A rare morphology of the cardiac fibroma in a child: a case report.

Here we report a rare morphology of a cardiac fibroma in a child. A 2-year and 8-month-old toddler came for "chronic constipation" and was found to have a heart murmur on cardiac auscultation. Further transthoracic echocardiography suggested "a strong echogenic mass in the left ventricular wall, with some part of "a string of beads" in shape extending into left ventricle outflow tract", which was atypical for either a tumor, thrombus or vegetation. The child underwent resection of the mass and mitral valvuloplasty. Pathological examination confirmed the mass as a cardiac fibroma.

Comparison between the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and right ventricular outflow tract stent in the palliative treatment for tetralogy of Fallot. / 改良Blalock-Taussigåˆ†æµæœ¯ä¸Žå³å¿ƒå®¤æµå‡ºé“æ”¯æž¶æ¤å ¥æœ¯å§‘æ¯æ€§æ²»ç–—æ³•æ´›å››è”ç—‡çš„æ¯”è¾ƒ.

OBJECTIVES: For patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) who are not suitable candidates for primary corrective surgery or have a high surgical risk, transcatheter right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stent implantation is considered a safe and effective palliative intervention. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic outcomes of RVOT stent implantation in neonates and infants with TOF in comparison with the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (mBTS) and to compare the impact of the 2 palliative interventions on arterial oxygen saturation and pulmonary artery development in pediatric patients. METHODS: Clinical data of 32 patients with TOF admitted to the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from March 2011 to March 2021 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into an mBTS group (undergoing mBTS, n=15) and a stent implantation group (undergoing RVOT stenting, n=17) according to the surgical procedures. The 2 groups were assessed and compared in the surgical-related arterial oxygen saturation, postoperative complication rate, mortality rate, and re-intervention rate. The development of the patients' main pulmonary artery, right pulmonary artery, and left pulmonary artery was assessed by z-scores according to echocardiographic results. RESULTS: The children in the stent implantation group were younger and less weighed compared with the mBTS group (both P<0.05). Compared with the preoperative period, children in the stent implantation group had significantly higher arterial oxygen saturation [(75±17)% vs (96±3)%, P=0.026]; z-scores of pulmonary trunk [(-2.82±1.27) points vs (0.86±0.77) points, P=0.014], right pulmonary artery [(-1.88±0.59) points vs (-0.28±0.71) points, P=0.011], and left pulmonary artery [(-2.34±0.36) points vs (-1.67±0.36) points, P=0.036] were significantly increased. However, there were no significant differences in arterial oxygen saturation and pulmonary artery z-scores between pre- and post-mBTS procedures (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RVOT stent would have good surgical outcomes used in TOF patients with low weight and severe comorbidities. It also leads to an higher postoperative oxygen saturation and better promotion of pulmonary artery growth with RVOT stent compared to mBTS.

Comprehensive Analysis for Predicting Prognoses and Immune Responses of m6A-Related lncRNAs in Women with Lung Adenocarcinoma.

During the past decade, the average 5-year survival rate of patients with Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has remained < 20%, although the targeted therapies and novel immunotherapy approaches have held promise. Epigenetic modifications could provide prognostic value as molecular biomarkers, and we aimed to identify the independent risk of m6A-related lncRNAs to establish a risk model for the clinical prediction of prognoses in women with LUAD. In this study, we first assessed 31 N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-related lncRNAs associated with overall survival. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of the oncogenic driver and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in two female LUAD subtypes (clusters 1 and 2) using consensus clustering. We also found 16 m6A-related lncRNAs as the independent prognostic indicator of women with LUAD and established a risk model developed from these lncRNAs. We comprehensively investigated the correlation between the TIME and m6A-related lncRNA and found that m6A-related lncRNA may significantly affect the immune cell infiltration level in LUAD. In conclusion, our study provides evidence on the prognostic prediction in women with LUAD and may help elucidate the processes and mechanisms of m6A-regulated lncRNAs.

Right ventricular outflow tract stenting promotes pulmonary artery development in tetralogy of fallot.

