Impact of levosimendan on efficacy and renal function in acute heart failure according to renal function: A perspective, multi-center, real-world registry.

Objective: Acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with high mortality. Levosimendan, an inodilator, has proved to increase cardiac output and exert renoprotective effect in AHF. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy and renoprotective effects of levosimendan in patients with AHF and different renal function.

Comparison of 4 Admission Blood Pressure Indexes for Predicting 30-Day Mortality in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: We compared admission systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in predicting 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without cardiogenic shock.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 7,033 consecutive STEMI patients. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with a 10mm Hg increment and quartiles of each blood pressure were determined by Cox proportional hazard analyses; Wald χ (2) tests were used to compare the strength of relationships.

[Clopidogrel metabolism related gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms of clopidogrel metabolism related genes (CYP2C19, ABCB1 and PON1) in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by genotype analysis.

Methods: Genetic analysis was performed in patients admitted to Fuwai Hospital from 2005 to 2008 with ACS within 4 weeks. The detection of polymorphisms was performed by TaqMan real-time PCR method.

[Sirolimus use in heart transplantation recipients with chronic renal dysfunction].

Objective: To observe the effect of sirolimus-based immunosuppression administered on heart transplant recipients with chronic renal dysfunction.

Methods: From June 2004 to December 2008, standard calcineurin inhibitors (CNI)-based immunosuppressive regimen was changed to reduced-dose CNI plus sirolimus due to CNI-related chronic renal dysfunction in 20 out of 138 cardiac transplant recipients at Fuwai Hospital. The standard immunosuppressive regimen included steroid, CNI (cyclosporine or tacrolimus), and mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine.

[Association between serum NT-proBNP/hs-CRP and acute rejection after heart transplantation].

Objective: The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential relationship between acute rejection and serum concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)/high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in post-transplant patients.

Methods: Sixty-one consecutive orthotopic heart transplantation recipients were prospectively recruited from the cardiac transplantation programme at Fuwai Hospital. Endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) were performed routinely at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months after transplantation.