The effects of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) on pro-atherosclerosis mechanisms.

Brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) are environmental endocrine disruptors, comprising several pollutants, which potentially affect the endocrine system and cause dysfunction and disease. Widespread BFR exposure may cause multisystem toxicity, including cardiovascular toxicity in some individuals. Studies have shown that BFRs not only increase heart rate, induce arrhythmia and cardiac hypertrophy, but also cause glycolipid metabolism disorders, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and inflammatory responses, all of which potentially induce pre-pathological changes in atherosclerosis.

Higher than recommend dosage of sublingual isosorbide dinitrate for treating angina pectoris: a case report and review of the literature.

Nitrates primarily cause arterial and venous vasodilation effects, which increases coronary artery blood supply, and decreases cardiac preload and afterload by enhancing nitric oxide (NO) levels. The dosage of nitrates used for angina pectoris widely differs among individuals, and therapeutic resistance and tolerance gradually occur. Increasing doses of nitrates are needed to abolish ischemia chest pain onset in patients with angina pectoris, and to obtain satisfactory therapeutic effects.

Combination of D-dimer and simplified pulmonary embolism severity index to improve prediction of hospital death in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective: To investigate whether the combination of D-dimer and simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) could improve prediction of in-hospital death from pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Patients with PE (n = 272) were divided into a surviving group (n = 249) and an in-hospital death group (n = 23).

Results: Compared with surviving patients, patients who died in hospital had significantly higher rates of hypotension and tachycardia, reduced SaO levels, elevated D-dimer and troponin T levels, higher sPESI scores, and were more likely to be classified as high risk.

Successful treatment of amniotic fluid embolism complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation with rivaroxaban: A case report.

Rationale: An amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare, lethal syndrome that is commonly associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Anticoagulation therapy is the most important strategy to inhibit excessive activation of the coagulation cascade in patients with AFE and DIC. At present, treatment of AFE with rivaroxaban has not been reported.

Considerations for routine coagulation monitoring with rivaroxaban: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Rivaroxaban is a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant that does not require coagulation monitoring based on current recommendations. Our goal is to explore whether routine coagulation monitoring should not be required for all patients receiving oral rivaroxaban, what relationship between routine coagulation abnormalities and bleeding, and how to deal with the above clinical situations through our case and review of the literature.

Case Summary: We report a 67-year-old woman with a history of atrial fibrillation who presented to the hospital with worsening dyspnea and cough.

A Case-Control Study of the Relationship Between SLC22A3-LPAL2-LPA Gene Cluster Polymorphism and Coronary Artery Disease in the Han Chinese Population.

Background: Mutations in the solute carrier family 22 member 3 (SLC22A3), lipoprotein (a)-like 2 (LPAL2), and the lipoprotein (a) (LPA) gene cluster, which encodes apolipoprotein (a) [apo (a)] of the lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] lipoprotein particle, have been suggested to contribute to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), but the precise variants of this gene cluster have not yet been identified in Chinese populations.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the association between SLC22A3-LPAL2-LPA gene cluster polymorphisms and the risk of CAD in the Han Chinese population.

Patients And Methods: We recruited 551 CAD patients and 544 healthy controls for this case-control study.

The association between the LPA gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease in Chinese Han population.

Lp(a) has been well known as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The LPA gene, as it encodes apo(a) of the Lp(a) lipoprotein particle, was associated with increased risk of CAD. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the polymorphisms of LPA gene and CAD in Chinese Han population.

Association of genetic polymorphisms in matrix metalloproteinase-9 and coronary artery disease in the Chinese Han population: a case-control study.

Objective: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in inflammation and matrix degradation involved in atherosclerosis and plaque rupture. The T allele of rs3918242 has been reported to lead to a high promoter activity and associate with the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). And some studies have reported that the G allele of rs17576 might be associated with CAD.