[A preliminary investigation of relationship between serum apelin level and pulmonary artery pressure in children with congenital heart disease].

Objective: To preliminarily investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and pulmonary artery pressure in children with congenital heart disease.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-six children with congenital heart disease undergoing surgical treatment were enrolled as subjects. The serum level of apelin was determined before surgery and at 7 days after surgery.

[Protective effect of cold autologous blood cardioplegic solution on the heart of infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease].

Objective: To study the protective effect of cold autologous blood cardioplegic solution on the heart of infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD).

Methods: Ninety-six infants with CCHD who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomly and equally divided into three groups: histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution, cold non-autologous blood cardioplegic solution, and cold autologous blood cardioplegic solution. The right auricular tissues were taken before aortic cross-clamping and at 30 minutes after aortic declamping, and ATP level and energy charge (EC) in the myocardium were measured.

The number and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is associated with coronary artery injury. Studies have shown that the endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) participates in the process of arterial repair. Data have been reported that the number of EPC increased significantly in the subacute phase of KD.