Results:The average age of 21 patients was(49.3±7.7)years,with 13 male patients.The first 5F sheath was successfully inserted into the right basilic vein in all patients,the second 5F sheath insertion failed in two patients and switched to the ipsilateral cephalic vein approach.The 5F MPA1 catheter was inserted into the right adrenal vein and the 5F TIG catheter into the left adrenal vein in all patients.Operation time was 17.50(12.00,22.00)min,fluoroscopy time was 5.90(4.75,10.55)min,and contrast agent dosage was 25.00(25.00,35.00)ml.Bilateral AVS was successful in all patients.Two patients experienced adverse events,one case was catheter entanglement,which resulted in 5F TIG catheter slipped from adrenal vein,and another case was vascular spasm.No complications were recorded. Conclusions:Simultaneous bilateral AVS via basilic vein approach is safe and feasible in most PA patients,further researches with larger patient cohort are needed to validate the results from this study.

Objectives:To investigate long-term clinical outcomes of renal denervation(RDN)for the treatment of resistant hypertension. Methods:This study retrospectively enrolled 58 patients with resistant hypertension who received RDN treatment via femoral artery approach at Fuwai Hospital between February 2012 and November 2019.Follow up was performed at 1,3,6 months,1 year,and annually after RDN,and the last follow-up was June 2023.The baseline data and postoperative follow-up data including office blood pressure,24-hour mean blood pressure and heart rate,types and load of antihypertensive drugs,renal function,and major adverse events(including renal artery stenosis,acute myocardial infarction,stroke,cardiovascular death,and all-cause death)were obtained and analyzed.The impact of RDN on 10-year cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events was evaluated using the Framingham risk assessment model and the Chinese model. Results:A total of 58 patients were enrolled,with 1 patient(1.72%)died from lung cancer.Forty-one patients(70.69%)were visited in the last follow-up and the average follow-up time was(10.21±1.75)years.Compared with baseline,the office systolic/diastolic blood pressure was decreased by(12.59±21.65)/(9.87±14.27)mmHg(P<0.01,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),24-hour mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure reduced by(11.28±15.33)/(7.94±12.29)mmHg(P<0.01),24-hour mean heart rate reduced by(2.45±9.46)bpm(P>0.05),the types of antihypertensive drugs decreased by 1.17±2.25(P<0.01),the drug load reduced by 1.45±2.37(P<0.001),and the estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased by(6.83±18.37)ml/(min·1.73 m2)(P<0.05)at the last follow-up.The impact of RDN on 10-year cardiovascular events and stroke risk was as follows:Framingham risk assessment showed an absolute risk decrease of 14.25%and 2.12%,respectively,and decreased by 5.72%and 17.46%using the Chinese cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk assessment. Conclusions:This study showed that RDN could significantly reduce blood pressure levels in patients with resistant hypertension in the long-term follow up,and was expected to further reduce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks.

In recent years,aldosterone synthase inhibitor(ASI)has attracted widespread attention as a treatment option for hypertension.Drugs such as osilodrostat,baxdrostat,lorundrostat,and dexfadrostat have been developed and the therapeutic effects have been evaluated in a series of clinical studies.This article intends to elaborate current clinical research results,problems,and controversies of ASI for the treatment of hypertension,and explore the feasibility of using ASI for the treatment of primary aldosteronism.

