Heart failure is a global problem that occurs in 38 million patients worldwide, and the number is dramatically increasing in elderly society. Meanwhile, heart dysfunction is also the most common disease among hospitalized patients more than 65 years, especially in high-income countries. Approximately, one million patients are hospitalized because of heart failure in the world every year. Drug therapy is currently the most popular treatment for heart failure in clinic, however, the effects are limited. Therefore, exploring novel treatment strategies gradually becomes a focus not only in basic but also in clinical research.
With the in-depth study of the pathophysiological changes of ischemic myocardium, some experimental studies have found that in many patients with coronary heart disease, severe lesions and long duration of diseases which do not recover due to revascularization, are mainly related to the viable myocardium in the affected area. Survival myocardium refers to those perfusion defect-induced dysfunctional but not dead cardiomyocytes, including stunned myocardium and hibernating myocardium. Therefore, accurate assessment of viable myocardium is important for the development of clinical treatment options and prognosis assessment of such patients. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) can evaluate the survival of hibernating myocardium and quantitatively analyze it. Thus PET/CT can provide useful information for the possibility of myocardial function recovery after revascularization, treatment options and prognosis evaluation.
Abstract: Objective To study the antiacute rejection effect of Pachymic acid (PA) in heart transplantation rats, in order to select a new antirejection medicine with low side effect from traditional Chinese medicine. Methods We established the model by transplanting Wistar rats (32,donor) heart allografts into the abdomen of SD rats (32,receptor). The homologous hearttransplanted rats were then randomly divided into 4 groups with 16 rats in each group. Olive oil solution with PA 1 mg/(kg·d), PA 10 mg/(kg·d), Cyclosporine (CsA) 5 mg/(kg·d) and olive oil solution 0.5 ml/(kg·d) were respectively given intragastrically to lowdosage PA group, highdosage PA group, CsA group and the control group till the end of observation. Survival time of heart allografts, heart beating and the histological changes of allografts were examined and serum level of interleukin2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were determined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Survival time in the highdosage PA group, the lowdosage PA group and the CsA group were 24.90±0.99 d, 15.50±1.60 d and 26.80±0.88 d respectively, which is much better than the control group (6.10±1.10 d, q=22.363, P=0.000; q=44.793, P=0.000; q=49.272,P=0.000). IL-2 serum level in the highdosage PA group, the lowdosage PA group and the CsA group were all lower than that in the control group (q=14.483, P=0.000; q=3.705, P=0.000; =21.418,P=0.000), whileIL-2 serum level in the highdosage group was lower than that in the lowdosage group (q=10.778,P=0.000). Similarly, IFN-γ serum level in the first three groups were all lower than that in the control group (q=16.508,P=0000; q=4.281, P=0.000;q=19.621, P=0.000) and IFNγ serum level in the highdosage group was also lower than that in the lowdosage group (q=14.975, P=0.000). Pathological examination 7 days after the surgery showed that pathologic lesion was much more relieved in the two PA groups and the CsA group than the control group. Conclusion Acute rejection of heart transplantation can be effectively suppressed by PA.
Abstract： Objective To evaluate clinical outcomes of painless flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the treatment for pulmonary complications in postoperative pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 58 patients who received fiberoptic bronchoscopy for pulmonary complications after surgical repair for atrial septal defect， ventricular septal defect， tetralogy of Fallot， double outlet right ventricle or transposition of the great arteries in First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University From August 2009 to February 2012. There were 26 male patients and 32 female patients with their age ranging from 20 days to 2 years. Olympus xp-60 fiberoptic bronchoscopy was used for removal of airway secretions and bronchial alveolar lavage under anesthesia with propofol， fentanyl and lidocaine. Pulse oximetry， respiratory sound and chest X-ray changes were observed. Results The examination time of painless fiberoptic bronchoscopy was 10-25 minutes in the 58 patients. After removal of airway secretions by fiberoptic bronchoscopy， their respiratory status improved significantly， pulse oxygen saturation increased by 5%-12%， and their pulmonary crackles were significantly reduced. In 29 patients with atelectasis， their pulmonary lobes demonstrated significant reexpansion in chest X-ray reviews on the next day after fiberoptic bronchoscopy， and 8 patients received another fiberoptic bronchoscopy treatment on the next day to achieve complete pulmonary reexpansion. One patient with severe pulmonary hypertension （PH） stayed in intensive care unit （ICU） for 6 days， 3 patients with transposition of the great arteries stayed in ICU for 5 days， 3 patients with double outlet of right ventricle and moderately high PH stayed in ICU for 4 days， and all the other patients were discharged from ICU within 48 hours after admission. There was no severe complication related to fiberoptic bronchoscopy， except 2 patients with minor nasal mucosa bleeding who were cured with hemostatic drugs and local compression. Conclusion Painless flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy can significantly enhance clinical outcomes and shorten ICU stay for postoperative pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases.
