Objectives:To investigate the feasibility of using bedside echocardiography on the evaluation of potential donors with different causes of brain death for adult heart transplantation. Methods:Bedside echocardiographic and clinical data of consecutive potential donors for adult heart transplantation evaluated by the team of our institution from February 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Based on different causes of brain death,the potential donors were divided into stroke(ischemic or hemorrhagic,n=398)and non-stroke(head trauma,brain tumor,anoxia,n=272)groups.The clinical and echocardiographic features were compared between the two groups.A total of 350 donors were assigned to our hospital by the China Organ Transplant Response System and met the inclusion criteria for donor selection.There were 195 cases in the stroke group and 155 in the non-stroke group.Retrieval operations were performed and the retrieval rate of hearts for transplantation in stroke donors was compared to that in non-stroke donors. Results:(1)Among the 670 potential heart donors,compared with the non-stroke group,donors in the stroke group were significantly older,had higher body mass index,larger left ventricular end-diastolic diameter,thicker interventricular septum,higher rates of echocardiographic abnormalities,higher prevalence of hypertension(all P<0.001).Among the 670 potential heart donors,17.5%(117 cases)did not meet the echo selection criteria,the common causes were left ventricular hypertrophy(59 cases,50.4%),left ventricular ejection fraction<50%(27 cases,23.1%),wall motion abnormalities(21 cases,17.9%),and left ventricular dilation(14 cases,12.0%).(2)Among the 350 donors who had met the selection criteria and assigned to our hospital by the China Organ Transplant Response System and underwent retrieval operation,70.3%(246 cases)were successfully procured,110 cases(44.7%)in the stroke group and 136 cases(55.3%)in the non-stroke group.The retrieval rate of stroke donors(110/195,56.4%)was lower compared with that of non-stroke(136/155,87.7%,P<0.001),104 cases(29.7%)were not retrieved,and the leading cause of unsuccessful organ retrieval was the occlusion of at least one major coronary artery(91 cases,87.5%). Conclusions:Bedside echocardiography is of great value as a screening tool for cardiac donors.Cardiac structures of the potential donor with stroke as the cause of brain death were different from those with non-stroke causes.The retrieval rate of stroke donors was lower than that of non-stroke donors,even if the initial criteria for donor selection were fulfilled.

Robotic surgery is known as the"third technological revolution"in the field of surgery,and is an important milestone in the development of modern surgery.However,our country's innovative surgical robot industry is still in its early stages,and it is only being utilized in certain surgical fields.To explore the effectiveness of the application of do-mestic surgical robot in oral and maxillofacial surgery,the author successfully completed a case of benign parotid tumor resection with the assistance of a domestic autonomous robot.The operation was successful,facial nerve function was preserved,and postoperative wound healing was good.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles(PELNs) are a class of membranous vesicles with diameters approximately ranging from 30 to 300 nm, isolated from plant tissues. They contain components such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. PELNs play an important role in the metabolism of plant substances and immune defense, and can also cross-regulate the physiological activities of fungi and animal cells, showing significant potential applications. In recent years, research on PELNs has significantly increased, highlighting three main issues:(1) the mixed sources of plant materials for PELNs;(2) the lack of a unified system for isolating and characterizing PELNs;(3) the urgent need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the cross-regulation of biological functions by PELNs. This article focused on these concerns. It began by summarizing the biological origin and composition of PELNs, discussing the techniques for isolating and characterizing PELNs, and analyzing their biomedical applications and potential future research directions., aiming to promote the establishment of standardized research protocols for PELNs and provide theoretical references for in-depth exploration of the mechanisms underlying PELNs' cross-regulatory effects.
