Staged angioplasty versus regular carotid artery stenting in patients with carotid artery stenosis at high risk of hyperperfusion: a randomised clinical trial.

Background And Purpose: Hyperperfusion (HP) is a devastating complication associated with carotid artery stenting (CAS) or endarterectomy. The efficacy and safety of staged angioplasty (SAP) in patients with CAS at high risk of HP remains unclear. We sought to determine whether SAP is superior to regular CAS in patients with high risk of HP.

Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Coblation of the Thoracic Nerve Root for Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most intractable pain disorders and often does not respond to medication, physical, and interventional procedures. Coblation technology has been demonstrated to have potential for neuralgia, but there are rare reports of the efficacy and security of coblation for PHN. The thoracic segment is the most common predilection part of PHN, so we conducted this long-term study to investigate the results of coblation for the treatment of thoracic PHN.

Hypoxemia and pulmonary hypertension in patients with concomitant restrictive ventilatory defect and sleep apnea: the overlap syndrome.

Background: To investigate the severity of hypoxemia and prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) in patients with the overlap syndrome (OS) of restrictive ventilatory defect (RVD) and sleep apnea (SA).

Methods: Patients referred for both sleep test and spirometry for suspected SA and ventilatory disorders were recruited prospectively from January 2019 to January 2020. SA was determined by an apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5/h; average oxygen saturation during sleep (meanSaO) and percentage of total sleep time with saturation < 90% (T90) were calculated.

Anesthesia for Pregnant Women with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Despite advances in the therapy for pulmonary hypertension over the past decades, the prognosis of pregnant patients with pulmonary hypertension remains poor, with high maternal mortality. This poses a particular challenge for the mother and her medical team. In the present review, the authors have updated the classification and definition of pulmonary hypertension, summarized the current knowledge with regard to perioperative management and anesthesia considerations for these patients, and stressed the importance of a "pregnancy heart team" to improve long-term outcomes of pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension.

[Relationship between waist-hip ratio and sleep-disordered breathing in patients with acute coronary syndrome and its effect on long-term prognosis].

To investigate the relationship between different waist-hip ratios and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its effect on patients' long-term prognosis. A total of 725 patients who were diagnosed with ACS in the emergency ward of Beijing An Zhen Hospital from June 2015 to May 2017 were included, and all the patients were monitored for sleep and breathing. Patients were divided into four groups according to their waist-hip ratios.

Intermedin alleviates pathological cardiac remodeling by upregulating klotho.

Cardiac remodeling is accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, dysfunction, and eventually leading to heart failure. Intermedin (IMD), as a paracrine/autocrine peptide, has a protective effect in cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we elucidated the role and the underlying mechanism of IMD in pathological remodeling.

The Clinical Role of Angiopoietin-Like Protein 3 in Evaluating Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Purpose: Hyperlipidemia is the most important early atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD) indicator. Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) 3, 4, and 8 are lipid dysfunction markers that may be linked to CAD. We investigated whether these circulating ANGPTLs are associated with CAD in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Assessment of gustatory function in aging people using event-related potentials.

Gustatory dysfunctions are more frequent than other chemosensory dysfunctions in aging people. Gustatory event-related potentials (ERPs) has been suggested as a reliable and effective approach for assessing gustatory functions in young and middle subjects, but has rarely been investigated in aging people, leaving influencing factors of ERPs in that population not completely understood. In this study, we analyzed gustatory ERPs results of aging participants and characterized potential impacting factors, including age, sex, BMI, drinking, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, cognition and psychophysical test scores of gustation and olfaction.

Adjusted preoperative variables to predict perioperative red blood cell transfusion in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: The variables for predicting blood transfusion perioperatively are not completely clear in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients.

Objectives: To construct a comprehensive model to predict perioperative RBC transfusion in patients undergoing isolated CABG using adjusted preoperative variables.

Methods: Perioperative data of 1253 patients who underwent isolated CABG by the same surgical team were collected from April 2018 to March 2019.

The Impact of Statins before High-Risk CABG on Postoperative Multiple Organ Function.

Background: The purpose of this cohort study was to investigate the independent relationship between preoperative statin therapy (PST) and postoperative severe multiorgan failure, measured by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) maximum greater than 11, in high-risk patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: The present study is a perspective, single-center, cohort analysis enrolling high-risk patients undergoing CABG from Jan 1, 2018, to Dec 31, 2018, in Beijing Anzhen hospital.

Results: Among a total of 880 high-risk patients undergoing isolated CABG included in this study, 503 (57.

Odor Sensitivity Versus Odor Identification in Older US Adults: Associations With Cognition, Age, Gender, and Race.

The ability to identify odors predicts morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. It varies by age, gender, and race and is used in the vast majority of survey and clinical literature. However, odor identification relies heavily on cognition.

Effect of blood insulin level on postprandial hypotension in elderly people.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to discuss the effect of postprandial insulin level on blood pressure in elderly patients by comparing the blood pressure, blood glucose, and insulin levels between patients with postprandial hypotension (PPH) and non-PPH over 80 years old during fasting and within 2 h after meal, and observing the changes of parameters in patients with PPH before and after treatment with acarbose.

Methods And Materials: Twenty-five PPH patients and 27 non-PPH patients were selected. The blood pressure, blood glucose, and insulin levels during fasting and within 2 h after meal were monitored.

Intratumor δ-catenin heterogeneity driven by genomic rearrangement dictates growth factor dependent prostate cancer progression.

Only a small number of genes are bona fide oncogenes and tumor suppressors such as Ras, Myc, β-catenin, p53, and APC. However, targeting these cancer drivers frequently fail to demonstrate sustained cancer remission. Tumor heterogeneity and evolution contribute to cancer resistance and pose challenges for cancer therapy due to differential genomic rearrangement and expression driving distinct tumor responses to treatments.

IL-25/IL-33/TSLP contributes to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Do alveolar epithelial cells and (myo)fibroblasts matter?

We suggest a novel modality in terms of IL-25/IL-33/TSLP's pro-fibrotic role in IPF. First, IL-25/IL-33/TSLP fully activates (myo)fibroblasts in fibroblastic foci (FF) in a paracrine-dependent manner. (IL-25/IL-33/TSLP)alveolar epithelial cells-(IL-25R/IL-33R/TSLPR) (myo)fibroblasts axis may contribute greatly to the abnormal epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk and lung fibrosis.

Chemotherapy-Related Anatomical Coronary-Artery Disease in Lung Cancer Patients Evaluated by Coronary-Angiography SYNTAX Score.

Background Chemotherapy-related coronary artery disease (CAD) is becoming an emerging issue in clinic. However, the underlying mechanism of chemotherapy-related CAD remains unclear. Objective The study investigated the association between chemotherapy and atherosclerotic anatomical abnormalities of coronary arteries among lung cancer patients.

The autocrine CXCR4/CXCL12 axis contributes to lung fibrosis through modulation of lung fibroblast activity.

The C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 4/C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCR4/CXCL12) axis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. However, the mechanisms governing this remain to be determined. The current study demonstrated that human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) exhibit high CXCL12 expression and also exhibit high expression of its corresponding receptor CXCR4.

Increased Circulating Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8 Levels Are Associated with Thoracic Aortic Dissection and Higher Inflammatory Conditions.

Purpose: Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is characterized by an inflammatory response. Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) is a hormone involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, the relationship between ANGPTL8 and TAD remains unknown.

Evaluating the Intention and Behaviour of Private Sector Participation in Healthcare Service Delivery via Public-Private Partnership: Evidence from China.

Private sector participation in the healthcare market via public-private partnership (PPP) could be considered an available approach to narrow down the medical resource gap and improve the operational efficiency of healthcare facilities. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the influence and relative importance among critical factors for the intention and behaviour of the private sector towards participation in Chinese healthcare market (CHM) via PPP. We defined five hypotheses from previous literature and built a theoretical model based on modified theory of planned behaviour.

Enhanced cardiomyocyte reactive oxygen species signaling promotes ibrutinib-induced atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in up to 11% of cancer patients treated with ibrutinib. The pathophysiology of ibrutinib promoted AF is complicated, as there are multiple interactions involved; the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying this are still unclear. Here, we aimed to determine the electrophysiological and molecular mechanisms of burst-pacing-induced AF in ibrutinib-treated mice.

[Correlation of tissue eosinophil count and modified CT olfactory cleft score and olfactory function in patients with nasal polyps].

To investigate the effect of tissue eosinophil count on olfactory function in patients with chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps（CRSwNP）. We prospectively selected 59 patients with CRSwNP. All the patients were not treated with oral or topical glucocorticoids for at least 1 month at the time of enrollment.

Prevalence of Gastric and Small-Intestinal Mucosal Injury in Elderly Patients Taking Enteric-Coated Aspirin by Magnetically Controlled Capsule Endoscopy.

Objective: To investigate aspirin-related gastric and small-intestinal mucosal injury in elderly patients by magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCCE).

Methods: Patients taking enteric-coated aspirin attending the outpatient department of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, from September 2017 to July 2019 underwent MCCE to assess injury to the gastric and small-intestinal mucosa. The patients were divided into the elderly group (age ≥ 60 years) and middle-aged group (45 years ≤ age < 60 years), and their clinical data were evaluated.

Stroke Risk Status, Anticoagulation Treatment, and Quality-of-Life in Chinese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: China Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (CRAF).

To investigate the contemporary status of stroke risk profile, antithrombotic treatment, and quality-of-life (QoL) of patients with all types of atrial fibrillation (AF) in China. This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Tertiary (80%) and Tier 2 hospitals (20%) were identified in different economic regions (Northeast, East, West, and Middle) by using a simple random sampling.

Rare Mutations in AHDC1 in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Mutations of gene have been implicated which could cause rare syndromes presenting OSA. This study aims to investigate some rare mutations of in Chinese Han individuals with OSA.

Association between functional polymorphisms in the promoter of the miR-143/145 cluster and risk of conotruncal heart defects.

Conotruncal heart defects (CTDs) are the most common form of congenital heart disease. We investigated the association of these two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter of (rs353292 and rs4705343) with the susceptibility to CTDs in a Chinese population. Two SNPs in the promoter of (rs353292 and rs4705343) have been examined by PCR-RFLP methodology for 259 CTDs patients and 303 control subjects.