Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the degree of devascularization and clinical outcomes after interventional embolization and sclerotherapy for peripheral arteriovenous malformations.Method:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 37 patients with peripheral arteriovenous malformations admitted at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, China-Japan Friendship Hospital from July 2021 to June 2023. All patients received the treatment of "nidus" and/or outflow veins embolization combined with sclerotherapy injection. Two experienced physicians evaluated the degree of devascularization before and after treatment, and conducted a correlation study with clinical outcomes after follow-up.Result:All 37 patients were symptomatic. Swelling and pain accounted for 75.7% of all the cases. Twenty-six patients received only one procedure, 3 patients received re-interventional treatments. The average follow-up time was（13.3±5.0）months. Clinical symptoms were completely relieved in 14 patients, and partial relief in 22 patients. The overall effective rate was 97%. There were 6 patients with degree of de vascularization<50% during procedure, 16 patients with degree of 50%-75%, and 5 patients with degree of 75%-90%, 10 cases with degree over 90%. Patients with devascularization degrees less than 60% can not achieve clinical symptom relief.Conclusions:There is a positive correlation between the degree of devascularization and clinical outcomes in the interventional embolization and sclerotherapy of peripheral arteriovenous malformations, and 60% of the degree of devascularization can serve as the "threshold" for effectiveness of treatment.

Objective:To investigate the effect of carotid endarterectomy(CEA) in the treatment of symptomatic carotid artery near-occlusion(CNO).Methods:Clinical symptoms, imaging examination, treatment and prognosis of 122 symptomatic CNO patients admitted to China-Japan Friendship Hospital from Jan 2014 to Jan 2020 undergoing CEA were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the collapse condition,full collapse group(54 cases) and non-full collapse group(68 cases).Results:The difference was insignificant between the two groups at the 30-day and 12-month occurrence rate of primary endpoints(1.85% vs. 4.41%, P=0.629;7.41% vs. 4.41%, P=0.698).Postoperative re-stenosis occurred in one case in the non-full collapse group 8 months after CEA. Conclusions:CEA can achieve good curative effect for patients with CNO with recurrent symptoms, irrelevant to the existence of distal full collapse. The shunt can prevent intraoperative hypoperfusion and postoperative hyperperfusion.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of different carotid artery revascularization strategy in sychronous carotid and coronary artery revascularization.Methods:The clinical data of 53 patients receiving simultaneous carotid and coronary artery revascularization in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from Jan 2014 to Dec 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics, imaging examination, treatment and prognosis were collected and reviewed. Patients were divided into CEA group (42 cases) and CAS group (11 cases) according to the carotid artery revascularization method.Results:The mean operative time and blood loss of CEA group were (288.81±43.28) min and (419.05±127.33) ml, respectively. The mean operative time and blood loss of CAS group were (251.82±23.16) min and (318.18±98.16) ml, respectively. The difference of operative time and blood loss between the 2 groups were not significant (all P>0.05). Four minor strokes, 4 transient ischemic attacks (TIA), 2 pulmonary infections and 4 recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were observed in CEA group. Two TIA and 1 re-thoracotomy for hemostasis occurred in CAS group. Conclusions:Both carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting can achieve good clinical result in synchronous carotid and coronary artery revascularization procedure. The selection of proper carotid artery revascularization method should base on the lesion characteristic and surgeon's experience.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy at 1-year follow-up of the use of drug-coated balloon (DCB) for the treatment of femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis (ISR).Methods:This study enrolled 252 patients undergoing Orchid DCB angioplasty for peripheral arterial disease in the femoral-popliteal segment. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Forty-nine patients were eligible, including 29 (59.2%) chronic total occlusions belonging to TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus-Ⅱ(TASC Ⅱ) D, 7 (14.3%) thrombosis, and 14 (28.6%) moderate to severe calcifications. The mean lesion length was (215.9±97.1) mm. 69.4% were of occlusive lesions (Tosaka Ⅲ category). Only 1 provisional stent was implanted. 98% patients had severe claudication or even worse. Of these cases, 34 (73.9%) showed improvements in Rutherford category, while 11 (23.9%) did not change and 1 (2.2%) case deteriorated. The average value of ABI was 0.478±0.264 before surgery and 0.907±0.207 at the end of follow-up. The improvement in Rutherford category ( P<0.01) and ABI ( P<0.005) were both significant. The primary patency (PP) was 80.4%, and the freedom from clinically driven TLR was 84.8% at 1 year. During the follow-up period, there was no all-cause death and major limb amputation. Conclusion:This multicenter study demonstrated the effectiveness of DCB as a treatment for complicated and extensive ISR lesions within 12 months.

