Assessment of the causal relationship between gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Previous studies have shown an association between gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the underlying causal relationship remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and CVDs and to explore the pathogenic role of gut microbiota in CVDs.

Poor cardiovascular health status among Chinese women.

Background: Systematic investigation and analysis of cardiovascular health status (CVHS) of Chinese women is rare. This study aimed to assess CVHS and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden in the Chinese women physicians (CWP) and community-based non-physician cohort (NPC).

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, observational study, CVHS using the American Heart Association (AHA) defined 7 metrics (such as smoking and fasting glucose) and ASCVD risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia and type-2 diabetes were evaluated in CWP compared with NPC.

Cathepsin K-deficiency impairs mouse cardiac function after myocardial infarction.

Background: Extracellular matrix metabolism and cardiac cell death participate centrally in myocardial infarction (MI). This study tested the roles of collagenolytic cathepsin K (CatK) in post-MI left ventricular remodeling.

Methods And Results: Patients with acute MI had higher plasma CatK levels (20.

The gender difference of utilization of cardiac implantable electronic device in China: data from Arrhythmia Interventional Therapy Data Registry.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) greatly improve survival and life quality of patients. However, there are gender differences regarding both the utilization and benefit of these devices. In this prospective CIED registry, we aim to appraise the gender differences in CIED utilization in China.

Efficacy of amiodarone and lidocaine for preventing ventricular fibrillation after aortic cross-clamp release in open heart surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: The relative preventative efficacy of amiodarone and lidocaine for ventricular fibrillation (VF) after release of an aortic cross-clamp (ACC) during open heart surgery has not been determined. This meta-analysis was designed to systematically evaluate the influence of amiodarone, lidocaine, or placebo on the incidence of VF after ACC.

Methods: Prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the VF-preventative effects of amiodarone with lidocaine, or amiodarone or lidocaine with placebo were included.

Pharmacological Therapy of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: An Update.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a progressive segmental abdominal aortic dilation, is associated with high mortality. AAA is characterized by inflammation, smooth muscle cell (SMC) depletion and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Surgical intervention and endovascular therapy are recommended to prevent rupture of large AAAs.

Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Qinming8631 DR Implantable Cardiac Pacemaker in Chinese Patients: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of the First Domestically Developed Pacemaker of China.

Background: High cost of imported pacemakers is a main obstacle for Chinese patients suffering from bradyarrhythmia, and a domestically developed pacemaker will help lower the burden. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Qinming8631 DR (Qinming Medical, Baoji, China), the first domestically developed dual-chamber pacemaker of China, compared with a commercially available pacemaker Talos DR (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) in Chinese patients.

Methods: A prospective randomized trial was conducted at 14 centers in China.

Effect of Tai Chi exercise on blood lipid profiles: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: Studies have demonstrated that Tai Chi exercise improves blood lipid level with inconsistent results. A meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the effects of Tai Chi on blood lipid profiles in humans.

Methods: We screened the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library (Central), Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, and Clinicaltrials.

SIRT3 in cardiovascular diseases: Emerging roles and therapeutic implications.

SIRT3 belongs to a highly conserved protein family of histone deacetylases and it is rich in mitochondria. As acetyl-modification is one of the important post-translational modifications that prevail in the mitochondria, it is not surprising that SIRT3 plays a key regulatory role in this organelle. SIRT3 has a wide range of substrates that are involved in the physiological and pathological processes of oxidative stress, ischemia-reperfusion injury, mitochondrial metabolism homeostasis and cellular death.

Regulatory T lymphocytes in myocardial infarction: A promising new therapeutic target.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death especially in developed countries. Although the advent of early myocardial reperfusion therapy contributes to decreasing the mortality of patients with MI, cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury and adverse remodeling during the repair process still remain the major factors impairing cardiac function and resulting in unsatisfactory prognosis. Excessive inflammation and immune responses play a crucial role during the whole process of MI.

Meta-analysis of C242T polymorphism in CYBA genes: risk of acute coronary syndrome is lower in Asians but not in Caucasians.

Background: A lot of studies have demonstrated that C242T polymorphism in CYBA genes may play an important role in the pathological process of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the results are not consistent. To further evaluate this debate, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the relationship between C242T polymorphism and ACS.

Pharmacokinetic drug interactions with clopidogrel: updated review and risk management in combination therapy.

