Identification of macrophage differentiation related genes and subtypes linking atherosclerosis plaque processing and metabolic syndrome via integrated bulk and single-cell sequence analysis.

Metabolic syndrome(MS) is a separate risk factor for the advancement of atherosclerosis(AS) plaque but mechanism behind this remains unclear. There may be a significant role for the immune system in this process. This study aims to identify potential diagnostic genes in MS patients at a higher risk of developing and progressing to AS.

Dosimetric risk factors for radiation esophagitis in patients with breast cancer following regional nodal radiation.

Background: Radiation esophagitis (RE) is one of the most common clinical symptoms of regi-onal lymph node radiotherapy for breast cancer. However, there are fewer studies focusing on RE caused by hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT).

Aim: To analyze the clinical and dosimetric factors that contribute to the development of RE in patients with breast cancer treated with HFRT of regional lymph nodes.

Native mitral valve fungal endocarditis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus: A case report.

Introduction: Aspergillus endocarditis is a rare fungal infection associated with a poor prognosis. Most cases of Aspergillus endocarditis involve prosthetic valves, with native valve involvement being rarely reported.

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old asian female patient presented with fever, chills, dyspnea, generalized fatigue, and significant weight loss one month after undergoing left lower lobectomy for a pulmonary abscess.

Inflammatory indicator levels in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement via median sternotomy with preoperative anxiety and postoperative complications: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the association of preoperative anxiety with inflammatory indicators and postoperative complications in patients undergoing scheduled aortic valve replacement surgery.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale was used to assess preoperative anxiety.

Modified unicaval drainage in reoperative isolated tricuspid valve repair via totally thoracoscopic approach.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and clinical effect of modified unicaval drainage for thoracoscopic reoperative isolated tricuspid valve repair, compared with conventional bicaval drainage.

Methods: A total of 45 consecutive cases of patients who underwent thoracoscopic reoperative isolated tricuspid valve repair on beating-heart were enrolled and divided into two groups according to the different venous drainage (Group A: modified unicaval drainage, Group B: conventional bicaval drainage). A retrospective analysis of perioperative data and clinical outcomes were performed and all the surviving cases were followed up.

Prediction value of pulmonary hypertension in newly identified left ventricular dysfunction among adult patients after patent ductus arteriosus closure.

The present study aimed to propose the pulmonary hypertension for predicting left ventricular dysfunction in adults after patent ductus arteriosus closure. A total of 183 patients (age ≥18 years) after patent ductus arteriosus occlusion were retrospectively collected in this study. In brief, pre-, post-procedure and short-term follow-up transthoracic echocardiography were performed.

Results of surgery on adults with functional single ventricle without prior cardiac surgery in childhood.

Objectives: Patients with unoperated functional single ventricle (FSV) rarely survive into adulthood with good functional status and there are few reports about surgical results of adult patients with FSV. This study retrospectively reviews our experience with surgery in adult patients with FSV.

Methods: From January 2008 to September 2017, 65 adult patients with FSV underwent surgery in our hospital.

Minimally invasive, multi-disciplinary approach for surgical management of a mediastinal congenital bronchogenic cyst in a 6-month-old infant.

We present a case of prenatal diagnosis of a mediastinal cyst by ultrasound, confirmed during infancy through computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 6-month-old male infant was admitted to the hospital. A mid-mediastinal cyst was detected through a province-wide fetal ultrasonography screening program.

Assessing the impact of total extracorporeal circulation on hemodynamics in an ovine fetal model.

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of total extracorporeal circulation on hemodynamics and placental function in an ovine fetal model. Mid-term ovine fetuses (n=6) underwent extracorporeal circulation (30 min), cardioplegic arrest (20 min) and monitoring (120 min). The ascending aorta and umbilical cords of the fetuses were occluded during the bypass and an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator was used as the oxygen source.

iPSC-Derived Regulatory Dendritic Cells Inhibit Allograft Rejection by Generating Alloantigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells.

Regulatory dendritic cell (DCregs)-based immunotherapy is a potential therapeutic tool for transplant rejection. We generated DCregs from murine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which could remain in a "stable immature stage" even under strong stimulation. Harnessing this characteristic, we hypothesized that iPS-DCregs worked as a negative vaccine to generate regulatory T cells (Tregs), and induced donor-specific allograft acceptance.

MicroRNA-34a targets regulator of calcineurin 1 to modulate endothelial inflammation after fetal cardiac bypass in goat placenta.

Introduction: Placental dysfunction characterized by vascular endothelial inflammation is one of the most notable responses to fetal cardiac bypass. Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is an important regulator of inflammatory responses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential post-transcriptional modulators of gene expression, and miRNA-34a (miR-34a) was showed to activate vascular endothelial inflammation.

Echocardiographic Findings of an Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery in Children and Adolescents: Real or Fake?

An anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) is a relatively uncommon congenital heart defect that can lead to myocardial ischemia and sudden cardiac death. An LCA arising from the pulmonary artery and an LCA arising from the opposite sinus of Valsalva are the common types of anomalous origins of the LCA. Echocardiographic assessment of the coronary arteries is an important component of the routine cardiovascular evaluation, but echocardiographic "pseudo images" of LCA origination can be present in some patients.

Giant Left Ventricular Myxoma With Obstruction of the Left Ventricular Outflow Tract.

A rare case of giant left ventricular (LV) myxoma with obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) was found incidentally on echocardiography in an asymptomatic 21-year-old woman. The tumor was successfully resected through transatrial septal access.

The protective effect of trimetazidine on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through activating AMPK and ERK signaling pathway.

Introduction: Trimetazidine (TMZ) is an anti-anginal drug that has been widely used in Europe and Asia. The TMZ can optimize energy metabolism via inhibition of long-chain 3-ketoacyl CoA thiolase (3-KAT) in the heart, with subsequent decrease in fatty acid oxidation and stimulation of glucose oxidation. However, the mechanism by which TMZ aids in cardioprotection against ischemic injury has not been characterized.

Bilateral subclavian vein sheaths for superior vena cava drainage during thoracoscopic repair of atrial septal defects: cosmetic outcomes, safety and effectiveness.

Objective: To investigate the cosmetic outcomes, safety and effectiveness of using bilateral subclavian vein sheaths for superior vena cava drainage during thoracoscopic repair of atrial septal defects.

Methods: Sixty-one consecutive adults scheduled for thoracoscopic repair of atrial septal defects between July 2012 and June 2013 were randomized into two groups: one group underwent placement of a 16 Fr percutaneous superior vena cava cannula (n = 30) and the other group underwent placement of bilateral 8 Fr subclavian vein sheaths (n = 31) for superior vena cava drainage during peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass. The perioperative data, central venous pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass, complications and the patient satisfaction scale scores for the incisions were compared between the two groups.

[Analysis of environmental risk factors in congenital heart defects].

Objective: To explore the environmental risk factors of different categories of congenital heart defects (CHD) and provide evidence for further risk factors and prevention research of CHD phenotypes.

Methods: Data of Guangdong CHD Register Study from 2004 to 2012 were used. In the study, 3 038 CHD cases and 3 038 paired controls from 34 hospitals distributed in 17 cities were registered and related information were collected using uniform, and structured questionnaires.

MicroRNA-377 regulates mesenchymal stem cell-induced angiogenesis in ischemic hearts by targeting VEGF.

MicroRNAs have been appreciated in various cellular functions, including the regulation of angiogenesis. Mesenchymal-stem-cells (MSCs) transplanted to the MI heart improve cardiac function through paracrine-mediated angiogenesis. However, whether microRNAs regulate MSC induced angiogenesis remains to be clarified.

Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate rat graft-versus-host disease.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow are feasible for the exertion of a powerful immunoregulatory effect and thus shall hold a curative potency in T lymphocyte-dependent pathologies. This current article is intended to describe the method to investigate that MSCs might take advantage of regulation in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a major etiology of attack rate and lethality post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). MSCs were isolated from Lewis rat bone morrow and cultured for 4 weeks.

[Protective effect of retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid via accessory hemiazygos vein and treated with resveratrol on spinal cord injury in swine].

Objectives: To observe the protective effect of retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid via accessory hemiazygos vein and treated with resveratrol on spinal cord injury and evaluate the expression changes of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) after spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury (SCII) in swine.

Methods: Eighteen swine were divided into 3 groups: group I/R (n = 6, operation group), group CL (n = 6, retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid), group CL+Res (n = 6, retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid and treated with resveratrol after ischemia). In the group I/R, the aorta was clamped for 60 minutes and then removed.

Alpha1 catalytic subunit of AMPK modulates contractile function of cardiomyocytes through phosphorylation of troponin I.

Aims: The specific role of AMPKα1 or AMPKα2 in mediating cardiomyocyte contractile function remains elusive. The present study investigated how AMPK activation modulates the contractility of isolated cardiomyocytes.

Main Methods: Mechanical properties and intracellular Ca(2+) properties were measured in isolated cardiomyocytes.

Natural antioxidant-isoliquiritigenin ameliorates contractile dysfunction of hypoxic cardiomyocytes via AMPK signaling pathway.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a simple chalcone-type flavonoid, is derived from licorice compounds and is mainly present in foods, beverages, and tobacco. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a critical factor involved in modulating cardiac stress response signaling during ischemia and reperfusion. We hypothesize that ISL as a natural antioxidant may protect heart against ischemic injury via modulating cellular redox status and regulating cardioprotective signaling pathways.