OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) using Lux-Valve and Lux-Valve Plus in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. METHODS: A total of 28 consecutive patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation who underwent TTVR with Lux-Valve (n=14) or Lux-Valve Plus (n=14) in the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University from August 2019 to November 2023 were enrolled. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients before and 6 months after the TTVR. The ultrasound indexes were compared before and 6 months after the TTVR in all patients and between Lux-Valve and Lux-Valve Plus groups. RESULTS: Compared with the Lux-Valve group, the Lux-Valve Plus group showed significantly reduced intraoperative bleeding and shorter postoperative hospital stays (both P<0.05). Six months after the TTVR, none of the patients exhibited more than a mild tricuspid valve regurgitation, and none of the patients had moderate or above perivalvular leakage except for one patient in the Lux-Valve Plus group who had a separation of the clamping member from the anterior tricuspid leaflet. The incidence of perivalvular leakage was significantly lower in the Lux-Valve Plus group (14.29%, 2/14) than in the Lux-Valve group (64.29%, 9/14, P<0.05). At 6 months after operation, the right chamber volume and right ventricle middle transverse diameter were reduced (both P<0.05); the peak blood flow velocity across the tricuspid valve, peak pressure gradient across the tricuspid valve, mean blood flow velocity of tricuspid valve, mean pressure gradient across the tricuspid valve and velocity time integral were increased in both groups (all P<0.05).Compared with the Lux-Valve group, the Lux-Valve Plus group showed higher left ventricular ejection fraction at 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05), while the rest of the indicators were not statistically different (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of using Lux-Valve and Lux-Valve Plus for TTVR in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation is comparable. Six months after the TTVR, the right side of the heart has undergone reverse remodeling.While Lux-Valve Plus offers greater minimally invasive benefits, valve selection should consider device-specific characteristics and differences in individual patients.
Humans ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Tricuspid Valve/surgery* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Treatment Outcome ; Echocardiography ; Adult ; Cardiac Catheterization/methods*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the application of transesophageal echocar-diography assessment for mitral valve in patients with atrial septal defects undergoing repair surgery. METHODS: The study group comprised of thirty-two adult patients with atrial septal defect who underwent thoracoscopic repair surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University from March to September 2022. Two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional transesophageal ultrasonography of the mitral valve were performed after anesthesia. The parameters of the mitral valve structure at the late diastolic and late systolic stages were recorded, including anteroposterior and left-right annular diameters, anterior and posterior valves lengths, the vertical distance from the coaptation point of leaflet zone 2 during systole to the annular plane (mitral valve coaptation depth) and mitral valve coaptation length. Data from 32 patients with normal intracardiac structure and no mitral valve regurgitation (control group) were also collected and compared with those of the study group. Concurrent mitral valvoplasty was performed during the atrial septal defect repair surgery for 7 patients with significant mitral valve structural abnormalities and 2 patients with significantly increased mitral regurgitation after cardiac resuscitation. The study group was followed up with transthoracic echocardiography for 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: In the study group, 26 (81.3%) patients had varying degrees of mitral valve morphological abnormalities. Among them, 10 (31.3%) patients had short mitral valve coaptation length or depth, 12 (37.5%) patients had closure point malposition, and 4 (12.5%) patients had different bulge of anterior and posterior leaflets. Compared with the control group, the study group had significantly smaller systolic and diastolic mitral left-right annular diameter, mitral posterior valves lengths, mitral coaptation length or depth (all P<0.05), a higher pulmonary systemic flow ratio (P<0.01), and a lower maximum blood flow velocity across the mitral valve (P<0.05). After 2 years of follow-up, among the 9 patients who underwent concurrent mitral valvoplasty, the mitral valve maintained no or little regurgitation, and the average mitral valve pressure difference was less than 5 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Among the 23 patients without concurrent mitral valvoplasty, 2 patients had moderate regurgitation 1 year after surgery, with a pulmonary/systemic flow ratio larger than 2.8. CONCLUSIONS Patients with large atrial septal defects often have abnormal mitral valve structure. Therefore transesophageal echocardiography is recommended for mitral valve assessment during the surgery. If significant mitral valve structural abnormalities are detected, concurrent mitral valvoplasty is recommended.
Humans ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/diagnostic imaging* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal/methods* ; Mitral Valve/surgery* ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging*

