Effect of Adaptive Servo-Ventilation on Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep in Patients With Heart Failure.

Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to investigate whether PLMS change in response to adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) for central sleep apnea (CSA) in patients with HF. We examined polysomnographic studies conducted between 2010 and 2014 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (n = 14,444).

Urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F as a risk marker for the vulnerability of culprit plaque in diabetic patients with stable coronary artery disease.

We evaluated the association of urinary excretion of 8-iso-prostaglandin F (8-iso-PGF) with the vulnerability of culprit lesions in 156 age- and sex-matched diabetic stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with or without thin-capped fibroatheroma (TCFA) identified by iMAP intravascular ultrasound. Fasting urinary 8-iso-PGF level was measured and corrected by creatinine clearance. Compared to non-TCFA group, patients with TCFA had higher urinary 8-iso-PGF levels [114.

Prevalence of pulmonary embolism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The overlap syndrome.

Objective: Growing evidence indicates that both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be closely associated with the prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the relationship of overlap syndrome (OS) (coexistence of OSA and COPD) with PE is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether OS were associated with increased PE prevalence.

Anticancer Therapy-Induced Atrial Fibrillation: Electrophysiology and Related Mechanisms.

Some well-established immunotherapy, radiotherapy, postoperation, anticancer drugs such as anthracyclines, antimetabolites, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 blockers, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, alkylating agents, checkpoint inhibitors, and angiogenesis inhibitors, are significantly linked to cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity is a common complication of several cancer treatments. Some studies observed complications of cardiac arrhythmia associated with the treatment of cancer, including atrial fibrillation (AF), supraventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac repolarization abnormalities.

Ouabain ameliorates bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of lung fibroblasts.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal idiopathic interstitial pulmonary disease characterized by progressive deterioration in lung function that commonly affects eldly people. The pathogenesis of the disease is incompletely understood and therefore lacking effective therapy. Ouabain a digitalis has been reported to be able to suppress lung fibroblast activation via downregulating TGF-β-smad signal pathway .

Biocompatibility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Nanoprobes Improved by Transformable Gadolinium Oxide Nanocoils.

To design functional nanomaterials for biomedical applications, the challenge for scientists is to gain further understanding of their unique toxicological properties. Nonspecific adhesion of proteins and endocytosis are considered to be the major biotoxic sources of imaging nanoprobes. Here, we fabricated ultrathin gadolinium oxide (GdO) nanocoils with a low Young's modulus, which provides transformable properties in solution.

Gender Differences in Prognosis and Risk Stratification of Brugada Syndrome: A Pooled Analysis of 4,140 Patients From 24 Clinical Trials.

Male gender has been consistently shown to be a risk factor for a greater number of arrhythmic events in patients with Brugada Syndrome (BrS). However, there have been no large-scale comprehensive pooled analyses to statistically and systematically verify this association. Therefore, we conducted a pooled analysis on gender differences in prognosis and risk stratification of BrS with a largest sample capacity at present.

Downregulated caveolin-1 expression serves a potential role in coronary artery spasm by inducing nitric oxide production .

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of downregulated caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-damaged primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a model of coronary artery spasm (CAS) microenvironment induced by acetylcholine (ACh) treatment. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated Cav-1 downregulation in HUVECs was confirmed by western blotting. The cell viability and superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibition in HUVECs incubated with LPS (0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µg/ml) were measured by cell counting kit-8 assay and a SOD kit, respectively.

A correlative study of myocardial infarction scar characteristics by DE-MR and the Lown's classification of ventricular premature beats.

Objective: Correlation between myocardial infarction (MI) scar by cardiac magnetic resonance and the Lown's classification of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) is poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the correlation between the MI scar characteristics by delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) and the Lown's classification of VPBs.

Methods: Sixty-five patients, in the convalescence stage and consolidation phase of MI, were included in this retrospective study.

Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Stage 1 Hypertension Defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline.

Background: Systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg has been recently defined as stage 1 hypertension by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guideline. To what extent this BP stratum affects cardiovascular risk needs to be quantified in considering its adoption in China.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the relative risk and population-attributable risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with stage 1 hypertension and age-specific differences.

Luteolin decreases atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice via a mechanism including decreasing AMPK-SIRT1 signaling in macrophages.

Lipid metabolism dysfunction and inflammatory infiltration into arterial walls are associated with the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Luteolin has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory actions and protect against tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced vascular inflammation, monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells and the formation of lipid-laden macrophages . However, the role of luteolin in atherosclerosis and the associated vascular inflammatory remains to be elucidated.

