Performance of Risk-Stratification Scores for Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population.

Guidelines recommend risk stratification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients to guide management. There are currently several risk stratification scores available, which have largely been validated in various pulmonary hypertension registries in the West but not in Asia. We aim to study the performance of these different risk scores in PAH patients from a multi-ethnic Asian population.

Exploring the CO Electrocatalysis Potential of 2D Metal-Organic Transition Metal-Hexahydroxytriquinoline Frameworks: A DFT Investigation.

Metal-organic frameworks have demonstrated great capacity in catalytic CO reduction due to their versatile pore structures, diverse active sites, and functionalization capabilities. In this study, a novel electrocatalytic framework for CO reduction was designed and implemented using 2D coordination network-type transition metal-hexahydroxytricyclic quinazoline (TM-HHTQ) materials. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to examine the binding energies between the HHTQ substrate and 10 single TM atoms, ranging from Sc to Zn, which revealed a stable distribution of metal atoms on the HHTQ substrate.

Density Functional Study of Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction in Fourth-Period Transition Metal-Tetrahydroxyquinone Organic Framework.

This study investigates the utilisation of organometallic network frameworks composed of fourth-period transition metals and tetrahydroxyquinone (THQ) in electrocatalytic CO reduction. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed in analysing binding energies, as well as the stabilities of metal atoms within the THQ frameworks, for transition metal TM-THQs ranging from Y to Cd. The findings demonstrate how metal atoms could be effectively dispersed and held within the THQ frameworks due to sufficiently high binding energies.

Pulmonary Artery Strain Predicts Prognosis in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Current cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) focuses on measures of ventricular function and coupling.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pulmonary artery (PA) global longitudinal strain (GLS) as a prognostic marker in patients with PAH.

Methods: The authors included 169 patients with PAH from the ASPIRE (Assessing the Spectrum of Pulmonary hypertension Identified at a REferral centre) and INITIATE (Integrated computatioNal modelIng of righT heart mechanIcs and blood flow dynAmics in congeniTal hEart disease) registries, and 82 normal controls with similar age and gender distributions.

Clinical profile and outcomes in patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis with or without concomitant chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: Management of aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may often be overlooked, and this could confer poorer outcomes.

Methods: Consecutive patients ( n = 727) with index echocardiographic diagnosis of moderate to severe AS (aortic valve area <1.5 cm 2 ) were examined.

Right ventricular energetic biomarkers from 4D Flow CMR are associated with exertional capacity in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) offers comprehensive right ventricular (RV) evaluation in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Emerging four-dimensional (4D) flow CMR allows visualization and quantification of intracardiac flow components and calculation of phasic blood kinetic energy (KE) parameters but it is unknown whether these parameters are associated with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)-assessed exercise capacity, which is a surrogate measure of survival in PAH. We compared 4D flow CMR parameters in PAH with healthy controls, and investigated the association of these parameters with RV remodelling, RV functional and CPET outcomes.

Identification of cell senescence molecular subtypes in prediction of the prognosis and immunotherapy of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence and fatality rate worldwide, being among the most prevalent cancers. The growing body of data indicating cellular senescence (CS) to be a critical factor in hepatocarcinogenesis. The predictive value of CS in HBV-related HCC and its role in the immune microenvironment are unknown.

Insights into LiMXOF (M-X = Al-P and Mg-S) as Cathode Coatings for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Cathode coatings have received extensive attention due to their ability to delay electrochemical performance degradation in lithium-ion batteries. However, the development of cathode coatings possessing high ionic conductivity and good interfacial stability with cathode materials has proven to be a challenge. Here, we performed first-principles computational studies on the phase stability, thermodynamic stability, and ionic transport properties of LiMXOF (M-X = Al-P and Mg-S) used as cathode coatings.

ILF3 represses repeat-derived microRNAs targeting RIG-I mediated type I interferon response.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulated gene expression and miRNA biogenesis is also subject to regulation, together constituting critical regulatory circuitries in numerous physiological and pathological processes. As a dsRNA binding protein, interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 (ILF3) has been implicated as a negative regulator in miRNA biogenesis, but the mechanism and specificity have remained undefined. Here, combining small-RNA-seq and CLIP-seq, we showed that ILF3 directly represses many miRNAs or perhaps other types of small RNAs annotated in both miRBase and MirGeneDB.

Alternative polyadenylation by sequential activation of distal and proximal PolyA sites.