Objective:The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China.Methods:This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems.Results:According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%).Conclusion:Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of Ponseti method in treatment of secondary clubfoot in young children with Tethered Cord Syndrome(TCS).Methods:The clinical data of 53 young children with clubfeet treated with Ponseti method from March 2014 to March 2017 at Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were divided into TCS group and Idiopathic group according to the etiology. There were 19 patients (33 feet) in TCS group,with an mean age of 2.8 months(range:0.2 to 24.0 months), including 13 males and 6 females, 5 patients with unilateral clubfeet and 14 patients with bilateral clubfeet. There were 34 patients (45 feet) in idiopathic group, with an mean age of 3.1 months(range: 0.1 to 21.0 months), including 18 males and 16 females, 23 patients with unilateral clubfeet and 11 patients with bilateral clubfeet. All the children received casts correction according to Ponseti method, and were followed up at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months after the Achilles tendon tenotomy or the last cast correction. Complications were recorded and therapeutic effect was evaluated of these children by Dimeglio Scoring System and the International Clubfoot Study Group (ICFSG) at the last follow-up. Independent t test, Mann-Witney U test or χ 2 test were used to compare the indicators of the two groups. Results:The number of plaster fixation in TCS group was (6.1±2.0) times, and that of idiopathic group was (4.8±1.0) times( t=3.482, P<0.01).In TCS group, 22 feet treated with Achilles tendon transection and that of idiopathic group was 40 feet(χ 2=0.279, P=0.598). There were 18 cases recurrence in TCS group and 8 cases in Idiopathic group ( t=11.149, P<0.01). In TCS group, 16 cases (27 feet) completed the initial correction, the success rate was 60.6% (27/33), 3 cases (6 feet) could not correct the deformity after 9 to 10 times of plaster fixation, and then underwent soft tissue release.In idiopathic group, 34 cases (45 feet) achieved initial correction after Ponseti treatment(χ 2=6.488, P=0.011).At the last follow up, there were 5 cases (9 feet) in TCS group and 2 cases (2 feet) in idiopathic group underwent soft tissue release(χ 2=6.110, P=0.013). The classification grade of ICFSG score of the two groups without soft tissue release were (2.1±0.6) and (1.8±0.7), the difference was not statistically significant ( t=1.765, P=0.082). All the children had no skin ulceration, bedsores, skin allergy and other complications. Conclusion:Ponseti method is effective in the treatment of clubfoot secondary to TCS, and the functional recovery is similar to that of children with idiopathic clubfoot.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of Ponseti method in treatment of secondary clubfoot in young children with Tethered Cord Syndrome(TCS).Methods:The clinical data of 53 young children with clubfeet treated with Ponseti method from March 2014 to March 2017 at Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were divided into TCS group and Idiopathic group according to the etiology. There were 19 patients (33 feet) in TCS group,with an mean age of 2.8 months(range:0.2 to 24.0 months), including 13 males and 6 females, 5 patients with unilateral clubfeet and 14 patients with bilateral clubfeet. There were 34 patients (45 feet) in idiopathic group, with an mean age of 3.1 months(range: 0.1 to 21.0 months), including 18 males and 16 females, 23 patients with unilateral clubfeet and 11 patients with bilateral clubfeet. All the children received casts correction according to Ponseti method, and were followed up at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months after the Achilles tendon tenotomy or the last cast correction. Complications were recorded and therapeutic effect was evaluated of these children by Dimeglio Scoring System and the International Clubfoot Study Group (ICFSG) at the last follow-up. Independent t test, Mann-Witney U test or χ 2 test were used to compare the indicators of the two groups. Results:The number of plaster fixation in TCS group was (6.1±2.0) times, and that of idiopathic group was (4.8±1.0) times( t=3.482, P<0.01).In TCS group, 22 feet treated with Achilles tendon transection and that of idiopathic group was 40 feet(χ 2=0.279, P=0.598). There were 18 cases recurrence in TCS group and 8 cases in Idiopathic group ( t=11.149, P<0.01). In TCS group, 16 cases (27 feet) completed the initial correction, the success rate was 60.6% (27/33), 3 cases (6 feet) could not correct the deformity after 9 to 10 times of plaster fixation, and then underwent soft tissue release.In idiopathic group, 34 cases (45 feet) achieved initial correction after Ponseti treatment(χ 2=6.488, P=0.011).At the last follow up, there were 5 cases (9 feet) in TCS group and 2 cases (2 feet) in idiopathic group underwent soft tissue release(χ 2=6.110, P=0.013). The classification grade of ICFSG score of the two groups without soft tissue release were (2.1±0.6) and (1.8±0.7), the difference was not statistically significant ( t=1.765, P=0.082). All the children had no skin ulceration, bedsores, skin allergy and other complications. Conclusion:Ponseti method is effective in the treatment of clubfoot secondary to TCS, and the functional recovery is similar to that of children with idiopathic clubfoot.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of nutritional and fluid status measured by bioelectrical impedance methods for the prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Methods Patients with severe AKI received CRRT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2016 to September 2018 were enrolled, and divided into death group and survival group according to 28-day survival. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between 28-day survival and lean tissue index (LTI), fat tissue index (FTI), the ratio of extracellular water (ECW) and body cell mass (BCM) (ECW/BCM), and overhydration (OH), respectively. Results A total of 156 patients were included, including 101 males and 55 females. The age was (62.7 ± 15.4) years, with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of 9.9±3.9. The 28-day mortality rate was 46.2％. The pre-CRRT OH values in the 28-day survival group and death group were 2.95(1.80, 5.50) L and 4.20(2.95, 5.70) L(P=0.016), and ECW/BCM values were 1.00(0.76, 1.18) and 1.07(0.88, 1.25) (P=0.033), respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that pre-CRRT high OH values (HR=1.08, 95％CI 1.00-1.17, P=0.040) and high ECW/BCM values (HR=3.02, 95％CI 1.46-6.22, P=0.003) were associated with 28-day death. The changes of OH values (HR=0.83, 95％CI 0.72-0.95, P=0.008) and ECW/BCM values (HR=6.79, 95％CI 1.72-26.82, P=0.006) between pre - CRRT and the 7th day after CRRT initiation were significantly associated with 28-day mortality in patients who survived 7 days after CRRT initiation. After adjusting for age, gender, and SOFA scores, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the high OH value (HR=1.16, 95％CI 1.06-1.27, P=0.002) and the high ECW/BCM value (HR=2.80, 95％CI 1.30-6.06, P=0.003) before CRRT, the change of OH value (HR=0.82, 95％CI 0.72-0.95, P=0.008) and ECW/BCM value (HR=2.79, 95％CI 1.30-5.98, P=0.009) between the 7th day after CRRT initiation and pre-CRRT, were independently associated with 28-day death, while LTI (HR=0.93, 95％CI 0.86-1.02, P=0.113) and FTI (HR=0.98, 95％ CI 0.92-1.04, P=0.475) before CRRT were uncorrelated with 28-day death. Conclusions In bioelectrical impedance analysis, the high OH value and high ECW/BCM value before CRRT are associated with 28-day mortality in patients with AKI, while the nutritional indicators LTI and FTI before CRRT are not significantly related. The correction of fluid overload by CRRT within 7 days may reduce the risk of 28-day mortality.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is a genetic cardiac muscle disease that accounts for approximately 30% sudden cardiac death in young adults. The Ser358Leu mutation of transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43) was commonly identified in the patients of highly lethal and fully penetrant ARVD subtype, ARVD5. Here, we generated TMEM43 S358L mouse to explore the underlying mechanism. This mouse strain showed the classic pathologies of ARVD patients, including structural abnormalities and cardiac fibrofatty. TMEM43 S358L mutation led to hyper-activated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in heart tissues and primary cardiomyocyte cells. Importantly, this hyper activation of NF-κB directly drove the expression of pro-fibrotic gene, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ1), and enhanced downstream signal, indicating that TMEM43 S358L mutation up-regulates NF-κB-TGFβ signal cascade during ARVD cardiac fibrosis. Our study partially reveals the regulatory mechanism of ARVD development.