Community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2022) intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China. This is the third section of the report with a specific focus on community-based prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This section of the report underscores the importance of initiatives outlined in the "Healthy China 2030 Plan," emphasizing the comprehensive prevention and control strategy for chronic diseases. A key aspect of this plan involves the establishment of national demonstration areas aimed at comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases. By 2020, 488 such areas had been set up across China, surpassing the initial target and covering a significant proportion of counties and districts. The report highlights the successful implementation of these strategies in Lishan district, Anshan city, where demonstration areas for comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases were launched in 2013. Over the course of seven years, the number of healthy units increased substantially, leading to improvements in managing risk factors for CVD among residents. Significant reductions in prevalence rates of overweight, obesity, smoking, passive smoking, and drinking were observed, along with the development of healthier behaviors among residents. Similarly, Qiaokou district in Wuhan City, designated as a national demonstration area in 2014, implemented comprehensive public health promotion initiatives. Notably, special clinics for hypertension intervention were established, contributing to an increase in self-reported rates of hypertension, a slight decrease in prevalence, and a remarkable improvement in the control rate among treated patients. Overall, these efforts underscore the effectiveness of community-based approaches in driving positive health outcomes and advancing the comprehensive prevention and control of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, in China.

Influencing Factors on Cardiovascular Health in China.

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2022) intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China. This is the first section of the report, which dissects influential factors across diverse domains. The investigation identifies tobacco use as a paramount concern, portraying China as the global epicenter of tobacco consumption. Cigarette smoking, exacerbated by second-hand smoke exposure, emerges as a critical and preventable risk factor, contributing to a surge in attributable deaths over the past three decades. In the realm of dietary nutrition, the study discerns an overall improvement, yet discerns worrisome deviations, notably an escalating fat intake surpassing recommended guidelines. The shifting dietary structure reveals diminished consumption of cereals and vegetables juxtaposed with an uptick in animal foods, while excessive intake of cooking oil and salt persists, straying substantially from endorsed levels. The exploration of physical activity patterns unfolds a nuanced narrative. Varied trends are observed among students, with concerns arising from sedentary behaviors and inadequate adherence to recommended guidelines. The analysis spans a trajectory of declining physical activity in Chinese adults, coupled with an alarming surge in sedentary leisure time, ultimately linking these factors to heightened risks of cardiovascular diseases and increased adiposity. An examination of overweight and obesity trends uncovers a relentless upward trajectory, projecting substantial prevalence by 2030. Noteworthy prevalence rates underscore the imperative for targeted interventions to curtail this burgeoning health crisis, with the anticipated prevalence extending to nearly two-thirds of the adult population. Psychological factors, notably depression, constitute an integral facet of cardiovascular health. Prevalence rates among patients with coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction underscore the intricate interplay between mental health and cardiovascular outcomes. Additionally, persistent depressive symptoms are shown to significantly elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. This first section underscores the multifaceted challenges facing cardiovascular health in China, emphasizing the imperative for tailored interventions across tobacco control, dietary habits, physical activity, obesity management, and psychological well-being to mitigate the escalating burden of cardiovascular diseases in the population.

A multi-constituent model for assessing the effect of impeller shroud on the thrombosis potential of a centrifugal blood pump.

Centrifugal blood pumps can be used for treating heart failure patients. However, pump thrombosis has remained one of the complications that trouble clinical treatment. This study analyzed the effect of impeller shroud on the thrombosis risk of the blood pump, and predicted areas prone to thrombosis. Multi-constituent transport equations were presented, considering mechanical activation and biochemical activation. It was found that activated platelets concentration can increase with shear stress and adenosine diphosphate(ADP) concentration increasing, and the highest risk of thrombosis inside the blood pump was under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) mode. Under the same condition, ADP concentration and thrombosis index of semi-shroud impeller can increase by 7.3% and 7.2% compared to the closed-shroud impeller. The main reason for the increase in thrombosis risk was owing to elevated scalar shear stress and more coagulation promoting factor-ADP released. The regions with higher thrombosis potential were in the center hole, top and bottom clearance. As a novelty, the findings revealed that impeller shroud can influence mechanical and biochemical activation factors. It is useful for identifying potential risk regions of thrombus formation based on relative comparisons.

