Synthesis and Metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine in Peripheral Circulatory System of Suckling Piglets

[ Objective] To find the rule of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） synthesis and metabolism in peripheral blood of suckling piglets with aging. [ Method ] All of 15 British Large White pigs at 0, 5 and 15 d of age were selected as experimental animals, and their serumal concentrations of L- tryptophan （L-Trp）, 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid （5-HIAA） in peripheral circulatory system were determined synchronously by reversed- phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with UV. [ Result] The concentration of L-Trp was （16. 92 ± 1.74） iJmol/L at birth, （59.94 ±10.88） iJmol/L at 5 d of age and （70.42± 6.48） μmol/L at 15 d of age. The concentration of 5-HT was （ 12.85 ± 1.79） iJmol/L at birth, （4.81 ±2.05） ijmol/L at 5 d of age and （5.49±1.09） μmol/L at 15 d of age. While 5-HIAA, the metabolic product of 5-HT, was not detected at all the samples selected. [ Conclusion] The L-Trp concentration of suckling piglets increase significantly with aging （ P 〈0. 05）. While the concentra- tion of 5-HT and the conversion ratio of L-Trp to 5-HT are both highest at birth （P〈0.05） and keep stable at 5 and 15 d of age.

The Association between Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke and Disease in the Chinese Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective To analyze the association between exposure to second-hand smoke(SHS) and 23 diseases,categorized into four classifications, among the Chinese population.Methods We searched the literature up to June 30, 2021, and eligible studies were identified according to the PECOS format: Participants and Competitors(Chinese population), Exposure(SHS),Outcomes(Disease or Death), and Study design(Case-control or Cohort).Results In total, 53 studies were selected. The odds ratio(OR) for all types of cancer was 1.79(1.56–2.05), and for individual cancers was 1.92(1.42–2.59) for lung cancer, 1.57(1.40–1.76) for breast cancer, 1.52(1.12–2.05) for bladder cancer, and 1.37(1.08–1.73) for liver cancer. The OR for circulatory system diseases was 1.92(1.29–2.85), with a value of 2.29(1.26–4.159) for stroke. The OR of respiratory system diseases was 1.76(1.13–2.74), with a value of 1.82(1.07–3.11) for childhood asthma. The original ORs were also shown for other diseases. Subgroup analyses were performed for lung and breast cancer. The ORs varied according to time period and were significant during exposure in the household;For lung cancer, the OR was significant in women.Conclusion The effect of SHS exposure in China was similar to that in Western countries, but its definition and characterization require further clarification. Studies on the association between SHS exposure and certain diseases with high incidence rates are insufficient.

Role of the circulatory interleukin-6 in the pathogenesis of gliomas:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Glioma is the most common primary tumor in the brain originating from glial cells.In spite of extensive research,the overall survival rate is not enhanced.A number of published articles observed differentially circulating levels of cytokines in glioma.Interleukin-6(IL-6)protein coded by IL-6 gene is regulated by the immune system and it has been found to have a significant role in progression and apoptosis resistance of glioma.AIM To review the role of circulatory IL-6 in the development and progression of glioma and its utility as a biomarker.METHODS Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis(PRISMA)guidelines were applied to filter the relevant studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.We used a combination of keywords and the Reference Citation Analysis(RCA)tool to search the potential studies and performed data extraction from selected studies.RESULTS The published results were inconsistent;however,most studies showed a significantly higher IL-6 level in glioma cases as compared to controls.Comparative IL-6 level among the different grades of glioma showed a higher level with low-grade gliomas and lower level with high-grade gliomas.CONCLUSION IL-6 level significantly differed between cases and controls,and among different cancer stages,which shows its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker.

Older liver grafts from donation after circulatory death are associated with impaired survival and higher incidence of biliary non-anastomotic structure

Background:Grafts from older donors after circulatory death were associated with inferior outcome in liver transplants in the past.But it has seemed to remain controversial in the last decade,as a result of modified clinical protocols,selected recipients,and advanced technology of organ perfusion and preservation.The present study aimed to examine the impact of older donor age on complications and survival of liver transplant using grafts from donation after circulatory death(DCD).Methods:A total of 944 patients who received DCD liver transplantation from 2015 to 2020 were included and divided into two groups:using graft from older donor(aged≥65 years,n=87)and younger donor(age<65 years,n=857).Propensity score matching(PSM)was applied to eliminate selection bias.Results:A progressively increased proportion of liver transplants with grafts from older donors was observed from 1.68%to 15.44%during the study period.The well-balanced older donor(n=79)and younger donor(n=79)were 1:1 matched.There were significantly more episodes of biliary nonanastomotic stricture(NAS)in the older donor group than the younger donor group[15/79(19.0%)vs.6/79(7.6%);P=0.017].The difference did not reach statistical significance regarding early allograft dysfunction(EAD)and primary non-function(PNF).Older livers had a trend toward inferior 1-,2-,3-year graft and overall survival compared with younger livers,but these differences were not statistically significant(63.1%,57.6%,57.6%vs.76.9%,70.2%,67.7%,P=0.112;64.4%,58.6%,58.6%vs.76.9%,72.2%,72.2%,P=0.064).The only risk factor for poor survival was ABO incompatible transplant(P=0.008)in the older donor group.In the subgroup of ABO incompatible cases,it demonstrated a significant difference in the rate of NAS between the older donor group and the younger donor group[6/8(75.0%)vs.3/14(21.4%);P=0.014].Conclusions:Transplants with grafts from older donors(aged≥65 years)after circulatory death are more frequently associated with inferior outcome compared to those from younger donors.Older grafts from DCD are more likely to develop NAS,especially in ABO incompatible cases.

Persistent left superior vena cava in right hemiarch replacement under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest:A case report

BACKGROUND Persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVC),a relatively rare thoracic vascular malformation,can inconvenience perfusionists and operators when encountered during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest(DHCA).CASE SUMMARY Herein,we describe the case of a patient with concurrent giant aortic arch aneurysm,aortic stenosis,and PLSVC.To treat these conditions,we performed right hemiarch and aortic valve replacements under DHCA.Notably,we applied“bilateral superior vena cava retrograde cerebral perfusion(RCP)”for cerebral protection,which significantly optimized the surgical procedure and reduced the risk of postoperative complications.The patient was discharged 14 d after surgery with no complications.CONCLUSION Surgical intervention for PLSVC under DHCA can be performed using the bilateral superior vena cava RCP approach.

Hepatocardiorenal syndrome in liver cirrhosis:Recognition of a new entity?

Emerging evidence and perspectives have pointed towards the heart playing an important role in hepatorenal syndrome(HRS),outside of conventional understanding that liver cirrhosis is traditionally considered the sole origin of a cascade of pathophysiological mechanisms directly affecting the kidneys in this context.In the absence of established heart disease,cirrhotic cardiomyopathy may occur more frequently in those with liver cirrhosis and kidney disease.It is a specific form of cardiac dysfunction characterized by blunted contractile responsiveness to stress stimuli and altered diastolic relaxation with electrophysiological abnormalities.Despite the clinical description of these potential cardiac-related complications of the liver,the role of the heart has traditionally been an overlooked aspect of circulatory dysfunction in HRS.Yet from a physiological sense,temporality(prior onset)of cardiorenal interactions in HRS and positive effects stemming from portosystemic shunting demonstrated an important role of the heart in the development and progression of kidney dysfunction in cirrhotic patients.In this review,we discuss current concepts surrounding how the heart may influence the development and progression of HRS,and the role of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction causing circulatory dysfunction within this setting.The temporality of heart and kidney dysfunction in HRS will be discussed.For a subgroup of patients who receive portosystemic shunting,the dynamics of cardiorenal interactions following treatment is reviewed.Continued research to determine the unknowns in this topic is anticipated,hopefully to further clarify the intricacies surrounding the liver-heart-kidney connection and improve strategies for management.

Considerations for the use of porcine organ donation models in preclinical organ donor intervention research

Use of animal models in preclinical transplant research is essential to the optimization of human allografts for clinical transplantation.Animal models of organ donation and preservation help to advance and improve technical elements of solid organ recovery and facilitate research of ischemia-reperfusion injury,organ preservation strategies,and future donor-based interventions.Important considerations include cost,public opinion regarding the conduct of animal research,translational value,and relevance of the animal model for clinical practice.We present an overview of two porcine models of organ donation:donation following brain death(DBD)and donation following circulatory death(DCD).The cardiovascular anatomy and physiology of pigs closely resembles those of humans,making this species the most appropriate for pre-clinical research.Pigs are also considered a potential source of organs for human heart and kidney xenotransplantation.It is imperative to minimize animal loss during procedures that are surgically complex.We present our experience with these models and describe in detail the use cases,procedural approach,challenges,alternatives,and limitations of each model.

Allometric Scaling by the Length of the Circulatory Network

Background: Allometric scaling is a well-known research tool used for the metabolic rates of organisms. It measures the living systems with fractal physiology. The metabolic rate versus the mass of the living species has a definite scaling and behaves like a four-dimensional phenomenon. The extended investigations focus on the mass-dependence of the various physiological parameters. Objective: Proving the length of vascularization is the scaling parameter instead of mass in allometric relation. Method: The description of the energy balance of the ontogenic growth of the tumor is an extended cell-death parameter for studying the mass balance at the cellular level. Results: It is shown that when a malignant cellular cluster tries to maximize its metabolic rate, it changes its allometric scaling exponent. A growth description could follow the heterogenic development of the tumor. The mass in the allometric scaling could be replaced by the average length of the circulatory system in each case. Conclusion: According to this concept, the dependence of the mass in allometric scaling is replaced with a more fundamental parameter, the length character of the circulatory system. The introduced scaling parameter has primary importance in cancer development, where the elongation of the circulatory length by angiogenesis is in significant demand.

MicroRNA expression in the hippocampal CA1 region under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest

Using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, thoracic aorta diseases and complex heart diseases can be subjected to corrective procedures. However, mechanisms underlying brain protection during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest are unclear. After piglet models underwent 60 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest at 14°C, expression of microRNAs(miRNAs) was analyzed in the hippocampus by microarray. Subsequently, TargetScan 6.2, RNA22 v2.0, miRWalk 2.0, and miRanda were used to predict potential targets, and gene ontology enrichment analysis was carried out to identify functional pathways involved. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was conducted to verify miRNA changes. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest altered the expression of 35 miRNAs. Twenty-two miRNAs were significantly downregulated and thirteen miRNAs were significantly upregulated in the hippocampus after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Six out of eight targets among the differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched for neuronal projection(cyclin dependent kinase, CDK16 and SLC1 A2), central nervous system development(FOXO3, TYRO3, and SLC1 A2), ion transmembrane transporter activity(ATP2 B2 and SLC1 A2), and interleukin-6 receptor binding(IL6 R)– these are the key functional pathways involved in cerebral protection during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction confirmed the results of microarray analysis. Our experimental results illustrate a new role for transcriptional regulation in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and provide significant insight for the development of miRNAs to treat brain injuries. All procedures were approved by the Animal Care Committee of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China on March 1, 2017(approval No. XW-INI-AD2017-0112).

1400W reduces ischemia reperfusion injury in an ex-vivo porcine model of the donation after circulatory death kidney donor

AIM: To investigate the effects of 1400W-a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase(iN OS) inhibitor in a model of donation after circulatory death(DCD) kidneys. METHODS: Porcine kidneys were retrieved after 25 min warm ischemia. They were then stored on ice for 18 h before being reperfused ex vivo with oxygenated autologous blood on an isolated organ perfusion system. The selective i NOS inhibitor 1400W(10 mg/kg) was administered before reperfusion(n = 6) vs control group(n = 7). Creatinine(1000 μmol/L) was added to the system, renal and tubular cell function and the level of ischemia reperfusion injury were assessed over 3 h of reperfusion using plasma, urine and tissue samples. RESULTS: Kidneys treated with 1400 W had a higher level of creatinine clearance(CrC l) [area under the curve(AUC) CrC l: 2.37 ± 0.97 mL /min per 100 g vs 0.96 ± 0.32 mL /min per 100 g, P = 0.004] and urine output [Total: 320 ± 96 mL vs 156 ± 82 mL, P = 0.008]. There was no significant difference in levels of fractional excretion of sodium(AUC, Fr ex Na+: Control, 186.3% ± 81.7%.h vs 1400 W, 153.4% ± 12.1%.h, P = 0.429). Levels of total protein creatinine ratio were significantly lower in the 1400 W group after 1 h of reperfusion(1h Pr/Cr: 1400 W 9068 ± 6910 mg/L/mmol/L vs Control 21586 ± 5464 mg/L/mmol/L, P = 0.026). Levels of 8-isoprostane were significantly lower in the 1400 W group [8-iso/creatinine ratio: Control 239 ± 136 pg/L/mmol/L vs 1400 W 139 ± 47 pg/L/mmol/L, P = 0.041].CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that 1400 W reduced ischaemia reperfusion injury in this porcine kidney model of DCD donor. Kidneys had improved renal function and reduced oxidative stress.

Impact of machine perfusion of the liver on post-transplant biliary complications: A systematic review

AIM To review the clinical impact of machine perfusion(MP) of the liver on biliary complications post-transplantation, particularly ischaemic-type biliary lesions(ITBL). METHODS This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalysis(PRISMA) protocol. The following databases were searched: PubMed, MEDLINE and Scopus. The keyword "liver transplantation" was used in combination with the free term "machine perfusion". Clinical studies reporting results of transplantation of donor human livers following ex situ or in situ MP were analysed. Details relating to donor characteristics, recipients, technique of MP performed and post-operative biliary complications(ITBL, bile leak and anastomotic strictures) were critically analysed.RESULTS Fifteen articles were considered to fit the criteria for this review. Ex situ normothermic MP was used in 6 studies, ex situ hypothermic MP in 5 studies and the other 4 studies investigated in situ normothermic regional perfusion(NRP) and controlled oxygenated rewarming. MP techniques which have per se the potential to alleviate ischaemia-reperfusion injury: Such as hypothermic MP and NRP, have also reported lower rates of ITBL. Other biliary complications, such as biliary leak and anastomotic biliary strictures, are reported with similar incidences with all MP techniques. There is currently less clinical evidence available to support normothermic MP as a mitigator of biliary complications following liver transplantation. On the other hand, restoration of organ to full metabolism during normothermic MP allows assessment of hepatobiliary function before transplantation, although universally accepted criteria have yet to be validated.CONCLUSION MP of the liver has the potential to have a positive impact on post-transplant biliary complications, specifically ITBL, and expand extended criteria donor livers utilisation.

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation in aortic surgery and dissection: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Very little is known about the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)for the management of patients undergoing major aortic surgery with particular reference to aortic dissection.AIM To review the available literature to determine if there was any evidence.METHODS A systematic literature search through PubMed and EMBASE was undertaken according to specific key words.RESULTS The search resulted in 29 publications relevant to the subject:1 brief communication,1 surgical technique report,1 invited commentary,1 retrospective case review,1 observational study,4 retrospective reviews,13 case reports and 7 conference abstracts.A total of 194 patients were included in these publications of whom 77 survived.CONCLUSION Although there is no compelling evidence for or against the use of ECMO in major aortic surgery or dissection,it is enough to justify its use in this patient population despite current adverse attitude.

Application of cerebral-myocardial perfusion combined with lower body circulatory arrest in pediatric complex aortic arch surgery

Background Adjunct RCP to DHCA ensures some extent uninterrupted cerebral perfusion and that promotes one-stage repair of complex aortic arch anomaly.One-stage repair may induce longer myocardial ischemic time.So there evolved cerebral-myocardial perfusion to reduce myocardial ischemic time.Methods We reviewed 78 patients from January 2010 to July 2017 in our center.

Mechanical Circulatory Support for the Failing Heart:Which Device to Choose

Critical cardiogenic shock remains a problem with staggering mortality,with the best hope of survival depending on timely and aggressive intervention.This often requires the use of extracorporeal mechanical support in addition to vasoactive medications to manage patients through their initial insult.The decision to use such support must be made early in the clinical presentation,and is best done in a multidisciplinary fashion.In this article,we review the literature and provide an algorithm for the treatment of cardiogenic shock.

Investigating the circulatory-respiratory response of elderly people during Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the circulatory-respiratory dynamics in elderly people during Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise. The subjects were females with an average age of 74 years who had been continuously practicing Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise for at least six months. The heart rate and blood pressure were measured before and after the subjects performed four different versions of Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise. The perceived exertion was evaluated using the Borg scale. The respiratory rate, oxygen uptake and respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured using an expired gas analyzer. The results showed an increase in heart rate during exercise, but confirmed that the rise in HR was below the safety limit. The blood pressure tended to be low post-exercise. Regarding perceived exertion, the maximum heart-lungs Borg scale response was 9 (very light). A slight increase in the respiratory rate was observed while exercising, but no abnormal breathing patterns were observed. The average metabolic equivalents (METs) of the exercise ranged from 1.34 to 1.87, and the average RQ ranged from 0.82 to 0.90. The circulatory-respiratory dynamics observed in this study verified that elderly females with an average age of 70 years could safely perform the Tai Chi Yuttari-exercise. This study helped obtain basic data for expanding the indications for this exercise.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY WITH PROFOUND HYPOTHERMIA AND CIRCULATORY ARREST

ＰＳＹＣＨＯＬＯＧＩＣＡＬＤＥＶＥＬＯＰＭＥＮＴＯＦＣＨＩＬＤＲＥＮＡＦＴＥＲＣＡＲＤＩＡＣＳＵＲＧＥＲＹＷＩＴＨＰＲＯＦＯＵＮＤＨＹＰＯＴＨＥＲＭＩＡＡＮＤＣＩＲＣＵＬＡＴＯＲＹＡＲＲＥＳＴＨｕａｎｇＨｕｉｍｉｎｇ（黄惠民），ＴａｏＳｕｄｉｅ（陶素...

Gender Difference in Circulatory Associated Multi-Morbidity among the Elderly in Rural Southwest China

Aim: This study examined the prevalence of four chronic circulatory system diseases (hypertension, CHD, hyperlipemia, Stroke) and associated multi-morbidity in order to identify the risk factors among the elderly in Yunnan province. Methods: A cross-sectional survey including 2299 consenting adults aged ≥ 60 years from rural places was conducted in 2018. Data of demographic parameters and clinical characteristics were acquired from questionnaire and health examination. Categorical variables were presented as counts and percentages. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between individual SES and lifestyle variables and multimorbidity of the four chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. All analyses were conducted with SPSS 17.0 software. Results: Our study suggested that the prevalence of hypertension, CHD, hyperlipemia, Stroke was 57.1%, 4.2%, 5.9% and 5.3%, respectively and the prevalence of multimorbidity was 10.3%. Females had a higher prevalence of family history of chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, obesity, central obesity and illiteracy than males (P < 0.01), whereas males had a markedly higher prevalence of drinking, smoking and good sleeping quality than females (P < 0.01). The family genetic history, obesity, smoking, education, and diabetes were positively and drinking was negatively correlated with the prevalence of circulatory associated multimorbidity in elderly. Interestingly, some of the above associations were only observed in male/female but not the other sex. Conclusions: The prevalence of circulatory disease associated multimorbidity is relatively high among elderly population in rural places of Yunan province and the risk factors are different between females and males.

Exclusive cigar smoking in the United States and smoking-related diseases: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Little information has been published on the risks of cigar smoking.Since 1990 cigar smoking has become more prevalent in the United States.AIM To summarise the evidence from the United States relating exclusive cigar smoking to risk of the major smoking-related diseases.METHODS Literature searches detected studies carried out in the United States which estimated the risk of lung cancer,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),heart disease,stroke or overall circulatory disease in exclusive cigar smokers as compared to those who had never smoked any tobacco product.Papers were identified from reviews and detailed searches on MEDLINE.For each study,data were extracted onto a study database and a linked relative risk database.Relative risks and 95%CIs were extracted,or estimated,relating to current,former or ever exclusive cigar smokers,and meta-analysed using standard methods.Sensitivity analyses were conducted including or excluding results from studies that did not quite fit the full selection criteria(for example,a paper presenting combined results from five studies,where 86%of the population were in the United States).RESULTS The literature searches identified 17 relevant publications for lung cancer,four for COPD and 12 for heart disease,stroke and circulatory disease.These related to 11 studies for lung cancer,to four studies for COPD and to eight studies for heart disease,stroke or overall circulatory disease.As some studies provided results for more than one disease,the total number of studies considered was 13,with results from four of these used in sensitivity analyses.There was evidence of significant heterogeneity in some of the meta-analyses so the random-effects estimates are summarized below.As the results from the sensitivity analyses were generally very similar to those from the main analyses,and involved more data,only the sensitivity results are summarized below.For lung cancer,relative risks(95%CI)for current,former and ever smokers were respectively,2.98(2.08 to 4.26),1.61(1.23 to 2.09),and 2.22(1.79 to 2.74)based on 6,4 and 10 individual study estimates.For COPD,the corresponding estimates were 1.44(1.16 to 1.77),0.47(0.02 to 9.88),and 0.86(0.48 to 1.54)based on 4,2 and 2 estimates.For ischaemic heart disease(IHD)the estimates were 1.11(1.04 to 1.19),1.26(1.03 to 1.53)and 1.15(1.08 to 1.23)based on 6,3 and 4 estimates,while for stroke they were 1.02(0.92 to 1.13),1.08(0.85 to 1.38),and 1.11(0.95 to 1.31)based on 5,3 and 4 estimates.For overall circulatory disease they were 1.10(1.05 to 1.16),1.11(0.84 to 1.46),and 1.15(1.06 to 1.26)based on 3,3 and 4 estimates.CONCLUSION Exclusive cigar smoking is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer,and less so with COPD and IHD.The increases are lower than for cigarettes.

Spontaneous bacterial empyema in cirrhosis:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Spontaneous bacterial empyema(SBE)occurs when a hepatic hydrothorax becomes infected and runs a course similar to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP).It remains underdiagnosed as patients with cirrhosis do not routinely undergo diagnostic thoracentesis.Current understanding is limited by small cohorts,while studies reporting its association with ascites/SBP are conflicting.AIM To explore the incidence of SBE,to determine its association with ascites,and to summarize what is known regarding treatment and outcomes for patients with SBE.METHODS Major databases were searched until June 2021.Outcomes include the incidence of SBE in pleural effusions,SBP in peritoneal fluid,and SBE in patients without ascites within our cohort of patients with cirrhosis.We performed a meta-analysis using a randomeffects model with pooled proportions and 95%confidence intervals(CI).We assessed heterogeneity using I^(2)and classic fail-safe to determine bias.RESULTS Eight studies with 8899 cirrhosis patients were included.The median age ranged between 41.2 to 69.7 years.The majority of the patients were Child-Pugh B and C.Mean MELD score was 18.6±8.09.A total of 1334 patients had pleural effusions and the pooled incidence of SBE was 15.6%(CI 12.6-19;I^(2)50).Amongst patients diagnosed with SBE,the most common locations included right(202),left(64),and bilateral(8).Amongst our cohort,a total of 2636 patients had ascites with a pooled incidence of SBP of 22.2%(CI 9.9-42.7;I^(2)97.8).The pooled incidence of SBE in patients with cirrhosis but without concomitant ascites was 9.5%(CI 3.6-22.8;I^(2)82.5).CONCLUSION SBE frequently occurs with concurrent ascites/SBP;our results suggest high incidence rates of SBE even in the absence of ascites.The pleura can be an unrecognized nidus and our findings support the use of diagnostic thoracentesis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis after exclusion of other causes of pleural effusion.Thoracentesis should be considered particularly in patients without ascites and when there is a high suspicion of infection.The need for diagnostic thoracentesis will continue to be important as rates of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections increase and antibiotic susceptibility information is required for adequate treatment.

Influence of the Type of Circulatory/Ventricular Assistance in the Primary Graft Failure and Heart Transplantation Mortality

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, the percentage of heart transplantation (HT) with short/medium-term assistance devices has increased. This study aims at analyzing primary graft failure and in-hospital mortality according to the type of care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2013 to December?2017 all patients undergoing urgent HT with circulatory/ventricular assistance?were retrospectively and consecutively recruited. Combined transplants, retransplantations and pediatric transplants were excluded. The sample was divided in 10 groups according to the type of shot/medium term assistance devices. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were recruited, 79% men, average age 49 ± 13 years. 26 patients (51%) had mechanical ventilation at the time of the HT. Primary graft failure occurred in 20 patients (38.5%), whilst it was more frequent in patients assisted with ECMO (8 patients in group 1 (45%) and 7 in group 2 (54%), p 0.5). 14 deaths (27%) were registered, whereas a higher mortality was observed in the group assisted with ECMO (6 patients in group 1 (34%) and 4 in group 2 (31%), p 0.6). Mortality was 17% in the group of non-urgent Levitronix. CONCLUSIONS: Despite not showing statistical significance due to the low number of patients in some subgroups, hospital?mortality was high in HT patients with circulatory assistance. A trend towards a higher incidence of primary graft failure and mortality in patients assisted with ECMO was observed. The direct implantation of a centrifugal pump as a bridge to urgent transplantation could identify a subgroup with a better prognosis.