Objective:To compare the left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) between patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) stenosis.Methods:The data of patients who underwent TAVR procedure from March 2013 to December 2018 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into BAV group and TAV group according to cardiac computed tomography. Echocardiographic parameters, including aortic valve peak velocity (Vmax), mean gradient (PGmean), effective orifice area(EOA), interventricular septum diastolic thickness (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall diastolic thickness (LVPWd), left ventricular end diastolic diameter( LVEDd), LV mass index (LVMI), ΔLVMI%, left ventricular ejection fraction( LVEF) of the two groups at baseline, 1 week, 1 month and 1 year post TAVR procedure were obtained and compared.Results:①Compared with preoperative measurements, both groups showed decreases in Vmax, PGmean and increase in EOA at 1 week, 1 month, 1 year follow-ups(all P<0.05). No significant differences were found in Vmax, PGmean, EOA, moderate/sever perivalvular leakage(PVL), moderate/sever prosthetic-patient mismatch(PPM) between BAV group and TAV group at 1 year. ②Both groups showed decreases in IVSd, LVPWd, LVEDd at 1 month, 1 year post TAVR compared with those before the procedure (all P<0.05), as well as increases in LVEF at 1 week, 1 month, 1 year (all P<0.05). Downward trends of LVMI were detected in both groups within 1 year follow-up( P<0.05). ③Compared to TAV group, BAV group showed smaller baseline LVMI( P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in ΔLVMI% post TAVR for all follow-up times of the two groups(all P>0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance also showed no significant differences in downward trend of LVMI between the two groups after TAVR within 1 year( P>0.05). Conclusions:Left ventricular reverse remodeling can be detected in both BAV and TAV patients after TAVR, which starts from 1 week and can be lasted for 1 year post procedure. Patients with bicuspid morphology might experience similar reverse LV remodeling post TAVR versus patients with tricuspid morphology.

Objective:To explore the value of transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) guidance for transcatheter DragonFly? system edge-to-edge tricuspid regurgitation (TR) repair.Methods:Five cases who were chosen in the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from December 2020 to January 2021 with surgical high-risk and severe functional TR underwent transcatheter DragonFly edge-to-edge repair with the guidance of TEE. Preoperative TEE was used to evaluate the tricuspid valve anatomy and the origin and etiology of regurgitation in detail; intra-procedure guidance of TEE was performed during the DragonFly system for tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair intervention and after release of the DragonFly clip, the effect of surgery was assessed immediately and compared with pre-procedure TEE.Results:A total of 10 DragonFly clips were implanted in 5 patients (3 in each of patients, 2 in 1 patient, and 1 in each of patients). One of the 3 clips in 1 patient fell off unilaterally from the septal valve after release, and the other 9 clips were well positioned and fixed. Immediately post-operation assessment by TEE depicted the TR in 3 patients declined to mild and 2 to moderate. The vena contracta area by using three-dimensional color blood flow quantitative assessment was reduced[(0.93±0.26)cm 2 vs (0.20±0.11)cm 2]. No complications such as serious tricuspid valve injury, pericardial tamponade, thromboembolism occurred in the 5 patients. Conclusions:TEE plays an important role in guiding and monitoring transcatheter DragonFly system edge-to-edge TR repair during the entire procedure.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of a novel echocardiographic three-dimensional automated software for the assessment of the aortic root in candidates for transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR).Methods Four patterns(Lax,Lax-Res,Sax,Sax-Res) of 3D-TEE imaging of aortic root were gotten preoperatively in 18 patients with severe tricuspid aortic stenosis who were referred to our center for TAVR.The specialized 3D-TEE reconstruction software,eSie Valves,then automatically configured a geometric model of the aortic root from the images obtained by 3D-TEE and performed a quantitative analysis of these structures:the minimal diameter(Dmin),maximal diameter(Dmax),area and perimeter(Peri) of aortic annulus,height of the ostia of the left/right coronary artery above the aortic annulus(LOH/ROH).The echo dimensions were compared with the MDCT measurements.Results No statistically significant difference were found in above parameters between the ZOOM pattern (Sax-Res and Lax-Res) and CT measurements(all P>0.05).Lax-Res pattern measurements had good correlation with MDCT,with r valves of 0.81,0.77,0.89,0.84 for Lax-Res-Dmin,Lax-Res-Dmax,Lax-Res-Area,Lax-Res-Peri,respectively(all P<0.05).3D-TEE LOH/ROH had poor correlation with MDCT LOH/ROH (all r<0.7).Conclusions The new automatic 3D-TEE software allows modelling and quantifying the aortic annulus dimensions from 3D-TEE data in patients with tricuspid aortic valves,and Lax-Res pattern is recommended.Quantified assessment of LOH/ROH is not ideal and needs to be improved.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; Urinary Retention ; etiology ; therapy

Objective:To observe the thermesthesia thresholds of the heat-sensitive acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to provide scientific evidence for acupoint selection based on acupoint sensitization. Methods:Forty-six patients with KOA of swelling type were recruited. By using the quantitative thermesthesia testing, the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance at Xuehai (SP 10), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were detected. The subjects were then divided into heat-sensitive groups and non-heat-sensitive groups according to whether there was a phenomenon of heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation at each acupoint, to compare the thermesthesia thresholds between the two groups. Results: The thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance were respectively (38.21±2.03)℃ , (44.4,±1.8,)℃ and (48.,9±0.,4)℃ in the heat-sensitive group of Xuehai (SP 10), versus (3,.,,±1.93)℃ , (42.91±2.0,)℃ and (4,.9,±1.14)℃ in the non-heat-sensitive group of Xuehai (SP 10); the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance were respectively (3,.4,±1.,,)℃ , (44.,,±1.,3) , and (4,.48±0.4,) in the heat℃℃-sensitive group of Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), versus (3,.92±1.,9)℃ , (42.,2±1.94)℃ and (4,.,3±0.41)℃ in the non-heat-sensitive group of Neixiyan (EX-LE 4); the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance were respectively (3,.30±2.23)℃ , (44.39±1.92)℃ and (4,.,,±0.,8)℃ in the heat-sensitive group of Yinlingquan (SP 9), versus (3,.0,±1.8,)℃ , (42.,3±1.88)℃ and (4,.91±0.,2)℃ in the non-heat-sensitive group of Yinlingquan (SP 9). The statistical analyses showed that the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance of each heat-sensitive group (all the three acupoints) were significantly higher than those of each corresponding non-heat-sensitive group (P<0.01). Conclusion:There were differences in the thermesthesia thresholds between heat-sensitized and non-heat-sensitized acupoints in patients with KOA of swelling type; and the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance of the heat-sensitized points were significantly higher than those of the non-heat-sensitized ones.

Objective To explore the effects of nicorandil on cardiac function and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Method Sixty-six patients with AMI were randomized into a control group and nicorandil group (n = 33 for each group). In the nicorandil group, nicorandil (4 mg as a bolus injection followed by constant infusion at 8 mg/hour for 24 hours) was administered immediately after admission. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was assessed by measuring urinary excretion of 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and compared between the two groups; cardiac function and cardiac events were also compared. Results Urinary 8-epi-PGF2αexcretion was increased 2-fold at 60 to 90 minutes after PCI in the control group, whereas it was unchanged in the nicorandil group (P < 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac index immediately after PCI and at 6 months were greater in the nicorandil group than in the control group(P < 0.05). Rates of total inhospital cardiac events and rehospitalization were lower in the nicorandil group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Nicorandil improves cardiac function and clinical outcomes in patients with AMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Suppression of ROS formation may be involved in the potential mechanism.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Objective To comparative analysis the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)result and rate of sperm DNA in-tegrity (DNA fragmentation index,DFI)about testicular and epididymis sperm.Methods Totally 183 obstructed azoospermia pa-tients were choosed to use ICSI.80 cycles by PESA and 103 cycles by TESA,compared two groups of sperm DNA integrity rate and ICSI outcome.Results Sperm DNA integrity rate,fertilization rate,cleavage rate,good-qualityembryo rate and pregnancy rate com-pared with no difference by ICSI(P >0.05).Conclusion DNA integrity rate and ICSI outcomes of the testis and epididymis sperm have no significant differences,clinicians can be based on personal experiences or patients,wills to select sperm for ICSI.

Objective To observe the effect of Interferon-α2b on HEL cells (human erythroleukemia cell line) growth, apoptosis and JAK2 V617F mutation gene expression. Methods HEL cells were placed in RPMI1640 containing 10% FBS and incubated in a cell incubator. Cells in the logarithmic growth phasem were collected, adjusting the cell density to 1 × 105/mL for experimental research. The interferon concentration in five groups were 0, 5 × 105, 10 × 105, 50 × 105, 100 × 105 U/L, with different incubation time (0, 24, 72, 120 h), respectively. The cell growth status in different groups was observed in the inverted optical microscope; MTT was used to detect the inhibition of interferon on HEL cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the mutation gene of JAK2 V617F expression. Results Inhibition rates of Interferon on the HEL cell proliferation in 5 × 105 U/L, 10 × 105 U/L, 50 × 105 U/L, 100 × 105 U/L groups were 18.57%, 25.10%, 42.10%, 57.00%, respectively. JAK2 V617F/GAPDH by fluorescence quantitative was 1.556, 1.213, 0.870 respectively under the concentration of interferon 100 × 105 U/L for 24, 72, 120 h. Conclusions Interferon-α2b can inhibit HEL cells proliferation and induce HEL cells apoptosis. Increasing concentration of interferon increases HEL cell apoptosis rate. Interferon can inhibit JAK2 V617F expression of HEL cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective:This study aimed to achieve the early diagnosis and active treatment of adult hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) and investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of this syndrome. Methods:A single-center retrospective analysis was performed to analyze clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and survival data. Results:In 58 patients, the most common clinical manifestations were fever (100%) and splenomegaly (89.7%). The most common laboratory parameters were serum ferritin 500 g/L (100%) and peripheral cytopenia in two or more lineages (96.6%). platelet count, fibrinogen, and lactate dehydrogenase in the death group were significantly lower than in the survival group (P=0.000, 0.001, and 0.000). Survival analysis results showed that infections in the rheu-matological group exhibited good prognosis [the overall survival (OS) time was not reached in 190 d]. Patients with unexplained causes had moderate prognosis (OS time was 60 d);tumor-associated HPS patients had poor prognosis (the OS time was only 30 d). Univariate analysis results showed that patients with Fbg<1.5 g/L, PLT<40×109/L, and LDH≥2000 U/L also exhibited poor prognosis (P=0.000). Multivariate analysis results showed that PLT<40 × 109/L was an independent adverse factor (HR=6.472, 95%CI:1.526-26.065, P=0.011). Conclusion:HPS exhibits complex clinical manifestations and varied etiology. Patients with infection and rheumatism-related HPS had good prognosiss compared with those manifesting tumor-associated HPS. Fbg<1.5 g/L, PLT<40×109/L, and LDH≥2 000 U/L were the univariate factors that affected the survival time of patients. PLT<40×109/L is an independent adverse factor. These patients need systemic treatments as early as possible.