Objective To observe early and intermediate-term clinical outcomes of tricuspid valvuloplasty withannuloplasty ring for the treatment of secondary tricuspid regurgitation （TR） of patients with rheumatic heart disease. MethodsFrom December 2009 to September 2011, 41 patients with rheumatic heart disease underwent left-side heart valve replacementand concomitant tricuspid valvuloplasty with annuloplasty ring in Sichuan Jianyang People’s Hospital. There were 12 males and 29 females with their mean age of 49 （21-67） years. Preoperatively, there were 38 patients with atrial fibrillation, 13 patients with left atrial thrombus; 2 patients with trivial TR, 5 patients with mild TR, 11 patients with moderate TR, and 23 patients with severe TR. Twenty-eight patients received mitral valve replacement and 13 patients received mitral and aortic valve replacement. All the patients were followed up every 3 months at the outpatient department, and received color Doppler echocardiography examination to observe TR degree at the 6th postoperative month. Results Postoperative heart function improved by 2-3 class in all the patients. There were 39 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classⅠorⅡ postoperatively, and postoperative heart function was significantly better than preoperative heart function（P＜0.05）. All the patients were followed up for 6-27 months, and there was no death during follow-up. Color Doppler echocardiography at the 6th postoperative month showed that TR degrees were significantly decreased than preoperative TR degrees. There were 39 patients with trivial or mild TR during follow-up, which was significantly different with preoperativeTR degree （P＜0.05）. Right ventricle dimension decreased from preoperative 20 mm to 17 mm during follow-up, which were statistically different （P＜0.05）. Conclusion Early and intermediate-term clinical outcomes of tricuspid valvuloplasty with annuloplasty ring for the treatment of TR are satisfactory, while further evaluation for its long-term outcome is needed.
Objective To explore the impact of recombinant human growth hormone （rhGH） on T lymphocyte subsets in patients with rheumatic heart disease during the perioperative period of heart valve replacement. Methods A total of 65 patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease who received heart valve replacement in Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Xiangyang Central Hospital from June 1， 2011 to March 31， 2012 were enrolled in this double-blind randomized controlled clinical study. All the patients were divided into 2 groups by random number produced by SAS software：the trial group and the control group. There were 35 patients in the trial group including 19 males and 16 females with their average age of 50.57 years， and 30 patients in the control group including 16 males and 14 females with their average age of 49.87 years. Apart from routine cardiac glycosides， diuretics， glucose-insulin-potassium solution， and postoperative anti-infective therapy， patients in the trial group also received subcutaneously injection of rhGH 5 U （1 ml）daily from 1 day before surgery to 3 days after surgery， and patients in the control group received subcutaneously injection of normal saline 1 ml as placebo. Peripheral venous blood samples were taken in the morning 2 days before surgery and 1 st， 3 rd， 7 th day after surgery respectively. Percentages of CD3+， CD4+， CD8+ were examined timely by flow cytometry and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio was calculated. Results In the control group， percentages of CD3+， CD4+ and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio on the 1st， 3rd， 7th postoperative day were significantly lower than preoperative levels， and percentages of CD8+ on the 1st and 3rd postoperative day were significantly lower than preoperative level （P＜0.05）. In the trial group， percentages of CD3+， CD4+， and CD8+ on the 1st and 3rd postoperative day were significantly lower than preoperative levels（P＜0.05）， while percentages of CD3+， CD4+， and CD8+ on the 7th postoperative day were not statistically different from preoperative levels （P＞0.05）; CD4+ /CD8+ ratio on the 1st postoperative day was significantly lower than preoperative level （P＜0.05）， while CD4+ /CD8+ ratios on the 3rd and 7th postoperative day were not statistically different from preoperative level （P＞0.05）. There was no statistical difference in preoperative T lymphocyte subsets between the trial group and the control group （P＞0.05）. The percentages of CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the trial group were significantly higher than those of the control group on the 1st postoperative day （P＜0.05）， while the percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ and CD4+ /CD8+ratio in the trial group were significantly higher than those of the control group on the 3rd and 7th postoperative day（P＜0.05）. Conclusion Use of rhGH can significantly increase T lymphocyte subsets expression， enhance body cellular immunity， and improve postoperative recovery of patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease during the perioperative period of heart valve replacement.
Abstract： Objective To explore the association between transforming growth factor-β receptor typeⅡ (TGFBR2) gene rs6785358 and rs764522 polymorphisms and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Chinese Han People. Methods The research design was a case-control study. A total of 207 patients who were hospitalized in Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between October 2008 and January 2011 with RHD served as RHD group while 225 age and gender matched healthy adults as control group. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used to determine TGFBR2 gene rs6785358 and rs764522 polymorphisms. Results The frequencies of genotype AA, AG and GG of rs6785358 in RHD group and control group were 72.0%, 25.1%, 2.9% and 68.9％, 28.0％, 3.1％,respectively. There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotype frequencies for rs6785358 between RHD group and control group（χ2=0.50，P=0.78）. The frequencies of allele A and G of rs6785358 in RHD group and control group were 84.5％, 15.5％ and 82.9％, 17.1％,respectively. There was no significant difference in the distribution of allele frequencies for rs6785358 between RHD group and control group（χ2=0.43，P=0.51）. The frequencies of genotype CC, CG and GG of rs764522 in RHD group and control group were 77.3%, 21.3%, 1.4% and 75.6％, 21.3％, 3.1％, respectively. There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotype frequencies for rs764522 between RHD group and control group（χ2=1.33，P=0.51）. The frequencies of allele C and G of rs764522 in RHD group and control group were 87.9％, 12.1％ and 86.2％, 13.8％,respectively. There was no significant difference in the distribution of allele frequencies for rs764522 between RHD group and control group（χ2=0.55，P=0.46）. Further analysis by sex stratification showed that no statistical significance was detected in the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies for rs6785358 or rs764522 between RHD patients and controls. Conclusion TGFBR2 gene rs6785358 and rs764522 polymorphisms are not associated with RHD in Chinese Han people.
Abstract： Objective To determine the influence of preoperative atrial fibrillation （AF） on midterm and longterm clinical outcomes of patients after mitral valve replacement （MVR）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 1 029 patients who underwent MVR with or without tricuspid valve repair in Changhai Hospital， Second Military Medical University， from January 2000 to December 2005. According to the exclusion criteria， 621 patients were selected and divided into two groups depending on presence of preoperative AF. Those 395 patients with preoperative AF belonged to the AF group， including 134 males and 261 females with their average age of 51.1±11.5 years. Those 226 patients with preoperative sinus rhythm （SR） were in the SR group， including 82 males and 144 females with their average age of 48.2±14.1 years. Early postoperative outcomes， midterm and longterm mortality and morbidity of the two groups were compared. Results During 10 years of follow-up， there was no statistical difference in early postoperative mortality and morbidity between the two groups， but the incidence of late thromboembolism was significantly higher in AF group than that in SR group ［0.9‰ （31 patients/33 984 patient-months） vs. 0.4‰ （9 patients/21 151 patient-months）， χ2=4.26， P=0.039］. Ten-year survival rate in patients in AF group was significantly lower than that in SR group （83.2% vs. 92.7%， χ2=10.26， P=0.002）. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative AF ［HR=2.878， 95% CI （1.166，4.129）］， low left ventricular ejection fraction ［HR=0.948， 95% CI （0.917，0.981）］ ， and old age ［HR=1.073， 95% CI （1.038，1.109）］ as independent risk factors for late mortality after MVR. Apart from its influence on patient survival rate and incidence of thromboembolism， preoperative AF also had an adverse effect on left ventricular function， right ventricular function and tricuspid regurgitation. Conclusion AF is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis after MVR. Prognosis after MVR might be improved if surgery could be performed early when patients have predictive signs of AF such as multiple premature atrial contractions or left atrium enlargement.
Abstract: Objective To observe the longterm condition of patients after mitral valve replacement with or without mild aortic valve regurgitation (AR) and discuss whether treatment of AR is necessary during the course of mitral valve replacement. Methods From March 1999 to April 2004, 88 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (with or without mild AR before surgery) in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were followed up for 5 years or more. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had mild AR based on the result of preoperative echocardiography examination. In the AR group, there were 35 patients including 7 males and 28 females aged 49.26±11.87. By the New York Heart Association (NYHA) grading system before surgery, 4 patients were classified as Class Ⅱ, 26 Class Ⅲ and 5 Class Ⅳ. In the nonAR group, there were 53 patients including 7 males and 46 females aged 48.59±10.22. Using the NYHA grading system before surgery, we found there were 7 patients with Class Ⅱ cardiac function, 39 Class Ⅲ and 7 Class Ⅳ. After operation, all patients were followed up regularly and 5 years after surgery, patients were examined by echocardiography again. Results The followup period ranged from 5 to 9 years (6.39±1.26). There was no statistical difference in gender (P=0.394), age (P=0.841), preoperative cardiac function (P=0.960) and cardiac rhythm (P=0.732) between the two groups. For the AR group, after operation, NYHA heart function, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricle fraction shortening (LVFS) significantly increased or improved(Plt;0.05). In the nonAR group, after operation, NYHA heart function and LVEF significantly improved (Plt;0.05), while LVFS had no significant change (Pgt;0.05). Left [CM(159mm]ventricular dimensions (LVD) and aortic dimensions between the two groups had no significant difference afteroperation (Pgt;0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of AR cases before and after surgery (Pgt;005) in the AR group, while there was a significant difference in the nonAR group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion For patients with mild AR who underwent mitral valve surgery 5 to 9 years ago, there is little change in their AR condition. There is no need to treat mild AR preventively during the course of mitral valve replacement.
Abstract:Objective To observe the expression of calcium-dependent proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2（Pyk2） in myocardium of rheumatic heart disease, the relationship between its role and cardiac fibrosis and clinical significance. Methods The blue myocardium collagen stain were analysed after Masson staining in 30 patients with rheumatic heart disease （RHD group） and 6 normal myocardium specimens （control group）. The contents of hyaluronic acid （HA）, laminin（LN） and type IV collagen（IV-C） were detected by radio-immunity method,and the expressions of Pyk2 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid（mRNA） were explored by immunohistochemistry methods and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction （RT PCR）,then the correlations of these results were statistically analyzed. Results The contents of HA,LN and IV C in RHDgroup increased compared to control group（174.95±76.14μg/L vs. 70.06±15.63μg/L, 153. 86 ± 20. 72μg/L vs. 90.01±14. 11μg/L, 95. 26±7.66μg/L vs. 63. 21±10.62μg/L; P= 0.003, 0. 013, 0. 035）. The Pyk2 absorption and the ratio of Pyk2 mRNA/glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase （GAPDH） in RHD group were significantly higher than those in control group （0. 325 ± 0. 032 vs. 0.106±0.013, 0.870±0.085 vs. 0.573±0.042; P=0.048, 0.006）.There were positive correlativity between the expression of Pyk2 protein and HA, LN and IV-C （r=0. 611, 0. 743, 0. 829, P〈0. 01）, there were positive correlativity between the expression of Pyk2 mRNA and LN, IV-C （r=0. 794, 0. 766, P〈0.05）. Conclusion Pyk2 may play a key role in the proceeding of cardiac fibrosis in rheumatic heart disease by increasing collagen synthesis in myocardium.
Objective To estimate the degree of the angle between left principal bronchus and trachea, and it is correlative with the pulmonary function in the patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Methods According to various degree of angles between left principal bronchus and trachea,53 patients were divided into three groups, group 1: angle between left principal bronchus and trachea less than 50 degree, group 2: between 50 and 64 degree, group 3: between 65 and 79 degree. The pulmonary function tests,ultrasonic cardiography and left principal bronchus X-ray tomographic film were carried out in three groups before operation. Compare pulmonary function data with different angle between left principal bronchus and trachea in three groups. Results Exception of vital capacity ,residual volume and total lung capacity,the rest markers of lung function showed significant differences (Plt;0.05) in three groups. The correlation of the angle between left principal bronchus and trachea and the ratio of residual volume and total lung capacity among three groups were positively correlative, and the other parameters of lung function were negatively correlative (Plt;0.01). Conclusion The degree of the angle between left principal bronchus and trachea is positively correlative with the extent of pulmonary function impairing.