Gut Microbiota Regulation by Acupuncture and Moxibustion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

There have been numerous studies investigating the impact of acupuncture and/or moxibustion on the gut microbiota, but the results have been inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that included both preclinical and clinical studies to assess the current evidence regarding the effects of acupuncture on gut microbiota changes. We collected relevant studies from EMBASE and PubMed, collected outcomes including diversity and relative abundance measures of the gut microbiome, and the summarized effect estimates were calculated using the ratio of means (ROM) with 95% confidence intervals.

Clinical characteristics, ballooning pattern, and long-term prognosis of transient left ventricular ballooning syndrome.

Objective: Although patients with transient left ventricular ballooning syndrome (TLVBS), also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, improve rapidly and recover left ventricular systolic function, the long-term prognosis is not well-known. This study investigated the clinical features of TLVBS, and its in-hospital and long-term (in-hospital plus postdischarge) mortality.

Methods And Results: We evaluated 87 patients diagnosed with TLVBS.

Coronary artery graft dilatation aided by multidetector computed tomography.

Coronary angiography is the standard method of follow-up for patients with coronary artery bypass grafts, but it is an invasive and costly procedure that is not risk-free. Recently, 64-slice multidetector computed tomography has allowed reliable visualization of coronary artery grafts and their anastomotic status, with high spatial resolution. We describe a successful case of percutaneous coronary intervention for occluded coronary artery bypass grafts with the aid of multidetector computed tomography.

Pulse wave velocity is more closely associated with cardiovascular risk than augmentation index in the relatively low-risk population.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI) are both indirect indicators of arterial stiffness, which is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between carotid AI (CAI), carotid-femoral PWV (CFPWV), and Framingham risk score (FRS), and to evaluate the factors determining CAI and CFPWV. Carotid AI and CFPWV were measured by applanation tonometry in 177 consecutive subjects without evidence of significant cardiovascular disease.

Ventricular reverse remodeling early after mitral valve repair for severe chronic mitral regurgitation with atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) results in volume overload followed by left ventricular (LV) and left atrial remodeling. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of clinical, echocardiographic findings and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to LV reverse remodeling (LVRR) early after valve repair for severe chronic MR concomitant with modified maze procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 60 patients who were surgically treated for severe chronic MR and AF.

[The anaylsis of mortality rate according to CTP score and MELD score in patients with liver cirrhosis].

Background/aims: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) consists of serum bilirubin and creatinine levels, International Normalized Ratio (INR) for prothrombin time, and etiology of liver disease. The MELD score is a reliable measurement of mortality risk and is suitable for a disease severity index in patients with end-stage liver disease. We examined the validity of the MELD as a disease severity index for patients with end-stage liver disease.