Pim3 up-regulation by YY1 contributes to diabetes-induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Objectives: The close relationship of proto-oncogenes to myocardial hypertrophy has long been recognized, and cardiac hypertrophy leads to heart failure (HF). However, whether proviral insertion of Moloney virus 3 kinase (Pim3), a proto-oncogene, contributes to cardiac hypertrophy in diabetes mellitus (DM) remains unknown. This study aims to investigate whether Pim3 is involved in DM-induced cardiac hypertrophy and HF and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

TAX1BP1 downregulation by STAT3 in cardiac fibroblasts contributes to diabetes-induced heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is now the most common form of HF and has been reported to be closely related to diabetes. Accumulating evidence suggests that HFpEF patients exhibit cardiac fibrosis. This study investigates whether direct targeted inhibition of the activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), the main effector cells in cardiac fibrosis, improves diabetes-induced HFpEF and elucidates the underlying mechanisms.

Ivabradine Ameliorates Cardiac Diastolic Dysfunction in Diabetic Mice Independent of Heart Rate Reduction.

Cardiac fibroblast (CF) proliferation and activation play important roles in cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction (DD), which are involved in fibrosis-associated cardiovascular diseases. A previous study showed that ivabradine, a specific heart rate (HR)-lowering agent, significantly ameliorated DD in diabetic db/db mice by reducing HR. Herein, we attempted to determine whether ivabradine has antifibrotic and cardioprotective effects in diabetic mice by directly suppressing CF proliferation and activation, independent of a reduction in HR.

LCZ696, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, ameliorates diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Unlabelled: Diabetic cardiomyopathy, which refers to the destruction of the structure and function of the heart, is the primary cause of heart failure due to diabetes. LCZ696 is the first angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) to be used clinically. Our study investigated the role played by LCZ696 during diabetic cardiomyopathy and explored the potential mechanisms underlying these effects.

Activation of the PP2A catalytic subunit by ivabradine attenuates the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Our previous study demonstrated that ivabradine, a selective I current antagonist, significantly attenuated myocardial apoptosis in diabetic mice, but the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. This study investigated the underlying mechanisms by which ivabradine exerts anti-apoptotic effects in experimental DCM.

Atorvastatin Alleviates Experimental Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Regulating the GSK-3β-PP2Ac-NF-κB Signaling Axis.

Recent studies reported that atorvastatin (ATOR) alleviated progression of experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), possibly by protecting against apoptosis. However, the underlying mechanisms of this protective effect remain unclear. Therefore, our study investigated the role of the glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β-protein phosphatase 2A(PP2A)-NF-κB signaling pathway in the anti-apoptotic and cardioprotective effects of ATOR on cardiomyocytes cultured in high glucose (HG) and in DCM.

Pulmonary artery denervation improves pulmonary arterial hypertension induced right ventricular dysfunction by modulating the local renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is commonly accompanied with the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) reduces PAH partly through the inhibition of RAAS. Analogically, we hypothesized that pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) could reverse PAH and PAH-induced right ventricular (RV) dysfunction by downregulating the local RAAS activity.

Olmesartan Reduces New-onset Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Fibrillation Burden after Dual-chamber Pacemaker Implantation in Atrioventricular Block Patients.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent tachyarrhythmia in patients with a permanent pacemaker. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have a protective effect against the occurrence of AF in patients with heart diseases. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of olmesartan in the prevention of new-onset AF and AF burden in atrioventricular block (AVB) patients with dual-chamber (DDD) pacemaker implantation.

Efficiencies and Complications of Dual Chamber versus Single Chamber Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in Secondary Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention: A Meta-analysis.

Background: Dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are considered to have better clinical outcomes than single chamber ICDs, however, an individual trial may not have sufficient power to prove it. This meta-analysis aimed to compare clinical outcomes of dual chamber ICDs (DC-ICDs) with single chamber ICDs (SC-ICDs) in secondary sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention.

Methods: We searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, and other internet sources, without language or date restrictions for articles comparing clinical outcomes between DC-ICDs and SC-ICDs.

I(f) current channel inhibitor (ivabradine) deserves cardioprotective effect via down-regulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and attenuating apoptosis in diabetic mice.

Background: Ivabradine (IVBD), a novel I(f)-channel inhibitor and specific heart rate-lowering agent, is known to have anti-oxidative activity that promotes endothelial function. However, the molecular mechanism through which IVBD acts on cardiac function has yet to be elucidated, especially in experimental diabetic animals.

Methods: For this reason, twenty diabetic mice were randomly assigned to IVBD-treated (10 mg/kg/day) and control (saline) groups.

Interleukin-6, but not C-reactive protein, predicts the occurrence of cardiovascular events after drug-eluting stent for unstable angina.

Background: Evidences concerning the predictive value of baseline inflammatory biomarkers after drug-eluting stent (DES) placement are controversial, mainly because the use of statin was not precisely defined.

Objectives: The aim was to compare the differences between interleukin (IL)-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in predicting cardiovascular events 2 years after stenting in patients with unstable angina (UA) who had not received statin pretreatment.

Methods: There were 1,896 patients included in this study.

Intravenous injection of nicardipine changed the distribution of coronary artery endothelial shear stress and fluid dynamics in patients with unstable angina.

Background: Coronary endothelial shear stress (ESS) triggered the development of atherosclerosis. However, the effect of calcium channel antagonist on the distribution of ESS remained unclear.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) 48 hours after maximal medication with single left anterior descending artery stenosis < 50% were studied.

Hemodynamic change in wall shear stress in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions treated by double kissing crush or single-stent technique.

Background: Fluid dynamic mechanisms attributed to coronary bifurcation lesions remain a subject of study. The present study aimed at investigating the hemodynamic change of wall shear stress (WSS) in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions treated by double kissing (DK) crush or one-stent with final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI).

Methods: Eighty-one patients with bifurcation lesions treated by stenting who had 3-D model reconstruction were studied.

Three hours continuous injection of adenosine improved left ventricular function and infarct size in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The definitive treatment for myocardial ischemia is reperfusion. However, reperfusion injury has the potential to cause additional reversible and irreversible damage to the myocardium. One likely candidate for a cardioprotection is adenosine.

Acute effects of nicardipine and esmolol on the cardiac cycle, intracardiac hemodynamic and endothelial shear stress in patients with unstable angina pectoris and moderate coronary stenosis: results from single center, randomized study.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the acute effects of nicardipine and esmolol on hemodynamic and endothelial shear stress (ESS) in patients with unstable angina (UA) and moderate coronary stenosis (MCS).

Background: Nicardipine and esmolol exhibit cardioprotection via different mechanisms. However, their acute effects on hemodynamic and ESS are still unknown.

Angioscopy study from a large patient population comparing sirolimus-eluting stent with biodegradable versus durable polymer.

Aims: This study aimed to compare the neointimal coverage (NIC), subclinical thrombus, color of plaque underneath the stent at 9-month after implantation of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) either with durable or with biodegradable polymer (BDPM).

Methods: A total of 175 patients were assigned as Cypher (n = 81, 97 stents with durable polymer) and Excel (n = 94, 112 stents with BDPM) stent at 9-month after indexed procedure. NIC was classified from grade 0-3.

Serial intravascular ultrasound analysis comparing double kissing and classical crush stenting for coronary bifurcation lesions.

Background: Compared with the classical crush, double kissing (DK) crush improved outcomes in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions. However, there is no serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) comparisons between these two techniques.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the mechanisms of the two crush stenting techniques using serial IVUS imaging.

Individual variability in the disposition of and response to clopidogrel: pharmacogenomics and beyond.

The widespread use of clopidogrel alone or in combination with aspirin has significantly benefited patients with acute coronary syndrome who are managed medically or by percutaneous coronary intervention and stent implantation, greatly improving their survival. Emerging data have documented that the clopidogrel response may vary from person to person and even from disease to disease, and that genetic and nongenetic factors contribute to that variability. Genetic polymorphisms affecting clopidogrel metabolic bioactivation and platelet function may be responsible, each exerting a small effect.

Prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with unprotected left main trifurcation lesions treated by drug-eluting stents: importance of 2-stent technique and SYNTAX score.

Background: There were insufficient data on the prognosis of stenting for patients with trifurcated unprotected left main lesions (UPLMS).

Methods: From the SPEED (stents for percutaneous treatment of coronary artery disease) registry of all percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for all types of UPLMS, data of 44 patients with trifurcated UPLMS were selected and analyzed.

Results: Patients were divided into one-stent (N = 23) or 2-stent (N = 21) groups.

Distribution and magnitude of shear stress after coronary bifurcation lesions stenting with the classical crush technique: a new predictor for in-stent restenosis.

Background: Wall shear stress (SS) plays an important role in the initiation and proliferation of coronary atherosclerosis, especially for bifurcations. Stenting in the coronary artery will cause many different changes in velocity, flow, cross-sectional area, and especially the wall SS. However, it is still unknown how much wall SS distribution varies with stenting in coronary bifurcation.

Contradictory shear stress distribution prevents restenosis after provisional stenting for bifurcation lesions.

Background: Endothelial shear stress is one of the local hemodynamic factors suspected in the development of coronary atherosclerosis in bifurcation lesions. In patients with provisional stenting, the endothelial shear stress (SS) distribution is unknown.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude and distribution of the SS of coronary bifurcation lesions stenting by the provisional approach.

Left ventricular endocardial pacing predicts the reduction of left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient immediately after percutaneous transseptal myocardial ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy refractory to medication.

Background: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) carries an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. No data regarding the percutaneous transseptal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) and epicardial left ventricular pacing (LVP) were reported.

Methods: Seven patients with recurrent symptoms and increased resting left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOTG) after PTSMA and another 14 patients with HOCM without history of PTSMA were studied.