Objective:To investigate the effects of 2 650 MHz radiofrequency (RF) exposure on the behavior and neurotransmitter release of mice.Methods:Adult male C57BL/6N mice were divided into a normal control (CON) group and a radiofrequency radiation (RFR) group using the random number table method. The mice in the RFR group were subjected to single-dose whole-body exposure to a uniform 2 650 MHz RF electromagnetic field for 3 h. During the RF exposure, the field strength in the effective working area of the RF radiation platform was measured using an electromagnetic radiation analyzer, and the changes in the anal temperature of the mice were monitored using an optical fiber thermometer. Moreover, the changes in the cognition, social interaction, and emotion of the mice were determined through the new object recognition test, social preference test, and open field test. Finally, the changes in the hippocampal neurotransmitter release levels of the mice were detected using microdialysis sampling and mass spectrometry, and the changes in the hippocampal tissue structure and ultrastructure were observed via microscopy.Results:Under the test conditions, RF radiation improved the anal temperature of the mice, with a maximum increasing amplitude of 0.61℃, falling within the range of thermal safety. The mice in the RFR group experienced a significant decrease in the frequency and time for exploring new objects ( t=4.50, 2.53, P < 0.05) in the new object recognition test, a significant decrease in the frequency ( t=0.08, P<0.01) and time ( t=0.03, P<0.05) for exploring other mice in the social preference test, and no significant change in the frequency and time for exploring the central area ( P > 0.05) in the open field test. Compared to the CON group, the RFR group showed an increase in the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) ( t=-2.56, P < 0.05) and a decrease in the release of acetylcholine (ACh) ( t=2.21, P < 0.05), no significant difference in the release of glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) ( P > 0.05), and no evident damage to the hippocampal tissue and structure and synaptic ultrastructure. Conclusions:2 650 MHz RF radiation may induce cognitive impairment and abnormal social preference in mice, which is attributed to neuronal dysfunctions and neurotransmitter release disorders under RF exposure.

Objective To modify the mouse model of orthotopic left lung transplantation from different perspectives, aiming to establish a simpler, faster and stabler mouse model of lung transplantation. Methods Based on preliminary modified rat model of orthotopic left lung transplantation established by our team, varying extent of modifications were made regarding the tracheal intubation, cannula preparation and anastomosis procedures of orthotopic left lung transplantation in the recipient mice. Orthotopic left lung transplantation in 40 mice were performed by an operator with microsurgical experience. The dissection of the recipient's hilar structure was carried out at the plane of the hilar clamp model within the reverse-view, and the three branches (left main bronchus, pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein) of the pulmonary hilum were anastomosed in turn by the "pendulum" anastomosis method. The operation time of each procedure was recorded. The recipient mice were sacrificed at postoperative 2 weeks, and the incidence of postoperative complications was recorded. Results Lung transplantation was successfully completed in 40 mice, with no bronchial and vascular tearing or twisting, and no bleeding at the anastomosis site. The overall cardiopulmonary procurement time was (10.7±1.5) min, cannula preparation time was (16.2±1.5) min, cold ischemia time was (25.1±2.4) min, warm ischemia time was (19.4±1.6) min, and the total operation time was (57.2±2.9) min, respectively. During the follow-up from 6 to 14 days after surgery, one recipient mouse died of pleural effusion, probably caused by infection. No pneumothorax, thrombosis or atelectasis was found in the remaining recipient mice during postoperative follow-up. Conclusions The modified mouse model of orthotopic left lung transplantation based on "pendulum" anastomosis of the reverse-view plane possesses multiple advantages of short operation time, high success rate and few complications, which is expected to become an alternative model of studying pathological changes after lung transplantation and worthy of further application.

