Detection of pathogens from venous or arterial blood of patients with left-sided infective endocarditis by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: A prospective study.

Background: Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening uncommon infectious disease, and we aimed to explore the clinical utility of venous or arterial blood-based metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) approaches to diagnose left-sided infective endocarditis (LSIE).

Methods: We prospectively studied 79 LSIE patients who received valvular surgery in our hospital. Results of blood culture, valve culture, venous blood-based mNGS, arterial blood-based mNGS, venous blood-based mNGS plus blood culture, and arterial blood-based mNGS plus blood culture were evaluated and compared.

ASSESS-IE: a Novel Risk Score for Patients with Infective Endocarditis.

Mortality in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) remains high. The existing risk scores are relatively complex with limited clinical application. This study was conducted to establish a new risk model to predict in-hospital and 6-month mortality in IE patients.

and Endocarditis Diagnosed by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing.

(1) Background: Culture-negative endocarditis is challenging to diagnose. Here, we retrospectively identified 23 cases of and endocarditis by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. (2) Methods: Twenty-three patients with culture-negative endocarditis were retrospectively enrolled from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital ( = 23) between April 2019 and December 2021.

Application of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in the Etiological Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis During the Perioperative Period of Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The present study aimed to prospectively evaluate the role of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the etiological diagnosis of patients with perioperative infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods: From May 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2020, a total of 99 patients with IE were enrolled in the present study according to the modified Duke criteria, etiological, and pathological results. 11 non-IE patients undergoing heart valve surgery in the same period were selected as the control group.

A Modified Technique for Valve Regurgitation After Partial Atrioventricular Septal Defect Repair.

Given its complex pathologic anatomy, recurrent left atrioventricular valve regurgitation after partial atrioventricular septal defect repair remains a challenge for surgical correction. Here, we introduce a modified bridging technique by shortening the anteroposterior leaflet distance in selected patients with inadequate coaptation to compensate for the short leaflet height, specifically that of the anterior leaflet.

The Efficacy of Resin Hemoperfusion Cartridge on Inflammatory Responses during Adult Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the resin hemoperfusion device (HA380 hemoperfusion cartridge) on inflammatory responses during adult cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing surgical valve replacement were randomized into the HP group (n = 30) with an HA380 hemoperfusion cartridge in the CPB circuit or the control group (n = 30) with the conventional CPB circuit. The results of routine blood tests, blood biochemical indexes, and inflammatory factors were analyzed at V0 (pre-CPB), V1 (CPB 30 min), V2 (ICU 0 h), V3 (ICU 6 h), and V4 (ICU 24 h).

T1 mapping and feature tracking imaging of left ventricular extracellular remodeling in severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) extracellular remodeling is a critical process in aortic stenosis (AS), which is related to functional abnormalities. Data regarding the use of combined T1 mapping and feature tracking (FT) to assess LV extracellular remodeling in severe AS are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the ability of T1-derived and FT-derived parameters to identify and assess the changes in process of LV extracellular remodeling in patients with severe AS.

ECG-gated CT in Aortic Perivalvular Abscess: Comparison with Transesophageal Echocardiography and Intraoperative Findings.

Background The 2015 European Society of Cardiology guidelines acknowledged similar diagnostic performance of electrocardiography (ECG)-gated CT on perivalvular abscesses compared with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), but data on ECG-gated CT remain insufficient. Purpose To determine the diagnostic performance of ECG-gated CT for assessing aortic root perivalvular abscesses and to compare it with TEE. Materials and Methods Between January 2008 and June 2019, the imaging records of surgically confirmed infective endocarditis were retrospectively reviewed for presence of aortic perivalvular abscesses, their extension, fistulization, vegetations, and valvular destruction.

Upregulation of miR-146a-5p is associated with increased proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in aortic dissection.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether miR-146a-5p was involved in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic dissection (AD) via regulating the biological function of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods: Circulating miR-146a-5p level was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in AD patients and healthy controls. Human dissected aortic samples were obtained from patients with thoracic AD Stanford type A undergoing surgical repair, and normal control samples were from organ donors who died from nonvascular diseases.

[Surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot in adults over 40 years of age].

Objective: To summarize the experience with surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot in adults over 40 years of age.

Methods: From November 1985 to July 2008, 9 male and 11 female patients aged 41-53 years (mean 46.3±3.

Surgical outcome of isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in adults: a 14-year experience.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the surgical result of adult total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

Methods: From March 1997 to March 2011, 12 adult cases of isolated TAPVC, with an average age of 24.9 ± 6.

[Surgical treatment of congenital bicuspid aortic valve in 73 patients aged over 50 years].

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics, surgical management and postoperative complications in patients with congenital bicuspid aortic valve (CBAV) over 50 years of age.

Methods: From January 2009 to September 2011, 73 CBAV patients aged 51-76 years (mean 61.8∓0.

[Effect of decellularization on tissue composition and immunogenicity of porcine and human aortic valves].

Objective: To study the changes of tissue composition and immunogenicity of porcine and human aortic valves after decellularization.

Methods: Three cryopreserved human aortic valves and 4 porcine valves were decellularized with trypsin, and the leaflet tissue was homogenized for SDS-PAGE protein electrophoresis and U-937 migration assay.

Results: Trypsin effectively removed the cells from the valve.

[Subcutaneous implantation of tissue-engineered heart valve leaflets in nude mice].

Objective: To investigate the viability of tissue-engineered heart valve leaflets prepared with cell-polymer constructs in nude mice.

Methods: Sheep endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells/fibroblasts were seeded on patches of PHA and implanted subcutaneously in athymic mice (BALB/C). The cell-polymer constructs were harvested 12, 14, 21 and 28 days after implantation.

[Effect of trypsin and Triton-X 100 for decellularization of porcine aortic heart valves].

Objective: To test two decellularization procedures for their potential of cell removal and mormal matrix preservation.

Methods: Porcine aortic valve leaflets were treated with either 0.05% trypsin or 0.