Higher serum angiopoietin 2 levels are independently associated with coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with angina in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is a type of endothelial growth factor involved in angiogenesis and vascular remodeling. Circulating Ang-2 levels are elevated in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum Ang-2 levels and coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients without obstructive CAD.

Left atrial area index predicts adverse cardiovascular events in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

Background: The left atrial size has been considered as a useful marker of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, it is not well known whether left atrial area index (LAAI) has predictive value for prognosis in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). This study was aimed to assess the association between LAAI and outcomes in UAP patients.

Relationship between exercise induced elevation of left ventricular filling pressure and exercise intolerance in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Elevated left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) is an important cause of exercise intolerance in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Exercise stress echocardiography could assess LVFP during exercise. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between exercise induced elevation of LVFP and exercise capacity in patients with AF.

Serial changes of mean platelet volume in relation to Killip Class in patients with acute myocardial infarction and primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is related to the reactivity of platelets. Among survivors of acute myocardial infarction (MI), greater MPV is known to be associated with impaired reperfusion and higher mortality. The aims of the study is to investigate the dynamic changes of MPV and the relation between MPV and cardiac function in patients with acute MI and received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

[Correlation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol with coronary flow reserve in patients with type 2 diabetes].

Objective: To investigate whether plasma levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: Between October 2007 and March 2012,we continuously enrolled 200 participants registered to Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, who were divided into 2 groups: DM group (n = 95) and control group (n = 105). Quantification of CFR was administrated after rest and after adenosine by noninvasive Doppler echocardiography in all the subjects.

[Current status of morning blood pressure control and medication of hypertensive patients in Beijing].

Objective: To explore the current status of morning blood pressure and medication of hypertensive patients in Beijing.

Methods: This study included 2187 hypertensive patients who visited the ambulance of our cardiology department in the morning (7:00-10:00) from March 2012 to April 2012. Patients were divided into three groups: no antihypertensive agent group, single antihypertensive drug therapy group (include CCB, ARB, ACEI, β-blocker) and combined drug therapy group at least one month.

Valsartan/amlodipine compared to nifedipine GITS in patients with hypertension inadequately controlled by monotherapy.

Introduction: Current hypertension guidelines recommend single-pill combinations because they not only improve convenience and compliance to therapy and thus blood pressure (BP) control, but also reduce health-care costs. This study compared the efficacy and safety of valsartan/amlodipine single-pill combination with nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) in Chinese patients with hypertension who were inadequately controlled with monotherapy.

Methods: In this multicenter, open-label, active-controlled, parallel-group study, 564 patients with hypertension not adequately controlled by prior monotherapy were randomized to receive valsartan/amlodipine 80/5 mg or nifedipine GITS 30 mg once daily for 12 weeks.

[Diagnostic accuracy of adenosine triphosphate stress echocardiography derived coronary flow reserve for detecting significant coronary stenosis].

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of coronary flow reserve measured by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) associated with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stress for detecting coronary stenosis in patients with chest pain.

Methods: A total of 125 patients scheduled for elective coronary angiography (CAG) due to chest pain were recruited. ATP stress echocardiography were performed to measure CFR in left anterior descending (LAD) by TTDE with 2 days pre-CAG.

[Value of left atrial area index for diagnosing left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between left atrial size and left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) and the value of left atrial size assessment on detecting diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF by echocardiography.

Methods: Echocardiography was performed in 346 hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF(≥ 50%), left atrial size including left atrial diameter (LAD) and left atrial area (LAA) was measured and indexed to body surface area (LADI, LAAI). The ratio of early diastolic transmitral velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/Em) was determined and LVFP was calculated with the formula: LVFP = 1.

Impact of uncontrolled blood pressure on diagnostic accuracy of coronary flow reserve for detecting significant coronary stenosis in hypertensive patients.

Background: Impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with hypertension may be caused by epicardial coronary stenosis or microvascular dysfunction. Antihypertensive treatment has been shown to improve coronary microvascular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) on diagnostic accuracy of CFR for detecting significant coronary stenosis.

[Evaluation of arterial elasticity in initial hypertension by pulse wave velocity and wave intensity technique].

Objective: To explore the early changes of arterial elasticity in initial hypertension through two different methods.

Methods: A total of 76 hypertensive patients (Grade 1-2, n = 32) were assigned into hypertension group while the age and gender-matched healthy population was selected as normal group (n = 44). All of them were monitored for baPWV in right carotid artery by wave intensity technique.

[Left ventricular flow vector characteristics and the relationship between flow vector and left ventricular systolic function in patients with anterior myocardial infarction].

Objective: To assess left ventricular vortex and flow vector features and the relationship between vector flow and left ventricular systolic function in patients with anterior myocardial infarction by echocardiography-derived vector flow mapping (VFM).

Methods: Echocardiography was performed in 31 patients with anterior myocardial infarction and 20 healthy controls. Flow vector and velocity of left ventricle were analyzed on apical 3 chambers view with color Doppler.

[Prognostic values for in-hospital event rate of early E/Em in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Objective: To assess the prognostic values for in-hospital event rate of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) parameter (E/Em) after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: A total of 289 patients with acute myocardial infarction were retrospectively examined. Their clinical data and echocardiograms were obtained.

Studies on functional connections between the supraoptic nucleus and the stomach in rats.

The present study was to investigate whether there are functional connections between the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the stomach, which is the case with the paraventricular nucleus. The rats were divided into four groups. Group I: the neuronal discharge was recorded extracellularly in the NTS, DMV or SON before and after cold physiological saline (4°C) was perfused into the stomach and effused from the duodenum.

[Prognostic importance of abnormal glucose metabolism in chronic heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the importance of abnormal glucose metabolism in a chronic heart failure (CHF) population.

Methods: A total of 444 patients were enrolled sequentially for decompensated CHF from January 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2007 at our department. They were divided into diabetic (n = 153, 34.

[Churg-Strauss syndrome in children: a case evolving in endomyocardiopathy].

A 13-year-old girl presented with a 1-month history of progressive exertional dyspnea (NYHA class IV) and exophthalmos for 6 months. She had a history of long-standing asthma and the presence of allergy. Hypereosinophilia and increased serum IgE levels (2472 IU/mL) were observed.

[Clinical and echocardiographic features of constrictive pericarditis: analysis of 36 cases with literature review].

Objective: To analyze the clinical and echocardiographic features of constrictive pericarditis.

Methods: Thirty-six patients diagnosed as having constrictive pericarditis from Oct. 1989 to Jun.

[Isoproterenol regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 production in monocytes from essential hypertensive patients.].

Objective: To investigate the effects of beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol(ISO) on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced inflammatory cytokine-tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6(IL-6)] in monocytes from essential hypertensive patients (Stage I).

Methods: Monocytes were isolated from 17 healthy volunteers and 6 hypertensive patients' venus blood, and the monocytes were cultured with LPS (0.2 microg/L) and ISO.

[Different expressions of inflammatory cytokines in two types of cardiac hypertrophy in rats].

Objective: To compare the different expressions of cardiac inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in two types of cardiac hypertrophy rat models induced by volume overload and pressure overload.

Methods: Volume overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was established by abdominal arteriovenous fistula (ACF) and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was developed by constriction of aorta (CA). Heart weight measurement and histological examination were performed 1 week or 2 weeks after the operation respectively.

[The impact of exercise rehabilitation on left ventricular remodeling and systolic function in acute myocardial infarction patients].

Objective: To investigate the influence of rehabilitation on left ventricular remodeling and systolic function in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Methods: Patients meeting the inclusion criteria with uneventful clinical course after a first myocardial infarction were randomly assigned to a 3-month exercise training period (exercise group, n = 35) or a control group (n = 29). Before randomization, all patients underwent NT-proBNP test, 2-dimensional echocardiography, and submaximal exercise test.

[The mechanism of stem cell factor in bone marrow stem cell transplantation to heart].

Objective: To study the mechanism of stem cell factor (SCF) in bone marrow stem cells heart transplantation (BMT) and the influence of bone marrow mobilization on the transplantation efficacy.

Methods: Rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) accepted BMT. The SCF expression in the bone marrow was measured by RT-PCR after the operation.

[Comparison of changes in left ventricular gene expression profiles from different cardiac hypertrophy models in rats].

To get insights into the principles of gene expression changes during cardiac hypertrophy, three rat cardiac hypertrophy models were prepared, i.e., suprarenal abdominal aortic stenosis (SRS), arterial-vein fistula (AVF) and continuous jugular vein infusion of norepinephrine (NEi).

[Alterations of Axin protein expression during cardiac remodeling in rats].

The purpose of the present study was to observe the expression of Axin protein during cardiac remodeling in rats. Cardiac remodeling animal models were prepared with the methods of jugular venous norepinephrine (NE)-infusion or arterial-vein fistula (AVF). The ultrasonic parameters of rat hearts were recorded before sacrifice.