Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis / 中华内科杂志

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone strength and increased fracture risk associated with long-term glucocorticoid use. GIOP is the most common secondary osteoporosis that critically affects the quality of life of patients. Currently, the incidence of GIOP in China remains high, with insufficient awareness and lack of prevention and treatment norms. Therefore, the Chinese Rheumatology Association has established this standard based on domestic and international experience, with the aim of raising awareness of prevention and treatment among clinicians, guiding the standardized diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and improving the overall prognosis of patients with GIOP.

Macrophage exosomes transfer angiotensin II type 1 receptor to lung fibroblasts mediating bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, partially by activating lung fibroblasts. However, how macrophages communicate with lung fibroblasts is largely unexplored. Exosomes can mediate intercellular communication, whereas its role in lung fibrogenesis is unclear. Here we aim to investigate whether exosomes can mediate the crosstalk between macrophages and lung fibroblasts and subsequently induce fibrosis.@*METHODS@#In vivo, bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis model was established and macrophages infiltration was examined. The effects of GW4869, an exosomes inhibitor, on lung fibrosis were assessed. Moreover, macrophage exosomes were injected into mice to observe its pro-fibrotic effects. In vitro, exosomes derived from angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated macrophages were collected. Then, lung fibroblasts were treated with the exosomes. Twenty-four hours later, protein levels of α-collagen I, angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and phospho-Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) in lung fibroblasts were examined. The Student's t test or analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis.@*RESULTS@#In vivo, BLM-treated mice showed enhanced infiltration of macrophages, increased fibrotic alterations, and higher levels of Ang II and AT1R. GW4869 attenuated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Mice with exosomes injection showed fibrotic features with higher levels of Ang II and AT1R, which was reversed by irbesartan. In vitro, we found that macrophages secreted a great number of exosomes. The exosomes were taken by fibroblasts and resulted in higher levels of AT1R (0.22 ± 0.02 vs. 0.07 ± 0.02, t = 8.66, P = 0.001), TGF-β (0.54 ± 0.05 vs. 0.09 ± 0.06, t = 10.00, P < 0.001), p-Smad2/3 (0.58 ± 0.06 vs. 0.07 ± 0.03, t = 12.86, P < 0.001) and α-collagen I (0.27 ± 0.02 vs. 0.16 ± 0.01, t = 7.01, P = 0.002), and increased Ang II secretion (62.27 ± 7.32 vs. 9.56 ± 1.68, t = 12.16, P < 0.001). Interestingly, Ang II increased the number of macrophage exosomes, and the protein levels of Alix (1.45 ± 0.15 vs. 1.00 ± 0.10, t = 4.32, P = 0.012), AT1R (4.05 ± 0.64 vs. 1.00 ± 0.09, t = 8.17, P = 0.001), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (2.13 ± 0.36 vs. 1.00 ± 0.10, t = 5.28, P = 0.006) were increased in exosomes secreted by the same number of macrophages, indicating a positive loop between Ang II and exosomes production.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Exosomes mediate intercellular communication between macrophages and fibroblasts plays an important role in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Prophylactic antibiotics: a necessity in totally percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic repair? / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the benefit of prophylactic antibiotics (PA) in totally percutaneous aortic endovascular repair (PEVAR) in the catheterization laboratory for reducing stent-graft infection and postimplantation syndrome (PIS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data were analyzed of patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repairs. The patients were divided into non-PA group and PA group according to the use of prophylactic antibiotics before PEVAR. The diagnosis of infection was made by two senior physicians with reference to Hospital Acquired Infection Diagnostic Criteria Assessment released by the Ministry of Health of China.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 95 enrolled patients included 35 with PA and 60 without PA group, who were comparable for baseline characteristics. Infection-related deaths occurred in 1 case in non-PA group and retrograde Stanford type A dissection and death occurred in 1 case in PA group (1.67% vs 2.85%, P=1.00). The PA and non-PA groups showed no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative infection (5% vs 2.86%, P=1.000), hospital stay (9.30±7.21 vs 10.06±5.69, P=0.094), infection-related mortality (1.67% vs 0%, P=1.00), or postoperative fever (70.90% vs 91.43%, P=0.20). The body temperature showed significant variations at different time points after procedure (F=19.831, P<0.001) irrelevant to the use of prophylactic antibiotics (F=0.978, P=0.326).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The current data do not support the benefit of PA in reducing postoperative infection and PIS in patients undergoing PEVAR, but the patients without PA may have worse clinical outcomes in the event of postoperative infections.</p>

A new classification of nevus of Ota / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The nevus of Ota, is a common benign pigmentary dermatosis, mainly involve innervation area of first and second branch of trigeminal nerve. The classification of nevus of Ota was proposed by Tanino, based on 26 cases of nevus of Ota from 1937 to 1940. Studies about its classification are rarely seen in last 70 years, while it is still practical today.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the clinical photographs, 1079 consecutive patients with nevus of Ota were verified and reclassified according to the innervation areas of the trigeminal nerve branches.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In these 1079 cases, 866 patients were in line with Tanino's classification (80.26%), and 213 patients were not (19.74%). We put forward a new clinical classification (Peking Union Medical College Hospital classification, PUMCH classification) of nevus of Ota based on the innervation area of the trigeminal nerve branches, composed of 5 types and 14 subtypes. The 5 types were as follows: Type I - pigmentation maculeses involving the innervation area of one of the three trigeminal nerve branches, of which there were 424 cases (39.3%), comprising 6 subtypes; Type II - pigmentation macules involving the innervation area of two branches of the three trigeminal nerve branches, of which there were 221 cases (20.48%), comprising 4 subtypes; Type III - pigmentation macules involving the innervation area of all three trigeminal nerve branches, of which there were 361 cases (33.45%), comprising 2 subtypes; Type IV - bilateral type, in which the pigmentation macules involves the bilateral cheek, of which there were 63 cases (5.84%), comprising 2 subtypes; and Type V - complications occurred in the patient, of which there were 10 cases (0.93%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The new classification of nevus of Ota is based on the innervation area of the trigeminal nerve branches, and it covers all types of Tanino's classifications; on that basis, some new types and subtypes are brought in and cover almost every clinical condition.</p>

Changes of cerebrospinal fluid pressure after thoracic endovascular aortic repair / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Decreasing the intracranial pressure has been advocated as one of the major protective strategies to prevent spinal cord ischemia after endovascular aortic repair. However, the actual changes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and its relation with spinal cord ischemia have been poorly understood. We performed CSF pressure measurements and provisional CSF withdrawal after thoracic endovascular aortic repair, and compared the changes of CSF pressure in high risk patients and in patients with new onset paraplegia and paraparesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four hundred and nineteen patients were evaluated for the risk of spinal cord ischemia after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Patients with identified risk factors before the procedure constituted group H and received prophylactic sequential CSF pressure measurement and CSF withdrawal. Patients who actually developed spinal cord ischemia constituted group P and received rescue CSF pressure measurements and CSF withdrawal.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 419 patients evaluated, 17 were graded as high risk. Four patients actually developed spinal cord ischemia after endovascular repair. The incidence of spinal cord ischemia in this investigation was 0.9%. The patients who actually developed spinal cord ischemia had no identified risk factors and had elevated CSF pressure, ranging from 15.4 to 30.0 mmHg. Six of the 17 patients graded as high risk had elevated CSF pressure: >20 mmHg in two patients and >15 mmHg in four patients. Sequential CSF pressure measurements and provisional withdrawal successfully decrease CSF pressure and prevented symptomatic spinal cord ischemia in high-risk patients. However, these measurements could only successfully reverse the neurologic deficit in two of the patients who actually developed spinal cord ischemia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cerebrospinal fluid pressure was elevated in patients with spinal cord ischemia after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Sequential measurements of CSF pressure and provisional withdrawal of CSF decreased CSF pressure effectively in high risk patients and provided effective prevention of spinal cord ischemia. Risk factor identification and prophylactic measurements play the key role in prevention of spinal cord ischemia after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.</p>

