Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most common cause of acute respiratory failure. Extensive researches have been conducted for the pathophysiology of this disease, but the mortality rate remains high. Previous studies have found that catecholamines play an important role in acute lung injury, and newly discover prompted that upregulation of phagocyte-derived catecholamines augmented the acute inflammatory response in acute lung injury which provides a new way of thinking. In the current review, we describe the mechanism of the phagocyte-derived catecholamines augmenting the acute lung injury.
Pulmonary hypertension is a disease characterized by pulmonary artery pressure increased, with or without small artery pathological change, which ultimately leads to right heart failure or even death. Pulmonary hypertension seriously threatens to human health, however, the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension is unclear. Previous studies have found that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling system played an important role in the progress of pulmonary hypertension. In the current review, we describe the mechanism of BMP4 in the development of pulmonary hypertension.
Abstract： Surgical repair of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) is often carried out concomitantly with other leftsided heart valve procedures. Though diseases of both left heart valve and tricuspid were treated during the surgery, postoperative residual or recurrent tricuspid regurgitation has been clearly associated with progressive heart failure and worsened longterm survival. To date, surgical interventions mainly address FTR at three anatomic levels: commissure, annulus and leaflets. However, a certain mid and longterm failure rate after operation still exists. High surgical mortality rates have been reported in patients with recurrent tricuspid regurgitation requiring complex reoperations. With a better understanding of tricuspid anatomical complex and valvuloplasty, significant improvements have been made in FTR surgical indications and techniques. This review article will focus on the development of surgical indications in tricuspid valve repair, while the repair techniques and their impact on longterm clinical outcome will also be compared.
Acute aortic dissection is featured as sudden onset and high mortality. Regardless early optimal surgical intervention and strict medical therapy, incidence of late complications is still high. Thus, specific imaging techniques and precise measurement of biomarkers to predict complications are needed. In the present study, we reviewed related papers to compare traditional imaging techniques (computed tomography, echocardiography) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of chronic aortic dissection. In addition, we discussed how to further evaluate aortic dissection by MRI.
Acute lung injury is a kind of common complication after cardiopulmonary bypass. Acute lung injury is attributed to the ischemia-reperfusion injury and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Several factors common in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass may worsen the risk for acute lung injury including atelectasis, transfusion requirement, older age, heart failure, emergency surgery and prolonged duration of bypass. Targets for prevention of acute lung injury include mechanical, surgical and anesthetic interventions that aim to reduce the contact activation, systemic inflammatory response, leukocyte sequestration and hemodilution associated with cardiopulmonary bypass. We aim to review the etiology, risk factors and lung protective strategies for acute lung injury after cardiopulmonary bypass.
The replacement of thoracic aorta and elimination of proximal intimal tear are the classic methods for the treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection. However, some patients still have residual tears in the distal aorta after operation and lead to dilation of the false lumen due to continuous perfusion. As negative remodeling of distal aorta is closely related to the long-term prognosis of patients, the exploration of related influencing factors has attracted the attention of scholars recently. We aim to review the definition, pathological mechanism and risk factors of unfavorable remodeling after open surgery.
ObjectiveTo observe systemic inflammatory response (SIR)of patients in different stages after the onset of aortic dissection (AD), and preliminarily explore a new staging system of AD based on SIR. MethodsFrom September 2011 to February 2012, 46 AD patients were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University. There were 33 male and 13 female patients with their age ranging from 22 to 77 years (53.2±13.6 years). Blood samples were collected in 9 different periods after the onset of AD (0-12 hours (T1), 12-24 hours (T2), 24-48 hours (T3, 1-2 days), 48-96 hours (T4, 2-4 days), 96-168 hours (T5, 4-7 days), 168-336 hours (T6, 7-14 days), 336-720 hours (T7, 14-30 days), 720-1440 hours (T8, 30-60 days) and > 1 440 hours (T9, > days))to measure blood concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), endotoxin (ET), white blood cell (WBC)and neutrophils (Neut). SIR changes after the onset of AD were summarized. ResultsBlood concentrations of different inflammatory mediators were all significantly elevated within 14 days (T1-T6), significantly decreased in 14-60 days (T7-T8), and returned to normal range 60 days (T9)after the onset of AD. Peak levels of ET and TNF-α appeared in T1 with 263.42±29.98 pg/ml and 86.75±18.83 pg/ml respectively. Peak level of IL-6 appeared in T2 with 95.70±22.64 pg/ml. Peak level of CRP appeared in T5 with 123.74±54.78 mg/L. There was no obvious peak level of WBC or Neut. ConclusionDisease progression of AD can be divided into 3 stages including acute stage (within 14 days), subacute stage (14-60 days)and chronic stage ( > 60 days)based on the degree of SIR.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of ulinastatin to ventilator induced lung injury (VILI). MethodsTotal 24 SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a VILI group, and a VILI+ ulinastatin group. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, toll like receptor-4, dry/wet ratio and pathological scores of lung tissue were detected in the three groups. ResultsHMGB-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, toll like receptor-4, dry/wet ratio and pathological scores of lung tissue were significantly higher in the VILI group than those in the control group with statistical differences (P<0.05). While HMGB-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, toll like receptor-4, dry/wet ratio and pathological scores of lung tissue were reduced in the VILI+ ulinastatin group compared with those in the VILI group. ConclusionUlinastatin may protect ventilator induced lung injury by reducing inflammation level in lung through HMGB-1-TLR4 pathway.
Relative/absolute adrenal insufficiency is not uncommmon in the patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, this complication was rarely reported due to its unspecific clinical presentations and the unawareness of ICU physicians and cardiac surgeons. However, this puts them on a higher risk of hemodynamic instability and cardiovascular adverse events during hospitalization. Systematic reviews concentrated on it are rarely reported currently. We aim to review the etiology, risk factors, potential pathogenesis and related research progress for this complication.