Real-world research perspective: Evaluation of early follow-up outcomes in patients with partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defects / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To study the clinical characteristics of patients with partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defects (P/TAVSDs) in our hospital, and to evaluate the early follow-up outcomes from a real-world research perspective. Methods    The clinical data of all patients diagnosed with P/TAVSDs from January 1, 2018 to July 12, 2020, in our hospital were collected, and all patients' examination results were used as the real-world follow-up data, univariable Cox risk proportional model was used to analyze the outcomes. A total of 93 patients were finally included in the analysis, 72 with partial and 21 with transitional AVSD. There were 38 males and 55 females at age of 182.0 months (20.0 d to 779.5 months). Results    Univariable Cox proportional risk model suggested that at least one cardiac malformation (HR=15.00, 95%CI 3.00 to 75.00, P=0.001), preoperative moderate or greater mitral regurgitation (HR=6.60, 95%CI 1.70 to 26.00, P=0.007), and preoperative moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation (HR=13.00, 95%CI 3.10 to 51.00, P<0.000 1) were  risk factors for moderate or greater postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Conclusion    Children with coarctation of the aorta or partial pulmonary vein connection, moderate or greater preoperative mitral regurgitation, and moderate or greater preoperative tricuspid regurgitation need to be alerted to the risk of moderate or greater postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Real-world data, with relaxed statistical P values and combined expertise, can suggest clinical conclusions that are close to those of high-quality retrospective studies.

Analysis and evaluation of risk factors associated with poor prognoses of children with tetralogy of Fallot during perioperative period / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To quest the risk factors of poor prognoses in children with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) during perioperative period and evaluate its clinical application values. Methods    A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 119 children who underwent one-stage correction of TOF in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from September 2016 to January 2019. The cohort includes 75 males and 44 females, with ages ranging from 3.2-137.1 (13.2±1.4) months and weights ranging from 4.6-21.0 (8.3±0.2) kg. Perioperative poor prognosis was defined as duration of mechanically assisted ventilation >48 h or secondary intubation, vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) within 48 h >40, postoperative length of stay >14 d, and the occurrence of the major adverse events. Major adverse events were defined as early death, malignant arrhythmia, low cardiac output syndrome, non-fatal cardiac arrest, postoperative reintervention, diaphragm paralysis, and other clinical complications. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were used to analyze the correlation between risk factors and poor prognoses. Results    There was 1 perioperative death, and 9 with major adverse events. Variables selected by Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) included 2 preoperative variables (McGoon index, aortic root diameter index) and 4 intra-operative variables [left-right direction of bicuspid pulmonary valve, total length of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) incision index, pulmonary valve with commissurotomy, and minimum temperature in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)]. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were used to the above factors, respectively. The variables with statistical significance (P≤0.05) were McGoon index, aortic root diameter index, left-right direction of bicuspid pulmonary valve, and minimum temperature in CPB. A nomogram was established based on the above factors, and the results showed that the left-right direction of bicuspid pulmonary valve was more risky than the tricuspid pulmonary valve and the anterior-posterior direction of bicuspid pulmonary valve. The lower the McGoon index, the higher aortic root diameter, and the lower temperature in CPB, the higher risk of poor prognostic events in children with TOF. Conclusion    The left-right direction of the pulmonary bicuspid valve has a higher risk of poor prognosis than the tricuspid pulmonary valve and the anterior-posterior direction of bicuspid pulmonary valve. With the smaller McGoon index and the larger aortic root diameter, the risk of poor prognoses in children with TOF is higher. The temperature in CPB being lower than medium-low temperature obviously relates to the high incidence of poor prognostic events, which can be used as an auxiliary reference standard for decision-making in pediatric TOF surgery in the future.

Modified single-patch technique for children with complete atrioventricular septal defect in a single center / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To sum up the experience of the primary modified single-patch (MSP) technique applied in our hospital for children with complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD). Methods    The clinical data of 141 children who underwent primary MSP technique for CAVSD between June 2009 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, including 62 males and 79 females with a median age of 6 (3, 11) months and a median weight of 5.8 (4.5, 7.0) kg. According to Rastelli classification, there were 116 patients in type A, 14 in type B and 11 in type C. Among them, 15 patients were diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. Cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross clamp time, atrioventricular valve regurgitation and other clinical data were recorded during and after operation. Results    Postoperatively, 17 patients suffered from severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation (LAVVR) and 6 patients severe right atrioventricular valve regurgitation (RAVVR). In the follow-up period, 5 patients suffered from severe LAVVR and 1 patient severe RAVVR. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) appeared in 1 patient during follow-up period and none at the end of follow-up. There were 5 early deaths and 2 late deaths. Twelve patients underwent reoperation with a median interval time of 268 (8, 1 270) days. Conclusion    MSP technique is a wise surgical strategy for CAVSD children with good outcomes, improved postoperative mortality and decreased atrioventricular valve regurgitation.

