Discrepancy between arterial oxygen saturation and pulse oximetry measurement in a Chinese pediatric patient cohort.

Background: Increasing evidence suggest a racial bias in pulse oximetry measurement, but this was under investigated in Asian pediatric populations.

Methods: Via the Pediatric Intensive Care database, this retrospective study included pediatric patient records of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO) and oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry (SpO) measured within 10 min. Discrepancy was examined, and potential predictors of occult hypoxemia (defined as SaO <88% with the paired SpO ≥92%) as well as its association with outcomes were explored by logistic regression.

Mechanisms of Cd-Induced Cytotoxicity in Normal Human Skin Keratinocytes: Implication for Human Health.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the toxic heavy metals found widely in the environment. Skin is an important target organ of Cd exposure. However, the adverse effects of Cd on human skin are still not well known.

Initial status and 3-month results relating to the use of biodegradable nitride iron stents in children and the evaluation of right ventricular function.

Background: Pulmonary artery stenosis is often associated with congenital heart disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stenting for branch pulmonary artery stenosis using a biodegradable nitride iron stent (IBS Angel™) and right ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

Methods: From July 2021 to February 2022, a total of 11 cases (ages ranged from 36 to 86 months old) were included in this pre and post-intervention, prospective, cohort and preclinical study.

Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Gene Mutations in Children With Noonan Syndrome.

Common cardiac abnormalities in Noonan syndrome (NS) include congenital heart diseases (CHD), pulmonary valve stenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Molecular diagnoses are enabling earlier and more precise diagnosis of patients who have a subtle or atypical presentation. The aims of this study were to investigate genotype-phenotype associations with respect to Noonan syndrome (NS)-associated cardiac abnormalities and catheter or surgery-based interventions conditions.

Initial experiences with a novel biodegradable device for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects: From preclinical study to first-in-human experience.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a novel, absorbable atrial septal defect (ASD) closure device made of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) in a swine model of ASD and for the first time in humans.

Methods: A preclinical safety study was conducted using a swine model of ASD. In a clinical setting, five pediatric patients underwent ASD closure with the PLLA device with fluoroscopic and transthoracic echocardiography guidance.

Predictors of operability in children with severe pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease.

Background: Pulmonary artery hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) occurs predominantly among patients with uncorrected CHD. Treatment of severe pediatric PAH-CHD remains a major intractability. This study evaluated the predictors and prognoses of children with PAH-CHD who underwent surgical correction.

Study of biodegradable occluder of atrial septal defect in a porcine model.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a modified poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) atrial septal defect (ASD) occluder.

Methods: Forty-five piglets were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 27) and a control group (n = 18). The experimental group underwent percutaneous implantation of a modified PLLA ASD device while the control group underwent percutaneous implantation of a widely used metal ASD device.

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake and serum testosterone levels in adult males 20-39 years old in the United States.

Background: This population-based study was designed to investigate whether consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is associated with lower serum total testosterone concentration in men 20-39 years old.

Methods: All data for this study were retrieved from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012. The primary outcome was serum testosterone concentration, and main independent variable was SSB intake.

Toxicity of nickel ions and comprehensive analysis of nickel ion-associated gene expression profiles in THP-1 cells.

The aim of the present study was to explore the toxic effects and underlying mechanisms of nickel ions during therapeutic nickel‑based alloy‑treatment in congenital heart disease by investigating the metal‑induced cytotoxicity to the human monocyte‑derived macrophage cell line THP‑1. THP‑1 cells were treated with NiCl2·6H2O (25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 µM) for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. MTT was applied to detect THP‑1 cell proliferation following NiCl2 treatment.

Role of Nogo‑A in the regulation of hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC‑7721 cell apoptosis.

Nogo-A has been identified as an inhibitor of neurite outgrowth specific to the central nervous system. However, little is known about the role of Nogo-A in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to investigate the role of endogenous Nogo-A in human liver cancer cells.

[Peg-IFNa-2a/RBV antiviral efficacy in cirrhotic hepatitis C patients after splenectomy or partial splenic embolization].

To investigate the antiviral efficacy of combination therapy with pegylated-interferon alpha (peg-IFNa)-2a and ribavirin (RBV) in hepatitis C patients with liver cirrhosis after splenectomy or partial splenic embolization. Forty-nine hepatitis C patients with liver cirrhosis who were unable to use antiviral therapy because of hypersplenism were recruited for study and treated with splenectomy or partial splenic embolization. Three months later, a regimen of antiviral combination therapy was initiated with peg-IFNa-2a (once-weekly subcutaneous injection: 135 μg or 180 μg) and RBV (daily oral: 800 to 1200 mg), and was maintained for 48 weeks.

[Interventional catheterization management for patients with postoperative residual cardiovascular malformations].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of interventional therapy for complex congenital heart defects patients with un-repaired or postoperative residual lesions.

Methods: Between March 1998 and April 2009, 42 patients (12 females), mean age 6 years (5 months to 30 years) received interventional therapy, 17 cases underwent occlusion of major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs), 15 underwent device closure of residual ventricular or atrial septal shunting, 12 underwent balloon angioplasty (n = 10) and stenting (n = 2) for stenosis of the anastomosis of vessels or branched pulmonary arteries.

Results: Twenty-three MAPCAs were performed in 17 patients without residual shunting.

[Effects of transcatheter closure in children with congenital coronary artery fistula].

Objective: To observe the effects of transcatheter closure method for treating congenital coronary artery fistula (CAF) in children.

Methods: Twenty-three children with CAF received transcatheter closure. Under anesthesia, heart catheterization and selective coronary angiography were performed to show the CAF size and relationship with normal coronary artery.

Correlation between TIMP-1 expression and liver fibrosis in two rat liver fibrosis models.

Aim: To evaluate serum TIMP-1 level and the correlation between TIMP-1 expression and liver fibrosis in immune-induced and CCL4-induced liver fibrosis models in rats.

Methods: Immune-induced and CCL4-induced liver fibrosis models were established by dexamethasone (0.01 mg) and CCL4 respectively.

[Management of the arrhythmia around the procedure of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects in pediatric patients].

Objective: To discuss the treatment of arrhythmia occurs in the process of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSD) in pediatric patients.

Methods: 182 cases (mean age: 6.2 +/- 3.

[The development of a new perimembranous ventricular septal defect occluder].

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a new perimembranous VSD occluder and to evaluate it.

Methods: The shape of VSD occluder was designed as fabric frame "I" shape that comprised two types: symmetric and asymmetric. The safety, efficacy, feasibility and complication were tested in 22 animal models and in 58 VSD patients in clinical trial.

[Applying interventional treatment for the atrial septal defect in 165 children under five years of age].

Objective: To study the clinical technology of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) with Amplatzer device in younger and lower body weight children.

Methods: The transcatheter closure of ASD using Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) was performed in 165 children under 5 years of age (75 boys and 90 girls) with secundum ASD from Aug 1998 to May 2004. The age of the cases ranged from 2 to 5 (mean 3.

Expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in rats with hepatic fibrosis.

Aim: To investigate the location and expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the liver of normal and experimental hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Methods: The rat models of experimental immunity hepatic fibrosis (n=20) were prepared by the means of immunologic attacking with human serum albumin (HSA), and normal rats (n=10) served as control group. Both immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods were respectively used to detect the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA and related antigens in liver.