Time-Velocity Integral of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Predicts Worse Long-Term Survival in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: The time-velocity integral of the left ventricular outflow tract (TVI) has been demonstrated to correlate with heart failure hospitalization and mortality, but the association of TVI with the severity and prognosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has not been evaluated.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of baseline TVI in PAH.

Methods: A total of 225 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of incident PAH were prospectively studied and echocardiology-derived TVI was measured at enrollment followed by right heart catheterization examination within 48 hours.

Initiating ivabradine during hospitalization in patients with acute heart failure: A real-world experience in China.

Background: Initiating ivabradine in acute heart failure (HF) is still controversial.

Hypothesis: Ivabradine might be effective to be added in acute but hemodynamically stable HF.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of hemodynamically stable acute HF patients was enrolled from January 2018 to January 2020 and followed until July 2020.

Prognostic value of left atrial mechanics in cardiac light-chain amyloidosis with preserved ejection fraction: a cohort study.

Background: Light-chain amyloidosis is a plasma cell disorder associated with poor outcomes, especially when the heart is involved. The characteristics of left atrial (LA) function and its prognostic implications in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) have not been fully investigated.

Methods: Between April 2014 and June 2019, 93 patients with a diagnosis of CA, normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and sinus rhythm were included.

Dual-region radiomics signature: Integrating primary tumor and lymph node computed tomography features improves survival prediction in esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Background: Preoperative prognostic biomarkers to guide individualized therapy are still in demand in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Some studies reported that radiomic analysis based on CT images has been successfully performed to predict individual survival in EC. The aim of this study was to assess whether combining radiomics features from primary tumor and regional lymph nodes predicts overall survival (OS) better than using single-region features only, and to investigate the incremental value of the dual-region radiomics signature.

Right ventricular systolic function is associated with health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in community-dwelling populations.

Background: Considerable evidence has been presented that heart and health-related quality of life are directly linked in patients with various diseases. This exploratory study investigated whether cardiac structure and function were associated with health-related quality of life in the general population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in five villages of Shunyi, a suburban district of Beijing, from June 2013 to April 2016.

The quest for diagnostic approaches of cardiac involvement in polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are autoimmune diseases characterized by inflammation of skeletal muscle, primarily manifesting as chronic muscle weakness. Extramuscular organs can also be affected. Cardiac involvement is one of the visceral organ damages whose prevalence is underestimated and is a marker of poor prognosis leading to irreversible dysfunction or even death.

Lupus Myocarditis: A Case-Control Study from China.

Background: Myocarditis is an uncommon but serious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to investigate clinical characteristics and outcomes of lupus myocarditis (LM) and to determine risk factors of LM in hospitalized Chinese patients with SLE.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study.

Preparation and microscopy examination of alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules.

Ca-alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate (APA-Ca) and Ba-alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate (APA-Ba) microcapsules were prepared and their thickness and surface were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Specifically, light microscopy with frozen section was used to visualize and quantify the thickness of APA membrane, and monitor temporal changes in the thickness of microcapsules during a month long culture in vitro. The section graph of APA microcapsule represents the accurate measurement of layer thickness of APA-Ca with diameter 900 ± 100 and 500 ± 100 μm at 6.

[Prevalence and risk factors of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis].

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods: A total of 2506 patients with suspected and known coronary heart disease (CAD) at our hospital underwent simultaneous coronary and renal angiography. Renal artery stenosis was defined as at least one of renal artery stenosis ≥ 50% narrowing of luminal diameter.

[Preparation and quality control of compound epirubicin hydrochloride-loaded polymeric nanoparticles of L-lactic-co-glycolic acid].

Objective: To prepare compound epirubicin hydrochloride-loaded polymeric nanoparticles of L-lactic-co-glycolic acid and establish their quality control.

Methods: The emulsion-solvent evaporation method was employed to prepare and freeze-dry the compound epirubicin hydrochloride-loaded polymeric nanoparticles of L-lactic-co-glycolic acid after the addition of lactose. The contents and cumulative release of epirubicin hydrochloride and dimeglumine gadopentetate were detected simultaneously by RP-HPLC (reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography).

[Clinical analysis of 32 primary intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features, optimal treatment and prognostic factors in primary intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Methods: The clinical presentations, pathological features and therapeutic results of 32 primary intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed with SSPS 10.