Report on cardiovascular health and diseases in China 2021: an updated summary.

In 2019, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for 46.74% and 44.26% of all deaths in rural and urban areas, respectively. Two out of every five deaths were attributed to CVD. It is estimated that approximately 330 million individuals in China are affected by CVD. Among them, there are 13 million cases of stroke, 11.4 million cases of coronary heart disease, 5 million cases of pulmonary heart disease, 8.9 million cases of heart failure, 4.9 million cases of atrial fibrillation, 2.5 million cases of rheumatic heart disease, 2 million cases of congenital heart disease, 45.3 million cases of lower extremity artery disease, and 245 million cases of hypertension. With the dual challenges of population aging and a steady increase in the prevalence of metabolic risk factors, the burden of CVD in China is expected to continue rising. Consequently, new demands arise for CVD prevention, treatment, and the allocation of medical resources. Emphasizing primary prevention to reduce disease prevalence, increasing the allocation of medical resources for CVD emergency and critical care, and providing rehabilitation services and secondary prevention to reduce the risk of recurrence, rehospitalization, and disability among CVD survivors are of paramount importance. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes affect millions of individuals in China. Since blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar levels often rise insidiously, vascular disease and serious events such as myocardial infarction and stroke occur by the time they are detected in this population. Therefore, it is crucial to implement strategies and measures to prevent risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Furthermore, greater efforts should be directed towards assessing cardiovascular health status and conducting research on early pathological changes to enhance prevention, treatment, and understanding of CVD.

Outcomes of cardiac surgery in senior aged patients with ventricular dysfunction: analysis of a large national database.

OBJECTIVE: In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, reduced preoperative ejection fraction (EF) and senior age are associated with a worse outcome. As most outcome data available for these patients are mainly from Western surgical populations involving specific surgery types, our aim is to evaluate the real-world characteristics and perioperative outcomes of surgery in senior-aged heart failure patients with reduced EF across a broad range cardiac surgeries. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China Heart Failure Surgery Registry (China-HFSR) database, a nationwide multicenter registry study in mainland China. Multiple variable regression analysis was performed in patients over 75 years old to identify risk factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2017, 578 senior-aged (> 75 years) patients were enrolled in China HFSR, 21.1% of whom were female. Isolated coronary bypass grafting (CABG) were performed in 71.6% of patients, 10.1% of patients underwent isolated valve surgery and 8.7% received CABG combined with valve surgery. In-hospital mortality was 10.6%, and the major complication rate was 17.3%. Multivariate analysis identified diabetes mellitus (odds ratio (OR) = 1.985), increased creatinine (OR = 1.007), New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III (OR = 1.408), NYHA class IV (OR = 1.955), cardiogenic shock (OR, 6.271), and preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion (OR = 3.426) as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In senior-aged patients, preoperative evaluation should be carefully performed, and strict management of reversible factors needs more attention. Senior-aged patients commonly have a more severe disease status combined with more frequent comorbidities, which may lead to a high risk in mortality.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common valvular heart disease with unsatisfactory medical therapeutics and high surgical mortality. The present study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) in high-risk patients with severe TR. METHODS: This was a compassionate multicentre study. Between September 2018 and November 2019, 46 patients with TR who were not suitable for surgery received compassionate TTVR under general anaesthesia and the guidance of trans-oesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy in four institutions. Access to the tricuspid valve was obtained via a minimally invasive thoracotomy and transatrial approach. Patients' data at baseline, before discharge, 30 days and 6 months after the procedure were collected. RESULTS: All patients had severe TR with vena contracta width of 12.6 (11.0, 14.5) mm. Procedural success (97.8%) was achieved in all but one case with right ventricle perforation. The procedural time was 150.0 (118.8, 180.0) min. Intensive care unit time was 2.0 (1.0, 4.0) days. 6-month mortality was 17.4%. Device migration occurred in one patient (2.4%) during follow-up. Transthoracic echocardiography at 6 months after operation showed TR was significantly reduced (none/trivial in 33, mild in 4 and moderate in 1) and the primary safety end point was achieved in 38 cases (82.6%). Patients suffered from peripheral oedema and ascites decreased from 100.0% and 47.8% at baseline to 2.6% and 0.0% at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed TTVR was feasible, safe and with low complication rates in patients with severe TR.

Application of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a technical method for harvesting and using the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (DLCFA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Between January 2017 and January 2019, 40 patients (36 in the planed selection group and 4 in the temporary decision group) with mean age of 49.1 ± 7.5 years received DLCFA as an arterial conduit in CABG. In all patients, the DLCFA was successfully harvested via an anterior thigh incision. Depending on the location of the target vessel, the DLCFA was used as a free graft or a composite graft. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients in the planned selection group, DLCFA harvesting was abandoned in 8 patients because computed tomographic angiography revealed anatomical variation or stenosis of the superficial femoral artery. Of the 5 patients in the temporary decision group, harvesting was abandoned in 1 because of short length and thin caliber. On an average, 3.7 ± 0.9 distal anastomoses were created during CABG, with no adverse effects. The length of the harvested DLCFA was 9.9 ± 1.7 cm, with an average proximal lumen diameter of 3.4 ± 0.7 mm. The DLCFA was used as a free graft in 26 patients and as a "Y"-shape composite graft in 14 patients. Total arterial CABG was performed in 75% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The DLCFA is an alternative conduit for CABG. It can be harvested easily and safely. However, preoperative computed tomographic angiography examination is necessary for the smooth application of the DLCFA, and an appropriate strategy for graft establishment should be considered.

Multicenter Comparison of Percutaneous and Surgical Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Large RVOT.

BACKGROUND: A percutaneous approach for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) is a feasible alternative to surgical PVR in selected patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. However, large right ventricular outflow tract (diameter ≥ 25 mm) remains challenging. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled consecutive patients with large right ventricular outflow tract who underwent percutaneous PVR (Venus P-valve, Venus MedTech Inc, Hangzhou, China) (n = 35) or surgical PVR (homograft valve; n = 30) between May 2014 and April 2017. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Main study outcomes were pulmonary valve function and right ventricular function at discharge and midterm follow-up. RESULTS: PVR was successful in all patients. Percutaneous compared with surgical PVR group had: similarly distributed baseline characteristics; shorter hospitalization, intensive care unit stay, and endotracheal intubation duration; lower cost; lower pulmonary valve gradient before discharge; lower pulmonary valve regurgitant grade (mean difference, -0.63; 95% CI -1.11 to -0.20, P = .022), pulmonary valve gradient (mean difference, -5.7 mm Hg; 95% CI -9.4 to -2.2 mm Hg, P = .005), and right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (mean difference, -9.5 mL/m2; 95% CI -16.9 to -3.1 mL/m2, P = .022); and greater right ventricular ejection fraction (mean difference, 5.4%; 95% CI 2.4%-8.3%, P = .002) at median 36 months follow-up, without deaths in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous PVR using Venus P-valve appeared to be a safe, efficacious and minimally invasive alternative to surgical PVR in selected patients with large right ventricular outflow tract yielding better right ventricular and pulmonary valve function at midterm follow-up.

