Objectives:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon in the treatment of de novo coronary chronic occlusive lesions. Methods:Consecutive patients with de novo coronary chronic occlusive lesions treated with drug-coated balloons only were included in this study.The general information,medical history,and surgical information of the patients were recorded,and major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE,including cardiac death,myocardial infarction,and target vessel revascularization)were recorded by telephone or outpatient follow-up. Results:A total of 160 patients were included.There were 26 ostial lesions(16.3%),42 bifurcated lesions(26.3%),117 diffuse lesions(73.1%),and 87 calcified lesions(54.4%).The reference vessel diameter was(2.3±0.4)mm.During hospitalization,there were no acute myocardial infarction,cardiac death,target lesion revascularization,or acute coronary thrombosis.Cardiac death occurred in 1 case and target vessel revascularization occurred in 6 cases during follow-up.The MACE rate is 4.4%. Conclusions:Drug balloon therapy for de novo coronary chronic occlusive lesions is safe and effective,and the prognosis is satisfactory.

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome(PMDS) is a rare disorder that arises from a lack of active anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH) or type Ⅱ AMH receptor(AMHR2) deficiency in males with a normal 46, XY chromosome karyotype.It presents that the external genitalia appears normally while the Müllerian duct structure(uterus, fallopian tubes, upper vagina) persists in the body.Common pathogenic factors are mutations in the AMH and AMHR2 genes, inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.This study reported two families with PMDS.The first patient was diagnosed with PMDS due to cryptorchidism in May 2019.Gene sequencing analysis revealed a new missense mutation(c.579G>T; p.W193C) and a splicing mutation(c.622-3C>A; splicing) in the AMHR2 gene.His father had the missense mutation(c.579G>T; p.W193C), and his mother had the splicing mutation(c.622-3C>A; splicing).The second patient was diagnosed with PMDS due to bilateral cryptorchidism, transverse testis ectopia in the right testicle in March 2023.Undegraded Müllerian tube derivatives were found between the two testicles, and serum AMH levels were very high(565.00 μg/L).Gene sequencing analysis reported that the AMHR2 gene had a new deletion mutation(c.835_837del; p.Leu279del).Both his father and mother had a deletion mutation(c.835_837del; p.Leu279del).This study reports two new AMHR2 gene mutations that expand the mutation sites of this rare disease.It is recommended to consider PMDS in the differential diagnosis of cryptorchidism, undergo surgery as early as possible, and treat Müllerian duct derivatives based on individual anatomical characteristics.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of AcoStream peripheral thrombus aspiration system combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis in the treatment of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.Methods:The clinical data of 16 lower extremity deep vein thrombosis cases treated with AcoStream peripheral thrombus aspiration system combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis, admitted to the authors′ hospital from May 2022 to November 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The differences in circumferential diameter between the affected limb and the healthy side, venous patency score, thrombus clearance grade and intraoperative blood loss were observed and compared. The Villalta score was used during the follow up. Paired sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare the changes in the observed indicators before and after treatment to evaluate the efficacy. Results:Treatment were successfully performed in all patients. Before treatment, the circumference differences between the affected and unaffected thighs and calves were (3.69±0.97) and (3.34±0.75)cm, respectively, the venous patency score of the affected side was 8(7.25,9) points. After treatment, the circumference differences between the affected and unaffected thighs and calves were (0.81±0.68) and (0.84±0.70)cm, respectively. The venous patency score of the affected side was 1(0,1)points, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.001). Grade Ⅲ thrombus clearance was achieved in 7 patients, grade Ⅱ thrombus clearance was achieved in 9 patients. The average blood loss during thrombus aspiration was (133.1±12.0) ml. Following up for 6 months, the Villalta score was 0(0,1.75) points. Conclusion:Acostream peripheral thrombus aspiration system combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis is safe and effective for the treatment of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, with satisfactory short-term efficacy and high clinical application value.

