Cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure patients by using left bundle branch pacing.

Background: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is emerging as an effective alternative to achieve cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and improve heart function. The purpose of our study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of LBBP in heart failure patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% and left bundle branch block (LBBB).

Methods: All patients with complete LBBB and LVEF <50% were retrospectively included in the study from April 2018 to April 2021 and underwent CRT LBBP implantation.

Microalbuminuria Complicated with Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate: Early Risk Factors for Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury After Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the impact of microalbuminuria complicated with low estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on the incidence and prognosis of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with coronary artery disease after coronary intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 943 patients were enrolled in the study. Based on microalbumin/creatinine (ACR) measurements, the patients were divided into a microalbuminuria cohort (MA; 222 patients) and a normal albuminuria cohort (NA; 721 patients).

Effect of Combining Furosemide With Standard Hydration Therapy on Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Following Coronary Angiography or Intervention in a High-Risk Population.

This study aimed to investigate whether combining furosemide with standard hydration therapy results in increased preventive effects on contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) following coronary angiography (CA) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients (n = 230) were enrolled in the study and were randomized to the furosemide group or the control group. Patients in the furosemide group received 0.

Circulating cell-free mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid is increased in coronary heart disease patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aims/introduction: Circulating cell-free mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (ccf-mtDNA) is presumably derived from injured tissues or cells in the body and has been suggested to be potential biomarker in several diseases. The present study explored whether mtDNA could be used as a biomarker to evaluate disease in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with or without diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials And Methods: A total of 50 CHD patients with type 2 diabetes, 50 CHD patients without type 2 diabetes, and 50 age- and sex-matched patients without CHD and DM (non-CHD-DM) were recruited.

Associations of C1q/TNF-Related Protein-9 Levels in Serum and Epicardial Adipose Tissue with Coronary Atherosclerosis in Humans.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of CTRP9 with coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: Coronary angiography confirmed CAD in 241 patients (62 received CABG) and non-CAD in 121 (55 received valve replacement).

Results: Serum levels of LDL-C, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and leptin in CAD patients were significantly higher than those in non-CAD patients (P < 0.

Plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA levels in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Objective: Plasma nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels are altered in many diseases. However, it is not known whether they are also altered in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the present study, we examined plasma nuclear and mtDNA levels in the patients with AMI before and after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to explore their potential as biomarkers.

Reversible cardiogenic shock caused by atrioventricular junctional rhythm after percutaneous coronary intervention.

An 82-year-old female patient undergoing cardiogenic shock caused by atrioventricular junctional rhythm immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is described. Pharmacotherapy was invalid, and subsequent application of atrial pacing reversed the cardiogenic shock. PCI-related injury of sinuatrial nodal artery leading to acute atrial contractility loss, accompanied by atrioventricular junctional arrhythmia, was diagnosed.

[Impact of anti-OX-LDL antibodies on CD36 mRNA expression in monocytes].

Aim: To investigate the impact of antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) on CD36 mRNA expression in monocytes and explore the mechanism underlying the impact on the formation of foam cells.

Methods: U937 cells and the monocytes of New Zealand rabbit were respectively cultured in vitro and divided into 4 groups: the control group (cultured in nutrient medium of RPMI1640), the OX-LDL group (with additional OX-LDL of 50 μg/L in nutrient medium), the OX-LDL+Ab-OX-LDL group (with additional OX-LDL of 50 μg/L and Ab-OX-LDL of 100 μg/L in nutrient medium) and the Ab-OX-LDL group (with additional Ab-OX-LDL of 100 μg/L in nutrient medium). After 24-hour culture, the expression of CD36 mRNA was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

[Membrane testosterone receptors in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To determine the presence of membrane testosterone receptors in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and investigate their relationship with classical intracellular androgen receptors (iAR).

Methods: VSMCs were cultured from the thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats by the explant method. Subconfluent VSMCs were incubated with serum-free medium for 24 h to obtain quiescent non-dividing cells, and then treated with the indicated agents.

[Testosterone at physiological level inhibits PGF2alpha-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To explore the acute effects of testosterone at the physiological level on PGF2alpha-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods: VSMCs from the thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured using the explant method. The subconfluent VSMCs were incubated with serum-free medium for 24 hours to obtain quiescent non-dividing cells and then treated with the indicated agents.