Background: Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting seems to be suggested as a promising treatment option and an alternative to modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (mBTS) in the initial palliation of patients with Fallot-type lesions in recent years. This study sought to assess the effect of RVOT stenting on the growth of the pulmonary artery (PA) in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Methods: Retrospective review analyzing 5 patients with Fallot-type congenital heart disease with small pulmonary arteries who underwent palliative with RVOT stenting and 9 patients underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunt within 9 years period. Differential left PA (LPA) and right PA (RPA) growth was measured by Cardiovascular Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA). Results: RVOT stenting improved arterial oxygen saturation from median of 60% (interquartile range [IQR]: 37% to 79%) to 95% (87.5% to 97.5%) (p = 0.028). The LPA diameter Z-score improved from -2.843 (-3.51-2.037) to -0.78 (-2.3305-0.19) (p = 0.03), the RPA diameter Z-score improved from median -2.843 (-3.51-2.037) to -0.477 (-1.1145-0.459) (p = 0.002), the Mc Goon ratio increased from median 1 (0.8-1.105) to 1.32 (1.25-1.98) (p = 0.017). There were no procedural complications and all 5 patients have undergone final repair in the RVOT stent group. In the mBTS group, the LPA diameter Z-score improved from -1.494 (-2.242-0.6135) to -0.396 (-1.488-1.228) (p = 0.15), the RPA diameter Z-score improved from median -1.328 (-2.036-0.838) to 0.088 (-0.486-1.223) (p = 0.007), and there were 5 patients occur different complications and 4 patients was not attained the standards of final surgical repair. Conclusion: RVOT stenting, compared with mBTS, seems to better promote pulmonary artery growth, improve arterial oxygen saturations, and have less procedure complications in patients with TOF who being absolute contraindicated for primary repair due to high risks.

A proteomics analysis of neointima formation on decellularized vascular grafts reveals regenerative alterations in protein signature running head: Proteomics analysis of neointima formation.

Background: Neointima formation contributes to vascular grafts stenosis and thrombosis. It is a complex reaction that plays a significant role in the performance of vascular grafts. Despite its critical implications, little is known about the mechanisms underlying neointima formation. This study compares neointima proteome in different stages and plasma samples. Methods: Heterogenous acellular native arteries were implanted as abdominal aortic interposition grafts in a rabbit model. Grafts were harvested at 0.5, 1, 4, 6, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-surgery for histological and proteomic analysis of the neointima. Results: Histological examination showed a transformed morphological pattern and components, including serum proteins, inflammatory cells, and regenerative cells. Proteomics analysis of the neointima showed distinct characteristics after 14 days of implantation compared to early implantation. Early changes in the neointima samples were proteins involved in acute inflammation and thrombosis, followed by the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. A total of 110 proteins were found to be differentially expressed in later samples of neointima compared to early controls. The enriched pathways were mainly protein digestion and adsorption, focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and ECM-receptor interaction in the late stage. All distributions of proteins in the neointima are different compared to plasma. Conclusion: The biological processes of neointima formation at different stages identified with proteome found developmental characteristics of vascular structure on a decellularized small vascular graft, and significant differences were identified by proteomics in the neointima of early-stage and late-stage after implantation. In the acute unstable phase, the loose and uniform neointima was mainly composed of plasma proteins and inflammatory cells. However, in the relatively stable later stage, the most notable results were an up-regulation of ECM components. The present study demonstrates an interaction between biological matter and vascular graft, provides insights into biological process changes of neointima and facilitates the construction of a functional bioengineered small vascular graft for future clinical applications.

Identification by genetic algorithm optimized back propagation artificial neural network and validation of a four-gene signature for diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Background: Although some improvements in the management of pancreatic cancer (PC) have been made, no major breakthroughs in terms of biomarker discovery or effective treatment have emerged. Here, we applied artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods to develop a model to diagnose PC and predict survival outcome. Methods: Multiple bioinformatics methods, including Limma Package, were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PC. A Back Propagation (BP) model was constructed, followed by Genetic Algorithm (GA) filtering and verification of its prognosis capacity in the TCGA cohort. Furthermore, we validated the protein expression of the selected DEGs in 92 clinical PC tissues using immunohistochemistry. Finally, intro studies were performed to assess the function of SLC6A14 and SPOCK1 on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells proliferation and apoptosis. Results: Four candidate genes (LCN2, SLC6A14, SPOCK1, and VCAN) were selected to establish a four-gene signature for PC. The gene signature was validated in the TCGA PC cohort, and found to show satisfactory discrimination and prognostic power. Areas under the curve (AUC) values of overall survival were both greater than 0.60 in the TCGA training cohort, test cohort, and the entire cohort. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that high-risk group had a significantly shorter overall survival and disease-free survival than the low-risk group. Further, the elevated expression of SLC6A14 and SPOCK1 in PC tissues was validated in the TCGA + GETx datasets and 92 clinical PC tissues, and was significantly associated with poor survival in PC. In PDAC cell line, SLC6A14 or SPOCK1 knockdown inhibited cells proliferation, migration and promoted cells apoptosis. Conclusions: Using Limma Package and GA-ANN, we developed and validated a diagnostic and prognostic gene signature that yielded excellent predictive capacity for PC patients' survival. In vitro studies were further conducted to verify the functions of SLC6A14 and SPOCK1 in PC progression.

