2024 Guidelines of the Taiwan Society of Cardiology on the Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease --- Part II.

For the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the recommended treatment target for each modifiable risk factor is as follows: reducing body weight by 5-10%; blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg (systolic pressure < 120 mmHg in high-risk individuals); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 100 mg/dL in high-risk individuals, LDL-C < 115 mg/dL in moderate-risk individuals, LDL-C < 130 mg/dL in low-risk individuals, and LDL-C < 160 mg/dL in those with a minimal; complete and persistent abstinence from cigarette smoking; hemoglobin A1C < 7.0%; fulfilling recommended amounts of the six food groups according to the Taiwan food guide; and moderate-intensity physical activity 150 min/wk or vigorous physical activity 75 min/wk. For the primary prevention of ASCVD by pharmacological treatment in individuals with modifiable risk factors/clinical conditions, statins are the first-line therapy for reducing LDL-C levels; some specific anti-diabetic drugs proven to be effective in randomized controlled trials for the primary prevention of ASCVD are recommended in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; pharmacological treatment is recommended to assist in weight management for obese patients with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m (or 27 kg/m who also have at least one ASCVD risk factor or obesity-related comorbidity); an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, a sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, and finerenone can be used in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease for the primary prevention of ASCVD.

Assessment of the (Pro)renin Receptor Protein Expression in Organs.

The (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) is an essential component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as a specific single-pass transmembrane receptor for prorenin and renin and has now emerged as a multifunctional protein implicated in a wide variety of developmental and physio-pathological processes and pathways. The (P)RR may be of pathological significance in metabolic syndrome. The (P)RR has received much consideration; substantial efforts have been made to understand the localization, regulation, and function of the (P)RR at both a molecular and system level.

Zinc deficiency associated with cutaneous toxicities induced by epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Cutaneous toxicities are common adverse effects following epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy. Zinc deficiency causes diverse diseases, including skin toxicities. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of zinc deficiency in patients with EGFR-TKI-induced skin toxicities.

Candesartan Cilexetil Attenuates Arrhythmogenicity Following Pressure Overload in Rats via the Modulation of Cardiac Electrical and Structural Remodeling and Calcium Handling Dysfunction.

Background Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with abnormal electrophysiology and increased arrhythmia risk. This study assessed whether candesartan cilexetil, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, could suppress arrhythmogenecity by attenuating cardiac electrical remodeling and calcium mishandling in rats with pressure-overload hypertrophy. Methods and Results Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly subjected to abdominal aorta banding or sham procedure and received either candesartan cilexetil (3.

Added Value of Computed Tomography Virtual Intravascular Endoscopy in the Evaluation of Coronary Arteries with Stents or Plaques.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a widely used imaging modality for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) but is limited by a high false positive rate when evaluating coronary arteries with stents and heavy calcifications. Virtual intravascular endoscopy (VIE) images generated from CCTA can be used to qualitatively assess the vascular lumen and might be helpful for overcoming this challenge. In this study, one hundred subjects with coronary stents underwent both CCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

Using betaxolol for the prevention of paronychia induced by epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors: a case-control cohort study.

Background: High rates of posttreatment discomfort, infection, recurrence, and increased time to return to work have been noted after nail plate avulsion resulting from epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor(EGFR-TKI)-induced paronychia, which may even interrupt the course of treatment for EGFR-TKI therapy. Thus, we conducted this study to determine how effectively a topical β-blocker, betaxolol, prevents EGFR-TKI-induced paronychia.

Methods: This case-control cohort study included a total of 131 non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Effect of amniotic fluid stem cell transplantation on the recovery of bladder dysfunction in spinal cord-injured rats.

The effects of human amniotic fluid stem cell (hAFSC) transplantation on bladder function and molecular changes in spinal cord-injured (SCI) rats were investigated. Four groups were studied: sham and SCI plus phosphate-buffered saline (SCI + PBS), human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells, and hAFSCs transplantation. In SCI + PBS rat bladders, cystometry showed increased peak voiding pressure, voiding volume, bladder capacity, residual volume, and number of non-voiding contractions, and the total elastin/collagen amount was increased but collagen concentration was decreased at days 7 and 28.

A Novel L115F Mutation Identified by Whole Exome Sequencing is Associated with Inherited Cardiac Conduction Disease.

Inherited cardiac conduction disease (CCD) is rare; it is caused by a large number of mutations in genes encoding cardiac ion channels and cytoskeletal proteins. Recently, whole-exome sequencing has been successfully used to identify causal mutations for rare monogenic Mendelian diseases. We used trio-based whole-exome sequencing to study a Chinese family with multiple family members affected by CCD, and identified a heterozygous missense mutation (c.

Treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor-induced severe paronychia with pyogenic granuloma-like lesions with topical betaxolol: an open-label observation study.

Background: Paronychia is a common adverse event caused by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. However, high rates of post-treatment discomfort, infection, recurrence, and increased time to return to work have been noted after nail plate avulsion for EGFR inhibitor-induced paronychia. Furthermore, poor wound healing and malnutrition were common conditions found in cancer patients.

The Mechanism of Onychomadesis (Nail Shedding) and Beau's Lines Following Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease.

Background: Nail changes, including onychomadesis (nail shedding) and Beau's line, following hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) are a common emergence at the stage of late complications of HFMD. However, the exact mechanism is still unknown. Therefore, we conducted this study to elucidate the mechanism of nail changes following HFMD.

In HCV-related liver cirrhosis, local pulse wave velocity increases and in decompensated patients correlates with poorer survival.

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) refers to cardiac dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis, in the absence of other known cardiac disease.

Methods: Control group and patients diagnosed of liver cirrhosis without known cardiac disease or hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled for this clinical observation study. Patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension were excluded.

Inhibition of Advanced Glycation End Products Formation Attenuates Cardiac Electrical and Mechanical Remodeling and Vulnerability to Tachyarrhythmias in Diabetic Rats.

Diabetic patients with cardiomyopathy show a higher incidence of arrhythmias and sudden death. Chronic hyperglycemia induces the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. This study investigated whether inhibition of AGEs formation by aminoguanidine (AG) could prevent cardiac electromechanical and arrhythmogenic remodeling in diabetes mellitus.

Subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic risk factors association: A health examination-based study in northern Taiwan.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is defined as elevation in serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels despite normal serum levels of free thyroxine. It remains controversial whether people with SCH have higher total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared to normal-thyroid subjects. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic risk factors for SCH.

Stomatin-like protein 2 regulates survivin expression in non-small cell lung cancer cells through β-catenin signaling pathway.

The overexpression of stomatin-like protein-2 (SLP-2) is commonly observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. In the present study, we transfected a number of NSCLC cells with an SLP-2 shRNA-expressing vector (AdSLP2i) and examined its possible effects on cell growth and apoptosis. We found that suppression of SLP-2 expression inhibited cell growth, and that the apoptosis induced by SLP-2 suppression was correlated with decreased survivin protein expression.

Crusade Microcatheter-Facilitated Reverse Wire Technique for Revascularization of Bifurcation Lesions of Coronary Arteries.

Background: This study aims to analyze the lesion characteristics of bifurcations that required reverse wire technique and the efficacy and safety of this technique in approaching branches with a highly angulated take-off.

Methods: We enrolled patients in whom reverse wire technique was used after failed conventional antegrade wiring with the support of a Crusade catheter. The study endpoints were the technical success defined as succeeding in sending the reversely bent wire to the targeted branches without complications and the procedural success defined as succeeding in revascularization of the bifurcation lesions without complications.

The correlation between pulse diagnosis and constitution identification in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objectives: Our study aimed to correlate pulse wave parameters such as augmentation index (AI) and heart rate variability with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution for evaluating health status.

Design: Out of 177 subjects, 69 healthy subjects were enrolled in the present study, and others were excluded because of cardiovascular, liver, kidney, or other diseases. Each subject was invited to complete pulse wave examination and the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire.

Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation.

Unlabelled: BPC 157, a pentadecapeptide with extensive healing effects, has recently been suggested to contribute to angiogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. The present study aimed to explore the potential therapeutic effect and pro-angiogenic mechanism of BPC 157.

Perceptions about eating experiences of low-literate older adults with heart disease: a qualitative study.

Aims: To explore perceptions of low-literate older adults with heart disease about their eating experiences.

Background: Heart disease has been closely linked with nutrition, and nutritional status is poor in patients with limited education, but no studies have explored the eating experiences of low-literate adults with heart disease.

Design: Qualitative descriptive study.

Hyperthyroid and hypothyroid status was strongly associated with gout and weakly associated with hyperuricaemia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of hyperuricaemia and gout in people with hypothyroid or hyperthyroid status.

Methods: This study analyzed data from individuals who participated in health screening programs at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in northern Taiwan (2000-2010). Participants were categorized as having euthyroid, hypothyroid, or hyperthyroid status according to their thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Promoting endothelial recovery and reducing neointimal hyperplasia using sequential-like release of acetylsalicylic acid and paclitaxel-loaded biodegradable stents.

Introduction: This work reports on the development of a biodegradable dual-drug-eluting stent with sequential-like and sustainable drug-release of anti-platelet acetylsalicylic acid and anti-smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferative paclitaxel.

Methods: To fabricate the biodegradable stents, poly-L-lactide strips are first cut from a solvent-casted film. They are rolled onto the surface of a metal pin to form spiral stents.