Association of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, mean diameter of coronary arteries, and uric acid level with coronary slow flow in isolated coronary artery ectasia.

Background: The pathophysiology of isolated coronary artery ectasia (CAE) with the coronary slow flow (CSF) phenomenon is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for isolated CAE complicated with CSF.

Methods: A total of 126 patients with isolated CAE were selected retrospectively.

Impacts of smoking status on the clinical outcomes of coronary non-target lesions in patients with coronary heart disease: a single-center angiographic study.

Background: Coronary atherosclerotic plaque could go through rapid progression and induce adverse cardiac events. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of smoking status on clinical outcomes of coronary non-target lesions.

Methods: Consecutive patients with coronary heart disease who underwent two serial coronary angiographies were included.

The relationship between β -adrenergic and M -muscarinic receptor autoantibodies and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? The concentrations of β -adrenergic receptor and M -muscarinic receptor autoantibodies in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients and the relationship between the cardiac autoantibodies and clinical manifestations of HCM have rarely been reported. What is the main finding and its importance? We found that the concentrations of the two autoantibodies in HCM patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects. Furthermore, we found that the concentrations of the two autoantibodies could reflect myocardial injury and diastolic dysfunction in HCM patients to some extent and might be involved in the occurrence of arrhythmia.

Folic Acid Supplementation for Stroke Prevention in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Controversy remains regarding the efficacy of folic acid supplementation in reducing the risk of stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of folic acid supplementation on stroke prevention in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Materials And Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases through October 2016 to identify randomized clinical trials of folic acid supplementation to prevent stroke in patients with CVD.

Administration of Ticagrelor and Double-Dose Clopidogrel Based on Platelet Reactivity Determined by VerifyNow-P2Y12 for Chinese Subjects After Elective PCI.

Previous studies have identified high on treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) as a potent factor predicting ischemic events for patients with coronary heart disease. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor (90 mg twice-daily) and double-dose of clopidogrel (150 mg once-daily) among Chinese patients for elective percutaneous coronary intervention. We enrolled 40 patients with HTPR from among 317 patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes after a successful elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Luteolin-7-diglucuronide attenuates isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury and fibrosis in mice.

Myocardial injury and ensuing fibrotic alterations impair normal heart architecture and cause cardiac dysfunction. Oxidative stress has been recognized as a key player in the pathogenesis of cardiac injury and progression of cardiac dysfunction, and promoting fibrosis. In the current study we investigated whether luteolin-7-diglucuronide (L7DG), a naturally occurring antioxidant found in edible plants, could attenuate isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury and fibrosis in mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Yiqi Huaju formula, a Chinese herbal medicine, reduces arterial pressure in salt‑sensitive hypertension by inhibiting renin‑angiotensin system activation.

Hypertension is a chronic disease with a high prevalence, and is associated with a high risk of vascular disease and premature death. Traditional Chinese medicine has been administered to treat hypertension for many years. In the present study, the effects of Yiqi Huaju formula (YQ; a compound used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine) were observed in salt‑sensitive hypertension, which was induced by a high‑salt and high‑fat (HSF) diet and the potential mechanism was investigated.

Left ventricular remodeling and fibrosis: Sex differences and relationship with diastolic function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: We investigated sex differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling and fibrosis and their relationship with LV diastolic dysfunction by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: CMR imaging was performed simultaneously in 152 age-matched patients (76 men, 76 women; mean age: 49±9 years) without LV systolic dysfunction. LV remodeling index (LVRI) was calculated as the ratio of LV mass and end-diastolic volume.

Effects of alcohol septal ablation on left ventricular diastolic filling patterns in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has been shown to improve left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, its beneficial effect on diastolic function assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has not been reported. We investigated the mid-term changes of diastolic function by CMR combined with echocardiography in HCM patients after ASA at a median of 14-month follow-up.

Biventricular reverse remodeling after successful alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) remodeling in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). CMR was performed at baseline and 16 months after ASA in 38 patients with obstructive HC (mean age 48 ± 9 years) despite optimal medical treatment. ASA resulted in significant reductions of LV outflow tract gradient (mean 89 ± 22 vs 24 ± 12 mm Hg, p <0.

Preliminary study of quercetin affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis on rat endometriosis model.

In this study, the endometriosis rats model was randomly divided into 6 groups: model control group, ovariectomized group, Gestrinone group, and quercetin high/medium/low dose group. Rats were killed after 3 weeks of administration. The expression levels of serum FSH and LH were detected by ELISA.

Optical coherence tomography assessment of a PLGA-polymer with electro-grafting base layer versus a PLA-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent at three-month follow-up: the BuMA-OCT randomised trial.

Aims: To compare stent strut coverage using optical coherence tomography (OCT) at three-month follow-up between a PLGA-polymer with electro-grafting base layer sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) (BuMA) and a PLA-polymer SES (EXCEL).

Methods And Results: This prospective, single-centre, non-inferiority randomised BuMA-OCT trial enrolled patients with de novo coronary artery lesions, treated with either the BuMA or the EXCEL stent. The study primary endpoint was OCT-evaluated stent strut coverage at three months.

[Clinical outcomes of rotational atherectomy followed by drug-eluting stenting via the transradial approach for the treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions].

Objective: To assess the clinical outcomes of rotational atherectomy followed by drug-eluting stenting via the transradial approach for the treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions.

Methods: From January 2009 to October 2012, 114 consecutive patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions underwent rotational atherectomy and drug-eluting stents via transradial approach in our hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study. Characteristics of heavily calcified coronary lesions, the success rates of rotational atherectomy and stenting, rates of complication during perioperative treatments, and adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization and follow up were analyzed.