Oxymatrine improves palmitic acid-induced vascular endothelial cell injury through Akt-eNOS-NO signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the protective effect of oxymatrine (OMT) on vascular endothelial cell injury induced by palmitic acid ( PA) and its mechanism. Methods Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of oxygen species ( ROS) in cells, and lactate de-hydrogenase, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) , glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and nitric oxide ( NO) in cell culture medium were detected by ELISA. The protein expressions of bcl-2, bax, caspase-3, Akt and eNOS in HUVECs were detected by Western blot. Results OMT significantly inhibited PA-induced decrease in cell viability and increase in level of LDH in HUVECs. OMT also significantly inhibited PA-induced increase in cell apoptosis, and up-regulated the protein expression ratio of bcl-2/ bax and down-regulated the protein expression of caspase-3. In addition, OMT reduced the levels of ROS and MDA, and increased the levels of SOD, GSH-Px and NO in cell-culture medium treated with PA. Furthermore, OMT increased the protein phospho-rylation of Akt and eNOS in injured cells. Conclusion OMT ameliorates PA-induced vascular endothelial cell injury through Akt-eNOS-NO signaling pathway.

Comparison of the Outcomes of Modified Artificial Chordae Technique for Mitral Regurgitation through Right Minithoracotomy or Median Sternotomy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Right minithoracotomy (RM) has been proven to be a safe and effective approach for mitral valve surgery, but the differences of artificial chordae technique between RM and median sternotomy (MS) were seldom reported. Here, we compared the outcomes of modified artificial chordae technique for mitral regurgitation (MR) through RM or MS approaches.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eighteen consecutive adult patients who received mitral valve repair with artificial chordae and annuloplasty for MR through RM (n = 58) or MS (n = 60) from January 2006 to January 2015 were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the selected patients underwent mitral valve repair successfully without any complication during the surgery. There was no significant difference between RM group and MS group in cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, and early postoperative complications. However, compared with the MS group, the RM group had shorter hospital stay and faster surgical recovery. At a mean follow-up of 44.8 ± 25.0 months, the freedom from more than moderate MR was 93.9% ± 3.5% in RM group and 94.8% ± 2.9% in MS group at 3 years postoperatively. Log-rank test showed that there was no significant difference in the freedom from recurrent significant MR between the two groups (χ2 = 0.247, P = 0.619). Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of mild MR at discharge was the independent risk factor for the recurrent significant MR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Right minithoracotomy can achieve the similar therapeutic effects with MS for the patients who received modified artificial chordae technique for treating MR.</p>

A novel two-stage complete repair method for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD) and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) remains a challenging complex congenital heart disease nowadays. In the present study, we aimed to develop a two-stage surgical method and to evaluate outcomes of this method in managing PA-VSD and MAPCAs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between December 2003 and December 2008, 7 female and 4 male patients between the age of 5 and 10 years who were suffering from PA-VSD and MAPCAs were selected and recruited. The native pulmonary artery trunks were absent in all patients; the lungs were solely supplied by major aortopulmonary collaterals, and the numbers of supplied lung segments ranged from 15 to 20 (17.9 +/- 1.6). There were a total of 43 MAPCAs in all the patients (3 - 5 (3.9 +/- 0.7) MAPCAs per patient). The accumulated Nakata index was (222.9 +/- 29.9) mm(2)/m(2) (ranged from 182 to 272). All the patients underwent two sequential operations. Stage one included left major aortopulmonary collateral unifocalization and modified Blalock-Taussig shunt from left posterior lateral thoracotomy; stage two comprised right unifocalization, ligation of the shunt, followed by ventricular septal defect closure and right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction assisted with cardiopulmonary bypass from midline sternotomy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients survived the initial surgery, but one of them died of low cardiac output syndrome on the third day after the second operation. Postoperative complications included pneumonia in one case and capillary leak syndrome in another. Postoperative oxygen saturation maintained about 95% - 100%, which was significantly higher than pre-operation (P < 0.01). During the follow-up period of 3 - 51 (25.4 +/- 15.2) months, there were no late death and no need for re-intervention. All the patients enjoyed their lives with good conditions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This two-stage complete repair strategy was well-tolerated and effective with good outcome, thus offering an alternative surgical approach in the treatment of PA-VSD and MAPCAs.</p>