Age-Related Utilization of Thrombus Aspiration in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Findings From the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China Project.

Background: There are some controversies on the utilization and benefits of thrombus aspiration in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, a few studies investigated this issue and the age-associated effects among the large population in China. Hence, we aimed to figure out the age-associated utilization and in-hospital outcomes of thrombus aspiration to improve therapeutic decisions in clinical routine.

Quantitative Assessment of Left and Right Atrial Strains Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Based Tissue Tracking.

Left and right atrium (LA and RA) exert an essential and dynamic role in ventricular filling and hence affect heart performance. Strain quantification has been reported as a novel parameter to assess function. However, the assessment of bi-atrial strains with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) based techniques is still limited and gender- and age-specific normal values in a healthy population are missing.

Left ventricular myocardial strain quantification with two- and three-dimensional cardiovascular magnetic resonance based tissue tracking.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance based tissue tracking (CMR-TT) was reported to provide detailed insight into left ventricular (LV) contractile function and deformation with both of two- and three-dimensional (2/3D) algorithms. This study was designed to investigate the feasibility and reproducibility of these two techniques for measuring LV global and segmental strain, and establish gender- and age-related reference values of global multi-dimensional peak strains among large healthy population.

Methods: We retrospectively recruited 150 healthy volunteers (75 males/females) and divided them into three age groups (G, G and G).

Right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain and strain rate quantification with cardiovascular magnetic resonance based tissue tracking.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance based tissue tracking (CMR-TT) was reported to provide detailed insight into left ventricular mechanical features. However, inadequate knowledge of the right ventricle (RV) mechanical deformation has been acquired by this advanced technique so far. It was the aim of this study to establish reference values of RV free wall (RVFW) global, regional and segmental longitudinal peak strain and strain rate (LS and LSR), and to investigate the gender- and age-related difference as well as the base-to-apex gradient of RVFW-LS and LSR with CMR-TT.

Triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a risk factor of repeat revascularization among patients with acute coronary syndrome after first-time percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: It is clinically important to identify high-risk patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who may require repeat revascularization. This retrospective study identified risk factors for repeat revascularization among ACS patients after first-time successful percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). The predictive value of the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio for repeat revascularization was also evaluated.

Outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention and comparison among scoring systems in predicting procedural success in elderly patients (≥ 75 years) with chronic total occlusion.

Background: Evidence-based data on percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) and comparison among different scoring systems have not been well established.

Patients And Methods: A total of 246 consecutive patients were stratified into two groups according to the age: elderly group (age≥ 75 years, n = 68) and nonelderly group (age < 75 years, n = 178). Clinical and angiographic characteristics including the Synergy Between PCI With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery score, in-hospital major adverse cardiac events, procedural success rates, and predictive capacity of four scoring systems [J-CTO, Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (PROGRESS CTO), clinical and lesion-related (CL), and ostial location, Rentrop grade < 2, age ≥ 75 years (ORA) scores] were examined.

Myocardial strain characteristics and outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Objective of this study was to make an assessment of standard functional and defor-mation parameters (strain) in patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and the evaluation of their prognostic impact.

Methods: Patients undergoing TAVR received CMR on a 1.5 T whole-body scanner at 3 months after the procedure.

[Oxidative stress and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II contribute to the development of sustained β adrenergic receptor-stimulated cardiac hypertrophy in rats].

Sustained activation of β adrenergic receptor (βAR) leads to pathologic cardiac hypertrophy. However, the related mechanisms still remain unclear. In this study, we observe how N-acetylcysteine (NAC) affects the oxidative stress and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) expression in heart of isoproterenol (ISO)-stimulated rats, and investigate whether oxidative stress and CaMKII contribute to the development of sustained βAR-stimulated cardiac hypertrophy.