Mechanisms and Treatments of Oxidative Stress in Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent cardiac arrhythmia. It is a common major cause of serious diseases and is an increasing health-care burden. AF is associated with an excess amount of reactive oxygen species.

Mitochondria and the Pathophysiological Mechanism of Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common and significant cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice, however the pathophysiological mechanism of AF has not been fully explained. At present, there are no available treatment options that can target the underlying pathophysiological processes of AF. Research on improving management strategies for AF can start with a further understanding of the changes of cells in AF.

Relation of serum uric acid to asymptomatic proximal extracranial artery stenosis in a middle-aged Chinese population: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: Serum uric acid (SUA) has been associated with cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and carotid artery stenosis. However, data on the relationship between SUA level and proximal extracranial artery stenosis (PEAS) are limited. Therefore, this study investigates the association between SUA levels and the risk of PEAS in asymptomatic Chinese population.

Ideal Cardiovascular Health Metrics Associated with Reductions in the Risk of Extracranial Carotid Artery Stenosis: a Population-based Cohort Study.

The cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics are closely related to the risk of stroke. Extracranial carotid artery stenosis (ECAS) represents an important risk factor for ischemic stroke. The present study aims to explore the longitudinal effect of the baseline CVH metrics on the development of ECAS.

Surgical outcome after complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve: comparison between bovine jugular vein-valved conduit and monocusp-valve patch.

Background: The prognosis of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve (TOF/APV) without operation is poor. We evaluated the surgical outcome of TOF/APV in a single center.

Methods: Twenty-two TOF/APV patients underwent complete surgical correction in our hospital.

Association between circulating full-length angiopoietin-like protein 8 and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in Chinese non-diabetic individuals: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) is a novel hormone involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. There are inconsistent results regarding the association between ANGPTL8 and lipids in humans. We aimed to investigate the associations between ANGPTL8 and lipids in people without diabetes.

Independent risk factors for postoperative AKI and the impact of the AKI on 30-day postoperative outcomes in patients with type A acute aortic dissection: an updated meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Background: This meta-analysis aims to investigate the effects of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) on 30-day postoperative outcomes and the independent risk factors for postoperative AKI in patients with type A acute aortic dissection (TAAD).

Methods: Relevant reports published between January 1, 2011 and May 31, 2017 were searched in multiple electronic literature databases. A total of seven eligible articles were included in the meta-analysis.

Rationale and design of the improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) project: a national registry to improve management of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Inadequate management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported in China for anticoagulation therapy and treatment for concomitant diseases. An effective quality improvement programme has been lacking to promote the use of evidence-based treatments and improve outcome in patients with AF.

Methods And Analysis: The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-AF programme is a collaboration of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology.

[Temporal expression of triggering receptors expressed by myeloid cells-1 during the development of experimental periodontitis in rat].

To illuminate the temporal expression of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) in the experimental periodontitis in rat and to investigate the function of TREM-1 in the pathogenesis of experimental periodontitis in rat. The experimental periodontitis model was established in the maxillary first molar by means of 'wire ligation + vaccination periodontal pathogen (Pg) + high-sugar diet' in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The experimental animals were divided into six groups: the control group and each of the time points of establishing the models for one week and two to five weeks.

Serum exosomes mediate delivery of arginase 1 as a novel mechanism for endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.

Exosomes, abundant in blood, deliver various molecules to recipient cells. Endothelial cells are directly exposed to circulating substances. However, how endothelial cells respond to serum exosomes (SExos) and the implications in diabetes-associated vasculopathy have never been explored.

Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress by intermedin1-53 attenuates angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in ApoE KO Mice.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is involved in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Since bioactive peptide intermedin (IMD)1-53 protects against AAA formation, here we investigated whether IMD1-53 attenuates AAA by inhibiting ERS. AAA model was induced by angiotensin II (AngII) in ApoE KO mouse background.

Associations between circulating full-length angiopoietin-like protein 8 levels and severity of coronary artery disease in Chinese non-diabetic patients: a case-control study.

Background: Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8), which is a novel hormone produced in liver and adipose tissue, is involved in regulating lipid metabolism. Patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) have remarkably higher levels of ANGPTL8 than those with only diabetes. However, no studies have investigated the involvement of ANGPTL8 in CAD in Chinese non-diabetic individuals.

Novel Approaches for the Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Current Status and Future Challenges.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal-dominant disorder that is characterized by high plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Despite the use of high-dose statins and the recent addition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors as a treatment option, many patients with homozygous FH fail to achieve optimal reductions of LDL-c levels. Gene therapy has become one of the most promising research directions for contemporary life sciences and is a potential treatment option for FH.