Aorta Dilatation in Unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background Aortic root dilation is an increasingly recognized feature in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) patients. However, the dilation at the aortic root and ascending aorta in unrepaired TOF is rarely studied. This study aims to confirm whether aortic dilation is a common feature in unrepaired TOF and investigate the factors attributed to aortic dilation.

Protective Effects of MicroRNA-126 on Human Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells Against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Injury and Inflammatory Response by Activating PI3K/Akt/eNOS Signaling Pathway.

Objective: This study explored the protective effects of the microRNA-126 (miR-126)-mediated PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway on human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury and the inflammatory response.

Methods: Untreated HCMECs were selected for the control group. After H/R treatment and cell transfection, the HCMECs were assigned to the H/R, miR-126 mimic, mimic-negative control (NC), miR-126 inhibitor, inhibitor-NC, wortmannin (an inhibitor of PI3K) and miR-126 mimic + wortmannin groups.

Antagonistic effects of endostatin-vascular endothelial growth inhibitor chimeric recombinant adenovirus on homocysteine-induced vascular endothelial cells injury in vitro and in vivo.

Background: The study is inclined to investigate the antagonistic effects of endostatin-vascular endothelial growth inhibitor chimeric recombinant adenovirus (Ad-hENDO-VEGI) on homocysteine (Hcy)-induced vascular endothelial cells (VECs) injury in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Human VECs cell line ECV304 was selected and infected with Ad-hENDO-VEGI. The LDH leakage, SOD activity, and MDA levels were measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer.

RETRACTED: The effects of tanshinone IIA on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced myocardial microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis in rats via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).

[Effect of pretreatment with qishen yiqi dropping pills on right cardiac function of patients undergoing valve replacement].

In this study, 120 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement were randomly divided into the control group and the Qishen group, with 60 cases in each group. Before the operation, the control group was given routine heart and diuretic treatments and placebo of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills for seven days (0.5 g each time, three times a day); While the Qishen group was given Qishen Yiqi dropping pills for seven days (0.

[Surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg].

Objective: To report the experience of the surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases (CHD) in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg.

Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2007, 105 children with CHD, aged 2 months to 3 years and weighing between 3.5 to 10 kg, underwent surgical treatment.