Objective To investigate the knowledge level of Chinese cardiac surgeons regarding the management of infective endocarditis (IE), in order to identify the gap between clinical practices and the latest guidelines, and provide evidence-based support for improving the clinical management of IE. Methods A nationwide survey was conducted through an online questionnaire from December 5, 2024, to December 31, 2024. Descriptive analysis of the survey data was performed. Results A total of 67 valid responses were received from 18 provincial-level administrative divisions across China. While 56.7% (38/67) of respondents demonstrated familiarity with the modified Duke criteria, only 43.3% (29/67) comprehended the 2023 Duke- International Society of Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases criteria. Conversely, 43.3% (29/67) exhibited limited understanding of the former, and 56.7% (38/67) showed deficient knowledge of the latter diagnostic standards. Only 46.3% (31/67) reported proficiency in current IE management guidelines/consensus. Regarding surgical timing, 26.9% (18/67) advocated intervention within 7-14 days of antimicrobial therapy, 22.4% (15/67) during 14-28 days, and 10.5% (7/67) beyond 28 days. Notably, a significant proportion of respondents opted for delayed surgical intervention beyond guideline recommendations when managing patients with heart failure, uncontrolled infection, or neurological complications. Conclusion A knowledge gap and practice discrepancies exist among Chinese surgeons regarding the management of IE. There is an urgent need to promote updated concepts regarding surgical indications and timing for IE in order to optimize treatment strategies and improve patient prognosis.
With the broad application of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and high rates of early lung cancer screening, the number of patients diagnosed with synchronous multiple primary lung cancer (sMPLC) has been increasing. It becomes of great prominence to distinct sMPLC from intrapulmonary metastases in clinical practice. An increasing number of studies have developed high-throughput sequencing based genetic approaches to specify the molecular characteristics of sMPLC, which contributes to a better understanding of its tumorigenesis. The genetic profile of sMPLC also benefits its diagnosis, which mainly relies on its clinicopathological criteria. Here, we summarize the progresses on the diagnostic criteria for sMPLC, and also molecular features of sMPLC from the perspective of clonality analysis.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening infectious disease. Although histopathological examination remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis, it is performed in only a minority of patients; thus, the diagnosis of IE continues to rely predominantly on clinical manifestations. However, IE presents with highly variable systemic symptoms that often lack cardiac-specific features, posing significant diagnostic challenges. To address this complexity, multiple diagnostic criteria have been developed, integrating clinical presentation, imaging findings, and microbiological evidence. Over the past three decades, substantial shifts in the microbiological and epidemiological profiles of IE, coupled with advances in imaging modalities and laboratory diagnostics, have profoundly influenced diagnostic approaches, driving continuous refinement of diagnostic criteria. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the major diagnostic criteria for IE, traces their historical evolution, evaluates recent updates and diagnostic performance, and offers theoretical insights and practical implications to guide future research.