Objective To compare the perioperative renal function changes in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HT) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Methods Patients with end-stage heart failure who underwent surgical treatment at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2019 to April 2024 were included. According to the surgical method, patients were divided into a HT group and a LVAD group, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of patients before surgery and postoperative 1, 7, 30, 60 days was compared between the two groups. The patients with preoperative renal dysfunction were subdivided into subgroups for comparison of eGFR changes before surgery and 30 days after surgery between the two groups. Results A total of 112 patients were enrolled. There were 78 patients in the HT group, including 61 males and 17 females, aged (44.42±18.51) years. There were 34 patients in the LVAD group, including 30 males and 4 females, aged (54.94±11.37) years. Compared with the HT group, the average age of patients in the LVAD group was greater (P<0.001), body mass index was higher (P=0.008), preoperative eGFR was lower (P=0.009), and the proportions of smokers (P=0.017), alcohol drinkers (P=0.041), and diabetes mellitus (P=0.028) patients were higher. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction [eGFR<90 mL/(min·1.73 m2)], compared with the HT group, the postoperative eGFR of the LVAD group was significantly higher than that of the HT group, and it was significantly increased compared with that before surgery; the postoperative eGFR of the HT group was comparable to that before surgery, and more than half of the patients had a lower eGFR than before surgery. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction, 11 patients in the HT group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 8 died early; 2 patients in the LVAD group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 1 died early. Conclusion For end-stage heart failure patients with combined renal dysfunction, compared with HT, LVAD implantation enables patients to obtain better renal function benefits.

In China, more than half of heart failure patients are ischemic heart failure patients. And a large proportion of left ventricular assist device implantation patients are also ischemic heart failure patients. However, left ventricular assist device implantation in ischemic heart failure patients is facing with problems such as patient screening, coronary artery disease, small left ventricle, mitral insufficiency, and ventricular aneurysm. There are only a few retrospective studies with small sample sizes abroad trying to provide solutions to these problems. While there is a lack of systematic understanding of this issue in China. Therefore, we provide an overview of the application and progress of left ventricular assist devices in ischemic heart failure patients, aiming to help clinicians have a comprehensive understanding of this issue and provide some guidance.

OX40 is a costimulatory receptor that is expressed primarily on activated CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and regulatory T cells. The ligation of OX40 to its sole ligand OX40L potentiates T cell expansion, differentiation, and activation and also promotes dendritic cells to mature to enhance their cytokine production. Therefore, the use of agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies for cancer immunotherapy has gained great interest. However, most of the agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies in the clinic are OX40L-competitive and show limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that BGB-A445, a non-ligand-competitive agonistic anti-OX40 antibody currently under clinical investigation, induced optimal T cell activation without impairing dendritic cell function. In addition, BGB-A445 dose-dependently and significantly depleted regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. In the MC38 syngeneic model established in humanized OX40 knock-in mice, BGB-A445 demonstrated robust and dose-dependent antitumor efficacy, whereas the ligand-competitive anti-OX40 antibody showed antitumor efficacy characterized by a hook effect. Furthermore, BGB-A445 demonstrated a strong combination antitumor effect with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Taken together, our findings show that BGB-A445, which does not block OX40-OX40L interaction in contrast to clinical-stage anti-OX40 antibodies, shows superior immune-stimulating effects and antitumor efficacy and thus warrants further clinical investigation.
Mice ; Animals ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/physiology* ; Receptors, OX40 ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Ligands ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*

The end of the COVID-19 infection peak in 2022 prompts a backlog of cardiovascular surgical patients to gradually return to the hospital, resulting in a surge in cardiovascular surgeries. However, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical practice of cardiovascular surgery faces many problems. Therefore, organized by Beijing Anzhen Hospital, experts in cardiovascular surgery and related fields have formulated hospital expert experience on perioperative treatment principles of cardiovascular surgery for patients infected with COVID-19. This article summarizes the clinical decision-making of patients requiring cardiovascular surgery after COVID-19 infection, and advises on the corresponding recommendations according to the existing evidence-based medical evidence as well as the actual clinical practice experience of relevant experts. The main content of the article includes special requirements for cardiovascular surgical treatment indications in patients with COVID-19 infection, selection of surgical timing, special requirements of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management, etc., which aims to provide COVID-19-infected patients with guidance on rational decision-making when receiving cardiovascular surgery.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of ischemic stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) in elderly(≥75 years old)patients, establish a risk prediction model and evaluate it.Methods:From January 2015 to September 2021, a total of 1 553 elderly patients with coronary artery disease who were admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital for coronary artery bypass grafting were included retrospectively. Among which 1 121(72%) cases were males, with a median age of 77( IQR 75, 78) years. Clinical data were collected and univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to explore the risk factors of ischemic stroke after CABG in elderly patients. After the establishment of risk prediction model, we constructed the nomogram, and tested the discrimination and calibration of the model. Results:All patients underwent CABG, there were 35 patients with ischemic stroke after operation, with an incidence of 2.25%(35/1 553). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes( OR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.31-5.32), old myocardial infarction( OR=3.62, 95% CI: 1.61-7.63), systolic blood pressure( OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04) and vertebral artery stenosis( OR=1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02) were independent risk factors for postoperative cerebral infarction in patients undergoing CABG. The model was presented by a nomogram, and the model discrimination was evaluated by ROC curve. The area under the curve( AUC) was 0.757, indicating a optimal discrimination. Hosmer- Lemeshow test of goodness of fit was performed to evaluate the model calibration( χ2=6.209, P=0.624). Conclusion:Diabetes mellitus, old myocardial infarction, systolic blood pressure and vertebral artery stenosis are independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in elderly patients after CABG. The established risk prediction model has optimal discrimination and calibration.

Objective:To analyze the effects of two decomposition algorithms of dual-energy cone beam CT (DECBCT) (direct decomposition and iterative decomposition) on the image quality and material decomposition accuracy of different sizes of phantoms.Methods:Different sizes of imaging parts of patients were simulated using the combination of CatPhan604 phantoms and customized annuluses. CBCT with high energy of 140 kVp and low energy of 100 kVp were acquired using the Varian Edge CBCT system. Then the material decomposition of DECBCT images was performed using the two algorithms. The electron density (ED) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of each material in the CTP682 module were calculated. They were used to assess the decomposition accuracy and image quality of the two algorithms.Results:Based on the values in the Catphan604 manual, both algorithms have high ED accuracy. Only the ED accuracy of four materials of the smallest sized phantom showed statistical difference ( z = -4.21, 4.30, 2.87, 5.45, P < 0.05), but the average relative error was less than 1%. The CNR of the iterative decomposition algorithm was significantly higher than that of the direct decomposition, increasing by 51.8%-703.47%. The increase in the phantom size significantly reduced the accuracy of ED, and the increased amplitude of the relative error was up to a maximum of 2.52%. The large phantom size also reduced the image quality of iterative decomposition, and the decreased amplitude of CNR was up to a maximum of 39.71. Conclusions:Compared with the direct decomposition, the iterative decomposition algorithm can significantly reduce the image noise and improve the contrast without losing the accuracy of electron density in the DECBCT construction of different sizes of phantoms.

