Efficacy and Safety of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (MUSKARDIA) in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease Across Different Weight Subgroups.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Shexiang Baoxin Pill (MUSKARDIA), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, plays a crucial role in both preventing and treating diverse cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction (MI), and heart failure. Preclinical research has demonstrated that the cardioprotective effects of MUSKARDIA are achieved through multiple pathways, such as enhancing coronary artery dilation, fostering new blood vessel growth, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, improving lipid metabolism, and protecting vascular endothelium.

Aim Of The Study: This subgroup analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (MUSKARDIA) plus optimal medical therapy (OMT) across different weight categories in treating stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Combination drug therapy prevents CIAKI by suppressing ER stress-induced apoptosis.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) is an important clinical complication that occurs after the application of contrast agent in percutaneous coronary intervention. The pathogenesis of CIAKI is complex. Studies have shown that cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays an important role in renal tubular injury in CIAKI.

The Effect of Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand (RANKL)/Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB (RANK) on Aortic Valve Calcified.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B (RANK) nuclear factor on aortic valve calcification.

Methods: The aortic valve tissue was collected from 132 aortic stenosis (AS) patients who underwent valve replacement. The valve tissue was stained with hematoxylin eosin (HE) and alizarin red calcium salt deposition.

Identification of circulating microRNA-126-3p as a new biomarker for coronary artery calcification.

Objective: Several circulating microRNAs, including microRNA-126-3p, have been identified as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular disease. However, whether microRNA-126-3p is an independent risk predictor for coronary artery calcification is unclear.

Methods: In this prospective single-center study, we collected blood samples from coronary artery atherosclerosis patients ( = 54), patients with coronary artery calcification ( = 33) and controls ( = 56).

Empagliflozin protects against heart failure with preserved ejection fraction partly by inhibiting the senescence-associated STAT1-STING axis.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a mortal clinical syndrome without effective therapies. Empagliflozin (EMPA) improves cardiovascular outcomes in HFpEF patients, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with L-NAME for 12 weeks and subsequently intraperitoneally injected with EMPA for another 4 weeks.

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.

Ticagrelor alone versus ticagrelor plus aspirin from month 1 to month 12 after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ULTIMATE-DAPT): a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

Background: Following percutaneous coronary intervention with stent placement to treat acute coronary syndromes, international clinical guidelines generally recommend dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin plus a P2Y receptor inhibitor for 12 months to prevent myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis. However, data on single antiplatelet therapy with a potent P2Y inhibitor earlier than 12 months after percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with an acute coronary syndrome are scarce. The aim of this trial was to assess whether the use of ticagrelor alone, compared with ticagrelor plus aspirin, could reduce the incidence of clinically relevant bleeding events without an accompanying increase in major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (MACCE).

[miR-509-3p promotes oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis in mouse aortic endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of microRNA-509-3p (miR-509-3p) on the apoptosis of atherosclerotic vascular endothelial cells.

Methods: Mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) were divided into normal control group, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) group, miR-509-3p overexpression group, miR-509-3p overexpression control group, miR-509-3p inhibitor + ox-LDL group, and miR-509-3p inhibitor control + ox-LDL group. MAEC were induced with 100 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 hours, and then transfected with miR-509-3p overexpression/inhibitor and corresponding control for 48 hours.

Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular diseases (2023 Edition).

Since the four working groups of the Chinese Society of Cardiology issued first expert consensus on coronary microvascular diseases (CMVD) in 2017, international consensus documents on CMVD have increased rapidly. Although some of these documents made preliminary recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of CMVD, they did not provide classification of recommendations and levels of evidence. In order to summarize recent progress in the field of CMVD, standardize the methods and procedures of diagnosis and treatment, and identify the scientific questions for future research, the four working groups of the Chinese Society of Cardiology updated the 2017 version of the Chinese expert consensus on CMVD and adopted a series of measures to ensure the quality of this document.

FT3/FT4 Enhances Risk Assessment in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Based on GRACE 2.0 Score.

Little is known about the association between the free triiodothyronine/free thyroxine (FT3/FT4) ratio and clinical outcomes in euthyroid patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 1448 euthyroid patients with NSTE-ACS who underwent PCI were included in this prospective study. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that there was a significantly increased risk of stroke (hazard ratio [HR] 11.

Prediabetes is Associated with Worse Long-Term Outcomes in Young Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Purpose: The incidence of prediabetes mellitus (pre-DM) is increasing among young individuals. Whether pre-DM can predict adverse cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the impact of pre-DM on the long-term clinical outcomes of patients aged≤ 45 years with new-onset ACS.

GLUT1 Mediates the Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammation of CCR2$^+$ Monocytes/Macrophages from Patients with DCM.

