Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in different types of mitral valvular disease (MVD) with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods From August 2011 to August 2012, patients with moderate to severe MVD accompanied by AF who required mitral valve replacement at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, were included. Based on echocardiographic results, patients were divided into two groups: a mitral regurgitation (MR) with AF (MR-AF) group and a mitral stenosis (MS) with AF (MS-AF) group. Left atrial tissue samples were collected during surgery. Techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were used to detect key molecules in the TGF-β1/JNK pathway. Results Sixteen patients were enrolled. There were 8 patients in the MR-AF group, including 5 males and 3 females, with an average age of (41.38±11.19) years; and 8 patients in the MS-AF group, including 6 males and 2 females, with an average age of (43.12±5.30) years. The left atrial volume load was higher in MR-AF patients, while the left atrial pressure load was higher in MS-AF patients. In MS-AF patients, the relative expression levels of MAPK9, JUN, CASP3, BAX, and BCL2 mRNA in left atrial tissues were significantly upregulated. The serum TGF-β1 protein level and the relative expression levels of p-JNK, p-c-Jun, and Caspase-3 proteins in the left atrial tissues of the MR-AF group were higher. Myocardial cell damage was more severe in the MS-AF group, and the protein expression level of Bcl-2 was higher. Conclusion Different MVD have distinct hemodynamic characteristics. The myocardium of the left atrium in MR-AF patients is more prone to apoptosis, possibly through the activation of the TGF-β1/JNK signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the 30-day mortality risk factors in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to construct a nomogram for predicting mortality risk. Methods A retrospective analysis of elderly (≥70 years) HFrEF patients undergoing isolated CABG at Tianjin Chest Hospital from 2010 to 2024 was performed. Simple random sampling in R software was used to divide the dataset into training and validation sets in a 7 : 3 ratio. The training set was further divided into survivors and non-survivors. Univariate logistic regression was performed to identify differences between groups, followed by multivariate logistic regression to select independent risk factors for death and to establish a death-risk nomogram, which underwent internal validation. The predictive value of the nomogram was assessed by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision-curve analyses for both the training and validation sets. Results A total of 656 patients were included. The training set consisted of 458 patients (survivors 418, deaths 40); the validation set consisted of 198 patients (survivors 180, deaths 18). In the training set, univariate analysis showed significant differences between survivors and deaths for creatinine (Cr) level, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), maximum Cr, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use, assisted ventilation, reintubation, hyperlactatemia, low cardiac output syndrome, and renal failure (P<0.05). After multivariable logistic regression, five independent risk factors were identified: IABP use (OR=3.391, 95%CI 1.065-11.044, P=0.038), reintubation (OR=15.991, 95%CI 4.269-67.394, P<0.001), hyperlactatemia (OR=8.171, 95%CI 2.057-46.089, P=0.007), Cr (OR=4.330, 95%CI 0.997-6.022, P=0.024), and BNP (OR=1.603, 95%CI 1.000-2.000, P=0.010). Accordingly, a nomogram predicting mortality risk was constructed. The ROC and calibration analyses indicated good predictive value: area under the curve (AUC) in the training set was 0.898 (95%CI 0.831-0.966) and in the validation set was 0.912 (95%CI 0.805-1.000). Calibration and decision-curve analyses showed good agreement and clinical utility. Conclusion The nomogram incorporating IABP use, reintubation, hyperlactatemia, creatinine, and BNP provides good predictive value for 30-day mortality after CABG in elderly patients with HFrEF and demonstrates potential clinical utility.

[Objective] To evaluate the efficacy and practicality of autologous platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) in patients undergoing total aortic arch replacement for aortic dissection. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was performed on 483 patients diagnosed with type A aortic dissection who underwent total aortic arch replacement between January 2016 and November 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups based on whether they received aPRP. Baseline characteristics, intraoperative blood product usage and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. [Results] The aPRP group exhibited reduced usage of allogeneic platelets (1.55±1.04 vs 1.60±1.27)U, allogeneic plasma (480.89±432.49 vs 746.50±508.81)mL, allogeneic RBC (red blood cell)(5.95±1.91 vs 6.17±3.52)U, bivalirudin (2.66±1.51 vs 3.31±1.59)U and coagulation factor Ⅶ (0.67±1.03 vs 1.22±1.43)mg compared to the non-aPRP group (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative hypoxemia was lower in the aPRP group (43.98% vs 48.41%), and the duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter[median 50.91 (interquartile range 18.71, 113.71) vs 83.40 (37.73, 151.98) hours]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative mortality, continuous bedside hemofiltration, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, paraplegia or re-exploration for hemostasis(P>0.05). [Conclusion] The application of aPRP in total aortic arch replacement effectively diminishes intraoperative blood product usage and the incidence of lung injury-related complications. However, it does not demonstrate significant benefits in terms of mortality, cerebral infarction and other complications.

