Ga-pentixafor PET/CT Is a Supplementary Method for Primary Aldosteronism Subtyping Compared with Adrenal Vein Sampling.

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of Ga-pentixafor positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in primary aldosteronism (PA) subtyping and lateralization of aldosterone secretion in PA patients.

Procedures: 37 patients who were diagnosed with PA, were prospectively enrolled in the study, and underwent adrenal vein sampling (AVS) after Ga-pentixafor PET/CT was conducted. Lateralization index (LI), defined as aldosterone/cortisol ratio in the dominant side to the contralateral adrenal vein when bilateral adrenal vein catheterization succeeded, and the aldosterone/cortisol ratio in the left adrenal vein to IVC (LAV/IVC) when the catheterization of right adrenal vein failed, were applied to determine lateralization side.

The first in-human study to evaluate the antiplatelet properties of the clopidogrel conjugate DT-678 in acute coronary syndrome patients and healthy volunteers.

Background And Purpose: DT-678 is a novel antiplatelet prodrug, capable of releasing the antiplatelet active metabolite of clopidogrel (AM) upon exposure to glutathione. In this study, we investigated factors responsible for clopidogrel high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and evaluated the capacity of DT-678 to overcome HTPR.

Experimental Approach: A total of 300 consecutive ACS patients naive to P2Y receptor inhibitors were recruited and genotyped for CYP2C19 alleles.

Association between interleg systolic blood pressure difference and apparent peripheral neuropathy in US adults with diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Interleg systolic blood pressure difference (ILSBPD) is associated with peripheral artery disease, but the relationship between ILSBPD and apparent peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients remains unclear. We explored the relationship between ILSBPD and apparent peripheral neuropathy and examined the possible effect modifiers in US adults with diabetes.

Methods: One thousand and fifty-one diabetic participants were included in the study with complete data on systolic blood pressure of the lower extremities and Semmes-Weinstein 10-g monofilament testing from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys.

Granzyme B PET imaging inflammation and remodeling in myocardial infarction.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate whether granzyme B (GzmB)-targeted positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent ( Ga-grazytracer) can characterize cardiac inflammation and remodeling in myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Rats with MI were subjected to GzmB-targeted PET/CT on post-operative days 1, 3, 6, 14, and 28. Autoradiography, Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA were performed to verify the inflammatory response and remodeling after MI in vitro.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy combined with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Brugada-pattern electrocardiographic changes: A case report.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a rare X-linked recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the excessive expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine repeat sequences in the androgen receptor gene encoded on the Xq11-12 chromosome. SBMA primarily affects adult males and is characterized by weakness and atrophy of the proximal limb muscles, often involving the bulbar muscles. In addition to neuromuscular deficits, nonneuronal symptoms such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and liver dysfunction are often observed in patients with SBMA.

Impact of atrial fibrillation on the accuracy of oscillometric blood pressure monitoring in ICU patients from a large real-world database.

Objectives: Oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurement in atrial fibrillation patients is controversial due to stroke volume variation. Here, we performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the impact of atrial fibrillation on the accuracy of oscillometric BP in the ICU setting.

Methods: Adult patients with atrial fibrillation or sinus rhythm records were enrolled from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III database.

Renal denervation in management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Some, but not all, recent studies have shown that renal denervation (RDN) can improve cardiac function and exercise tolerance in people who have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study assessed the efficacy and safety of RDN as a treatment for HFrEF.

Methods: The Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched through to September 28, 2022 for clinical studies that evaluated the effect of RDN on HFrEF.

Comparative effectiveness and safety of bolus vs. continuous infusion of loop diuretics: Results from the MIMIC-III Database.

Background: It is unclear whether fluid management goals are best achieved by bolus injection or continuous infusion of loop diuretics. In this study, we compared the effectiveness and safety of a continuous infusion with that of a bolus injection when an increased loop diuretic dosage is required in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods: We obtained data from the MIMIC-III database for patients who were first-time ICU admissions and required an increased diuretic dosage.

PCSK9 inhibitors in a renal transplant patient complicated with hepatitis B: A case report and literature review.

