Dynamic Change of Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Long-Term Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: The ARIC Study.

Background The change of cardiovascular health (CVH) status has been associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. However, no studies have explored the change patterns of CVH in relation to risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). We aim to examine the link between baseline CVH and change of CVH over time with the risk of SCD.

Psychological Disturbances and Their Association with Sleep Disturbance in Patients Admitted for Arrhythmia Diseases.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the depression and anxiety status and their association with sleep disturbance among one single center Chinese inpatients with arrhythmia and help cardiologists better identify patients who need psychological care.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 495 inpatients with arrhythmia treated in Fuwai Hospital from October to December 2019. The psychological status and sleep quality were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Seroprevalence of IgM and IgG Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic People in Wuhan: Data from a General Hospital Near South China Seafood Wholesale Market during March to April in 2020.

The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic people in Wuhan. This was a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 18,712 asymptomatic participants from 154 work units in Wuhan. Pearson Chi-square test, -test, and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the standardized seroprevalence of IgG and IgM for age and gender between different groups.

Association Between Silent Myocardial Infarction and Long-Term Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death.

Background Although silent myocardial infarction (SMI) is prognostically important, the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among patients with incident SMI is not well established. Methods and Results We examined 2 community-based cohorts: the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study (n=13 725) and the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) (n=5207). Incident SMI was defined as electrocardiographic evidence of new myocardial infarction during follow-up visits that was not present at the baseline.

A redox modulated fluorescence nanoplatform for the detection of alkaline phosphatase activity with fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles.

Herein, we simply synthesized intrinsic fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) in sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH, pH 11), and constructed a new fluorescence nanoplatform for the detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) using PDA NPs as an effective signal reporter. The nanoplatform was constructed by the combination of enzymatic hydrolysis of ALP to the substrate l-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (AA2P) and the chemical redox reaction between l-ascorbic acid (AA) and mercury ion (Hg2+). The fluorescence of PDA NPs could be effectively quenched by Hg2+ through the coordination effect between Hg2+ and the functional groups on the surface of PDA NPs.

Perineural Invasion is a Better Prognostic Indicator than Lymphovascular Invasion and a Potential Adjuvant Therapy Indicator for pN0M0 Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) at pN0M0 can be more locally aggressive and disseminated than those with lymph node and distant metastasis. Perineural invasion (PNI) is reported as a poor prognostic factor in cancer and is thought to be related to regional tumor spread and metastasis. However, its clinicopathological role and meaning for treatment in pN0M0 ESCC are unknown.

Catheter ablation of premature ventricular complexes associated with false tendons: A case report.

Background: False tendon is a common intraventricular anatomical variation. It refers to a fibroid or fibromuscular structure that exists in the ventricle besides the normal connection of papillary muscle and mitral or tricuspid valve. A large number of clinical studies have suggested that there is a significant correlation between false tendons and premature ventricular complexes.

Genome sequence of the potato pathogenic fungus Alternaria solani HWC-168 reveals clues for its conidiation and virulence.

Background: Alternaria solani is a known air-born deuteromycete fungus with a polycyclic life cycle and is the causal agent of early blight that causes significant yield losses of potato worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the conidiation and pathogenicity remain largely unknown.

Results: We produced a high-quality genome assembly of A.

Inhibition of pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor attenuates inflammation induced by hyperoxia in EA.hy926 cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) using an established cell model of BPD. For this purpose, EA.hy926 cell cultures were divided into 4 groups as follows: the air group as the blank control, the hyperoxia group, the hyperoxia plus PBEF siRNA group and the hyperoxia plus scramble siRNA group.

[Anti-tumor effect of brucine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles in vitro].

We designed two novel polymer materials N-glycyrrhetinic acid-polyethylene glycol-chitosan derivatives (NGPC) and N-quaternary ammonium-chitosan derivatives (NQC). We prepared three kinds of drug loaded chitosan nanoparticles (brucine/NGPC-NPs, brucine/NQC-NPs, brucine/MNPs) by ionic crosslinking method with brucine as a model drug and chitosan nanoparticles（brucine/NGPC-NPs, brucine/NQC-NPs） as the reference formulation. Using high content analysis, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy and other advanced technology, we tested the effect of 20 μg·mL(-1) concentration of brucine solution and brucine/ chitosan nanoparticles（brucine/CTS-NPs） in hepatocarcinoma (HEpG2) cells and evaluated the apoptosis induced by the treatment.

Multiple Intercostal Space Electrocardiogram Allows Accurate Localization of Outflow Tract Ventricular Arrhythmia Origin.

Background: Multiple intercostal recordings were supposed to get a more comprehensive view of the depolarization vector of the outflow tract ventricular arrhythmia (OT-VA), which may help to identify the OT-VA more accurately. This study was undertaken to develop a more accurate electrocardiogram (ECG) criterion for differentiating between left and right OT-VA origins.

Methods: We studied OT-VA with a left bundle branch block pattern and inferior axis QRS morphology in 47 patients with successful catheter ablation in the right ventricular OT (RVOT; n = 37) or aortic coronary cusp (ACC; n = 10).

Mitochondria-targeted drug delivery system for cancer treatment.

