Rationale and design for comparison of non-compliant balloon with drug-coating balloon angioplasty for side branch after provisional stenting for patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions: a prospective, multicentre and randomised DCB-BIF trial.

Introduction: Provisional stenting using drug-eluting stent is effective for simple coronary bifurcation lesions. Kissing balloon inflation using conventional non-compliant balloon is the primary treatment of side branch (SB) after main vessel (MV) stenting. Drug-coating balloon (DCB) is reported to be associated with less frequent clinical events in in-stent restenosis and small vessel disease.

Estimation of SPAD value in waterlogged winter wheat based on characteristic indices of hyperspectral and digital image.

To explore the optimal monitoring method for soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) of winter wheat under waterlogging stress based on hyperspectral and digital image techno-logy, the correlations between SPAD of the waterlogged winter wheat and fifteen indices of hyperspectral characteristic and fourteen indices of digital image feature were analyzed under a micro-plot which could be irrigated and drainage separately. Then, the BP neural network models for SPAD estimation were constructed based on the optimal monitoring feature indices. Compared with the normal winter wheat, SPAD and the value of hyperspectral reflectance did not change under short-term waterlogging (less than 7 d), whereas the SPAD was significantly decreased after more than 12 d waterlogging treatment with the value being close to zero at the late stage of growth.

Association of serum levels of AngII, KLK1, and ACE/KLK1 polymorphisms with acute myocardial infarction induced by coronary artery stenosis.

Introduction: The study aims to confirm the association of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with serum angiotensin II (AngII), kallikrein1 (KLK1), and ACE/KLK1 polymorphisms.

Materials And Methods: Serum AngII/KLK1 levels and ACE and KLK1 genotypes were determined in 208 patients with AMI and 216 normal controls. Binary logistic regression was used for data analysis.

Circulating CD36 and fractalkine levels are associated with vulnerable plaque progression in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

The chemokine, fractalkine, independently enhances the vulnerability of coronary atherosclerotic plaques. The present study investigated the combined effects of CD36 and fractalkine on coronary plaque progression in patients with unstable angina pectoris. In the present study, 120 unstable angina pectoris patients undergoing coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound were divided into two groups: an intermediate lesion group (lumen diameter stenosis 50-70%, 80 patients) and a severe lesion group (at least one lesion with lumen diameter stenosis > 70%, 40 patients).

Autophagy of monocytes attenuates the vulnerability of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether autophagy of monocytes attenuates the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods: The study group comprised 50 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP), 50 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 30 patients without coronary artery disease (control). Peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) were isolated and the expression levels of the proteins beclin-1 and light chain 3 (LC3) (autophagy-specific proteins) in the PBMs were analyzed by western blot.

The correlation between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and composition of the aortic media in CAD patients with or without hypertension.

Objectives: To investigate the influence of hypertension on large artery elasticity and the microstructure of the ascending aortic media in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and the association between arterial compliance and composition of the ascending aorta.

Methods: 60 patients with CAD who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery were divided into two groups: 30 patients in a hypertension group and 30 patients in a non-hypertension group. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured by an automatic device (Complior, Artech, France).

[Roles of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, RANTES and Fractalkine on promoting vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques].

Objective: To elucidate the roles of monocyte chemotactic factors (MCP-1, RANTES and Fractalkine) on the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with stable (SAP) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

Methods: Patients with SAP (n = 50) and UAP (n = 50) underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) were included in the study. Monocyte chemotaxis was assayed by the transwell chamber.

Combination of raloxifene, aspirin and estrogen as novel paradigm of hormone replacement therapy in rabbit model of menopause.

Aim: To assess a novel hormone replacement therapy (HRT) paradigm using raloxifene, aspirin combined with estrogen in rabbit model of menopause.

Methods: Female New Zealand white rabbits were ovariectomized or sham-operated. The ovariectomized rabbits were divided into 7 groups: estradiol valerate (E(2)), raloxifene, aspirin, E(2) /raloxifene, E(2)/aspirin, E(2) /raloxifene/aspirin and vehicle.

Atherosclerotic plaque components characterization and macrophage infiltration identification by intravascular ultrasound elastography based on b-mode analysis: validation in vivo.

Intravascular ultrasound elastography (IVUSE) is a promising imaging technique for early investigation of vulnerable plaques. Compared to radiofrequency signal processing, digital B-mode analysis is simple and of higher portability. However, rare studies have been reported validating the latter technique in vivo.

Value of left ventricular regional ejection fraction determined by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in diagnosis of aneurysm: compared with left ventriculography.

Background: Regional ejection fraction (EF(R)) measured by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) provides a novel method for quantifying left-ventricular (LV) regional systolic function. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of regional ejection fraction (EFR) derived from RT-3DE in detecting LV aneurysms in patients with myocardial infarction.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with myocardial infarction were prospectively enrolled and underwent electrocardiography (ECG), two-dimensional echocardiography (2-DE), RT-3DE and left ventriculography (LVG).

[The correlation of human serum Lp-PLA2 and hs-CRP and stability of coronary atherosclerotic plaques].

Objective: To explore the relationship of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and high sensitive C-reactive protein in vulnerable coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods: Patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) were examined for CAD with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). According to the findings of CAG and IVUS, all the patients were divided into three groups: a control group without plaque, stable plaque group and vulnerable plaque group.

Safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects guided by transthoracic echocardiography: a prospective study from two Chinese Medical Centers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). A total of 191 patients with ASD were recruited from two Chinese medical centers and TTE was carefully performed in multiple views to observe ASD number, position, diameter and relation with adjacent cardiac structures. All patients were divided into three groups based on their largest ASD diameters: 66 subjects with ASD diameter 5-14 mm (group A); 60 subjects with ASD diameter 15-20 mm (group B); and 65 subjects with ASD diameter 21-38 mm (group C).

Reliability of transthoracic echocardiography in estimating the size of Amplatzer septal occluder and guiding percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects.

Background: In China, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is popularly used for pre-intervention examination for atrial septal defect (ASD) and for guiding ASD closure. However, the ability to determine ASD size and the safety and efficacy of TTE for guiding ASD closure still has not been widely accepted. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TTE used before, during and after transcatheter ASD closure with Amplatzer septal occluders (ASO).

Multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention in Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction and simple nonculprit arteries.

Background: Multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is currently controversial. In this study, we investigated the significance of multivessel PCI in Chinese patients with ST-segment elevation AMI and relatively simple lesions in nonculprit arteries.

Methods: We reviewed all consecutive primary PCI of ST-segment elevation AMI in our hospital between 2002 and 2005.

Facilitated PCI in younger Chinese patients with AMI.

Presently, facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients remains controversial. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of facilitated PCI, intravenous low-dose rt-PA administration prior to urgent PCI, in Chinese patients < 70 years of age with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Our results suggest that the age and dosage of thrombolytics should be noticed seriously when considering facilitated PCI.

[The role of atherosclerotic plaque stability and inflammation in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To elucidate the effect of inflammation and coronary atherosclerotic plaque destabilization in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with ACS and 13 patients with stable angina pectoris (SA) were examined by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Coronary plaque morphology and areas in culprit lesions were analyzed.

[Changes of neutrophil myeloperoxidase in coronary circulation among patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the changes of neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) blood concentration gradient between the systemic circulation and the coronary circulation among patients with acute coronary syndrome and its clinical value.

Methods: Fifty patients underwent coronary angiography, which including 10 patients in AMI group, 20 patients in UA group, 10 patients in SA group and 10 subjects served as control. The levels of MPO and hs-CRP were measured in the serum of blood collected from femoral vein, aortic artery root and coronary sinus.