Intraoperative iatrogenic aortic dissection.

Iatrogenic aortic dissection is rare but remains a lethal complication in cardiac surgery despite advances in surgical technology. The crisis associated with iatrogenic aortic dissection highlights the importance of using extreme caution. We experienced an iatrogenic aortic dissection during an elective ascending aortic replacement procedure for an ascending aortic aneurysm.

Effects of weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy on left ventricular myocardial work in obese patients.

Background: Obesity is a global epidemic and a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective bariatric surgery, but its effect on cardiac functions remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of weight loss after LSG on the left ventricular myocardial work (LVMW) in obese patients and explore the clinical value of the left ventricular pressure - strain loop (LV - PSL).

BRAF regulates circPSD3/miR-526b/RAP2A axis to hinder papillary thyroid carcinoma progression.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common malignant tumor. BRAF mutation has become a common molecular event in PTC pathogenesis. Circular RNA PSD3 (circPSD3) is known to be highly expressed in PTC.

Impact of drug-coated balloon for vascular luminal dilatational remodeling after balloon angioplasty in intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis - a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) on vascular luminal dilatational remodeling (VLDR) following simple balloon angioplasty.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from patients diagnosed with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS), who were treated exclusively with balloon angioplasty at Henan Provincial People's Hospital between June 2019 and April 2023. Inverse probability weighting (IPW) was used to create balanced cohorts of patients who underwent drug-coated balloon angioplasty (DCBA) and plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA).

Analysis of clinical and biochemical characteristics and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with indeterminate saline infusion test results.

Introduction: The clinical biochemical characteristics and target organ damage (TOD) in patients with plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) ranging from 50 to 100 ng/L after a saline infusion test (SIT) have not been fully studied.

Methods: A total of 611 hypertensive patients with an elevated aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) who underwent a supine SIT at Henan Provincial People's Hospital were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups according to their post-SIT PAC: <50 ng/L (control group), 50-100 ng/L (indeterminate post-SIT results group), and >100 ng/L (PA group).

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of intracranial self-expanding drug-eluting stents for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled, superiority clinical trial protocol.

Background: In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a crucial factor that affects the long-term efficacy of intracranial bare metal stent (BMS) implantation for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Patients with intracranial ISR are at a high risk of recurrent ischaemic events. The NOVA intracranial drug-eluting stent (DES) trial demonstrates that a DES can reduce ISR and stroke recurrence after intracranial bare stent implantation.

Diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound combined with fine needle aspiration cytology and BRAF gene for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

We attempted to evaluate clinical application value of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), BRAF gene, and combination of HFUS, FNAC, and BRAF gene in diagnosing papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The 150 patients with thyroid minimal lesions who underwent HFUS, FNAC and BRAF gene testing before surgery in our hospital from June 2020 to December 2021 were selected as research subjects. Patients were divided into two groups based on postoperative pathological results.

A novel cerebrovascular drug-coated balloon catheter for treating symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis lesions: Study protocol for a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, target-value clinical trial.

Background: Previous single-center studies have demonstrated that drug-coated balloons (DCBs) may reduce restenosis rates, which is an important factor affecting the prognosis for intracranial interventional therapy. However, currently available cardiac DCBs are not always suitable for the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel DCB catheter designed for patients with severely symptomatic ICAS.

Safety and Efficacy of Direct Thrombectomy Versus Bridging Therapy in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Eligible for Intravenous Thrombolysis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: In the present study, we conducted a meta-analysis of reported randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the safety and efficacy of direct thrombectomy (DT) and bridging therapy (BT) for patients eligible for intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).

Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to July 11, 2022 was performed. RCTs comparing DT and BT were included.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin on preventing transplant renal artery stenosis: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a vascular complication after kidney transplantation associated with poor outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin for preventing TRAS.

Methods: After kidney transplantation, patients were enrolled from January 2018 to December 2020 in Henan Provincial People's Hospital.

[Effect of continuous renal replacement therapy on plasma concentration, clinical efficacy and safety of colistin sulfate].

Objective: To investigate the effects of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on plasma concentration, clinical efficacy and safety of colistin sulfate.

Methods: Clinical data of patients received with colistin sulfate were retrospectively analyzed from our group's previous clinical registration study, which was a prospective, multicenter observation study on the efficacy and pharmacokinetic characteristics of colistin sulfate in patients with severe infection in intensive care unit (ICU). According to whether patients received blood purification treatment, they were divided into CRRT group and non-CRRT group.

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent urinary tract infection in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Rapid and accurate pathogen diagnosis is an urgent unmet clinical need for recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) may offer another strategy for diagnosing uropathogens but remains to be studied.

Methods: Nineteen KTRs with RUTI were collected in this study.

Transmissible Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mediated by Extracellular Vesicles from Adipocyte Promoting the Senescence of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Hypertrophic Obesity.

