Automated Analysis of Doppler Echocardiographic Videos as a Screening Tool for Valvular Heart Diseases.

Objectives: This study sought to develop a deep learning (DL) framework to automatically analyze echocardiographic videos for the presence of valvular heart diseases (VHDs).

Background: Although advances in DL have been applied to the interpretation of echocardiograms, such techniques have not been reported for interpretation of color Doppler videos for diagnosing VHDs.

Methods: The authors developed a 3-stage DL framework for automatic screening of echocardiographic videos for mitral stenosis (MS), mitral regurgitation (MR), aortic stenosis (AS), and aortic regurgitation (AR) that classifies echocardiographic views, detects the presence of VHDs, and, when present, quantifies key metrics related to VHD severities.

Five-year Clinical Outcomes of CAD Patients Complicated with Diabetes after StentBoost-optimized Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Objective To evaluate the instant effects and five-year clinical outcomes of coronary artery disease patients complicated with diabetes mellitus after StentBoost-optimized percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods From March 2009 to July 2010, 184 patients undergoing PCI at our hospital were found stent underexpansion or malapposition by StentBoost after stents implantation and were divided into the diabetic (=73, 39.67%) and the non-diabetic group (=111, 60.

Fatal myocarditis and rhabdomyolysis induced by nivolumab during the treatment of type B3 thymoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors including programmed death-1 inhibitors are promising agents for many types of malignancies; however, it is still an off-label choice for type B3 thymoma. We reported for the first time a patient with type B3 thymoma developed fatal myocarditis and rhabdomyolysis after one dose of nivolumab administration. The results from myocardial and muscle biopsies revealed extensive myocyte damage, T-lymphocytic infiltration and strongly expression of PD-L1 which confirmed the nivolumab-related immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

The application of lung ultrasound in acute decompensated heart failure in heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

Objectives: Lung ultrasound detection of B-lines has become a simple, semiquantitative, noninvasive tool for evaluating pulmonary congestion in heart failure (HF) patients. This study compared the correlation of B-lines with E/e', NT-proBNP, and ejection fraction (EF) in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Methods: Eighty-two consecutive patients who were diagnosed with acute decompensated HF were divided into two groups: preserved ejection fraction heart failure (HFpEF, EF≥50%, n=32) and reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFrEF, EF<50%, n=50).

Detection of very delayed coronary stent fracture using a novel fluoroscopic stent visualization technique against intravascular ultrasound: A case series.

Rationale: Stent fracture has received increased concern as it may be an important risk factor for late stent failure, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is always recommended to confirm the diagnosis of stent fracture. StentBoost can detect stent fractures more easily due to the enhanced stent strut visibility, compared with coronary angiography (CAG). Few cases were reported to compare the advantages of StentBoost vis-à-vis IVUS in detecting stent fracture.

Association Between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Atrial Fibrillation Risk.

Background: Several studies were published to assess the association between serum uric acid levels and atrial fibrillation risk, but no consistent results were reported. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the evidence of the association between hyperuricemia and atrial fibrillation risk.

Material/methods: Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for prospective cohort studies assessing the association between hyperuricemia and atrial fibrillation risk.

Long Noncoding RNA Highly Upregulated in Liver Cancer Regulates the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Apoptosis in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells.

Atherosclerosis is the major cause of myocardial infarction and stroke, which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. During the pathological process of atherosclerosis, inflammation participates in all stages of atherosclerosis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), one of the most important inflammatory factor, induces apoptosis of endothelial cells, which play a central role in endothelial dysfunction.

Meta-Analysis on the Correlation Between APOM rs805296 Polymorphism and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: The present meta-analysis aimed to summarize the inconsistent findings on the association of apolipoprotein M gene (ApoM) rs805296 polymorphism with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), and to obtain a more authentic result about this topic.

Material/methods: A total of 7 available articles were identified through electronic databases--PubMed, EMBASE, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)--and their useful data were carefully extracted. The relationship between ApoM rs805296 polymorphism and CAD risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), which were calculated using the fixed- or random-effects model, according to the degree of heterogeneity.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide as the long-term cause of mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To explore the influence of BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) in plasma on the long-term cause of mortality and prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Method: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 276 inpatients that enrolled in our hospital from March 2003 to December 2004 and had a history of heart disease and received a BNP test. Kaplan-Meier survival curves with Log-Rank test were used to compare the survival rates among different levels of BNP (<100 ng/L, 101~1000 ng/L, 1001~5000 ng/L and >5000 ng/L).

Evaluation of myocardial infarction size with three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography: a comparison with single photon emission computed tomography.