Perioperative aortic dissection rupture after endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of type B dissection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The perioperative aortic dissection (AD) rupture is a severe event after endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of type B AD. However, this life-threatening complication has not undergone systematic investigation. The aim of the study is to discuss the reasons of AD rupture after the procedure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The medical record data of 563 Stanford type B AD patients who received thoracic endovascular repair from 2004 to December 2011 at our institution were collected and analyzed. Double entry and consistency checking were performed with Epidata software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve patients died during the perioperation after thoracic endovascular repair, with an incidence of 2.1%, 66.6% were caused by aortic rupture and half of the aortic rupture deaths were caused by retrograde type A AD. In our study, 74% of the non-rupture surviving patients had the free-flow bare spring proximal stent implanted, compared with 100% of the aortic rupture patients (74% vs. 100%, P = 0.213). The aortic rupture patients are more likely to have ascending aortic diameters = 4 cm (62.5% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.032), involvement the aortic arch concavity (62% vs. 27%, P = 0.041) and have had multiple stents placed (P = 0.039).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Thoracic AD endovascular repair is a safe and effective treatment option for AD with relative low in-hospital mortality. AD rupture may be more common in arch stent-graft patients with an ascending aortic diameter = 4 cm and with severe dissection that needs multi-stent placement. Attention should be paid to a proximal bare spring stent that has a higher probability of inducing an AD rupture. Post balloon dilation should be performed with serious caution, particularly for the migration during dilation.</p>

Analysis of coronary rotational atherectomy related complications / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analysis the complications of coronary rotational atherectomy and evaluate the safety of this procedure.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A total of 250 rotational atherectomy cases from April 1994 to February 2012 were screened retrospectively and 22 cases patients (8.8%) with rotational atherectomy-related complications were included in this analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among these 22 patients, all lesions were either type B2 or C calcified lesions as evidenced by coronary angiography. After the rotation procedure, there were seven cases (2.8%) with slow reflow and two (0.8%) cases with no reflow. Seven cases (2.8%) developed severe coronary spasm and two cases (0.8%) had sinus bradycardia. Coronary dissection occurred in two cases (0.8%), while one case (0.4%) had coronary perforation and cardiac tamponade. Burr entrapment happened in one case (0.4%). There was no malignant arrhythmia, acute myocardial infarction, emergent coronary artery bypass graft or device related death during and post procedure. Comparison with baseline data, the concentration of CK-MB elevated significantly after the rotational atherectomy [(31.2 ± 4.8) mmol/L vs. (11.4 ± 6.5) mmol/L, P < 0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Coronary rotational atherectomy is safe and procedure-related complications are rare.</p>

Increased platelet-leukocyte aggregates in patients with acute coronary syndrome / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the platelet-leukocyte-aggregates (PLAs) level among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable angina pectoris (SAP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hospitalized patients were divided into three groups [ACS group (n=86), SAP group (n=54), the control group with 46 patients without coronary artery disease]. PLAs were measured by flow cytometry at admission before coronary angiography. ACS patients were further divided into low-risk group (0-108 points) and high-risk group (>109 points) according to GRACE scores at admission. PLA, platelet-monocyte aggregations (PMA), platelet-neutrophil aggregations (PNA), platelet-lymphocyte aggregations (PlyA) and hs-CRP values were compared among groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PLA (4.40%±3.08%), PMA (33.6%±21.5%), PNA (3.76%±5.06%), PLyA (2.03%±1.27%) and hs-CRP [5.75 (3.49, 9.15)] levels in ACS group were significantly higher than those in SAP and control groups (all P<0.05). PLA was also significantly higher in high-risk group than in the low-risk group (44.8%±18.0% vs. 13.0%±6.3%, P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that hs-CRP was positively correlated with PMA (r=0.547, P<0.01) and GRACE score is positively correlated with PMA, PLA, PNA and PlyA (r=0.746, 0.652, 0.460, respectively, all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PLAs is increased in ACS patients and higher PMA level is related with the unstable coronary syndrome in ACS patients. Increased PMA, PLA, PNA and PlyA levels is associated with higher GRACE score in ACS patients.</p>

Detection of red fluorescence in the facial skin of healthy individuals and patients with seborrheic dermatitis / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect red fluorescence in the facial skin of healthy individuals and patients with seborrheic dermatitis (SD).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Skin analysis was performed to obtain the ultraviolet images of the facial skins of 61 healthy individuals and 64 SD patients, and the detection rate of red fluorescence was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The detection rate of the red fluorescence was 36.06% in healthy individuals and 70.31% in SD patients (χ(2)=14.728, P<0.005). Additionally, it was significantly higher in T zone, where sebum secretion is high, than in U zone, where sebum secretion is lower (χ(2)=11.529,P<0.05;χ(2)=23.757,P<0.05,respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Red fluorescence exist in both healthy individuals and SD patients, and the detection rate is especially high in the latter. Meanwhile, red fluorescence may be related with sebum secretion.</p>

Transradial artery intervention: an alternative approach for renal artery stent implantation? / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Transfemoral artery access is the main approach for the interventional treatment of renal artery stenosis (RAS). This study aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of a transradial interventional (TRI) treatment of renal artery stenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A series of 23 patients who underwent transradial renal artery stenting from October 2010 to October 2011 were studied. Radial sheath system (Terumo, Japan) was used to get access to the radial artery. Radial tourniquet (Terumo) was used to stop bleeding. A 5Fr MPA (COOK, USA) was used to perform selective renal arteriography. Percutaneous renal artery stent systems were used to perform renal artery stenting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Renal artery angiography showed that 15 patients had unilateral renal artery stenosis and eight patients had bilateral renal artery stenosis. The descending aorta could not be catheterized in one patient because of the type III aortic arch. Twenty-two patients successfully underwent transradial renal artery angiography and the technical success rate was 95.7%. There was no puncture site hematoma or pseudoaneurysm. Mean procedure time was (38.4 ± 7.2) minutes, the mean amount of contrast agent used was (93.2 ± 6.3) ml, and the mean postprocedure bleeding time was (3.2 ± 1.9) minutes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transradial renal artery intervention is technically reliable with less invasion, rapid recovery, fewer complications and may become an alternative intervention approach for the treatment of renal artery stenosis.</p>

Transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults: immediate and two-year follow-up results / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a well established procedure and an accepted treatment modality for small to moderate-sized PDA. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and follow-up results of transcatheter closure of large PDAs with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After a complete hemodynamic evaluation differentiating from the reversibility of severe PAH, transcatheter closure of PDA was performed. Patients were followed up clinically and echocardiographically at 24 hours, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after occlusion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-nine patients had successful occlusion, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (FS) significantly decreased immediately after occlusion ((106 ± 25) mmHg vs. (50 ± 14) mmHg, P < 0.01; (63.7 ± 7.2)% vs. (51.4 ± 10.1)%, P < 0.01 and (36.9 ± 8.2)% vs. (28.9 ± 8.6)%, P < 0.05, respectively). At 1 month after PDA closure, the signs and symptoms improved markedly in all 29 patients, and PDAs were completely closed and remained closed during the follow-up. Eighteen patients having different degrees of dyspnea were treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and/or digoxin after occlusion. Nine patients whose pulmonary vascular resistence (PVR) > 6 Wood units accepted targeted PAH therapy. After 1 to 3 months of peroral drug therapy, their exercise tolerance improved from New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV to NYHA class I. During follow-up, no latent arrhythmias were found, the left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and FS and LVEF recovered compared to the immediate postclosure state. However, FS and LVEF remained low compared to the preclosure state.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Transcatheter closure of large PDA with severe PAH is feasible, effective, and safe in adults. Significant left ventricular systolic changes may occur after closure of large PDA, and left ventricular function usually recovers within a few months.</p>

