Association of left atrial function with frailty: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Background: Frailty is common in people with cardiovascular disease. Worse left atrial (LA) function is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, whether worse LA function is associated with frailty is unclear.

Mechanical or biological prosthesis for aortic valve replacement in patients aged 45 to 74 years.

Objective: The selection of valve prostheses for patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement remains controversial. In this study, we compared the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with biological or mechanical aortic valve prostheses.

Methods: We evaluated late results among 5762 patients aged 45 to 74 years who underwent biological or mechanical aortic valve replacement with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass from 1989 to 2019 at 4 medical centers.

Outcomes of concomitant myectomy and left ventricular apical aneurysm repair in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular apical aneurysm is a phenotype associated with a 4-fold increase in the risk for sudden cardiac death. In this study, we describe the surgical outcome of concomitant apical aneurysm repair in patients undergoing transapical myectomy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: We identified 67 patients with left ventricular apical aneurysms who underwent transapical myectomy and apical aneurysm repair between July 2000 and August 2020.

In-Hospital Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To investigate the in-hospital outcomes of acute ischemic stroke in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Patients And Methods: Using weighted discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample, we identified 5804 nonelective hospitalizations for ischemic stroke in adult patients with HCM between 2011 and 2017. For comparison, 58,179 hospitalizations for ischemic stroke in adult patients without HCM were selected as controls using the simple random sampling method.

Posterior Wall Thickness Associates With Survival Following Septal Myectomy for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The left ventricular (LV) posterior wall thickness (PWT) is a predictor of sudden cardiac death in pediatric patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but the prognostic importance of PWT in adults has not been examined.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of LV PWT with late survival in adult patients undergoing septal myectomy for obstructive HCM.

Methods: This single-center study reviewed 2,418 patients who underwent transaortic septal myectomy for obstructive HCM.

Allelic variation and genetic diversity of HMW glutenin subunits in Chinese wheat ( L.) landraces and commercial cultivars.

Wheat landraces have abundant genetic variation at the loci, which is desirable germplasms for genetic enhancement of modern wheat varieties, especially for quality improvement. In the current study, we analyzed the allelic variations of the loci of 597 landraces and 926 commercial wheat varieties from the four major wheat-growing regions in China using SDS-PAGE. As results, alleles Null, 7+8, and 2+12 were the dominant HMW-GSs in wheat landraces.

Association of Preoperative Sleep-Disordered Breathing With Functional Status After Septal Myectomy for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a risk factor for heart failure symptoms in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the relationship between preoperative SDB and postoperative functional status after septal myectomy (SM) is unknown. In this study, we investigated the association of preoperative SDB with late self-reported health status among patients undergoing SM for obstructive HCM.

Longitudinal Cost of Septal Myectomy Versus Alcohol Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To compare the postprocedural health care utilization and cost of septal myectomy (SM) and alcohol septal ablation (ASA).

Patients And Methods: Using the OptumLabs Data Warehouse, we analyzed de-identified claims data of adult patients undergoing SM and ASA for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2018. We used propensity score weighting to compare the 2-year incidence rates of emergency department visits and rehospitalizations after SM and ASA.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The study objective was to analyze performance on cardiopulmonary exercise testing and its prognostic value in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoing septal myectomy.

Methods: We reviewed patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who had cardiopulmonary exercise testing before septal myectomy from 2005 to 2016. Causes of functional impairment and their impact on survival were analyzed.

Improvement in gastrointestinal bleeding after septal myectomy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may have occult gastrointestinal bleeding. In this study, we analyzed outcomes of septal myectomy in patients who had a history of gastrointestinal bleeding preoperatively to understand patient characteristics and impact of septal reduction on recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods: We analyzed 73 adult patients who had a history of gastrointestinal bleeding before transaortic septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and compared outcomes to 219 patients without gastrointestinal bleeding preoperatively.

Transapical Ventricular Remodeling for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Systolic Cavity Obliteration.

Background: Some patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) present with reduced left ventricular (LV) stroke volume and elongated systolic cavity obliteration due to symmetric LV hypertrophy. In this report, we detail our experience with transapical septal myectomy to enlarge the LV volume and to relieve cavity obliteration in this unique subgroup of patients with HCM.

Methods: We analyzed 38 patients with HCM who had extended symmetric LV hypertrophy and underwent transapical septal myectomy to enlarge the LV cavity from February 2001 to May 2021.

Surgical management of diastolic heart failure after septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Some patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may remain limited after surgical relief of the subaortic obstruction. In this report, we describe experience in surgical management of patients with advanced diastolic heart failure symptoms after adequate transaortic septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: We identified adult patients who presented with heart failure symptoms after previous transaortic septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and underwent repeat sternotomy for transapical myectomy to enlarge a small left ventricular cavity.

