Assessing the impact of evolocumab on thin-cap fibroatheroma and endothelial function in patients with very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The prevalence of very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is significant in China, with suboptimal rates of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compliance exacerbating plaque instability and causing a higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) are effective in reducing LDL-C levels, increase the stability of vulnerable plaque, and influence the progression of atherosclerosis through multiple mechanisms as demonstrated in animal studies. However, there is currently a lack of evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of high-intensity statin therapy combined with PCSK9i in the secondary prevention of ASCVD in the Chinese population.

The cGAS-STING/PERK-eIF2α: Individual or Potentially Collaborative Signaling Transduction in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Over the past several decades, a canonical pathway called the cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) mediating type I interferon (IFN) release via TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1) / IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) pathway has been widely investigated and characterized. Unexpectedly, recent studies show that the cGAS-STING noncanonically activates the protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK)-eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), an essential branch of unfolded protein response (UPR), even before the activation of the TBK1/IRF3 signaling. Additionally, we found that the PERK could regulate the STING signaling besides being modulated by upstream cGAS-STING.

The Chains of Ferroptosis Interact in the Whole Progression of Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS), a category of cardiovascular disease (CVD) that can cause other more severe disabilities, increasingly jeopardizes human health. Owing to its imperceptible and chronic symptoms, it is hard to determine the pathogenesis and precise therapeutics for AS. A novel type of programmed cell death called ferroptosis was discovered in recent years that is distinctively different from other traditional cell death pathways in morphological and biochemical aspects.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Alleviate Diabetic Kidney Disease in Rats by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Inflammation.

Background And Aims: Previous studies have confirmed the anti-inflammation effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BMSC-Exo). We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of BMSC-Exo on diabetic kidney disease (DKD), as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: SD rats were induced by streptozotocin combined with a high-fat diet to establish a diabetes disease model.

The therapeutic efficacy and clinical translation of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in cardiovascular diseases.

Exosomes, mainly derived from mesenchymal stem cells, provide a good reference for cardiac function repair and clinical application in cardiac and vascular diseases by regulating cardiomyocyte viability, inflammatory levels, angiogenesis, and ventricular remodeling after a heart injury. This review presents the cardioprotective efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-originated exosomes and explores the underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we expound on several efficient approaches to transporting exosomes into the heart in clinical application and comment on the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio as a predictor for patients with Takayasu arteritis and coronary involvement: a double-center, observational study.

Background: The implication of the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) in Takayasu arteritis (TAK) remains unclear.

Objective: We aimed to assess the predictive value of the MHR to identify coronary involvement with TAK and determine the patient prognosis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 1,184 consecutive patients with TAK were collected and assessed, and those who were initially treated and with coronary angiography were enrolled and classified according to coronary involvement or no involvement.

The cGAS-STING Pathway: A Ubiquitous Checkpoint Perturbing Myocardial Attributes.

As an innate immune route of defense against microbial infringement, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP)-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase (cGAS)- stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling does not simply participate in amplifying inflammatory responses via releasing type-I interferon (IFN) or enhance the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, but also interplays with multifarious pathophysiological activities, such as autophagy, apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and senescence in a broad repertoire of cells like endothelial cells, macrophages and cardiomyocyte. Thus, the cGAS-STING pathway is closely linked with aberrant heart morphologically and functionally via these mechanisms. The past few decades have witnessed an increased interest in the exact relationship between the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and the initiation or development of certain cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

cGAS-STING Pathway Performance in the Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque.

The important role of Ca in pathogenic store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is well-established. Among the proteins involved in the calcium signaling pathway, Stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1) is a critical endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein. STIM1 is activated by the depletion of calcium stores and then binds to another calcium protein, Orai1, to form a channel through which the extracellular Ca can enter the cytoplasm to replenish the calcium store.

Comparison of clinical profiles and associated factors for acute myocardial infarction among young and very young patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: This study aimed to compare the profiles of young and very young patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and explore the factors associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) based on age.

Methods: Young CAD patients aged between 18 and 44 years diagnosed by angiography were enrolled retrospectively. They were divided into two groups according to age: young CAD was defined as patients aged between 36 and 44 years, and very young CAD was defined as patients aged between 18 and 35 years.

Effect of Kuanxiong Aerosol () on Patients with Angina Pectoris: A Non-inferiority Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of Kuanxiong Aerosol (, KA) on patients with angina pectoris.

Methods: Block randomization was performed to randomly allocate 750 patients into KA (376 cases) and control groups (374 cases). During an angina attack, the KA group received 3 consecutive sublingual sprays of KA (0.

Hypersensitivity to ticagrelor and low response to clopidogrel: a case report.

Ticagrelor is widely used to treat acute coronary syndrome. Hypersensitivity reaction of ticagrelor is rarely recognized. A low response to clopidogrel, which occurs in up to 23% of patients, is an independent risk factor for stent thrombosis.

Effectiveness of Integrative Medicine Therapy on Coronary Artery Disease Prognosis: A Real-World Study.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of integrative medicine (IM) on patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and investigate the prognostic factors of CAD in a real-world setting.

Methods: A total of 1,087 hospitalized patients with CAD from four hospitals in Beijing, China were consecutively selected between August 2011 and February 2012. The patients were assigned to two groups based on the treatment: Chinese medicine (CM) plus conventional treatment, i.

Level of Pregnancy-associated Plasma Protein-A Correlates With Coronary Thin-cap Fibroatheroma Burden in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Novel Findings From 3-Vessel Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound Assessment.

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) level is an independent predictor of acute cardiovascular event occurrence. To test the hypothesis that increased PAPP-A levels would be associated with a higher burden of coronary thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) thereby underlying the heightened risk for cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease; 154 patients (462 vessels and 975 plaques) with stable angina or non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) referred for percutaneous coronary intervention were assessed using 3-vessel virtual histology (VH)-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Thin-cap fibroatheroma virtual histology was defined as focal, necrotic core (NC)-rich (≥10% of cross-sectional area) plaques in contact with the lumen, and plaque burden ≥40%.

[Effect and mechanism of recombinant hirudin on atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice].

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of hirudin on atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice.

Methods: Totally 24 ApoE(-/-) mice, 7-8 weeks old were fed with high fat diets. They were randomly divided into the recombinant hirudin treatment group (drug group) and the model group according to body weight and different dens, 12 in each group.

[Effect of Kuanxiong aerosol on coronary heart disease angina patients: a multicenter randomized controlled clinical study].

Objective: To evaluate the anginal attack-relieving efficacy and safety of Kuanxiong Aerosol (KA) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: A total of 780 patients confirmatively diagnosed as CHD angina from November 2011 to December 2012 in 13 medical centers in the mainland area were assigned to 2 groups by blocked randomization, the treatment group (376 cases) and the control group (374 cases). When the angina attacked, patients in the treatment group received sublingual spray three times, 0.

Clinical effect of Maixuekang Capsule (脉血康胶囊) on long-term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: To study the changes of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation rate, and evaluate the effects of Maixuekang Capsule (, MKC) on platelet aggregation rate and long-term prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: A total of 236 patients with acute coronary syndrome, who received successful PCI, were randomly assigned to a trial group (116 cases) and a control group (120 cases) according to random numbers; treatment allocation occurred when the participants met the inclusion criteria and signed the informed consent forms. In the trial group, the patients were treated with MKC combined with routine medication, and in the control group the patients were treated with routine medication.

[Effects of Maixuekang Capsule on the platelet aggregation rate and its long-term prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome under percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To study the changes of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation rate, and evaluate the effects of Maixuekang Capsule (MC) on the platelet aggregation rate, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the long-term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome under percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Totally 236 inpatients with acute coronary syndrome under PCI, who successively received PCI from July 2008 to June 2010, were randomly assigned to the routine treatment group (RTT, 120 cases) and the MC treatment group (MKT, 116 cases). Besides routine medication, patients in the MKT group additionally took MC, 12 capsules daily for 12 successive months.

Combined effect of atorvastatin and probucol on plasma cystatin C levels and severity of coronary lesion in patients with borderline coronary lesion.

Background: The plasma cystatin C concentration (PcyC) has been demonstrated to have prognostic value in acute coronary syndrome, but the study of PcyC in patients with borderline coronary lesions is limited. Moreover, the effects of atorvastatin and probucol on PcyC and the severity of coronary lesions are unknown. This study was to evaluate the effects of the combination of atorvastatin and probucol on PcyC and severity of coronary lesion in patients with borderline coronary lesions.

Use of tailored loading-dose clopidogrel in patients undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention based on adenosine diphosphate-mediated platelet aggregation.

Background: Adenosine phosphate-mediated platelet aggregation is a prognostic factor for major adverse cardiac events in patients who have undergone selective percutaneous coronary interventions. This study aimed to assess whether an adjusted loading dose of clopidogrel could more effectively inhibit platelet aggregation in patients undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: A total of 205 patients undergoing selected percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled in this multicenter, prospective, randomized study.

[Evaluation on the relationship between pregnancy associated plasma protein-a and intravascular ultrasound detected culprit coronary plaque morphology in patients with unstable angina].

Objective: To assess the relationship between pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and culprit coronary plaque morphology in patients with unstable angina (UA).

Methods: Sixty-eight UA patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound were included in this study. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to assay the circulating PAPP-A.

Ultrasonic destruction of albumin microbubbles enhances gene transfection and expression in cardiac myocytes.

Background: It has been proven that ultrasonic destruction of microbubbles can enhance gene transfection efficiency into the noncardiac cells, but there are few reports about cardiac myocytes. Moreover, the exact mechanisms are not yet clear; whether the characteristic of microbubbles can affect the gene transfection efficiency or not is still controversial. This study was designed to investigate whether the ultrasound destruction of gene-loaded microbubbles could enhance the plasmids carried reporter gene transfection in primary cultured myocardial cell, and evaluate the effects of microbubbles characteristics on the transgene expression in cardiac myocytes.

Long-term (4-year) outcomes and predictors of adverse cardiac events after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in unprotected left main coronary artery.

The long-term safety and efficiency of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) treatment in unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) have not yet been ascertained.From 2003 to 2006, 126 consecutive patients with de novo lesions in ULMCA who underwent SES were retrospectively analyzed in a single center in China. During 4-year follow-up, major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE)-free survival was 74.

[Efficacy of stents coated with antibody against CD105 on preventing restenosis and thrombosis in minipigs].

Objective: Novel stents loaded with antibody against CD105 were analyzed for their potential to limit coronary neointima formation and to accelerate endothelialization by attracting activated endothelial cell.

Methods: Thirty Stents coated with antibody against CD105, thirty unloaded polymer, and thirty bare metal stents were deployed in 90 coronary arteries of 30 minipigs. Oral aspirin (300 mg before operation and 100 mg post operation) and clopidogrel (300 mg before operation and 75 mg post operation) were orally administrated.

Comparison of long-term (4-year) outcomes of patients with unprotected left main coronary artery narrowing treated with drug-eluting stents versus coronary-artery bypass grafting.

Percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (DES) may achieve midterm outcomes comparable to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for unprotected left main coronary artery disease, but few real-world, long-term studies have been reported. In this study, 376 patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease who underwent DES implantation (n = 131) or CABG (n = 245) were evaluated, and outcomes were compared using propensity analyses to adjust for baseline differences. Overall, 367 patients (98%) had complete clinical follow-up for a median of 4.

[Value of intravascular ultrasound, 64 multi-detector computed tomography and quantitative coronary angiography on lesion of coronary artery in unstable angina pectoris patient].

Objective: To compare the value of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and assess the value of quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and 64 multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) on unstable anginas (UAP) risk stratification.

Method: A total of 61 UAP patients (low risk: 17, middle risk: 33 and high risk: 11) were recruited, 71 vessels were examined by MDCT, QCA and IVUS. Plaque characteristics (soft, fibrous, calcified and mixed plaques) and plaque burden at minimum area (< or = 50%, 51% - 74% and > or = 75%) were detected, calculated and analyzed.