Analogous to alternative splicing, alternative polyadenylation (APA) has long been thought to occur independently at proximal and distal polyA sites. Using fractionation-seq, we unexpectedly identified several hundred APA genes in human cells whose distal polyA isoforms are retained in chromatin/nuclear matrix and whose proximal polyA isoforms are released into the cytoplasm. Global metabolic PAS-seq and Nanopore long-read RNA-sequencing provide further evidence that the strong distal polyA sites are processed first and the resulting transcripts are subsequently anchored in chromatin/nuclear matrix to serve as precursors for further processing at proximal polyA sites.

Comparison of Outcomes of Asymptomatic Moderate Aortic Stenosis With Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients ≥80 Years Versus 70-79 Years Versus <70 Years.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is increasingly diagnosed in the aging population with more studies focused on the prognostic outcomes of severe asymptomatic AS. However, little is known about the outcomes of moderate asymptomatic AS in the elderly population. From 2001 to 2020, 738 consecutive patients with asymptomatic moderate AS with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction were studied.

Age- and Sex-Specific Changes in CMR Feature Tracking-Based Right Atrial and Ventricular Functional Parameters in Healthy Asians.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the reference standard for non-invasive assessment of right-sided heart function. Recent advances in CMR post-processing facilitate quantification of tricuspid annular (TA) dynamics and longitudinal strains of the right ventricle (RV) and right atrium (RA). We aimed to determine age- and sex-specific changes in CMR-derived TA dynamics, and RV and RA functional parameters in healthy Asian adults.

Implications of Coexisting Aortic Regurgitation in Patients With Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a common comorbidity in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), but coexisting AR has often been excluded from major clinical studies on AS. The impact of coexisting AR on the natural history of AS has not been well-described.

Objectives: The authors compared clinical outcomes in medically managed patients with moderate-to-severe AS with or without coexisting AR.

Low Relative Valve Load is Associated With Paradoxical Low-Flow Aortic Stenosis Despite Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Adverse Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Paradoxical low-flow (LF) severe aortic stenosis (AS) despite preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) has been shown to be distinct from normal-flow (NF) AS, with a poorer prognosis. Relative valve load (RVL) is a novel echocardiographic haemodynamic index based on the ratio of transaortic mean pressure gradient to the global valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva) in order to estimate the contribution of the valvular afterload to the global LV load. We aimed to determine the usefulness of RVL in LF AS versus NF AS.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance-assessed fast global longitudinal strain parameters add diagnostic and prognostic insights in right ventricular volume and pressure loading disease conditions.

Background: Parameters of myocardial deformation may provide improved insights into right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We quantified RV longitudinal myocardial function using a fast, semi-automated method and investigated its diagnostic and prognostic values in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), who respectively exemplify patients with RV volume and pressure overload conditions.

Methods: The study enrolled 150 patients (rTOF, n = 75; PAH, n = 75) and 75 healthy controls.

Inadequately low left ventricular mass in patients with significant aortic stenosis predicts favourable prognostic outcomes.

In patients with significant aortic stenosis (AS), the prognostic effect of the increase in left ventricular mass (LVM) in relation to one's hemodynamic load has been described. Inappropriately high LVM has been shown to predict adverse cardiovascular events. However, little is known about the prognostic impact of inadequately low LVM (i-lowLVM) in patients with significant AS.

Clinical Updates on the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Introduction: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a known sequela after acute pulmonary embolism (PE). It is a debilitating disease, and potentially fatal if left untreated. This review provides a clinically relevant overview of the disease and discusses the usefulness and limitations of the various investigational and treatment options.

Elevated Right Atrial Pressure Associated with Alteration of Left Ventricular Contractility and Ventricular-Arterial Coupling in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension.

Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disorder which leads to heart failure and death. Development of dilated right ventricle (RV), progressive RV dysfunction and increased right atrial (RA) pressure make the RV transition from a compensated to a decompensated phase and eventually leads to heart failure. However, the relationship between elevated RA pressure and left ventricular contractility and ventricular arterial coupling (VAC) has not been well studied.

Mortality and hospitalization outcomes of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension in the Singapore systemic sclerosis cohort.

Objectives: We compared mortality and hospitalization rates in four groups of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) [isolated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or interstitial lung disease (ILD), concomitant ILD-pulmonary hypertension (PH), and no/mild pulmonary involvement].

Methods: In the Systemic Sclerosis Cohort Singapore (SCORE), ILD was diagnosed by HRCT and significant ILD was defined by forced vital capacity <70% predicted. Patients were classified as PAH if echocardiographic systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) ≥50 mmHg or right heart catheterization (RHC) mean PAP ≥25 mmHg.