Comparison of two radiofrequency ablation devices for atrial fibrillation concomitant with a rheumatic valve procedure.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative and median-term follow-up outcomes have not been compared among procedures using radiofrequency ablation devices for permanent atrial fibrillation with concomitant rheumatic valve disease. We compared the sinus rhythm restoration efficacy of "non-irrigation" ablation forceps and an "irrigation" ablation device in patients with rheumatic valve disease undergoing a modified Cox maze radiofrequency ablation procedure due to permanent atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Data of 278 patients with rheumatic valve disease from the Cardiac Surgery Department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital who underwent the modified Cox maze radiofrequency ablation procedure between May 2013 and May 2017 were reviewed. The procedure was performed using "non-irrigation" ablation forceps (AtriCure, group A) in 149 patients and an "irrigation" ablation device (Medtronic, group M) in 129 patients. Data were collected prospectively, and follow-up was documented and compared between the groups. RESULTS: The radiofrequency procedure duration was 28.9 ±â€Š3.8 min in group A and 29.5 ±â€Š2.8 min in group M (t = 1.623, P = 0.106). The predicted radiofrequency time to the left atrium diameter was (Ya = 0.4964 X + 0.3762, R = 0.74) in group A and (Ym = 0.4331 X + 4.3563, R = 0.8435) in group M. The sinus rhythm (SR) conversion rate without use of anti-arrhythmic drugs was similarly good in groups A and M, with 75.2%, 72.5%, and 70.5% vs. 73.6%, 71.3%, and 69.8% at discharge, 6 and 12 months, respectively (F = 0.084, F = 0.046, F = 0.046, P > 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Two types of radiofrequency ablation devices characteristic of "non-irrigation" and "irrigation" bipolar ablation forceps were similarly efficient at SR restoration.

Clinical features and surgical results of cardiac myxoma in Carney complex.

BACKGROUND: We sought to analyze clinical features and surgical results of 10 cases of cardiac myxomas in Carney complex (CNC). METHODS: Between January 2003 and December 2013, 10 patients with cardiac myxomas in CNC underwent surgical resection. Associated cardiac lesions included moderate and severe mitral regurgitation in two cases, and moderate tricuspid regurgitation in one case. Age, gender, the incidence of arterial embolism, the rate of multiple cardiac myxomas, and the recurrence rate after resections of cardiac myxoma were compared between isolated cardiac myxomas and cardiac myxomas in CNC. RESULTS: The incidence of cardiac myxoma in CNC was 1.74% (10/574). There were no deaths following surgery. There was one late death due to cerebral embolism 40 months following a reoperation (10%). A significant difference was found in the age, the incidence of arterial embolism, the rate of multiple cardiac myxomas, and the recurrence rate after resection of cardiac myxoma between cardiac myxoma in CNC and isolated cardiac myxoma (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in gender between cardiac myxoma in CNC and isolated cardiac myxoma (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Complex myxomas in CNS present at an earlier age, are more prevalent in women than in men, are more often multicentric, with a higher rate of arterial embolism and a high recurrence rate after resection. Close follow-up for cardiac myxoma in CNC after surgery is necessary due to the high recurrence rate.

Hybrid Balloon Valvuloplasty for the Treatment of Severe Congenital Aortic Valve Stenosis in Infants.

BACKGROUND: Surgical or percutaneous interventional treatment of severe congenital aortic valve stenosis (CAS) in early infancy remains challenging. This single-center, retrospective study analyzed midterm outcomes of a hybrid balloon valvuloplasty procedure through the ascending aorta by way of median sternotomy, including cases with improved technique. METHODS: Included were 45 consecutive infants (aged <90 days) with CAS and selected for biventricular repair who underwent hybrid balloon valvuloplasty in a hybrid or ordinary operating room from October 2010 to March 2016. Patients were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: Hybrid balloon valvuloplasty was successful in all patients, with the last 8 treated in an ordinary operating room under only echocardiography guidance with a new sheath. Thirty-two patients were successfully rescued from low heart rate or left ventricular systolic dysfunction, or both, by cardiac massage under direct visualization; none required cardiopulmonary bypass. The degree of new aortic insufficiency was mild in 7 patients and changed from mild to moderate in 1 patient. Aortic valve pressure gradient decreased from 70.6 ± 17.5 mm Hg preoperatively to 15.2 ± 4.2 mm Hg immediately postoperatively (p < 0.001). Fluoroscopy time was 4.8 ± 2.3 minutes. At a median of 32.1 months (range, 1 to 68 months) follow-up, all patients were alive and healthy. Aortic valve pressure gradient remained low (19.1 ± 5.2 mm Hg). Left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 0.515 ± 0.134 (range, 0.21 to 0.70) preoperatively to 0.633 ± 0.035 (range, 0.58 to 0.75; p < 0.001). No aortic insufficiency developed, and no patient required reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: For infants with severe CAS, hybrid balloon valvuloplasty through the ascending aorta by way of a median sternotomy appears efficacious and safe up to midterm follow-up.