Background: Macrophages expressing CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) possess characteristics and performance akin to M1 polarized macrophages, which promote inflammation. Advanced heart failure (HF) patients with higher abundance of CCR2+ macrophages are more likely to experience adverse remodeling. The precise mechanism of CCR2+ macrophages in how they affect the progression of dilated cardiomyopathy remains unknown.

Role of serum CAP1 protein in the diagnosis of patients with first-time acute myocardial infarction.

The dysregulation of adenylate cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1) is associated with a variety of inflammatory conditions. Here, we aimed to assess the role of serum CAP1 protein in predicting acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to explore its effect and mechanism in vascular endothelial cells injury. ELISA was utilized to detected CAP1 protein expression in serum from 70 patients with first-time AMI at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours and 7 days of the onset of chest pain.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibitor downregulates microRNA-130a-3p expression in hepatocytes to alleviates atherosclerosis progression.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors have been shown to regulate lipid metabolism and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. This study explores the effect and potential mechanism of PCSK9 inhibitors on lipid metabolism and coronary atherosclerosis. HepG2 cells were incubated with PCSK9 inhibitor.

In-hospital changes in the red blood cell distribution width and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure.

Aims: A high red blood cell distribution width (RDW) at admission or discharge is associated with a worse prognosis in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF), and the prognostic value of the in-hospital change in RDW (∆RDW) remains debatable.

Methods And Results: We included 5514 patients with critical illness and HF from the MIMIC-IV database. The ΔRDW was calculated by the RDW at discharge minus that at admission.

Comparison of two diagnostic strategies for patients with stable chest pain suggestive of chronic coronary syndrome: rationale and design of the double-blind, pragmatic, randomized and controlled OPERATE Trial.

Background: To achieve potential financial savings and avoid exposing the patients to unnecessary risk, an optimal diagnostic strategy to identify low risk individual who may derive minimal benefit from further cardiac imaging testing (CIT) is important for patients with stable chest pain (SCP) suggestive of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Although several diagnostic strategies have been recommended by the most recent guidelines, few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have prospectively investigated the actual effect of applying these strategies in clinical practice.

Methods: OPERATE (OPtimal Evaluation of stable chest pain to Reduce unnecessAry utilization of cardiac imaging TEsting) trial is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based, 2-arm parallel-group, double-blind, pragmatic and confirmative RCT planning to include 800 subjects with SCP suggestive of CCS.

2023 Chinese expert consensus on the impact of COVID-19 on the management of cardiovascular diseases.

The primary site of infection in COVID-19 exhibit is the respiratory system, but multiple organ systems could be affected. The virus could directly invade cardiomyocytes. Alternatively, cytokine storm could lead to myocardial injury.

Association between Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System-recommended Post-Coronary CT Angiography Management and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Stable Chest Pain from a Chinese Registry.

Background Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) was developed to standardize and optimize disease management in patients after coronary CT angiography (CCTA), but the impact of CAD-RADS management recommendations on clinical outcomes remains unclear. Purpose To retrospectively assess the association between the appropriateness of post-CCTA management according to CAD-RADS version 2.0 and clinical outcomes.

Early versus late delayed percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background And Objective: There are a substantial proportion of elderly patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) miss the optimal time window (12 h from symptom onset) of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). For these patients, the ideal timing of delayed PCI remains undetermined. Therefore, this study compared the clinical outcomes of early versus late delayed PCI in elderly patients with STEMI.

Right ventricular-arterial uncoupling as an independent prognostic factor in acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction accompanied with coronary artery disease.

Background: Right ventricular (RV)-arterial uncoupling is a powerful independent predictor of prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Coronary artery disease (CAD) can contribute to the pathophysiological characteristics of HFpEF. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of RV-arterial uncoupling in acute HFpEF patients with CAD.

Identification of vulnerable non-culprit lesions by coronary computed tomography angiography in patients with chronic coronary syndrome and diabetes mellitus.

Background: Among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), non-culprit lesions (NCLs) are responsible for a substantial number of future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Thus, we aimed to establish the natural history relationship between adverse plaque characteristics (APCs) of NCLs non-invasively identified by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and subsequent MACEs in these patients.

Methods: Between January 2016 and January 2019, 523 patients with DM and CCS were included in the present study after CCTA and successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Serum histone deacetylase 4 longitudinal change for estimating major adverse cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) regulates lipid accumulation, inflammation, endothelial injury, and atherosclerosis to participate in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the value of serum HDAC4 change before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) risk in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Methods: HDAC4 from serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 340 ACS patients at baseline, day (D)1, D3, and D7 after PCI, and from 30 healthy controls (HCs).