Comparison of biodegradable and durable polymer drug-eluting stents in acute coronary syndrome: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and effectiveness between biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) and durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were considered the primary endpoint. Efficacy endpoints included target vessel revascularisation (TVR) and target lesion revascularisation (TLR). Safety endpoints included all-cause death, cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis (ST). METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials for comparative studies of BP-DES and DP-DES in patients with ACS from January 2000 to July 2021. Statistical pooling was performed to estimate incidence using a random-effects model with generic inverse-variance weighting. Risk estimates were computed with 95% CIs. RESULTS: Eight articles with seven RCTs that compared BP-DES and DP-DES in patients with ACS were identified and included in the qualitative and quantitative analyses. There was no difference in the baseline characteristics, except for the number of smoking patients (OR: 1.13, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.24; p=0.008, I2=29%), which was significantly lower in the BP-DES group. The meta-analysis demonstrated that MACEs, efficacy endpoints and safety endpoints were similar between the groups at 1 year. However, the incidence of total ST was significantly different between the BP-DES and DP-DES groups in the follow-up period (p=0.0001). Further analysis showed a statistically significant difference in MACEs (OR: 0.71, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.88; p=0.002, I2=0 %), TLR (OR: 0.71, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.01; p=0.05, I2=0%), TVR (OR: 0.70, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.94; p=0.002, I2=15%), total ST incidence (OR: 0.59, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.77; p=0.0001, I2=48%) and ST incidence (OR: 0.63, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.85; p=0.002, I2=0%) over 2 years. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis revealed that both stent types demonstrated excellent safety and efficacy profiles at 12 months. However, a slight increase in MACEs, TLR, TVR and ST incidence was observed in the DP-DES group over the 2-year follow-up period, suggesting that BP-DES may be more favourable when treating patients with ACS. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00389220.

Clinical factors affecting the early postoperative prognosis of infants suffering surgery for congenital heart diseases: A single-center experience of 511 patients. / å°å©´å„¿å ˆå¤©æ€§å¿ƒè„ç— æ‰‹æœ¯æ—©æœŸé¢„åŽçš„ç›¸å ³å› ç´ ï¼šå•ä¸­å¿ƒ511例经验总结.

OBJECTIVES: The integrated model of prenatal diagnosis and postnatal treatment for congenital heart disease (CHD) leads to an increasing number of operation in infants. This study aims to reveal the risk factors for postoperative early mortality and delayed recovery in infants less than 3 months old, who underwent surgical treatment for CHD in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University during the past 5 years. METHODS: Clinical variables were collected via medical records. Delayed recovery was defined as the time of postoperative intubation, or cardiac intensive cure unit (CICU) stay, or hospital stay longer than its third quartile. Risk factors for early postoperative prognosis and the odds ratio (OR) were analyzed with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 511 infants underwent surgical treatment for CHD from January 2016 to June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed, including 217 (42.5%) infants with complex CHD. The median age was 60 days (3 hours-90 days); and median weight was 4.5 (1.7- 8.4 kg). There were 26 postoperative mortalities, making the incidence at 5.1%, including 5 (5/294, 0.7%) mortalities in patients with uncomplicated CHD, and 21 (9.6%) mortalities in patients with complex CHD. Based on multivariable analysis, risk factors for postoperative mortality were diagnosis of complex CHD (OR=5.53, P<0.001), weight under 4.0 kg (OR=9.86, P<0.001), preoperative symptoms (OR=3.17, P=0.012), and emergency operation (OR=11.66, P<0.001). The median time for postoperative intubation, CICU stay, and hospital stay were 21.0 (0.3-979.0) hours, 3.0 (0.5-91.0) days, and 11.5 (3.0-105.0) days, respectively. A total of 177 (34.6%) infants delayed recover, with risk factors including diagnosis of complex CHD (OR=3.41, P=0.001), weight under 4.0 kg (OR=4.55, P<0.001), and preoperative symptoms (OR=3.91, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment for infants (<3 months) with CHD is still a challenge, particularly for infants with complex CHD and weight under 4.0 kg. We can improve the prognosis of CHD treatment in infants by establishing the integrated model of prenatal diagnosis and postnatal treatment to choose the most suitable time window, avoid symptoms before surgery, and reduce emergency operation.

Hand-sewn expanded polytetrafluoroethylene valved conduit for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. / 手工缝制的膨体聚四氟乙烯带瓣管道在右室流出道重建中的应用.

OBJECTIVES: Due to the lack of large-sized pulmonary valved conduit products in clinical practice, hand-sewn expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) valved conduit has been used for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction in many heart centers around the world. This study aims to summarize the early results of the ePTFE valved conduit and the sewing technology of the conduit in combination with the latest progress, and to provide a reference for the application of ePTFE valved conduit. METHODS: A total of 21 patients using ePTFE valved conduit for RVOT reconstruction in the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from October 2018 to October 2020 were prospectively enrolled in this study. The age at the implantation of the conduit was 4.3 to 43.8 (median 15.1) years old, with weight of (38.9±4.1) kg. In this cohort, 14 patients underwent re-reconstruction of RVOT, including 12 patients with pulmonary regurgitation at 6.3 to 31.0 (median 13.8) years after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair, and 2 patients with failed bovine jugular vein conduit (BJVC). Seven patients underwent Ross operations. Among them, 3 were for aortic valve stenosis, 2 were for aortic regurgitation, and 2 were for both stenosis and regurgitation. The ePTFE valved conduits were standard hand-sewn during the surgery. The 3 leaflets were equal in size with arc-shaped lower edge of the valve sinus. The free edge of the valve leaflets was straight with the length of about 1 mm longer than the diameter. The height of the valve sinus was 4/5 of the diameter. The junction of the valve leaflet was 3/4 of the height of the sinus. The designed leaflets were then continuous non-penetrating sutured into the inner surface of Gore-Tex vessel to make a valved conduit. Valved conduits with diameter of 18, 20, and 22 mm were used in 2, 9, and 10 cases, respectively. The surgical results, postoperative recovery time, and serious complications were summarized, and the changes of postoperative cardiac function status and hemodynamic status of the conduits were investigated. RESULTS: During the implantation of ePTFE valved conduit for RVOT reconstruction, 2 patients underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement with Ross operation, 2 patients with pulmonary regurgitation with repaired TOF underwent left and right pulmonary artery angioplasty, and 1 patient with failed BJVC underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty. The cardiopulmonary bypassing time for patients underwent re-reconstruction of RVOT was (130.9±16.9) min, with aorta clamping for 1 patient to repair the residual defect of the ventricular septum. The cardiopulmonary bypassing and aorta clamping time for Ross operation were (242.7±20.6) min and (145.6±10.5) min, respectively. The duration of postoperative ventilator assistance, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay were 3.5 h to 7.7 d (median 17.1 h),11.2 h to 29.5 d (median 1.9 d), and 6.0 to 56.0 (median 13.0) d, respectively. All patients survived after discharge from hospital. The follow-up rate after discharge was 100% with median time at 15.0 (13.0 to 39.0) months. No death happened during the follow-up. One patient underwent stent implantation due to right coronary stenosis 2 months after Ross operation. One patient underwent balloon dilation due to right pulmonary artery ostium stenosis 1 year after re-reconstruction of RVOT. The cardiac function of all patients recovered to NYHA class I 6 months after operation. The peak pressure gradient across the valve measured by transthoracic echocardiography before discharge was (9.4±2.6) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and (18.3±6.1) mmHg at the last follow-up. There was no significant increase in the gradient during the follow-up (P=0.134). No patient suffered from mild or more pulmonary regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: Hand-sewn ePTFE valved conduit is feasible for RVOT reconstruction. It is a promising material for RVOT reconstruction which can effectively meet clinical need. In our experience, the ePTFE valved conduit is simple to manufacture with satisfactory early outcomes.In the application of ePTFE valved conduit, attention should be paid to implantation indications and postoperative anticoagulation management, especially to the preparation details of the valved conduit, to obtain better function and durability of the conduit after implantation.

