Association of frailty index with incidence of chronic kidney disease: China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Aim: Frailty is an important risk factor for a wide range of chronic diseases and for mortality risk. This study aims to explore the relationship between frailty and incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly on the change and accumulation of frailty.

Methods: Frailty status was assessed using the frailty index (FI, constructed by 31 items) and categorized as robust, pre-frail, and frail.

Association of Baseline Thyroid Stimulating Hormone With In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Artery Diseases.

Objective: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is related to increased atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and plays an important role in a variety of cardiovascular diseases. However, the association of baseline TSH with in-hospital outcomes in patients with AF and coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of baseline TSH and its association with in-hospital outcomes (major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause death, or heart failure [HF]) in AF patients combined with CAD.

Predictive value of the serum uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio for culprit plaques in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Hyperuricemia and low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are both risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). The uric acid to HDL-C ratio (UHR) has recently been identified as a new inflammatory and metabolic biomarker. However, the relationship between the UHR and coronary culprit plaques has not been fully investigated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Associations of pre-hospital statin treatment with in-hospital outcomes and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with first acute coronary syndrome-findings from the CCC-ACS project.

Background: The current burden of dyslipidemia, the pre-hospital application of statins and the association of pre-hospital statins with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and in-hospital outcomes in Chinese patients with first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are very significant and remain unclear.

Methods: A total of 41,183 patients who underwent coronary angiography and were diagnosed with ACS for the first time from a nationwide registry study (CCC-ACS) were enrolled. The severity of CAD was assessed using the CAD prognostic index (CADPI).

Role of tumor necrosis factor-α in the mortality of hospitalized patients with severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is presently the most pressing public health concern worldwide. Cytokine storm is an important factor leading to death of patients with COVID-19. This study aims to characterize serum cytokines of patients with severe or critical COVID-19.

Association between apolipoprotein B/A1 ratio and coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: an intravascular optical coherence tomography study.

Background: Apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 and Apo B are strongly associated with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the relationship between the Apo B/A1 ratio and the morphology of coronary vulnerable plaques has not been fully elucidated in patients with ASCVD.

Methods: A total of 320 patients with ASCVD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled and assigned into acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) group.

Increased levels of ferritin on admission predicts intensive care unit mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate hyperferritinemia could be a predicting factor of mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A total of 100 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in intensive care unit (ICU) were enrolled and classified into moderate ( = 17), severe ( = 40) and critical groups ( = 43). Clinical information and laboratory results were collected and the concentrations of ferritin were compared among different groups.

NOD1 Agonist Protects Against Lipopolysaccharide and D-Galactosamine-Induced Fatal Hepatitis Through the Upregulation of A20 Expression in Hepatocytes.

Increasing evidence suggests that NODs are involved in liver diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of NOD1 agonist pretreatment on acute liver failure induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized mice. We found that pretreatment with the NOD1 agonist markedly reduced LPS/D-GalN-induced mortality, elevation of serum ALT levels, and hepatocyte apoptosis.

The efficiency and safety of high-dose vitamin C in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The inflammatory reaction is the main cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019, especially those with severe and critical illness. Several studies suggested that high-dose vitamin C reduced inflammatory reaction associated with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of high-dose vitamin C in Coronavirus disease 2019.

Increased levels of ferritin on admission predicts intensive care unit mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate hyperferritinemia could be a predicting factor of mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A total of 100 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in intensive care unit (ICU) were enrolled and classified into moderate (n=17), severe (n=40) and critical groups (n=43). Clinical information and laboratory results were collected and the concentrations of ferritin were compared among different groups.

Efficacy of oral antiviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Hepatitis B is a serious global health problem. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor in the endemicity of HBV infection. Oral antiviral drugs are recommended to highly viremic mothers to decrease MTCT of HBV.

Angiotensin II deteriorates advanced atherosclerosis by promoting MerTK cleavage and impairing efferocytosis through the ATR/ROS/p38 MAPK/ADAM17 pathway.

Vulnerable plaques in advanced atherosclerosis have defective efferocytosis. The role of ANG II in the progression of atherosclerosis is not fully understood. Herein, we investigated the effects and the underlying mechanisms of ANG II on macrophage efferocytosis in advanced atherosclerosis.

Eosinophils count in peripheral circulation is associated with coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: Allergic asthma can accelerate atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque is deposited onto arterial walls and that may lead to coronary artery disease (CAD). Eosinophils are the most important effector cells in allergic asthma and are likely to become novel biomarkers for risk stratification of patients with CAD, but the relationship between eosinophil count and CAD remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate this relationship and the use of eosinophils in predicting CAD.

Relation of Direct, Indirect, and Total bilirubin to Adverse Long-term Outcomes Among Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Bilirubin is known as an antioxidant. However, there have been controversies over whether bilirubin is protective against cardiovascular disease or not. In addition, no study has examined the association between subtypes of total bilirubin (direct bilirubin [DB] and indirect bilirubin [IDB]) and long-term outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Prognostic significance and dynamic change of plasma macrophage migration inhibitory factor in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been reported as an inflammatory cytokine in many inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic diseases. However, dynamic changes of MIF within the first 24 hours on admission and potential prognostic significance following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have been little known. In this study, we examined the dynamic change of MIF level and its potential diagnostic and prognostic value after the onset of STEMI.

Influence of heart failure on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction in southwestern China.

The impact of heart failure (HF) on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients from southwestern China remains unclear. The present study aimed to compare in-hospital cardiovascular events, mortality and clinical therapies in AMI patients with or without HF in southwestern China. In total, 591 patients with AMI hospitalized between February 2009 and December 2012 were examined; those with a history of HF were excluded.

Combination of retinoic acid, dimethyl sulfoxide and 5-azacytidine promotes cardiac differentiation of human fetal liver-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

There are controversial reports about cardiac differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and there is still no well-defined protocol for the induction of cardiac differentiation. The effects of retinoic acid (RA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the proliferation and differentiation of human fetal liver-derived MSCs (HFMSCs) as well as the pluripotent state induced by 5-azacytidine (5-aza) in vitro were investigated. MSCs were isolated from fetal livers and cultured in accordance with previous reports.