Integrated bioinformatics and machine learning algorithms reveal the critical cellular senescence-associated genes and immune infiltration in heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Heart failure (HF) is the final stage of many cardiovascular illnesses and the leading cause of death worldwide. At the same time, ischemic cardiomyopathy has replaced valvular heart disease and hypertension as the primary causes of heart failure. Cellular senescence in heart failure is currently receiving more attention.

Serum erythropoietin level predicts the prognosis of chronic heart failure with or without anemia.

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation of erythropoietin (EPO) with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) or CHF complicated with anemia, in addition to its correlation with the prognosis of the patient. A total of 217 CHF patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were graded according to the cardiac function criteria of the New York Heart Association (NYHA).

Effects of high-dose ulinastatin on inflammatory response and pulmonary function in patients with type-A aortic dissection after cardiopulmonary bypass under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Objectives: To investigate effects of high-dose ulinastatin on the release of proinflammatory cytokines and lung injury in patients with aortic dissection after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA).

Design: A prospective, randomized and double-blinded study.

Setting: A teaching hospital.

Evaluation of the pharmacological function of ulinastatin in experimental animals.

Organ protection is a routine therapy in severe injuries. Our aim was to evaluate the beneficial effects of ulinastatin in experimental rats. Rats were randomly divided into a sham control, a model control and an ulinastatin-treated group.

Effect of polysaccharides extract of rhizoma atractylodis macrocephalae on thymus, spleen and cardiac indexes, caspase-3 activity ratio, Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2/Omi protein and mRNA expression levels in aged rats.

This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of polysaccharides extract of rhizoma atractylodis macrocephalae on heart function in aged rats. Polysaccharides extract of rhizoma atractylodis macrocephalae was administered to aged rats. Results showed that thymus, spleen and cardiac indexs were significantly increased, whereas caspase-3 activity ratio, Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2/Omi protein expression, Smac/DIABLO and HtrA2/Omi mRNA expression levels were markedly reduced.

[Liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis: retrospective analysis of 52 patients in QLTS].

Objective: Retrospectively analyzing post-transplant primary biliary cirrhosis patients to document the actual survival time, the cause of post-transplant death, and recurrences after liver transplantation in patients followed up by the Queensland Liver Transplant Service (QLTS).

Methods: The case notes of all post-piggyback liver transplantation patients followed up by QLTS were reviewed. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of the PBC patients, post-transplant actual survival rates, the causes of post-transplant death, and risk factors of recurrence, and compared the survival rates between patients with and without liver transplantation using a European model.

Combined devascularization and proximal splenorenal shunt: is this a better option than either procedure alone?

Background/purpose: We aimed to determine the rationality of pericardial devascularization (PCDV) plus proximal splenorenal shunt (PSRS) for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension with variceal bleeding, using a duplex sonography study of the effects of the different surgical procedures (PCDV, PSRS, and PCDV + PSRS) on the hemodynamics of the portal system.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension and a history of bleeding esophageal varices were studied. These patients were divided into three groups (PSRS group, PCDV group, and PCDV + PSRS group).