Totally percutaneous thoracic endovascular aortic repair with the preclosing technique: a case-control study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The conventional thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) involves groin incisions under general or epidural anesthesia. As technology moves towards less invasive procedures, a total percutaneous approach is desirable. In this study, we describe a Preclosing technique and investigate its safety and efficacy for femoral access sites management, and evaluate its advantages as compared to those of traditional surgical cutdown approaches.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Preclosing technique involves two or multiple 6 F Perclose Proglide devices deployed in the femoral artery before upsizing to a 20-25 F sheath. The sutures were secured to close the arteriotomy at the end of the procedure. The medical records of patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repairs using the Preclosing technique between December 2009 and November 2010 (group A) were compared with those using surgical femoral cutdown from January 2008 to November 2009 (group B). Outcome measures included rates of technical success, early complications, anesthesia method, procedure time, cardiac care unit (CCU) stay, time from procedure to discharge, hospital stay, procedure expense, hospital cost.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, in the endograft models or profiles. The technical success rate was 100.0% (85/85) in group A vs. 97.4% (147/151) in group B (P < 0.05). There was no access-related mortality in both groups. Compared with group B, the incidence of early complications were fewer in group A, 9.4% (8/85) vs. 22.5% (34/151) (P < 0.01). Local anesthesia with conscious sedation was used more often in group A, 68.2% (58/85) vs. 51.7% (78/151) in group B (P < 0.01). The procedure duration was shorter, (96 ± 33) minutes in group A vs. (127 ± 41) minutes in group B (P < 0.01). The length of the CCU stay, the duration from procedure to discharge, and the hospital stay were both reduced in group A, (117.3 ± 88.3) hours, (7.5 ± 5.3) days and (15.3 ± 6.8) days vs. (132.7 ± 115.5) hours, (10.5 ± 5.0) days and (19.5 ± 7.8) days in group B (P < 0.01). The procedure cost was RMB (109,000 ± 30,000) Yuan in group A vs. RMB (108,000 ± 25,000) Yuan in group B (P = NS). The hospital cost was RMB (130,000 ± 35,000) Yuan in group A vs. RMB (128,000 ± 33,000) Yuan in group B (P = NS).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Total percutaneous TEAVR with the Preclosing technique is safe and effective with meticulous technique and appropriate patient selection. The Preclosing technique decreases access-related complications, depends less on general anesthesia and the surgeon's cooperation, saves procedure time and shortens the CCU/hospital stay. With these advantages, the use of two percutaneous closure devices increases the hospital cost only slightly.</p>

Incidence and risk factors of coronary artery disease in elderly patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the prevalence of coronary artery disease and risk factors in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Coronary angiography was performed immediately after abdominal angiography in 70 elderly (> 50 years) consecutive patients with AAA. Medical history and imaging characteristics were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CAD was diagnosed in 63 patients (90.0%) by coronary angiography: 20 (28.6%) patients with single-vessel disease (SVD), 15(21.4%) with 2VD, 22 (31.4%) with 3VD and 6 (8.6%) with left main disease + 3VD. Multi-variance logistic analysis showed that peripheral disease was the strongest predictor for CAD in AAA patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Coronary angiography should be performed in elderly AAA patients due to the high prevalence of CAD in this patient cohort.</p>

