Preoperative blood urea nitrogen-to-serum albumin ratio for prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients who underwent emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

The study aimed to assess the predictive value of blood urea nitrogen (BUN)-to-albumin ratio (BA-R) for in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Patients who were diagnosed with ATAAD and underwent emergency surgery within 48 hours of onset at our hospital between January 2015 and December 2021 were included in this study. The primary endpoint of this study was postoperative in-hospital mortality (POIM).

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.

Benefits of sacubitril/valsartan use in patients with chronic heart failure after cardiac valve surgery: a single-center retrospective study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan for the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) after cardiac valve surgery (CVS).

Methods: Data were collected from 259 patients who underwent CVS due to valvular heart disease and were admitted to the hospital with CHF from January 2018 to December 2020. The patients were divided into Group A (treatment with sacubitril/valsartan) and Group B (treatment without sacubitril/valsartan).

Low acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination and reduced quality of life among heart transplant recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the quality of life (QoL) and status of COVID-19 vaccination in heart transplant recipients (HTRs).

Methods: Patients who underwent allogeneic heart transplants between June 2006 and December 2019, who survived were selected from a follow-up registration form at our center. Data were collected using questionnaires in 2021, the QoL survey was conducted using the MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and compared to the same time frame in 2019.

Mid-term outcomes of right subaxillary approach versus median sternotomy incision for ventricular septal defect with patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate and compare two surgical approaches to repair ventricular septal defect (VSD) with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and to explore the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients who had surgical repair of VSD and PDA between 2013 and 2015 using the right subaxillary approach (group A) or the median sternotomy incision (group B). The outcomes of both techniques were compared.

Preoperative clinical application of human fibrinogen in patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection: A single-center retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the perioperative clinical efficacy of preoperative human fibrinogen treatment in patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: Data of 159 patients with ATAAD who underwent emergency surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether human fibrinogen was administered before surgery: patients in group A received fibrinogen before surgery, while those in group B did not.

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.

Quality of life: modified triple-branched stent graft implantation versus frozen elephant trunk technique.

Objective: To compare the effects of modified triple-branched stent implantation and frozen elephant trunk technique on the quality of life (QoL) of acute Stanford Type A aortic dissection (AAAD) patients at different follow-up times.

Methods: Data from 175 AAAD survivors was collected which were divided into two groups according to different surgical techniques: (group A): modified triple-branched stent graft implantation; (group B): frozen elephant trunk. The SF-36 were used to assess the QoL at discharge (AD), the third postoperative month (POM3), and the twelfth postoperative month (POM12).

The Dose-Dependent Effects of Spironolactone on TGF-1 Expression and the Vulnerability to Atrial Fibrillation in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Objective: This study tends to assess the dose-dependent effects of spironolactone on TGF-1 expression, atrial fibrosis, and the vulnerability to atrial fibrillation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and tries to clarify the association of atrial fibrosis with the vulnerability to atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Forty 20-week-old male SHRs were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 rats per group): 3 spironolactone groups were lower-dose group (10 mg·kg·d, dissolved in 2 ml saline solution, group SL), medium-dose group (40 mg·kg·d, dissolved in 2 ml saline solution, group SM), higher-dose group (80 mg·kg·d, dissolved in 2 ml saline solution, group SH) and one hypertension group (2 ml saline solution for stomach gavage, group H). Ten matched homologous WKY rats were set as the control group (group C).

A Modified Approach with Caval Transection for Supracardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: Comparison Between Conventional and Sutureless Surgery in 173 Patients.

The efficacy of primary sutureless repair for supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) needs to be confirmed. This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes between the conventional surgery and the sutureless technique with a modified approach in superior TAPVC. Between January 2008 and December 2018, 173 patients with supracardiac TAPVC underwent surgery either with the conventional procedure (n = 130) or the sutureless repair (n = 43).

Telmisartan reduces atrial arrhythmia susceptibility through the regulation of RAS-ERK and PI3K-Akt-eNOS pathways in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Telmisartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker that displays unique PPAR-γ modulating activity. PPAR-γ agonists have been shown to decrease susceptibility to atrial fibrillation through their antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether telmisartan would have a greater effect on susceptibility to atrial arrhythmia in a hypertensive rat model than valsartan, which is a traditional angiotensin II receptor blocker.

P-wave dispersion and maximum duration are independently associated with insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation. P-wave indices, including P-wave dispersion (PWD) and P-wave duration, can be used as non-invasive markers of heterogeneous atrial conduction. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between P-wave indices and insulin resistance in patients with MS.