Objectives:To evaluate the coronary microcirculatory function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM). Methods:Patients who diagnosed with HCM and underwent the measurement of index of microcirculatory resistance(IMR)using pressure-sensing guide wire from November 2021 to April 2023 were prospectively included.Coronary microcirculatory dysfunction(CMD)was defined as IMR≥25 U and patients were grouped accordingly to compare the clinical characteristics. Results:A total of 25 HCM patients were included.Mean age was(58.4±13.3)years,18 were men and mean body mass index was(26.7±3.6)kg/m2.Coronary microcirculatory function was successfully evaluated in all patients and the mean value of IMR was(30.5±15.3)U.There were 15 patients with CMD.Baseline clinical characteristics,laboratory examinations and medications were simialr between patients with and without CMD.The maximal left ventricular wall was significant thicker in patients with CMD compared with that in patients without CMD([20.2±2.8]mm vs.[16.9±2.3]mm,P=0.005).There was no significant difference in other echocardiographic parameters between two groups(all P>0.05).In the range of IMR value less than 50 U(n=22),there was a significant linear positive correlation between maximal left ventricular wall thickness and IMR(r=0.423,P=0.049).There was no significant difference in coronary flow reserve and fractional flow reserve between two groups. Conclusions:The severity of CMD is positively correlated with left ventricular wall thickness in HCM patients.

Objectives:To analyze the efficacy and safety of drug coated balloon for coronary de novo lesions in real world. Methods:We enrolled consecutive patients with coronary de novo lesions treated with drug coated balloons from January 2020 to June 2021 in Fuwai Hospital.The baseline data,procedure data and in-hospital cardiac events were collected through case query.All patients were followed up by clinical visit or telephone call.Major adverse cardiac events(MACE)were defined as the composite of the cardiac death,acute myocardial infarction,target lesion revascularization.According to the diameter of the blood vessels,the patients are divided into the large vessel lesion group(vessel diameter≥2.75 mm,n=337),and the small vessel lesion group(vessel diameter<2.75 mm,n=575). Results:There were 940 coronary de novo lesions in 912 patients.A total of 974 drug balloons were used,average diameter was(2.6±0.8)mm,average length was(21.0±6.0)mm,average pressure was(10.0±3.8)atm.Among the 940 primary coronary artery lesions,343 lesions had a diameter≥2.75 mm,and 597 lesions had a diameter<2.75 mm.During hospitalization,two patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction died of cardiac rupture after emergency coronary interventional treatment,acute vessel closure because of coronary hematoma occurred in 1 patient and bailout drug-eluting stent was used in this patient,five patients received salvage stent treatment due to type C dissection immediately after drug coated balloon treatment.During follow-up,Target lesion revascularization(TLR)occurred in 15(1.6%)patients(including coronary artery bypass grafting in 1 patient).Nonfatal acute myocardial infarction occurred in 1 patient,cardiac death occurred in 1 patient,2 patients died of cerebral hemorrhage,1 patient died of cerebral infarction,MACE rate was 1.9%(17/912).MACE rate during follow-up was similar between large vessels group and small vessels group(1.8%vs.1.9%,P>0.05). Conclusions:Our study indicates that drug coated balloon for coronary de novo lesion is safe and effective.There is no difference of MACE rate between large vessel group and small vessel group.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, risk factors, treatment and prognosis of dermatomyositis (DM) patients with positive anti-melanoma differentiation associated gene 5(MDA5) antibody with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD).Methods:The clinical data of 88 DM patients from June 2019 to June 2020, at the rheumatology department of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were collected and retrospectively analyzed. T-test, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-squared test, Fisher exact probability and Logistics regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results:① 37%(36/88) DM patients were positive for anti-MDA5 antibody. The frequency of ulcerative rash, Gottron's sign, arthritis, clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was significantly higher in patients with anti-MDA5 antibody ( P<0.05). The cell count of white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and serum creatine kinase (CK) level were significantly lower in the anti-MDA5 antibody positive group than those in the negative group ( P<0.05). Of anti-MDA5 antibody positive DM patients, 100% developed ILD, 34% (11/32)developed RP-ILD, 16%(5/32) died, which were significantly higher than those of anti-MDA5 antibody negative patients ( P<0.05). ② Of anti-MDA5 antibody positive DM patients, the C reactive protein (CRP) level, positive rate of anti-Ro-52 antibody and mortality rate were significantly higher RPILD group than those in the non-RPILD group [15.70(4.49, 29.00) vs 3.22 (1.66, 7.15), Z=-2.440, P=0.014; 91% vs 43%, P=0.011; 46% vs 0, P=0.002]. Logistics regression analysis indicated that positive anti-Ro-52 antibody [ OR=4.561, 95% CI (1.797, 11.580), P=0.001] might be a risk factor for anti-MDA5 antibody positive DM-RPILD. ③ Among patients with anti-MDA5 antibody with RPILD, serum ferritin and D-dimer level was significantly higher and oxygenation index was significantly lower in the non-survival group than those in the survival group [1 931 (1 377, 7 379) vs 638(196, 876), Z=-2.556, P=0.009; 2 760(1 995, 4 854) vs 985(533, 1 588), Z=-2.379, P=0.017; 230(140, 256) vs 309(262, 382), Z=2.191, P=0.030]. In addition, the delayed intensive treatment time was significantly longer in the non-survival group than those in the survival group [(14.0±2.6) vs (4.5±1.4), t=7.899, P<0.01]. Furthermore, the proportion of combined therapy with two disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs) was significantly lower in the non-survival group than those in the survival group (0 vs 83%, P=0.015). Conclusion:Anti-MDA5 antibody may be associ-ated with characteristic clinical manifestations of DM, ILD, RPILD and high mortality rate. Positive anti-Ro-52 antibody may be a risk factor for anti-MDA5 antibody positive DM-RPILD. High serum ferritin and D-dimer level and low oxygenation index in RPILD patients may be associated with poor prognosis. Early treatment with two DMARDs may improve the prognosis of RPILD.