Immediately effects of inhaled aerosolised iloprost in adult patients with severe pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart diseases / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the immediately effects of inhaled aerosolized iloprost in adult patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) secondary to congenital heart diseases (CHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult patients with severe PAH secondary to CHD (n = 165) were included in this study. Right heart catheterization was performed, Pulmonary and systemic blood flow, the oxygen consumption VO(2) (ml/min) were calculated using Fick's principle. Pulmonary vascular resistances (PVR) were calculated with standard formulas and indexed to body surface area. Hemodynamic parameters were measured before and after iloprost inhalation (20 µg).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Post iloprost inhalation, heart rate, mean aortic pressure, pulmonary systolic pressure to aortic systolic pressure ratio all remained un changed (P > 0.05), while pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were significantly reduced and Qp significantly increased from (7.2 ± 4.8) L/min to (9.9 ± 7.2) L/min (P < 0.01), PVR was also significantly reduced from (13.4 ± 8.7) Wood units to (9.5 ± 6.6) Wood units (P < 0.01), and left-to-right shunt volume increased from (3.2 ± 4.4) L/min to (5.5 ± 7.0) L/min (P < 0.01) and right-to-left shunt volume decreased from (1.0 ± 1.0) L/min to (0.7 ± 0.7) L/min (P < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus and/or ventricular septal defects are more likely to develop severe pulmonary arterial hypertension or Eisenmenger syndrome than patients with atrial septal defects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Inhaled Aerosolised iloprost use is effective and safe for adult patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to congenital heart diseases.</p>

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale with the Spider patent foramen ovale occluder: a prospective, single-center trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a promising alternative to surgical closure or anticoagulation therapy to prevent paradoxical embolic events in patients with PFO. Several different devices have been used for transcatheter PFO closure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility for closure of PFO with a new PFO occluder, the Spider PFO occluder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The device was implanted in the PFO patients under fluoroscopy and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) using a 10 French delivery sheath employing a femoral vein approach. Aspirin was administered at 100 mg/d for six months after occlusion. The clinical and echocardiographic follow-up of patients were performed at the 24th hour, 1st month, 3rd month, 6th month, and 12th month after occlusion, and yearly thereafter.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The device was implanted successfully in all 55 patients. No major complications occurred during the perioperative period, such as thromboembolism, occluder dislodgement, infection or myocardial infarction. No residual shunt of the atrial level was shown by transesophageal echocardiography, and no latent arrhythmia or cerebral vessel events occurred in any cases during follow-up ((35 +/- 9) months, range 6 - 51 months).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transcatheter closure of a PFO with the Spider PFO occluder is a safe and effective therapeutic option for the secondary prevention of presumed paradoxical embolism. However, randomized trials comparing this device with other devices and therapies have to be performed.</p>

Quantitative assessment of pulmonary blood flow by echocardiography in patients with congenital heart defect / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possibility and reliability of echocardiography in quantitative evaluation of pulmonary blood flow in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients with left to right shunt congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) underwent echocardiographic examinations of the right upper and lower pulmonary vein blood flow spectrum in the four-chamber face, and the right upper pulmonary vein flow velocity time integral (VTIrupv) and right inferior pulmonary venous flow velocity time integral (VTIrlpv) were calculated according to the heart rate. The VTIrupv and VTIrlpv were compared with the pulmonary blood flow (Qp) calculated by Fick method with right heart catheterization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a high correlation between the right lung vein flow velocity time integral measured by the catheter of transthoracic echocardiography and Qp.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pulmonary venous flow spectrum measured by echocardiography can be informative of the pulmonary blood flow in patients with CHD. Echocardiography may serve as a potential noninvasive technique to evaluate pulmonary blood flow in these patients.</p>

Relationship of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene polymorphism with the prognosis of hypertensive stroke patients / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene G9570A polymorphisms and the clinical outcome of stroke patients with essential hypertension (EH) in South China Han population.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The ACE2 gene polymorphisms were detected in 141 stroke patients with EH and 156 patients with EH using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genetic marker was tested for its association with the baseline measurements and clinical outcomes of the patients over a median follow-up period of 22 months. As the ACE2 gene is X-linked, analyses were performed for male and female patients separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The A allele frequency in the stroke patients was significantly different from that in the EH patients, and the AA allele frequency in the female patients was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier model analysis showed that ACE2 gene polymorphism was not associated with the the patients' prognosis (P>0.05). Multivariate Cox's proportional hazard regression model identified age (RR=1.057, 95%CI: 1.020, 1.095), blood glucose (RR=1.575, 95%CI: 1.178, 2.104), hypertriglyceridemia (RR=1.947, 95%CI: 1.503, 2.780), blood creatinine (RR=1.034, 95%CI: 1.001, 1.068), and blood uric acid (RR=1.056, 95%CI: 1.002, 1.097) as the risk factors associated with the mortality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stroke occurs more likely in hypertensive patients carrying the A/AA allele than those carrying other alleles. The ACE2 gene G9570A polymorphisms may be associated with the occurrence of stroke in EH patients in South China, but may not have a strong correlation to the prognosis.</p>

Efficacy of a domestic left-disk-coated atrial septal occluder on treating patent foramen Ovale in a miniswine model / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestic left-disk-coated atrial septal occluder on treating patent foramen ovale in a miniswine model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Foramen ovale was punctured in 12 Guangxi BA-MA miniswine and occluded by domestic left-disk-coated atrial septal occluder (Spider(TM) PFO closure system) under the guidance of fluoroscopy. After occlusion, miniswine were executed after transthoracic echocardiography examination with color Doppler at month 1, 2, 3 and 6 respectively for gross inspection and microscopic examinations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no vegetation, thrombosis, broken stent, or erosion on the surface of all devices. The PFOs were completed occluded as evidenced by transthoracic echocardiography at 1 to 6 months after operation. The surface of the device was fully covered by collagen tissue and endothelial tissue at 1 month after operation and the thickened gradually thereafter.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The domestic left-disk-coated atrial septal occluder can efficiently occlude patent foramen ovale. Satisfactory biocompatibility, rapid and complete endothelium covering and low incidence of complication are also evidenced for this closure system in our experiment.</p>

Chronic outcome of percutaneous transcatheter patent foramen ovale closure with Left-disk-coated patent foramen ovale occluder / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety and efficacy of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure with Left-disk-coated PFO occluder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The device was implanted in patients with PFO under the guidance of fluoroscopy and transthoracal echocardiography using a 10-12 French delivery sheath via femoral vein approach. Aspirin (100 mg/d for 6 months) was administered post procedure. Patients were followed clinically and echocardiographically at 24 hours, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after device implantation and yearly thereafter.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Permanent device implantation failed in one patient (4%) and succeed in the remaining 24 patients (96%). There were no major in-hospital-adverse events or complications (thromboembolism, occluder dislodgement, infection or myocardial infarction). Seven patients developed transient atrial premature beats or atrial tachycardia during implantation and stopped without medication post procedure. Follow-up [(25 + or - 12) months] results showed that all occluders were in position and there were no residual shunt, arrhythmia and cerebral vessel events post procedure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Left-disk-coated PFO occluder is safe and effective for PFO closure.</p>

Gender-related difference in patients with aortic dissection from Guangzhou / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate gender-related differences in risk factors, clinical manifestation and outcomes in patients with aortic dissection (AD) from Guangzhou.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Consecutive patients with AD admitted to our institute over the past 10 years were included in this retrospective analysis. Prevalence of hypertension, smoking, thickness of intraventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall measured by echocardiography, and outcomes were compared between male and female AD patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were more male AD patients than female AD patients (5.33:1) from the 418 patients. Prevalence of hypertension, thickness of intraventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall were similar in male and female AD patients. Heavy smoking history was 56.5% in males and 13.6% in females (P = 0.000). Acute survival rate in female patients tended to be better than that in male patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There were significantly more male AD patients than female AD patients in this cohort. Prevalence of heave smoking in male patients is 3 times higher than that in female population.</p>