Salt restriction and risk of adverse outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: The optimal salt restriction in patients with heart failure (HF), especially patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), remains controversial.

Objective: To investigate the associations of cooking salt restriction with risks of clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF.

Methods: Cox proportional hazards model and subdistribution hazards model were used in this secondary analysis in 1713 participants with HFpEF from the Americas in the TOPCAT trial.

Diastolic left ventricular function in relation to the retinal microvascular fractal dimension in a Flemish population.

Fractal analysis provides a global assessment of vascular networks (e.g., geometric complexity).

Angiogenic and Antiangiogenic mechanisms of high density lipoprotein from healthy subjects and coronary artery diseases patients.

Normal high-density lipoprotein (nHDL) in normal, healthy subjects is able to promote angiogenesis, but the mechanism remains incompletely understood. HDL from patients with coronary artery disease may undergo a variety of oxidative modifications, rendering it dysfunctional; whether the angiogenic effect is mitigated by such dysfunctional HDL (dHDL) is unknown. We hypothesized that dHDL compromises angiogenesis.

A nationwide assessment of blood pressure control and the associated factors in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

A subgroup analysis of the nationwide, cross-sectional 3B STUDY was performed to understand the current blood pressure (BP) control status and treatment patterns in Chinese diabetes patients as well as to identify factors associated with BP control. The demographic data, anthropometric parameters, and laboratory results were collected from 24 512 type 2 diabetes patients. The BP goal was a systolic BP <130 mm Hg and a diastolic BP <80 mm Hg regardless of a history of hypertension or current antihypertensive treatment.

Association between paced QRS duration and atrial fibrillation after permanent pacemaker implantation: A retrospective observational cohort study.

Right ventricular pacing often results in prolonged QRS duration (QRSd) as the result of right ventricular stimulation, and atrial fibrillation (AF) may result. The association of pacing-induced prolonged QRSd and AF in patients with permanent pacemakers is unknown.We selected 180 consecutive patients who underwent pacemaker implantation for complete/advanced atrioventricular block.

Effectiveness and Safety of Warfarin in Dialysis Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

In routine practice, warfarin is widely used in dialysis patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for stroke prevention though the ratio of risks to benefits remains unclear. Recent cohort studies investigating the association between warfarin use and the risks of stroke and bleeding in dialysis patients with AF present conflicting results. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of warfarin use in patients with AF undergoing dialysis.

More favorable response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in women than in men.

Background: Data on sex difference in response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remain controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to summarize all published studies to determine whether sex-based differences in response to CRT exist.

Methods And Results: We performed a literature search using MEDLINE (source PubMed; January 1966 to March 2014) and EMBASE (January 1980 to March 2014) with no restrictions.

Improved blood pressure control with nifedipine GITS/valsartan combination versus high-dose valsartan monotherapy in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients from Asia: results from the ADVISE study, a randomized trial.

Aims: ADVISE was a 12-week, multicenter, randomized, prospective, open-label, parallel-group study comparing combination therapy of nifedipine GITS 30 mg plus valsartan 80 mg (N + V) with high-dose valsartan (160 mg) monotherapy (V160) in Asian patients with hypertension.

Methods: Patients with hypertension inadequately controlled with valsartan 80 mg for at least 4 weeks were randomized. The coprimary endpoints were the mean changes in clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively) at Week 12.

Endothelin 1 activation of endothelin A receptor/NADPH oxidase pathway and diminished antioxidants critically contribute to endothelial progenitor cell reduction and dysfunction in salt-sensitive hypertension.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are reduced in hypertension, which inversely correlates with its mortality. Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension features elevated endothelin (ET) 1 and oxidative stress. We tested the hypothesis that ET-1 induces EPC dysfunction by elevating oxidative stress through the ET(A)/NADPH oxidase pathway in salt-sensitive hypertension.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the properties of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Objective: To explore the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on migration, proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods: MSCs were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats by a combination of gradient centrifugation and cell culture techniques and treated with IGF-1 at concentrations of 5-20 ng/ml. Proliferation of MSCs was determined as the mean doubling time.

[Effects of AMPK on the transcriptional activity of FOXO1 and ubiquitin ligase MuRF1 expression in rat cardiomyocytes].

Objective: To investigate the effects of AICAR on the activity of transcription factor FOXO1 and expression of ubiquitin ligase MuRF1 in rat cardiomyocytes, and explore the possible role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in proteolysis pathways.

Methods: In vitro cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were treated with AICAR, and Western blotting was used to detect the phosphorylation of FOXO1 and expression of MuRF1 in the cells.

Results: AICAR activated AMPK in rat cardiac myocytes.

Metformin attenuates ventricular hypertrophy by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase-endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway in rats.

1. Metformin is an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Recent studies suggest that pharmacological activation of AMPK inhibits cardiac hypertrophy.

The nonpeptide AVE0991 attenuates myocardial hypertrophy as induced by angiotensin II through downregulation of transforming growth factor-beta1/Smad2 expression.

The nonpeptide AVE0991 is expected to be a putative new drug for cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanisms for the cardioprotective actions of AVE0991 are still not fully understood. We planned to determine whether AVE0991 attenuates the angiotensin II (AngII)-induced myocardial hypertrophy and whether these AVE0991 effects involved transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and Smad2.

Activation of AMPK inhibits cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by modulating of the FOXO1/MuRF1 signaling pathway in vitro.

Aim: To examine the inhibitory effects of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation on cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with the specific AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) and the specific AMPK antagonist Compound C, and then stimulated with phenylephrine (PE). The Muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1)-small interfering RNA (siRNA) was transfected into cardiomyocytes using Lipofectamine 2000.

[Role of liver X receptors on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy].

Objective: To investigate the expression of liver X receptors (LXR) in hypertrophic myocardium and the effect of LXR agonist T0901317 on angiotensin II (AngII) induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Methods: Transverse aortic coarctation (TAC) or sham operation were performed in 2-month-old wide type mice (C57/B6). Two weeks later, the expression of LXR in myocardium was detected by quantitative real-time PCR analysis and Western blot analysis.

Allicin protects against cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis via attenuating reactive oxygen species-dependent signaling pathways.

Increased oxidative stress has been associated with the pathogenesis of chronic cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Since allicin suppresses oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo, we hypothesized that allicin would inhibit cardiac hypertrophy through blocking oxidative stress-dependent signaling. We examined this hypothesis using primary cultured cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts and one well-established animal model of cardiac hypertrophy.

B-type natriuretic peptide attenuates cardiac hypertrophy via the transforming growth factor-ß1/smad7 pathway in vivo and in vitro.

1. Previously, we showed that long-term treatment of rats after myocardial infarction (MI) with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) prevented ventricular remodelling. However, it is unclear whether long-term BNP treatment affects cardiac hypertrophy and, if so, its mechanism of action.

[Side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on gastric mucosa and preventive effects of teprenone].

Objective: To evaluate the side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on gastric mucosa, and to study the preventive effects of teprenone in patients.

Methods: 108 patients taking NSAID for more than 3 months with no infection of helicobacter pylori (Hp) were collected. All patients were screened by endoscopy and their upper gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated.