Outcome and safety of intracardiac echocardiography guided left atrial appendage closure within zero-fluoroscopy atrial fibrillation ablation procedures.

Background: Simultaneous atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation and left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) are sometimes recommended for both rhythm control and stroke prevention. However, the advantages of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) guidance for this combined procedure have been scarcely reported. We aim to evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of ICE-guided LAAC within a zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation procedure.

Elevated circulating level of P2X7 receptor is related to severity of coronary artery stenosis and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a severely life-threatening cardiovascular disease. Previous research has identified an association between the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) and the development of atherosclerosis. However, the correlation of its expression with the clinical prognosis of patients with AMI remains unclear.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease contributes to subclinical atherosclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In our meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the correlation of NAFLD and four surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched up until April 2017.

Synergistic increase in cardiovascular risk in diabetes mellitus with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). To explore the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) as a cardiovascular risk factor, this meta-analysis quantitatively assessed the association of NAFLD and CVD in diabetic patients.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library database were analyzed until the end of March 2017.

Elevation of plateletcrit increasing the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development in female adults: A large population-based study.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the one of the most common form of chronic liver disease in China, so it is important to apply bio-marker in predict the development of NAFLD.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate association between plateletcrit (PCT) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chinese female adults.

Methods: NAFLD was defined as per ultrasound in this study and 9737 NAFLD-free female subjects from Wenzhou People's Hospital were followed for five years in average in the study.

Quick chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment: an easy-to-use scoring model for predicting mortality risk in critically ill cirrhosis patients.

Background And Aim: Critically ill cirrhosis patients have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, even after admission to the ICU. Our objectives were to compare the predictive accuracy of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD-Na, UK model for end-stage liver disease, and chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment (CLIF-SOFA) by the development and validation of an easy-to-use prognostic model [named quick CLIF-SOFA (qCLIF-SOFA)] for early risk prediction in critically ill patients with cirrhosis.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 1460 patients were extracted from the MIMIC-III database and enrolled in this study at 30-day and 90-day follow-up.

Acute circulatory failure-chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment score: a novel scoring model for mortality risk prediction in critically ill cirrhotic patients with acute circulatory failure.

Background And Aim: Acute circulatory failure (ACF) is associated with high mortality rates in critically ill cirrhotic patients. Only a few accurate scoring models exist specific to critically ill cirrhotic patients with acute circulatory failure (CICCF) for mortality risk assessment. The aim was to develop and evaluate a novel model specific to CICCF.

Association of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol within the normal range and NAFLD in the non-obese Chinese population: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Objectives: The relationship between normal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in non-obese individuals remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the precise prevalence and incidence of NAFLD within the normal LDL-c range in non-obese individuals.

Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Parabolic relationship between sex-specific serum high sensitive C reactive protein and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese adults: a large population-based study.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between sex-specific serum high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and NAFLD in a large population-based study.

Results: From Q1 to Q4, the incidence ratios were 21.1 (95% CI 17.

Increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol within the normal range as a risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objectives: Dyslipidemia exists within the setting of NAFLD and the relationship of a normal level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) with NAFLD is largely unknown. This large population-based study aimed to investigate the association between LDL-c levels within the normal range and the incidence of NAFLD.

Methods: A total of 60527 subjects from 2 medical centers who had undergone liver ultrasonography were initially enrolled into this study.

Pacing and sensing optimization of permanent His-bundle pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy/implantable cardioverter defibrillators patients: value of integrated bipolar configuration.

Aims: The clinical implementation of His-bundle pacing (HBP) has been limited by concern over higher capture thresholds (CTs) and lower R-wave amplitudes (RWAs), when compared with right ventricular (RV) pacing. The aim of this study was to assess the optimal pacing configuration for HBP lead when incorporated with cardiac resynchronization therapy/implantable cardioverter defibrillators (CRT-D/ICD) by testing of an integrated bipolar configuration.

Methods And Results: HBP was achieved in 25 CRT-D and 13 ICD patients at implantation.

Serum uric acid: a new therapeutic target for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major, worldwide public health problem. NAFLD is recognized as a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. However, physicians are currently limited by available treatment options.

Conditional survival estimate of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure: a dynamic prediction based on a multicenter cohort.

Objectives: Counseling patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) on their individual risk of short-term mortality is challenging. This study aimed to develop a conditional survival estimate (CSE) for predicting individualized mortality risk in ACHBLF patients.

Methods: We performed a large prospective cohort study of 278 ACHBLF patients from December 2010 to December 2013 at three participating medical centers.

Increased levels of systolic blood pressure within the normal range are associated with significantly elevated risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

A positive association between hypertension or high-normal blood pressure (BP) and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is well-known; however, no data have been generated exploring the risk of NAFLD within the normal range of BP. We aimed to assess the association between normal systolic blood pressure (SBP) and risk of NAFLD.A total of 27,769 subjects from 2 separate medical centers were included.

Association between sex-specific serum uric acid and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese adults: a large population-based study.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between sex-specific serum uric acid (sUA) levels and NAFLD in a large population-based study.A total of 60,455 subjects from 2 separate medical centers were included. Sex-specific sUA quartiles (Q1-Q4) were defined: ≤330, 331-380, 381-435, and ≥436 μmol/L for male; ≤230, 231-270, 271-310, and ≥311 μmol/L for female.

Establishment and validation of ALPH-Q score to predict mortality risk in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure: a prospective cohort study.

Currently, there are no robust models for predicting the outcome of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF). We aimed to establish and validate a new prognostic scoring system, named ALPH-Q, that integrates electrocardiography parameters that may be used to predict short-term mortality of patients with ACHBLF. Two hundred fourteen patients were included in this study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of in-stent restenosis after bare metal stenting in native coronary arteries.

In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains the most common complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. Due to shared risk factors, it is postulated that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients have an increased risk of ISR. This study aimed to determine the association between NAFLD and ISR in patients after bare metal stenting.

Current pattern of Chinese dialysis units: a cohort study in a representative sample of units.

Background: Understanding the characteristics of Chinese dialysis patients and the current practice trends is the first step to evaluate the association between practice pattern and outcome in these populations. In the present study, we evaluated the status of medical treatment and characteristic features of chronic dialysis patients in China.

Methods: Through a clustering sampling, we selected 9 centers from the largest dialysis facilities in 6 cities around China.