Retrospective single center analysis:sutureless technique for neonates with total anomalous pulmonary venous connec-tion / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To retrospectively analyse the outcomes following primary Sutureless technique used in our hospi-tal for neonates with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC)and sum up surgical operative experiences. Meth-ods Date were collected retrospectively in 42 neonates who underwent primary Sutureless technique for TAPVC between Janu-ary 2008 and December 2015. Cardiopulmonary bypass time,aortic clamped time,velocity of pulmonary veins and other relat-ed data were recorded during and after operation. Results There were 31 males and 11 females with median age of 8. 0 days old,of whom 25 were supracardiac TAPVC(59. 5％)and 17 were infracardiac TAPVC(40. 5％). After operation, 1 neonate died and none suffered from pulmonary vein obstruction(PVO). In follow-up period,there was 1 neonates suffered from PVO. Six neonates came back to hospital again because of septicemia,poor wound healing,bronchopneumonia and incomplete intesti-nal obstruction. Conclusion Sutureless technique is a wise surgical strategy for neonates with TAPVC for better outcomes and decreasing postoperative mortality rate and recurrence rate of PVO.

[Effects of different pH conditions on ffh gene expression in Streptococcus mutans].

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to detect the expression levels of ffh gene in Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) UA159 under different pH conditions, analyze the effect of pH on the expression of ffh gene in S. mutans, and identify the factors regulating the ffh gene expression. METHODS: Samples of S. mutans were collected at different growth stages (4 h, 18 h) and pH values (pH 4.0-7.0). Fluorescence quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the relative mRNA expression and trend of the target gene ffh in S. mutans at different growth stages and pH values. RESULTS: qRT-PCR results showed that the ffh gene expression decreased along with pH at 4 h, but the expression increased with decreasing pH at 18 h. Under the same pH conditions, the ffh gene expression was significantly different between 4 h and 18 h (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Growth stage and pH value influenced the ffh gene expression in S. mutans.

Association between rs689466 in COX-2 gene and aspirin resistance in cerebral infarction patients / 实用医学杂志

Objective To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in COX-2 with aspirin resistance in Chinese cerebral infarction patients. Methods A total of 150 Chinese cerebral infarction patients were recruited. Platelet aggregation response was measured by light transmission aggregometry method and four SNPs located in COX2 gene were genotyped by sequencing method. Results Sixty patients of the total were classified as aspirin non-responders. For clinical variables , concentrations of high homocysteine and the frequency of recurrence cerebral infarction were significantly higher in aspirin non-responders when compared with aspirin responders. Univariate analysis of SNPs showed that rs20417 , rs689465 and rs689466 were significantly associated with aspirin resistance. Multivariate analysis indicated that after adjusting other SNPs and clinical risk factors, rs20417 and rs689466 were still significantly associated with aspirin resistance. Conclusions Rs689466 is significantly associated with aspirin resistance in Chinese cerebral infarction patients even after the adjustment of rs20417. By combining rs689466 , rs20417 and other clinical risk factors , we may better classify the aspirin non-responders from aspirin responders.

Effects of different pH conditions on ffh gene expression in Streptococcus mutans / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This research aimed to detect the expression levels of ffh gene in Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) UA159 under different pH conditions, analyze the effect of pH on the expression of ffh gene in S. mutans, and identify the factors regulating the ffh gene expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples of S. mutans were collected at different growth stages (4 h, 18 h) and pH values (pH 4.0-7.0). Fluorescence quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the relative mRNA expression and trend of the target gene ffh in S. mutans at different growth stages and pH values.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>qRT-PCR results showed that the ffh gene expression decreased along with pH at 4 h, but the expression increased with decreasing pH at 18 h. Under the same pH conditions, the ffh gene expression was significantly different between 4 h and 18 h (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Growth stage and pH value influenced the ffh gene expression in S. mutans.</p>