Prediction models for post-thrombectomy brain edema in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate prediction models for post-thrombectomy brain edema in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. This analysis aims to equip clinicians with evidence-based guidance for the selection of appropriate prediction models, thereby facilitating the early identification of patients at risk of developing brain edema post-surgery.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and Vip, aiming to identify studies on prediction models for post-thrombectomy brain edema in AIS patients up to January 2023.

The support dilemma of stroke inpatients and family caregivers under COVID-19 prevention and control: a qualitative study in China.

China has implemented a strict isolation system in hospitals since the COVID-19 pandemic, that adversely affected the psychology of inpatients and their caregivers. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 22 stroke inpatients from two municipal hospitals were conducted to explore the psychological, emotional and related support needs of stroke inpatients and their family caregivers under this environment. Results which showed that external support for stroke inpatients and their family caregivers was insufficient highlight the necessity for developing specific nursing interventions that meet the psychological and emotional needs of inpatients and the caregivers.

Colorectal cancer organoid models uncover oxaliplatin-resistant mechanisms at single cell resolution.

Purpose: Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is a standard treatment for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, chemoresistance-induced resistance is an essential cause for mortality. Therefore, it is necessary to study the mechanism of drug resistance in CRC.

Defining the ultrastructure of the hematopoietic stem cell niche by correlative light and electron microscopy.

The blood system is supported by hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) found in a specialized microenvironment called the niche. Many different niche cell types support HSPCs, however how they interact and their ultrastructure has been difficult to define. Here, we show that single endogenous HSPCs can be tracked by light microscopy, then identified by serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM) at multiscale levels.

Integration of a Metal-Organic Framework Film with a Tubular Whispering-Gallery-Mode Microcavity for Effective CO Sensing.

Carbon dioxide (CO) sensing using an optical technique is of great importance in the environment and industrial emission monitoring. However, limited by the poor specific adsorption of gas molecules as well as insufficient coupling efficiency, there is still a long way to go toward realizing a highly sensitive optical CO gas sensor. Herein, by combining the advantages of a whispering-gallery-mode microcavity and a metal-organic framework (MOF) film, a porous functional microcavity (PF-MC) was fabricated with the assistance of the atomic layer deposition technique and was applied to CO sensing.

Aortic coarctation with cardiac fibroma in a young patient: a case report.

Background: Cardiac fibroma and aortic coarctation are rarely observed concomitantly in the same patient. We report a case of cardiac fibroma with aortic coarctation treated with a hybrid surgical procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of these two abnormalities existing in one patient.

Flying Squirrel-Inspired Motion Control of a Light-Deformed Pt-PAzoMA Micromotor through Drag Force Manipulation.

Micromotors require stable and precise motion control for complex tasks such as microsurgery, drug delivery , or environmental monitoring . However, a continuous control signal is needed for micromotors to achieve motion control during their whole journey, which hinders their application in areas where external control stimuli are limited or unavailable. Fortunately, nature suggests an excellent solution that flying squirrel exhibits motion tuning capability by deforming itself when jumping off a tall tree.

Distal Remodeling After Operations for Extensive Acute Aortic Dissection.

Background: The clinical predictors of distal aortic remodeling (DAR) after various procedures for extensive acute aortic dissection are not fully understood.

Methods: From 2008 to 2018, a total of 122 candidates with extensive acute type A and B aortic dissections survived operations of total arch replacement plus frozen elephant trunk (n = 36), ascending aortic replacement plus supraaortic debranching plus retrograde stenting (hybrid procedure; n = 25), and total endovascular repair (n = 61). We assessed DAR at 4 thoracoabdominal aortic levels based on true lumen expansion, false lumen patency, maximal aortic area, and the blood supply of major branches.

Ruptured Bronchial Artery Aneurysm Treated With Aortic Stent Graft and Aneurysm Embolization.

Background: Mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysms are uncommon, with fewer than 40 published case reports. This study objective was to evaluate the short term follow up of two cases ruptured Bronchial Artery Aneurysm (rBAA) treated with aneurysm embolization and subsequent aortic stent graft.

Methods: Two cases of rBAA were treated with a combination of an aortic stent-graft and aneurysm embolization.

Acute Commissural Rupture in a Giant Aortic Root Aneurysm.

Idiopathic rupture of aortic valve commissure is an extremely rare cause of acute aortic regurgitation. Here, we report a case of commissural rupture with giant root aneurysm and history of chronic aortic regurgitation, emphasizing the diagnostic value of high-quality three-dimensional reconstructions of multimodality imaging in assessing the cause of abruptly deteriorating valve regurgitation.

Bandwidth-Aware Traffic Sensing in Vehicular Networks with Mobile Edge Computing.

Traffic sensing is one of the promising applications to guarantee safe and efficient traffic systems in vehicular networks. However, due to the unique characteristics of vehicular networks, such as limited wireless bandwidth and dynamic mobility of vehicles, traffic sensing always faces high estimation error based on collected traffic data with missing elements and over-high communication cost between terminal users and central server. Hence, this paper investigates the traffic sensing system in vehicular networks with mobile edge computing (MEC), where each MEC server enables traffic data collection and recovery in its local server.

Mesenchymal stem cells rejuvenate cardiac muscle through regulating macrophage polarization.

