HFPEF and HFA-PEFF scores for heart failure risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.

Aims: HFPEF and HFA-PEFF scores have demonstrated prognostic value in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction. This study aimed to explore the value of the HFPEF and HFA-PEFF scores for HF risk stratification in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods And Results: In this cohort study, 1068 HCM patients were included.

Incremental Prognostic Value of Carotid Plaque-RADS Over Stenosis Degree in Relation to Stroke Risk.

Background: Recently, a standardized classification system for carotid atherosclerotic plaques, known as Carotid Plaque-RADS (Reporting and Data System), has been introduced. However, its capacity to improve stroke risk stratification beyond traditional stenosis degree assessment has not been extensively explored.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the incremental prognostic value of Carotid Plaque-RADS over stenosis degree for stroke risk.

A Radiomics-Based Nomogram Using Ultrasound Carotid Plaque Evaluation For Predicting Cerebro-Cardiovascular Events In Asymptomatic Patients.

Rationale And Objectives: This study aims to assess whether a radiomics-based nomogram correlates with a higher risk of future cerebro-cardiovascular events in patients with asymptomatic carotid plaques. Additionally, it investigates the nomogram's contribution to the revised Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (rFSRP) for predicting cerebro-cardiovascular risk.

Materials And Methods: Predictive models aimed at identifying an increased risk of future cerebro-cardiovascular events were developed and internally validated at one center, then externally validated at two other centers.

Relative apical sparing obtained with speckle tracking echocardiography is not a sensitive parameter for diagnosing light-chain cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Distinguishing light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL CA) from left ventricular wall thickening (LVWT) resulted from other etiologies has proven to be challenging. This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of relative apical sparing in diagnosing AL CA and investigate the differences in clinical and echocardiographic characteristics between AL CA patients with apical sparing and those with non-apical sparing.

Methods: A total of 63 consecutive patients with AL CA, 102 consecutive patients with LVWT (including 51 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and 51 hypertension) and 33 healthy individuals were recruited retrospectively at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Incremental prognostic utility of left ventricular and left atrial strains in coronary artery disease patients with reduced systolic function.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and left atrial reservoir strain (LARS) on adverse events in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with reduced systolic function.

Methods: A total of 192 consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with chronic CAD and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50% were finally included. Multiple strain parameters were analyzed with speckle tracking echocardiography.

A novel model to predict the risk of hematological toxicity in lung adenocarcinoma patients with pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy based on real-world data.

Background: Pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy is the first-line treatment option for lung adenocarcinoma. However, hematological toxicity is major dose-limiting and even life-threatening. The ability to anticipate hematological toxicity is of great value for identifying potential chemotherapy beneficiaries with minimal toxicity and optimizing treatment.

Value of Intraplaque Neovascularization on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Predicting Ischemic Stroke Recurrence in Patients With Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque.

Objective: Patients with a history of ischemic stroke are at risk for a second ischemic stroke. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between carotid plaque enhancement on perfluorobutane microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and future recurrent stroke, and to determine whether plaque enhancement can contribute to risk assessment for recurrent stroke compared with the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS).

Materials And Methods: This prospective study screened 151 patients with recent ischemic stroke and carotid atherosclerotic plaques at our hospital between August 2020 and December 2020.

Prediction of response and adverse drug reaction of pemetrexed plus platinum-based chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma by serum metabolomic profiling.

Background: Pemetrexed plus platinum doublet chemotherapy regimen remains to be the standard first-line treatment for lung adenocarcinoma patients. However, few biomarkers can be used to identify potential beneficiaries with maximal efficacy and minimal toxicity. This study aimed to explore potential biomarker models predictive of efficacy and toxicity after pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy based on metabolomics profiling.

Persistent Endothelial Dysfunction in Coronavirus Disease-2019 Survivors Late After Recovery.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in an endothelial dysfunction in acute phase. However, information on the late vascular consequences of COVID-19 is limited.

Methods: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) examination were performed, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed in 86 survivors of COVID-19 for 327 days (IQR 318-337 days) after recovery.

Normalized Cardiac Structure and Function in COVID-19 Survivors Late After Recovery.

Coronavirus disease 2019 can result in myocardial injury in the acute phase. However, information on the late cardiac consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study to investigate the late cardiac consequences of COVID-19.

Binding interaction of a ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase with fluoranthene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa DN1.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa DN1 can efficiently utilize fluoranthene as its sole carbon source, and the initial reaction in the biodegradation process is catalyzed by a ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase (RHD). To clarify the binding interaction of RHD with fluoranthene in the strain DN1, the genes encoding alpha subunit (RS30940) and beta subunit (RS05115) of RHD were functionally characterized through multi-technique combination such as gene knockout and homology modeling as well as molecular docking analysis. The results showed that the mutants lacking the characteristic alpha subunit and/or beta subunit failed to degrade fluoranthene effectively.

Inhibition of Nav1.7 channel by a novel blocker QLS-81 for alleviation of neuropathic pain.

Voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 robustly expressed in peripheral nociceptive neurons has been considered as a therapeutic target for chronic pain, but there is no selective Nav1.7 inhibitor available for therapy of chronic pain.

An Activatable and Switchable Nanoaggregate Probe for Detecting H S and Its Application in Mice Brains.

Employing a sequentially activated probe design method, an activatable, switchable and dual-mode probe was designed. This nanoprobe, HSDPP, could be effectively activated by H S to form H-type aggregates with green emission; subsequently, the aggregates could bind to mtDNA to form monomers and the emIssion color switched from green to deep-red. We exploited HSDPP to image exogenous and endogenous H S in living cells.

A fluorescent sensor for selective detection of hypochlorite and its application in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Hypochlorite, as one of reactive oxygen species, has drawn much attention due to its essential roles in special biological events and disorders. The exogenous hypochlorite remains a risk for human, animals and plants. In this work, a novel water soluble quinolin-containing nitrone derivative T has been developed for fluorometric sensing hypochlorite.

Prediction of tacrolimus dosage in the early period after heart transplantation: a population pharmacokinetic approach.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate tacrolimus population pharmacokinetics and investigate factors that explain tacrolimus variability in adult heart transplant patients.

Methods: A total of 707 tacrolimus concentrations from 107 adult heart transplant patients were included in model development. The effects of demographic, clinical factors and CYP3A5 genotype on tacrolimus clearance were evaluated using a nonlinear mixed-effects modeling.

Enlarged Size and Impaired Elastic Properties of the Ascending Aorta are Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction and Elevated Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Level in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

The aim of this study was to test whether enlarged size and impaired elastic properties of the ascending aorta are associated with impaired endothelial function and increases in plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 concentrations in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) without significant valvular dysfunction. The size and the elasticity of the ascending aorta and the flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in the brachial artery in response to hyperemia were evaluated with 2-D echocardiography and high-frequency linear ultrasound in 42 patients with BAV without significant valvular dysfunction and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In the BAV group, diastolic ascending aortic diameter (AoD) (32.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of oral dosage forms of huperzine a in healthy Chinese male volunteers: a randomized, single dose, three-period, six-sequence crossover study.

Huperzine A is a potent, reversible, and blood-brain barrier permeable acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and bioavailability of two formulations with the established reference formulation of huperzine A in a fasting, healthy Chinese male population. This was a randomized, single-dose, 3-period, 6-sequence crossover study.

mutation in a Chinese family with unusual Crouzon syndrome.

Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics with genetic lesions in a Chinese family with Crouzon syndrome.

Methods: All five patients from this family were included and received comprehensive ophthalmic and systemic examinations. Direct sequencing of the gene was employed for mutation identification.

Evaluation of myocardial strain and aortic elasticity in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

This study evaluated the myocardial strain and aortic elasticity in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and then investigated the relation between them. Thirty-nine patients (30 males; mean age 44±19 years; range 6 to 75 years) with BAV were recruited as BAV group, and 29 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (21 males; mean age 42±11 years; range 20 to 71 years) served as control group. Aortic strain, distensibility and stiffness index were derived using M-mode echocardiography.

Evaluation of myocardial strain and artery elasticity using speckle tracking echocardiography and high-resolution ultrasound in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

Reduced artery elasticity and reduced myocardial strain were present in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Their relation to dilation of proximal aorta is unclear. We aimed to study their relation to dilation of proximal aorta.

Molecular Imaging of Platelet-Endothelial Interactions and Endothelial von Willebrand Factor in Early and Mid-Stage Atherosclerosis.

Background: Nonthrombotic platelet-endothelial interactions may contribute to atherosclerotic plaque development, although in vivo studies examining mechanism without platelet preactivation are lacking. Using in vivo molecular imaging at various stages of atherosclerosis, we quantified platelet-endothelial interactions and evaluated the contribution of major adhesion pathways.

Methods And Results: Mice deficient for the low-density lipoprotein receptor and Apobec-1 were studied as an age-dependent model of atherosclerosis at 10, 20, 30, and 40 weeks of age, which provided progressive increase in stage from early fatty streak (10 weeks) to large complex plaques without rupture (40 weeks).