Mitochondria are one type of the major organelles in the cell, participating in a variety of important physiological and biochemical processes, such as tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Meanwhile, it also happens to be the key regulator of apoptosis by triggering the complex cell-death processes through a variety of mechanisms. Since it plays a pivotal role in cell-death, a mitochondria-targeted treatment strategy could be promising for cancer therapy.

Evaluation of the influence of salt processing on pharmacokinetics of psoralen and isopsoralen in Psoralea corylifolia L.

A sensitive, specific and rapid ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method has been developed to investigate pharmacokinetic properties of psoralen and isopsoralen, two compounds isolated from raw/salt-processed fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. UHPLC-MS/MS was used with positive ion electrospray. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile and 0.

Management of focal atrial tachycardias originating from the atrial appendage with the combination of radiofrequency catheter ablation and minimally invasive atrial appendectomy.

Background: Focal atrial tachycardias (ATs) originating from the left and the right atrial appendage (AA) were the most difficult to eliminate.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of minimally invasive surgical atrial appendectomy in combination with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in the management of focal atrial appendage tachycardias (AATs).

Methods: We included 42 consecutive patients with 42 AATs confirmed by activation mapping and contrast venography.

Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation with fragmented QRS complex and J wave in resting electrocardiogram.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) with fragmented QRS complex (f-QRS) and J wave in resting electrocardiogram.

Methods: We reviewed data from 21 case subjects in our hospital who were resuscitated after cardiac arrest due to IVF and assessed the prevalence of f-QRS and J wave in resting electrocardiogram (ECG). All the case subjects were classified among three groups based on the electrocardiographic morphology: group I, both f-QRS and J wave were observed (n = 6), group II, only J wave was observed (n = 9), group III, neither f-QRS nor J wave was observed (n = 6).

[Association between abnormal electrocardiographic features and disease severity in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To analyze the relationship between electrocardiographic (ECG) features and disease severity in patients with the arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

Method: The study group consisted of 61 subjects with a definite diagnosis of ARVC on the basis of published guideline criteria and patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to the extent of diseased myocardium defined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Group A: local involvement (n = 19, 31%), Group B: diffuse involvement of whole right ventricle (n = 28, 46%) and Group C: involvement of both right and left ventricles (n = 14, 23%).

Results: Normal electrocardiogram was shown in 1 patient in each group.

Right phrenic injury after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial tachycardia at crista terminalis.

A 62-year-old woman with frequent occurrence of symptomatic atrial tachycardia with a foci located at the root of the upper crista terminalis was found to have right diaphragm paresis after receiving a total of 8 radiofrequency energy deliveries (40-60 W, 50-60ºC) and a total duration of 540 seconds of ablation therapy (7Fr 8 mm deflectable ablation catheter). The right diaphragm paresis remained resolved up to 14 months after the procedure as confirmed by repeated chest X-rays.

[Association between electrocardiogram characteristics and long-term outcome in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation].

Objective: To explore the association between clinical and ECG characteristics and prognoses in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Methods: We reviewed the data from 21 VF patients [male 47.6%, mean age (38.

Linear ablation of left atrium for the treatment of atrial fibrillation guided by double Lasso catheters and three dimensional electroanatomical mapping.

Background: Linear ablation of left atrium (LA) guided by three dimensional (3-D) electroanatomical mapping (Carto) has been used in many centres worldwide for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) instead of pure anatomical approaches. There were little data about linear ablation of LA guided by Carto and double Lasso catheters in China. We report the results of linear ablation of LA guided by both Carto and double Lasso catheters.

Apolipoprotein B is associated with metabolic syndrome in Chinese families with familial combined hyperlipidemia, familial hypertriglyceridemia and familial hypercholesterolemia.

There is a paucity of data concerning the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in families with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), familial hypertriglyceridemia (FHTG), familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and normolipidemic families in China. This study investigated the prevalence of MetS in these families and explored potential factors relevant to MetS. We recruited 70 families with 560 individuals > or = 20 years of age, including 43 FCHL families with 379 individuals, 3 FHTG families with 30 individuals, 16 FH families with 102 individuals and 8 normolipidemic families with 49 individuals.

Left posterior fascicular block: a new endpoint of ablation for verapamil-sensitive idiopathic ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Verapamil-sensitive, idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) with right bundle branch block configuration and left-axis deviation is known to be due to re-entry mechanism but the exact nature of reentrant circuit in ILVT is not fully elucidated. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation was applied during ventricular tachycardia (VT) and termination of the VT or abolishing the inducibility of the tachycardia was used as an endpoint for successful RF. In this study, the left posterior fascicular block in surface electrocardiogram (ECG) was used as a new endpoint of ablation to cure ILVT.

[Apolipoprotein B is associated with metabolic syndrome in Chinese pedigrees with familial hyperlipidemia].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) as well as the potential predictors in families with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), familial hypertriglyceridemia (FHTG), familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and normolipidemic families in China.

Methods: The prevalence of MS was identified among 70 different families with 560 individuals aged > or = 20, including 43 FCHL families with 379 individuals, 3 FHTG families with 30 individuals, 16 FH families with 102 individuals and 8 normolipidemic families with 49 individuals. Diagnosis of MS was based on the modified criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program, US, substituting body mass index for waist circumference.