Application of Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty in Patients of Rheumatic Heart Disease Mitral Stenosis Combined with Tricuspid Regurgitation

Background:

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is frequently associated with severe mitral stenosis (MS), the importance of significant TR was often neglected. However, TR influences the outcome of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) procedure in rheumatic heart disease patients with mitral valve (MV) stenosis and tricuspid valve regurgitation.

Methods:

Two hundred and twenty patients were enrolled in this study due to rheumatic heart disease with MS combined with TR. Mitral balloon catheter made in China was used to expand MV. The following parameters were measured before and after PBMV: MV area (MVA), TR area (TRA), atrial pressure and diameter, and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). The patients were followed for 6 months to 9 years.

Results:

After PBMV, the MVAs increased significantly (1.7 ± 0.3 cm² vs. 0.9 ± 0.3 cm², P < 0.01); TRA significantly decreased (6.3 ± 1.7 cm² vs. 14.2 ± 6.5 cm², P < 0.01), right atrial area (RAA) decreased significantly (21.5 ± 4.5 cm² vs. 25.4 ± 4.3 cm², P < 0.05), TRA/RAA (%) decreased significantly (29.3 ± 3.2% vs. 44.2 ± 3.6%, P < 0.01). TR velocity (TRV) and TR continue time (TRT) as well as TRV × TRT decreased significantly (183.4 ± 9.4 cm/s vs. 254.5 ± 10.7 cm/s, P < 0.01; 185.7 ± 13.6 ms vs. 238.6 ± 11.3 ms, P < 0.01; 34.2 ± 5.6 cm vs. 60.7 ± 8.5 cm, P < 0.01, respectively). The postoperative left atrial diameter (LAD) significantly reduced (41.3 ± 6.2 mm vs. 49.8 ± 6.8 mm, P < 0.01) and the postoperative right atrial diameter (RAD) significantly reduced (28.7 ± 5.6 mm vs. 46.5 ± 6.3 mm, P < 0.01); the postoperative left atrium pressure significantly reduced (15.6 ± 6.1 mmHg vs. 26.5 ± 6.6 mmHg, P < 0.01), the postoperative right atrial pressure decreased significantly (13.2 ± 2.4 mmHg vs. 18.5 ± 4.3 mmHg, P < 0.01). The pulmonary arterial pressure decreased significantly after PBMV (48.2 ± 10.3 mmHg vs. 60.6 ± 15.5 mmHg, P < 0.01). The symptom of chest tightness and short of breath obviously alleviated. All cases followed-up for 6 months to 9 years (average 75 ± 32 months), 2 patients with severe regurgitation died (1 case of massive cerebral infarction, and 1 case of heart failure after 6 years and 8 years, respectively), 2 cases lost access. At the end of follow-up, MVA has been reduced compared with the postoperative (1.4 ± 0.4 cm² vs. 1.7 ± 0.3 cm², P < 0.05); LAD slightly increased compared with the postoperative (45.2 ± 5.7 mm vs. 41.4 ± 6.3 mm, P < 0.05), RAD slightly also increased compared with the postoperative (36.1 ± 6.3 mm vs. 28.6 ± 5.5 mm, P < 0.05), but did not recover to the preoperative level. TRA slightly increased compared with the postoperative, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The PAP and left ventricular ejection fraction appeared no statistical difference compared with the postoperative (P > 0.05), the remaining patients without serious complications.

Conclusions:

PBMV is a safe and effective procedure for MS combined with TR in patients of rheumatic heart disease. It can alleviate the symptoms and reduce the size of TR. It can also improve the quality-of-life and prognosis. Its recent and mid-term efficacy is certain. While its long-term efficacy remains to be observed.     

