[A correlation study between body mass index and exercise capacity in patients with chronic systolic heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and exercise capacity in patients with chronic systolic heart failure.

Methods: The elderly patients with chronic systolic heart failure were consecutively recruited from 2008 to 2011 in cardiovascular clinic of Zhejiang Hospital. All the participants underwent height and weight measurements and BMI was calculated with these two parameters.

Structured lipid emulsion as nutritional therapy for the elderly patients with severe sepsis.

Background: The nutritional support is one of the important therapeutic strategies for the elderly patients with severe sepsis, but there is controversial in choosing a parenteral nutrition formulation. This study was designed to compare the therapeutic effects of structured lipid emulsion, physically mixed medium, and long-chain fat emulsion in the treatment of severe sepsis in elderly patients.

Methods: A total number of 64 elder patients with severe sepsis were enrolled in the study.

Role of mitochondrial damage during cardiac apoptosis in septic rats.

Background: Myocardial apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis-related myocardial depression. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study investigated the role of mitochondrial damage and mitochondria-induced oxidative stress during cardiac apoptosis in septic rats.

Combination of B-type natriuretic peptide and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope improves risk stratification in patients with diastolic heart failure.

Background: Recent studies demonstrated that the minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO(2)) slope more powerfully predicted mortality, hospitalization, or both than peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)) in systolic heart failure. However, the prognostic values of these two parameters in diastolic heart failure remained unclear.

Methods: The patients with diastolic heart failure were recruited from April 2006 to May 2007, and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Homocysteine-induced caspase-3 activation by endoplasmic reticulum stress in endothelial progenitor cells from patients with coronary heart disease and healthy donors.

Previous studies have suggested an association of hyperhomocysteinemia-induced vascular pathology with enhanced apoptotic potential of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary heart disease. Our results indicate that 500 µmol/L homocysteine induced endothelial progenitor cell apoptosis and activation of caspase-3, both of which were abolished by 100 µmol/L and 200 µmol/L salubrinal, an agent that prevents endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis. The addition of 500 µmol/L homocysteine caused a release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores, and enhanced phosphor-eukaryotic initiation factor 2α phosphorylation at Ser51 and the expression of a glucose-regulated protein of 78 kDa and a C/EBP homologous protein independently of extracellular Ca(2+).

[An evaluation of stroke volume variation as a predictor of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated elderly patients with severe sepsis].

Objective: To evaluate stroke volume variation (SVV) as a predictor of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated (MV) elderly patients with severe sepsis.

Methods: A prospective observation of 31 fluid challenges during fluid resuscitation for treatment of hemodynamic instability in 17 elderly MV patients with severe sepsis was conducted. SVV was measured by pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) system.

[Influence of glutamine and growth hormone intensified nutrition support on immunomodulation in critically ill elderly patients].

Objective: To evaluate the impacts of glutamine (Gln) and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) intensified nutrition support on critically ill elderly patients.

Methods: Ninety critically ill aged patients were included in a prospective, randomized and controlled clinical study, and randomly divided into three groups: group A (standard nutrition support), group B (standard nutrition support+10% Gln 100 ml/d), group C (standard nutrition support+ Gln 100 ml/d+rhGH 10 U/d). Before treatment and then 7 and 14 days after treatment, blood samples were collected for analysis of serum proteins including albumin (ALB), pre-albumin (PAB), C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin G (IgG).