Outcome of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Pure Native Aortic Regurgitation in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a pivotal treatment for pure native aortic regurgitation (PNAR). Given patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) are prone to suffer from pulmonary hypertension (PH), understanding TAVR's efficacy in this context is crucial. This study aims to explore the short-term prognosis of TAVR in PNAR patients with concurrent PH.

Short-Term Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients With Pure Severe Aortic Regurgitation.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an alternative treatment for patients with pure severe aortic regurgitation (PSAR) who are contraindicated for surgery or have a high surgical risk. However, the therapeutic efficacy and safety of TAVR in low Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score risk patients remain to be clarified. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of TAVR treatment in different STS-risk patients and to compare the adverse events between the groups.

Increased serum PCSK9 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: insights from inflammatory cytokines.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is an important and major player in the pathophysiology of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Recently, PCSK9 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Whether PCSK9 is involved in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) remains unclear.

Small balloon strategy associated with low pacemaker implantation rate after self-expanding transcatheter valve implantation.

Background: This study aims to investigate whether small balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) reduces the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis using data from our local TAVI database. Small BAV was defined as a small balloon size (=18 mm) pre-dilatation.

Serum High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol is Significantly Associated with the Presence and Severity of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: To explore the relationship between serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and the presence and severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: A total of 177 patients with PAH and 103 patients without pulmonary hypertension (PH) were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) for diagnosing and assessing the severity of PAH.

Multicenter Comparison of Percutaneous and Surgical Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Large RVOT.

Background: A percutaneous approach for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) is a feasible alternative to surgical PVR in selected patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. However, large right ventricular outflow tract (diameter ≥ 25 mm) remains challenging.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled consecutive patients with large right ventricular outflow tract who underwent percutaneous PVR (Venus P-valve, Venus MedTech Inc, Hangzhou, China) (n = 35) or surgical PVR (homograft valve; n = 30) between May 2014 and April 2017.

Riociguat for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension: Chinese subgroup analyses and comparison.

Objective: PATENT-1 and CHEST-1 were pivotal, international phase III trials assessing riociguat for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Here we compare Chinese patients from these studies with the overall populations, and report the clinical effect and safety of riociguat in Chinese patients with PAH and CTEPH.

Methods: PATENT-1 was a 12-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of riociguat (maximum 2.

BMPR2 mutation is a potential predisposing genetic risk factor for congenital heart disease associated pulmonary vascular disease.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) frequently arises in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and can lead to pulmonary vascular disease (PVD). The present study was initiated to distinguish the predisposing effect of bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) in CHD by comparing the different mutation features of BMPR2 between CHD patients with or without PVD.

Methods And Results: 294 CHD-PVD and 161 CHD without PVD patients were enrolled.

[Efficacy and safety of ambrisentan therapy in Chinese patients with pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To explore the efficacy, safety and tolerance of ambrisentan, a high-selective endothelin receptor antagonist, in Chinese patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods: Twenty-eight PH patients (Group 1+Group 4) came from Shanghai East Hospital, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University and Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai were recruited into this open-label, prospective multi-center trial between August 2012 and February 2013. They received 2.

Circulating ghrelin was negatively correlated with pulmonary arterial pressure in atrial septal defect patients.

Background: Ghrelin was found to attenuate the magnitude of pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats. The objective of this study was to explore the fasting plasma ghrelin level and the relationships between ghrelin and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in atrial septal defect (ASD) patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: Fasting plasma ghrelin, obestatin, and insulin levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in ASD patients with or without PAH according to the manufacturer's instructions.

[Initial experience of treating patients with severe mitral regurgitation with transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair in China].

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy and summarize the initial experience of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) for treating Chinese patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

Methods: In May 2012, TMVR using MitraClip system was applied in 3 patients with severe mitral regurgitation. One patient suffered from with mitral valve prolapse and two with functional mitral regurgitation.

Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels are positively correlated with pulmonary arterial pressure in atrial septal defect patients.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a pro-hormone secreted by the myocardium in response to various stimuli, was found to be correlated with several hemodynamic parameters in pulmonary hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis. We investigated plasma NT-proBNP levels and the relationships between NT-proBNP and several hemodynamic parameters in atrial septal defect (ASD) patients with or without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We found that plasma NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in PAH group compared with the control group (5495.

[Clinical analysis of 150 patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension].

Objective: To explore the demographic characteristics and clinical features of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) in China.

Methods: Between March 2007 and September 2010, IPAH diagnosis was confirmed by right heart catheterization in 150 adult patients from 31 clinical centers in China. Clinical and hemodynamic data were analyzed and patients were divided into WHO functional class I/II and WHO functional class III/IV group.

[Initial experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation].

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy and summarize the initial experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for treating patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Methods: From October 2010 to May 2011, TAVI using 18 F Corevalve system was applied in 3 patients with severe calcified aortic valve stenosis at high risk for surgery. The efficacy and complications of the procedure were analyzed and the procedure experiences were summarized.

[Preliminary study on the efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension in China].

Objective: Sildenafil has been shown to be effective in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the impact of sildenafil on PAH has been under-investigated in China. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in PAH patients in China.

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of bosentan in Chinese patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Bosentan has an established role in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This clinical trial assessed the benefits of bosentan in the Chinese population.

Methods: We investigated the efficacy and safety of bosentan in 92 Chinese citizens (mean +/- standard deviation age, 29.