BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease (VHD) has become increasingly common with the aging in China. This study aimed to evaluate regional differences in the clinical features, management strategies, and outcomes of patients with VHD across different regions in China. METHODS: Data were collected from the China-VHD Study. From April 2018 to June 2018, 12,347 patients who presented with moderate or severe native VHD with a median of 2 years of follow-up from 46 centers at certified tertiary hospitals across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in Chinese mainland were included in this study. According to the locations of the research centers, patients were divided into five regional groups: eastern, southern, western, northern, and central China. The clinical features of VHD patients were compared among the five geographical regions. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the cumulative incidence rate. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients (mean age, 61.96 years; 6877 [55.70%] male), multiple VHD was the most frequent type (4042, 32.74%), which was mainly found in eastern China, followed by isolated mitral regurgitation (3044, 24.65%), which was mainly found in northern China. The etiology of VHD varied significantly across different regions of China. The overall rate of valve interventions was 32.67% (4008/12,268), with the highest rate in southern China at 48.46% (205/423). In terms of procedure, the proportion of transcatheter valve intervention was relatively low compared to that of surgical treatment. Patients with VHD in western China had the highest incidence of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Valve intervention significantly improved the outcome of patients with VHD in all five regions (all P  <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients with VHD in China are characterized by significant geographic disparities in clinical features, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Targeted efforts are needed to improve the management and prognosis of patients with VHD in China according to differences in geographical characteristics. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03484806.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Heart Valve Diseases/therapy* ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the correlation between brachial and ankle pulse wave conduction velocity(baPWV)and cardiac structure and function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 443 patients with T2DM who were treated in The Endocrinology Department of Gansu Provincial People's Hospital were enrolled in this study from June 2022 to October 2023.All the patients were divided into simple T2DM group(T2DM,baPWV<1400 cm/s,n=221)and atherosclerosis group(AS,baPWV≥1400 cm/s,n=222)based on baPWV.The cardiac ultrasound diagnostic instrument was used to record left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),end diastolic left ventricular diameter(LVd),end diastolic interventricular septal thickness(IVSd),end diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWd),ratio of early to late diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve annulus(E/A),and ratio of early diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve orifice to early diastolic peak velocity of mitral valve annulus(E/E').Results Age,DM duration,SBP,DBP,HbA1c,TG,ABI,LVEF,IVSd,LVPWd,E/A<1,E/E'＞14,were higher in AS group than in T2DM group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Spearman correlation analysis shows that E/A<1 was positively correlated with age,DM duration,BMI,SBP,DBP,and ABI(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while negatively correlated with baPWV(P<0.01).Pearson correlation analysis shows that LVPWd was positively correlated with age,DM duration,BMI,SBP,DBP,baPWV,and Scr(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Logistic regression analysis shows that baPWV,ABI,and SBP were the influencing factors for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.The analysis of the working characteristic curve of the subjects shows that the area under the curve of baPWV,SBP and ABI for predicting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is 0.647,0.643,and 0.624,with the best cutoff points being 1398.5 cm/s,125.5 mmHg,and 1.107.Conclusions baPWV is closely related to cardiac structure and function in T2DM patients.As baPWV increases,the risk of left ventricular diastolic insufficiency and hypertrophy rises.

Teaching clinics represent a unique form of outpatient training of resident physicians and serve as a crucial instrument and core component of standardized training of general practice residents. This article reviews the common model and innovations of teaching clinics of general practice in China, and analyzes their reported effectiveness in enhancing the capabilities of consultation of resident physicians, the teaching capabilities of general practice trainers, as well as satisfaction levels of involved participants. It outlines the challenges encountered in implementing teaching clinics, including inadequate teaching facilities and equipment, incomplete incentive system for teaching, difficulties in patient recruitment, and weaknesses in the teaching capabilities of trainers. To address these challenges, this article proposes corresponding strategies based on realistic needs, including the improvement of facilities and equipment in teaching clinics, the establishment of incentive systems for teaching clinics, the expansion of patient recruitment channels for teaching clinics, and the enhancement of training for trainers' teaching capabilities. This is envisaged to provide both theoretical bases and practical guidance for the effective execution and standardized development of teaching clinics in general practice residency training bases.

In recent years, a number of policies have been implemented to strengthen the cultivation of general practitioners in China. However, the development of community-level health professionals is still lagging behind, the development is uneven among regions, the overall number of general practitioners is insufficient, and the quality of medical services needs to be improved. Based on the Shanhai (Mountain and Sea) promotion project, with the close cooperation between the Second Affiliated Hospital and the medical consortium unit Suichang County People′s Hospital, a " Joint Cultivation by Dual-Teachers " model has been applied in training general practitioners for Suichang county community since March 2021. In this article we discuss the optimization and integration of medical and health resources through the outreaching assistance of high-quality personnel, management and system of medical service, to comprehensively upgrade the primary care and the quality of grass-roots general practitioners in remote mountainous areas.

Background and Objectives: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in vascular repair and predict cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between EPCs and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods: and Results: Patients (age 67±9.41 years) suffering from AAAs (aortic diameters 58.09±11.24 mm) were prospectively enrolled in this study. All patients received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Blood samples were taken preoperatively and 14 days after surgery from patients with aortic aneurysms. Samples were also obtained from age-matched control subjects. Circulating EPCs were defined as those cells that were double positive for CD34 and CD309. Rat models of AAA formation were generated by the peri-adventitial elastase application of either saline solution (control; n=10), or porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE; n=14). The aortas were analyzed using an ultrasonic video system and immunohistochemistry. The levels of CD34＋/CD309＋ cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations were measured by flow cytometry. The baseline numbers of circulating EPCs (CD34＋/CD309＋) in the peripheral blood were significantly smaller in AAA patients compared with control subjects. The number of EPCs doubled by the 14th day after EVAR. A total of 78.57% of rats in the PPE group (11/14) formed AAAs (dilation ratio ＞150%). The numbers of EPCs from defined AAA rats were significantly decreased compared with the control group. Conclusions EPC levels may be useful for monitoring abdominal aorta aneurysms and rise after EVAR in patients with aortic aneurysms, and might contribute to the rapid endothelialization of vessels.

Objective:To evaluate the quantitative diagnostic value of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in health checkup groups with asymptomatic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Methods:A multicenter prospective study was conducted among Chinese individuals undergoing regular health checkups; a total of 173 subjects were investigated. Human body indexes such as height, weight, and blood pressure were measured, and complete blood count, liver function, blood lipid, FibroScan, and MRI-PDFF examinations were performed. Correlation between MRI-PDFF and CAP was described using Spearman′s and Pearson′s coefficients. Diagnostic efficacy of the CAP was evaluated using the subject work characteristic curve and the area under this curve, and the optimal cut-off value was determined according to the Youden index.Results:The average age and body mass index of the subjects were 45.0±10.5 years and 25.8±4.0 kg/m 2, respectively. A linear correlation was found between CAP and lg transformed magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction results (Pearson′s coefficient 0.772, P<0.001). When optimized for ≥90% sensitivity, the CAP cutoff for staging ≥S1 steatosis was 244 dB/m. Conclusions:The CAP result was significantly correlated with the liver fat fraction measured by MRI-PDFF, and capable of differentiating steatosis grades. CAP can be used as a tool for screening fatty liver in health checkup groups.

TMTP1, a 5-amino acid peptide NVVRQ, obtained by using the flagella peptide library screening in our previous studies, can be used for the labeling of malignant in situ and metastatic lesions, and even micro-metastases. In this study, TMTP1 was assessed for its ability to specifically target the malignant hematopoietic cells and metastatic lesions of hematological malignancies. FITC-TMTP1 was chemically synthesized. Immunofluorescence assay and competitive test were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity of TMTPl to hematological malignant cell lines, including HL60, k562, SHI-1, Jurkat, Raji, El-4 and umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of healthy subjects and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Then the cells were co-clutured with TMTP1 or scrambled peptides and the binding and affinity of TMTP1 peptide to the primary cells of hematological malignancies were flow cytometrically analyzed. The binding specificity of TMTP1 to target hematological malignancies was measured in vivo by intravenous injection of FITC-conjugated TMTP1 into El-4 lymphoma-bearing mice. The results showed that TMTP1 specifically bound to the cells of a series of hematological malignancies, including HL60, k562, Jurkat, Raji, El-4 and chronic myeloid leukemia primary cells but not to bone marrow mononuclear cells from healthy subjects. By contrast, TMTP1 could bind to the metastatic foci of lymphoma originating from the EL-4 cell line while the scrambled peptide failed to do so. Moreover, the occult metastases could be identified, with high specificity, by detecting FITC-TMTP1. We are led to conclude that TMTP1, as a novel tumor-homing peptide, can serve as a marker for primary malignant and metastatic lesions for the early diagnosis of hematological malignances and a carrier of anticancer drugs for cancer treatment.

TMTP1,a 5-amino acid peptide NVVRQ,obtained by using the flagella peptide library screening in our previous studies,can be used for the labeling of malignant in situ and metastatic lesions,and even micro-metastases.In this study,TMTP1 was assessed for its ability to specifically target the malignant hematopoietic cells and metastatic lesions of hematological malignancies.FITC-TMTP 1 was chemically synthesized.Immunofluorescence assay and competitive test were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity of TMTPI to hematological malignant cell lines,including HL60,k562,SHI-1,Jurkat,Raji,El-4 and umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells.Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of healthy subjects and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Then the cells were co-clutured with TMTP1 or scrambled peptides and the binding and affinity of TMTP1 peptide to the primary cells of hematological malignancies were flow cytometrically analyzed.The binding specificity of TMTP 1 to target hematological malignancies was measured in vivo by intravenous injection of FITC-conjugated TMTP1 into El-4 lymphoma-bearing mice.The results showed that TMTP1 specifically bound to the cells of a series of hematological malignancies,including HL60,k562,Jurkat,Raji,El-4 and chronic myeloid leukemia primary cells but not to bone marrow mononuclear cells from healthy subjects.By contrast,TMTP1 could bind to the metastatic foci of lymphoma originating from the EL-4 cell line while the scrambled peptide failed to do so.Moreover,the occult metastases could be identified,with high specificity,by detecting FITC-TMTP1.We are led to conclude that TMTP1,as a novel tumor-homing peptide,can serve as a marker for primary malignant and metastatic lesions for the early diagnosis of hematological malignances and a carrier of anticancer drugs for cancer treatment.

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of autologons bone margow-mononuclear cell (BM-MNC)transplantation after the bone marrow stimulation in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO).Methods The bone marrows of 12 patients were stimulated by an injection of the recombinant human granuloeyte-macmphage colony-stimulatory factor(GCSF)for 3-5 days.150-200 ml bone marrow was drown from the iliac spine and the autologous BM-MNC were obtained in each patients.Fifteen lower limbs of 12 patients received implantation of the autologous BM-MNC by an intramuscular iniecdon.A series of subjective indexes(including improvement of pain and cold sensation)and objeetive indexes [including increase of ankle braehial index(ABI),transcutaneons oxygen pressure(TcPO2)and improvement of foot skin ulcer] were used to evaluate the effects.Results The outcomes were evaluated after 2 months of transplantation.The pain-relief rate and the cold feeling improvement rate were 86.7%(13/15)and 93.3%(14/15)respectively.The ABI were 0.38 ±0.05 vs.0.61 ±0.14(P<0.05)before transplantation and 2 months after transplantation respectively.increased in 66.7%(10/15)limbs.The TcPO2 of the ischemic legs increased from(27.47±2.85)mm Hg to(43.53 ±8.38)mm Hg(t=-7.03,P<0.05)after the transplantation,and the improvement rate of TcPO2 was 93.3%(14/15).Skin ulcers in improved in 8/9 limbs.Twelve patients were followed up for all average period of 10 months.The patients'symptoms improved in 80.0%(12/15)limbs,as to the objective index the ABI was0.57±0.13,TcPO2 was(42.07 ±7.81)mm Hg,which improved significandy compared to before treatment(t=-5.33,-7.80,Ps<0.05).skin ulcer healing rate was 66.7%(6/9).The ischemic symptoms in 2 patients were not relieved.There WBS no mortality and high level amputation in all subjects.The complications,such as proliferative retinopathy,malitpmnt tumor,myocardial infarction,stroke or hemangioma were not found in any patients.Conclusion In patients with TAO,intramuscular transplantation of autologous BM-MNC after the bone marrow stimulation has advantages of less bone marrow aspiration,more mononuclear cell content and relatively high safety.It may be a new and effective method to alleviate symptoms and accelerate the healing of skin ulcer.