Lipid metabolism disorders are recognized to be one of the most frequent complications of renal transplantation, while dyslipidemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are strong risk factors for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) are novel lipid-lowering drugs, the safety and efficacy of which are yet to be confirmed in transplanted patients. There have been several small-sample studies using PCSK9i in patients after heart transplantation, while fewer cases use PCSK9i after kidney transplantation.

Association between plasma vitamin B5 and coronary heart disease: Results from a case-control study.

Aim: The relationship of vitamin B5 and coronary heart disease (CHD) is still uncertain. This case-control study was performed to evaluate the relationship between the plasma vitamin B5 concentration and the risk of CHD.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 429 patients with >70% stenosis of the coronary arteries on coronary angiography and 429 matched controls were included for age ± 2 years, gender, and date of coronary angiography examination ± 180 days.

Effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on blood pressure in patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recent studies have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) can achieve significant improvement in blood pressure in people with diabetes. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have established that SGLT2i have a cardioprotective effect in adults with heart failure (HF). Therefore, we performed this systematic review an meta-analysis to determine the effect of SGLT2i on blood pressure in patients with HF.

Haemodynamic changes of interatrial shunting devices for heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety, primarily in relation to the haemodynamic effects, of interatrial shunting devices (ISD) for the treatment of heart failure (HF), we conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis.

Methods And Results: We used the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases to identify clinical studies (published to 4 August 2021) that evaluated the effect of ISD on HF. The primary endpoint was defined as changes in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP).

Association of Plasma Vitamin B6 With Coronary Heart Disease in Patients Undergoing Diagnostic Coronary Angiography: New Insight on Sex Differences.

To date, findings on the overall and sex-specific effects of plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP, active coenzyme form of vitamin B6) on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) have been inconsistent. This study sought to advance our understanding on the association of plasma PLP with risk of CHD, with particular attention paid to sex differences and effect modifiers. We conducted a hospital-based, case-control study on suspected CHD patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography.

Joint Predictive Value of cTnI and NT-proBNP on Mortality in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Retrospective Research in Wuhan, China.

Background And Objectives: The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains to be the biggest public threat all over the world. Because of the rapid deterioration in some patients, markers that could predict poor clinical outcomes are urgently required. This study was to evaluate the predictive values of cardiac injury parameters, including cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, on mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Association Between Average Plasma Potassium Levels and 30-day Mortality During Hospitalization in Patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in more than 610,000 deaths worldwide since December 2019. Given the rapid deterioration of patients' condition before death, markers with efficient prognostic values are urgently required. During the treatment process, notable changes in plasma potassium levels have been observed among severely ill patients.

Association of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and carotid plaque in Chinese hypertensive adults: effect modification by age.

We aimed to investigate the association of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) with carotid plaque presence and carotid plaque number in a Chinese hypertensive population. A total of 13,554 hypertensive subjects from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT) were recruited. Arterial stiffness and carotid plaque were evaluated by baPWV and B-mode ultrasonography, respectively.

The association between total homocysteine and blood pressure in two independent Chinese populations.

Hypertension and hyperhomocystinemia have a joint effect on the risk of stroke. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and blood pressure in two independent Chinese populations. Four thousand five hundred and fifty-five participants who underwent health examinations between March 2016 and September 2016 at Peking University First Hospital were enrolled as 'Population 1', and 2689 participants who were admitted to Peking University First Hospital between January 2014 and December 2015 were enrolled as 'Population 2'.

Lorf9 deletion significantly eliminated lymphoid organ atrophy induced by meq-deleted very virulent Marek's disease virus.

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a highly contagious alphaherpesvirus that causes rapid onset of T cell lymphomas in chickens. MDV continues to break through vaccinal immunity due to the emergence of highly virulent field strains. Earlier studies revealed that deletion of the meq gene from MDV results in attenuated vaccines that protect against disease when chickens are infected with highly virulent strains.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) gene deficiency impairs urine concentration in mice.

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily. FXR is mainly expressed in liver and small intestine, where it plays an important role in bile acid, lipid, and glucose metabolism. The kidney also has a high FXR expression level, with its physiological function unknown.