ObjectiveTo investigate a suspected outbreak of healthcare-associated infection with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in a geriatric emergency ward, and to provide references for the prevention and control of multidrug-resistant bacteria in a hospital in Shanghai. MethodsOn-site epidemiological investigation, combined with environmental hygiene monitoring and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) molecular typing method, were adopted to investigate a suspected outbreak of CRKP infection in the geriatric emergency ward of a hospital from October to November 2022, aiming at finding out factors caused the outbreak before taking corresponding control measures. ResultsA total of 3 cases of healthcare-associated CRKP infection were identified, of which 2 cases were homologous to a previous case of community-associated CRKP infection. What’s more, the 2 cases lived in the same ward with the latter and with adjacent beds, but the third case was non-homologous to the community-associated infection case. A total of 46 samples were collected from the environmental surfaces and the hands of healthcare workers, of which 7 samples tested positive for CRKP and were identical to the strains from the 2 healthcare-associated infection cases and the 1 community-associated infection case, originating from the bedrails, bedside tables, surface of non-invasive ventilator, bed curtains and panels of monitoring equipment, with a detection rate of 15.22%. But none of the 11 samples from the hands of healthcare workers tested positive for CRKP. The outbreak was effectively controlled after taking specific prevention and control measures such as strengthening personnel management, intensifying environmental cleaning and disinfection and strictly enforcing hand hygiene among healthcare workers. Subsequently, no similar new cases were reported during the 14-day follow-up period. ConclusionIncomplete environmental cleaning and disinfection, as well as inadequate enforcement of hand hygiene among heatheare workers may have contributed to the suspected outbreak of CRKP in the geriatric emergency ward. Early warning and timely investigation of suspected outbreaks of multidrug-resistant bacteria are crucial for preventing and controlling such outbreaks in hospitals.

Objective:To develop a robotic digestive endoscope system (RDES) and to evaluate its feasibility, safety and control performance by experiments.Methods:The RDES was designed based on the master-slave control system, which consisted of 3 parts: the integrated endoscope, including a knob and button robotic control system integrated with a gastroscope; the robotic mechanical arm system, including the base and arm, as well as the endoscopic advance-retreat control device (force-feedback function was designed) and the endoscopic axial rotation control device; the control console, including a master manipulator and an image monitor. The operator sit far away from the endoscope and controlled the master manipulator to bend the end of the endoscope and to control advance, retract and rotation of the endoscope. The air supply, water supply, suction, figure fixing and motion scaling switching was realized by pressing buttons on the master manipulator. In the endoscopy experiments performed on live pigs, 5 physicians each were in the beginner and advanced groups. Each operator operated RDES and traditional endoscope (2 weeks interval) to perform porcine gastroscopy 6 times, comparing the examination time. In the experiment of endoscopic circle drawing on the inner wall of the simulated stomach model, each operator in the two groups operated RDES 1∶1 motion scaling, 5∶1 motion scaling and ordinary endoscope to complete endoscopic circle drawing 6 times, comparing the completion time, accuracy (i.e. trajectory deviation) and workload.Results:RDES was operated normally with good force feedback function. All porcine in vivo gastroscopies were successful, without mucosal injury, bleeding or perforation. In beginner and advanced groups, the examination time of both RDES and ordinary endoscopy tended to decrease as the number of operations increased, but the decrease in time was greater for operating RDES than for operating ordinary endoscope (beginner group P=0.033; advanced group P=0.023). In the beginner group, the operators operating RDES with 1∶1 motion scaling or 5∶1 motion scaling to complete endoscopic circle drawing had shorter completion time [1.68 (1.40, 2.17) min, 1.73 (1.47, 2.37) min VS 4.13 (2.27, 5.16) min, H=32.506, P<0.001], better trajectory deviation (0.50±0.11 mm, 0.46±0.11 mm VS 0.82±0.26 mm, F=38.999, P<0.001], and less workload [42.00 (30.00, 50.33) points, 43.33 (35.33, 54.00) points VS 52.67 (48.67, 63.33) points, H=20.056, P<0.001] than operating ordinary endoscope. In the advanced group, the operators operating RDES with 1∶1 or 5∶1 motion scaling to complete endoscopic circle drawing had longer completion time than operating ordinary endoscope [1.72 (1.37, 2.53) min, 1.57 (1.25, 2.58) min VS 1.15 (0.86, 1.58) min, H=13.233, P=0.001], but trajectory deviation [0.47 (0.13, 0.57) mm, 0.44 (0.39, 0.58) mm VS 0.52 (0.42, 0.59) mm, H=3.202, P=0.202] and workload (44.62±21.77 points, 41.24±12.57 points VS 44.71±17.92 points, F=0.369, P=0.693) were not different from those of the ordinary endoscope. Conclusion:The RDES enables remote control, greatly reducing the endoscopists' workload. Additionally, it gives full play to the cooperative motion function of the large and small endoscopic knobs, making the control more flexible. Finally, it increases motion scaling switching function to make the control of endoscope more flexible and more accurate. It is also easy for beginners to learn and master, and can shorten the training period. So it can provide the possibility of remote endoscopic control and fully automated robotic endoscope.

Objective:To develop and evaluate the efficacy and safety of a three-dimensional (3D) digestive endoscope for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) through animal experiments.Methods:Two Dutch pigs were utilized from the Zhengzhou University Animal Experiment Center for the study. ESD procedures were performed by two senior endoscopists, one using 3D glasses and the other utilizing a 3D high-definition head display. The success of ESD was assessed based on predefined criteria, including completion of surgical steps, complete detachment of the presumptive lesion, and effective bleeding control during and after the surgery. The number of successful procedures and incidences of perforation were recorded. The stereoscopic experience of the endoscopists, including both the primary endoscopist and the assistant, was also evaluated. Furthermore, the assessment encompassed any reported symptoms of eye discomfort, such as eye fatigue, ocular pain, and blurred vision. Additionally, the confidence level of the endoscopists in the mechanical aspects of the operation, as well as encountered issues during the endoscopic procedures, were documented.Results:Two ESD were successful and no perforation occurred. Feedback from endoscopists suggested that 3D digestive endoscopy offered clear images with enhanced three-dimensionality during surgery, clear sense of distance and layering, allowing for a precise judgment of bleeding points, which surpassed 2D capabilities. No eye discomfort was experienced by endoscopists or assistants during or after the procedures. While endoscopists exhibited high confidence in 3D digestive endoscopy, they noted issues with image blurring when the camera was positioned less than 10 mm from the gastrointestinal tract wall.Conclusion:Preliminary results show that 3D digestive endoscopes can provide excellent stereo imaging, improved positioning accuracy, and safety during live animal stomach ESD procedures, without significantly increasing endoscopists' eye discomfort. Nevertheless, efforts are needed to address image blurring concerns when the camera is close to the gastrointestinal tract wall.