Objective: To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in rats with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related right ventricular dysfunction and the protective effect of sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) on right ventricle. Methods: Sixty male Spragne-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group (CON group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model group, 4-PBA prevention group and 4-PBA treatment group, with 15 rats in each group. ARDS rat model was established by intratracheal instillation of LPS 10 mg/kg after tracheotomy; CON group was given the same amount of saline. 4-PBA prevention group and 4-PBA treatment group were given 4-PBA 500 mg/kg intragastric administration 2 hours before and after LPS respectively. Echocardiography was performed 12 hours after treatment to evaluate the right ventricular function. Then, the rats were sacrificed by bloodletting, and the serum and right ventricular tissue were harvested. The histopathological changes of myocardial were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukins (IL-1β and IL-6) in serum and myocardial were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western Blot was used to detect the expression of the marker proteins of ERS in myocardial, including glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP cyclic adenosine phosphate reaction primitive binding transcription factor homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12 and caspase-3. Results: Compared with the CON group, the echocardiography showed pulmonary artery maximum pressure gradient (PAmaxPG), pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in LPS model group were significantly decreased, and right ventricular end-diastolic excursion (RVDd) was significantly increased, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum and myocardial, as well as the expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-12 and caspase-3 in myocardial were significantly increased. Compared with LPS model group, TAPSE of 4-PBA preventive and treatment groups were significantly increased (mm: 3.08±0.65, 2.96±0.61 vs. 2.48±0.45), RVDd were significantly decreased (mm: 3.67±0.58, 3.60±0.61 vs. 4.18±0.71), the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum and myocardial were significantly decreased [TNF-α (ng/L): 187.98±18.98, 176.08±17.98 vs. 332.00±19.90 in serum, 135.06±19.00, 132.78±17.00 vs. 155.00±20.00 in myocardial; IL-1β(ng/L): 12.07±2.98, 11.05±2.41 vs. 24.06±4.01 in serum, 19.89±2.80, 21.06±2.80 vs. 26.00±2.60 in myocardial; IL-6 (ng/L): 42.98±7.90, 34.05±6.09 vs. 89.80±10.07 in serum, 129.45±25.00, 127.08±26.06 vs. 145.77±23.00 in myocardial]; the expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-12 and caspase-3 in myocardial were significantly decreased (GRP78/GAPDH: 0.090±0.070, 0.103±0.060 vs. 0.167±0.090, CHOP/GAPDH: 0.109±0.090, 0.090±0.080 vs. 0.186±0.090, caspase-12/GAPDH: 0.769±0.230, 0.799±0.210 vs. 1.040±0.350, caspase-3/GAPDH: 0.391±0.060, 0.401±0.054 vs. 0.603±0.340), with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in each indexes between 4-PBA prevention group and 4-PBA treatment group (all P > 0.05). Conclusions ERS is involved in ARDS-related right ventricular dysfunction. 4-PBA can protect the right ventricular function of ARDS rats by inhibiting ERS and alleviating inflammation, and the preventive and therapeutic effects of 4-PBA are similar.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in rats with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related right ventricular dysfunction and the protective effect of sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) on right ventricle. METHODS: Sixty male Spragne-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group (CON group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model group, 4-PBA prevention group and 4-PBA treatment group, with 15 rats in each group. ARDS rat model was established by intratracheal instillation of LPS 10 mg/kg after tracheotomy; CON group was given the same amount of saline. 4-PBA prevention group and 4-PBA treatment group were given 4-PBA 500 mg/kg intragastric administration 2 hours before and after LPS respectively. Echocardiography was performed 12 hours after treatment to evaluate the right ventricular function. Then, the rats were sacrificed by bloodletting, and the serum and right ventricular tissue were harvested. The histopathological changes of myocardial were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-1β and IL-6) in serum and myocardial were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western Blot was used to detect the expression of the marker proteins of ERS in myocardial, including glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP cyclic adenosine phosphate reaction primitive binding transcription factor homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12 and caspase-3. RESULTS: Compared with the CON