Dexmedetomidine administration is associated with improved outcomes in critically ill patients with acute myocardial infarction partly through its anti-inflammatory activity.

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a commonly used sedative in the intensive care unit and has demonstrated cardioprotective properties against ischemia-reperfusion injury in preclinical studies. However, the protective effects of early treatment of DEX in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its underlying mechanism are still not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the association between early DEX treatment and in-hospital mortality in patients with AMI, and to explore the potential mediating role of white blood cell (WBC) reduction in this relationship.

Use the right kidney contour as a landmark in adrenal vein sampling.

Adrenal Vein Sampling (AVS) is the gold standard for categorizing primary aldosteronism (PA). However, catheterization of the right adrenal vein (RAV) is challenging due the small size and variable location. This study aims to explore the relationship between the RAV orifice and the right kidney contour (RKC) on fluoroscopy, thus evaluating the potential of use the RKC as an anatomic marker for localizing RAV.

Downregulating the P2X3 receptor in the carotid body to reduce blood pressure via acoustic gene delivery in canines.

The purinergic P2X3 receptor in the carotid body (CB) is considered a new target for treating hypertension, although approaches for targeted regulating P2X3 receptor expression are lacking. Here, we explored the feasibility of targeted P2X3 receptor down-regulation in CBs by localized low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU)-mediated gene delivery to reduce the blood pressure. Thirty-two Kunming canines were randomly assigned to the treatment group (n = 14), negative control group (n = 10), LIFU + cationic microbubbles group (n = 4), and LIFU-only group (n = 4).

Carotid body enlargement in hypertension and other comorbidities evaluated by ultrasonography.

Background: Carotid body hyperactivity is important for sympathetic-related diseases and carotid body volume may partly reflect carotid bodies' activity. Our objective was to identify the association between carotid body volume and hypertension or other sympathetic-related diseases.

Methods: Consecutive individuals, undergoing carotid ultrasonography, who were eligible for the inclusion criteria were included.

Cardiac Denervation for Arrhythmia Treatment with Transesophageal Ultrasonic Strategy in Canine Models.

Stellate ganglion (SG) modification has been investigated for arrhythmia treatment. In this study, transesophageal SG imaging and intervention were explored using a homemade 30F integrated focused ultrasonic catheter in healthy mongrel canines in vivo. Anatomic details of SGs were ultrasonically imaged and evaluated.

Anatomy and neural remodeling of the renal sympathetic nerve in a canine model and patients with hypertension.

Background: The role of renal sympathetic nerve (RSN) in hypertension should be better understood. We aimed to three-dimensionally reconstruct the renal nerves, and explore its anatomical and histochemical characteristics in hypertensive canine model and patients.

Methods: Renal arteries with surrounding tissue were collected from canines and cadavers with or without hypertension.

Septal ablation induced by transthoracic high-intensity focused ultrasound in canines.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can achieve accurate and focused deep tissue ablation through an extracorporeal emission. Cardiac ablation using HIFU applied transthoracically must overcome potential interference from intervening thoracic structures. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of septal ablation that was induced using transthoracic HIFU.

Noninvasive renal sympathetic denervation by extracorporeal high-intensity focused ultrasound in a pre-clinical canine model.

Objectives: This study investigated the feasibility of noninvasive renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) by using the novel approach of extracorporeal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Background: Catheter-based RSD has achieved promising clinical outcomes.

Methods: Under the guidance of Doppler flow imaging, therapeutic ablations (250 W × 2 s) were performed by using extracorporeal HIFU on the bilateral renal nerves (36.

The feasibility and safety of transendocardial gene injection in canine using a multifunctional intracardiac echocardiography catheter.

Background: Transendocardial gene delivery may expose patients to the risk of pericardial perfusion due to excessive needle injections. This study investigated the feasibility and safety of transendocardial gene injection using a newly developed multifunctional intracardiac echocardiography catheter.

Methods: This new system integrated intracardiac echocardiography, a retractable 29-G needle, and other accessories into a single catheter (10F) that could be delivered into the left ventricle via a retrograde aortic approach.

A new strategy for septal ablation with transendocardial ethanol injection using a multifunctional intracardiac echocardiography catheter: a feasibility study in canines.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a novel multifunctional intracardiac echocardiography catheter for target septal ablation with transendocardial ethanol injection in canines.

Background: Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation has been the primary catheter-based strategy for the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). However, inherent limitations of the technique have reduced its therapeutic efficacy.