Photooxidation and Pentagalloyl Glucose Cross-Linking Improves the Performance of Decellularized Small-Diameter Vascular Xenograft In Vivo.

Small-diameter vascular grafts have a significant need in peripheral vascular surgery and procedures of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG); however, autografts are not always available, synthetic grafts perform poorly, and allografts and xenografts dilate, calcify, and induce inflammation after implantation. We hypothesized that cross-linking of decellularized xenogeneic vascular grafts would improve the mechanical properties and biocompatibility and reduce inflammation, degradation, and calcification in vivo. To test this hypothesis, the bovine internal mammary artery (BIMA) was decellularized by detergents and ribozymes with sonication and perfusion. Photooxidation and pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) were used to cross-link the collagen and elastin fibers of decellularized xenografts. Modified grafts' characteristics and biocompatibility were studied in vitro and in vivo; the grafts were implanted as transposition grafts in the subcutaneous of rats and the abdominal aorta of rabbits. The decellularized grafts were cross-linked by photooxidation and PGG, which improved the grafts' biomechanical properties and biocompatibility, prevented elastic fibers from early degradation, and reduced inflammation and calcification in vivo. Short-term aortic implants in the rabbits showed collagen regeneration and differentiation of host smooth muscle cells. No occlusion and stenosis occurred due to remodeling and stabilization of the neointima. A good patency rate (100%) was maintained. Notably, implantation of non-treated grafts exhibited marked thrombosis, an inflammatory response, calcification, and elastin degeneration. Thus, photooxidation and PGG cross-linking are potential tools for improving grafts' biological performance within decellularized small-diameter vascular xenografts.

Surgery for Primary Cardiac Tumors in Children: Successful Management of Large Fibromas.

Background: Pediatric primary cardiac tumors (PCTs) are rare. Its clinical features and prognoses are not well defined. The management of asymptomatic patients with cardiac fibromas remains controversial. Objective: We aimed to examine our experience in surgical resection of pediatric PCT, with specific focuses on the management of large fibromas. Methods: This study included all the children who underwent surgical resection of PCT in our institution between December 2008 and June 2021. The last follow-up was performed between June 1st and August 26th, 2021. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the postoperative survival, freedom from reoperation, event-free survival, and also related risk factors. The tumor volume and volume index (volume divided by body surface area) were measured for cardiac fibromas. Results: Of the 39 patients with median operative age of 9.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 1.2-16.5] years, 35 (89.7%) had benign tumors (fibromas for 15, myxomas for 13, and others for 7). The length and volume of fibromas were independent of age and symptoms (Ps > 0.05). The fibroma volume index was negatively correlated with age (P = 0.039), with a mean value of 105 ± 70 ml/m2. Of the 15 patients with fibromas, 5 were asymptomatic, 4 received partial resection, 4 required transmural resection, and 4 presented postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction <50%). During the median follow-up period of 3.1 years and maximum of 12.5 years, adverse events included 2 early and 1 late death, 4 reoperations, 4 tumor recurrences, and 1 LV dysfunction lasting over one year. The 8-year survival, freedom from reoperation, and event-free survival rates were 90.4, 81.8, and 64.2%, respectively. Malignant tumor (P < 0.001) was associated with more adverse events. Transmural resection (P = 0.022) and larger tumor volume index than LV end-diastolic volume (P = 0.046) were risk factors for LV dysfunction following fibromas resection. Conclusion: Pediatric surgery for PCT can be performed with low mortalities and few adverse events. The size of cardiac fibroma in children relatively decreases with the increase of age. Larger tumor volume index than LV end-diastolic volume index and transmural tumor resection predicts postoperative LV dysfunction.

