Patients with Dipper and Nondipper High-Normal Blood Pressure Were Associated with Left Ventricular Mass.

Purpose: High-normal blood pressure has been suggested to associate with target organ damage and higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Our aim is to find the association between people with high-normal blood pressure and their left ventricular mass index.

Materials And Methods: Given a total of 181 people with office blood pressure, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 35 of them are normotensive (BP < 130/85 mm Hg), and 146 people with high-normal blood pressure (BP 130-139/85-89 mm Hg), divide the high-normal blood pressure group into dipper and nondipper according to their ABPM in 24 hours.

Preoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index is a Significant Predictor of Survival in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Preoperative assessment of patients is meaningful to predict survival in patients with malignant tumors. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is one of the most significant factors related to the prognosis in various types of cancer; however, its role in esophageal cancer is still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic value of PNI in predicting overall survival (OS) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

miR-34b/c regulates doxorubicin-induced myocardial cell injury through ITCH.

: To determine the underlying mechanism of miR-34b/c in regulating doxorubicin (Dox)-induced myocardial cell injury.: The viability of mouse myocardial cells HL-1 was detected by MTT assay. The apoptosis of HL-1 cells was detected by TUNEL assay.

No association between low-dose reserpine use and depression in older hypertensive patient: result of a multicenter, cross-sectional study.

Background: Reserpine is currently used by millions of Chinese hypertensive patients, in spite of the continued concern of its depressogenic effect, even when used in low dose. This study aimed to investigate the association between low-dose reserpine use and depression in older Chinese hypertensive patient.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, case-control study, we recruited patient aged 60 years or over who had regularly taken one or two tables of "compound reserpine and triamterene tablets (CRTTs)" for more than one year (reserpine user) from 26 community health centers located in 10 provinces in China.

MDM2 and its functional polymorphism SNP309 contribute to the development of esophageal carcinoma.

Background: Overexpression of the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) has been explored in many tumors with high proliferation and anti-apoptosis ability. However, the role of MDM2 and its functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2279744 (also known as SNP309) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear.

Methods: We performed a genotype study of blood samples in 360 ESCC patients and 360 healthy control individuals to determine the risk of various rs2279744 in ESCC.

ADRB2 polymorphisms predict the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease.

Recently, the rs1042713 G > A and rs1042714 C > G polymorphisms in the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene were shown to be related to atherosclerosis diseases. Therefore, we performed a systemic meta-analysis to determine whether the two functional polymorphisms are related to the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary artery disease (CAD). We identified published studies that are relevant to our topic of interest.

Validation of the fully automated Pangao PG-800B68 upper-arm device according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010.

Objective: This study aimed to validate the fully automated Pangao PG-800B68 upper-arm device according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol (ESH-IP) revision 2010.

Materials And Methods: Sequential measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were obtained in 33 participants using the standard mercury sphygmomanometer and the test device. The ESH-IP revision 2010 was followed precisely and 99 pairings of test device and reference blood pressure measurements were obtained for analysis.

Feasibility and effect of para-right bundle branch pacing in patients with atrial fibrillation and complete atrioventricular block.

Background: Chronic right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing can induce negative clinical effects. The aim of the present study was to compare RVA pacing with para-right bundle branch (para-RBB) pacing in terms of electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiographic (ECHO) features.

Methods: Forty-one consecutive persistent atrial fibrillation patients with an indication for permanent pacing treatment due to complete atrioventricular block were randomly assigned to receive a screw-in lead either in the RVA (n = 22) or at the para-RBB (n = 19).

An miR-143 promoter variant associated with essential hypertension.

MicroRNAs like miR-143 are increasingly linked to disease pathogenesis. miR-143 is enriched in vascular smooth muscle, and several single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified in this miRNA. The aim of the current study was to explore a potential correlation between a polymorphism in the miR-143 promoter region, rs4705342, and essential hypertension (EH).

Long-term follow-up results in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents: results from a single high-volume PCI centre.

Objective: To assess both short-term and long-term prognosis in consecutive patients with coronary heart disease treated with drug-eluting stents in a high-volume percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centre.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Setting: A hospital in the Henan province, China, between 2009 and 2011.

Effects of vitamin D on plasma lipid profiles in statin-treated patients with hypercholesterolemia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Lipid abnormalities are regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Low vitamin D status has been shown to be associated with hyperlipidemia. We planned to research the effects of vitamin D supplementation as an adjuvant therapy for patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Emodin enhances cholesterol efflux by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in oxidized low density lipoprotein-loaded THP1 macrophages.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ is a nuclear receptor involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism. In the present study, we sought to investigate the effects of emodin, an anthraquinone derivative isolated from the roots of Rheum palmatum, on PPARγ signalling and cholesterol efflux in macrophage foam cells. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-stimulated THP1 macrophages were incubated with different concentrations of emodin (0-10 μmol/L) for 18 h.

Red blood cell distribution width and long-term outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the drug-eluting stenting era: a two-year cohort study.

Background: Previous studies suggest the higher the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) the greater the risk of mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the relationship between RDW and long-term outcome in CAD patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting stent (DES) remains unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effect of RDW in patients treated with drug-eluting stent for CAD.

[Effect of the smoking cessation services in the out-patient department for patients with coronary heart disease].

Objective: To evaluate the effects and clinical prognosis of out-patient department-based smoking cessation services for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

Methods: A total of 140 smoking patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease in our cardiovascular department were randomly divided into the intensive smoking cessation clinic follow-up group (intervention group, patients were informed on the importance and methods to quit smoking at the first visit and reminded for that at months interval for 6 months, n = 70) and the conventional treatment group (control group, n = 70). After 6 months, the smoking status, cardiovascular event rates, drug usage, out-patient medical costs and quality of life were compared between the two groups.

[Types and risk factors of arrhythmia on young patients with acute coronary syndrome in Henan province].

Objective: The types and risk factors of arrhythmia were analyzed on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients under the age of 44 years who were hospitalized in Henan province between September 2009 to June 2012.

Methods: Medical records of eligible patients were obtained from the information system of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University teleconsultation information center. Middle aged and elderly ACS patients who were hospitalized at the same period served as controls.

Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and coronary microcirculatory function among patients with cardiac syndrome X.

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Microcirculatory dysfunction has been proposed as a potential mechanism in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in OSA. This study aims to investigate the relationship between OSA and coronary microcirculatory function.

[Population characteristics and impact on heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure of passive smoking].

Objective: To investigate the basic characteristics of passive smoking population, and the impact of passive smoking on heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure.

Methods: Eighty-six passive smokers [mean age: (52.4 ± 7.

Correlation between plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A and peripheral arterial disease.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A (Lp-PLA) is a recently identified and potentially useful plasma biomarker for cardiovascular diseases. However, its role in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the independent association of Lp-PLA and other inflammatory markers with the reduced ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI), a marker of PAD.

Myeloperoxidase and risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.

Background: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), but its impact on the recurrence of AF after catheter ablation has not been explored. This study investigated the effect of plasma MPO on recurrence after catheter ablation of paroxysmal AF.

Methods And Results: Two hundred eighty-eight consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF and who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation were prospectively enrolled.

[Mesenchymal stem cells implantation increases the myofibroblasts congregating in infarct region in a rat model of myocardial infarction].

Objective: To investigate the modulation effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) implantation on the myofibroblasts congregating in the infarct region after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: MI was induced in SD rats by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, and the experimental animals were assigned randomly into the sham group, MI + PBS group and MI + MSC group (myocardial injection of 0.1 ml 2×10(7)/ml in four locations in the infarct region).