Animals ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Proteins/metabolism* ; Plants/metabolism* ; Nucleic Acids ; Nanoparticles

Objective:To explore the morbidity and risk factors of de novo malignancy after heart transplantation (HT).Methods:From June 2004 to August 2021, 995 patients undergoing HT were selected and followed up.The epidemiological characteristics, the morbidity of de novo malignancy (DNM) and its risk factors were examined.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed for calculating the cumulative incidence and mortality of DNM.Log rank test was utilized for comparing the survival rate of each subgroup.Cox regression model was employed for examining the relationship between the included factors and the endpoint of DNM.Results:The median follow-up period was 6.36(3.64, 10.18) years.Thirty-six patients (3.6%) developed DNM during follow-up.Lung cancer accounted for 22.2%(8/36) of DNM while digestive system tumors accounted for 38.9% (including gastric cancer 6/36, 16.7%; liver cancer 3/36, 8.3%; colon cancer 2/36, 5.6%). The cumulative morbidity of DNM at Year 1/5/10/15 post-HT was 0.1%, 2.3%, 4.9% and 7.6% respectively.The median survival time of DNM recipients was 83.32 months.The mean survival time was significantly lower than those without DNM[(115.32±13.12) vs.(194.22±2.58), P<0.001]. The mortality of DNM recipients was around 6.57 folds higher ( HR=6.57, 95% CI: 4.06-10.64, P<0.01). Age was an independent risk factor for an occurrence of DNM.Hypertension and diabetes were also correlated with DNM. Conclusions:DNM after HT is associated with shorter survival time.And age is an independent risk factor for DNM after HT.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacies of O-arm combined with CT three-dimensional navigation system assisted screw placement versus manual screw placement in treating lower cervical fracture and dislocation.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the clinical data of 41 patients with lower cervical fracture and dislocation, who were treated in Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University from May 2021 to February 2022. The patients included 26 males and 15 females, aged 31.5-48.6 years [(41.5±15.0)years]. The injured segments were C 3 in 3 patients, C 4 in 12, C 5 in 13, C 6 in 10 and C 7 in 3. Nineteen patients were treated with cervical pedicle screws by O-shaped arm combined with CT three-dimensional navigation system (navigation group, 76 screws) and 22 by bare hands (traditional group, 88 screws). The total operation time, effective operation time, single nail placement time, single screw correction times, screw distance from anterior cortex, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopic radiation dose, incision length and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups, and the height of intervertebral space, Cobb angle, interbody slip distance and American Spinal injury Association (ASIA) grade were compared before operation and at 3 days after operation. Visual analogue score (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and neck dysfunction index (NDI) were evaluated before operation, at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up. Accuracy of screw placement and incidence of complications (adjacent facet joint invasion, infection, screw loosening) were detected as well. Results:All the patients were followed up for 11.1-13.9 months [(12.5±1.4)months]. The total operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopic radiation dose and incision length in the navigation group were more or longer than those in the traditional group (all P<0.05). The effective operation time, single nail placement time, single nail correction times and screw distance from anterior cortex in the navigation group were markedly less or smaller than those in the traditional group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were significant improvements in the height of intervertebral space, Cobb angle and interbody slip distance between the two groups at 3 days after operation (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the height of intervertebral space, Cobb angle, interbody slip distance or ASIA grade between the two groups before operation or at 3 days after operation (all P>0.05). Compared with pre-operation, the VAS, JOA score and NDI were significantly improved in both groups at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up (all P<0.05), with further improvement with time. There was no significant difference in VAS between the two groups before operation or at 3 months after operation (all P>0.05), but it was markedly lower in the navigation group compared with the traditional group at 3 days after operation and at the last follow-up (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in JOA score or NDI between the two groups before operation or at 3 days and 3 months after operation (all P>0.05), but both were lower in the navigation group compared with the traditional group at the last follow-up (all P<0.05). The accuracies of placement of grade 0 and grade 0+1 screws were 92.0% (70/76) and 96.6% (73/76) in the navigation group, respectively, which were markedly higher than 88.7% (78/88) and 93.5% (82/88) in the traditional group (all P<0.05). The rates of adjacent facet joint invasion of A, B, and C degrees were 71.2% (54/76), 28.8% (22/76) and 0% (0/76) in the navigation group, respectively, while the invasion rates were 60.5% (53/88), 32.3% (28/88) and 7.3% (7/88) in the traditional group ( P<0.05). No screw loosening was noted in the navigation group, but the screw loosening rate was 9.1% (8/88) in the traditional group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Compared with manual screw placement, O-arm combined with CT three-dimensional navigation system assisted screw placement for lower cervical fracture and dislocation has the advantages of shorter effective operation time, quicker screw placement, stronger screw holding force, better cervical stability, slighter postoperative pain, higher screw placement accuracy, and lower facet joint invasion and screw loosening rates.

