Modifiable risk factors mediating the impact of educational inequality on heart failure: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a rapidly growing global disease burden with high mortality rates. We aimed to utilize mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to investigate the association between educational attainment (EA) and HF, and to evaluate the contribution of modifiable risk factors as mediators.

Methods: We applied a two-sample MR approach based on the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to investigate the causal relationship between EA and HF.

Microfluidic programmable strategies for channels and flow.

This review summarizes programmable microfluidics, an advanced method for precise fluid control in microfluidic technology through microchannel design or liquid properties, referring to microvalves, micropumps, digital microfluidics, multiplexers, micromixers, slip-, and block-based configurations. Different microvalve types, including electrokinetic, hydraulic/pneumatic, pinch, phase-change and check valves, cater to diverse experimental needs. Programmable micropumps, such as passive and active micropumps, play a crucial role in achieving precise fluid control and automation.

Midterm Outcomes of Percutaneous Intramyocardial Septal Radiofrequency Ablation for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Single-Center, Observational Study.

Background: Percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA) has been reported to be safe and effective at midterm follow-up to treat drug-refractory hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in a single center. However, data from other centers are lacking. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of PIMSRA from another independent center.

TUDCA alleviates atherosclerosis by inhibiting AIM2 inflammasome and enhancing cholesterol efflux capacity in macrophage.

Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) dysfunction in macrophages is important in atherosclerosis. However, the mechanism underlying CEC dysfunction remains unclear. We described the characteristics of ATF4 and inflammasome activation in macrophages during atherosclerosis through scRNA sequencing analysis.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) - versus angiography-guided strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to improve procedural outcomes. However, evidence supporting its superiority over angiography-guided PCI in terms of clinical outcomes is still emerging and limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of OCT-guided PCI versus angiography-guided PCI in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Nonbone Marrow CD34 Cells Are Crucial for Endothelial Repair of Injured Artery.

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TNF-α-Induce Protein 8-Like 1 Inhibits Hepatic Steatosis, Inflammation, and Fibrosis by Suppressing Polyubiquitination of Apoptosis Signal-Regulating Kinase 1.

Background And Aims: Characterized by hepatocyte steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, NASH is a complicated process that contributes to end-stage liver disease and, eventually, HCC. TNF-α-induced protein 8-like 1 (TIPE1), a new member of the TNF-α-induced protein 8 family, has been explored in immunology and oncology research; but little is known about its role in metabolic diseases.

Approach And Results: Here, we show that hepatocyte-specific deletion of TIPE1 exacerbated diet-induced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis as well as systemic metabolic disorders during NASH pathogenesis.

Macrophage-derived MMP-8 determines smooth muscle cell differentiation from adventitia stem/progenitor cells and promotes neointima hyperplasia.

Aims: Emerging evidence has suggested that adventitia stem/progenitor cells (AdSPCs) migrate into the intima of arteries in response to injury, where they differentiate towards smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and participate in neointimal hyperplasia. We have previously identified matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP8) as a key player in atherogenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional roles of macrophage-derived MMP8 in AdSPC differentiation and injury-induced arterial remodelling.

A reference set of curated biomedical data and metadata from clinical case reports.

Clinical case reports (CCRs) provide an important means of sharing clinical experiences about atypical disease phenotypes and new therapies. However, published case reports contain largely unstructured and heterogeneous clinical data, posing a challenge to mining relevant information. Current indexing approaches generally concern document-level features and have not been specifically designed for CCRs.

variants and their haplotypes are associated with serum lipid levels, the risk of coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke and atorvastatin cholesterol-lowering responses.

Background: This study aimed to assess the association between the angiopoietin-like protein 4 gene () single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and serum lipid levels, the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS), and response to atorvastatin therapy in a Southern Chinese Han population.

Methods: Genotypes of the rs4076317, rs7255436, rs1044250 and rs2967605 SNPs in 1,654 unrelated subjects (CAD, 568; IS, 537; and controls, 549) were determined by the Snapshot technology. Another group of 724 hyperlipidemic patients was selected and treated with atorvastatin calcium tablet 20 mg/day for 8 weeks.

A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts.

Clinical case reports (CCRs) are a valuable means of sharing observations and insights in medicine. The form of these documents varies, and their content includes descriptions of numerous, novel disease presentations and treatments. Thus far, the text data within CCRs is largely unstructured, requiring significant human and computational effort to render these data useful for in-depth analysis.

Midterm outcome of transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in low to intermediate risk patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Current guidelines recommend transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) who are not suitable for conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). In light of the recent trend in performing TAVR in patients with lower risk profile, we assessed the midterm outcome comparing TAVR and SAVR for the treatment of patients with severe AS at low to intermediate risk.

Methods: PubMed, EBSCO, and Cochrane CENTRAL were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials that reported the clinical outcomes of TAVR versus SAVR in patients at low to intermediate surgical risk with at least 2 years of follow-up.

Exosomes derived from oxidized LDL-stimulated macrophages attenuate the growth and tube formation of endothelial cells.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. The participation of oxLDL‑stimulated macrophages has been well‑established in atherosclerosis, however the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Macrophage‑derived exosomes are actively released and are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes.

Individualized dual antiplatelet therapy based on platelet function testing in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: High on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) represents a strong risk factor for thrombotic events after PCI. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of individualizing intensified dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in PCI-treated patients with HPR based on platelet function testing (PFT).

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomized control trials that reported the clinical outcomes of using an intensified antiplatelet protocol with P2Y receptor inhibitor comparing with standard maintenance dose of clopidogrel on the basis of platelet function testing.

Staged versus One-Time Complete Revascularization with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in STEMI Patients with Multivessel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: In patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the preferred intervention is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Whether staged PCI (S-PCI) or one-time complete PCI (MV-PCI) is more beneficial and safer in terms of treating the non-culprit vessel during the primary PCI procedure is unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of all randomized and non-randomized controlled trials comparing S-PCI with MV-PCI in patients with acute STEMI and MVD.

Association of the HNF1A polymorphisms and serum lipid traits, the risk of coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke.

Background: Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α gene (HNF1A) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with serum lipid traits in several previous genome-wide association studies. However, little is known about such associations in the Chinese populations. The present study aimed to determine the association of the HNF1A rs1169288, rs2259820, rs2464196 and rs2650000 SNPs and serum lipid traits, the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS).

Transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in low to intermediate risk patients: A meta-analysis of randomized and observational studies.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the treatment of choice for patients with aortic stenosis and the preferred alternative for high surgical risk patients. However, TAVR's suitability for patients at low to intermediate risk still remains controversial.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE and Clinical trials were systematically searched for randomized control trials and observational cohort studies which reported the clinical outcomes of TAVR versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients at low to intermediate surgical risk.

Association of variants in CELSR2-PSRC1-SORT1 with risk of serum lipid traits, coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke.

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke (IS) and serum lipid traits in different ethnic groups. Some loci were found to affect the risk of CAD and IS. However, there were no data in the southern Chinese populations.