Plaque progression at coronary CT angiography links non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular events: a prospective single-center study.

Objectives: The presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs); however, the mechanisms that initiate the risk for MACEs in patients with NAFLD remain unknown. We sought to investigate whether plaque progression (PP), determined by coronary CT angiography (CCTA), moderate the relationship between NAFLD and MACEs.

Methods: A total of 1683 asymptomatic participants (mean age, 63.

Coronary CT Angiography in Asymptomatic Adults with Hepatic Steatosis.

Background The long-term prognostic value of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in asymptomatic adults with hepatic steatosis (HS) remains unknown. Purpose To evaluate the long-term prognostic value of CCTA in asymptomatic adults with HS. Materials and Methods Between January 2009 and December 2013, consecutive asymptomatic adults who underwent CCTA evaluation and unenhanced abdominal CT were prospectively enrolled.

An unexpected electrocardiogram sign of subacute left ventricular free wall rupture: Its early awareness may be lifesaving.

Background: Post-infarct left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is not always an immediately catastrophic complication. The rupture can be subacute, allowing time for diagnosis and intervention. Accordingly, early recognition of the entity may be lifesaving.

Residual platelet reactivity is preferred over platelet inhibition rate in monitoring antiplatelet efficacy: insights using thrombelastography.

Although thrombelastography (TEG) has been widely implemented in the clinical setting of endovascular intervention, consensus on the optimal parameter for defining high ischemic risk patients is lacking due to the limited data about the relationship between various TEG parameters and clinical outcomes. In this article, we report a post hoc analysis of a prospective, single-center cohort study, including 447 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Arachidonic acid (AA)- or adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (MA or MA) was indicative of the net residual platelet reactivity after the treatment with aspirin or clopidogrel, respectively.

RbSeBO(OH) and CsSeBO(OH): one dimensional boroselenite-based anionic frameworks with second harmonic generation properties.

Two new alkali boroselenites RbSe3B2O9(OH) and CsSe3B2O9(OH) have been synthesized by traditional solid-state reactions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study indicated that they are isostructural and adopt a new type of structure, which crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group P212121. Optical diffuse reflectance spectrum studies emphasized that both are indirect optical transitions with values of 3.

The efficacy and safety of cilostazol as an alternative to aspirin in Chinese patients with aspirin intolerance after coronary stent implantation: a combined clinical study and computational system pharmacology analysis.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) with aspirin and clopidogrel is the standard regimen to achieve rapid platelet inhibition and prevent thrombotic events. Currently, little information is available regarding alternative antiplatelet therapy in patients with an allergy or intolerance to aspirin. Although cilostazol is already a common alternative to aspirin in clinical practice in China, its efficacy and safety remain to be determined.

Precipitation overrides warming in mediating soil nitrogen pools in an alpine grassland ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau.

Soils in the alpine grassland store a large amount of nitrogen (N) due to slow decomposition. However, the decomposition could be affected by climate change, which has profound impacts on soil N cycling. We investigated the changes of soil total N and five labile N stocks in the topsoil, the subsoil and the entire soil profile in response to three years of experimental warming and altered precipitation in a Tibetan alpine grassland.

Second-generation versus first-generation drug-eluting stents in saphenous vein graftdisease: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Second-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) have become increasingly popular devices for patients with saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease. Second-generation DESs were designed to have more safety and efficacy than first-generation DES, but clinical outcomes in SVG disease remain conflicting.

Methods And Results: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified when comparing second- versus first-generation DESs in SVG disease.

Retrograde approach for the recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusion: collateral selection and collateral related complication.

Background: The retrograde approach through collaterals has been applied in the treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions during percutaneous recanalization of coronary arteries. This study was to investigate the success rate of recanalization and collateral related complications in patients when using the retrograde approach.

Methods: Eighty-four cases subjected to retrograde approach identified from July 2005 to July 2012 were included in this study.

Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels are positively correlated with pulmonary arterial pressure in atrial septal defect patients.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a pro-hormone secreted by the myocardium in response to various stimuli, was found to be correlated with several hemodynamic parameters in pulmonary hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis. We investigated plasma NT-proBNP levels and the relationships between NT-proBNP and several hemodynamic parameters in atrial septal defect (ASD) patients with or without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We found that plasma NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in PAH group compared with the control group (5495.

