Objective To introduce the modeling method of pendulum-like modified rat abdominal heart heterotopic transplantation model and evaluate the quality of the model. Methods An operator without transplantation experience performed 15 consecutive models, recorded the time of each step, changes in body weight and modified Stanford scores, and calculated the surgical success rate, postoperative 1-week survival rate and technical success rate. Ultrasound examinations was performed in 1 week postoperatively. Results The times for donor heart acquisition, donor heart processing, recipient preparation and transplantation anastomosis were (14.3±1.4) min, (3.5±0.6) min, (13.6±2.1) min and (38.3±5.2) min respectively. The surgical success rate was 87% (13/15), and the survival rate 1 week after operative was 100% (13/13). The improved Stanford score indicated a technical success rate of 92% (12/13), and the postoperative 1-week ultrasound examination showed that grafts with Stanford scores ≥3 had detectable pulsation and blood flow signals. Conclusions The pendulum-like modified rat abdominal heart heterotopic transplantation improved model further optimizes the operational steps with a high success rate and stable quality, may be chosen as a modeling option for basic research in heart transplantation in the future.

Objective To introduce an innovative technique, the "balance-shaped sternal elevation device" and its application in the subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for anterior mediastinal masses resection. Methods Patients who underwent single-port thoracoscopic assisted anterior mediastinal tumor resection through the xiphoid process at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from May to June 2024 were included, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 7 patients were included, with 3 males and 4 females, aged 28-72 years. The diameter of the tumor was 1.9-17.0 cm. The operation time was 62-308 min, intraoperative blood loss was 5-100 mL, postoperative chest drainage tube retention time was 0-9 days, pain score on the 7th day after surgery was 0-2 points, and postoperative hospital stay was 3-12 days. All patients underwent successful and complete resection of the masses and thymus, with favorable postoperative recovery. Conclusion The "balance-shaped sternal elevation device" effectively expands the retrosternal space, providing surgeons with satisfactory surgical views and operating space. This technique significantly enhances the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive surgery for anterior mediastinal masses, reduces trauma and postoperative pain, and accelerates patient recovery, demonstrating important clinical significance and application value.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy for the treatment of thymoma through subxiphoid uniportal approach using double sternum retractors, and subxiphoid and subcostal arch approach. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of the patients diagnosed with thymoma who underwent VATS thymectomy from June 2023 to June 2024 in West China Hospital. Patients were categorized based on the surgical approach into two groups: a subxiphoid uniportal VATS thymectomy (SUVT) group and a subxiphoid and subcostal arch VATS thymectomy (SASAT) group. Comparisons were made between the two groups regarding surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, thymoma size and location, and postoperative pain assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results The SUVT group consisted of 20 patients, including 11 males and 9 females, with an average age of (51.5±14.3) years. The SASAT group comprised 40 patients, including 26 males and 14 females, with an average age of (50.0±13.0) years. Compared to the SASAT group, the SUVT group had significantly larger thymomas [ (5.9±2.7) cm vs. (4.2±2.1) cm, P=0.010] and a higher proportion of neoplasms located in the superior mediastinum (30.0% vs. 2.5%, P=0.007). Additionally, the VAS pain scores on postoperative days 3, 7, and 30 were significantly lower in the SUVT group compared to the SASAT group (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in demographic characteristics, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, duration and volume of postoperative drainage, length of postoperative hospital stay, or the VAS pain score on the first postoperative day. Conclusion SUVT using double sternum retractors significantly reduces postoperative pain and provides superior efficacy in the resection of larger thymomas or those situated in the superior mediastinum.