As one of the primary causes of death in burn patients, sepsis presents challenges in early warning and diagnosis, mainly due to its nonspecific clinical manifestations and the limitations of traditional biomarker detection efficiency. As an important carrier of intercellular information transfer, exosomes and their contents (RNAs, proteins, and metabolites) can reflect the pathophysiological status of the body, thus attracting significant attention in the field of disease diagnosis. This review aims to summarize the research advances of exosomal multi-omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) analysis technologies in the warning and diagnosis of burn sepsis, and explore their application potential in revealing disease mechanisms, screening specific early biomarkers, and integrating emerging bioinformatics technologies. The goal is to provide new strategies and directions for achieving the precision diagnosis and treatment of burn sepsis.

Autoimmune disease is a kind of disease caused by the immune system attacking its own tissues and cells.Its pathogen-esis is complex and diverse,involving genetic,environmental,immune and other factors.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has a long history and rich experience in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.Its concept of syndrome differentiation and treatment provides new ideas and methods for modern medicine.However,multi-component and multi-functionality characteristics of TCM have brought challenges to its modern research.With the development of modern medicine,the application of TCM syndrome animal models in the study of autoimmune diseases has become increasingly widespread.First,the types of TCM syndrome animal models were summarized from three aspects:etiological models,pathological models,and combined etiological and pathological models.Then,taking autoim-mune diseases as an example,the application status,advantages,and challenges of TCM syndrome animal models were listed.Finally,the role and prospects of novel humanized animals in simulating TCM syndromes,evaluating TCM efficacy,and clarifying the mecha-nism of action were discussed.

Autoimmune disease is a kind of disease caused by the immune system attacking its own tissues and cells.Its pathogen-esis is complex and diverse,involving genetic,environmental,immune and other factors.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has a long history and rich experience in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.Its concept of syndrome differentiation and treatment provides new ideas and methods for modern medicine.However,multi-component and multi-functionality characteristics of TCM have brought challenges to its modern research.With the development of modern medicine,the application of TCM syndrome animal models in the study of autoimmune diseases has become increasingly widespread.First,the types of TCM syndrome animal models were summarized from three aspects:etiological models,pathological models,and combined etiological and pathological models.Then,taking autoim-mune diseases as an example,the application status,advantages,and challenges of TCM syndrome animal models were listed.Finally,the role and prospects of novel humanized animals in simulating TCM syndromes,evaluating TCM efficacy,and clarifying the mecha-nism of action were discussed.

As one of the primary causes of death in burn patients, sepsis presents challenges in early warning and diagnosis, mainly due to its nonspecific clinical manifestations and the limitations of traditional biomarker detection efficiency. As an important carrier of intercellular information transfer, exosomes and their contents (RNAs, proteins, and metabolites) can reflect the pathophysiological status of the body, thus attracting significant attention in the field of disease diagnosis. This review aims to summarize the research advances of exosomal multi-omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) analysis technologies in the warning and diagnosis of burn sepsis, and explore their application potential in revealing disease mechanisms, screening specific early biomarkers, and integrating emerging bioinformatics technologies. The goal is to provide new strategies and directions for achieving the precision diagnosis and treatment of burn sepsis.

