Value of acoustic cardiography in the clinical diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

Background: To investigate the clinical value of acoustic cardiography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) early asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Methods: Inpatients in the department of cardiology were included in the research (n = 315); including 180 patients with angina pectoris and 135 patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction after emergency PCI did not present with signs and symptoms of heart failure. Color Doppler echocardiography, brain natriuretic peptide, acoustic cardiography examination were performed.

Prasugrel or ticagrelor relative to clopidogrel in triple-antiplatelet treatment combined with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor for patients with STEMI undergoing PCI: a meta-analysis.

Background: For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the efficacy and safety of novel P2Y antagonists, including prasugrel or ticagrelor, has not been established relative to that of the clopidogrel-based triple-antiplatelet treatments (TAPTs; in combination with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor). The present meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of prasugrel- or ticagrelor-based TAPTs relative to that of clopidogrel TAPTs in patients with STEMI undergoing PCI.

Methods: The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane's Library were systematically searched for relevant randomized controlled trials concerning prasugrel or ticagrelor (test) relative to clopidogrel (control).

Activation of adenosine A2b receptor attenuates high glucose-induced apoptosis in H9C2 cells via PI3K/Akt signaling.

High glucose plays a vital role in apoptosis in H9C2 cells. However, the exact molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cardio-protective role of A2b receptor in high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via PI3K/Akt pathway.

Klotho attenuates isoproterenol-induced hypertrophic response in H9C2 cells by activating Na/K-ATPase and inhibiting the reverse mode of Na/Ca-exchanger.

Cardiac hypertrophy plays a major role in heart failure and is related to patient morbidity and mortality. Calcium overloading is a main risk for cardiac hypertrophy, and Na/K-ATPase (NKA) has been found that it could not only regulate intracellular Na levels but also control the intracellular Ca ([Ca]) level through Na/Ca-exchanger (NCX). Recent studies have reported that klotho could affect [Ca] level.

The CD4/CD8 ratio is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in elderly Chinese patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between number of circulating T cells and coronary artery disease (CAD) in an elderly Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 295 elderly inpatients (age≥60) were included in this cross-sectional study. Their clinical and biochemical characteristics were recorded.

FGF21 represses cerebrovascular aging via improving mitochondrial biogenesis and inhibiting p53 signaling pathway in an AMPK-dependent manner.

Cerebrovascular aging has a high relationship with stroke and neurodegenerative disease. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on angiotensin (Ang II)-mediated cerebrovascular aging in human brain vascular smooth muscle cells (hBVSMCs). Ang II induced remarkable aging-phenotypes in hBVSMCs, including enhanced SA-β-gal staining and NBS1 protein expression.

Triglycerides are Independently Associated with Atherosclerosis in Elderly Chinese Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum triglycerides (TG) levels and atherosclerosis and to explore its predicated value for atherosclerosis in elderly Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 593 elderly patients (age ≥ 60) were included in this cross-sectional study. Their clinical and biochemical characteristics were detected.

Association Between Serum Cystatin C and High Blood Pressure (HBP): A Cross-Sectional Study of an Elder Chinese Type 2 Diabetic Population.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum CysC levels and high blood pressure (HBP) and to explore its diagnostic value for HBP in elder type 2 diabetic (T2D) population.

Methods: A total of 369 elder T2D patients (age > 60) were included in this cross-sectional study. Their clinical and biochemical characteristics were detected.

Klotho ameliorated isoproterenol-induced pathological changes in cardiomyocytes via the regulation of oxidative stress.

Aims: Oxidative stress is a common pathological process in stress-stimulated heart failure. Klotho, known as an anti-aging protein, has been shown to play important pleiotropic roles. This study characterized the effect of klotho on the mechanism of pathological alternations in isoproterenol-treated cardiomyocytes.

An accurate, flexible and small optical fiber sensor: a novel technological breakthrough for real-time analysis of dynamic blood flow data in vivo.

Because of the limitations of existing methods and techniques for directly obtaining real-time blood data, no accurate microflow in vivo real-time analysis method exists. To establish a novel technical platform for real-time in vivo detection and to analyze average blood pressure and other blood flow parameters, a small, accurate, flexible, and nontoxic Fabry-Perot fiber sensor was designed. The carotid sheath was implanted through intubation of the rabbit carotid artery (n = 8), and the blood pressure and other detection data were determined directly through the veins.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 protects against high glucose induced cellular damage and dysfunction of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase in endothelial cells.

Aims: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a powerful endocrine hormone modulating glucose and lipid metabolism and represents a promising drug for type 2 diabetes. The present study was to determine the effect of FGF21 on high glucose-induced damage and dysfunction in endothelial cells.

Methods: The protein expression of β-klotho was examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) using immunofluorescence and Western blotting.

Klotho suppresses cardiomyocyte apoptosis in mice with stress-induced cardiac injury via downregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is a common pathological alteration in heart disease which results in systolic dysfunction or sudden death. Klotho is a novel anti-aging hormone. We tested the effects of klotho on cell apoptosis in isoproterenol-treated cardiomyocytes.

A transendocardial delivery and intracardiac ultrasound irradiation treatment catheter.

Objectives: This study introduces the structural design, working principles, performance testing and treatment effects of a newly developed ultrasonic irradiation delivery and treatment catheter system that integrates interventional catheterization technology.

