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 clinical characteristics and prognosis of follicular lymphoma (FL) patients with different primary sites using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.Methods:Clinical data of 7167 patients with early-stage FL (stage I-II) from the SEER database between 2000 and 2015 were respectively analyzed. Primary sites were divided into intranodal and extranodal types. Intranodal primary sites included supradiaphragmatic lymph nodes (LN), subphrenic lymph nodes and Waldeyer's ring. Extranodal primary sites consisted of skin, gastrointestinal tract, duodenum, head and neck, other sites. Prognostic factors and overall survival (OS) in patients with different primary sites were analyzed. OS rate was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method and survival difference between primary sites was compared with log-rank test. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) and multi-variable analysis were applied to adjust for confounding factors. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of influencing factors of OS was performed.Results:The median age was 63 years old, with the median follow-up time of 63 months. There was no difference in prognosis among the intranodal groups or between the intranodal and extranodal groups. The 10-year OS rates of the supradiaphragmatic lymph LN ( n=2146), subdiaphragmatic LN ( n=2811), and the Waldeyer's ring ( n=151) groups were 70.7%, 69.9% and 73.4%, respectively ( P=0.422 for infradiaphragmatic LN vs. supradiaphragmatic LN, P=1.000 for Waldeyer's ring vs. supradiaphragmatic LN), and 70.3% and 68.9% for intranodal ( n=5108) and extranodal ( n=2059), respectively. There was no significant difference in OS between the groups ( P=0.581) after IPTW adjustment. The most common primary sites in extranodal disease were skin, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, and duodenum. The 10-year OS for skin, gastrointestinal tract, and cutaneous was 74.2%, 74.7%, and 87.3%, respectively, significantly higher than 55.6% for other sites (duodenum vs. others sites, gastrointestinal vs. others sites, skin vs. others sites: all P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that difference in OS was not significant among the intranodal groups or between the intranodal and extranodal groups. However, different extranodal primary site was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Conclusions:Early FL patients with supradiaphragmatic LN, subdiaphragmatic LN and Waldeyer's ring, and between the intranodal and extranodal primary sites obtain similar prognosis. However, early-stage FL patients with different extranodal primary sites have prognostic differences. The prognosis of primary skin, gastrointestinal tract and duodenum is significantly better than that of other extranodal primary sites.

Objective:To evaluate the dosimetric impact of 3D-printed headrests and multifunctional immobilization frames (MFIF) on hybrid radiotherapy plans for breast cancer patients, and to investigate the clinical significance of the attenuation effects.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 74 breast cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital between January and November 2024. Based on the segmentation results of immobilization device contours using the Mask2Former deep learning model, 4 body structure sets were generated for each patient, and 4 corresponding plans were created: original plan (P) and plans including MFIF (P _MF), 3D-printed headrests (P _3D), and a combination of these two (P _3D+MF). Dosimetric differences of supraclavicular target volumes (PTV up), chest wall target volumes (PTV down) and organ at risk (OAR) of these 4 plans were compared using paired t-test. Results:Compared with the P plan, the P _3D+MF plan reduced PTV up V 100% by 1.65% and D mean by 12.98 cGy ( P<0.001), while increasing PTV down homogeneity index (HI) by 3.11% ( P<0.001). Among OAR, the skin D mean was increased by 134.72 cGy ( P<0.001); left lung V 30 Gy was decreased by 0.22% ( P=0.004), right lung V 30 Gy, V 20 Gy, V 5 Gy, and D mean were decreased by 0.3%, 0.15%, 0.19%, and 3.33 cGy, respectively ( P=0.005, 0.001,<0.001, 0.004); while heart V 30 Gy, V 5 Gy, and D mean were increased by 0.67%, 0.21%, and 0.98 cGy, respectively ( P=0.001, 0.004, 0.010). Conclusions:The attenuation effects of 3D-printed headrests and MFIF significantly affect the dose distribution of target volumes and normal tissues. These effects should be incorporated into treatment planning optimization and dose calculation to improve the precision and safety of radiotherapy.

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 explore the characteristics of tumor immune microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)based on the differentially expressed genes associated with macrophages in early and late tumor tissues of PDAC patients,so as to provide new targets for early diagnosis and treatment of PDAC.Methods Three early-stage and 4 late-stage tumor samples were collected from PDAC patients.Tissue transcriptome data were analyzed by single-cell sequencing technology.With The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,macrophage related genes differentially expressed in early and late PDAC related to prognosis were obtained.The prognostic risk scoring model was constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)-Cox method.The risk genes associated with PDAC prognosis were screened using the Gene Expression Profiling Interaction Analysis 2(GEPIA2)online survival analysis tool.Their immune infiltration was analyzed using the cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts(CIBERSORT)method,and their expression in different subpopulations of macrophages at different periods was resolved by t-distributed stochastic nearest-neighbour embedding(tSNE)clustering downscaling and the Monocle package.The protein-protein interactions and immunohistochemistry were further analyzed with the help of STRING database and The Human Protein Atlas(HPA)database.Results A total of 48 differentially expressed macrophage-related genes in early and late PDAC were found to be associated with prognosis.Eleven differentially expressed macrophage genes were screened as PDAC prognostic genes,and they were used to construct a prognostic risk scoring model for PDAC.Two prognostic genes with significant risk indicators were screened:2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 2(OAS2)was mainly expressed in secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)-positive macrophages,and assembly factor for spindle microtubules(ASPM)was mainly expressed in proliferation marker protein Ki-67(MKI67)-positive macrophages.There were significant differences in the expression of OAS2 in PDAC macrophages at different stages.Immune infiltration studies showed that OAS2 and ASPM were highly expressed in regulatory T cells and M2-type macrophages(both P＜0.05).Protein-protein interaction network showed the expression relationship between OAS2 and ASPM and other co-expressed proteins.Immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of OAS2 was higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues.Conclusion OAS2 and ASPM are both poor prognostic genes that are specifically expressed and exert negative immune effects in SPP1+macrophages and MKI67+macrophages,respectively,promoting the progression of PDAC and ultimately leading to a poor prognosis,and it is expected to provide new targets for the prevention and treatment of PDAC.

