Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio relates to poor prognosis in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is a novel biomarker to predict the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the in-hospital outcomes of elderly patients with AMI and assessed the prognostic value of PLR on in-hospital adverse events.

Methods: A total of 1,001 patients were divided into an older group (n = 560) and a younger group (n = 441) based on age ≥ 60 years and successfully underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 12 h after presentation.

lncRNA 430945 promotes the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via the ROR2/RhoA signaling pathway in atherosclerosis.

The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are major cellular events in hypertension‑induced vascular remodeling, which is closely involved in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Although long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are gaining recognition as novel regulators of VSMCs, their functioning and role in AS remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the role of lncRNA ENST00000430945 (lncRNA 430945) in AS was investigated.

Hyperuricemia is associated with short-term outcomes in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Although a lot of studies have  shown serum uric acid (SUA) could be a marker of adverse prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction, the role of SUA as a risk factor for myocardial infarction is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between hyperuricemia and short-term outcomes of elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Six hundred and seventy-three elderly patients (≥ 60 years) were divided into high-SUA-level group (group H: N = 168) and low-SUA-level group (group L: N = 505) according to the SUA levels on admission.

Ideal cardiovascular health score and incident end-stage renal disease in a community-based longitudinal cohort study: the Kailuan Study.

Objectives: To investigate an association between ideal cardiovascular health metrics (CVH) and the risk of developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Setting: Community of Kailuan in Tangshan/China.

Participants: We examined in a community-based longitudinal cohort study 91 443 participants without history of stroke or myocardial infarction at baseline in 2006-2007, with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥15 mL/min at baseline, and who participated in at least 1 of 3 follow-up examinations in 2008-2009, 2010-2011 and 2012-2013.

Screening and identification of microRNA involved in unstable angina using gene-chip analysis.

Increasing evidence has suggested that microRNA (miRNA) may play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, which has led to a greater understanding of the complex pathophysiological processes underlying unstable angina (UA). The present study aimed to investigate changes in the miRNA expression profiles of patients with UA using gene-chip analysis, in order to further elucidate the pathogenesis of UA. Total RNA was extracted and purified from plasma samples collected from patients with UA and healthy controls.

miR-146a-5p Antagonized AGEs- and P.g-LPS-Induced ABCA1 and ABCG1 Dysregulation in Macrophages via IRAK-1 Downregulation.

The miR-146-mediated IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1) feedback circuit has been shown to inhibit inflammatory response in macrophages against lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The aim of this study is to compare the antagonized effects of miR-146a-5p on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g) lipolysaccharide (LPS)- and advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-triggered ABCA1 and ABCG1 dysregulation and explore the underlying mechanism.

miR-28-5p Involved in LXR-ABCA1 Pathway is Increased in the Plasma of Unstable Angina Patients.

Background: Previous studies confirmed that the intronic miRNAs participated in regulating host gene-primed biological processes. The coordinated roles of miR-28 with its host gene, LIM domain lipoma-preferred partner (LPP), remain unknown in atherosclerosis.

Methods: In this study, we determined to assess circulating levels of miR-28-5p in unstable angina patients, compared with age- and sex- matched control subjects by quantitative PCR.

Association of two well-defined polymorphisms in leptin and leptin receptor genes with hypertension and circulating leptin: a meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: The genes encoding adipose-derived hormone leptin and its receptor (LEPR) are increasingly deemed as hypertension-susceptibility genes. In this meta-analysis, we summarized the association of the II/I polymorphism in leptin gene and Gln223Arg polymorphism in LEPR gene with hypertension and circulating leptin.

Methods: PubMed and Embase were systematically searched.

Correlation Between Hyperhomocysteinemia and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Overwhelming clinical and epidemiological studies have identified elevated plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) as new important risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease. But the relationship between outcome and hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been rarely reported. This study aimed to evaluate the association between hyperhomocysteinemia and short-term outcomes of patients with AMI.

Drug-Induced Acute Liver Injury Within 12 Hours After Fluvastatin Therapy.

Although statins are generally well-tolerated drugs, recent cases of drug-induced liver injury associated with their use have been reported. A 52-year-old Chinese man reported with liver damage, which appeared 12 hours after beginning treatment with fluvastatin. Patient presented with complaints of increasing nausea, anorexia, and upper abdominal pain.

Effects of Shenshao Decoction on the inflammatory response in the aorta of a rat atherosclerotic model.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Shenshao Decoction on the inflammatory status: in the aorta in a rat model of atherosclerosis.

Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into: five groups, 8 rats in each group: control untreated group, atherosclerosis group, atherosclerosis with Shenshao Decoction (low dose) group, atherosclerosis with Shenshao Decoction (high dose) group, atherosclerosis with simvastatin group. To stimulate atherosclerosis, the rats were fed vitamin D3 and a high-cholesterol diet.

Analysis of factors related to short-term prognosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

The present study aimed to investigate the factors related to short-term prognosis in patients undergoing direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A total of 805 patients were included and divided into a control group and an adverse cardiovascular events group based on the prognosis, to compare risk factors and coronary angiographic characteristics in the two groups. In the adverse events group, the ages, admission blood glucose, uric acid (UA), homocysteine (HCY), creatine kinase (CK) and peak creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) isozyme levels were clearly higher compared with those in the control group, while the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were lower compared with those in the control group.

Rho-associated coiled kinase inhibitor Y-27632 promotes neuronal-like differentiation of adult human adipose tissue-derived stem cells.

Background: Y-27632 is a specific inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled kinase (ROCK) and has been shown to promote the survival and induce the differentiation of a variety of cells types. However, the effects of Y-27632 on adult human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Y-27632 on the neuronal-like differentiation of ADSCs.

The appearance of pulmonary mucormycosis on FDG PET/CT.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is a life-threatening opportunistic mycosis that is difficult to diagnose early. We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who complained of intermittent fever in the afternoon and productive cough and pain on the right side of the chest. Her clinical condition deteriorated despite antibiotherapy.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using coil embolization plus an Enterprise stent.

Background: Several difficulties can arise from wide-neck cerebral aneurysms when treated with endovascular embolization. We aimed to investigate the effect of endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using coil embolization plus an Enterprise stent.

Methods: Forty patients were treated with coil embolization plus an Enterprise stent between December 2008 and June 2010.