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of total glucosides of paeony （TGP） on enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside （TWP） in the treatment of eczema. METHODS Totally 50 SD male rats were collected to establish eczema model by sensitizing with 2，4-dinitrofluorobenzene-acetone olive oil solution （volume ratio was 4∶1） on the abdominal area and provoking on the back and ear. Model rats were randomly divided into model group， loratadine group （0.9 mg/kg）， TWP group （9.45 mg/kg）， TGP group （162 mg/kg） and compatibility group （TWP 9.45 mg/kg+TGP 162 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Other 10 rats were collected to set as normal group. Three days after the first sensitization， administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically， and normal group and model group were given constant volume of 0.1% CMC-Na solution intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 21 d. Twenty-four hours later after the final administration， the general condition of rats in each group was observed， and the eczema area and severity index （EASI） were scored； ear swelling degree of rats was measured， and the skinhistomorphology observation and pathological score were performed； protein expressions of p38 mitogen-activated 13938427612@126.com protein kinase （p38 MAPK）， phosphorylated p38 MAPK （p- MAPK） and phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK in rat skin tissue were detected； the levels of inflammatory indexes （interleukin-4， interferon- γ）， liver and kidney function indexes [glutamic-pyruvic transaminase （GPT）， glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase （GOT）， serum creatinine （SCr） and blood urea nitrogen （BUN）] and oxidant stress indexes [total superoxide dismutase （T-SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA）] were measured. RESULTS Compared with normal group， EASI score， ear swelling degree， pathological score， protein expressions of p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK， phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK， the levels of inflammatory indexes and BUN were all increased significantly in model group （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， EASI scores， ear swelling degree， pathological scores， protein expressions of p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK， phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and levels of inflammatory indexes were all improved significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05）. The levels of GPT， GOT， SCr and BUN were increased significantly in TWP group， while the serum levels of GOT and SCr in TGP group and serum level of SCr in loratadine group were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. The levels of T-SOD in liver and kidney tissue were all decreased significantly in TWP group and compatibility group， while the levels of MDA were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. The compatibility group showed more obvious effect in improving the ear swelling degree， pathological score， p38 MAPK expression and its phosphorylation level and levels of inflammatory indexes， and could reverse the abnormality of liver and kidney indexes caused by TWP （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The combination of TGP and TWP has the effects of anti-inflammatory， synergistic and hepatorenal detoxification in eczema model rats. Its mechanism may be associated with down-regulating the expression of serum proinflammatory indexes and inhibiting the activation of p38 MAPK pathway.

OBJECTIVE To study the intervention effect of Bushen qiangshen tablet on polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） model rats and its mechanism . METHODS Totally 50 rats were given letrozole suspension （1 mg/kg，once a day ，for consecutive 21 d） instragastrically to induce PCOS model . Model rars were randomly divided into model group ，positive control group （Ethinylestradiol and cyproterone acetate tables 0.2 mg/kg+Metformin hydrochloride tables 230 mg/kg），Bushen qiangshen tablet low-dose，medium-dose and high -dose groups （189，378，756 mg/kg），with 10 rats in each group . Another 10 healthy rats were included in normal group . Each group was given the corresponding drugs ，once a day ，for consecutive 30 d. Twenty-four hours after the last administration ，serum levels of estrogen （E2），testosterone（T），gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH），follicle- stimulating hormone （FSH）and luteinizing hormone （LH）were measured . The ovary index was calculated ，and pathological changes of ovary were observed . The protein expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase（PI3K），phosphorylated protein kinase B （p- Akt），phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin （p-mTOR）and glucose transporter 4（GLUT4）in ovary were detected ，and mRNA expressions of PI 3K，Akt，mTOR and GLUT 4 in ovary were detected . RESULTS Compared with normal group ，ovarian index and ovarian cystic disease score were significantly increased in model group （P＜0.05），and serum levels of T ，GnRH and LH were significantly increased （P＜0.05）；serum levels of FSH and E 2，protein expressions of PI 3K，p-Akt，p-mTOR and GLUT4，and mRNA expression of PI 3K，AKT，mTOR and GLUT 4 in ovarian tissue were all significantly decreased in the model group （P＜0.05）；in ovarian tissue ，the number of atresia follicles and non -cumulus cystic follicles increased ，and the number of granulosa cell layers decreased . Compared with model group ， above indexes of Bushen qiangshen tablet medium-dose and high -dose g roups were reversed significantly 86550201。E-mail：mary868@163.com （P＜0.05），and most above indexes of low -dose group were reversed significantly （P＜0.05），the pathological changes of ovarian tissue were improved to varying degrees . CONCLUSIONS Bushen qiangshen tablet can regulate the secretion of sex hormones in PCOS model rats and improve ovarian cystic lesions . Its mechanism may be related to the upregulation of PI 3K/Akt/mTOR and PI 3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathways .

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Compound danshen tablet s o n improving the blood lipid levels and the mechanism of protecting renal functions in hyperlipidemia model rats. METHODS Sixty male SD rats were divided into normal group，model group ，simvastatin combined with （2S）-N-[N-（3，5-difluorophenylacetyl）-L-alanyl]-2-phenylglycine tert butyl （DAPT）group and low-dose ，medium-dose and high-dose groups of Compound danshen tablets ，with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group received routine diet. The other 5 groups were intraperitoneally injected with 75％ yolk emulsion 10 mL/kg， fasting and drinking freely. After 16 h，they were fed high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Simvastatin combined with DAPT group was given simvastatin 0.002 g/kg and DAPT 0.012 g/kg at the same time of modeling. The low-dose ，medium-dose and high-dose groups of Compound danshen tablets were given Compound danshen tablets 0.25，0.5 and 1 g/kg respectively at the same time of modeling ， the normal group and model group were given equal volume of distilled water ，once a day ，for 4 weeks. The serum levels of total cholesterol（TC），triglyceride（TG），creatinine（Cr）and urea nitrogen （BUN）in serum were detected by biochemical method ； kidney coefficient of rats was calculated ；histopathological changes of rat kidney were observed by HE staining ，and the renal injury was scored according to the degree of renal tubular injury and glomerular sclerosis in renal cortex ；expression levels of Notch signal receptor 1（Notch 1），Notch signal ligand 1（Jagged1）and hairy division associated enhancer 1（Hes1）in kidney were detected by immunohistochemistry ；mRNA expressions of Notch 1，Jagged1 and Hes 1 in renal tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Compared with normal group ，the serum levels of TG ， TC，Cr and BUN were increased significantly in model group （P＜0.05）；renal coefficient increased significantly （P＜0.05）； pathological changes occurred in renal tissue ，and the scores of renal tubular injury and glomerular sclerosis increased significantly （P＜0.05）；protein and mRNA expressions of Notch1， Jagged1， Hes1 in renal tissue were increased significantly（P＜0.05）. Compared with model group ，serum levels of TG ，TC，Cr and BUN ，renal coefficient ，the scores of renal tubular injury and glomerular sclerosis ，protein and mRNA expression of Notch 1，Jagged1 and Hes 1 in renal tissue were all decreased in low-dose ，medium-dose and high-dose groups of Compound danshen tablets （P＜0.05），and most indexes showed a dose-dependent trend ；the degree of renal lesions was reduced. CONCLUSIONS Compound danshen tablets possess obvious hypolipidemic effect ，and can protect the renal function of hyperlipidemia model rats by down-regulating Notch 1/Jagged1 signal pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in a rat model of AR after PM2.5 exposure.Methods:Sixty healthy female SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group (NC group), PM2.5 unexposed AR group (AR group), PM2.5 exposed AR group (ARE group), UA intervention AR group (AR+UA group), and UA intervention PM2.5 exposed AR group (ARE+UA group), with 12 rats in each group. AR model was performed by a basal sensitization with intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and followed by nasal instillation. PM2.5 exposure was carried out by inhalation exposure system at a concentration of 200 μg/m 3 for 3 h/d for 30 days. UA intervention group was given UA intragastric administration at 20 mg/(kg·d). AR symptoms including sneezing, nasal scratching and nasal secretion of rats in each group were observed. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in nasal mucosa were tested. The pathological changes of nasal mucosa were observed by HE staining. The levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-6 and IL-17 in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein microarray was used to measure the expression of multiple inflammation cell factors in nasal mucosa. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 20.0. Results:After UA intervention, the frequency of nasal sneezing, scratching and nasal secretion in ARE+UA group were lower than those of ARE group ( P<0.05). Pathological examination of nasal mucosa showed that ARE+UA group had less inflammatory granulocyte infiltration and less pathological damage to the epithelial layer than ARE group. The activities of SOD in nasal mucosa of ARE+UA group were higher than those of ARE group ((50.10±3.09) U/mg vs (20.13±1.30) U/mg, F value was 597.54, P<0.01). The contents of MDA in nasal mucosa of ARE+UA group were lower than those of ARE group ((57.78±12.36) nmol/g vs (124.12±9.40) nmol/g, F value was 115.51, P<0.01). The expression levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-6 and IL-17 proteins were lower in the ARE+UA group than those in ARE group ((11.61±0.27) ng/ml vs (20.30±0.67) ng/ml, (47.59±15.49) pg/ml vs (98.83±10.98) pg/ml, (623.30±8.75) pg/ml vs (913.32±9.06) pg/ml, F value was 283.42, 80.45, 683.73, respectively, all P<0.01). After UA intervention, protein microarray analysis showed that the expression of IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, chemokine CXCL7, IL-1α, IL-1β, MMP-8 and MCP-1 in ARE+UA group was decreased compared with ARE group while IFN-γ and IL-10 increased (all P<0.01). Conclusion:UA can reduce the aggravated AR symptoms and pathological damage of nasal mucosa, inhibit oxidative stress and release of inflammatory factors after PM2.5 exposure, and thus plays a protective role in the pathological damage of AR induced by PM2.5 exposure.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) featured by clonal proliferation of platelets, thrombosis and hemorrhage. Portal hypertension is a serious complication of ET associated with poor prognosis. We report a patient with ET complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and intestinal perforation due to portal hypertension. She had an uneventful recovery after surgical and endoscopic treatment.

Due to the influence of immunosuppression, nerve injury and other comprehensive factors, the overall incidence of gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation is relatively high, which can cause drug absorption disorder and chronic rejection. In recent years, more and more studies have been conducted on these complications. However, due to the great difference of the incidence of gastrointestinal complications among lung transplantation centers, clinicians lack of understanding of these. In this article, the general status, common types and risk factors of gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for comprehensive management of gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation.

Objective:To analyze clinical features of aortoesphageal fistula (AEF) patients with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.Methods:Five AEF patients with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage admitted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2016 January 1st to 2019 December 31st. The clinical data, endoscopic findings, radiological manifestations, treatment and clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among 5 patients, 4 were males, 1 was female with an average age of (58±8) years old. The underlying conditions were atherosclerosis ( n=4), hypertension ( n=3), hyperlipidemia ( n=1); 2 cases had aortic aneurysm stent implantation and 1 case of rheumatic heart disease had valve replacement. All 5 patients were complicated with hematemesis and hypovolemic shock, and 4 cases had sentinel hemorrhage. Contrast-enhanced CT or CT angiography of the aorta showed thicken esophageal wall, local esophageal discontinuity, aortic aneurysm, gas around the aortic stent and contrast agent spilling over. The gastroscopy showed esophageal depression lesions, deep ulcers, mucosal erosion with bleeding. Conservative therapy and endoscopic hemostasis failed, 2 patients died without surgical intervention; 3 patients underwent emergency surgeries, 2 survived and 1 died perioperatively. Conclusions:Aortoesophageal fistula is in lack of specific clinical manifestations but is highly in mortality. Therefore CT and gastrocopic examination should be performed for suspected patients, early diagnosis and surgical treatment are the key to save patients′ lives.