Objective:To explore the correlations of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone ( α-MSH) levels in serum and synovial fluid with progression of primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 96 patients who had been diagnosed as primary KOA at Department of Orthopedics, The First Hospital of Huizhou from October 2018 to October 2019. Radiographic severity of KOA was determined by Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades; α-MSH levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) were also detected. Another 64 patients with patellar dislocation, matched in age and gender, were enrolled as controls. The Numeric Pain Scale (NPS) and revised Oxford Knee Score (OKS) were employed to evaluate their symptomatic severity. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to compare α-MSH, IL-1 β and MMP-3 with regard to their diagnostic values in the K-L grading. Results:There were no statistically significant difference in age, gender and body mass index between the 2 groups, showing they were comparable ( P> 0.05). The α-MSH levels in synovial fluid were significantly lower in the KOA patients than in the controls [(16.9±3.8) pg/mL versus (18.8±2.7) pg/mL] ( P<0.001); there were no significant differences between the KOA patients and the controls in the serum α-MSH levels [(24.9±1.8) pg/mL versus (24.8±1.7) pg/mL] ( P>0.05). The α-MSH levels in synovial fluid were negatively correlated with K-L grades ( r=-0.382, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with NPS ( r=-0.382, P<0.001) but positively correlated with OKS ( r=0.339, P<0.001). Moreover, the α-MSH levels in synovial fluid were negatively correlated with the IL-1 β levels in synovial fluid ( r=-0.483, P<0.001) and with the MMP-3 levels in synovial fluid ( r=-0.336, P< 0.001). Conclusions:The level of serum α-MSH may not be correlated with the progression of KOA but the synovial fluid α-MSH is negatively correlated with the progression of KOA. Therefore, the expression level of α-MSH in joint synovial fluid can be used as a potential biomarker for assessment of severity of knee osteoarthritis.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of AngioJet pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (APMT) in rescue treatment for patients with acute massive pulmonary embolism (AMPE) after unsuccessful thrombolysis with urokinase (UK).Methods:From June 2016 to June 2018, the clinical data of 16 AMPE patients underwent APMT after unsuccessful thrombolysis with UK were collected. For these patients, the therapy was discontinued and replaced with APMT adjunctive low-dose thrombolysis with UK. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), CT obstruction index (CTOI) and therapy replacement safety were evaluated. The pared-samples t-test was used to analyze quantitative data before and after treatment. Results:All 16 patients completed APMT procedure. PAP posterior was lower than prior treatment ( P<0.05). The average adjunctive thrombolysis duration of UK was (3.25±1.78) d, HR, SPB, PaO 2 after APMT were significantly improved ( P<0.01). CTOI before and after APMT were (26.81±14.86)% and (11.56±3.26)%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.435, P<0.01). Symptoms and signs of pulmonary embolism were significantly improved after treatment. The complications associated with APMT occurred in 2 patients with bradyarrhythmia, 2 patients with chest discomfort and 2 patients with hemoglobinuria. There were no statistically significant difference between the biochemistry indexes before and after APMT treatment ( P>0.05). Moreover, no major bleeding occurred during thrombolysis procedure, and minor bleeding complications occurred only in two cases. Conclusions:APMT adjunctive low-dose UK thrombolysis for rescue treatment of AMPE patients after unsuccessful thrombolysis with UK is relatively safe and effective. It can remove pulmonary artery thrombus rapidly, and improve clinical symptoms and signs of PE.

Objective:To investigate the correlation of mRNA and protein levels of Ghrelin in shoulder tissue and synovial fluid with severity of rotator cuff tear(RCT) and frozen shoulder(FS).Methods:Recruited for this study were 66 RCT and 66 FS patients who had been definitely diagnosed at Department of Orthopedics, The First Hospital of Huizhou from January 2018 to September 2019. Another 60 patients with rotator instability were recruited as a control group. After the severity of RCT was evaluated by ultrasonographic images, the RCT group was further divided into 3 subgroups according to the severity of RCT: a massive full thickness tear (MFTT) subgroup, a non massive full thickness tear (MFTT) subgroup, and a partial thickness tear (PTT) subgroup. The FS group was conventionally divided into 31 cases of acute phase and 35 cases of adhesive phase. Samples of subacromial bursa and shoulder joint bursa tissues and shoulder joint synovial fluid were collected. The expression of Ghrelin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and the expression of Ghrelin protein in joint synovial fluid was detected by ELISA. The symptoms and functions of shoulder joint were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Constant-Murley functional score.Results:There were no significant differences in gender or age between the RCT, FS and control groups, showing compatibility ( P>0.05).The expression of Ghrelin mRNA in subacromial synovial capsule and shoulder joint capsule and the expression of Ghrelin protein in shoulder synovial fluid in the RCT and FS groups were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05).The expression of Ghrelin mRNA in subacromial synovial capsule and shoulder joint capsule and the expression of Ghrelin protein in shoulder synovial fluid in the PTT subgroup were the highest, followed sequentially by NMFTT and MFTT subgroups, with significant differences between subgroups ( P<0.05). For FS patients, the expression levels of Ghrelin mRNA and protein in the acute phase were significantly lower than in the adhesive phase ( P<0.05). The relative expression of Ghrelin mRNA in joint capsule and the expression of Ghrelin protein in shoulder synovial fluid were negatively correlated with VAS scores and IL-6 levels (all P<0.05), and positively correlated with the Constant-Murley scores (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of Ghrelin in shoulder tissue and synovial fluid is negatively correlated with the progress of rotator cuff tear and frozen shoulder.Local supplementation of Ghrelin may be a potential therapy for rotator cuff tear and frozen shoulder.

Objective: To investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of comprehensive endovascular treatment for acute deep vein thrombosis(DVT)in elderly patients. Methods: Clinical data of 94 elderly patients who underwent endovascular treatment from June 2013 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent inferior vena cava filter implantation(IVCF). Of them, 57 patients initially underwent thrombectomy and subsequently received the adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis(CDT)(Group A)and 37 cases underwent CDT(Group B). Clinical efficacy and safety of treatments in the two groups were examined. Results: Among the 94 patients, 88 cases had retrievable IVCF, and the retrieval rate was 94.3%(83/88). There were significant differences in total infusion time(73.92±31.68 h vs.156.2±30.2 h)and total doses of infused thrombolytic agents(180.71±44.83 million unit vs.355.0±96.0 million unit)between Groups A and B(P<0.05). There was a significant difference in average hospitalized time between Groups A and B(9.4±2.4 d vs.12.8±4.3 d, t=-4.99, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in clinical efficacy between Groups A and B(χ²=1.263, P>0.05). Fifty-six patients were treated with angioplasty(PTA), 34 of them were combined with stent implantation, and there was no difference between the two groups(χ²=1.128, P>0.05). Neither of the two groups saw serious complications.The incidence of minor hemorrhage was 9.6%(9/94), including 2 cases and 7 cases in Group A and Group B respectively, and the difference was statistically significant(χ²=4.503, P=0.034). The average follow-up time was 16.7±8.3 months in the 94 patients, and the stent patency rate was 91.2%(31/34). Doppler ultrasonography results at the last follow-up showed that the reverse flow rate of the valve was 20.2%(19/94), the occurrence rates of post-thrombotic syndrome(PTS)were 24.6%(14/57)and 29.7%(11/37)in Group A and Group B respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant(χ²=0.307, P=0.580). Patients in the mild, moderate and severe stages assessed by Villata scoring were 9 vs.6, 4 vs.5, 0 vs.1 in Group A and Group B respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant(χ²=0.007 and 0.205, P>0.05). Conclusions It is safe and effective for elderly patients with DVT when timely and appropriate the treatment strategies are chosen and comprehensive approaches including IVCF, anticoagulation, endovascular CDT, thrombectomy, PTA and stent implantation are used.