Development of a novel prognostic nomogram for the early recurrence of liver cancer after curative hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant cancers worldwide. Curative resection is an effective treatment but HCC recurrence rates remain high. This study aimed to establish a novel prognostic nomogram to assess the risk of recurrence in patients following curative resection. METHODS: A total of 410 patients undergoing HCC curative resection were recruited from the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (GDPH). The cohort was divided into a training group (n=291) and a validation group (n=97). The risk factors for HCC early recurrence within 1 year of curative hepatectomy were identified. Finally, a multivariate prognostic nomogram was developed and validated. RESULTS: Age, tumor number, tumor capsule, portal vein tumor thrombi, pathological grade, vascular tumor emboli, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and tumor size were identified as independent prognostic risk factors for HCC early recurrence within 1 year of curative hepatectomy. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 0.806 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.755 to 0.857; P<0.001], and no AUC/ROC statistical difference was detected between the training and validation sets. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram effectively predicted postoperative HCC recurrence within 1 year after curative hepatectomy, which may be a useful tool for the postoperative treatment or follow up for HCC patients.

circRPS16 Promotes Proliferation and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Sponging miR-876-5p to Upregulate SPINK1.

The roles of serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) in multiple types of cancers have been significantly documented. However, its specific roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain to be investigated. This study found that SPINK1 is upregulated in HCC and its upregulation correlates with poor prognosis. Besides, functional assays revealed that SPINK1 promotes cell proliferation, cell cycle, and invasion in vitro. Through bioinformatics analysis, we speculate that circRPS16 regulates SPINK1 expression by sponging miR-876-5p. This was further verified by the dual-luciferase reporter and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assays. Subsequently, rescue assays verified that circRPS16 promotes cell proliferation, cell cycle, and invasion through miR-876-5p. Importantly, silencing circRPS16 inhibited tumor growth by downregulating SPINK1 expression in vivo. Collectively, our results confirm that SPINK1 is a downstream target of circRPS16. Besides, circRPS16 and SPINK1 are oncogenic factors in HCC progression; they provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for HCC patients.

Conduits for Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction in Infants and Young Children.

Purpose of Review: Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction remains a challenge due to the lack of an ideal conduit. Data and experience are accumulating with each passing day. Therefore, it is necessary to review this topic from time to time. This is a 2021 update review focused on the history, evolution, and current situation of small-sized conduits (≤ 16 mm) for RVOT reconstruction in infants and young children. Recent Findings: Currently, the available small-sized (≤16 mm) conduits can meet most clinical needs. Homograft is still a reliable choice for infants and young children validated by a half-century clinical experience. As an alternative material, bovine jugular vein conduit (BJVC) has at least comparable durability with that of homograft. The performance of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is amazing in RVOT position according to limited published data. The past century has witnessed much progress in the materials for RVOT reconstruction. However, lack of growth potential is the dilemma for small-sized conduits. Tissue-engineering based on cell-free scaffolds is the most promising technology to obtain the ideal conduit. Summary: No conduit has proved to have lifelong durability in RVOT position. We are far from the ideal, but we are not in a state of emergency. In-depth clinical research as well as innovation in material science are needed to help improve the durability of the conduits used in infants and young children.

Case Report: Isolate Congenital Coronary Artery Fistula With Giant Artery Aneurysm in a Neonate.

A rare case of neonatal congenital coronary artery, right ventricle fistula with giant coronary artery aneurysm formation, was reported. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated the dilated and tortuous tunnel arising from the right aortic sinus and traversing the epicardial surface before opening into the anterolateral aspect of the RV. Successful surgical repair was performed with a patch closure of the fistula and coronary angioplasty. The postoperative recovery was uneventful. Our experience of this rare congenital heart disease demonstrated that early surgical repair of coronary artery fistula and coronary angioplasty in the neonate can be performed safely. Further study is needed to seek the basis on this.

Erratum: Macrophages activating chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8/miR-17 cluster modulate hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis.

[This corrects the article on p. 2403 in vol. 9, PMID: 28559990.].

Pulmonary Vein Index Is Associated With Early Prognosis of Surgical Treatment for Tetralogy of Fallot.