Objective:To analyze the coronary angiographic (CAG) characteristics of coronary artery lesion (CAL) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD), and to clarify the necessity of CAG in the diagnosis and treatment of KD combined with CAL in children.Methods:It was a retrospective study to analyze the clinical data, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, time and findings of CAG in children with KD and CAL who underwent CAG in Shanghai Children′s Medical Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2013 to August 2022.The distribution, type, severity, and prognosis of CAL were analyzed.Results:A total of 117 children with KD and CAL were included in the analysis.The onset age of KD was from 2 months to 12.8 years old, and the age of performing CAG was from 8 months to 18.1 years old.A total of 234 coronary artery lesions were detected in 117 cases.Among them, CAL in the right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending branch (LAD), left main coronary artery and left circumflex artery were detected in 96 branches(41.1%), 78 branches(33.3%), 44 branches(18.8%), and 16 branches(6.8%), respectively.Unilateral coronary artery involvement was detected in 43 cases (36.8%), of which LAD was the dominant; while bilateral involvement was detected in 74 cases (63.2%), among which, LAD and RCA were the most involved arteries.Stratified by the degree of coronary involvement, large coronary aneurysms and severe coronary stenosis were most frequently occurred in the RCA and LAD.In contrast, 10 cases (13.6%), 20 cases (24.3%), 55 cases (45.8%) and 37 cases (67.3%) of intraluminal lesions were found in small, medium and large coronary aneurysms, and stenosis or occlusion, respectively.The incidence of intraluminal lesions tended to be higher in the site of severe lesions.CAG showed stenosis or occlusion in a total of 55 cases, and collateral circulation at varying degrees was found in cases of severe stenosis or occlusion.Conclusions:CAL in children with KD are complex and varied.Although clinical symptoms, routine electrocardiogram and cardiac ultrasound may indicate severe CAL.Their applications are limited by the diagnosis of the type (especially stenosis), degree, and extent of CAL, as well as the detection of extracoronary lesions.CAG is of great significance to identify vascular lesions and guide clinical management of KD combined with CAL in children.

Aging poses a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the aged population. However, the cell type-specific changes underlying cardiac aging are far from being clear. Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analysis of left ventricles from young and aged cynomolgus monkeys to define cell composition changes and transcriptomic alterations across different cell types associated with age. We found that aged cardiomyocytes underwent a dramatic loss in cell numbers and profound fluctuations in transcriptional profiles. Via transcription regulatory network analysis, we identified FOXP1, a core transcription factor in organ development, as a key downregulated factor in aged cardiomyocytes, concomitant with the dysregulation of FOXP1 target genes associated with heart function and cardiac diseases. Consistently, the deficiency of FOXP1 led to hypertrophic and senescent phenotypes in human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Altogether, our findings depict the cellular and molecular landscape of ventricular aging at the single-cell resolution, and identify drivers for primate cardiac aging and potential targets for intervention against cardiac aging and associated diseases.
Aged ; Animals ; Humans ; Aging/genetics* ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Primates/metabolism* ; Repressor Proteins/metabolism* ; Transcriptome ; Macaca fascicularis/metabolism*

Objective    To compare and investigate the efficacy and differences of modified B-T shunt, central shunt and right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) connection in the treatment of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods    A total of 124 children with PA/VSD underwent initial palliative repair in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from September 2014 to August 2019, including 63 males and 61 females, aged 7 days to 15 years. They were divided into in a modified B-T shunt group (55 patients), a central shunt group (22 patients) and a RV-PA connection group (47 patients). The clinical data of these children were retrospectively analyzed. Results    There were 9 early deaths after palliation, with an early mortality rate of 7.3%. The mean follow-up time was 26.5±20.3 months, with 5 patients lost to follow-up, 5 deaths during the follow-up period, and 105 survivors. The 1-year and 5-year survival rates were both 89.7%. The monthly increased Nakata index was 5.2 (–0.2, 12.3) mm2/m2, 9.2 (0.1, 23.6) mm2/m2, 6.3 (1.8, 23.3) mm2/m2 in the modified B-T shunt group, the central shunt group, and the RV-PA connection group, respectively, with no statistical difference among the three groups. The 1-year survival rate was 85.3%, 78.4%, 95.2%, and the 5-year (4-year in the central shunt group) survival rate was 85.3%, 58.8%, 95.2% in the three groups, respectively, with a statistical difference among them (P<0.05). The complete repair rate was 36.5%, 19.0% and 67.4% in the three groups, respectively, with a statistical difference among the three groups (P<0.001). Conclusion    All these three palliative surgical approaches can effectively promote pulmonary vascular development. But compared with systemic-pulmonary shunt, RV-PA connection has a lower perioperative mortality rate and can achieve a higher complete repair rate at a later stage, which is beneficial for long-term prognosis.

Objective:To optimize the strategy of Nuss procedure with open approach via median sternotomy for pectus excavatum(PE) with congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods:25 PE patients with CHD treated in our center from January 2017 to November 2021 were reviewed and divided into two groups. The CHD surgery and open Nuss procedure with median sternotomy were performed concomitantly in 9 cases(group A), whose height of(121.7±28.0)cm, weight of(22.2±14.0)kg, age of(7.65±4.08) years old, and Haller index of 3.99±1.37. 16 cases underwent open Nuss procedure via median re-sternotomy after congenital heart surgery(group B), whose height of(130.9±27.2)cm, weight of(26.5±14.3)kg, age of(8.82±4.09) years old, and Haller index of 4.18 ± 0.97. The cardiac anatomy, cardiac function and the severity of PE of all patients were evaluated by echocardiography and computed tomography preoperatively. The preoperative gender, appearance of PE, types of associated CHD, retrosternal adhesion and the interval between open Nuss procedure and CHD surgery were collected. The details of operation, hospital stay, intraoperative adverse events, postoperative complications and follow-up were collected.Results:All the operations were accomplished successfully in 25 children. No intraoperative complications occurred. One had a postoperative wound infection in group A. The operation time of group A was significantly longer than that of group B[(3.78±1.54) h vs.(2.19±0.94) h, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the mechanical ventilation time between the two groups[(22.50±45.64) h vs.(4.18±1.41) h, P=0.263]. The ICU stay of group A was significantly longer than that of group B[(4.00±6.42) days vs.(1.13±0.34) days, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups[(16.00±15.18) days vs.(9.19±2.31) days, P=0.419]. The Nuss bar was removed in 14 cases of the two groups, with a interval of(27.9±11.25) months after open Nuss procedure, the postoperative Haller Index was 2.48±0.49. There was no difference of LVEF in postoperative and preoperative echocardiography(0.663±0.028 vs. 0.659±0.038, P=0.533). The FVC and FEV1 were significantly improved compared with before operation[(87.2±3.9)% vs.(84.1±8.2)%]. The outcome was good. Conclusion:For PE patients with CHD, one-stage or staged individualized Nuss procedure with open approach via median sternotomy can be performed after careful preoperative evaluation. A skillful median re-sternotomy and widely dissecting retrosternal adhesion between sternum and anterior wall of heart are necessary to avoid serious intraoperative complications such as massive heart bleeding and ensure good sternal elevation.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one the most common cyanotic congenital heart diseases. With the advancement of surgical techniques, most patients can achieve long term survival. However, they often encounter right ventricular dysfunction in the late course. Echocardiogram, one of the major techniques used in the postoperative follow-up, is assuming a growing role in the assessment of right ventricular function. Hereby, we reviewed the echocardiographic indices for right ventricular systolic function commonly used in the follow-up of TOF patients, so as to provide new insights into their treatment.

Objective:To identify the risk factors for cardiac events like recurrent syncope and fatal events in children with long QT syndrome (LQTS).Methods:A retrospective review involving 69 children with LQTS with the age of (7.6±4.2) years (43 male patients, 26 female patients) admitted in the Heart Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, First Hospital of Tsinghua University from August 2013 to March 2019 was conducted.Medical history, surface electrocardiogram, Doppler echocardiography and screening results of pathogenic genes of each patient were analyzed.Patients were divided into cardiac event group (32 cases) and non-cardiac event group (37 cases) according to the presence or absence of cardiac events like syncope or sudden death.Differences between 2 groups were compared using the independent sample Student′s t test and Chi- square test. Results:There were 32 cases among 69 children (46.4%) had recurrent syncope, involving 2 deaths, 14 cases among 69 children (20.3%) had a positive family history and 8 cases among 69 children (11.6%) had family history of sudden death.There were 52 cases among 69 children (75.4%) had arrhythmias.Among them, 32 patients (46.4%) with ventricular arrhythmia, including 11 cases (15.9%) with torsades de pointes (TdP). Ten LQTS-associated pathogenic or pathogenic pathologic mutations were found in 53 cases among 69 children (76.8%). Children with cardiac events had a younger mean age of onset [(4.7±4.1) years vs.(7.4±3.7) years, t=-2.856, P=0.006], a longer mean corrected QT (QTc) [(529±66) ms vs.(478±52) ms, t=3.537, P=0.001] and a higher incidence of TdP (34.4% vs.0%, P<0.001) compared with those who did not have cardiac events.Pathogenic mutations of KCNQ1 and KCNH2 were more frequent in children with cardiac events (62.5% vs.18.9%, χ2=14.178, P=0.001). Conclusions:Children with LQTS are prone to cardiac events.Children with a younger onset age, a longer QTc duration, malignant ventricular tachycardia and mutations of the KCNQ1 and KCNH2 genes are more frequently complicated by cardiac events.