[Clinical and angiographic outcomes of coronary drug-eluting stenting in treating vasospastic angina patients with severe organic stenosis].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and angiographic outcomes of vasospastic angina patients with severe organic stenosis treated by drug-eluting stents.

Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2010, severe organic stenosis (diameter stenosis more than 70%) was evidenced in 7 out of 46 vasospastic angina patients and treated with drug-eluting stents. Coronary angiography was repeated at 6 - 18 months after percutaneous coronary intervention and the patients were clinically followed up.

[Effects of enclosure on the caloric values of main plant species, litters, and communities in Leymus chinensis steppe in Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia].

In August 2010, a sampling work was conducted in the plots of the Leymus chinensis steppe, which were fenced in 1979, 1999, and 2004, respectively, in Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (IMGERS), aimed to approach the effects of different time periods of enclosure on the caloric values of main plant species, litters, and commnities, and on the total energy storage per unit area. Enclosure had significant effects on the caloric values of the main plant species, litters, and communities, and on the total energy storage per unit area. The total energy storage per unit area in the plots fenced in 1979 and 1999 was significantly higher than that in the plot fenced in 2004, while the caloric values of the litters and communities were in adverse.

Safety and efficacy of cobalt chromium alloy based sirolimus-eluting stent with bioabsorbable polymer in porcine model.

Background: First generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) were based on 316L stainless steel and coated with a permanent polymer. The vessel wall of these DESs was inflammatory and late in-stent thrombosis was reported. Hence, cobalt chromium based DES coated with a bioabsorbable polymer was an alternate choice.

[Correlation of cardiac troponin T gene mutations to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Chinese patients].

Objective: To study cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) gene mutations in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype.

Methods: Ninety-five unrelated Chinese patients with HCM and 120 control individuals were screened for TNNT2 gene mutations. Seven exons (8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 16) in the functional regions of TNNT2 gene were amplified using PCR and the products were sequenced.

[Determinants of success percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with chronic total coronary artery occlusion].

Objective: To evaluate the in-hospital outcome and determinants relating to success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) using contemporary techniques.

Methods: A total of 1485 patients with total occluded coronary artery were identified from January 2004 to December 2008 in Zhongshan hospital. Of them, 638 patients were affirmed as CTO and 447 patients underwent PCI.

Retrograde approach for the recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusion: preliminary experience of a single center.

Background: The success rate of antegrade approach for chronic total occlusions (CTO) recanalization has not dramatically increased, especially in complex CTO subset. The retrograde technique may hold great promise. This report aimed to describe our experience of retrograde recanalization for CTO, focusing on its safety and feasibility.

[Link between cardiac myosin binding protein-C gene mutation of Pro1208fs and Gly507 Arg and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Chinese patients].

Objective: To detect gene mutations associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Chinese patients and possible correlations between genotype and phenotype.

Methods: Twenty-one unrelated patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were studied. The clinical data including symptoms, physical examination, echocardiography and electrocardiography were collected.

[Intravascular ultrasound assessment of sirolimus-eluting stent restenosis or thrombosis after stent implantation].

Objective: To identify underlying mechanical risk factors of that developed in-stent restenosis (ISR) or early stent thrombosis in sirolimus-eluting stent (SES)-treated lesions using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods: IVUS were performed in 60 (ISR, n = 43; early stent thrombosis, n = 17) patients (event group) and in 34 patients without ISR and early stent thrombosis (no-event group) underwent SES implantations.

Results: Compared with the no-event group, minimum stent area [MSA, (4.

Prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in coronary angiogram--data from consecutive 5525 patients.

Background: Large discrepancy of the incidence of myocardial bridging (MB) has been reported either among the postmortem studies or among the studies with coronary angiogram. This study was to investigate the prevalence of MB in large number of coronary angiograms and the angiographic characteristics of MB.

Methods: A total of 5525 consecutive patients who underwent first diagnostic coronary angiography from January 2003 to March 2006 in Zhongshan Hospital were enrolled in this study.