Chinese expert consensus on echelons treatment of thoracic injury in modern warfare.

The emergency treatment of thoracic injuries varies of general conditions and modern warfare. However, there are no unified battlefield treatment guidelines for thoracic injuries in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). An expert consensus has been reached based on the epidemiology of thoracic injuries and the concept of battlefield treatment combined with the existing levels of military medical care in modern warfare.

Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Combined Use of Caffeic Acid with Paclitaxel Enhances Apoptosis of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer H1299 Cells in Vivo and in Vitro.

Background/aims: Caffeic acid (CA) is known to possess multiple biological activities including anti-cancer activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these activities in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells are not fully understood. We attempted to clarify whether CA could enhance paclitaxel (PTX)-induced cytotoxicity in H1299 cells.

Activation of TGF-β1/α-SMA/Col I Profibrotic Pathway in Fibroblasts by Galectin-3 Contributes to Atrial Fibrosis in Experimental Models and Patients.

Background/aims: This study aimed to evaluate whether galectin-3 (Gal-3) contributes actively to atrial fibrosis both in patients and experimental atrial fibrillation (AF) models.

Methods: Mouse HL-1 cardiomyocytes were subjected to rapid electrical stimulation (RES) to explore Gal-3 expression and secretion levels by western blotting (WB) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were treated with conditioned culture medium and recombinant human Gal-3 to evaluate the activation of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)/collagen I (Col I) profibrotic pathway (WB) and fibroblast proliferation with a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8).

Can dexmedetomidine be a safe and efficacious sedative agent in post-cardiac surgery patients? a meta-analysis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the use of dexmedetomidine as a safe and efficacious sedative agent in post-cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and Science Citation Index until January 2012 and review of studies was conducted. Eligible studies were of randomized controlled trials or cohort studies, comparing dexmedetomidine with a placebo or an alternative sedative agent in elective cardiac surgery, using dexmedetomidine for postoperative sedation and available in full text.

[Reoperative valve replacement in patients undergoing cardiac reoperation: a report of 104 cases].

Objective: To review the experience of reoperative valve replacement for 104 patients.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2009, 104 patients underwent heart valve replacement in reoperations, accounting for 2.92% of the total patient population (3557 cases) who had valve replacement during this period.

Surgical treatment of multivalvular endocarditis: twenty-one-year single center experience.

Objective: Little information is available about surgical outcomes in patients with multivalvular endocarditis. The aim of this article is to review the 21-year experience with surgical treatment of patients with multivalvular endocarditis at our institution and, in particular, to determine the incidence, pathologic status, diagnosis, surgical strategies, and outcomes of patients with this disease.

Methods: From January 1986 to December 2006, a total of 48 patients (40 men, 8 women), with a mean age of 42 +/- 12 years, underwent surgery for multivalvular endocarditis.

Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve with rheumatic mitral stenosis and aortic incompetence.

The case is reported of Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve with rheumatic mitral stenosis and aortic incompetence. In this extremely rare clinical entity, right ventricular dysfunction and respiratory dysfunction occur due to severe mitral stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation. The present case was managed with aortic and mitral valve replacement and Danielson's repair of the tricuspid valve.

Conclusion is more encouraging than data.

We read the article entitled "Scientific publications in cardiology journals from Chinese authors in various parts of North Asia: 10-year survey of literature" and found that the methodology in that study was not appropriate. Clarification or revision on some raised concerns will make this article much convinced.

[Experiences on surgical treatment of severe aortic valve stenosis: a report of 171 cases].

Objective: To analyze the experiences on surgical treatment of severe aortic valve stenosis.

Methods: From December 1990 to December 2006, 171 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). There were 135 males and 36 females aged from 10 to 75 years old, with a mean of (45.

[Aortic valve replacement: the experiences of 1026 cases].

Objective: To study the changes in pathogenic causes and the prognosis of aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: The clinical data of 1026 patients undergoing AVR from December 1980 to December 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. The mortality, morbidity, changes in pathogenic causes and risk factors were analyzed.

[Expression of mineralocorticoid receptor and 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in human atria during chronic atrial fibrillation: study of 25 cases].

Objective: To investigate the mRNA and protein expression of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11betaHSD2), which plays a crucial role in the human heart to confer specificity on MR, in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Twenty-five patients of rheumatic heart valve disease, 12 with sinus rhythm, and 13 with chronic atrial fibrillation for 6 months or over, underwent transthoracic echocardiography and mitral/aortic valve replacement operation during which right atrial lateral wall tissue samples were obtained and left atrial lateral wall tissue samples were obtained from 14 of them in addition. Realtime quantitative PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression of MR and 11betaHSD2 and Western blotting was employed to detect the protein expression of MR and 11betaHSD2 in the atrial myocardium.

[Surgical interventions for complex native valve endocarditis].

Objective: To elucidate the early and long-term results of surgical treatment for complex infective endocarditis with prosthetic valve replacement.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients of complex native valve endocarditis, including 25 cases of aortic valve, 16 of mitral valve and 16 of double valves, who underwent operative interventions with prosthetic valve replacement between December 1988 and June 2002, were analyzed retrospectively. Intraoperative findings demonstrated aortic annular abscesses (n = 19), root abscesses (n = 4), mitral posterior annular abscesses (n = 11), myocardial abscesses (n = 6), massive leaflet destruction (n = 32) and valvular vegetations (n = 55).

[Long-term results of prosthetic mitral valve replacement with home-made tilting disc valve: a report of 125 cases].

Objective: To analyze the early and long-term results after mitral valve replacement for rheumatic valvular disease by using home-made tilting disc valve, and the determinant factors involved and subsequent therapies.

Methods: One hundred and five patients, including 31 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis, 92 patients with mixed mitral stenosis and regurgitation, and 2 patients with bacterial endocarditis, underwent prosthetic mitral valve replacement with home-made tilting disc valve from September 1978 to June 1982. Three patients had a history of mitral commissurotomy, and 5 patients had concomitant functional tricuspid regurgitation.

[Long-term results of mitral-aortic valve replacement in 1,154 patients with rheumatic valvular disease].

Objective: To analyze the early and long-term results after mitral-aortic valve replacement for rheumatic valvular disease and the determinant factors involved and subsequent therapies.

Methods: 1 154 patients receiving combined mitral-aortic valve replacement for rheumatic valvular disease from May 1981 to May 2001 were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 41.