Biventricular Repair of Double Outlet Right Ventricle: Preoperative Echocardiography and Surgical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the key anatomic features of double outlet right ventricle (DORV) assessed by preoperative echocardiography among patients treated with different types of biventricular repair. METHODS: Surgical and echocardiographic databases were queried to identify patients who had undergone biventricular repair for DORV and had adequate preoperative echocardiographic imaging. All patients underwent pre- and postoperative echocardiography and clinical evaluation following discharge. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-two patients with DORV met the inclusion criteria of the study. The patients were divided into two groups-intraventricular tunnel repair (IVR) to the aorta (194 [74%] patients) or to the pulmonary artery with either concomitant arterial switch operation or double-root translocation (68 [26%] patients). Among 68 patients undergoing IVR to the pulmonary artery, 50 patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) type of DORV and 7 patients with remote ventricular septal defect (VSD) type underwent IVR plus arterial switch operation and 6 patients with TGA type and 5 patients with remote VSD type underwent IVR plus double-root translocation. There were three hospital deaths and one late death (overall operative mortality: 1.5%). CONCLUSION: Preoperative echocardiography provided crucial data to estimate the feasibility of intraventricular tunnel creation to either the aorta or the pulmonary artery and to guide the selection of either arterial switch or double-root translocation. Biventricular repair could be achieved with favorable outcomes in most patients with DORV.

Echocardiographic Classification and Surgical Approaches to Double-Outlet Right Ventricle for Great Arteries Arising Almost Exclusively from the Right Ventricle.

Selecting an appropriate surgical approach for double-outlet right ventricle (DORV), a complex congenital cardiac malformation with many anatomic variations, is difficult. Therefore, we determined the feasibility of using an echocardiographic classification system, which describes the anatomic variations in more precise terms than the current system does, to determine whether it could help direct surgical plans. Our system includes 8 DORV subtypes, categorized according to 3 factors: the relative positions of the great arteries (normal or abnormal), the relationship between the great arteries and the ventricular septal defect (committed or noncommitted), and the presence or absence of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO). Surgical approaches in 407 patients were based on their DORV subtype, as determined by echocardiography. We found that the optimal surgical management of patients classified as normal/committed/no RVOTO, normal/committed/RVOTO, and abnormal/committed/no RVOTO was, respectively, like that for patients with large ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and transposition of the great arteries without RVOTO. Patients with abnormal/committed/RVOTO anatomy and those with abnormal/noncommitted/RVOTO anatomy underwent intraventricular repair and double-root translocation. For patients with other types of DORV, choosing the appropriate surgical approach and biventricular repair techniques was more complex. We think that our classification system accurately groups DORV patients and enables surgeons to select the best approach for each patient's cardiac anatomy.

Comprehensive Myocardial Proteogenomics Profiling Reveals C/EBPα as the Key Factor in the Lipid Storage of ARVC.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is hereditary cardiomyopathy characterized by the fibro-fatty replacement of the myocardium. A small number of noncomprehensive profiling studies based on human cardiac tissues have been conducted and reported; consequently, ARVC's gene expression pattern characteristics remain largely undocumented. Our study applies large-scaled, quantitative proteomics based on TMT-labeled LC-MS/MS to analyze the left and right ventricular myocardium of four ARVC and four DCM explanted hearts to compare them with normal hearts. Our objective is to reveal the characteristic proteome pattern in ARVC compared with DCM as well as nondiseased heart. We also conducted the RNA sequencing of 10 right ventricles from ARVC hearts paired with four nondiseased donor hearts to validate the proteome results. In a manner similar to that of the well-defined DCM heart failure model, the ARVC model demonstrates the downregulation of mitochondrial function proteins and the effects of many heart failure regulators such as TGFB, RICTOR, and KDM5A. In addition, the inflammatory signaling, especially the complement system, was activated much more severely in ARVC than in DCM. Our most significant discovery was the lipid metabolism reprogramming of both ARVC ventricles in accordance with the upregulation of lipogenesis factors such as FABP4 and FASN. We identified the key upstream regulator of lipogenesis as C/EBPα. Transcriptome profiling verified the consistency with proteome alterations. This comprehensive proteogenomics profiling study reveals that an activation of C/EBPα, along with the upregulation of its lipogenesis targets, accounts for lipid storage and acts as a hallmark of ARVC.

