Cold Pressor Test in Primary Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of patients with primary hypertension who had positive responses to the cold pressor test (CPT).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2018 to November 2019, and the CPT was performed in patients with primary hypertension in 48 hospitals. The demographic characteristics and complications were collected through a questionnaire and physical examinations.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in renal insufficiency undergoing dialysis and percutaneous coronary intervention after acute myocardial infarction: A case report.

Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare complication of heparin therapy, and is characterized by arteriovenous thrombosis and bleeding events. The incidence of HIT after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with myocardial infarction complicated with renal failure is rarely reported.

Case Summary: We report a 73-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction and renal failure who underwent hemodialysis and PCI, and developed a progressive decline in platelets and subcutaneous hemorrhage of both upper limbs after heparin treatment.

Triiodothyronine promotes the proliferation of epicardial progenitor cells through the MAPK/ERK pathway.

Thyroid hormone has important functions in the development and physiological function of the heart. The aim of this study was to determine whether 3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine (T3) can promote the proliferation of epicardial progenitor cells (EPCs) and to investigate the potential underlying mechanism. Our results showed that T3 significantly promoted the proliferation of EPCs in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

A randomized, controlled comparison of different intensive lipid-lowering therapies in Chinese patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS): Ezetimibe and rosuvastatin versus high-dose rosuvastatin.

Background: Statin combined with ezetimibe demonstrates significant benefit in lowering low density lipid cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardiovascular events abroad, but whether intermediate intensity statins combined with ezetimibe is superior to high-intensity statin monotherapy in Chinese people is unknown.

Methods: A total of 125 patients were randomly assigned to a intermediate intensity rosuvastatin group (rosuvastatin 10mg/d, n=42), high-dose rosuvastatin group (rosuvastatin 20mg/d, n=41) or combination therapy group (ezetimibe 10mg/d and rosuvastatin 10mg/d, n=42) with a 12-week follow-up. The primary end point was the proportion of patients who achieved the 2011 ESC/EAS LDL-C goal <70mg/dL (1.

Efficacy of Clopidogrel and Clinical Outcome When Clopidogrel Is Coadministered With Atorvastatin and Lansoprazole: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

This prospective, randomized, nonblind, controlled trial evaluated the effects of clopidogrel on platelet function upon coadministration with atorvastatin and lansoprazole. One hundred four adult patients with non-ST-segment elevated acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent implantation were included. All patients were treated with standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) plus rosuvastatin 10  mg daily after the operation.

Traditional Chinese medicine Qili qiangxin inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats following myocardial infarction.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Qili qiangxin on cardiomyocyte apoptosis following myocardial infarction (MI) in a rat model. MI was induced in rats by ligation of the anterior descending coronary artery. Survivors were randomly divided into the sham operation, MI, and Qili qiangxin groups (4 g/kg per day).

Spironolactone Regulates HCN Protein Expression Through Micro-RNA-1 in Rats With Myocardial Infarction.

Emerging evidence has shown that aldosterone blockers reduced the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). However, the mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which spironolactone, a classic aldosterone blocker, regulates hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (HCN) protein expression in ischemic rat myocardium after MI.

The effects of a low-salt diet on the efficacy of different antihypertensive drug regimens.

The objective of this study was to compare the antihypertensive effects of 3 types of antihypertensive drug regimens between different salt intake levels. The 180 patients with mild to moderate primary hypertension participating in this randomized, controlled clinical trial were randomly allocated to a low-salt diet (LSD) group or a non-low-salt diet (NLSD) group. Each group included 3 subgroups: a losartan 100 mg subgroup, a losartan 50 mg/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.

High-intensity statin therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-intensity statin therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing high-intensity statin therapy (atorvastatin 80 mg or rosuvastatin 20/40 mg) with moderate/mild statin treatment or placebo were derived from the databases (PubMed, Embase, Ovid, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Knowledge).

The relationship between the high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and coronary in-stent restenosis.

Background: High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) contributed to several beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system. We explored the relationship between the HDL-S1P concentrations and coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with ISR and 50 normal control subjects were included.

Diagnostic performance of noninvasive fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography in coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The study performed a meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of fractional flow reserve (FFR) derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (FFRCT) to assess the functional significance of coronary stenosis using FFR as the reference standard.

