Heart-targeted amelioration of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction by microenvironment responsive nitric oxide nanogenerators in situ.

Background: A balanced endogenous level of bioavailable nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. The bioactive NO level in the cardiomyocytes was much reduced during sepsis. However, it is clinically challenging for the NO gas therapy due to the lack of spatial and temporal release system with precise control.

[Protective effects of myocardium-targeted nanoparticles loaded L-arginineon on sepsis-induced myocardial injury].

Objective: To prepare primary cardiomyocyte (PCM) specific peptide-conjugated mesoporous silicon nanoparticles (MSN) with L-arginine (LA) as a core (PCM-MSN@LA), and evaluate its specific protective effect on septic myocardium.

Methods: PCM-MSN@LA was prepared by condensation reaction, the characterization of PCM-MSN@LA, the amount of LA modification and release was detected, and the phagocytosis of PCM-MSN@LA and its affinity to myocardial tissue was observed. (1) Experiment one: SD neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were divided into control group (Con group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, MSN@LA/LPS group and PCM-MSN@LA/LPS group.

Isolated ventricular apical hypoplasia: A report of four cases and literature review.

Isolated ventricular apical hypoplasia (IVAH) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, with clinical manifestations depending on the age of the patient, ranging from no symptoms in children to congestive heart failure or even malignant tachycardia in adults. Herein, we describe the clinical and anatomical findings in four cases with hypoplasia of the right or left ventricular apex, and we discuss the possible mechanisms and differential diagnosis of this malformation. Echocardiography is a rapidly accessible, low cost, noninvasive technique for the detection and evaluation of IVAH.

Efficacy and Safety of Inorganic Nitrate Versus Placebo Treatment in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is common, yet there is a lack of effective treatments. In this meta-analysis, we assessed the efficacy and safety of inorganic nitrate in patients with HFpEF.

Methods And Results: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from the inception of the database through March 2020.