Evaluation of endothelialization of an occluder device with cardiac computed tomography and assessment of the pathological validation.

Background: Assessing the endothelialization of occlusive devices noninvasively remains a challenge. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) can be employed to evaluate device endothelialization based on contrast uptake within the occluder.

Objective: This study examined device endothelialization using cardiac CTA and investigated the pathological associations.

Isolation of cadmium-resistance and siderophore-producing endophytic bacteria and their potential use for soil cadmium remediation.

Endophyte-assisted phytoremediation is an emerging technique for soil heavy metals (HMs) remediation and has become a research focus in the world because of the benefits of endophytes on plant growth and uptake of HMs. In this study, multifunctional endophytic bacteria strains were isolated and screened, and the feasibility of these strains for soil cadmium (Cd) remediation was investigated by soil incubation experiments and pot experiments. All endophytic bacteria were isolated from the roots of woody plants grown on Cd-contaminated soil.

Untargeted metabolomics reveal the metabolic profile of normal pulmonary circulation.

Background: As an important place of material exchange, the homeostasis of the pulmonary circulation environment and function lays an essential foundation for the normal execution of various physiological functions of the body. Small metabolic molecules in the circulation can reflect the corresponding state of the pulmonary circulation.

Methods: We enrolled patients with Patent Foramen Ovale and obtained blood from the pulmonary arteries and veins through heart catheterization.

Frequency and Size of In Situ Thrombus Within Patent Foramen Ovale.

Background: High-resolution optical coherence tomography can detect in situ thrombi within patent foramen ovale (PFO), which can become a dangerous embolic source. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and size of in situ thrombus within PFO using optical coherence tomography.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Fuwai Hospital (Beijing, China) between 2020 and 2021.

Interventional Occlusion of Large Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Adults with Severe Pulmonary Hypertension.

(1) Background: the indications for transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) are still unclear, and scholars have not fully elucidated the factors that affect PH prognosis. (2) Methods: we retrospectively enrolled 134 consecutive patients with a PDA diameter ≥10 mm or a ratio of PDA and aortic >0.5.

Is combined use of radiofrequency ablation and balloon dilation the future of interatrial communications?

Introduction: Personalized and stable interatrial communication is an important palliative therapy for patients with heart failure. However, this remains a technically challenging task.

Areas Covered: In the past decades, substantial advancements in atrial septostomy for the creation of controllable and durable interatrial communication have been made, and numerous novel devices and techniques are in various stages of development.

First in-human modified atrial septostomy combining radiofrequency ablation and balloon dilation.

Objective: Preclinical research suggests that the combined use of radiofrequency ablation and balloon dilation (CURB) could create stable interatrial communications without device implantation. This study examined the first in-human use of CURB for modified atrial septostomy in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: Between July 2018 and October 2021, CURB was performed in 19 patients with severe PAH (age: 31.

Ga-FAPI PET/CT for molecular assessment of fibroblast activation in right heart in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a single-center, pilot study.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with radiolabeled fibroblasts activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) provides the opportunity to directly visualize fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of Ga-FAPI PET imaging in assessing right ventricular (RV) fibrotic remodeling and the relationship between FAPI uptake with parameters of pulmonary hemodynamics and cardiac function in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients.

Methods: In this pilot study, sixteen PAH patients were enrolled to participate in cardiac Ga-FAPI PET/CT imaging.

Ventilation/perfusion imaging predicts response to balloon pulmonary angioplasty in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Objects: Although balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has emerged as an alternative treatment option for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), it is followed in some patients by residual PH. We studied the efficacy of BPA on pulmonary blood flow and the predictive value of ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scanning.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical database, which included patients diagnosed with CTEPH who had received BPA.

Preliminary Investigation of In situ Thrombus Within Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients With and Without Stroke.

This study uses high-resolution optical coherence tomography to investigate whether patent foramen ovale could be the site of thrombus formation in patients with or without stroke.

Combination of F-ASO and Targeted Medical Therapy in Patients With Secundum ASD and Severe PAH.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the combined use of fenestrated atrial septal occluder (F-ASO) and targeted medical therapy (TMT) in patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Background: Treatment of patients with ASD and severe PAH is still challenging.

Methods: After ethical approval was obtained, 56 consecutive patients with ASD with severe PAH were included (7 men, 49 women; median age 50.

Transfemoral transcatheter puncture of interventricular septum in a swine model: A novel transfemoral-venous access to left ventricle with the assistance of arterio-venous circuit.

Objective: Via subclavian/jugular vein, successful puncture of interventricular septum (IVS) has been achieved transvenously. However, the approach was limited by acute entry-angle. The study was conducted to investigate a novel transcatheter puncture of IVS via femoral access and transfemoral-venous access to left ventricle (LV) through IVS.

Off-label use of duct occluder in transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect with no rim to right pulmonary vein.

Objective: Transcatheter closure is usually contraindicated in secundum atrial septal defect with no rim to right pulmonary vein. The morphology of an atrial septal defect is special in these patients, and the off-label use of a duct occluder might make transcatheter closure possible with the assistance of a personalized heart model. However, the related data are absent.

Three-dimensional printing assisted transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect with deficient posterior-inferior rim.

Objective: Though successful transcatheter closure has been reported in secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) with deficient posterior-inferior rim, it is still difficult to screen the appropriate candidates. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) makes in vitro trial occlusion possible, and might provide a feasible method in the prediction of successful closure.

Methods: Thirty-five consecutive ASD patients (10M/25F, age, 47.