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive value of the pulmonary vein index (PVI) in the early prognosis of patients who received total tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 286 patients who underwent TOF repair in our institution between July 2013 and May 2020. The PVI, McGoon ratio, and Nakata index were measured and calculated. Logistic regression, linear stepwise regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and Cox proportional hazards modeling were performed to evaluate the predictive value of PVI in the early prognosis after TOF repair surgery. Results: The median age and body weight were 1.23 (0.22-15.02) years and 9.00 (3.00-44.00) kg, respectively. There were five early deaths. The areas under the ROC curve for death were 0.89, 0.79, and 0.88 for the McGoon ratio, Nakata index, and PVI, respectively. A lower PVI better predicted prolonged postoperative hospital stay, cardiac intensive care unit stay, and ventilator time (Hazard Ratio, HR [95% Confidence intervals, CI]: 1.003 [1.002-1.004], p < 0.001; 1.002 [1.001-1.004], p < 0.001; 1.002 [1.001-1.003], p < 0.001, respectively) and was a significant risk factor for high 24 h max Vasoactive inotropic score (Crude Odds Ratio [OR] [95% CI]: -0.015 [-0.022, -0.007], p < 0.001), serous effusion (Crude OR [95% CI]: 0.996 [0.992-0.999], p = 0.020), delayed sternal closure (Crude OR [95% CI]: 0.983 [0.971-0.996], p = 0.010), and the need for peritoneal dialysis (Crude OR [95% CI]: 0.988 [0.980-0.996], p = 0.005). The area under the ROC curve of PVI for delayed postoperative recovery was 0.722 (p < 0.001), and the estimated cutoff point was 300.3 mm2/m2. Conclusion: PVI is a good predictor of early prognosis for surgical treatment of TOF patients.

Long-term outcomes of mitral valve replacement in patients weighing less than 10 kg.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of mitral valve replacement (MVR) in pediatrics especially in the patients weighing less than 10 kg are not always favorable. This study aimed to measure long-term outcomes of MVR in our institution. METHODS: Nine young children weighing less than 10 kg underwent MVR with mechanical prostheses were enrolled in this retrospectively study. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used for the prediction of freedom from death and adverse events. Chi-square test was performed to compare outcomes for patients with different ratios of mechanical prosthesis size and body weight. Fourteen related literatures were also reviewed to support our study. RESULTS: All patients received bileaflet mechanical prostheses replacement. The surgical technique varied among the patients with prostheses implanted in the intra-annular (n = 5), supra-annular (n = 1), or with a Dacron conduit segment in the supra-annular position (n = 3). The valve size/weight ratio ranged from 2.11 to 5.00. There were two early death and one late death post-operation. The mean follow-up period was 80.67 ± 63.37 months, the transvalvular gradient was 10.5 ± 1.76 mmHg (range 8 to 12) and the peak gradient of LVOT was 5.00 ± 0.64 mmHg. One (11.1%) patient underwent an immediate revision MVR after initial MVR due to the periprosthetic leak. No patients required surgical reintervention or permanent pacemaker placement during long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The tailored surgical strategy utilized for MVR in infants resulted in reliable valve function and excellent survival. Although revision is inevitable due to somatic growth, the bileaflet mechanical prostheses displayed appropriate durability.

Comparison of Transcatheter Mitral-Valve Repair and Surgical Mitral-Valve Repair in Elderly Patients with Mitral Regurgitation.

PURPOSE: To summarize comparative studies of MitraClip versus surgical repair in typical, real-world elderly patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and analyze the safety and effectiveness of these therapeutic options. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL) were searched for comparative studies of transcatheter mitral-valve repair (TMVR) versus surgical mitral-valve repair (SMVR) in elderly patients with severe MR from January 2000 to June 2020. Statistical pooling for incidence estimates was performed according to a random-effects model with generic inverse-variance weighting, computing risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 14 reports comparing MitraClip with SMVR, enrolling 3355 patients with severe MR, were included in this study. Mean age, Logistic EuroSCORE, and incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) were significantly higher in the MitraClip group, except the rate of patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class of >II and mean value of ejection fraction (EF). The arithmetic mean of freedom from acute mobility was similar. The 2 groups had equal all-cause mortality at 30 days, but different at 1 year (14% versus 9%) and 3 years in 7 studies (37% versus 25%). The freedom from recurrent MR ≥3+ was 88% and 97.3% at 30 days, 76.0% and 90.0% at 1 year, and 79% and 95% at 3 years in the MitraClip and surgical repair group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although MitraClip is safe and effective in selected high-risk patients, the surgery may be the only gold standard for "gray" patients. Further studies are needed to determine whether MitraClip should be recommended.