Transcriptome and Metabolite Insights into Domestication Process of Cultivated Barley in China.

The domestication process of cultivated barley in China remains under debate because of the controversial origins of barley. Here, we analyzed transcriptomic and non-targeted metabolic data from 29 accessions together with public resequencing data from 124 accessions to explore the domestication process of cultivated barley in China (Cb-C). These analyses revealed that both Cb-C and Tibetan wild barley (Wb-T) were the descendants of wild barley from the Near East Fertile Crescent (Wb-NE), yielding little support for a local origin of Wb-T.

Assessment of soil quality for guided fertilization in 7 barley agro-ecological areas of China.

Soil quality is the basis for the development of sustainable agriculture and may be used for evaluating the sustainability of soil management practices. Soil quality status and integrated soil quality index (SQI) in sampled 97 farmlands distributed in 7 barley agro-ecological areas of China were analyzed by using 13 soil chemical parameters. The results showed six principal components totally explained 72% variability for the 13 parameters and identified 9 parameters (includes pH, NH4+-N, NO3--N, available P, available K, exchangeable Mg, DTPA-Fe, DTPA-Cu and Cl-) with high factor loading values as the minimum data set (MDS) for assessing soil quality.

Safety of Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Obesity is an independent risk factor for heart failure in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). In this study, we examined national trends and early outcomes of bariatric surgery for obesity in patients with HC. Using the weighted discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample, we identified adult patients with HC who underwent elective bariatric surgery for obesity between 2011 and 2017.

Multi-Ancestry Genome-wide Association Study Accounting for Gene-Psychosocial Factor Interactions Identifies Novel Loci for Blood Pressure Traits.

Psychological and social factors are known to influence blood pressure (BP) and risk of hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases. To identify novel BP loci, we carried out genome-wide association meta-analyses of systolic, diastolic, pulse, and mean arterial BP taking into account the interaction effects of genetic variants with three psychosocial factors: depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and social support. Analyses were performed using a two-stage design in a sample of up to 128,894 adults from 5 ancestry groups.

Patient-Reported Atrial Fibrillation After Septal Myectomy for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes are important metrics of medical and surgical care. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and risk factors of patient-reported postdischarge atrial fibrillation (AF) after septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Patients undergoing transaortic septal myectomy from August 2001 to January 2017 were contacted regarding postdischarge AF through questionnaire-based surveys sent at 3, 5, and 10 years post procedure.

Epigenome-wide association meta-analysis of DNA methylation with coffee and tea consumption.

Coffee and tea are extensively consumed beverages worldwide which have received considerable attention regarding health. Intake of these beverages is consistently linked to, among others, reduced risk of diabetes and liver diseases; however, the mechanisms of action remain elusive. Epigenetics is suggested as a mechanism mediating the effects of dietary and lifestyle factors on disease onset.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcome of Septal Myectomy for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Obesity is highly prevalent in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In this study, we investigated the impact of body mass index (BMI) in patients undergoing septal myectomy (SM) for obstructive HCM.

Methods: We reviewed 2746 patients who underwent transaortic SM for obstructive HCM from February 1993 through September 2018.

Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Patient With Mitral Prosthesis.

Transapical septal myectomy can be performed for patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and diastolic dysfunction to enlarge the LV cavity. The procedure may also include limited shaving of severely hypertrophied papillary muscles. This report illustrates the usefulness of papillary muscle resection to enlarge the left ventricle in a patient with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and preexisting mitral valve prosthesis.

Association of blood pressure with cognitive function at midlife: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Whether high blood pressure has a causal effect on cognitive function as early as middle age is unclear. We investigated whether high blood pressure (BP) causally impairs cognitive function at midlife using Mendelian Randomization (MR).

Methods: We applied a two-sample MR approach to investigate the causal relationship between BP and midlife cognitive performance measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and Stroop Interference test.

Transapical Septal Myectomy for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Midventricular Obstruction.

Background: Midventricular obstruction (MVO) is an uncommon variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In patients receiving septal myectomy for HCM, failure to recognize the concurrent MVO in the context of basal septum thickening can lead to inadequate excision and residual gradient. In this report, we detail the operative outcomes of MVO with and without coexistent basal septal hypertrophy.

Phylogenetic analysis of two single-copy nuclear genes revealed origin of tetraploid barley Hordeum marinum.

Sea barley Hordeum marinum is an important germplasm resource. However, the origin of this tetraploid H. marinum subsp.