Satellite Remote Sensing Reveals More Beneficial Effect of Forest Plant Diversity on Drought Resistance in More Arid Areas of Yunnan, China.

Plant diversity is important in enhancing an ecosystem's drought resistance. However, the relationship between plant diversity and drought resistance has historically aroused much controversy. Given that most previous studies on the relationship were conducted with in situ data at a small or point scale, this study explored the relationship with satellite remote sensing, taking Yunnan Province of China as the study area.

Diagnosis, Genetics, and Management of 24 Patients With Cardiac Paragangliomas: Experience From a Single Center.

Context: Paragangliomas located within the pericardium represent a rare yet challenging clinical situation.

Objective: The current analysis aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of cardiac paragangliomas, with emphasis on the diagnostic approach, genetic background, and multidisciplinary management.

Methods: Twenty-four patients diagnosed with cardiac paraganglioma (PGL) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China, between 2003 and 2021 were identified.

Native bicuspid aortic valve thrombus in a patient with an ascending aorta aneurysm: A case report.

Thrombus formation on a well-conserved bicuspid aortic valve is rare. We encountered a patient with organized thrombus formation on a native bicuspid aortic valve without calcification or stenosis, which was found occasionally during an elective operation for ascending aorta replacement surgery. The location of the thrombus was just at the orifice of left coronary artery, which produced the atherosclerosis-like symptoms such like exertional chest tightness and dyspnea.

Surgery for angiosarcoma and other cardiac sarcomas: A single-institution experience.

Background: Cardiac sarcomas are rare malignancies with a poor prognosis. Although angiosarcoma is the most common histological subtype, its features are poorly characterized. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of the various cardiac sarcomas and the surgical techniques used and to identify factors influencing the prognosis.

Surgical Resection of Primary Cardiac Cavernous Hemangioma: A Case Report.

Cardiac tumors are rare. They were found in only 0.001%-0.

One-stage resection of intravascular leiomyomatosis involving the right heart chamber through a single laparotomy.

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to summarize the feasibility and experience of utilizing a one-stage operation single laparotomy to treat intracardiac leiomyomatosis (ICL).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 13 patients with ICL who underwent one-stage resections was conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2015 to December 2021. All patients had their tumors removed by single laparotomy and were divided into a short venotomy group (6 cases) and an extensive venotomy group (7 cases).

Repair versus replacement for active endocarditis of the mitral valve: 9 years of experience.

Background And Aim: To determine the factors contributing to successful mitral valve repair (MVP) and to discuss the effect of complex techniques on the durability of MVP for active infective endocarditis (IE) affecting the mitral valve.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven patients were enrolled; 39.6% underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) and 60.

Reversible Myocardial Calcification Following Acute Heart Failure and Kidney Injury Caused by Valsalva Sinus Rupture.

A 47-year-old previously healthy man was referred to a local hospital with chest tightness, oliguria, and lower extremity edema for seven days. An initial investigation revealed acute heart failure and kidney injury. The patient was intensively treated with cardiac and renal replacement therapy, and cardiorenal function improved one week later.

Comparison of Sternal Fixation Strategies After Open-Heart Surgery Via a Median Sternal Incision.

Objectives: To explore the personalized treatment strategy of sternal fixation and closure of sternal median incision in open cardiac surgery.

Methods: A total of 293 patients who underwent open-heart surgery with a median sternal incision at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2019 to March 2021 were divided into two groups, according to the timing and type of treatment. The first 169 patients received single-wire fixation and closure (control group), while the subsequent 124 patients received double-wire fixation and closure (study group).

Endocarditis-associated rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis mimicking vasculitis: a diagnostic and treatment challenge.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE)-associated rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is rarely reported. Sporadic case reports have noted the diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in IE-associated glomerulonephritis because it may masquerade as idiopathic vasculitis.

Methods: Patients with clinical diagnosis of IE-related RPGN in a tertiary hospital in China between January 2004 and May 2021 were identified and retrospectively reviewed.

Outcomes of surgical treatment for active infective endocarditis under COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been and will continue to be a challenge to the healthcare system worldwide. In this context, we aimed to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, timing, and prognosis of surgical treatment for active infective endocarditis (IE) during the pandemic and share our coping strategy.

Methods: A total of 39 patients were admitted for active IE in the year 2020.

Infective Endocarditis-Associated Purpura and Glomerulonephritis Mimicking IgA Vasculitis: A Diagnostic Pitfall.

Background: Purpura and glomerulonephritis are typical presentations in IgA vasculitis. Infective endocarditis mimicking IgA vasculitis by presenting with glomerulonephritis and purpura is rarely reported.

Methods: We searched for cases with infective endocarditis-associated purpura and glomerulonephritis in a tertiary hospital in China and retrospectively reviewed their clinicopathological features.

Non-open-heart surgery for intravascular leiomyomatosis extending from the inferior vena cava to the right heart chamber.

Objective: In the present study, we analyzed the advantages and feasibility of non-open-heart surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass for intracardiac intravenous leiomyomatosis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 23 cases of intracardiac intravenous leiomyomatosis and divided them into a noncardiopulmonary bypass (NCPB) group (9 cases) and a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) group (14 cases) according to the surgical treatment received. The clinical characteristics and anatomic features, including the diameter of the tumor, right atrium, and inferior vena cava, were recorded, and the perioperative data, including the operation time, blood loss, postoperative hemoglobin change, and follow-up results, were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is inclined to a solid entity different from uterine leiomyoma based on RNA-seq analysis with RT-qPCR validation.

Introduction: Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is currently regarded as a special variant of the common uterine leiomyoma (LM). Though IVL shows a similar histological morphology to LM, IVL is characterized by unique intravenous growth patterns and low-grade malignant potential, which are quite different from LM. There are currently few studies underlying the molecular alterations of IVL, though this information is important for understanding the pathogenesis of the disease, and for identifying potential biomarkers.

Is Endothelial Neoplastic Implantation the Reason for the Intravenous Leiomyomatosis in the Heart without Direct Growth from Vena Cava? A Report of Six Cases.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) with intracardiac involvement is a rare condition. Previous case reports have described direct tumor extension into the vena cava and cardiac chamber. Six patients with intracardiac lesion without direct growth from the IVC were admitted.

Multiple food-borne trematodiases with profound systemic involvement: a case report and literature review.

Background: Food-borne trematodiases are an important group of neglected global diseases. Affected patients in regions with low prevalence usually experience delayed diagnosis, especially when presenting with atypical clinical symptoms. Here, we presented a rare case of a Chinese patient infected with three food-borne trematodiases.

Identification of the molecular relationship between intravenous leiomyomatosis and uterine myoma using RNA sequencing.

The purpose of this study was to explore the potential relationship between intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) and uterine myoma (UM) at the molecular level. RNA-sequencing was performed on IVL tumours, UM tumours, and adjacent normal uterine muscle. We compared the gene expression levels between IVL and normal uterine muscle, UM and normal uterine muscle, to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Surgical treatment for intravenous-cardiac leiomyomatosis.

Objectives: There are few published studies on the rare disorder of intravenous-cardiac leiomyomatosis (IVCL). This study aimed to propose an individualized strategy for surgical treatment of IVCL.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 50 patients who had undergone IVCL removal from November 2002 to October 2017 in our hospital.

Use of freeze-dried bone allografts in osteoporotic patients undergoing median sternotomy.

Osteoporosis is a major risk factor for deep sternal wound infection, which is a rare but serious complication after median sternotomy. We investigated the incidence of deep sternal wound infection and the protective effect of bone allografts in osteoporotic patients after sternal approximation. Data were collected retrospectively from consecutive osteoporotic patients who underwent cardiac surgery via median sternotomy.

Hyperthyroidism secondary to hysterosalpingography: an extremely rare complication: A case report.

Rationale: Hysterosalpingography (HSG), a standard procedure for the evaluation of women with infertility and repetitive pregnancy loss, is associated with complications such as uterine perforation, infection, allergic reactions, syncope, hemorrhage and shock, and pulmonary or retinal embolus. However, hyperthyroidism has not been reported as one of its complications.

Patient Concerns And Diagnoses: We report the case of a 33-year-old euthyroid woman who presented to our hospital with palpitation, hand tremor, fatigue, and excessive sweating after HSG.

Different surgical strategies of patients with intravenous leiomyomatosis.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a rare benign tumor. The study aimed to assess outcomes of patients treated surgically for IVL.Between November 2002 and January 2015, 76 patients were treated for IVL.

Surgical Treatment Strategies of Intravenous Leiomyomatosis withRight Cardiac Cavities Extension.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment strategies of intravenous leiomyomatosis(IVL)extending through inferior vena cava into the right cardiac cavities. Methods Thirty patients of IVL extending through inferior vena cava into the right cardiac cavities were treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from November 2002 to January 2015.The following variables were studied: age,cardiopulmonary bypass time,deep hypothermic circulatory arrest time,origins of IVL,blood loss,duration of post-operative hospital stay,hospitalization expenses,edema of lower extremity,blood transfusion,postoperative complication,residual IVL,and re-grow or recurrence.

Surgical treatment of pulmonary artery aneurysm: an institutional experience and literature review.

Objectives: The occurrence of pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) is extremely rare in the clinical setting. Careful treatment should be considered because of the possibility of fatal complications including rupture, dissection, pulmonary embolism and heart failure. Our goal is to contribute a better understanding of this disease and its treatment.