To assess whether global and regional myocardial strains from three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) correlate with myocardial infarction size (MIS) detected by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Fifty-seven patients with a history of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) within 3-6 months were enrolled, alongside 24 healthy volunteers. Left ventricular (LV) global area strain, global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain, global circumferential strain, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion score index (WMSI) were measured and compared with the corresponding SPECT-detected MISs.

Assessment of Myocardial Infarct Size by Three-Dimensional and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography: A Comparative Study to Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography.

Objective: To compare three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) techniques in the assessment of left ventricular function and myocardial infarct size (MIS).

Methods: Thirty-two patients diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction and 18 healthy control patients underwent 2D echocardiography, 3D echocardiography, and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). 3D left ventricular global area strain (GAS), 2D and 3D global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS) as well as global circumferential strain (GCS) were analyzed to correlate with myocardial infarct size detected by SPECT.

Leiomyosarcoma with coronary fistulae and ventricular septal perforation: A case study.

Coronary fistulae and ventricular septal perforation are very rare clinically, and even less caused by cardiac leiomyosarcoma. A case is reported that a 67-year-old female had cardiac leiomyosarcoma with progressive heart failure and coronary fistulae and ventricular septal perforation. This case was special since all ante-mortem examinations and cardiac surgery failed to detect the presence of any abnormal cardiac mass.

Efficient and sustained IGF-1 expression in the adipose tissue-derived stem cells mediated via a lentiviral vector.

The adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) represent a significant area of the cell therapy. Genetic modification of ADSCs may further improve their therapeutic potential. Here, we aimed to generate a lentiviral vector expressing insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) and investigate the impact of IGF-1 transduction on the properties of cultured ADSCs.

MiR-132 inhibits expression of SIRT1 and induces pro-inflammatory processes of vascular endothelial inflammation through blockade of the SREBP-1c metabolic pathway.

Purpose: Inflammation participates centrally in all stages of atherosclerosis (AS), which begins with pro-inflammatory processes and inflammatory changes in the endothelium, related to lipid metabolism. MicroRNA (miRNA) inhibition of inflammation related to SIRT1 has been shown to be a promising therapeutic approach for AS. However, the mechanism of action is unknown.

Effects of emodin and irbesartan on ventricular fibrosis in Goldblatt hypertensive rats.

Left ventricular (LV) fibrosis is one of the most prominent pathophysiological results of hypertension. We initiated this study to investigate the effects and mechanisms of emodin and its combination with irbesartan on LV fibrosis in Goldblatt (2K1C) hypertensive rats. Goldblatt hypertension rats were prepared by two kidney one clip (2K1C) operations and then treated with either emodin, irbesartan or their combination.

[Glucometabolic abnormalities survey among outpatients without previous diabetes diagnosis and with coronary artery disease and hypertension].

Objective: To explore the status of glucometabolic abnormalities in cardiological outpatients without previous diabetes diagnosis and with coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension.

Methods: Patients without previous diagnosis of diabetes but with hypertension and CAD aged 18 years or above were recruited from cardiology departments of 11 general hospitals in China. Demographic data, disease diagnosis and medical history were collected.

Inhibition of protein kinase C βII isoform ameliorates methylglyoxal advanced glycation endproduct-induced cardiomyocyte contractile dysfunction.

Aims: Accumulation of advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) contributes to diabetic complication including diabetic cardiomyopathy although the precise underlying mechanism still remains elusive. Recent evidence depicted a pivotal role of protein kinase C (PKC) in diabetic complications. To this end, this study was designed to examine if PKCβII contributes to AGE-induced cardiomyocyte contractile and intracellular Ca(2+) aberrations.

[Prognostic value of brain natriuretic peptide in people with viral myocarditis].

Objective: To explore the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) on prognostic value in patients with viral myocarditis.

Methods: A total of 48 patients with viral myocarditis and 42 healthy people were enrolled and followed up for two years. The NYHA class and LVEF were recorded and the concentration of BNP were measured.

[Value of blood inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children].

Objective: To investigate the value of serum inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) in children.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 51 children with AA and 16 children with nonsurgical abdominal pain (NSAP) to examine white blood cell count (WBC), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

Results: WBC count, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α increased significantly in children with severe AA (phlegmonous or gangrenous, and perforated appendicitis).

A novel angiographic technique, StentBoost, in comparison with intravascular ultrasound to assess stent expansion.

Background: StentBoost (SB) is a novel angiographic technique which can enhance stent visualization and improve detection of inadequate stent expansion. Studies of SB that compare it with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), which is the current gold standard for detection of stent underexpansion, remain inadequate. This study aimed to test the correlation of IVUS and SB, and to evaluate the effect of SB guiding the stent postdilatation.