Ascending aorta dilatation indicates obstructive sleep apnea in Chinese patients with cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and is linked to worsened outcomes. Screening tools are essential for early detection and intervention. We aimed to investigate the role of ascending aorta diameter (AAD) obtained from echocardiography in identifying OSA in CVD patients.

Association of non-insulin-based insulin resistance indices with disease severity and adverse outcome in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: a multi-center cohort study.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that diabetes mellitus and impaired lipid metabolism are associated with the severity and prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). However, the relationship between IR and pulmonary hypertension is poorly understood.

Etiological classification and manifestation of pulmonary artery dissection: A literature review and case analysis.

Background: Pulmonary artery dissection (PAD) is an uncommon condition associated with high mortality rates. To date, a comprehensive examination of various underlying causes of PAD remains unexplored.

Methods: We used the search words "pulmonary artery dissection," "pulmonary artery dilatation," and "pulmonary artery rupture" in the public database, and examined the medical records of PAD patients treated in our hospital.

Pulmonary artery dilatation in different causes of pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary artery (PA) dilatation is commonly observed in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the clinical aspects of PA dilatation in various etiology of PH remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the clinical and imaging characteristics of 1018 patients with different subtypes of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

A case report of a long-term survivor after inadvertent ligation of the left pulmonary artery during intended ductal ligation.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) can close on its own during childhood. Patent ductus arteriosus with left pulmonary artery (LPA) occlusion is rare. Here, we describe possible aetiologies of this condition and treatment strategies based on recent guidelines.

Proteomic Analyses of Endarterectomized Tissues from Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is largely unknown. Proteomics offers an approach to overview the molecular activities and signal transduction pathways involved in specific disease processes.

Objectives: In this study, the expression of proteins in endarterectomized tissues from patients with CTEPH was investigated in a novel strategy to explore the pathophysiology of this disease.

Inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase-1 pathway is involved in the therapeutic effects of simvastatin on pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Recent research has shown that statins improve pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of RhoA/ROCK1 regulation in the therapeutic effects of simvastatin on PAH.

Methods: For in vivo experiments, rats (N = 40) were randomly assigned to four groups: control, simvastatin, monocrotaline (MCT), and MCT + simvastatin.

Glycoprotein 130 Inhibitor Ameliorates Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by vasoconstriction, vascular remodelling, and microthrombotic events. Inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-6) may be a key factor in the development of PAH, and glycoprotein 130 (Gp130) is an important signal-transducing subunit of IL-6. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Gp130 inhibitor in reducing inflammation and ameliorating PAH-related vascular remodelling in monocrotaline (MCT)-exposed rats.

High Frequency of Pulmonary Hypertension-Causing Gene Mutation in Chinese Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

The pathogenesis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is unknown. Histopathologic studies revealed that pulmonary vasculature lesions similar to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) existed in CTEPH patients as well. It's well-known that genetic predisposition plays an important role in the mechanism of PAH.

Red blood cell distribution width predicts responsiveness of acute pulmonary vasodilator testing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been shown to predict clinical outcomes in cardiopulmonary vascular diseases. We investigated whether RDW is useful to predict responsiveness of acute pulmonary vasodilator testing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).

Methods: RDW was determined in 167 IPAH patients who underwent acute pulmonary vasodilator testing.

Predictors of Blood Pressure Fall With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment in Hypertension With Coronary Artery Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the predictors of changes in blood pressure (BP) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in hypertensive patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Seventy-one hypertensive patients with CHD and OSA were enrolled in this study. Daytime systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and anthropometric characteristics were assessed at baseline and follow-up.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is not associated with iron overload.

Background: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized as the incomplete resolution of emboli after pulmonary embolism (PE) and the subsequent fibrotic organization and remodeling of pulmonary vascular bed. It has been reported that abnormal fibrin probably contributes to the incomplete resolution of emboli. And there is evidence that free iron could convert fibrinogen into fibrin which is remarkably resistant to lysis.

The lowest VE/VCO₂ ratio best identifies chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: The natural history of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) under treatment is about a gradual resolution of the thrombi, and uncommonly, the development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We hypothesized that ventilatory efficiency parameters during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) may be able to monitor the process and predict CTEPH.

Methods: 15 patients rehabilitated from acute PE (total resolution of thrombi), 44 patients with chronic PE (with residual thrombi), 66 patients with CTEPH, and 36 sedentary healthy controls performed incremental CPET.

Differences in exercise capacity in patients with chronic left heart failure and chronic right heart failure.

Background: Exercise impairment is common in chronic left heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Exercise impairment degree is a strong predictor of clinical outcome. Our purpose was to evaluate differences in exercise capacity using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) in patients with chronic left and right heart failure, and determine which factors were related to exercise impairment.

Pulmonary function differences in patients with chronic right heart failure secondary to pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic left heart failure.

Background: Pulmonary abnormalities are found in both chronic heart failure (CHF) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The differences of pulmonary function in chronic left heart failure and chronic right heart failure are not fully understood.

Material And Methods: We evaluated 120 patients with stable CHF (60 with chronic left heart failure and 60 with chronic right heart failure).

Differences in pulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objectives: We observed the pulmonary function and exercise capacity of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX). We evaluated and compared the two groups.

Background: Pulmonary abnormalities and decreased exercise capacity are common in IDCM and IPAH.

PET demonstrates functional recovery after transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells in a rat model of cerebral ischemic injury.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to determine the functionality of the transplanted induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in a rat model of cerebral ischemia with use of (18)F-FDG small-animal PET imaging.

Methods: Middle cerebral artery occlusion was used to establish cerebral ischemia. Twenty-four male rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: iPSC treatment, ESC treatment, and the control phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) injection.

[Sarcolemmal sodium-calcium exchanger mediated the beneficial effects of myocardial ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning].

Objective: To investigate the role of sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) on ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning.

Methods: Cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 6 groups: (1) ischemia/reperfusion group (9 h ischemia followed by 1 h reperfusion, I/R), (2) ischemic preconditioning group (1.5 h ischemia/1 h reperfusion + I/R), (3) pharmacologic preconditioning group, adenosine (10 micromol/L) pretreated for 1 h + I/R, (4) calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-93 (0.