Objective:To study the risk factors of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) refractoriness.Methods:The clinical data of 106 HCC patients who underwent TACE at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively studied. There were 90 males and 16 females, with the age of (59.9±9.3) years. These patients were divided into the TACE-refractory group ( n=47) and the control group ( n=59) based on whether TACE refratoriness occurred after surgery. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVIKA-II), maximum diameter of tumor, number of tumor and tumor vascularization patterns between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyse the risk factors of TACE refractoriness in patients with HCC after TACE. Results:The proportion of patients with AFP >400 μg/L, PIVIKA-II >40 AU/L, number of tumor and tumor vascularization patterns Ⅲ+ Ⅳ (uneven enhancement) were significantly higher in the TACE-refractory group than the control group (all P<0.05). The maximum diameter of tumor for patients in the TACE-refractory group was significantly larger than that in the control group ( Z=-2.41, P=0.016). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with serum AFP >400 μg/L( OR=2.707, 95% CI: 1.008-7.271), multiple tumors ( OR=6.069, 95% CI: 2.115-17.415) and tumor vascularization patterns Ⅲ+ Ⅳ (uneven enhancement)( OR=7.813, 95% CI: 2.246-27.176) before the first TACE were at increased risks of TACE refractoriness (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Preoperative AFP >400 μg/L, multiple tumors and tumor vascularization patterns Ⅲ+ Ⅳ were independent risk factors for TACE refractoriness in patients with HCC.

Objective:To study the efficacy, feasibility and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in treatment of recurrent portal hypertension after splenectomy and devascularization in patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods:Cirrhotic patients with recurrent portal hypertension after splenectomy and devascularization and presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding from August 2015 to December 2020 were studied. Thirty-nine patients were included in this study. There were 24 males and 15 females, with age of (51.56±9.08) years old. These patients were treated with TIPS by using the Viabahn stent. Intraoperative portal vein pressure, success operative rate, hemostasis rate after surgery, changes in hematological indicators and postoperative efficacy and complication rate were studied.Results:Thirty-eight of 39 patients successfully underwent TIPS shunt and 1 patient failed because of portal vein spongiosis. The success rate was 97.44%(38/39). Thirty-three patients underwent TIPS and variceal vein embolization, while 5 patients were treated with TIPS alone. Thirty-nine Viabahn stents with a diameter of 8 mm were implanted in 38 patients, of which 5 patients had the stent expanded to its nominal diameter of 8 mm. The remaining 33 patients (86.84%) had a shunt with a diameter of 6 mm. The hemostasis rate of postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding was 97.37% (37/38). The portal vein pressure and portal venous pressure gradient decreased from (31.28±6.24), (20.61±5.14) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (19.58±4.69), (9.24±3.07) mmHg respectively, the differences were significant (all P<0.001). All patients were followed-up for 3 to 36 months, with a median follow-up of 12 months. The postoperative rebleeding rate was 6.90% (2/29). The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was 13.79% (4/29), and the incidence of shunt disorder was 13.79% (4/29). Conclusion:TIPS was safe, effective and feasible in treating patients with recurrent portal hypertension after splenectomy and devascularization presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Most patients obtained good clinical outcomes with a 6 mm diameter shunt.

