Performance of heart rate adjusted heart rate variability for risk stratification of sudden cardiac death.

Purpose: As a non-invasive tool for the assessment of cardiovascular autonomic function, the predictive value of heart rate variability (HRV) for sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the performance of the individualized heart rate (HR) adjusted HRV (HRV) for SCD risk stratification in subjects with diverse risks.

Methods: A total of 11 commonly used HRV metrics were analyzed in 192 subjects, including 88 healthy controls (low risk group), 82 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients (medium risk group), and 22 SCD victims (high risk group).

Tailored Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence for Cardiovascular Diseases.

Over the past half-century, medical research on cardiovascular disease (CVD) has achieved a great deal; however, medication adherence is unsatisfactory. Nearly 50% of patients do not follow prescriptions when taking medications, which limits the ability to maximize their therapeutic effects and results in adverse clinical outcomes and high healthcare costs. Furthermore, the effects of medication adherence interventions are disappointing, and tailored interventions have been proposed as an appropriate way to improve medication adherence.

Activation of the STAT3/microRNA-21 pathway participates in angiotensin II-induced angiogenesis.

Angiotensin II (AngII) facilitates angiogenesis that is associated with the continuous progression of atherosclerotic plaques, but the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to promote angiogenesis; however, whether miRNAs play a crucial role in AngII-induced angiogenesis remains unclear. This study evaluated the functional involvement of miRNA-21 (miR-21) in the AngII-mediated proangiogenic response in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs).

Stimulation of β-adrenoceptors up-regulates cardiac expression of galectin-3 and BIM through the Hippo signalling pathway.

Background And Purpose: Expression of the pro-fibrotic galectin-3 and the pro-apoptotic BIM is elevated in diseased heart or after β-adrenoceptor stimulation, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This question was addressed in the present study.

Experimental Approach: Wild-type mice and mice with cardiac transgenic expression of β -adrenoceptors, mammalian sterile-20 like kinase 1 (Mst1) or dominant-negative Mst1, and non-specific galectin-3 knockout mice were used.

Celastrol alleviates angiotensin II‑mediated vascular smooth muscle cell senescence via induction of autophagy.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been implicated in the promotion of cellular senescence. Celastrol, a quinone methide triterpenoid isolated from the Celastraceae family, exerts antioxidant effects and enhances autophagy in various cell types. Since autophagy serves an important role in regulating ROS, it was hypothesized that the antioxidant effect of celastrol is via enhanced autophagy, thus inhibiting cell senescence.

Roles of High Mobility Group Box 1 in Cardiovascular Calcification.

Calcific disease of the cardiovascular system, including atherosclerotic calcification, medial calcification in diabetes and calcific aortic valve disease, is an important risk factor for many adverse cardiovascular events such as ischemic cardiac events and subsequent mortality. Although cardiovascular calcification has long been considered to be a passive degenerative occurrence, it is now recognized as an active and highly regulated process that involves osteochondrogenic differentiation, apoptosis and extracellular vesicle release. Nonetheless, despite numerous studies on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular calcification, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Up-Regulated Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Endothelial Cells Mediates Platelet Microvesicle-Induced Angiogenesis.

Background/aims: Platelet microvesicles (PMVs) contribute to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying these contributions have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated whether PMVs regulate the angiogenic properties of endothelial cells (ECs) via mechanisms extending beyond the transport of angiogenic regulators from platelets.

Methods: In vitro Matrigel tube formation assay and in vivo Matrigel plug assay were used to evaluate the pro-angiogenic activity of PMVs.

Higher Plasma Concentrations of Platelet Microparticles in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Platelet microparticles (PMP), shedding on platelet activation, have been proposed as key components in the procoagulant and proinflammatory process. The aim of this study was to clarify the correlation between plasma PMP concentration and the presence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: We searched for potential relevant studies in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases before December 2015.

HMGB1 Induces Secretion of Matrix Vesicles by Macrophages to Enhance Ectopic Mineralization.

Numerous clinical conditions have been linked to ectopic mineralization (EM). This process of pathological biomineralization is complex and not fully elucidated, but thought to be started within matrix vesicles (MVs). We hypothesized that high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a cytokine associated with biomineralizing process under physiological and pathological conditions, induces EM via promoting MVs secretion from macrophages.

Staphylococcal SSL5-induced platelet microparticles provoke proinflammatory responses via the CD40/TRAF6/NFκB signalling pathway in monocytes.

Pathogens-induced platelet activation contributes to inflammation in cardiovascular diseases, but underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 5 (SSL5) is a known activator of platelets. Here we examined whether SSL5 is implicated in Staphylococcus aureus (S.

Clinical efficiency and safety analysis of transcatheter closure of multiple atrial septal defects in adults.

Background: Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) is currently a reliable alternative to surgery, even though challenging in patients with multiple ASDs.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficiency and safety of transcatheter closure in multiple ASDs.

Methods: Multiple ASDs were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Clinical efficiency and safety analysis of transcatheter interventional therapy for compound congenital cardiovascular abnormalities.

Objective: To investigate the efficiency and safety of transcatheter interventional therapy for compound congenital cardiovascular abnormalities.

Methods: From Nov 2001 to Jun 2006, a total of 36 patients (17 male, 19 female), aged 17.20 +/- 10.