Utilizing Single-Branched Stent in Combination With Fenestration or Chimney for Endovascular Repair of Aortic Arch Lesions With Aberrant Subclavian Artery.

Objective: The study was to figure out the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of a single-branched stent graft, namely Castor, in combination with fenestration or chimney in the context of aortic arch lesions presenting with aberrant subclavian artery (ASA) and/or Kommerell's diverticulum (KD).

Methods: All consecutive patients with aortic arch lesions and ASA and/or KD receiving Castor from June 2018 to June 2023 were investigated.

Results: Incorporating 18 patients, the study encompassed 11 cases with KD, 3 cases with dysphagia; 2 cases of right-sided aortic arch with left-sided aberrant left subclavian artery (ALSA), and 16 cases of left-sided aortic arch with right-sided aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA).

RNase H-Driven crRNA Switch Circuits for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Various Analytical Targets.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas12a) system has exhibited great promise in the rapid and sensitive molecular diagnostics for its trans-cleavage property. However, most CRISPR/Cas system-based detection methods are designed for nucleic acids and require target preamplification to improve sensitivity and detection limits. Here, we propose a generic crRNA switch circuit-regulated CRISPR/Cas sensor for the sensitive detection of various targets.

An Off-Pump Repair Technique for Postinfarction Apical Left Ventricular Aneurysm.

Purpose: The conventional surgical treatment for postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is open-heart repair with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the risk of the open-heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass may result in an unacceptable risk for many patients with multiple comorbidities. Here, we reported a new off-pump repair technique for postinfarction apical LVA.

Application of a warfarin dosing calculator to guide individualized dosing empirical adjustment after fixed dosing: a pilot study.

Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic window and individual variation, and patients require regular follow-up and monitoring of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) for dose adjustment. The calculation method of Warfarin Dosing Calculator (WDC) software is based on the European and American populations, and its accuracy in the Chinese population is yet to be verified. This study was to evaluate the feasibility of applying Warfarin Dosing Calculator software intervention in a real-world clinical research setting in China.

A new model (Alfalfa-Warfarin-GIB) for predicting the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in warfarin patients.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing warfarin-related major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and to develop a score that would provide a reference for assessing the risk of major GIB associated with warfarin treatment.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of clinical and follow-up data from warfarin-treated patients. Scores were analyzed using logistic regression.

A new procedure for elimination of atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valve disease: a proof-of-concept study.

Background: Left atrial enlargement and fibrosis have been linked to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The authors aimed to introduce a novel concept and develop a new procedure for AF treatment based on these characteristics.

Methods: The study included three stages.

ENPP2 alleviates hypoxia/reoxygenation injury and ferroptosis by regulating oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) by regulating ferroptosis. H/R model was established with HCMECs and before the reperfusion, ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 or ferroptosis inducer erastin was all administered. Wound-healing assay was performed to detect the migration ability of cells in each group, and the angiogenesis ability was determined by tube formation assay.

Impact of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery on sexual dysfunction in male patients.

Background: Sexual dysfunction after cardiac surgery can seriously affect patients' quality of life, but the impact of cardiac surgery on sexual function has long been neglected. Compared with conventional cardiac surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery has the advantages of aesthetic appearance and no disruption of the sternal structure, which can greatly improve the patient's quality of life. However, studies focusing on the effects of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) on sexual function have not been reported.

Triple-Branched Stent Graft Implantation for Acute Non-A-non-B Aortic Dissection.

Background: The optimal treatment for acute non-A-non-B aortic dissection remains controversial. Triple-branched stent graft (TBSG) implantation has been used to treat acute type A aortic dissection. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TBSG as a treatment for acute non-A-non-B aortic dissection.

Learning Curve from 100 Cases of Totally Thoracoscopic Mitral Valve Replacement.

Background: To investigate and analyze the learning curve of totally thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement and provide a quantitative reference for cardiac surgeons to carry out the operation step by step.

Methods: The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of 100 consecutive patients with totally thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement successively performed by the same surgeon in a single center from May 2019 to June 2020. The learning curve was divided into 2 stages by using cumulative sum analysis, and relevant surgical parameters and perioperative indicators were analyzed.

Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids prophylaxis in cardiac surgery: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although corticosteroid prophylaxis in adult cardiac surgery has been studied extensively for 40 years, its role remains controversial, and the optimal dose remains uncertain. The objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the clinical benefits and risks of corticosteroid use in cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: We will search Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, Clinical Trials, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant clinical trials published in any language before August 1, 2020.

Novel Approach for Repair of a Left Atrial Esophageal Fistula After Radiofrequency Ablation.

