The clinical value of noninvasive left ventricular myocardial work in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in coronary heart disease: a comparative study with coronary flow reserve fraction.

The prompt and precise identification of hemodynamically significant coronary artery lesions remains an ongoing challenge. This study investigated the diagnostic value of non-invasive global left ventricular myocardial work indices by echocardiography in functional status of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with myocardial ischemia using fractional flow reserve (FFR) as the gold standard. A total of 77 consecutive patients with clinically suspected CAD were prospectively enrolled.

Step-by-step transesophageal echocardiographic guidance for transjugular transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement with a radial force-independent bioprosthesis.

The prohibitive risk of isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery encouraged rapid development of a transcatheter solution for tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The favorable results of these devices informed recent guidelines to recommend considering transcatheter treatment of symptomatic secondary severe TR in inoperable patients. Transcatheter TV repair systems usually reduce TR through leaflet approximation and direct annuloplasty.

Secondary leaflet tethering in patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation and its association with the severity of mitral regurgitation.

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the association between vena contracta area (VCA) and secondary leaflet tethering among mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients, and thus to further identify and characterize an MVP with pathological leaflet tethering (MVPt+) phenotype.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 94 consecutive MVP patients with significant mitral regurgitation (MR) and 21 healthy controls. MVPt+ group was defined as tenting volume index (TVi) > .

Real-Time Monitoring and Step-by-Step Guidance for Transcatheter Tricuspid Annuloplasty Using Transesophageal Echocardiography.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) is a novel alternative to functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) for patients with prohibitive surgical risk. Devices have been designed according to different pathophysiological mechanisms of FTR, including ones to achieve an edge-to-edge repair and others aiming at direct annuloplasty. Recently, a transcatheter tricuspid valve repair system mimicking a surgical Kay procedure (K-Clip™ system, Huihe Medical Technology, Shanghai, China) completed its salvage-use trial.

Comparison of the Acute Effects of Different Pacing Sites on Cardiac Synchrony and Contraction Using Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

Cardiac pacing in patients with bradyarrhythmia may employ variable pacing sites, which may have different effects on cardiac function. Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a new physiological pacing modality, and the acute outcomes on cardiac mechanical synchrony during LBBP remain uncertain. We evaluated the acute effects of four pacing sites on cardiac synchrony and contraction using speckle-tracking echocardiography, and comparisons among four different pacing sites were rare.

Immediate Renal Denervation After Acute Myocardial Infarction Mitigates the Progression of Heart Failure via the Modulation of IL-33/ST2 Signaling.

Previous studies have demonstrated the protective effects of renal denervation (RDN) in pre-existing heart failure, but the effects of immediate RDN after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on subsequent cardiac remodeling have not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of immediate RDN after AMI and its underlying mechanism. AMI was induced by intracoronary gelatin sponge embolization in 14 Shanghai white pigs that were randomized to undergo either renal angiography (AMI+sham group) or RDN (AMI+RDN group) after 1 h of hemodynamic monitoring.

Impact of Leaflet Tethering on Residual Regurgitation in Patients With Degenerative Mitral Disease After Interventional Edge-to-Edge Repair.

Grade 2+ residual mitral regurgitation (MR 2+) is associated with the recurrence of MR and a lower survival rate in interventional mitral valve (MV) edge-to-edge (EE) repair. We sought to determine the MV anatomic factors affecting residual MR 2+ during interventional EE repair with the ValveClamp system in patients with degenerative MR (DMR). In this multicenter study, 62 patients with significant (grade 3+ to 4+) DMR underwent ValveClamp implantation across eight centers from July 2018 to December 2019.

Real-Time Monitoring and Step-by-Step Guidance for Transapical Mitral Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair Using Transesophageal Echocardiography.

MitraClip edge-to-edge (E2E) repair system is the only transcatheter device recommended in the current guidelines for treating mitral regurgitation (MR). The percutaneous femoral venous transseptal access of MitraClip requires a complex steerable delivery system and may thus be technically complex to optimally position and deploy the clip onto the mitral valve. A transapical approach for E2E repair has been devised to treat MR for the ease of operation (ValveClamp system, Hanyu Medical Technology, Shanghai).

The Effect of a Novel Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair Device in a Porcine Model of Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: A new technique has been developed for treating mitral regurgitation (MR) via a transapical approach, which encompasses an easy-to-use leaflet clamp and a smaller-sized delivery system (14F-16F).

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this device in a porcine model of acute MR.

Methods: Acute MR was induced in 36 anesthetized porcine subjects by severing the chordae supporting the corresponding segment of the leaflet.

Effect of a novel transcatheter edge-to-edge repair device on the three-dimensional geometry of mitral valve in degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Objectives: We sought to assess the acute intraprocedural effects of the ValveClamp system in DMR patients on the mitral valve (MV) three-dimensional (3D) geometry and the association of these effects with mitral regurgitation (MR) reduction.

Background: Few data are available about the specific impact of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR).

Methods: Thirty-five symptomatic patients (age 74.

Prediction of carbohydrate-binding proteins from sequences using support vector machines.

Carbohydrate-binding proteins are proteins that can interact with sugar chains but do not modify them. They are involved in many physiological functions, and we have developed a method for predicting them from their amino acid sequences. Our method is based on support vector machines (SVMs).