Reinder Evertz¹, Charlotte A. Houck², Tim ten Cate¹, Anthonie L. Duijnhouwer¹, Rypko Beukema¹, Sjoerd Westra¹, Kevin Vernooy ^1,3, Natasja M. S. de Groot²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1123-1129, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12859

Abstract Background: Patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD) are at increased risk of de‐ veloping atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently percutaneous ASD closure is the preferred therapeutic strategy and although pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF is feasible after ASD closure, the transseptal puncture can be technically challenging and prob‐ ably increases the perioperative risk. A staged approach, with PVI several months be‐ fore ASD closure, has been recommended for patients already scheduled for closure, but no data are available on combined procedures.
Purpose: This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of a combined procedure of PVI and ASD closure in patients… More >

Fei Zhang¹, Yifeng Yang², Qin Wu², Wancun Jin², Haisong Bu², Sijie Wu², Tianli Zhao², Shijun Hu²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 324-330, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12753

Abstract Objective: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of intraoperative device closure for secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) not referred to percutaneous closure.
Design and Patients: From April 2010 to December 2018, 231 secundum ASD children (≤14 years) directly recommended to surgical repair were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into two groups according to the parents’ choice based on surgeons’ recommendation. Follow-up evaluations were adopted at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. In Group A, 127 patients underwent an initial attempt at device closure. In Group B, 104 patients underwent… More >

Yuguo YI, Jiamin ZHENG, Yang ZHOU, Zhiqin LIU, Dan WENG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.1, pp. 7-11, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08686

Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a huge threat to public health of the whole world. Around 25% of NAFLD patients will progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which has been predicted to be the main reason for liver transplantation in the United States in 2020. Extensive effort has been devoted to investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of NASH pathogenesis and developing new promising treatments. Recent studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis, an inflammatory programmed cell death mediated by inflammasome and gasdermin-D (GSDMD), is involved in the development and progression of NASH. This review aims to summarize the recent findings regarding the… More >