Objective:To summarized the clinical characteristics and surgical management of anterior cervical enterogenic in pediatric patients. Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 9 children with pathologically confirmed anterior cervical enterogenic cysts（including bronchogenic and esophagogenic subtypes） treated at the Children's Hospital of Shandong University（Jinan Children's Hospital） between January 1, 2020, and November 30, 2023. Results:Nine patients（6 males and 3 females） were involved in this study, aged 14 days to 10 years old. There were 4 cases on the left side, 4 on the right side, and 1 in the middle of the neck. All patients presented with neck masses. The patients were followed up from 3 months to 35 months after surgery and recovered well, with no recurrence or complications observed. Conclusion:①Anterior intestinal cysts in children are rare and easy to be misdiagnosed. ②Concurrent branchial cleft fistulas or associated anomalies may coexist, necessitating comprehensive evaluation. ③Preoperative diagnosis is not easy and mainly depends on pathological diagnosis. ④The treatment of anterior cervical enterogenic cysts in children is surgical resection of the lesion.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Neck ; Cysts/surgery*

Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) remains a cornerstone treatment for complex coronary artery disease, with long-term graft patency being essential for clinical success. In 2024, the European Society of Cardiology(ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery(EACTS) jointly released an expert consensus document on the intraoperative and postoperative management of CABG grafts. This article provides a comprehensive Chinese translation and interpretation of the consensus, covering key topics including graft harvesting techniques(such as skeletonized vs. pedicled, endoscopic vs. open harvesting), optimal preservation solutions, mechanisms and prevention of graft spasm, and secondary prevention strategies involving antithrombotic and lipid-lowering therapies. Additionally, based on the current situation of clinical practice in China and the characteristics of the Chinese population, the article discussed some key issues in depth, put forward adaptive suggestions, and pointed out the future research direction. The translated consensus and accompanying commentary aim to facilitate the dissemination and application of ESC-endorsed recommendations in Chinese clinical settings, promoting more standardized and evidence-based graft management in CABG surgery.

Objectives:To evaluate the effect of extended single prone positioning ventilation on survival and weaning rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients supported by VV-ECMO.Methods:ARDS patients supported by VV-ECMO admitted to Jinhua Central Hospital, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and the First Hospital of Jiaxing from September 2014 to May 2025 were retrospectively enrolled into the study. The clinical data, ECMO and ventilator related parameters and outcomes of the patients were collected. The patients were divided into the extended prone positioning group and prone positioning group according to whether the duration of prone position ventilation was greater than 24 h. The clinical data of the two groups were compared to explore the effects on 30-day survival in-hospital survival and ECMO withdraw rate of these patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between the duration of single prone position ventilation and the success of ECMO weaning, 30-day survival and hospital survival.Results:Total of 163 ARDS patients supported by VV-ECMO receiving prone positioning ventilation were included in study, 64 in extended prone positioning group and 72 in prone positioning group. The 30-day survival (54.7% vs. 52.8%) in-hospital survival (51.6% vs. 48.6%) and ECMO withdraw rate (57.8% vs. 61.1%) between the two groups were not statistically different ( P>0.05) as well as the duration of ECMO support [12(10,15)d vs. 11(10,13)d] the duration of ventilation [16(13,18)d vs. 16(12,18)d] the duration of ICU stay [26(15,32)d vs. 26(19,29)d] and the duration of hospital stay [32(15,42)d vs. 34(28,35)d]. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the duration of each prone position ventilation was not associated with successful weaning ( OR=0.979, 95% CI:0.952-1.006), 30-day survival ( OR=1.015, 95% CI: 0.975-1.056) and hospital survival ( OR=1.014, 95% CI: 0.974-1.055) even after adjusting for the severity of illness, age, and type of pneumonia. Conclusions:For ARDS patients supported by VV-ECMO, extended single prone positioning ventilation for more than 24 hours neither increase 30-day survival in-hospital survival and successful ECMO weaning rate, nor shorten ECMO support duration.

Objective The relationship between asthma and hypertension was explored by using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression and Mendelian randomization(MR).Methods Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)of the United States from 2001 to 2018 were selected.LASSO regression was used to screen variables,and a nomogram prediction model for hypertension risk was established.The model was verified to evaluate its predictive ability and stability for the risk of hypertension.Finally,two-sample MR analysis was used to verify the causal relationship.Results The study ultimately included 26 456 cases,including 8833 hypertensive patients.LASSO regression screened out 9 variables,including age,educational level,race,marital status,smoking history,asthma,diabetes,cancer and body mass index,and a nomogram model was constructed based on these variables.The calibration curve indicated that there was a good fit between two groups.After adjusting for the measured confounding factors,the inverse variance weighted analysis showed that asthma was associated with an increased risk of hypertension(OR=2.67,95％CI:1.31-5.43,P＜0.01).Conclusion There is a causal relationship between asthma and hypertension,and controlling asthma conditions may help reduce the risk of developing hypertension.

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.