Methods: We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, The Chorance Library, Medion and Web of Science for relevant articles published until August 2014. Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive (LR+) and negative likelihood ratios (LR-) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) were determined.

Adjunctive manual thrombus aspiration during ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: The aim of this study was to synthesize evidence by examining the effects of manual thrombus aspiration on clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods And Results: A total of 26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), enrolling 11,780 patients, with 5,869 patients randomized to manual thrombus aspiration and 5,911 patients randomized to conventional percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), were included in the meta-analysis. Separate clinical outcome analyses were based on different follow-up periods.

Blood pressure control rate and associated risk factors in hospitals of different grades in Chongqing, China.

Objective: The present article aimed to provide accurate estimate of the control rate of hypertension and the influencing factors in hospitals of different grades in Chongqing.

Methods: In this survey, hypertensive outpatients were recruited from 5 tertiary hospitals, 6 secondary hospitals and 5 primary hospitals in 9 districts of Chongqing from November 2011 to May 2012. Outpatients were investigated by clinical interview with BP measurement and questionnaire.

Calcium channel blocker compared with angiotensin receptor blocker for patients with hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To explore the clinical effects of a calcium channel blocker compared with an angiotensin II receptor blocker in hypertensive patients, the authors collected data from randomized controlled trials. The pooled outcomes were all-cause mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Eight head-to-head trials enrolling 25,084 patients were included.

Impact of intensive statin use on the level of inflammation and platelet activation in stable angina after percutaneous coronary intervention: a clinical study.

Background And Objective: This study was designed to investigate whether high-dose atorvastatin before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can reduce inflammation, platelet activation, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with stable angina who are undergoing long-term statin therapy.

Methods: In total, 215 patients with chronic stable angina were randomized to pretreatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin (12 h before PCI; n = 106) or with 20 mg of atorvastatin (12 h before PCI; n = 109). All patients underwent PCI.

Additional use of an aldosterone antagonist in patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Aldosterone antagonists (AldoAs) have been used to treat severe chronic heart failure (CHF). There is uncertainty regarding the efficacy of using AldoAs in mild to moderate CHF with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classifications of I to II. This study summarizes the evidence for the efficacy of spironolactone (SP), eplerenone (EP) and canrenone in mild to moderate CHF patients.

Angiogenesis in a rat model following myocardial infarction induced by hypoxic regulation of VEGF₁₆₅ gene-transfected EPCs.

Hypoxia-response elements (HREs) regulate the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF₁₆₅) gene and enhance the safety and efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis. However, the role of hypoxic regulation of VEGF₁₆₅ gene-modified stem cells in promoting angiogenesis in the ischemic myocardium remains unclear. In this study, the effects of the hypoxic regulation of genetically modified endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on angiogenesis in the ischemic myocardium and on changes in cardiac function following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were investigated through the transplantation of hypoxia-regulated VEGF₁₆₅ gene-modified EPCs into the ischemic myocardium.

Effect of trimetazidine treatment on the transient outward potassium current of the left ventricular myocytes of rats with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Cardiovascular complications are a leading cause of mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study was designed to investigate the effects of trimetazidine (TMZ), an anti-angina drug, on transient outward potassium current (Ito) remodeling in ventricular myocytes and the plasma contents of free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose in DM. Sprague-Dawley rats, 8 weeks old and weighing 200-250 g, were randomly divided into three groups of 20 animals each.

Clinical analysis of the risk factors of slow coronary flow.

Slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon is a coronary microvascular disorder characterized by the delayed passage of contrast in the absence of obstructive epicardial coronary disease, and is an important clinical entity because it may be the cause of precordial pain when the body is at rest and/or during exercise. Although clinical and pathological features of SCF have been previously described, its etiopathogenesis remains unclear. The present study aims to investigate the risk factors of slow coronary flow, in order to provide the foundation for further exploration of potential mechanisms of SCF.

Dynamic changes in HCN2, HCN4, KCNE1, and KCNE2 expression in ventricular cells from acute myocardial infarction rat hearts.

Aims: To investigate dynamic changes in the expression of HCN2, HCN4, as well as KCNE1, and KCNE2 mRNA and protein levels in ventricular cells from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rat hearts.

Main Methods: An AMI model was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: 24-hour (24h) post-AMI, 1-week (1w) post-AMI, 2-week (2w) post-AMI, and 4-week (4w) post-AMI; sham-operated control rat groups were established in parallel for each time point.