经皮途径高压球囊扩张治疗术中肾盂输尿管连接部狭窄的体会

目的：探讨经皮肾顺行途径高压球囊扩张处理肾盂输尿管连接部狭窄的体会。方法回顾性分析了我院从2003—2013年行经皮肾镜的患者225例,术中发现肾盂输尿管连接部狭窄的患者28例,男18例,女10例,年龄24～61岁。22例患者既往有开放手术病史,6例患者有腔镜手术病史。患侧肾脏结石大小不等,均合并积水,其中肾盂积水＞5 cm者5例、2～5 cm积水17例,＜2 cm积水6例。术中先行PCNL术,最后根据顺行尿路造影的情况,采用顺行高压球囊予以狭窄段扩张。结果28例患者手术均顺利,无中转开放病例。其中5例因结石较复杂行双通道进行碎石取石,术中顺行造影发现肾盂输尿管连接部狭窄段均＜1．5 cm,无闭锁患者,狭窄段斑马导丝均可通过,手术时间55～169 min,平均109 min。术中留置2条双“J”管23例,5例置入1条双“J”管。术后1例第4天肾脏出血,保守无效后选用选择性肾动脉栓塞治疗痊愈,所有患者均痊愈出院。手术后随访6～32个月,失访1例,肾积水明显减少23例;肾积水无明显变化2例,再狭窄2例,总治愈率为25／28（89．28％）。结论经皮肾镜术中发现肾盂输尿管连接部狭窄,拟先行处理肾结石,后根据狭窄段情况行狭窄段扩张,高压球囊扩张是安全有效的方法。     

球囊拉伤致家兔动脉粥样硬化斑块破裂及血栓形成

为建立动脉粥样硬化的兔模型并用药物触发造成斑块破裂及血栓形成，将60只雄性纯种新西兰兔随机平均分成三组：球囊损伤 高脂(1％胆固醇)组、高脂喂养组及普通饲料喂养组．喂养3个月后分别给予鲁塞尔蝰蛇毒和组胺药物触发以造成斑块破裂及血栓形成。结果发现，球囊损伤 高脂组与高脂喂养组均形成动脉粥样硬化斑块，其中球囊损伤 高脂组所形成的粥样斑块为具有较大脂质核的软斑块；药物触发后球囊损伤 高脂组存活的18只中有11只共15处发生斑块破裂及血栓形成；高脂喂养组中的19只经药物触发后仅5只共7处发生斑块破裂及血栓形成；普通饲料喂养组中未见斑块破裂及血栓形成。结果提示，在构建的动脉粥样硬化斑块的动物模型基础上，应用药物触发后能够造成斑块破裂及血栓形成。     

Serum amyloid P (SAP) is associated with impaired brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in chronically HIV-1 infected adults on stable antiretroviral therapy

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and endothelial dysfunction (ED), as measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional analysis utilizing baseline data of 135 participants with HIV infection on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Hawaii Aging with HIV-Cardiovascular (HAHC-CVD) study who had available baseline inflammatory biomarkers and brachial artery FMD measurements.

Results:We observed significant associations between brachial artery FMD and baseline brachial artery diameter, age, male gender, traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as BMI, waist to hip ratio, hypertension, systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, and LDL cholesterol, and 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk estimated by Framingham risk score (FRS). Of all biomarkers tested, higher level of C-reactive protein (CRP) (beta?= ??0.695, P?=?0.030) and serum amyloid P (SAP) (beta?= ??1.318, P?=?0.021) were significantly associated with lower brachial artery FMD in univariable regression analysis. After adjusting for baseline brachial artery diameter, age, and selected traditional CVD risk factors in multivariable model, SAP remained significantly associated with brachial artery FMD (beta?= ??1.094, P?=?0.030), while CRP was not (beta?= ??0.391, P?=?0.181).

Discussion:Serum amyloid P was independently associated with impaired brachial artery FMD and may potentially relate to ED and increased CVD risk in HIV-infected patients on stable ART.     

Mitomycin‐C: ‘a ray of hope’ in refractory corrosive esophageal strictures

Increasingly frequent dilation may become a self‐defeating cycle in refractory stricture as recurrent trauma enhance, scar formation, and ultimately recurrence and potential worsening of the stricture. In 12 patients of caustic induced esophageal stricture, who failed to respond despite rigorous dilatation regimen for more than one year, a trial of topical mitomycin‐C application to improve dilatation results was undertaken, considering the recently reported efficacy and safety of this agent. Mitomycin‐C was applied for 2–3 minutes at the strictured esophageal segment after dilation with wire‐guided Savary‐Gilliard dilator. Patient was kept nil by mouth for 2–3 hours. After 4–6 sessions of mitomycin‐C treatment, resolution of symptoms and significant improvement in dysphagia score and periodic dilatation index was seen in all 12 patients. Mitomycin‐C topical application may be a useful strategy in refractory corrosive esophageal strictures and salvage patients from surgery.     

Balloon dilation of benign esophageal rings or strictures: a randomized clinical trial comparing two different inflation times

Although balloon dilatation is the primary treatment for benign dysphagia, information about the optimal inflation time is lacking. The aim of the current pilot study was to compare 10 seconds inflation time with 2 minutes inflation time, regarding the efficacy. Twenty patients with symptomatic strictures were prospectively studied in a randomized fashion. The 10‐second group required an average of 1.4 dilations per patient; the 2‐minute group required an average of 1.5 dilations per patient. This pilot study indicates that 10 seconds inflation time is as effective as 2 minutes. Because the treatment is both painful and unpleasant, this is an important finding.     

Incidental biliary dilation in the era of the opiate epidemic: High prevalence of biliary dilation in opiate users evaluated in the Emergency Department

BACKGROUNDBiliary dilation is frequently related to obstruction; however, non-obstructive factors such as age and previous cholecystectomy have also been reported. In the past two decades there has been a dramatic increase in opiate use/dependence and utilization of cross-sectional abdominal imaging, with increased detection of biliary dilation, particularly in patients who use opiates.AIMTo evaluate associations between opiate use, age, cholecystectomy status, ethnicity, gender, and body mass index utilizing our institution’s integrated informatics platform. METHODSOne thousand six hundred and eighty-five patients (20% sample) presenting to our Emergency Department for all causes over a 5-year period (2011-2016) who had undergone cross-sectional abdominal imaging and had normal total bilirubin were included and analyzed.RESULTSCommon bile duct (CBD) diameter was significantly higher in opiate users compared to non-opiate users (8.67 mm vs 7.24 mm, P < 0.001) and in patients with a history of cholecystectomy compared to those with an intact gallbladder (8.98 vs 6.72, P < 0.001). For patients with an intact gallbladder who did not use opiates (n = 432), increasing age did not predict CBD diameter (r² = 0.159, P = 0.873). Height weakly predicted CBD diameter (r² = 0.561, P = 0.018), but weight, body mass index, ethnicity and gender did not.CONCLUSIONOpiate use and a history of cholecystectomy are associated with CBD dilation in the absence of an obstructive process. Age alone is not associated with increased CBD diameter. These findings suggest that factors such as opiate use and history of cholecystectomy may underlie the previously-reported association of advancing age with increased CBD diameter. Further prospective study is warranted.     

兔动脉粥样硬化血管成形术后再狭窄模型的建立与改良*

 目的：探讨建立兔动脉粥样硬化血管成形术后再狭窄模型的有效方法。方法：30只雄性新西兰大白兔,随机分成3组,即空白对照组、下肢动脉切开组及下肢动脉穿刺组,每组10只。空白对照组仅行高脂饲料喂养,另外2组高脂饲料喂养1周后行下肢动脉穿刺或切开行髂动脉内膜剥脱术,继续高脂饲料喂养4周,下肢动脉穿刺组再次穿刺股动脉行髂动脉球囊成形术,下肢动脉切开组经颈动脉切开行髂动脉球囊成形术。3组均普通饲料喂养4周,计算每天进食饲料量,采血化验血脂,取病变段血管行苏木精-伊红染色及图像工作站对血管造影结果行血管狭窄分析。结果：下肢动脉切开组进食饲料量减少,血清总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇显著低于对照组。3组动物均出现下肢动脉粥样硬化,其中下肢动脉穿刺组及下肢动脉切开组内膜显著增厚,管腔狭窄。动脉穿刺组与动脉切开组血管面积狭窄率及直径狭窄率与对照组相比差异显著(P<0.01)。结论：下肢动脉穿刺与球囊损伤、球囊血管成形术结合可成功建立兔动脉粥样硬化血管成形术后再狭窄模型,方法简单,可重复性强,较下肢动脉切开术更适合血管成形术后再狭窄模型的建立。     

Cognitive processing load across a wide range of listening conditions: Insights from pupillometry

The pupil response to speech masked by interfering speech was assessed across an intelligibility range from 0% to 99% correct. In total, 37 participants aged between 18 and 36 years and with normal hearing were included. Pupil dilation was largest at intermediate intelligibility levels, smaller at high intelligibility, and slightly smaller at very difficult levels. Participants who reported that they often gave up listening at low intelligibility levels had smaller pupil dilations in these conditions. Participants who were good at reading masked text had relatively large pupil dilation when intelligibility was low. We conclude that the pupil response is sensitive to processing load, and possibly reflects cognitive overload in difficult conditions. It seems affected by methodological aspects and individual abilities, but does not reflect subjective ratings.