We have shown that the effects of transplantation of CD146+ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on myocardial regeneration after myocardial infarction (MI) exceeds the effects of transplantation of MSCs, likely resulting from reduction of aging-associated cellular reactive oxygen species in injured cardiac muscle cells (CMCs). Since the role of macrophages in the MSC-mediated recovery of heart function after MI remains unclear, this question was thus addressed in the current study. We found that transplantation of MSCs did not alter the total number of the macrophages in the injured heart, but induced their polarization towards a M2-phenotype.

Hypoxic Macrophage-Derived VEGF Promotes Proliferation and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common causes of cancer death. Hypoxia is an important property of the tumor microenvironment of GC. Increasing evidence demonstrates that tumor-associated macrophages are related to the metastasis of GC, while the precise mechanism of how hypoxic macrophages affect tumor progression is still not fully understood.

Patient-prosthesis mismatch in mitral annuloplasty for degenerative mitral regurgitation: an ignored issue.

Objectives: Elevated postoperative transmitral gradient (TMG), partially induced by a small annuloplasty ring, is associated with late atrial fibrillation (AF) after mitral valve repair. Here, we aimed to provide the optimal cut-off of prosthetic ring size to reduce patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) after mitral annuloplasty.

Methods: From 2006 to 2017, 262 patients who underwent mitral valve repair for degenerative pathologies were retrospectively studied.

Rivaroxaban, Aspirin, or Both to Prevent Early Coronary Bypass Graft Occlusion: The COMPASS-CABG Study.

Background: Patients with recent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are at risk for early graft failure, which is associated with a risk of myocardial infarction and death. In the COMPASS (Cardiovascular OutcoMes for People Using Anticoagulation StrategieS) trial, rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg once daily compared with aspirin 100 mg once daily reduced the primary major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) outcome of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction.

Mesenchymal stem cells rejuvenate cardiac muscle after ischemic injury.

Previous studies have shown that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) enhances myocardial regeneration after myocardial infarction (MI), primarily resulting from the production and release of trophic growth factors and cytokines by MSCs. However, effects of MSCs or a subtype of MSCs on the ageing of injured cardiac muscle cells (CMCs) are limitedly known. Here, we addressed this question.

MicroRNA-218 enhances gastric cancer cell cisplatin sensitivity by targeting survivin.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide. Cisplatin based chemotherapy is the primary strategy implemented for the treatment of G; however, chemoresistance is a major problem. Previous studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRs) are associated with chemoresistance in various types of cancer and that miR-218 specifically, serves important roles in the growth of GC cells.

Elevated gradient after mitral valve repair: The effect of surgical technique and relevance of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the effect of surgical technique in mitral valve repair on postoperative transmitral gradient (PTMG) and the relationship between PTMG and postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: In this retrospective study, 390 patients who underwent mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation without AF were included. PTMG was measured using transthoracic echocardiography before patient discharge.

Three-Dimensional Printed Models-Guided Surgical Repair for Recurrent Coronary Artery Fistula.

Recurrent coronary artery fistula is rare and can be difficult for surgical treatment because of anatomic complexity. Here, we reported a case of successful re-repair of a recurrent coronary artery fistula, with added evidence of the three-dimensional printed models guiding surgical correction of complex intracardiac abnormalities.

Regulatory T cells may play a protection role in postoperative pulmonary dysfunction in rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary dysfunction (PPD) is a common complication observed in patients after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The underlying mechanism regulating lung injury after CPB is unclear. However, since the involvement of regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper 17 (Th17) cells in immune responses has been well established, in this study, we investigated the contribution of these lymphocyte subsets to the development of PPD after CPB.

Impact of different annuloplasty rings on geometry of the mitral annulus with fibroelastic deficiency: the significance of aorto-mitral angle.

We sought to investigate the impact of full annuloplasty rings versus C-shape bands on mitral annular geometry in the presence of fibroelastic deficiency (FED), as assessed by intraoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE). We retrospectively selected 65 patients who underwent mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation caused by FED using full rings (the Ring group, n = 30) and C-shape bands (the Band group, n = 35). 71 controls without valvular heart disease were also included.

Management of Incomplete Initial Repair in the Treatment of Degenerative Mitral Insufficiency.

We sought to present our institutional protocol to manage incomplete initial repair of degenerative mitral regurgitation and to evaluate its mid-term outcomes. Eight hundred and fifteen patients with degenerative mitral insufficiency undergoing mitral valve repair were investigated in this study. The initial repair attempt was incomplete in 48 patients, leaving a degree of residual regurgitation > mild, and an elevated transmitral gradient or systolic anterior motion (SAM).

Left Ventricular Diastolic Function After Aortic Valve Replacement for Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the evolution of left ventricular diastolic function after aortic valve replacement for chronic severe aortic regurgitation.

Methods: Patients (n = 183) who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement for severe aortic regurgitation were included in this study. Degrees of left ventricular diastolic function were designated, according to the integration of two echocardiographic parameters: left atrial volume index and average E/e' ratio.

TBX1 loss-of-function mutation contributes to congenital conotruncal defects.

Conotruncal defects (CTDs) account for ~30% of all types of congenital heart disease and contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Increasing evidence suggests that genetic risk factors are involved in the pathogenesis of CTDs. Mutations in a number of genes, including the gene that codes for a T-box transcription factor essential for normal cardiovascular development, may contribute to the development of CTD.