The additive effect of the triglyceride-glucose index and estimated glucose disposal rate on long-term mortality among individuals with and without diabetes: a population-based study.

Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), which are calculated using different parameters, are widely used as markers of insulin resistance and are associated with cardiovascular diseases and prognosis. However, whether they have an additive effect on the risk of mortality remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether the combined assessment of the TyG index and eGDR improved the prediction of long-term mortality in individuals with and without diabetes.

Impact of Prior Ischemic Stroke on Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure - A Propensity-Matched Study.

Background: Whether ischemic stroke per se, rather than older age or additional comorbidities, accounts for the adverse prognosis of heart failure (HF) is uncertain. The present study examineed the intrinsic association of ischemic stroke with outcomes in a propensity-matched cohort.

Methods and results: Of 1,351 patients hospitalized with HF, 388 (28.

Age-specific differences in non-cardiac comorbidities among elderly patients hospitalized with heart failure: a special focus on young-old, old-old, and oldest-old.

Background: Despite the growing epidemic of heart failure (HF), there is limited data available to systematically compare non-cardiac comorbidities in the young-old, old-old, and oldest-old patients hospitalized for HF. The precise differences will add valuable information for better management of HF in elderly patients.

Methods: A total of 1053 patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized with HF were included in this study.

Blood Pressure Targets in the Hypertensive Elderly.

Objective: Hypertension is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease and increases mortality in the elderly. However, the available medical evidences are both inconsistent and insufficient regarding establishing credible and useful blood pressure (BP) targets in the hypertensive elderly. This review summarizes the existing evidences used for establishing optimal BP targets for this patient population and points out some data inconsistencies which have added to the uncertainty.

Effect of Dialysis on Antiplatelet Drug Efficacy in Uremic Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.

Background: Coronary intervention therapy is the main treatment for uremic patients with coronary heart disease. The studies on whether dialysis reduces the efficacy of dual antiplatelet drugs are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dialysis on antiplatelet drugs in uremic patients with coronary heart disease.

ADAMTS-7 promotes vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration are pivotal for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis. We have recently reported that a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-7 (ADAMTS-7), a novel metalloproteinase, contributes directly to neointima formation by mediating VSMC migration. However, whether ADAMTS-7 affects VSMC proliferation remains unclear.

ADAMTS-1 expression in rat myocardium after ischemic preconditioning: age-associated differences.

Background: It has been found that cardiac protection afforded by ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is significantly reduced in the senescent myocardium. ADAMTS-1 (a disintesrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs) has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis in a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays. The aim of this study was to investigate the age-associated differences in ADAMTS-1 protein expression in rat myocardium after ischemic preconditioning.

[Ischemia preconditioning attenuated myocardial ischemia via upregulating the expression of adiponectin in rat].

Objective: To investigate whether adiponectin plays a role in the protection of myocardium in the rat myocardial ischemia preconditioning (IPC) model.

Method: Infarct size was measured by Masson's Trichrome staining, the expression of protein and mRNA of adiponectin at 0, 6, 12 and 24 h after IPC was examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real time RT-PCR, plasma levels of adiponectin at above mentioned four time points after IPC were detected by ELISA in IPC and MI rats.

Result: Infarct size was smaller in IPC than in MI rats (20% ± 2% vs.

[Effect of ischemia preconditioning on pro- and anti- angiogenic molecule expression and functional arteries formation].

Objective: to observe the effect of ischemia preconditioning (IPC) on the expression of pro-angiogenic VEGF, PDGF and anti-angiogenic ADAMTS-1, and arteriogenesis.

Methods: rat heart IPC model was made by 4 circles of occluding the LAD for 6 min followed by 6 min of reperfusion. The expression of VEGF, PDGF-B and ADAMTS-1 in the ischemic area was examined with immunohistochemistry at 6, 12 and 24 h after IPC.

Electrophysiologic characteristics and radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial tachycardia arising from non-coronary sinuses of Valsalva in the aorta.

Objectives: Focal atrial tachycardia (AT) arising from non-coronary cusp (NCC) is very rare, and the experience in catheter ablation of this kind of tachycardia remains limited. This study describes the electrophysiologic characteristics and radiofrequency ablation of AT arising from NCC.

Methods And Results: The study population consisted of five consecutive patients (three females and two males; age 37-68 years) with AT arising from NCC.

Pharmacokinetics of rapamycin-eluting stents in miniswine coronary model.

Background: The results of clinical trials of rapamycin-eluting stents reduce restenosis have been quite promising. The main purpose of this study was to characterize the in vivo pharmacokinetics of high dose rapamycin (Rapa)-eluting stents in a miniswine coronary model.

Methods: Ten miniswines underwent placement of 18 high dose Rapa-eluting stents in the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries.