Clinical outcomes of percutaneous or surgical closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of percutaneous closure (PC) and surgical repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA).

Methods: Eighty-five consecutive patients with RSVA were included in this study. Patients were considered candidates for PC if they met the criterion, surgical repair was performed on patients who were unsuitable or failed PC.

Tetrandrine inhibits migration and invasion of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes through down-regulating the expressions of Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA GTPases and activation of the PI3K/Akt and JNK signaling pathways.

Tetrandrine (Tet), the main active constituent of Stephania tetrandra root, has been demonstrated to alleviate adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of Tet on the migration and invasion of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) and explore the underlying mechanisms. By using cultures of primary FLS isolated from synoviums of RA patients and cell line MH7A, Tet (0.

Clinical Application of Superior Vena Cava Spectra in Evaluation of Pulmonary Hypertension: A Comparative Echocardiography and Catheterization Study.

This study was designed to assess whether superior vena cava (SVC) Doppler flow velocities are associated with invasive measures of pulmonary arterial pressure. Eighty patients with unrepaired congenital heart disease who underwent cardiac catheterization were included (31 men, 49 women; mean age: 37.3 ± 14.

Acute effects of Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil on pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with congenital heart defects.

Background: We investigated the acute vasodilator effects of i.v. fasudil, a specific Rho-kinase inhibitor, on pulmonary circulation in patients with congenital heart defects (CHD) and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Trial occlusion to assess the risk of persistent pulmonary arterial hypertension after closure of a large patent ductus arteriosus in adolescents and adults with elevated pulmonary artery pressure.

Background: No method is available to predict whether patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) will show persistent postprocedural PAH (PP-PAH) after PDA closure. This study evaluated the usefulness of trial occlusion for predicting PP-PAH after transcatheter PDA closure in patients with severe PAH.

Methods And Results: Trial occlusion was performed in 137 patients (age ≥12 years) with PDA and severe PAH.

Initial experience of occluding special type patent ductus arterioses using the Amplatzer vascular plug.

Background: Occluders licensed for clinical use are not fit for some special Krichenko E patent ductus arterioses. The Amplatzer vascular plug I (AVP1) has not been licensed for use for closure of patent ductus arteriose. We report our initial experience to occluding special type patent ductus arterioses with the AVP1-a single lobe device of single layer Nitinol mesh for short vessel landing zones.

Severe thrombocytopenia complicating transcatheter occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus.

Transcatheter closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a well-established technique that may occasionally be complicated by severe thrombocytopenia. We report herein 6 cases of PDA in which circulating platelet counts were notably reduced within 18-48 hours following the procedure. A number of interventions, including blood-pressure control, protection against hemorrhage, and eradication of residual flow, were performed.

Long-term efficacy of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect in combination with percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ventricular septal defect complicating acute myocardial infarction: a multicentre study.

Aims: To assess the immediate and long-term outcomes of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) in combination with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with VSD complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: Data were prospectively collected from 35 AMI patients who underwent attempted transcatheter VSD closure and PCI therapy in five high-volume heart centres. All the patients who survived the procedures were followed up by chest x-ray, electrocardiogram and echocardiography.

[Clinical analysis of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in elderly patients].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical feature of patients with atrial septal defects (ASD) and the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ASD in elderly patients.

Methods: Between May 2000 and June 2010, 82 patients aged (64.5 ± 3.

Vardenafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Rationale: Although the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors sildenafil and tadalafil have demonstrated efficacy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), monotherapy with these agents has not been conclusively shown to reduce clinical worsening events.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor vardenafil in Chinese patients with PAH.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 66 patients with PAH were randomized 2:1 to vardenafil (5 mg once daily for 4 wk then 5 mg twice daily; n = 44) or placebo (n = 22) for 12 weeks.

[Preliminary study on the efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension in China].

Objective: Sildenafil has been shown to be effective in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the impact of sildenafil on PAH has been under-investigated in China. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in PAH patients in China.

Impact of sildenafil therapy on pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults with congenital heart disease.

Background: It has been demonstrated that sildenafil is effective in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the impact of sildenafil on PAH in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has been less investigated.

Objective: In this prospective, open-label, uncontrolled and multicenter study, 60 patients with PAH related to CHD received oral sildenafil (75 mg/day) for 12 weeks.

Acute hemodynamic responses to adenosine and iloprost in patients with congenital heart defects and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Detection of pulmonary vasoreactivity is important for the evaluation of patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The present study aimed to investigate the acute hemodynamic responses to adenosine and iloprost in patients with congenital heart defects (CHDs) and severe PAH.

Patients And Methods: From Mar 2007 to Nov 2009, 75 patients with severe PAH secondary to left-to-right shunt CHDs underwent acute vasodilator test using aerosolized iloprost (n = 50) or intravenous adenosine (n = 25).

[Effects of transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in 139 adult patients].

Objective: To analyze the clinical feature and the effects of transcatheter closure of adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Methods: Between January 2000 and April 2009, 139 patients [22 male, aged from 40 to 74: (49.8 +/- 6.

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of bosentan in Chinese patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Bosentan has an established role in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This clinical trial assessed the benefits of bosentan in the Chinese population.

Methods: We investigated the efficacy and safety of bosentan in 92 Chinese citizens (mean +/- standard deviation age, 29.

Transcatheter closure of congenital coronary artery fistulae: immediate and long-term follow-up results.

Background: Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulae (CAF) has emerged as an alternative to surgery, but there are no long-term outcome results.

Objective: We report immediate and long-term results in 24 patients after transcatheter closure of congenital CAF.

Methods: A total of 24 patients aged 5 to 56 years old with congenital CAF underwent attempted percutaneous transcatheter closure using various devices between November 1998 and August 2008.

[Interventional therapy for structural heart diseases in People's Liberation Army hospitals between 2005 and 2006].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventional therapy in structural heart diseases in 38 PLA hospitals.

Methods: Data including patient number underwent interventional therapy for structural heart disease, procedure details, immediate procedural complications were retrospectively collected in all the military hospitals between January 2005 and December 2006.

Results: Successful interventional therapy was achieved in 8692 out of 8862 patients (98.

[Short- and mid-term outcomes of arrhythmia after transcatheter and surgical closure of membranous ventricular septal defects: a comparative analysis].

Objective: To evaluate the short- and mid-term outcomes of arrhythmia in patients undergoing transcatheter and surgical closure of membraneous ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Methods: 358 VSD patients, 161 male and 197 female, aged (11 +/- 8), underwent transcatheter closure and 50 sex, age, body weight, size of membranous VSD, and percentage of complicated membranous aneurysm-matched VSD patients underwent surgical closure. Electrocardiography was conducted 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after VSD closure.

[Risk factors for early arrhythmias post transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects].

Objective: To analyze the risk factors for early arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PVSD).

Methods: A total of 358 patients [161 males, aged from 3 to 54, mean (10.9 +/- 8.

Transcatheter occlusion of the ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with an Amplatzer duct occluder.

Background: Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA) can be associated with ventricular septal defects or isolated lesions. Percutaneous transcatheter closure of RSVA has been an alternative strategy to surgery. The results of transcatheter closure of the RSVA in 10 patients were presented.