PCSK9 inhibitor added to high-intensity statin therapy to prevent cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention: a randomized, double- blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter SHAWN study.

Background: It is currently uncertain whether the combination of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor and high-intensity statin treatment can effectively reduce cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for culprit lesions.

Methods: This study protocol describes a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study aiming to investigate the efficacy and safety of combining a PCSK9 inhibitor with high-intensity statin therapy in patients with ACS following PCI. A total of 1,212 patients with ACS and multiple lesions will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either PCSK9 inhibitor plus high-intensity statin therapy or high-intensity statin monotherapy.

Bioinformatics analysis reveals the potential role of matrix metalloproteinases in immunity and urolithiasis.

Background: The pathogenesis of urolithiasis remains unclear, making the development of medications for treatment and prevention stagnant. Randall's plaques (RPs) begin as interstitial calcium phosphate crystal deposits, grow outward and breach the renal papillary surface, acting as attachment for CaOx stones. Since matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can degrade all components of extracellular matrix (ECM), they might participate in the breach of RPs.

Relationship between Coronary Artery Tortuosity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients without Obstructed Coronaries.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the increasing severity of coronary artery tortuosity (CAT) in patients with non-stenosed coronaries.

Methods: A total of 396 patients who underwent coronary angiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between August 2020 and July 2021 were included in this single-center retrospective study after excluding patients with significant coronary artery disease (≥50% stenosis). Patients were divided into two groups: no or mild coronary artery tortuosity (N/M-CAT) and moderate to severe coronary artery tortuosity (M/S-CAT) and laboratory electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and CPET parameters were compared between two groups.

Widespread myocardial dysfunction in COVID-19 patients detected by myocardial strain imaging using 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography.

COVID-19 is a multiorgan systemic inflammatory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Patients with COVID-19 often exhibit cardiac dysfunction and myocardial injury, but imaging evidence is lacking. In the study we detected and evaluated the severity of myocardial dysfunction in COVID-19 patient population using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2-D STE).

Key Role of CD151-integrin Complex in Lung Cancer Metastasis and Mechanisms Involved.

Tetraspanin CD151 was found to be upregulated in malignant cell types and has been identified as a tumor metastasis promoter. In this study, we aimed to examine the role of the CD151-integrin complex in lung cancer metastasis and the underlying mechanisms. CD151 QRD →AAA mutant was generated and used to transfect A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Global Longitudinal Strain at Rest for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients without Diabetes Mellitus.

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) at rest on two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) was demonstrated to help detect coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the optimal cut-off point of GLS and its diagnostic power for detecting critical CAD in non-diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are unknown. In the present study, 211 patients with suspected CAD were prospectively included, with DM patients excluded.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute aortic dissection.

The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and mortality in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) is unclear. From January 2007 to January 2014, a total of 928 consecutive AAD patients who were admitted within 48 h after the onset of symptoms were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether serum HDL-C level was below the normal lower limit or not.

CYP2C8-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids decrease oxidative stress-induced endothelial apoptosis in development of atherosclerosis: Role of Nrf2 activation.

The aim of the present study is to investigate how cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP) 2C8-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) regulate the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and protect against oxidative stress-induced endothelial injuries in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. In this study, cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with CYP2C8 or pretreated with exogenous EETs (1 μmol/L) before TNF-α (20 ng/mL) stimulation. Apoptosis and intracellular ROS production were determined by flow cytometry.

Analysis of clinical features of painless aortic dissection.

The clinical characteristics of painless aortic dissection were investigated in order to improve the awareness of diagnosis and treatment of atypical aortic dissection. The 482 cases of aortic dissection were divided into painless group and pain group, and the data of the two groups were retrospectively analyzed. The major clinical symptom was pain in 447 cases (92.

[Bradykinin attenuates mechanical stress-induced myocardial hypertrophy through inhibiting the Ca²⁺/ calcineurin pathway].

Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory effect and related mechanism of bradykinin on mechanical stress induced myocardial hypertrophy.

Methods: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and cultured in silicon plates. All cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into three groups: control group, mechanical stretch group (mechanical stretch of silicon plates to 120% for 30 min) and mechanical stretch plus bradykinin group (1×10(-8) mol/L for 24 h before stretch).

[Visfatin upregulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in human monocytes through activating NF-kappaB].

Objective: To investigate the effects of visfatin on the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in human monocytes and related mechanisms.

Methods: Human monocytes were isolated from blood, the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 at mRNA and protein levels were detected in visfatin stimulated monocytes (0, 100, 200, 400 ng/ml) in the absence and presence of NF-kappaB inhibitor specific Bay11-7082 by Realtime PCR or Western blot, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzyme activity in the culture media was also detected by Gelatin Zymography. The NF-kappaB protein level and NF-kappaBp65 expression in visfatin stimulated cells were measured by Western blot and ELISA, respectively.

[Arteriogenesis induced by intramyocardial recombinant adeno-associated virus vector encoding human CD151 cDNA gene transfer in swines with coronary artery occlusion].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of CD151 gene delivery in promoting blood perfusion in swines after myocardial infarction.

Methods: Swines received coronary artery ligation and intramyocardial injection with rAAV-CD151, rAAV-anti-CD151 or rAAV-GFP. Eight weeks after vector injection, Western blot, immunostaining and 13N-labeled NH3 PET were performed to detect gene expression and biological effects of various treatments.

Chronic inflammatory status in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is well-recognized, angiographic finding of abnormal coronary dilatation. The role of inflammation in atherosclerosis is increasingly well known. However, the association between inflammation and CAE has been controversial.

Randomized comparison of early inflammatory response after sirolimus-eluting stent vs bare metal stent implantation in native coronary lesions.

Background: The clinical significance of early inflammatory response after coronary stent implantation has been controversial. Sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) has been shown to be better outcomes compared with bare metal stent (BMS). We prospectively investigated the early inflammatory response after SES or BMS implantation in patients with single-vessel lesion, and evaluated the relationship between inflammation and late clinical outcomes in a randomized design.

Increased peripheral circulating inflammatory cells and plasma inflammatory markers in patients with variant angina.

Background: Emerging data suggest that inflammation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. However, the relation of inflammatory status to coronary vasospasm has been less investigated in patients with variant angina (VA).

Purpose: The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine peripheral circulating white blood cells as well as monocyte cells and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in patients with VA, and to compare patients with VA, stable coronary artery disease, and controls with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

[Antiatherosclerotic mechanism of aspirin: experiment with rabbits].

Objective: To observe the effects of aspirin on nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-DNA binding activity and on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in atherosclerotic plaque so as to explore its antiatherosclerotic mechanism.

Methods: Thirty-six New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: high-cholesterol (HC) group, fed with food high in cholesterol and perfused into the empty stomach daily with distilled water for 12 weeks, high-cholesterol and aspirin (HC + A) group, fed with food high in cholesterol and perfused into the empty stomach daily with aspirin solution, and normal control (NC) group, fed with normal food and perfused into the empty stomach daily with distilled water, before the experiment, and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the beginning of experiment peripheral blood samples were collected. The serum lipids were detected with enzymatic assays; and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Elevated circulating inflammatory markers in female patients with cardiac syndrome X.

Background: The pathophysiological mechanism in cardiac syndrome X has been suggested as impairment in normal endothelial function of the coronary microvasculature, resulting in inadequate flow reserve. However, despite the extensive studies, the precise mechanisms in cardiac syndrome X remain unclear.

Purpose: The present study was, therefore, to investigate whether inflammatory cells and markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) might be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac syndrome X.

[Clinical characterization and outcome of patients with noncompaction of ventricular myocardium].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and outcome of patients with noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM).

Methods: Clinical manifestations, electrocardiograms and echocardiographies data were analyzed in 18 patients with NVM. Mean follow-up period was (11 +/- 5) months.

Associations of polymorphism of P22(phox) C242T, plasma levels of vitamin E, and smoking with coronary heart disease in China.

Background: The C242T polymorphisms of P22(phox) and plasma vitamin E have been associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in several studies, but the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we sought to examine potential interactions between P22(phox) genotypes, plasma vitamin E concentrations, and smoking in relation to CHD risk.

Methods: We determined C242T genotype frequency in the P22(phox) gene and plasma levels of vitamin E in 565 Chinese patients with CHD and 609 control subjects.