Objective:To investigate clinical electrophysiological characteristics of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in pediatric patients.Methods:A total of 328 consecutive pediatric patients with VAs and treated with RFCA in the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from January 2014 to December 2019 were recruited, involving 205 males and 123 females with the mean age of (7.8±3.9) years and the mean body weight of (32.8±17.7) kg.Their clinical electrophysiological characteristics, RFCA outcomes of different origins of VAs and complications were analyzed.Results:Among the 328 patients with the mean onset age of (5.4±4.1) years, 57.6% had frequent premature ventricular complex (PVC), 28.7% had paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia (VT) and 13.7% had incessant VT.A total of 38/328 cases (11.6%) VAs children were complicated with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.Except for 13 cases of non-induced VAs, among 315 cases there were 152/328 cases (46.4%) originated from the ventricular outflow tract (including 46.1% of the origination of the right ventricular outflow tract septum, 27.6% of the origination of the left coronary cusp, 18.4% of the origination of the right coronary cusp, and 7.9% of the origination of the right ventricular outflow tract free wall), 55/328 cases (16.5%) originated from the tricuspid valve, 54/328 cases (17.4%) originated from the left posterior fascicle, 39/328 cases (11.9%) originated from the left posterior papillary muscle, 5/328 cases (1.5%) originated from multi-origin VAs, 3/328 cases (0.9%) originated from the left anterior fascicle, and 7/328 cases (2.1%) originated from other origins.Among 307/328 cases (93.6%) VAs patients receiving RFCA, 271/307 cases (88.3%) were instantly successful, 14/307 cases (4.6%) were effectively treated and 22/307 cases (7.2%) were invalid.During the follow-up time of 3 to 36 months, there were 42/271 cases (15.5%) recurrent cases.The mean radiation time and dose were (3.2±5.8) min, and (1.4±2.6) mGy, respectively.The mean dose-area product (DAP) was (384.2±42.6) mGy·cm 2.A total of 4/328 cases (1.2%) reported perioperative vascular complication.In 20 infant patients younger than 3 years, only 1 case was not induced during procedure of RFCA, and the remaining 19 cases were performed with RFCA, including 18/19 cases (94.7%) with an instant success and 4/18 (22.2%) recurrent cases during follow-up.There were 1/20 case (5.0%) had perioperative vascular complication caused by vascular puncture.No serious complications, such as myocardial perforation, cardiac tamponade and atrioventricular block were reported. Conclusions:The right ventricular outflow tract septum is the most common origin of the idiopathic VAs in pediatric patients.VAs originated from the ventricular outflow tract and tricuspid valve usually have an acceptable outcome following ablation.The recurrent rate is high following ablation in VAs cases originated from the left ventricular fascicle and posterior papillary muscle.RFCA is safe and effective for drug resistant or intolerant VAs in infants, but the surgical indications should be strictly mastered and operated by experienced pediatric electrophysiologists.The radiation dose of RFCA can be limited in a safe range under the guidance of the 3-dimensional mapping system.