Objective:To examine the current diagnostic and treatment practices, as well as surgical outcomes, for individuals over the age of 60 diagnosed with acute aortic arch dissection(ATAAD)at Tianjin University Chest Hospital.This analysis evaluates the safety and feasibility of performing open surgical procedures on elderly patients affected by aortic dissection.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 509 patients diagnosed with ATAAD who were registered in the Chest Pain Center data reporting platform(https: //datacs.chinacpc.org/)at Tianjin Chest Hospital, covering the period from June 2015 to December 2021.The patients were divided into two groups: the elderly group, consisting of individuals aged 60 years or older, and the non-elderly group, comprising those under 60 years of age.Their surgical conditions and short-term outcomes were subsequently examined and compared.Results:A total of 509 patients were included, 311 cases(61.1%)were identified within the non-elderly group, with a mean age of 45.78 ± 8.96 years(range: 21-59 years).In contrast, 198 cases(38.9%)belonged to the elderly group, with a mean age of 65.61 ± 4.13 years(range: 60-81 years).A total of 416 patients(81.7%)received surgical intervention.Among those who underwent surgery, the elderly group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of females(38.1% vs.20.6%, P<0.001), and these patients had smaller body surface areas and lower body mass index values.Furthermore, a greater number of elderly patients presented with comorbid conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke(all P<0.05).The 30-day all-cause mortality rate, incidence of cerebral infarction, and rate of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)utilization were similar in both groups(20.9% vs.18.8%、15.1% vs.10.5%、19.4% vs.18.1%, all P>0.05).However, elderly patients experienced longer postoperative recovery durations, extended periods of ventilator dependency, and a higher incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation following surgery(all P<0.05). Conclusions:The surgical rate for elderly patients with ATAAD is low, suggesting that there is significant potential for improvement in clinical diagnosis and treatment.Advanced age should not be viewed as a contraindication for surgery; rather, appropriate case selection and personalized treatment plans can enhance the success rate of surgical interventions.

Objective:To construct four recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) antigens from seasonal influenza viruses and evaluate their immunogenicity in mouse models.Methods:HA coding sequences from four seasonal influenza virus strains Wisconsin (H1N1), Darwin (H3N2), Austria (B/Victoria lineage, BV) and Phuket (B/Yamagata lineage, BY) were optimized and synthesized, and then used to construct four recombinant plasmids. Recombinant baculoviruses were obtained through transformation and transfection. The expression of recombinant HA antigens was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The recombinant HA antigens were purified by nickel column affinity chromatography and intramuscularly administered to BALB/c mice after formulation with Al(OH) 3 or AddaVax adjuvant. Humoral immune responses were assessed by indirect ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition test, while cellular immune responses were evaluated by ELISPOT. Microneutralization test was used to detect the titers of serum antibodies in mice. Statistical analysis was performed using t test or non-parametric rank sum test. Results:PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis confirmed the correct construction of the recombinant bacmids. Western blot showed verified the successful expression of the four recombinant antigens (H1-HA, H3N2-HA, BV-HA, and BY-HA). SDS-PAGE results showed that the purity of all four recombinant HA antigens exceeded 95%. After three-dose immunization, the total IgG levels in mice immunized with the recombinant H1N1-HA, H3N2-HA, or BV-HA formulated with AddaVax adjuvant were higher than those in the corresponding groups immunized with the same recombinant antigen alone (all P<0.05). The secretion levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 in the group receiving the mixture of all four recombinant HA antigens formulated with AddaVax adjuvant were higher than those in the group immunized with a commercial quadrivalent split influenza vaccine (all P<0.01). Results of the microneutralization test showed that the antibody titer in the quadrivalent split influenza vaccine group was 1∶225, whereas the titer in the group immunized with the mixture of four recombinant HA antigens formulated with AddaVax adjuvant could reach up to 1∶1 200. Conclusions:In this study, four recombinant seasonal influenza virus HA antigens are successfully expressed and demonstrated good immunogenicity in mice when formulated AddaVax adjuvant.

