The compositional and functional imbalance of the gut microbiota in CKD linked to disease patterns.

Background: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is on the rise, posing a significant public health challenge. Although gut microbiome dysbiosis has been implicated in the impairment of kidney functions, the existence of pathological subtypes-linked differences remains largely unknown. We aimed to characterize the intestinal microbiota in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), minimal change disease (MCD), and ischemic renal injury (IRI) in order to investigate the intricate relationship between intestinal microbiota and CKD across different subtypes.

An artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiogram algorithm for the prediction of left atrial low-voltage areas in persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: We aimed to construct an artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithm that can accurately predict the presence of left atrial low-voltage areas (LVAs) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Methods: The study included 587 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation who underwent catheter ablation procedures between March 2012 and December 2023 and 942 scanned images of 12-lead ECGs obtained before the ablation procedures were performed. Artificial intelligence-based algorithms were used to construct models for predicting the presence of LVAs.

A single site ruthenium catalyst for robust soot oxidation without platinum or palladium.

The quest for efficient non-Pt/Pd catalysts has proved to be a formidable challenge for auto-exhaust purification. Herein, we present an approach to construct a robust catalyst by embedding single-atom Ru sites onto the surface of CeO through a gas bubbling-assisted membrane deposition method. The formed single-atom Ru sites, which occupy surface lattice sites of CeO, can improve activation efficiency for NO and O.

Plasma levels of bone morphogenic protein-4 are downregulated in elderly hypertensive patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between plasma bone morphogenic protein-4 (BMP-4) levels and heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) in elderly hypertensive patients.

Methods: A total of 222 hypertensive individuals meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled from October 2021 to July 2022. Data were collected including clinical characteristics, laboratory tests and echocardiogram measurements.

Effects of intensive blood pressure lowering in patients with diabetes: A pooled analysis of the STEP and ACCORD-BP randomized trials.

Aim: To determine whether intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering can benefit hypertensive patients with diabetes.

Materials And Methods: We performed a pooled analysis of individual patient data from two randomized trials to compare intensive and standard SBP targets in hypertensive patients with diabetes (STEP diabetes subgroup and ACCORD-BP standard glycaemic group, n = 1627 and n = 2362, respectively). We defined a modified primary outcome as a composite of stroke, major coronary artery disease (myocardial infarction and unstable angina), heart failure, and cardiovascular death.

Association of the visceral adiposity index with arterial stiffness in elderly Chinese population.

Background: The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a new marker of adipose dysfunction and related with cardiometabolic risk. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of VAI with arterial stiffness in elderly Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 1,707 elderly individuals over 60 years of age were recruited for this cross-sectional study.

The association between visceral adiposity index and leukocyte telomere length in adults: results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a robust marker of biological aging, which is associated with obesity. Recently, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been proposed as an indicator of adipose distribution and function.

Objective: To evaluated the association between VAI and LTL in adult Americans.

Predictive value of CTRP3 for the disease recurrence of atrial fibrillation patients after radiofrequency ablation.

Objective: To explore the expression of plasma CTRP3 in patients with non-valvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation and its predictive value for disease recurrence.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the patients in the Heart Center of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from June 2016 to November 2017 were collected. According to the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation 2016, patients diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were selected as the study subjects.

Facilitating Catalytic Purification of Auto-Exhaust Carbon Particles via the FeO{113} Facet-dependent Effect in Pt/FeO Catalysts.

The purification efficiency of auto-exhaust carbon particles in the catalytic aftertreatment system of vehicle exhaust is strongly dependent on the interface nanostructure between the noble metal component and oxide supports. Herein, we have elaborately synthesized the catalysts (Pt/FeO-R) of Pt nanoparticles decorated on the hexagonal bipyramid α-FeO nanocrystals with co-exposed twelve {113} and six {104} facets. The area ratios () of co-exposed {113} to {104} facets in α-FeO nanocrystals were adjusted by the fluoride ion concentration in the hydrothermal method.

Genetic deletion of CMG2 exacerbates systemic-to-pulmonary shunt-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) secondary to congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH) with systemic-to-pulmonary shunt (SPS) is characterized by proliferative vascular remodeling. Capillary morphogenesis gene-2 (CMG2) plays a key role in cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study aimed to determine the role of CMG2 in the pathogenesis of SPS-induced PAH.

Circulating exosomal lncRNAs in patients with chronic coronary syndromes.

Introduction: The concept of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) was first presented at the European Society of Cardiology Meeting in 2019. However, the roles of exosomal lncRNAs in CCS remain largely unclear.

Material And Methods: A case-control study was performed with a total of 218 participants (137 males and 81 females), including 15 CCS patients and 15 controls for sequencing profiles, 20 CCS patients and 20 controls for the first validation, and 100 CCS patients and 48 controls for the second validation.

p38/JNK Is Required for the Proliferation and Phenotype Changes of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Induced by in Essential Hypertension.

Aim: Hypertension is a complicated disorder with multifactorial etiology and high heritability. Our previous work has identified as a novel susceptibility gene for the development of essential hypertension, accompanied with activation of p38/JNK. Yet, little evidence has been reported whether p38/JNK contributed directly to -induced vascular remodeling and exploring the potential mechanism of in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Vital Roles of Gremlin-1 in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Induced by Systemic-to-Pulmonary Shunts.

Background Heterozygous mutation in BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) receptor 2 is rare, but BMP cascade suppression is common in congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CHD-PAH); however, the underling mechanism of BMP cascade suppression independent of BMP receptor 2 mutation is unknown. Methods and Results Pulmonary hypertensive status observed in CHD-PAH was surgically reproduced in rats. Gremlin-1 expression was increased, but BMP cascade was suppressed, in lungs from CHD-PAH patients and shunted rats, whereas shunt correction retarded these trends in rats.

MicroRNA-122 aggravates angiotensin II-mediated apoptosis and autophagy imbalance in rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts via the modulation of SIRT6-elabela-ACE2 signaling.

Abnormal aortic adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) play essential roles in the development of vascular remodeling and disorders. Previous studies revealed that microRNA-122 (miR-122) levels were elevated in the aortic adventitia of hypertensive rats with vascular injury. Here, we aim to evaluate the biological effects and underlying mechanisms of miR-122 in rat AFs.

Circulating Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is Associated with Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Diastolic Heart Failure.

Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) are emerging biomarkers for tissue fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between circulating CTGF, TGF-β1 levels and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF).

Methods: Admitted subjects were screened for heart failure and those with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <45% were excluded.

The association between orthostatic blood pressure changes and subclinical target organ damage in subjects over 60 years old.

Background: Although recent studies have indicated that both orthostatic hypotension and orthostatic hypertension independently predict cardiovascular events, the underlying mechanisms are still controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between orthostatic changes and organ damage in subjects over 60 years old.

Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study.

Disordered gut microbiota and alterations in metabolic patterns are associated with atrial fibrillation.

Background: With the establishment of the heart-gut axis concept, accumulating studies suggest that the gut microbiome plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Yet, little evidence has been reported in characterizing the gut microbiota shift in atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We include the result of the global alterations that occur in the intestinal microbiota in a cohort of 50 patients with atrial fibrillation and 50 matched controls based on a strategy of metagenomic and metabolomic analyses.

Dysbiotic gut microbes may contribute to hypertension by limiting vitamin D production.

Background: Accumulating studies have suggested that gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis and vitamin D3 deficiency each play an important role during the progression of hypertension (HTN). However, few studies have characterized the underlying interaction between GM shift and vitamin D3 deficiency in HTN patients.

Hypothesis: This study aimed to evaluate the possible crosstalk between GM dysbiosis and vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of HTN.

Positive Expression of Human Cytomegalovirus Phosphoprotein 65 in Atherosclerosis.

Previous studies showed that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is associated with atherosclerosis. However, local vascular atherosclerosis related HCMV infection and protein expression remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the relationship between HCMV infection and atherosclerosis.

Progress in Therapies for Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

Background: Experimental studies of acute myocardial infarction have revealed that up to half of the final infarct size may be due to reperfusion injury rather than the initial ischemic incident. Research over the past three decades has deepened our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ischemic reperfusion injury and several therapeutic strategies to decrease the incidence and severity of reperfusion injury have been explored.

Objective: To discuss the promising therapies and future perspectives on methods to attenuate myocardial reperfusion injury.

[Concentration of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and related factors in patients with unstable angina pectoris].

Objective: To observe plasma vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) levels and related factors in patients with unstable angina pectoris(UAP).

Methods: A total of 108 consecutive patients with chest pain hospitalized in our department from October to December 2014 were included. They were divided into UAP (n=78) and non-CHD group (n=30) by the result of coronary angiography(CAG).

Vascular endothelial function of patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objectives: To evaluate vascular endothelial function and contributing factors in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

Methods: One hundred twenty six CHD outpatients were randomly recruited. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) <1.

Clinical Application of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Cardiovascular Medicine.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are generated by reprogramming human somatic cells through the overexpression of four transcription factors: Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc. iPSCs are capable of indefinite self-renewal, and they can differentiate into almost any type of cell in the body. These cells therefore offer a highly valuable therapeutic strategy for tissue repair and regeneration.

MicroRNA-181c targets Bcl-2 and regulates mitochondrial morphology in myocardial cells.

Apoptosis is an important mechanism for the development of heart failure. Mitochondria are central to the execution of apoptosis in the intrinsic pathway. The main regulator of mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis is Bcl-2 family which includes pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins.