Congenital heart disease: types, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a structural abnormality of the heart and/or great vessels and patients with CHD are at an increased risks of various morbidities throughout their lives and reduced long-term survival. Eventually, CHD may result in various complications including heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, pneumonia, and sudden death. Unfortunately, the exact etiology and pathophysiology of some CHD remain unclear.

Optimal combination of right ventricular functional parameters using echocardiography in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Aims: Novel echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular (RV) function, including speckle-tracking-derived, three-dimensional, and RV-pulmonary artery coupling parameters, have emerged for the evaluation of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The relative role of these parameters in the risk stratification of PAH patients is unclear. We compared the performance of multiple RV parameters and sought to establish an optimal model for identifying the risk profile of patients with PAH.

Laparoscopic Double Hepatic Artery Banding/Ligation for Patients With Hepatic Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHHT).

Introduction: Hepatic hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHHT) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease. Some patients may develop cardiac failure, portal hypertension, and biliary ischaemia. To date, there is no standard surgical treatment for HHHT.

Atrial high-rate episodes intensify RCHADS-VASc score for prognostic stratification in pacemaker patients.

Patients with device detected atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) have an increased risk of MACE. The RCHADS-VASc, CHADS, RCHADS and CHADS-VASc score have been investigated for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in different groups of patients. We aimed to evaluate the RCHADS-VASc score in combination with AHRE ≥ 6 min for predicting MACE in patients with dual-chamber PPM but no prior atrial fibrillation (AF).

Selexipag-based triple combination therapy improves prognosis in Chinese pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

Aim: Selexipag is an oral selective prostacyclin receptor agonist approved for treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In the present study, we aim to assess the safety and efficacy of selexipag in triple combination therapy with endothelial receptor antagonists (ERAs) and PDE5is for Chinese PAH patients.

Methods And Results: A single center retrospective study was performed on group 1 PAH patients ( = 68) initiating triple combination therapy with selexipag from 1 February 2020 to 31 August 2021 in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Shandong, China).

HATCH score performance predicting neurologic events after cardiac implantable electronic device.

The HATCH score has been evaluated for predicting new-onset atrial fibrillation in several clinical conditions, but never for adverse neurologic events. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HATCH score in predicting neurologic events in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED), comparing with atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE). This case-control study enrolled 314 consecutive patients aged 18 years or older with CIED implantation between January 2015 and April 2021.

The performance of five models compared with atrial high rate episodes predicts new atrial fibrillation after cardiac implantable electronic devices implantation.

Aims: Several predicting models have been evaluated for new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in several clinical conditions, but never in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). We aimed to evaluate the five predicting models compared with atrial high rate episodes (AHRE) to predict new AF in patients with CIED.

Methods And Results: We retrospective enrolled 470 consecutive patients with CIED and without a history of AF.

The HATCH score predicts neurologic events in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices without atrial fibrillation.

Background: The HATCH score has been evaluated for predicting new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in several clinical conditions but never for adverse neurologic events. We aimed to evaluate the HATCH score for predicting neurologic events in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED).

Methods And Results: We retrospectively reviewed 470 consecutive patients who had CIED without a history of AF.

HATCH Score Predicts Systemic Thromboembolic Events in Elderly After Cardiac Electronic Device Implantation.

The HATCH score has been evaluated for predicting new onset atrial fibrillation, but never for adverse systemic thromboembolic events (STE) in elderly. We aimed to evaluate the HATCH score and comparing to atrial high rate episodes (AHRE) ≥24 h for predicting STE in older patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) implantation. We retrospective enrolled 219 consecutive patients ≥ 65 years of age undergoing CIED implantation.

HATCH Score and Left Atrial Size Predict Atrial High-Rate Episodes in Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

Patients with sustained atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) have a high risk of major adverse cardio/cerebrovascular events (MACCE). However, the prediction model and factors for the occurrence of AHRE are unknown. We aimed to identify independent factors and various risk models for predicting MACCE and AHRE.

Atrial high-rate episodes predict major adverse cardio/cerebrovascular events in patients with cardiac implantable electrical devices.

Patients with atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) have a high risk of neurologic events, although the causal role and optimal cutoff threshold of AHRE for major adverse cardio/cerebrovascular events (MACCE) are unknown. This study aimed to identify independent factors for AHRE and subsequent atrial fibrillation (AF) after documented AHRE. We enrolled 470 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac implantable electrical device (CIED) implantations.

The optimal cutoff of atrial high-rate episodes for neurological events in patients with dual chamber permanent pacemakers.

Background: Patients with atrial high-rate episode (AHRE) are at higher risk of neurological events. This study aimed to identify the optimal cutoff threshold for AHRE duration in patients with dual chamber permanent pacemakers (PPM) without prior atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We included 355 consecutive patients receiving dual chamber pacemaker implantation.

Atrial high‑rate episodes and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with dual chamber permanent pacemakers: a retrospective study.

Patients with atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) are at higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The cutoff threshold for AHRE duration for MACE, with/without history of atrial fibrillation (AF) or myocardial infarction (MI), is unknown. A total of 481 consecutive patients with/without history of AF or MI receiving dual-chamber pacemaker implantation were included.

Therapeutic efficacy of the novel selective RNA polymerase I inhibitor CX-5461 on pulmonary arterial hypertension and associated vascular remodelling.

Background And Purpose: CX-5461 is a novel selective RNA polymerase I (Pol I) inhibitor. Previously, we found that CX-5461 could inhibit pathological arterial remodelling caused by angioplasty and transplantation. In the present study, we explored the pharmacological effects of CX-5461 on experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PAH-associated vascular remodelling.

Comparison of Minimally Invasive Thrombectomy with Percutaneous Balloon Angioplasty for Organized Thrombi in Hemodialysis Access.

Background: Thrombi are an important challenge when establishing hemodialysis access for hemodialysis. We developed a minimally invasive thrombectomy (MIT) salvage treatment to solve this problem when traditional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) fails.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the safety and patency rate following MIT as a rescue procedure for traditional PTA with organized thrombi obstructing hemodialysis access.

Duration of atrial high-rate episodes and CHADS-VASc score to predict cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with dual chamber permanent pacemakers.

Background: Patients with atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) have a high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (CCE); however, the optimal cut-off threshold for AHRE duration and the prediction power of AHRE with CHADS-VASc score is unknown.

Methods: We enrolled 355 consecutive patients undergoing dual chamber pacemaker implantations. The primary endpoint was subsequent CCE after AHRE ≥ 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours.

Proteomic analysis of liver mitochondria of db/db mice treated with grape seed procyanidin B2.

Hepatic damage has been recognized as one of the major complications in diabetes mellitus. Our previous studies have verified that grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2) played a protective effect on hepatic damage of diabetes. We used isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation proteomics here to identify the alterant mitochondrial protein profile in diabetic liver and to seek the protective targets of GSPB2.

Proposed treatment algorithm for cardiac device-related subclavian vein stenosis: a case series.

Background: Subclavian vein obstruction may occur in patients with pacemaker leads, which may make the implantation of new pacemaker leads difficult.

Case Summary: We report two cases in which upgrading to cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker was challenging due to total central vein occlusion. In the first case, a 78-year-old woman with permanent pacemaker implantation, 5 years ago, was successfully treated by balloon venoplasty.

Asclepius and Yellow Ribbon techniques: Efficacious alternative strategies for advancing a coronary sinus electrophysiology catheter.

Background: Inserting an electrophysiological (EP) catheter into the coronary sinus (CS) via the femoral vein can be difficult and time-consuming in patients with variants of the CS orifice or lumen curve. Our experience with such patients inspired us to develop two new techniques: the Asclepius and Yellow Ribbon techniques.

Methods: Data from a 4-year period were retrieved from records of patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) or Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome.

Grape seed procyanidin B2 ameliorates hepatic lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice.

Diabetes is commonly associated with liver lipid metabolism disorders. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a key role in regulating lipid metabolism. Grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2), a natural polyphenol polymer, ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibits oxidative stress or apoptosis via AMPK pathways.