Objective To explore the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)in the treatment of congenital pulmonary airway malformation(CPAM)or pulmonary isolation complicated with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in children.Methods From July 2019 to July 2024,VATS was carried out to treat CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in 7 children.A three-hole thoracoscopic surgery via lateral thoracic approach was performed.The patients were placed in a healthy lateral position.The observation hole was located at the intersection of the subscapular line and the 5th intercostal space,and the operating hole was established according to the surgical requirements in combination with the lumboscopic diamond rule.A 5 mm trocar was used for all three holes.The pressure of CO2 pneumothorax was 4 mm Hg and the flow rate was 2 L/min,which was adjusted at any time according to the intraoperative conditions of the children.The operation was mainly designed for lung operation.The pulmonary operation was conducted firstly,and then the bronchogenic cyst was treated.If necessary,block resection was applied to avoid serious complications of trachea.Results All the operations were performed under thoracoscopy without conversion to open surgery.The operation time was 37-191 min(median,101 min).The intraoperative bleeding volume was 1-15 ml(median,5 ml).One case was not given a closed chest drainage tube placed,and the other 6 cases were placed a closed chest drainage for 1-5 d(median,3d).Postoperative pathology showed 5 cases of CPAM combined with bronchogenic cysts,including 4 cases of type 2(bronchiole type)and 1 case of type 3(bronchiole/alveolar type),and 2 cases of extralobular pulmonary isolation combined with bronchogenic cysts.All the 7 cases were followed up for 6-57 months(median,27 months),and chest CT showed no recurrence of lesions.Conclusions CPAM or pulmonary isolation may be accompanied by bronchogenic cysts.Preoperative imaging examination should correspond to surgical observation,and careful exploration should be conducted to avoid missed diagnosis.VATS is safe and feasible for treating CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cysts.

Objective:To examine the current diagnostic and treatment practices, as well as surgical outcomes, for individuals over the age of 60 diagnosed with acute aortic arch dissection(ATAAD)at Tianjin University Chest Hospital.This analysis evaluates the safety and feasibility of performing open surgical procedures on elderly patients affected by aortic dissection.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 509 patients diagnosed with ATAAD who were registered in the Chest Pain Center data reporting platform(https: //datacs.chinacpc.org/)at Tianjin Chest Hospital, covering the period from June 2015 to December 2021.The patients were divided into two groups: the elderly group, consisting of individuals aged 60 years or older, and the non-elderly group, comprising those under 60 years of age.Their surgical conditions and short-term outcomes were subsequently examined and compared.Results:A total of 509 patients were included, 311 cases(61.1%)were identified within the non-elderly group, with a mean age of 45.78 ± 8.96 years(range: 21-59 years).In contrast, 198 cases(38.9%)belonged to the elderly group, with a mean age of 65.61 ± 4.13 years(range: 60-81 years).A total of 416 patients(81.7%)received surgical intervention.Among those who underwent surgery, the elderly group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of females(38.1% vs.20.6%, P<0.001), and these patients had smaller body surface areas and lower body mass index values.Furthermore, a greater number of elderly patients presented with comorbid conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke(all P<0.05).The 30-day all-cause mortality rate, incidence of cerebral infarction, and rate of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)utilization were similar in both groups(20.9% vs.18.8%、15.1% vs.10.5%、19.4% vs.18.1%, all P>0.05).However, elderly patients experienced longer postoperative recovery durations, extended periods of ventilator dependency, and a higher incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation following surgery(all P<0.05). Conclusions:The surgical rate for elderly patients with ATAAD is low, suggesting that there is significant potential for improvement in clinical diagnosis and treatment.Advanced age should not be viewed as a contraindication for surgery; rather, appropriate case selection and personalized treatment plans can enhance the success rate of surgical interventions.

Objective:To construct four recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) antigens from seasonal influenza viruses and evaluate their immunogenicity in mouse models.Methods:HA coding sequences from four seasonal influenza virus strains Wisconsin (H1N1), Darwin (H3N2), Austria (B/Victoria lineage, BV) and Phuket (B/Yamagata lineage, BY) were optimized and synthesized, and then used to construct four recombinant plasmids. Recombinant baculoviruses were obtained through transformation and transfection. The expression of recombinant HA antigens was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The recombinant HA antigens were purified by nickel column affinity chromatography and intramuscularly administered to BALB/c mice after formulation with Al(OH) 3 or AddaVax adjuvant. Humoral immune responses were assessed by indirect ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition test, while cellular immune responses were evaluated by ELISPOT. Microneutralization test was used to detect the titers of serum antibodies in mice. Statistical analysis was performed using t test or non-parametric rank sum test. Results:PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis confirmed the correct construction of the recombinant bacmids. Western blot showed verified the successful expression of the four recombinant antigens (H1-HA, H3N2-HA, BV-HA, and BY-HA). SDS-PAGE results showed that the purity of all four recombinant HA antigens exceeded 95%. After three-dose immunization, the total IgG levels in mice immunized with the recombinant H1N1-HA, H3N2-HA, or BV-HA formulated with AddaVax adjuvant were higher than those in the corresponding groups immunized with the same recombinant antigen alone (all P<0.05). The secretion levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 in the group receiving the mixture of all four recombinant HA antigens formulated with AddaVax adjuvant were higher than those in the group immunized with a commercial quadrivalent split influenza vaccine (all P<0.01). Results of the microneutralization test showed that the antibody titer in the quadrivalent split influenza vaccine group was 1∶225, whereas the titer in the group immunized with the mixture of four recombinant HA antigens formulated with AddaVax adjuvant could reach up to 1∶1 200. Conclusions:In this study, four recombinant seasonal influenza virus HA antigens are successfully expressed and demonstrated good immunogenicity in mice when formulated AddaVax adjuvant.