Objective:To analyze the case characteristics and outcomes of 12 idiopathic giant cell myocarditis(IGCM)cases after heart transplantation(HT).Methods:From June 2004 to May 2022, clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 12 cases with pathologically confirm IGCM after HT at Fuwai Hospital.General characteristics, clinical manifestations, pathological examinations and postoperative follow-ups are recorded.Results:From June 2004 to May 2022, a total of 1 143 HT operations are performed at Fuwai Hospital and 12 cases of IGCM(1.05%)are confirmed by postoperative pathology.The age is(47.6±7.3)years.There are 5 boys and 7 girls.Initial presenting manifestations are congestive heart failure(7 cases, 58.3%)and arrhythmia(4 cases, 33.3%). Median time from symptom onset to HT is 6 months.All of them are undiagnosed pre-operation.And dilated cardiomyopathy(5 cases, 41.7%)and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(3 cases, 25%)are confirmed.The follow-up period is(4~142)months post-HT.One death occurred during perioperative period and another is due to heart failure at 68 months post-HT.Only 1 case of grade 1R transplant heart rejection occurrs at 9 years post-HT and there is no case of recurrence.According to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, cumulative survival rates of 1/5/10 years post-HT in IGCM patients are 91.7%, 91.7% and 73.3% respectively.No significant difference exist in survival rate for other etiologies post-HT(Log-rank P=0.265). Conclusions:HT is efficacious for end-stage IGCM.Regular and sufficient postoperative immunosuppression is vital for preventing heart transplant rejection and recurrent IGCM.Most IGCM patients have a decent prognosis post-HT.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of laparoscopic surgery has changed abdominal surgery. We evaluated the evolution and changing trends associated with adoption of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and the experience of a surgeon without prior LLR experience. METHODS: A retrospective review of 310 patients who underwent LLR performed by a single surgeon from 2011 to 2020 was conducted. Exclusion criteria were patients who underwent laparoscopic liver surgeries such as excision biopsy, local ablation, drainage of abscesses and deroofing of liver cysts. There were 300 cases and the cohort was divided into 5 groups of 60 patients. RESULTS: There were 288 patients who underwent a totally minimally invasive approach, including 28 robotic-assisted procedures. Open conversion occurred for 13 (4.3%) patients; the conversion rate decreased significantly from 10% in the initial period to 3.3% subsequently. There were 83 (27.7%) major resections and 131 (43.7%) resections were performed for tumours in the difficult posterosuperior location. There were 152 (50.7%) patients with previous abdominal surgery, including 52 (17.3%) repeat liver resections for recurrent tumours, and 60 patients had other concomitant operations. According to the Iwate criteria, 135 (44.7%) were graded as high/expert difficulty. Major morbidity (>grade 3a) occurred in 12 (4.0%) patients and there was no 30-day mortality. Comparison across the 5 patient groups demonstrated a significant trend towards older patients, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, increasing frequency of LLR with previous abdominal surgery, increasing frequency of portal hypertension and huge tumours, decreasing blood loss and decreasing transfusion rate across the study period. Surgeon experience (≤60 cases) and Institut Mutualiste Montsouris (IMM) high grade resections were independent predictors of open conversion. Open conversion was associated with worse perioperative outcomes such as increased blood loss, transfusion rate, morbidity and length of stay. CONCLUSION LLR can be safely adopted for resections of all difficulty grades, including major resections and for tumours located in the difficult posterosuperior segments, with a low open conversion rate.
Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Liver Neoplasms/surgery* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore/epidemiology*

As an effective anticancer drug, the clinical limitation of doxorubicin (Dox) is the time- and dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) interacts with transcription factor TEA domain 1 (TEAD1) and plays an important role in cell proliferation and survival. However, the role of YAP1 in Dox-induced cardiomyopathy has not been reported. In this study, the expression of YAP1 was reduced in clinical human failing hearts with dilated cardiomyopathy and Dox-induced