Objective:To examine whether the use of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest in a pig model provides comparable vital organ protection outcomes to the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.Methods:Thirteen pigs were randomly assigned to 30 minutes of hypothermic circulatory arrest without cerebral perfusion at 15℃(n=5), 25℃(n=5) and a control group(n=3). The changes in standard laboratory tests and capacity for protection against apoptosis in different vital organs were monitored with different temperatures of hypothermic circulatory arrest management in pig model to determine which temperature was optimal for hypothermic circulatory arrest.Results:There were no significant differences in the capacity for protection against apoptosis in vital organs between 2 groups( P>0.05, respectively). Compared with the moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest group, the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest group had no significant advantages in terms of the biologic parameters of any other organs( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest is a moderate technique that has similar advantages with regard to the levels of biomarkers of injury and capacity for protection against apoptosis in vital organs.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of ICU nursing humanistic care delivery chain in the tertiary hospitals of Heilongjiang Province, and to analyze the related factors affecting the ICU nursing humanistic care delivery chain, and to provide basis for formulating management measures to improve the ICU nursing humanistic care delivery chain.Methods:A total of 531 nurses from ICUs in five tertiary hospitals in Heilongjiang Province were surveyed using the ICU Nursing Humanities Care Assessment Scale to analyze the overall score and influencing factors of the scale.Results:The overall score of the Nursing Humanities Care Atmosphere Scale of Heilongjiang Provincial third-level hospital was (168. 31± 3.72) points. Different genders, ages, education, hospital attention to nursing, humanistic care training, working hours, leadership had a statistically significant difference in the scores of the scales of their own interest ( t or F values were -2.634, 9.718, 4.857, 7.847, 3.094, 5.709, 8.856, P < 0. 05 or 0.01). The influencing factors of ICU nursing humanistic care delivery chain were academic level, hospital attention to nursing, humanistic care training, working time, and the level of concern of leaders to themselves. The degree of dependent variable could be explained as 36.8%. Conclusion:The ICU care humanities care delivery chain atmosphere in the tertiary hospitals in Heilongjiang Province is at a medium level and is affected by many factors.

Objective To investigate the correlations between the FBN1 gene mutation types and the clinical phenotype . Methods 87 probands with Marfan or Marfan-like syndromes and their family members were enrolled in this study ( total 300 cases).The clinical manifestations of each patients involving the ocular, cardiovascular system, skeletal system and other im-plicated systems were collected and evaluated .According to the clinical manifestations , these patients were divided into two groups, namely aortic dissection group and aortic root aneurysm group.Blood samples were taken from patients and DNA se-quencing was performed on each patient by the genetic aortic disease gene Panel .The detected single nucleotide variants ( SNVs)/indel were interpreted according to the ACMG guidelines, and the pathogenic variation was confirmed through Sanger sequencing.The aortic wall tissue was obtained from MFS patients who underwent surgery .The correlations between genotypes and clinical phenotypes were further explored by comparing the aortic wall tissue histological specimens of each genotype pa-tient.Results A total of 92 FBN1 mutations(31％) were detected in 300 people with Marfan syndromes or Marfan-like syn-dromes, 18 of which were undiscovered mutations.There were 49 missense mutations(53.26％), 13 splicing mutations (14.13％), 17 frameshift mutations(18.48％), and 13 nonsense mutations(14.13％).In this cohort, 24 cases had aortic dissection and 25 cases were aortic root aneurysm.Statistical analysis revealed that patients with aortic dissection mostly ap-peared in frameshift mutations(29.17％ vs.4.00％, P =0.017).However, patients with aortic root aneurysm mostly ap-peared in missense mutations(72.00％ vs.37.50％, P =0.015), and accompanied with ectopia lentis(41.67％ vs. 8.33％, P=0.008).Pathological specimens staining found that elastic fibers in the aortic wall of patients with frameshift mu-tations are sparser, and the smooth muscle cells are more deficient and more disorganized than patients with missense muta-tions.Conclusion FBN1 gene frameshift mutations result a lack of elastic fibers and disorganized smooth muscle cells in aor-tic wall and are presented more in patients with aortic dissection than aortic root aneurysm .

Objective Atrial septal defect(ASD) or ventricular septal defect(VSD) To performe a retrospective analysis of ascending aortic dilation in adult patients with congenital ASD or VSD,and summarized the treatment experience and prognosis.Methods Retrospective analysis on preoperative data,intraoperative data,and postoperative data from the adult patients with ASD or VSD who developed ascending aortic dilation in our institution from February 2010 to January 2017.24 adult patients,19 males,5 females;aged(40.7 ± 14.4) years.Results All patients received surgical treatment.Their symptoms were all improved after surgery,no deaths occurred.Conclusion Surgery is safe for the ascending aortic dilation in adult patients with congenital ASD or VSD.Both proper perioperative treatment and close monitoring are required for the successful surgery.