Vagal response during radiofrequency catheter ablation initiated from right superior pulmonary vein: Incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes.

Background: The vagal response (VR) is unavoidable during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of VR during PVI initiated from the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV).

Methods: Patients with AF were consecutively enrolled.

Permanent left bundle branch area pacing improves mitral regurgitation and cardiac function in patients with right bundle branch block.

Background: Permanent left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has been established as an effective means to correct left bundle branch block. Right bundle branch block (RBBB), emerge as a distinct form of cardiac conduction abnormality, can be seen in the context of LBBAP procedure. However, the correction potential of LBBAP in patients with RBBB remains largely unexplored.

Association of elevated circulating monocyte-platelet aggregates with hypercoagulability in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Hypercoagulability emerges as a central pathological feature and clinical complication in nephrotic syndrome. Increased platelet activation and aggregability are closely related to hypercoagulability in nephrotic syndrome. Monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs) have been proposed to represent a robust biomarker of platelet activation.

Predictive value of nutritional indices for left atrial thrombus in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) are well known indicators for adverse outcomes in various diseases, but there is no evidence on their association with the risk of left atrial thrombus (LAT) in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation (VAF).

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 433 VAF patients. Demographics, clinical characteristics and echocardiographic data were collected and analyzed.

Ventricular fibrillation induced by fever in structurally normal hearts.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life-threatening arrhythmia that usually happens in patients with structural heart diseases. However, fever-induced ventricular fibrillation in structurally normal hearts was reported, and the four main diseases associated with these cases were Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, and non-cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we analyzed this phenomenon and its clinical characteristics.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Hypertension and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Objective: To evaluate whether the effect of radiofrequency ablation can be improved by using sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) to control blood pressure in hypertensive patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Methods: A total of 63 and 67 hypertension patients with persistent atrial fibrillation were enrolled in an S/V group and ACEI/ARB group, respectively. All patients underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

SHP-1 alleviates atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation by modulating STAT3 activation.

Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) has a well-established role in myocardial infarction, yet its involvement in atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been elucidated. As cardiac arrhythmias caused by AF are a major global health concern, we investigated whether SHP-1 modulates AF development. The degree of atrial fibrosis was examined using Masson's trichrome staining, and SHP-1 expression in the human atrium was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blotting (WB).

Bilobalide Prevents Apoptosis and Improves Cardiac Function in Myocardial Infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is an extremely severe cardiovascular disease, which ranks as the leading cause of sudden death worldwide. Studies have proved that cardiac injury following MI can cause cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. Bilobalide (Bilo) from Ginkgo biloba leaves have been widely reported to possess excellent cardioprotective effects.

Association of inflammation indices with left atrial thrombus in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: Inflammation has been implicated in the progressive exacerbation of valvular atrial fibrillation (VAF) and thrombogenesis. This study aimed to analyze the association of systemic inflammation as measured by six indices with left atrial thrombus (LAT) in patients with VAF.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional analytical study included 434 patients with VAF.

MicroRNA-155 inhibition attenuates myocardial infarction-induced connexin 43 degradation in cardiomyocytes by reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage activation.

Background: Degradation of pro-inflammatory macrophage-mediated connexin 43 (Cx43) plays an important role in post-myocardial infarction (MI) arrhythmogenesis, microRNA (miR)-155 produced by macrophages has been shown to mediate post-MI effects. We hypothesized that miR-155 inhibition attenuated MI-induced Cx43 degradation by reducing pro-inflammatory macrophage activation.

Methods: MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in male C57BL/6 mice.

Evaluating Common NOS1AP Variants in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators for Secondary Prevention : Evaluating SNPs in NOS1AP.

Background: Recent research has found that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (NOS1AP) gene are associated with altered QT intervals and sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, the clinical utility and implications of NOS1AP SNPs remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the influence of NOS1AP SNPs in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention.

MSNs-Based Nanocomposite for Biofilm Imaging and NIR-Activated Chem/Photothermal/Photodynamic Combination Therapy.

Bacterial infections caused by biofilms are severe clinical problems, resulting in high drug resistance by limiting the penetration of antibiotics. Herein, a near-infrared (NIR)-activated chem/photodynamic/photothermal combined therapeutic agent is proposed by loading fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), ultrasmall copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuSNPs), and ε-polylysine (PLL) onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) through a layer-by-layer self-assembly approach. FITC-doped MSNs are prepared to monitor the permeability and accumulation of nanocomposites into biofilms.

pH-Responsive Fluorescent Polymer-Drug System for Real-Time Detection and Eradication of Bacterial Biofilms.

Bacterial biofilms encased in extracellular polymeric substances to create protected microenvironments are typically challenging to disperse by common antibiotics and cannot be visualized under current modalities. Herein, a pH-responsive branched polymer [poly(MBA-AEPZ)-AEPZ-NA] capable of overcoming antibiotic resistance and real-time visualizing biofilms for fluorescence imaging-guided infection control is reported. The positively charged polymer can effectively penetrate bacterial biofilms, neutralize the anionic character, and then disrupt the structural integrity, thus significantly promoting the transport of antibiotics into biofilms.

Water-soluble branched polymer for combined chemo-immunotherapy of bacterial infections.

Bacterial infection is one of the most significant public health challenges due to the limited choices of antibiotics which can overcome antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The promising nonantibiotic therapeutic alternatives for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection are urgently needed to reduce the disease burden. Herein, the water-soluble branched poly(amino ester) with inherently antibacterial (chemotherapy) and enhanced inflammatory response activity (immunotherapy) was prepared Michael addition polymerization to combat bacterial infection.

Simultaneous inhibition of planktonic and biofilm bacteria by self-adapting semiconducting polymer dots.

Biofilm infections present an enormous challenge in today's healthcare settings. Currently, pH-switchable antibacterial agents are being developed to eradicate biofilms. However, most pH-switchable antibacterial agents are less lethal to planktonic bacteria under neutral conditions, and cannot prevent the dispersed bacteria from seeding acute infection again.

The bHLH transcription factor PPLS1 regulates the color of pulvinus and leaf sheath in foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

The bHLH transcription factor, PPLS1, interacts with SiMYB85 to control the color of pulvinus and leaf sheath by regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in foxtail millet (Setaria italica). Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a self-pollinated crop with numerous small florets, is difficult for cross-pollination. The color of pulvinus and leaf sheath with purple being dominant to green is an indicative character and often used for screening authentic hybrids in foxtail millet crossing.

Systematic Meta-Analysis of the Association Between a Common NOS1AP Genetic Polymorphism, the QTc Interval, and Sudden Death.

Contemporary studies have identified rs10494366 in the nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (NOS1AP) gene as a new genetic marker in modulating the QT interval and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in general populations. However, the conclusions were not coincident. Therefore, we conducted for the first time a system evaluation of the relativity of rs10494366, the QT interval, and sudden death by meta-analysis.

Protective effect of histone methyltransferase NSD3 on ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 3 (NSD3) is a lysine methyltransferase that plays important roles in multiple biological activities; however; its potential roles in the cardiovascular system remain unknown. In this study, we found that NSD3 expression is reduced by isoproterenol (ISO) stimuli both in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of NSD3 attenuates ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Up-regulation of microRNA-93 inhibits TGF-β1-induced EMT and renal fibrogenesis by down-regulation of Orai1.

TGF-β1-induced excessive deposition of ECM and EMT process of tubular epithelial cells play critical roles in the development and progression of fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Orai1 has been demonstrated to be involved in TGF-β1-induced EMT via TGF-β/Smad3 pathway. We are aimed to explore the effects of miR-93 on TGF-β1-induced EMT process in HK2 cells.

Molecular identification and expression patterns of odorant binding protein and chemosensory protein genes in (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The olfaction system of insects plays an important role in mediating various physiological behaviors, including locating hosts, avoiding predators, and recognizing mates and oviposition sites. Therefore, some key genes in the system present valuable opportunities as targets for developing novel green pesticides. , a noctuid moth can feed on more than 30 different host plants making it a serious polyphagous pest worldwide, and it has become one of the major maize pests in northern China since 2011.

TBX5 mutations contribute to early-onset atrial fibrillation in Chinese and Caucasians.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia with an important heritable aspect. The genetic factors underlying AF have not been fully elucidated.

Methods And Results: We screened six candidate genes (CAV1, KCNJ2, KCNQ1, NKX2.

The effects of temperature on the development of the moth Athetis lepigone, and a prediction of field occurrence.

Athetis lepigone (Möschler) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important insect pest of corn crops in China. To determine the effect of temperature on A. lepigone growth, and to provide a forecasting model for this pest, the development and fecundity of A.

An analysis of the Athetis lepigone transcriptome from four developmental stages.

Athetis lepigone Möschler (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has recently become an important insect pest of maize (Zea mays) crops in China. In order to understand the characteristics of the different developmental stages of this pest, we used Illumina short-read sequences to perform de novo transcriptome assembly and gene expression analysis for egg, larva, pupa and adult developmental stages. We obtained 10.

Polymorphisms but not mutations of the KCNQ1 gene are associated with lone atrial fibrillation in the Chinese Han population.

Background: Recent studies suggest that mutation of the slow delayed rectifier potassium channel (IKs) contributes to familial atrial fibrillation (FAF). In the current study, we identified common genetic variants of KCNQ1 and explored the potential association between KCNQ1 polymorphism with lone AF (LAF).

Methods: Clinical data and blood samples were collected from 190 Han Chinese patients with sporadic AF and matched healthy controls.