Background: Coprescribing of clopidogrel and other drugs is common. Available reviews have addressed the drug-drug interactions (DDIs) when clopidogrel is as an object drug, or focused on combination use of clopidogrel and a special class of drugs. Clinicians may still be ignorant of those DDIs when clopidogrel is a precipitant drug, the factors determining the degree of DDIs, and corresponding risk management.

Torsade de pointes in a patient with complete atrioventricular block and pacemaker failure, misdiagnosed with epilepsy.

A case of torsade de pointes (TdP) with complete atrioventricular block and pacemaker failure that was misdiagnosed as epilepsy is presented herein. An 82-year-old female with recurrent seizure-like attacks showed epileptiform discharge during an electroencephalogram recording. A long QT interval and severe hypokalemia induced runs of TdP, which was related to pacemaker lead fracture, was detected during Holter recording and accompanied with episodes of seizures.

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with a severe stenotic bicuspid aortic valve in a Chinese population.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with a severe stenotic bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) in a Chinese population. While several groups have reported the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of TAVI for patients with a BAV, worldwide experience of the technique is still limited, especially in China.

Methods: From March 2013 to November 2014, high surgical risk or inoperable patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) who had undergone TAVI at our institution were selected for inclusion in our study.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells and In-stent Restenosis.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant global health problem, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an efficient therapy for treating CAD, but it carries the risk of iatrogenic endothelial injury, which contributes to vessel inflammation and induction of in-stent restenosis. Therefore, developing novel methods for enhancing re-endothelialization after PCI is highly needed.

[Status of glucose metabolism in Chinese essential hypertensive patients].

Objective: To investigate glucose metabolism status and its relationship with blood pressure, obesity, renal function and cardio-cerebral vascular events in Chinese essential hypertensive patients.

Methods: Essential hypertensive patients without diabetic history were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey. All patients filled in questionnaires and received physical examination and laboratory tests.

Interleukin-17 and acute coronary syndrome.

Inflammation plays an important role in atherosclerosis, which is also crucial for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recent studies have revealed that interleukin (IL)-17, which was regarded as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has a dual function in the progress of ACS. In this review, we sum up both experimental and clinical studies on the relevance of IL-17 to atherosclerosis and its complications, and summarize the research progress on the effect of IL-17 on the atherosclerotic plaque stability and ACS onset.

Outcomes research: science and action.

Outcomes research, which investigates the outcomes of health care practices, is intended to provide scientific evidence for clinical decision making and health care. This paper elucidates the goal and domains of outcomes research. Also it shows the potential and promise of outcomes research to provide a methodology to uncover what to do and how to do it, and enable the health care profession to achieve the right care, for the right patient, at the right time, the first time, every time, nothing more, and nothing less.

Cathepsin S-mediated fibroblast trans-differentiation contributes to left ventricular remodelling after myocardial infarction.

Background: Extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover plays an important role in left ventricular (LV) remodelling following myocardial infarction (MI). Cysteinyl cathepsins contribute to ECM catabolism in arterial diseases, suggesting their participation in post-MI remodelling.

Methods And Results: Left anterior descending artery ligation-induced MI in mice showed increased expression and activity of cathepsin S (CatS).

Meta-analysis of cohort studies of baseline prehypertension and risk of coronary heart disease.

Prehypertension is a common condition, but the extent to which it increases the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between baseline prehypertension and risk for CHD by performing a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. A systematic search of published research was conducted through January 2013, using electronic databases and bibliographies of retrieved reports.

[One-stop hybrid cardiac surgery for adults with complex heart disease].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and security of one-stop hybrid cardiac surgery for the treatment of adult patients with complex heart disease.

Methods: From November 2011 to March 2012, a total of 5 patients [4 male, mean age: (58.8 ± 14.

Tea consumption and risk of stroke: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Objective: To determine the association between tea consumption and the risk of stroke.

Methods: We searched the PubMed database from January 1966 to March 2012 and reviewed reference lists of retrieved articles to identify relevant studies. Studies were included if they reported relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of stroke with respect to three or more categories of tea consumption.

Complex coronary lesions and rotational atherectomy: one hospital's experience.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of rotational atherectomy followed by drug eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with complex coronary lesions.

Methods: From August 2006 to August 2012, 253 consecutive patients with 289 lesions and who underwent rotational atherectomy in our center were enrolled in this study.

Results: The overall procedure success rate was 98% with the cost of two (0.

Angiopoietin-1 preconditioning enhances survival and functional recovery of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation.

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising therapy for ischemic heart diseases. However, poor cell survival after transplantation greatly limits the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) preconditioning on MSC survival and subsequent heart function improvement after transplantation.