Objective To establish a model of transplanting neonatal cardiomycytes into the wall of rat inferior vena cava. Methods Neonatal cardiomyocytes (n=6, 5×106cells each, A group) or medium (n=6, B group) only were transplanted into the wall of inferior vena cava in female Fisher rats. At 21 days after transplantation, the contraction of transplanted cardiomyocytes was assessed and the inferior vena cava was processed for histology. Results Distinct rhythmic beating of the vena cava at the site of cell transplantation before and after the aorties were clamped (at a rate 141± 47 rpm and 88± 44 rpm which was dramaticly lower than aortic beating, with a statistical difference at P value of 0.03). Cardiomyocyte was seen in 6 rats who had neonatal cardiomyocyte transplantation, but not in 6 rats receiving media. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed viable cardiomyocytes in the wall of the vena cava in 6 rats treated with neonatal cardiomyocytes, but not in 6 rats receiving media. Conclusion This study shows that neonatal cardiomyocytes can survive, mature and spontaneously and rhythmically contract after they are transplanted in the wall of inferior vena cava.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of ozone on oxidative stress and energy metabolism change of blood from aortic dissection (AD) patients for providing preliminary evidence of application of ozonated autohemotherapy (ozone-AHT) in AD patients. MethodsTwenty AD patients (16 males and 4 females with a mean age of 48.51±10.21 years) were consecutively included in the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from March 2016 to August 2016, and blood samples were collected from all participants and ozonized in vitro at different ozone concentrations (0 μg/ml, 40 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml, 160 μg/ml). Malondialdehyde (MDA), red blood cells (RBCs) superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na+-K+-ATP, 2,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG) at different ozone concentrations were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsIn the control group (0 μg/ml), the content of postoperative MDA was significantly higher than that of preoperation (P<0.05). The contents of postoperative SOD, Na+-K+-ATP and 2,3-DPG were significantly lower than that of preoperation (P<0.05). The content of MDA at the concentrations of 40 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml group increased after the operation (P>0.05), and the SOD, Na+-K+-ATP, 2,3-DPG decreased compared with the preoperation (P>0.05). But all the values were not statistically significant at the concentrations of 40 μg/ml, 80 μg/ml and 160 μg/ml respectively between preoperation and postoperation (P>0.05). Compared with other concentration groups, the content of preoperative and postoperative MDA increased in the ozone group (160 μg/ml), and oppositely, the contents ofpreoperative and postoperative SOD, Na+-K+- ATP and 2,3-DPG decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion The concentrations of 40 to 80 μg/ml of ozone can improve the antioxidant capacity of erythrocyte membrane, reduce oxidative stress in blood samples of AD patients and improve the energy metabolism of erythrocyte membranes, so the concentration range of ozone is safe and feasible for the ozone-AHT of perioperative AD.
Objective To investigate activated toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) signaling pathway involved in pathophysiological mechanisms of type A aortic dissection (TAAD). Methods Specimens of full-thickness ascending aorta wall from the TAAD patients (n=12) and the controlled donors (n=12) were collected. Western blotting was used to examine the associated proteins' expression of TLR4 signaling pathway. Blood samples from TAAD (n=43) and controlled patients (n=50) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the circulating plasma cytokines levels of interleukin-1β (L-1β). Results In the aortic wall of TAAD, expression levels of TLR4 and protein expression of major molecule significantly elevated, and activated macrophages increased. Furthermore, elevated IL-1β levels were observed in the TAAD patients’ plasma compared with the control plasma. Multiple logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that elevated IL-1β could be a novel and promising biomarker with important diagnostic and predictive value in the identification of TAAD. Conclusion Activated TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway regulates inflammatory response to involve in pathophysiological mechanisms of type A aortic dissection and its regulated inflammatory products have important predictive value for patients with TAAD.