Hypertrophic obesity, characterized by an excessive expansion of subcutaneous adipocytes, causes chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. It is the primary feature of obesity in middle-aged and elderly individuals. In the adipose microenvironment, a high level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and changes in the extracellular vesicle (EV) composition of adipocytes may cause the senescence and restrained differentiation of progenitor cells of adipose, including adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs).

piRNA-14633 promotes cervical cancer cell malignancy in a METTL14-dependent m6A RNA methylation manner.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common gynecological tumors that threatens women's health and lives. Aberrant expression of PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) is closely related with a range of cancers and can serve as a tumor promoter or suppressor in proliferation, migration and invasion. In this study, the aim was not only to discover differential expression of piRNA in CC tissue (CC cells) and normal cervical tissue (normal cervical epithelium cells), but also to investigate the biological function and action mechanism of piRNA in CC.

Significance of circulating tumor cells in the portal vein regarding metastases and vascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background: Vascular invasion is an important risk factor of poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood is direct evidence of tumor presence. There are few reports on CTCs and metastasis and vascular invasion of HCC.

Secretion of IFN-γ Associated with Galectin-9 Production by Pleural Fluid Cells from a Patient with Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis.

In this study, we investigated the role of a matricellular protein galectin-9 (Gal-9) in pleural effusion related to tuberculosis (TB). Plasma and pleural fluid of a patient with extrapulmonary TB were analyzed for cytokine content by ELISA and Luminex. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and pleural fluid cells (PFCs) were examined for interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion by the enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay or IFN-γ ELISA, for apoptosis and necrosis by Cell Death Detection ELISA, and also underwent cell sorting.

Comparison of antibody responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen Rv0679c in tuberculosis patients from the endemic and non-endemic regions of the Beijing genotype: a case control study.

Background: Strains of the Beijing genotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) are reportedly associated with the virulence of tuberculosis (TB) infection, unfavorable outcomes of anti-TB treatment, and the global TB pandemic. Rv0679c, a hypothetical membrane protein related to host cell invasion, has a Beijing genotype-specific mutation at residue 142 (Asn142Lys). Antigenicity differences between Rv0679c-Asn142 (N-type) and Rv0679c-Lys142 (K-type) have been previously observed in mice antigen-antibody responses.

Induction of Osteopontin by Dengue Virus-3 Infection in THP-1 Cells: Inhibition of the Synthesis by Brefelamide and Its Derivative.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional matricellular protein produced by a broad range of cells including osteoclasts, macrophages, T cells, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. OPN modulates various physiological and pathological events such as inflammation, wound healing, and bone formation and remodeling. Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes an increase in plasma OPN levels, which is correlated with the severity of symptoms and coagulation abnormalities.

Difference in Antibody Responses to Antigens in Japanese Tuberculosis Patients Infected with the Beijing/Non-Beijing Genotype.

The Beijing genotype (MTB), notorious for its virulence and predisposition to relapse, could be identified by spoligotyping based on genetic heterogeneity. The plasma samples from 20 cases of Beijing and 16 cases of non-Beijing MTB infected individuals and 24 healthy controls (HCs) were collected, and antibodies against 11 antigens (Rv0679c142Asn, Rv0679c142Lys, Ag85B, Ag85A, ARC, TDM-M, TDM-K, HBHA, MDP-1, LAM, and TBGL) were measured by ELISA. Compared to the HCs, the MTB infected subjects showed higher titers of anti-Ag85B IgG (positivity 58.

Immunological Roles of Elevated Plasma Levels of Matricellular Proteins in Japanese Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Elevated matricellular proteins (MCPs), including osteopontin (OPN) and galectin-9 (Gal-9), were observed in the plasma of patients with Manila-type tuberculosis (TB) previously. Here, we quantified plasma OPN, Gal-9, and soluble CD44 (sCD44) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and another 29 cytokines by Luminex assay in 36 patients with pulmonary TB, six subjects with latent tuberculosis (LTBI), and 19 healthy controls (HCs) from Japan for a better understanding of the roles of MCPs in TB. All TB subjects showed positive results of enzyme-linked immunospot assays (ELISPOTs).

The Development and Validation of a Rapid Assessment Tool of Primary Care in China.

Introduction. With Chinese health care reform increasingly emphasizing the importance of primary care, the need for a tool to evaluate primary care performance and service delivery is clear. This study presents a methodology for a rapid assessment of primary care organizations and service delivery in China.

Evaluation of Anti-TBGL Antibody in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Patients in China.

Tuberculous glycolipid (TBGL) is a component of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall, and anti-TBGL antibodies are used for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. Anti-TBGL IgG and IgA levels were measured in 45 pulmonary TB patients (PTB), 26 extra-pulmonary TB patients (ETB), 16 AIDS-TB patients, and 58 healthy controls (HC) including 39 health care workers (HW) and 19 newly enrolled students (ST). Anti-TBGL IgG measurements yielded 68.

Family practice and the quality of primary care: a study of Chinese patients in Guangdong Province.

Background: In 2009, China launched its new round of health care reform. One of its priorities was to strengthen primary care and establish a family practice system.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between use of family practice physician for primary care and the quality of primary care.