Background: Systemic administration method needs a high dose of gene and induces side effect of non-target organ delivery. Direct intramyocardial injection of a low-dose angiogenic gene followed by insonation treatment can enhance gene expression.

Adenosine A2A receptor: a target for regulating renal interstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy.

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is the common pathological process of chronic kidney diseases leading inevitably to renal function deterioration. RIF and its preceding epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are commonly triggered by an early occurring renal inflammation. However, an effective approach to prevent EMT and RIF is still lacking and of urgent need.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor in the cardioprotective effects of intermittent hypoxia in rats.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of short-term intermittent hypoxia (IH) preconditioning on cardiac structure and function in rats and the influence of ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Special attention was then paid to the involvement of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Methods: Wistar rats were given IH treatment for 1, 7, 14, or 28 days.

Induction of oxidative stress by oxidized LDL via meprinα-activated epidermal growth factor receptor in macrophages.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore meprinα-mediated transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in macrophages.

Methods And Results: Accelerated atherosclerotic lesions were established by administration of a high-fat diet in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice. Lentiviral overexpression of meprinα in the thoracic aortic artery during plaque formation enhanced intra-plaque macrophage induction of ROS as well as formation of atherosclerotic plaques, whereas AG1478 (specific inhibitor of the EGFR) treatment exerted the opposite effect.

Transendocardial delivery of HGF via microbubbles and ultrasound to treat acute myocardial infarction.

To enhance the safety of transendocardial delivery and the efficacy of intramyocardial angiogenic gene expression, a visible, less invasive, targeted, high-efficiency gene delivery strategy was tested. Progress toward clinical approval of systemic administration of genes and microbubbles (MBs) has been limited. The feasibility of transendocardially delivering MBs as extracellular markers and gene carriers in conjunction with intracardiac ultrasound (US) treatment remains unknown.

Resveratrol role in cardiovascular and metabolic health and potential mechanisms of action.

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic flavonoid found in a diversity of plants, especially berry fruits and is a popular nutritional supplement. It is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. Recently, additional evidence has been found that resveratrol is beneficial to metabolic and cardiovascular health and may increase the life expectancy of various organisms.

The effects of adenosine A2A receptor knockout on renal interstitial fibrosis in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) plays an important regulatory role in the processes of inflammation and fibrosis. However, it is unknown whether A2AR can mediate renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). To evaluate the effect of genetic A2AR knockout (KO) on the pathological progress of RIF, we applied a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model of RIF on A2AR KO mice and their wild-type (WT) littermates.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and hypertension: pathogenic mechanisms and possible therapeutic approaches.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a chronic condition characterized by collapse of the pharynx during sleep, has been increasingly recognized as a health issue of growing importance over the last decade. Recently emerging evidence suggests that there is a causal link between OSAS and hypertension, and hypertension represents an independent risk factor in OSAS patients. However, the pathophysiological basis for patients with OSAS having an increased risk for hypertension remains to be elucidated.

Efficacy and safety of early versus late glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors for PCI.

Background: Glycoprotein (Gp) IIb/IIIa inhibitors are beneficial for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, optimal drug timing remains inconclusive. Therefore, this study was to perform a meta-analysis of the clinical efficiency and safety of early versus late GpIIb/IIIa inhibitors in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

A targeted high-efficiency angiogenesis strategy as therapy for myocardial infarction.

Aims: The aim of this study was to prove that an intramyocardial injection of a mixture of low-dose human growth factor (HGF) plasmid and microbubbles (MB) in combination with insonation was an effective therapy for myocardial infarction.

Main Methods: Twenty dogs with myocardial infarction were divided into 4 groups: (1) HGF, MB and ultrasound (HGF-US/MB), (2) HGF and US (HGF-US), (3) HGF alone and (4) surgery alone (control). In the HGF-US/MB group, HGF plasmid DNA (500 μg) mixed with 0.

A novel method of augmenting gene expression and angiogenesis in the normal and ischemic canine myocardium.

This study presents a novel method that direct intramyocardial injection of low-dose plasmid DNA and microbubbles combined with insonation could further augment gene expression in normal and ischemic canine myocardium. Plasmids encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) and hepatocyte growth factor (pHGF) (500 μg) were individually mixed with 0.5 ml of microbubble solution (MB) and injected into the normal or acute ischemic canine myocardium.

Protective effect of tetramethylpyrazine isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong on nephropathy in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of tetramethylpyrazine isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong, a traditional Chinese medicine, on diabetic nephropathy in a rat model, and to explore the possible mechanism involved in a protective function.

Materials: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of 70mg/kg of streptozotocin. One week later, 200mg/kg/day of tetramethylpyrazine was administered intragastric gavage daily for 8 weeks.

Bacteriological differences between COPD exacerbation and community-acquired pneumonia.

Objective: To study the differences in pathogen distribution and antibiotic susceptibility between patients with COPD exacerbation and patients with community-acquired pneumonia, and develop guidance for antibiotic treatment of those conditions.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 586 COPD-exacerbation patients and 345 community-acquired-pneumonia patients from January 2007 to December 2008, including sputum culture results, antibiotic susceptibilities of the microorganisms, and clinical characteristics.

Results: 276 (47%) of the COPD-exacerbation patients, and 183 (53%) of the community-acquired-pneumonia patients had a positive sputum culture.