Perventricular device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect: effectiveness of symmetric and asymmetric occluders.

Objectives: To assess safety and effectiveness of symmetric and asymmetric occluders in perventricular device closure without cardiopulmonary bypass of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSDs). Methods: The present retrospective study enrolled 581 patients who underwent perventricular device closure of pmVSDs under transoesophageal echocardiography guidance from May 2011 to April 2016, and outpatient electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography assessments at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Results: The overall success rate of device implantation was 92.6% (43 surgical conversions immediately). Between patients receiving symmetric ( n = 353) and asymmetric ( n = 185) occluders, there were no significant differences in age, weight and defect diameter distributions; however, both before discharge and at mean 28.6 ± 21.2 (range, 1-60)-month follow-up, the symmetric group had lower rates of trivial residual shunt (5.7% vs 11.4%, P = 0.018; and 0.8% vs 5.9%, P = 0.001) and bundle branch block (0.8% vs 5.4%, P = 0.002; and 0.6% vs 3.8%, P = 0.009); and at follow-up, the asymmetric group had lower residual shunt (47.6% vs 85.0%, P = 0.020) and similar branch block (30.0% vs 33.3%, P = 1.000) disappearance rates. There were no severe complications, i.e. aortic regurgitation, malignant arrhythmias, haemolysis or device dislocation. Conclusions: Perventricular device closure of pmVSDs appears safe and effective with symmetric and asymmetric occluders. However, the lower residual shunt disappearance and higher branch block incidence rates for asymmetric occluders would favour more proactive conversion to surgical repair immediately when residual shunt is present intraoperatively.

Absence of myocyte regeneration by mobilization of bone marrow stem cells after myocardial infarction.

The study aimed to test the potential for bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) mobilized by granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to promote neovascularization and cardiomyocytes regeneration in a rat model of myocardial infarction. The myocardial infracted rats were randomly assigned to receive GM-CSF injection as GM-CSF group or received saline injection as control group. Evaluation of CD34+ stem cells was performed by flow cytometry. Cardiac functions were monitored using a multiple channel recorder via cardiac catheterization. Immunobiological staining including factor VIII and Ki67, and phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin (PTAH) staining, were performed to assess angiogenesis and myogenesis and calculated myocardial infarction size. The CD34+ stem cells in blood and bone marrow of GM-CSF group increased significantlyon day 7 and day 14 comparing with control group, and declined on day 28. Immunobiological staining showed neovasculature formation and more Ki67 expression in the infracted regions of theGM-CSF group.Ki67 and PTAH double staining showed Ki67 positive signals were overlap with lymphocytes, fibroblasts and endothelial cells but not myocytes. No significant decrease of infracted size occurred in the GM-CSF group. These results suggested BMSC could be mobilized effectively by GM-CSF after myocardial infarction, which could only promote neovascularization without myogenesis.

Transthoracic Echocardiography-Guided Percutaneous Patent Ductus Arteriosus Occlusion: A New Strategy for Interventional Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion has become the preferred therapeutic option, which uses fluoroscopy as the guidance. To reduce the x-ray exposure, PDA occlusion using the Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO II) under guidance of transthoracic echocardiography only was conducted. This single center study aims to access the safety and efficiency of this new strategy. METHODS AND RESULTS: From June 2013 to May 2015, 63 consecutive PDA patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography-guided PDA occlusion through the femoral artery. Outpatient follow-up was conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months, and yearly. Sixty-two patients successfully underwent echocardiography-guided percutaneous PDA occlusion. One patient was converted to minimally invasive transthoracic occlusion due to failure of delivery sheath passage through tortuous PDA. Mean procedure duration was 24.3 ± 7.0 minutes; ADO II diameter averaged 4.6 ± 0.9 mm; 8 cases showed traces of residual shunt immediately after operation which resolved after 24 hours; and mean hospital stay was 3.4 ± 0.5 days. There was no occluder migration, hemolysis, pericardial effusion, pulmonary branch or aortic stenosis at mean 13.5 ± 4.8 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that percutaneous PDA occlusion can be successfully performed under guidance of transthoracic echocardiography only and appears safe and effective while avoiding radiation and contrast agent use.

Surgical Treatment of Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation: Insight Derived From Annulus Sizes and Tethering Distances.

BACKGROUND: The main goal of this study was to explore the feasibility of stratifying patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) into different risk levels, and to compare the surgical outcomes of patients within different risk levels who underwent different tricuspid valve repair (TVP) approaches. METHODS: One hundred and one patients with left-sided valvular disease underwent either left-sided valvular replacement or repair, and 79 patients underwent concomitant TVP. Depending upon their tricuspid annulus diameter and tethering distances, the patients were assessed using 4 risk levels. The different surgical approaches were used in patients within different risk levels. RESULTS: Among the 101 patients, there were 32 patients within risk level I, 28 within risk level II, 20 within risk level III, 21 within risk level IV. In the first risk level, the patients with untreated tricuspid valves had no or mild TR after surgery. In the second and third risk levels, the patients treated with a modified De Vega procedure had mild TR at follow-up. In the fourth risk level, the patients treated with undersized annuloplasty rings exhibited an improved outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of both tricuspid annular diameter and tethering distance may help clinicians to stratify patients with secondary TR into different risk levels as a means of choosing an optimal TVP approach. The application of a modified De Vega procedure or an undersized annuloplasty ring in patients within appropriate risk level could improve the treatment for secondary TR.

Hybrid balloon valvuloplasty through the ascending aorta via median sternotomy in infants with severe congenital valvular aortic stenosis: feasibility of a new method†.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a novel hybrid balloon valvuloplasty procedure for severe congenital valvular aortic stenosis in low-weight infants, performed through the ascending aorta via median sternotomy. METHODS: Eighteen infants (<90 days of age) with severe congenital aortic stenosis were included in this study. Hybrid balloon valvuloplasty procedures were performed in a hybrid operating room. Patients were followed up at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and then annually following the procedure. RESULTS: The hybrid balloon valvuloplasty procedure was successful in all patients. Eight patients were successfully rescued from left ventricular systolic dysfunction by cardiac compression under direct vision. The aortic valve pressure gradient decreased from 80.3 ± 20.8 mmHg preoperatively to 16.0 ± 3.6 mmHg immediately postoperatively (P < 0.001). None of the patients developed significant aortic insufficiency. The fluoroscopy time was 6.2 ± 2.9 min. Intraoperative blood transfusions and pacing were not required. The patients were all alive and healthy at the end of the follow-up period (mean 21.3 months; range 3-41 months), and the aortic valve pressure gradient remained low (21.7 ± 5.3 mmHg). Reintervention was not required in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid balloon valvuloplasty through the ascending aorta via median sternotomy is an effective and safe procedure for infants with severe congenital aortic stenosis.

Trend of non-communicable disease mortality for three common conditions in the elderly population from 2002 to 2010: A population-based study in China.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of data focusing on non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality in the Chinese elderly population over the past decade. METHODS: Using mortality data from the Chinese Health Statistics, we explored the crude and age-standardized mortality trend of three major NCDs in the Chinese population ≥65 years of age from 2002 to 2010, namely, malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. Subpopulations characterized as rural and urban residence, and by gender and age were examined separately. RESULTS: Mortality increased with age and was higher among males than among females across the three NCDs, with the gender difference being most remarkable for malignant neoplasms and least for heart diseases mortality. Condition-specific crude mortalities increased between 2002 and 2010, overall and in all the pre-specified subpopulations. After age-standardization, rising trends were observed for people ≥65 years old, and condition-specific mortalities generally increased in rural regions and decreased in urban regions, especially for cerebrovascular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: There were increasing trends for mortality due to malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases in China between 2002 and 2010, which were largely driven by the population aging. Disparities existed by rural and urban residence, gender, and age.