Herein we described a novel repair approach for a left atrial esophageal fistula. Complete mediastinal debridement and simultaneous primary repairs of the left atrial posterior wall and the esophagus were completed under a median sternotomy, central cardiopulmonary bypass, left atrial circular incision around four pulmonary veins, inflamed left atrial posterior wall removal, and posterior pericardial opening.

Patch Neointima Technique in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: Midterm Results of 147 Cases.

Background: The patch neointima technique is a modified valve-sparing aortic root repair surgery for acute type A aortic dissection and the short-term outcomes are satisfactory. The midterm outcomes have not been reported.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2012, 147 patients underwent valve-sparing aortic root repair with the patch neointima technique for type A aortic dissection in our center.

Latent Theme Dictionary Model for Finding Co-occurrent Patterns in Process Data.

Process data, which are temporally ordered sequences of categorical observations, are of recent interest due to its increasing abundance and the desire to extract useful information. A process is a collection of time-stamped events of different types, recording how an individual behaves in a given time period. The process data are too complex in terms of size and irregularity for the classical psychometric models to be directly applicable and, consequently, new ways for modeling and analysis are desired.

Efficiency of Modified Triple-Branched Stent Graft in Type I Aortic Dissection: Two-Year Follow-up.

Background: The efficacy of hemiarch replacement combined with a modified triple-branched stent graft in Debakey type I aortic dissection remains to be confirmed.

Methods: From January 2016 to December 2017, 167 patients with acute Debakey type I aortic dissection underwent hemiarch replacement combined with a modified triple-branched stent graft. The clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed.

A latent topic model with Markov transition for process data.

We propose a latent topic model with a Markov transition for process data, which consists of time-stamped events recorded in a log file. Such data are becoming more widely available in computer-based educational assessment with complex problem-solving items. The proposed model can be viewed as an extension of the hierarchical Bayesian topic model with a hidden Markov structure to accommodate the underlying evolution of an examinee's latent state.

Transthoracic Device Closure, Transcatheter Device Closure, and Surgical Repair via Right Submammary Thoracotomy for Restrictive Ventricular Septal Defect, a Respective Comparative Study.

Few comparative studies have focused on the advantages and disadvantages of transthoracic device closure, transcatheter device closure, and surgical repair via right submammary thoracotomy for restrictive ventricular septal defect (VSD). In this article, we compared the safety, efficacy, and clinical effects of these three treatments. The clinical data of 192 pediatric patients with a restrictive VSD in our hospital from January 2017 to May 2018 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

Reported outcomes after aortic valve resuspension for acute type A aortic dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In the majority of patients presenting with acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) complicated by aortic valve insufficiency, the aortic valve (AV) can be preserved by AV resuspension. A meta-analysis was performed to investigate the outcomes following AV resuspension for AAD. A systematic literature search for publications reporting outcomes after AV resuspension in AAD published between January 1998 and June 2018 was conducted.

Low-voltage high-performance flexible digital and analog circuits based on ultrahigh-purity semiconducting carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) thin-film transistor (TFT) is a promising candidate for flexible and wearable electronics. However, it usually suffers from low semiconducting tube purity, low device yield, and the mismatch between p- and n-type TFTs. Here, we report low-voltage and high-performance digital and analog CNT TFT circuits based on high-yield (19.

Latent Class Analysis of Recurrent Events in Problem-Solving Items.

Computer-based assessment of complex problem-solving abilities is becoming more and more popular. In such an assessment, the entire problem-solving process of an examinee is recorded, providing detailed information about the individual, such as behavioral patterns, speed, and learning trajectory. The problem-solving processes are recorded in a computer log file which is a time-stamped documentation of events related to task completion.

Is it justified to apply a modified Cabrol fistula in surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection?

Objective: Open repair of acute type A aortic dissection frequently results in oozing from the suture lines. A modified fistula technique was developed to rapidly control oozing and allow closing the chest immediately and safely. The efficiency of this modified fistula technique in surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection was evaluated.

On the Identifiability of Diagnostic Classification Models.

This paper establishes fundamental results for statistical analysis based on diagnostic classification models (DCMs). The results are developed at a high level of generality and are applicable to essentially all diagnostic classification models. In particular, we establish identifiability results for various modeling parameters, notably item response probabilities, attribute distribution, and Q-matrix-induced partial information structure.

Conductively coupled flexible silicon electronic systems for chronic neural electrophysiology.

Materials and structures that enable long-term, intimate coupling of flexible electronic devices to biological systems are critically important to the development of advanced biomedical implants for biological research and for clinical medicine. By comparison with simple interfaces based on arrays of passive electrodes, the active electronics in such systems provide powerful and sometimes essential levels of functionality; they also demand long-lived, perfect biofluid barriers to prevent corrosive degradation of the active materials and electrical damage to the adjacent tissues. Recent reports describe strategies that enable relevant capabilities in flexible electronic systems, but only for capacitively coupled interfaces.