Objective:To investigate the impact of peak pressure upon different bone densities during autonomous puncture by orthopedic robot on puncture path deviation and bone cement leakage.Methods:A spinal surgery robot system was designed for autonomous vertebral puncture and bone cement injection, and six porcine spine specimens were used for single-segment or double-segment simulated percutaneous vertebral augmentation surgery. The accuracy of puncture path (Gertzbein-Robbins grading), bone cement leakage classification, and peak bone drill pressure were measured to assess the accuracy of autonomous vertebral puncture and bone cement leakage in vertebral cortical and cancellous bone of different densities.Results:A total of 64 porcine vertebrae were simulated for puncture, among which 53 vertebrae were classified as Grade A, 8 as Grade B, and 3 as Grade C according to the Gertzbein-Robbins grading. The cortical bone pressure of Grade A vertebrae was 6.663±0.319 N which was lower than that of Grade B (8.348±0.418 N) and Grade C (11.500±0.600 N), with significant differences ( F=341.000, P<0.001). The cancellous bone pressure of Grade A, B, and C vertebrae were 3.660±0.317, 3.594±0.608, and 4.117±0.257 N, respectively, with no significant difference ( F=2.496, P=0.091). There were 40 cases of no leakage, 20 cases of Type I leakage (leakage into the surrounding vertebrae), and 3 cases of Type II leakage (leakage into the vertebral canal), with an overall leakage rate of 36% (23/64). The peak cortical bone pressure for no leakage, Type I, and Type II leakage was 6.638±0.301, 6.792±0.404, and 6.753±0.473 N, respectively, and the peak cancellous bone pressure was 3.634±0.279, 3.783±0.423, and 3.920±0.255 N, respectively, with no significant difference ( F=1.521, P=0.227; F=2.106, P=0.131). Conclusion:During the autonomous puncture process of the novel orthopedic robot, the accuracy of autonomous puncture path decreased when the puncture pressure through the cortical bone was high, and the probability of invading the pedicle increased. The puncture pressure of cortical and cancellous bone had no significant effect on the occurrence rate of bone cement leakage.

[Objective]To investigate the biological basis of the theory of"heart corresponding to summer"by observing the differences in the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the myocardial tissues of the rats at the summer solstice and the winter solstice.[Methods]Specific pathogen free grade male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,which were treated as normal control group,chronic heart failure(CHF)group,pineal gland removal group and composite model(CHF+pineal gland removal)group,and the contents of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP were detected in myocardial tissues of the rats in each group at the winter solstice and summer solstice time points.[Results]Under normal physiological conditions,the secretion of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP in rat myocardial tissues showed seasonal rhythmic changes of low in summer and high in winter;after the removal of the pineal gland,the seasonal rhythmic differences of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP disappeared,and even appeared to be inverted;under the condition of CHF,the secretion of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP in rat myocardial tissues showed seasonal rhythmic changes of high in summer and low in winter,and the original rhythm disappeared after the removal of the pineal gland.[Conclusion]Myocardial tissue ANP,BNP,NT-proBNP is the important biological material basis of the"heart corresponding to summer",their secretion of summer and winter seasonal rhythm changes,and the pathological state of CHF show the opposite of the normal state of the seasonal rhythm.At the same time,the pineal gland is involved in the seasonal regulation of the heart corresponding to summer.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 system has been widely used for genome engineering and transcriptional regulation in many different organisms. Current CRISPR-activation (CRISPRa) platforms often require multiple components because of inefficient transcriptional activation. Here, we fused different phase-separation proteins to dCas9-VPR (dCas9-VP64-P65-RTA) and observed robust increases in transcriptional activation efficiency. Notably, human NUP98 (nucleoporin 98) and FUS (fused in sarcoma) IDR domains were best at enhancing dCas9-VPR activity, with dCas9-VPR-FUS IDR (VPRF) outperforming the other CRISPRa systems tested in this study in both activation efficiency and system simplicity. dCas9-VPRF overcomes the target strand bias and widens gRNA designing windows without affecting the off-target effect of dCas9-VPR. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using phase-separation proteins to assist in the regulation of gene expression and support the broad appeal of the dCas9-VPRF system in basic and clinical applications.
Humans ; Transcriptional Activation ; RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Gene Expression Regulation ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics*