The protective effect of social support on all-cause and cardio-cerebrovascular mortality among middle-aged and older adults in the US.

The relationship between social support and mortality, especially cardio-cerebrovascular mortality, still has some limitations in the assessment of social support, sample selection bias, and short follow-up time. We used the data from 2005 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine this relationship. The study analyzed a total of 6776 participants, divided into Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 according to the social support score (0-1; 2-3; 4-5).

MicroRNA-155 inhibition attenuates myocardial infarction-induced connexin 43 degradation in cardiomyocytes by reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage activation.

Background: Degradation of pro-inflammatory macrophage-mediated connexin 43 (Cx43) plays an important role in post-myocardial infarction (MI) arrhythmogenesis, microRNA (miR)-155 produced by macrophages has been shown to mediate post-MI effects. We hypothesized that miR-155 inhibition attenuated MI-induced Cx43 degradation by reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage activation.

Methods: MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in male C57BL/6 mice.

A drug-eluting Balloon for the trEatment of coronarY bifurcatiON lesions in the side branch: a prospective multicenter ranDomized (BEYOND) clinical trial in China.

Background: Treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions remains challenging; a simple strategy has been preferred as of late, but the disadvantage is ostium stenosis or even occlusion of the side branch (SB). Only a few single-center studies investigating the combination of a drug-eluting stent in the main branch followed by a drug-eluting balloon in the SB have been reported. This prospective, multicenter, randomized study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of a paclitaxel-eluting balloon (PEB) compared with regular balloon angioplasty (BA) in the treatment of non-left main coronary artery bifurcation lesions.

Honokiol Attenuates the Memory Impairments, Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and GSK-3β Activation in Vascular Dementia Rats.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is caused by chronic decreases in brain blood flow and accounts for 15-20% of dementia cases worldwide. In contrast to Alzheimer's disease (AD), no effective drug treatments are currently available for VaD. Previous studies have suggested that oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the brain play important roles in the pathogenesis of VaD.

Luteolin ameliorates rat myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury through activation of peroxiredoxin II.

Background And Purpose: Antioxidants provide a promising therapeutic effect for the cardiovascular disease. Luteolin, a polyphenolic bioflavonoid, is known to confer cardioprotection, although the underlying mechanisms, especially the role of luteolin on the antioxidant enzymes, such as the peroxiredoxin family, remain unknown.

Experimental Approach: We measured the effects of luteolin on myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury in vivo (Sprague-Dawley rats) and in vitro, together with the underlying mechanisms, with a focus on signalling by peroxiredoxins.

Red cell distribution width and homocysteine act as independent risk factors for cardiovascular events in newly diagnostic essential hypertension.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and increased red cell distribution width (RDW) are associated with a higher possibility of adverse clinical outcomes of hypertension. The study aims to validate the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) and RDW on cardiovascular events (CVE) and investigate whether RDW is independently associated with serum Hcy in patients with essential hypertension (EH). The study reviewed 804 patients with newly diagnosed EH in our hospital.

Serum quantitative proteomic analysis of patients with keshan disease based on iTRAQ labeling technique: A first term study.

Keshan disease (KD), an endemic myocardiopathy, with unknown etiology, is still threatening human health. Proteomics studies of Keshan disease is rarely known. In the current study, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling coupled with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS) was firstly used to screen for the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in serum between Keshan disease and healthy residents in endemic area.

Protective Effects of MicroRNA-126 on Human Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells Against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Injury and Inflammatory Response by Activating PI3K/Akt/eNOS Signaling Pathway.

Objective: This study explored the protective effects of the microRNA-126 (miR-126)-mediated PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway on human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury and the inflammatory response.

Methods: Untreated HCMECs were selected for the control group. After H/R treatment and cell transfection, the HCMECs were assigned to the H/R, miR-126 mimic, mimic-negative control (NC), miR-126 inhibitor, inhibitor-NC, wortmannin (an inhibitor of PI3K) and miR-126 mimic + wortmannin groups.

Association between PPAP2B gene polymorphisms and coronary heart disease susceptibility in Chinese Han males and females.

Little is known about gender-related differences in the association between PPAP2B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese Han males and females. We therefore conducted a case-control study with 456 cases and 685 healthy controls divided into male and female subgroups. Five PPAP2B polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and genotyped using Sequenom Mass-ARRAY technology.

Associations of P2Y12R gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to coronary heart disease and clinical efficacy of antiplatelet treatment with clopidogrel.

Objective: To investigate the correlations of three P2Y12 receptor (P2Y12R) gene polymorphisms (rs7428575 T>G, rs2046934 C>T, and rs3732759 A>G) with susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CHD) and clinical efficacy of clopidogrel treatment for CHD.

Methods: From May 2014 to May 2015, 178 CHD patients (the case group) and 182 healthy controls (the control group) were selected from our hospital. The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) turbidimetry was used to measure the rate of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation before and after clopidogrel treatment.

[Effect of Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 potassium ion channels on the proliferation and migration of monocytes/macrophages].

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of blockade of Ca(2+) activated channel KCa3.1 and voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 of the monocytes/macrophages on inflammatory monocyte chemotaxis.

Blockade of KCa3.1 Attenuates Left Ventricular Remodeling after Experimental Myocardial Infarction.

Background/aims: After myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac fibrosis greatly contributes to left ventricular remodeling and heart failure. The intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium Channel (KCa3.1) has been recently proposed as an attractive target of fibrosis.

Effects of thyroid dysfunction on the severity of coronary artery lesions and its prognosis.

Background: Abnormal thyroid hormone metabolism influences the occurrence and progress of coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of the present study was to analyze the severity of coronary artery lesions and the prognosis of thyroid dysfunction patients admitted for coronary angiography (CAG).

Methods: From July 2011 to July 2012, 605 consecutive patients with suspected coronary heart disease admitted for CAG were selected.

[Effect of the smoking cessation services in the out-patient department for patients with coronary heart disease].

Objective: To evaluate the effects and clinical prognosis of out-patient department-based smoking cessation services for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

Methods: A total of 140 smoking patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease in our cardiovascular department were randomly divided into the intensive smoking cessation clinic follow-up group (intervention group, patients were informed on the importance and methods to quit smoking at the first visit and reminded for that at months interval for 6 months, n = 70) and the conventional treatment group (control group, n = 70). After 6 months, the smoking status, cardiovascular event rates, drug usage, out-patient medical costs and quality of life were compared between the two groups.

[The clinical efficacy and safety of fondaparinux combined with tirofiban hydrochloride in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of fondaparinux combined with tirofiban in patients with high risk unstable angina (UA) undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) .

Methods: A total of 389 patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups receiving either fondaparinux with tirofiban or enoxaparin with tirofiban. Bleeding, thrombosis and main adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were compared between the two groups during hospitalization, at week 2 and week 4 after discharge.

[Efficacy and safety of tirofiban use after successful percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with moderate to high risk non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban use immediately after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with moderate to high risk non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: NSTE-ACS patients undergoing successful PCI (n = 246) were randomized by the envelope method to tirofiban group (n = 122, 10 µg/kg bolus within 3 min followed by 0.10-0.

[Types and risk factors of arrhythmia on young patients with acute coronary syndrome in Henan province].

Objective: The types and risk factors of arrhythmia were analyzed on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients under the age of 44 years who were hospitalized in Henan province between September 2009 to June 2012.

Methods: Medical records of eligible patients were obtained from the information system of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University teleconsultation information center. Middle aged and elderly ACS patients who were hospitalized at the same period served as controls.

[Effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with advanced congestive heart failure evaluated by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography].

Objective: To quantitatively assess the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with advanced congestive heart failure by real-time 3-dimensional(3D) echocardiography (RT-3DE).

Methods: Eighteen patients with advanced congestive heart failure underwent CRT with New York Heart association(NYHA) class III and IV and wide QRS complex (>120 ms) were included (17 dilated cardiomyopathy and 1 ischemic cardiomyopathy). Before CRT and 8 months after CRT, the clinical and RT-3DE parameters and outcome were analyzed.

[Population characteristics and impact on heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure of passive smoking].

Objective: To investigate the basic characteristics of passive smoking population, and the impact of passive smoking on heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure.

Methods: Eighty-six passive smokers [mean age: (52.4 ± 7.

Long-term effect of persistent smoking on the prognosis of Chinese male patients after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent implantation.

Objectives: This study aimed to survey the adherence to smoking cessation and assess the influence of persistent smoking on the prognosis in male patients after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Methods: The smoking status at the time of the index procedure and at follow-up was surveyed in 656 male patients undergoing successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with DES in our center. These patients were divided into three groups, based on their smoking status: nonsmokers (n=226), quitters (n=283), and persistent smokers (n=147).

[The effect of ventricular fibrillation time and NYHA classification on defibrillation in intensive care unit patients].

Objective: To investigate whether the sequence of defibrillation (DF) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), duration of ventricular fibrillation (VF), and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification would affect DF result in intensive care unit.

Methods: Ninety-three cases needing instantaneous DF were divided into three groups according to VF lasting time: <4 minute group (n=53), 4 - 8 minute group (n=24), >8 minute group (n=16), and each group was randomly divided into two sub-groups according to time sequence: the prior DF group or the prior CPR for five cycles followed by DF group (prior CPR group). The effect of VF time, the sequence of DF and CPR, and NYHA classification on success rate of DF were observed.

[Comparative study on the efficacy of intracoronary infusion with various types of autologous bone marrow stem cells for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To compare the effects of intracoronary infusion of mononuclear stem cells (MNCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: DCM patients with left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) < 40% were randomized to intracoronary infusion of MNCs [(5.1 ± 2.

[Predictive value of corrected QT interval, corrected Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio on malignant arrhythmia events in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing thrombolysis].

Objective: The prognostic value of corrected QT interval (QTc), corrected Tp-e interval (Tp-ec) and Tp-e/QT ratio on occurrence of malignant arrhythmia events (MAE) in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients underwent successful thrombolysis was explored and the potential association of these indices with MAE was analyzed.

Methods: Fifty-seven STEMI patients underwent successful thrombolytic therapy within 6 hours after admission and conservative medical treatment were included. QTc, Tp-ec, Tp-e/QT ratio were obtained and calculated in infarct-related electrocardiograph leads and non-infarct-related leads before thrombolysis, (7±1) days and (30±3) days after thrombolysis respectively, and incidence of MAE up to 30 days after thrombolysis was analyzed.

[Angiotensin(1-7) attenuates left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis on rat model of adriamycin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Angiotensin(1-7) [Ang(1-7)] on left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis on rat model of adriamycin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (ADR-DCM).

Methods: Weight-matched adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) the ADR-DCM group (n = 25), in which 2.5 mg/kg of ADR was weekly intravenously injected for 10 weeks.