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OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility, safety and mid-term outcome of minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) surgery. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent MICS CABG between November 2015 and November 2017 in Peking University Third Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results were compared with the patients who underwent off-pump coronary aortic bypass grafting (OPCABG) surgery over the same period. The two groups were matched in propensity score matching method according to age, gender, left ventricular ejection fraction, body mass index, severity of coronary artery disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, renal insufficiency, history of cerebrovascular accident, and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RESULTS: There were 85 patients in MICS CABG group, including 68 males (80.0%) and 17 females (20%), with an average age of (63.8±8.7) years; 451 patients were enrolled in OPCABG group, and 85 patients were matched by propensity score as control group (OPCABG group). There was no significant difference in general clinical characteristics (P>0.05). The average grafts of MICS CABG and OPCABG were 2.35±0.83 and 2.48±0.72 respectively (P=0.284). No conversion to thoracotomy in MICS CABG group or cardiopulmonary bypass in neither group occurred. There was no significant difference in the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACCEs, 1.17% vs. 3.52%), reoperation (2.34 vs. 3.52%), new-onset atrial fibrillation rate (4.70% vs. 3.52%) or new-onset renal insufficiency rate (1.17% vs. 0%) between MICS CABG group and OPCABG group (P>0.05). The operation time in MICS CABG group was longer than that in OPCABG group [(282.8±55.8) min vs. (246.8±56.9) min, P < 0.05], while the time of ventilator supporting(16.9 h vs. 29.6 h), hospitalization in ICU [(29.3±20.8) h vs. (51.5±48.3) h] and total hospitalization [(18.3±3.2) d vs. (25.7±4.2) d] in MICS CABG group were shorter than those in OPCABG group (P < 0.05). The total patency rate (A+B levels) of MICS CABG was 96.5% after surgery. There was no significant difference in MACCEs rate between the two groups [1.18%(1/85) vs. 3.61%(3/83), P>0.05] in 1-year follow up. CONCLUSION: The MICS CABG surgery is a safe and feasible procedure with good clinical results in early and mid-term follow-up.

The effects of miR-145 (microRNA 145) on M. pneumoniae (MP)-infected MRC-5 (Medical Research Council cell strain 5) cell TGF-β/Smad (transforming growth factor beta/Smad) fibrosis pathway were explored through constructing MP-infected MRC-5 cell models. In addition, the qPCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) and Western blot were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of miR-145, TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor beta 1), Smad3, Smad4, MMP2 (matrix metalloproteinase 2), FN1 (fibronectin 1), ELN (elastin) and COLI α1 (collagen type I alpha 1) signaling molecules in TGF-β/Smad fibrosis pathway. The results showed that the expression of miR-145 in MRC-5 cells was significantly increased after MP infection. In addition, miR-145 inhibited the fibrosis promoting TGF-β/Smad pathway by targeting Smad3, a key factor in the TGF-β/Smad pathway. It can be concluded that, in the process of MP infection, the expression of miR-145 is stimulated to negatively regulate the fibrosis-promoting pathway of TGF-β/Smad.

A modified polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was produced by the addition of copper powder to improve the mechanical properties and penetration performance of conventional PTFE. Static compression and split Hopkinson pressure bar test analyses verified the improved mechanical properties of the modified PTFE. A shaped-charge structure was designed by applying modified PTFE to liner material. The formation of modified PTFE jet and the process of jet penetrating shell charge were modeled by numerical simulation. As compared to Teflon, the results obtained demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the modified PTFE have been significantly improved to achieve a greater consistency of jet formation, stronger penetration, broadened pore size, and increased damage performance in the absence of a charge shell explosion.

The boiler steam pressure is an important parameter reflecting the state of boiler operation. Considering the disturbance and uncertainty of the fuel-steam pressure system, only using pressure signal, an extended state observer is designed, and sliding mode controller is designed based on disturbance and uncertainty compensation. From Lyapunov stability analysis, it is shown that the closed system stability can be guarantee. Simulation results are presented to validate the good system robustness and good tracking performance of the control system.

The protective effects of tea catechins on the injury of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats were observed with rat cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model produced by bilaterally clamping the common carotid arteries and vagus nerves for 60 min and then removing the occlusion for 30 min.Wistar rats were divided into normal control group, model group and catechin group (30 mg.kg-1 and 50 mg.kg-1 i.p., qd x 7 d). The changes of biochemical indications and pathology were observed.The results presented that the concentration of MDA in brain tissue and serum of model rats were higher than that of control rats(P0.01). Compared with model group, tea catechin groups could decrease the concentration of MDA in brain tissue and serum, and tea catechin group (50 mg.kg-1 i.p., qd x 7 d) could improve the injury of blood brain barrier.Tea catechins have protective effects on the injury of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

The antiarrhythmic effect of Jiawei Zhigancao Tang injection (JZTI) was studied in experimental arrhythmia induced by aconitine or by CaCl2 in anesthetized rats. The prophylactic dose of JZTI (5g/kg, i.v.) reduced the incidence rate of premature ventricular complexes, ventricular tachycardia (P0.01), delayed the onset time of arrhythmia induced by CaCl2 (P0.01), and the recovery time of sinus rhythm occurred earlier than that of control group (P0.01). The therapeutic dose of JZTI (10g/kg, i.v.) raised the rate of aconitine-induced arrhythmia to sinus rhythm conversion (P0.05). The results showed that JZTI could significantly antagonize arrhythmia induced by aconitine or by Cacl2 in rats.