Objective To explore the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)in the treatment of congenital pulmonary airway malformation(CPAM)or pulmonary isolation complicated with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in children.Methods From July 2019 to July 2024,VATS was carried out to treat CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cyst in 7 children.A three-hole thoracoscopic surgery via lateral thoracic approach was performed.The patients were placed in a healthy lateral position.The observation hole was located at the intersection of the subscapular line and the 5th intercostal space,and the operating hole was established according to the surgical requirements in combination with the lumboscopic diamond rule.A 5 mm trocar was used for all three holes.The pressure of CO2 pneumothorax was 4 mm Hg and the flow rate was 2 L/min,which was adjusted at any time according to the intraoperative conditions of the children.The operation was mainly designed for lung operation.The pulmonary operation was conducted firstly,and then the bronchogenic cyst was treated.If necessary,block resection was applied to avoid serious complications of trachea.Results All the operations were performed under thoracoscopy without conversion to open surgery.The operation time was 37-191 min(median,101 min).The intraoperative bleeding volume was 1-15 ml(median,5 ml).One case was not given a closed chest drainage tube placed,and the other 6 cases were placed a closed chest drainage for 1-5 d(median,3d).Postoperative pathology showed 5 cases of CPAM combined with bronchogenic cysts,including 4 cases of type 2(bronchiole type)and 1 case of type 3(bronchiole/alveolar type),and 2 cases of extralobular pulmonary isolation combined with bronchogenic cysts.All the 7 cases were followed up for 6-57 months(median,27 months),and chest CT showed no recurrence of lesions.Conclusions CPAM or pulmonary isolation may be accompanied by bronchogenic cysts.Preoperative imaging examination should correspond to surgical observation,and careful exploration should be conducted to avoid missed diagnosis.VATS is safe and feasible for treating CPAM or pulmonary isolation with ipsilateral mediastinal bronchogenic cysts.

Objective To investigate the association between remnant cholesterol(RC)and clinicopatho-logical parameters in patients with IgA nephropathy(IgAN),and to assess the clinical significance of RC in the progression and management of IgAN.Methods A total of 366 patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of IgAN were consecutively enrolled in this retrospective study.Clinical and pathological data were systematically collected,and RC was calculated.Participants were stratified into two groups according to the median RC value.Baseline characteristics were compared between these groups.The association between RC and the presence of tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis(T1/2 lesions)in IgAN patients was evaluated using binary logistic regression,restricted cubic spline(RCS)analysis,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis,and subgroup analyses.Results In this study,the high-RC group exhibited significantly higher levels of body weight,body mass index(BMI),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(non-HDL-C),uric acid(UA),complement 3(C3),and 24-hour urinary protein,as well as lower levels of albumin(ALB),estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),compared to the low-RC group.Patients with T1/2 lesions showed elevated levels of SBP,DBP,TC,non-HDL-C,UA,24-hour urinary protein,and RC,along with reduced levels of hemoglobin(Hb),ALB,and eGFR,relative to those with T0 lesions.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that increased RC and decreased eGFR were independent risk factors for the presence of T1/2 lesions in patients with IgAN(P<0.05).RCS analysis revealed a linear association between RC and the likelihood of T1/2 lesions(non-linearity P=0.343).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)for a predictive model incorporating RC,Hb,UA,and eGFR was 0.833,indicating good discriminative ability.Subgroup analyses consistently demonstrated a significant associa-tion between RC and the risk of T1/2 lesions,with no statistically significant interactions observed across subgroups(all P>0.05).Conclusion RC can reflect the severity of both clinical and pathological manifestations in patients with IgAN,making RC monitoring a potentially valuable tool for assessing disease progression in clinical practice.