group, the echocardiography showed pulmonary artery maximum pressure gradient (PAmaxPG), pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in LPS model group were significantly decreased, and right ventricular end-diastolic excursion (RVDd) was significantly increased, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum and myocardial, as well as the expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-12 and caspase-3 in myocardial were significantly increased. Compared with LPS model group, TAPSE of 4-PBA preventive and treatment groups were significantly increased (mm: 3.08±0.65, 2.96±0.61 vs. 2.48±0.45), RVDd were significantly decreased (mm: 3.67±0.58, 3.60±0.61 vs. 4.18±0.71), the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum and myocardial were significantly decreased [TNF-α (ng/L): 187.98±18.98, 176.08±17.98 vs. 332.00±19.90 in serum, 135.06±19.00, 132.78±17.00 vs. 155.00±20.00 in myocardial; IL-1β(ng/L): 12.07±2.98, 11.05±2.41 vs. 24.06±4.01 in serum, 19.89±2.80, 21.06±2.80 vs. 26.00±2.60 in myocardial; IL-6 (ng/L): 42.98±7.90, 34.05±6.09 vs. 89.80±10.07 in serum, 129.45±25.00, 127.08±26.06 vs. 145.77±23.00 in myocardial]; the expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-12 and caspase-3 in myocardial were significantly decreased (GRP78/GAPDH: 0.090±0.070, 0.103±0.060 vs. 0.167±0.090, CHOP/GAPDH: 0.109±0.090, 0.090±0.080 vs. 0.186±0.090, caspase-12/GAPDH: 0.769±0.230, 0.799±0.210 vs. 1.040±0.350, caspase-3/GAPDH: 0.391±0.060, 0.401±0.054 vs. 0.603±0.340), with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in each indexes between 4-PBA prevention group and 4-PBA treatment group (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS ERS is involved in ARDS-related right ventricular dysfunction. 4-PBA can protect the right ventricular function of ARDS rats by inhibiting ERS and alleviating inflammation, and the preventive and therapeutic effects of 4-PBA are similar.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Male ; Phenylbutyrates/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right

Objective To explore the effect of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by endotoxin on the right ventricular function in rats. Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal saline (NS) control group and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model group with 30 rats in each group. The rat model of ARDS was reproduced by intratracheal instillation of LPS 10 mg/kg after tracheotomy, and the rats in NS control group was intratracheally given the same volume of NS instead of LPS. The survival of rats in each group was observed. Right ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography at 6 hours and 12 hours after instillation of LPS or NS respectively. Then the rats were sacrificed by bloodletting, and the right heart and lung tissue were harvested. The lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was assessed. The pathological changes in cardiopulmonary tissue in rats were observed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) strain, and the pathological score of lung injury was calculated. Results There was no animal death in NS control group. In LPS model group, there were 3 rats dead at 6 hours, and 4 dead at 12 hours. The pathological manifestations of lung injury were found at 6 hours after instillation of LPS, and the marked pathological changes of ARDS, such as atelectasis and hyaline membranes were observed at 12 hours. There was no obvious abnormality in the lung tissue of the NS control group. Compared with the NS control group, the 12-hour lung W/D ratio and the lung injury pathological score in the LPS model group were significantly increased (lung W/D ratio:7.69±1.02 vs. 4.14±0.48, lung injury pathological score: 8.26±2.12 vs. 1.32±0.94, both P < 0.01). Echocardiography showed that the right heart function of rats was significantly abnormal with the prolongation of LPS induction time, which showed that pulmonary arterial diameter (PAD) and right ventricular diastolic diameter (RVDd) were increased, maximum blood flow velocity of pulmonary artery (PAVmax), maximum pulmonary artery pressure gradient (PAmaxPG),pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were decreased, with significant differences at 12 hours as compared with those of NS normal group [PAD (mm): 2.84±0.31 vs. 2.11±0.37, RVDd (mm): 4.18±0.71 vs. 3.17±0.40, PAVmax (mm/s): 704.00±145.13 vs. 809.59±120.48, PAmaxPG (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 2.07±0.88 vs. 2.73±0.76, PAAT (ms): 23.80±4.87 vs. 30.01±3.02, TAPSE (mm): 2.48±0.45 vs. 3.56±0.40, all P < 0.01]. Pathological examination showed that the cardiac tissue in the LPS model group showed disorder of myocardial cells and scattered inflammatory cells at 6 hours, and cardiomyocyte degeneration, structural destruction and inflammatory cells were found at 12 hours. Conclusion ARDS induced by instillation of LPS at 12 hours causes right ventricular dysfunction in rats.