The Impacts of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir on Myocardial Injury and Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 amid the Omicron Wave of the Pandemic.

Purpose: Even though nirmatrelvir-ritonavir can improve the short-term morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, the effects of this treatment on long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), especially myocardial injury, remains undetermined.

Methods: This prospective cohort study identified hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 between April 19, 2022, and June 9, 2022, amid the omicron wave of the pandemic. Matched nirmatrelvir-ritonavir-treated and non-treated cohorts were formed using the propensity score matching method.

The impacts of prophylactic anticoagulation therapy during hospitalization on long-term cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk COVID-19 patients amid the omicron wave of the pandemic.

Background: Although prophylactic anticoagulation therapy is suggested to be adopted in severe COVID-19 patients, its effects on the long-term cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, namely the risk of major adverse CV events(MACEs) in high-risk CV patients amid the omicron wave of the pandemic, remain unknown.

Methods: We conducted this prospective cohort study of consecutive adults hospitalized COVID-19 between 19 April and 12 June 2022, COVID-19 patients with at least two CV risk factors or pre-existing CV diseases were enrolled. A propensity score matching(PSM) method was used to evaluated the effects of prophylactic anticoagulation therapy in hospital on long-term MACEs, including CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, hospitalization due to unstable angina pectoris, coronary revascularization and arterial or venous thrombosis.

The initial timing and dosage pattern of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: In real-world clinical practice, the initiation and up-titration of sacubitril/valsartan remain challenging due to symptomatic hypotension in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of different initial timing and dosage of sacubitril/valsartan in AMI patients.

Methods: This prospective and observational cohort study enrolled AMI patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI), and were categorized according to the initial timing and average daily doses of sacubitril/valsartan prescription.

Roles of oral microbiota and oral-gut microbial transmission in hypertension.

Introduction: Considerable evidence has linked periodontitis (PD) to hypertension (HTN), but the nature behind this connection is unclear. Dysbiosis of oral microbiota leading to PD is known to aggravate different systematic diseases, but the alteration of oral microbiota in HTN and their impacts on blood pressure (BP) remains to be discovered.

Objectives: To characterize the alterations of oral and gut microbiota and their roles in HTN.

Characteristics, prognosis, and treatment response in HFpEF patients with high vs. normal ejection fraction.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients varied by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have different clinical characteristics, prognosis, and treatment response. With data from our prospective HFpEF cohort, we assessed the possible relationship between clinical characteristics, outcome as well as treatment response and LVEF.

Methods: We compared differences in baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes across LVEF categories (50%≤LVEF <60% vs.

Extracellular vesicles from hypoxia-preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells alleviates myocardial injury by targeting thioredoxin-interacting protein-mediated hypoxia-inducible factor-1α pathway.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from hypoxia-preconditioned (HP) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have better cardioprotective effects against myocardial infarction (MI) in the early stage than EVs isolated from normoxic (NC)-MSCs. However, the cardioprotective mechanisms of HP-EVs are not fully understood.

Aim: To explore the cardioprotective mechanism of EVs derived from HP MSCs.

Initial Invasive or Conservative Strategy in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: In patients with both heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and coronary artery disease (CAD), whether adopting an initial invasive strategy benefits better in clinical outcomes compared with those who received an initial conservative strategy remains inconclusive.

Methods: With data from the heart failure (HF) cohort study, we analyzed patients who had HFpEF and CAD amenable to the invasive intervention using propensity score matching of 1:1 ratio to compare the initial invasive strategy and the initial conservative strategy of medical therapy alone. The primary outcome was the composite endpoints of all-cause mortality or cardiovascular hospitalization, and the secondary outcome was all-cause mortality or cardiovascular hospitalization.

VSTM1 regulates monocyte/macrophage function via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective: V-set and transmembrane domain-containing protein 1 (VSTM1) is negatively correlated with inflammation. However, its effect on atherosclerosis (AS) remains largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of VSTM1 on the biological function of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells /macrophages stimulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).

Incident Heart Failure in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The contemporary incidence of heart failure (HF) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. This prospective cohort study was designed to study the incidence and predictors of new-onset HF in CAD patients after PCI (ChiCTR1900023033). From January 2014 to December 2018, 3,910 CAD patients without HF history undergoing PCI were prospectively enrolled.

Predictive and prognostic value of v-set and transmembrane domain-containing 1 expression in monocytes for coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between v-set and transmembrane domain-containing 1 (VSTM1) expression and incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 310 patients were divided into a non-acute coronary syndrome (non-ACS) group (containing the stable angina group, and the asymptomatic coronary artery diseaseand other patients group) and an ACS group (containing unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction patients). Monocytic VSTM1 expression levels (assessed via average fluorescence intensity derived from antibody binding to VSTM1) in each group were detected and analyzed.

MiR-21-3p Inhibits Adipose Browning by Targeting FGFR1 and Aggravates Atrial Fibrosis in Diabetes.

A relationship between excess epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported. Browning of EAT may be a novel approach for the prevention or treatment of AF by attenuating atrial fibrosis. Previous studies have identified microRNA-21 (miR-21) as a regulatory factor in atrial fibrosis.

Irisin ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiac perivascular fibrosis through inhibiting endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition by regulating ROS accumulation and autophagy disorder in endothelial cells.

The dose-dependent toxicity to cardiomyocytes has been well recognized as a central characteristic of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC), however, the pathogenesis of DIC in the cardiac microenvironment remains elusive. Irisin is a new hormone-like myokine released into the circulation in response to exercise with distinct functions in regulating apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Recent advances revealed the role of irisin as a novel therapeutic method and an important mediator of the beneficial effects of exercise in cardioprotection.

Left ventricular geometry transition in hypertensive patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) develops in response to hypertensive left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and is associated with increased cardiovascular events. Although the progression to systolic heart failure is a known consequence of LV hypertrophy and HFpEF, few data are available on the LV geometry change and frequency of deterioration to systolic dysfunction in this population.

Methods And Results: We evaluated the baseline and follow-up characteristics in 680 patients with LV hypertrophy and HFpEF in this prospective cohort study.

Association of Circulating Irisin Levels and the Characteristics and Prognosis of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Irisin is a new muscle factor discovered in recent years that shows a strong association with metabolic diseases. However, its role in coronary artery disease (CAD) is still controversial. We performed this study to determine the relationship of serum irisin with the characteristics and prognosis of CAD.

Nicotine exacerbates atherosclerosis through a macrophage-mediated endothelial injury pathway.

Evidence suggests that nicotine intake promotes atherosclerosis. We enrolled 100 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and found that plaque burden, TXNIP expression, and inflammatory chemokine levels were higher in smokers than non-smokers. Additionally, patients with higher TXNIP expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) had a higher Gensini Scores and higher plasma IL-1β and IL-18 levels.

Balloon Deflation Strategy during Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial and Numerical Simulation-Based Analysis.

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the best available reperfusion strategy in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, PCI is associated with a serious problem known as no-reflow phenomenon, resulting in poor clinical and functional outcomes. This study aimed to compare the influences of different balloon deflation velocity on coronary flow and cardiovascular events during primary PCI in STEM as well as transient hemodynamic changes in in vitro experiments.

Characteristics, prognosis and treatment response in distinct phenogroups of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogeneous syndrome. We aimed to derive HFpEF phenotype-based groups based on clinical features using machine learning, and to compare clinical characteristics, outcomes and treatment response across the phenogroups.

Methods: We applied model-based clustering to 11 clinical and laboratory variables collected in 970 HFpEF patients.

Optimal management of blood glucose, blood pressure and atrial fibrillation to reduce the risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension and atrial fibrillation (AF) are risk factors for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Aim: To examine the effects of the simultaneous control of all three conditions on new-onset HFpEF in this population.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 552 patients with T2DM, hypertension and AF, but without clinical signs or symptoms of heart failure.

Association between long-term prescription of febuxostat and the progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with hypertension and asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Both hypertension and hyperuricemia are closely associated with the morbidity and mortality of heart failure. This study was designed to evaluate the influences of long-term xanthine oxidase inhibitor (febuxostat) prescription on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, and new-onset heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in these patients. Using a propensity score matching of 1:2 ratio, this retrospective claims database study compared febuxosatat prescription (n = 96) and non-urate-lowering therapy (n = 192) in patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Characteristics and outcomes of transitions among heart failure categories: a prospective observational cohort study.

Aims: Patients with heart failure (HF) are typically designated as having reduced, mid-range, or preserved ejection fraction (EF) (HFrEF, HFmrEF, or HFpEF, respectively) because of the importance of left ventricular EF (LVEF) on therapeutic decisions and prognosis. However, such designations are not necessarily static, as there are many transitions among the three HF phenotypes during follow-up. This prospective longitudinal cohort study sought to examine the HF transitions over time and their clinical characteristics, prognosis, and response to medical therapy.

Association between long-term prescription of metformin and the progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension are independently related to increasing risk of subsequent incident heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study was designed to evaluate the influences of long-term metformin prescription in these patients.

Methods: Using a propensity score matching of 1:2 ratio, this retrospective claims database study compared metformin prescription (n = 130) and non-metformin therapy (n = 260) in patients with T2DM and hypertension and without clinical signs or symptoms of heart failure.

miR-146a attenuates apoptosis and modulates autophagy by targeting TAF9b/P53 pathway in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Clinical therapy of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited due to its cardiotoxicity. miR-146a was proved as a protective factor in many cardiovascular diseases, but its role in chronic DOX-induced cardiotoxicity is unclear. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the role of miR-146a in low-dose long-term DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Visit-to-visit variability in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with adverse events in non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Objective: A higher visit-to-visit variability in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with an increased frequency of cardiovascular events. We investigated the association between the visit-to-visit LDL-C variability and all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and coronary revascularization in a population with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: From this retrospective cohort of individuals who underwent coronary angiography from 2006 to 2010, a total of 2.

Incidence of congenital heart diseases in Chinese children with non-syndromic congenital blepharoptosis: a prospective observational study of 1053 patients.

Background: Congenital blepharoptosis (CBP) may be part of a large spectrum of birth defects presenting with other ocular or systemic conditions. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of congenital heart diseases (CHD) in CBP children not associated with specific syndromes.

Methods: A total of 1053 Chinese children diagnosed with non-syndromic CBP were consecutively enrolled and their cardiac structure was evaluated by echocardiography.

A prospective, multicenter, randomized OCT study of early neointimal condition at first and second months after BuMA Supreme stent versus XIENCE stent implantation in high-bleeding-risk coronary artery disease patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Earlier vascular healing after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation may reduce the incidence of late stent thrombosis and provide theoretical evidence to shorten dual antiplatelet therapy duration in patients with high bleeding risks. The BuMA supreme stent is a newly developed DES-coated with the sirolimus by using the international patent electronic grafted eG™ technology. Previous randomized trials showed that BuMA stents had better stent-strut coverage at 3-month follow-ups, which were evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT).