Initial treatment with a single capsule containing half-dose quadruple therapy vs standard-dose dual therapy in hypertensive patients (QUADUAL): a randomized, blinded, crossover trial.

Background: Guidelines recognized dual combination in initial antihypertensive therapy. Studies found that low-dose quadruple combination were superior to monotherapy. However, whether low-dose quadruple therapy is better than dual combination is unknown.

Impact of white blood cell count on the development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a pre-procedural white blood cell (WBC) count in the prediction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) risk in coronary artery disease patients receiving a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This observational study comprises a sample of 1,013 coronary artery disease patients (including ACS and stable angina) receiving PCI, gathered from September 2015 to July 2017. CI-AKI incidence in the study population was 4.

The effect of health coaching on blood pressure control and disease self-management among patients in rural area in China: a randomized controlled trial.

The self-management education for patients with hypertension has not been widely provided in rural areas of China. Our study aimed to examine the effect of health coaching intervention on controlling BP and improving self-management skills among rural resident of ≤6 month-history of hypertension. A total of 102 participants were enrolled in the RCT.

Initial treatment with a single capsule containing half-dose quadruple therapy vs standard-dose dual therapy in hypertensive patients (QUADUAL): Study protocol for a randomized, blinded, crossover trial.

Background: Combined antihypertensive therapy has obvious advantages over single drug therapy. Hypertension guidelines fully affirm the efficacy of dual combination in initial antihypertensive therapy. Recent studies have also pointed out that the quadruple combination of very low-dose antihypertensive drugs is superior to single drugs.

Sympathetic nerve innervation and metabolism in ischemic myocardium in response to remote ischemic perconditioning.

Sympathetic nerve denervation after myocardial infarction (MI) predicts risk of sudden cardiac death. Therefore, therapeutic approaches limit infarct size, improving adverse remodeling and restores sympathetic innervation have a great clinical potential. Remote ischemic perconditioning (RIPerc) could markedly attenuate MI-reperfusion (MIR) injury.

Imaging Inflammation in Atherosclerosis with CXCR4-Directed [Ga]PentixaFor PET/MRI-Compared with [F]FDG PET/MRI.

(1) This study compared [68Ga]PentixaFor uptake in active arterial segments with corresponding [18F]FDG arterial uptake as well as the relationship with cardiac [68Ga]PentixaFor uptake. (2) Method: Tracer uptake on atherosclerotic lesions in the large arteries was measured and target-to-background ratios (TBR) were calculated to adjust background signals with two investigators blinded to the other PET scan. On a patient-based and lesion-to-lesion analysis, TBR values of two tracers were compared and the relationship with cardiac inflammation was further explored.

Feasibility of In Vivo Imaging of Fibroblast Activation Protein in Human Arterial Walls.

Increased expression of fibroblast-activating protein (FAP) in fibrous caps may contribute to progression of atherosclerotic plaques. Forty-one patients who underwent Ga-conjugated quinoline-based FAP inhibitor (Ga-FAPI-04) PET/CT for noncardiovascular indications were retrospectively analyzed. Correlations were assessed between the uptake of Ga-FAPI-04 in large arterial walls (SUV and target-to-background ratio, TBR) and degree of calcification and cardiovascular risk factors.

Genotype-Guided Dosing of Warfarin in Chinese Adults: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Warfarin is an effective treatment for thromboembolic disease but has a narrow therapeutic index; optimal anticoagulation dosage can differ tremendously among individuals. We aimed to evaluate whether genotype-guided warfarin dosing is superior to routine clinical dosing for the outcomes of interest in Chinese patients.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled trial from September 2014 to April 2017 in 15 hospitals in China.

[Aortic valve degenerative disease with patent ductus arteriosus infective endocarditis: A case report].

Infective endocarditis (IE) refers to the pathogenic microbial infect the endocardium, valves or intima adjacent to the cardiac arteries through the bloodstream with the formation of vegetations. Valves are the most frequently affected sites. Here, we described a 49-year-old female, who admitted to respiratory outpatient department in the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University for long time of fever.

Somatic symptoms and their association with anxiety and depression in Chinese patients with cardiac neurosis.

Objective: We sought to investigate somatic symptoms detected by the Somatic Self-rating Scale and to evaluate whether they were associated with the psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with cardiac neurosis.

Methods: A total of 180 patients with cardiac neurosis at the Third Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China, were surveyed from January 2017 to July 2018. Participants completed a general information questionnaire, the Somatic Self-rating Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7.

Effects of genetic variants in UGT1A1, SLCO1B3, ABCB1, ABCC2, ABCG2, ORM1 on PK/PD of telmisartan in Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension .

Purpose: This study aimed to understand the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in UGT1A1, SLCO1B3, ABCB1, ABCC2, ABCG2, and ORM1 on the pharmacokinetics (PK) (plasma concentration) and pharmacodynamics (PD) (blood pressure) of telmisartan in Chinese patients.

Methods: 58 Han Chinese patients (aged 45 - 72 years) with mild to moderate essential hypertension were included and received 80 mg/day telmisartan for 4 weeks. The plasma concentration and genetic variants were determined by LC/MS/MS and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, respectively.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound upregulates pro-myelination indicators of Schwann cells enhanced by co-culture with adipose-derived stem cells.

Objectives: Peripheral nerve injuries are a common occurrence, resulting in considerable patient suffering; it also represents a major economic burden on society. To improve treatment options following peripheral nerve injuries, scientists aim to find a way to promote Schwann cell (SC) myelination to help nerves to carry out their functions effectively. In this study, we investigated myelination ability of SCs, regulated by co-culture with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) or low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), and synergistic effects of combined treatments.

[Manifestation, distribution of pathogen, and resistance of bloodstream infections after renal transplantation: clinical analysis of 71 patients].

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestation and determine the distribution of pathogens and their characteristics of drug susceptibility to bloodstream infections (BSIs), and provide evidence for clinical anti-infection treatments after renal transplantation.

Methods: Totally 81 episodes of BSIs occurred in 71 patients between July 2003 and June 2013. We retrospectively analyzed the pathogens and their drug susceptibility characteristics with BD microbiological assay system.

[Roles of periostin in proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells and the effect of atorvastatin on them].

Objective: To investigate the expression of periostin in in vitro cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by TGF-β1 and the relationship between periostin expression and the migration and proliferation of the VSMCs. Further, to investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the above-mentioned processes and the molecular mechanisms of atorvastatin inhibition of TGF-β1- induced periostin production.

Methods: Rat aorta smooth muscle cells were cultivated by the method of tissue explants adherence.

[Effect of IL-10 on LOX-1 expression of peripheral blood monocytes in patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To determine the expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) of peripheral blood monocytes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS),and to further explore the effect of anti-inflammatory factor interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the expression of LOX-1.

Methods: Twenty-eight healthy controls and 28 ACS patients were enrolled in the study. The levels of IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay(ELISA).

[Proatherogenic effects of immune complexes of human oxLDL in vitro].

Objective: To observe the effects of immune complexes (IC) prepared from human oxidized density lipoprotein (oxLDL) antibodies and human oxLDL on the foam cell forming and the macrophage activation, and to further uncover the possible mechanisms of immune complexes contributing to the atherosclerosis occurrence.

Methods: The immune complexes of human oxLDL and purified human oxLDL antibodies were added to culture U937 cells by protocols: polyethylene glycol-precipitated insoluble IC (PEG-IC) and IC immobilized by absorption to red blood cells (RBC-IC). With oxLDL as controls and heat-aggregated gamma globulin as an inhibitor of Fc gamma receptor, we measured the cholesterol ester, total cholesterol of the cellular extracts, and quantified the secreted MMP-1 of supernatants from U937 cells.