Chronic pretreatment of metformin is associated with the reduction of the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with diabetes mellitus after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Metformin is one of the most commonly prescribed antihyperglycemic agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, little is known about the effect of metformin on no-reflow in diabetic patients.

Aim: In this study, we investigated retrospectively whether chronic pretreatment with metformin was associated with no-reflow in diabetic patients who underwent primary coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Diagnosis, operation, recurrence, metastasis, and death: a case of primary cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma.

We present a case report of a 48-year-old man with a huge left atrial rhabdomyosarcoma who presented as severe mitral stenosis and accepted emergency surgery. Two years later, a pathologic fracture revealed osseous metastasis, and intracardiac recurrence was detected by echocardiography. The patient died of multiple organ failure in the end.

The effect of statins on the no-reflow phenomenon: an observational study in patients with hyperglycemia before primary angioplasty.

Background: An association between admission plasma glucose levels and an increased risk of no-reflow has been well documented. Although HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) therapy can reduce no-reflow, little is known about its effect on no-reflow in patients with hyperglycemia. In the present study, we investigated whether pretreatment with a statin could reduce no-reflow in patients with hyperglycemia, who underwent primary coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Carvedilol reduces myocardial no-reflow by decreasing endothelin-1 via activation of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel.

It has been verified that carvedilol can attenuate myocardial no-reflow. However, the effects of carvedilol on adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel and endothelin-1 (ET-1) are unknown. Forty mini-swines were randomized into 5 study groups: 8 control, 8 carvedilol pretreatment, 8 glibenclamide (K(ATP) channel blocker)-treated, 8 carvedilol and glibenclamide-pre-treated and 8 sham-operated.

Remote periconditioning reduces myocardial no-reflow by the activation of K ATP channel via inhibition of Rho-kinase.

Unlabelled: Remote periconditioning is induced by brief cycles of ischemia and reperfusion of a remote organ applied during sustained myocardial ischemia. It remains unknown whether the remote periconditioning reduces myocardial no-reflow. The adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel opening and inhibition of Rho-kinase may be the important mechanism of protection against myocardial no-reflow.

Effect of statin therapy on reperfusion arrhythmia in patients who underwent successful primary angioplasty.

Background: In animal models, pretreatment with statin can prevent reperfusion arrhythmia. In the observational study, we investigated whether pretreatment with statin may prevent reperfusion arrhythmia in patients who underwent primary coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Method And Results: A total of 226 consecutive patients who underwent successful primary angioplasty for a first AMI were studied.

Intravenous nicorandil preserves endothelial junctions by decreasing endothelin-1 via activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channel.

Background: It has been verified that nicorandil can attenuate myocardial no-reflow. However; the effects of nicorandil on endothelial junctions and Endothelin-1 (ET-1) are unknown.

Methods: 40 mini-swines randomized into 5 study groups: 8 in control, 8 nicorandil pretreatment, 8 in glibenclamide (KATP channel blocker)-treated, 8 in nicorandil and glibenclamide-pretreated and 8 in sham-operated.

Is elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol always good for coronary heart disease?

Background: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) could enhance inflammation in atherogenesis when inflammatory response is present, and the activity of paraoxonase and antioxidant in HDL in the elderly is significantly decreased. There might be a different role for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) between different age groups in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: For this study, 225 inpatients with CHD (coronary atherosclerosis stenosis >/= 50% on >/= 1 major coronary arteries by coronary angiography), and 80 without CHD; 120 resting unstable angina patients, and 68 with stable angina were consecutively recruited.

Chronic pretreatment of ACEI reduces no-reflow in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.

Background: In animal models, pretreatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) can reduce no-reflow. In the present study, we investigated whether pretreatment with ACEI may prevent no-reflow in patients who underwent primary coronary intervention for AMI.

Method And Results: A total of 259 consecutive patients who underwent primary angioplasty for a first AMI were studied.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism influences lipid phenotypes in Chinese families with familial combined hyperlipidemia.

Background: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism is associated with changes in the lipoprotein profile of individuals with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), but its effects on the lipoprotein profiles of members of Chinese families with FCHL remain uncertain.

Methods And Results: 43 FCHL families (n=449) and 9 normolipidemic families (n=73) were recruited to assess the influence of apoE polymorphism on plasma lipids. The relative frequency of the epsilon4 allele in affected and unaffected FCHL relatives, spouses and normolipidemic members was 13.

Patients with low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol or smoking are more likely to develop myocardial infarction among subjects with a visible lesion or stenosis in coronary artery.

Background: Traditional contrast coronary arteriography affords only an indirect view of aspects of atheromata related to their propensity to trigger thromboses, so it is urgent to recognize the vulnerable person who is more likely to develop myocardial infarction (MI) among patients with visible lesion or stenosis in coronary artery.

Methods And Results: Two hundred and eighty-eight patients (144 MI patients, 144 controls) who had either a visible lesion or differing extent of stenosis in 1 or more major coronary arteries were consecutively enrolled. Lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes were analyzed for their association with MI.

Different effects of postconditioning on myocardial no-reflow in the normal and hypercholesterolemic mini-swines.

Background: Postconditioning with multiple very short coronary occlusions immediately after prolonged ischemia has been found to reduce infarction size. However, it remains unknown whether postconditioning under the normal or hypercholesterolemic condition can also reduce myocardial no-reflow for which endothelial dysfunction is an important mechanism.

Methods: Twenty-four normal mini-swines were randomized into 3 study groups: 8 in control, 8 in postconditioning, 8 in sham-operated group.

Pretreatment with simvastatin reduces myocardial no-reflow by opening mitochondrial K(ATP) channel.

Background And Purpose: Simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering agent, can protect against endothelial dysfunction. However, the effects of simvastatin treatment on the restoration of blood flow to ischemic myocardium are not known. This study sought to assess such effects of simvastatin on an experimental model of myocardial no-reflow and to explore possible mechanisms.

Pretreatment with fosinopril or valsartan reduces myocardial no-reflow after acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion.

Background: Both fosinopril and valsartan are effective in protecting endothelial function. We hypothesized that they may also reduce myocardial no-reflow. In addition, suppression of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K (KATP) channel opening is an important mechanism for myocardial no-reflow.

Post-infarction treatment with simvastatin reduces myocardial no-reflow by opening of the KATP channel.

Unlabelled: Simvastatin can prevent cardiac remodelling after myocardial infarction, though the exact mechanisms are uncertain. Myocardial no-reflow is associated with progressive cardiac remodelling. However, it remains unknown whether post-infarction treatment with simvastatin can also reduce myocardial no-reflow for which suppression of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ (K(ATP)) channel opening is an important mechanism.

Apolipoprotein B is associated with metabolic syndrome in Chinese families with familial combined hyperlipidemia, familial hypertriglyceridemia and familial hypercholesterolemia.

There is a paucity of data concerning the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in families with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), familial hypertriglyceridemia (FHTG), familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and normolipidemic families in China. This study investigated the prevalence of MetS in these families and explored potential factors relevant to MetS. We recruited 70 families with 560 individuals > or = 20 years of age, including 43 FCHL families with 379 individuals, 3 FHTG families with 30 individuals, 16 FH families with 102 individuals and 8 normolipidemic families with 49 individuals.

Nicorandil reduces myocardial no-reflow by protection of endothelial function via the activation of KATP channel.

Introduction: It has been found that nicorandil can attenuate myocardial no-reflow. However, the exact cause of this beneficial effect has remained unclear. We investigated whether the beneficial effect of nicorandil on myocardial no-reflow could be partly due to its protection against endothelial dysfunction.

Associations of apolipoprotein B with pulse pressure and glucose in Chinese families with familial combined hyperlipidemia.

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), with a marked elevation of apolipoprotein B (apoB), is estimated to cause 10-20% of premature coronary artery disease. However, little data are available to demonstrate the associations of apoB with pulse pressure and glucose levels in FCHL families in China. This study was to investigate the potential influence factors for blood pressure and glucose phenotypes in FCHL families by multiple linear regression analysis.

Different effects of adenosine and calcium channel blockade on myocardial no-reflow after acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion.

Background: Adenosine and calcium channel blockers have been used in the treatment of angiographic no-reflow directly after angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, their effects on tissue perfusion after AMI and reperfusion are undefined. The present study was designed to compare the effect of adenosine with that of the calcium channel blockers diltiazem and verapamil on myocardial no-reflow.

In vivo imaging of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into myocardium using magnetic resonance imaging: a novel method to trace the transplanted cells.

Background: In vivo imaging of the cells transplanted into the beating heart is very important for the study of the cell's retention, migration. This study was designed to find a new labeling agent to trace and visualize the transplanted cells in vivo.

Method: BMMSCs were incubated with SPIO for 48 h.

Positive pressure ventilation treatment reduces plasma levels of amino terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide in congestive heart failure patients with sleep apnea.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to assess the short-term effects of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) on plasma amino terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and sleep apnea (SA).

Methods And Results: Polysomnography was performed in 105 CHF patients. Twenty-six patients with CHF and SA were randomly assigned to a control group or a PPV group.

Different effects of tirofiban and aspirin plus clopidogrel on myocardial no-reflow in a mini-swine model of acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion.

Objective: To compare the effects of an aspirin-clopidogrel combination with those of the specific glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor tirofiban on myocardial no-reflow, nitric oxide concentration and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in a mini-swine model of acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion.

Methods: Area of no-reflow was determined by both myocardial contrast echocardiography and pathological means in 40 mini-swine randomly assigned to five study groups: eight controls, eight pretreated with aspirin-clopidogrel combination for three days, eight given an intravenous infusion of tirofiban, eight treated with ischaemic preconditioning and eight sham operated. The acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion model was created with 3 h occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 1 h reperfusion.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection is a risk factor for hypertension.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which has been recognized as a potential cardiovascular pathogen and implicated in carotid atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, is independently associated with the future risk of cardiovascular death. Investigations have demonstrated that hypertension may be related to inflammation, and inflammation is one of the symptoms of HSV-2 infection. This cross-sectional study investigated the correlation between HSV-2 infection and essential hypertension.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of a fixed, low-dose perindopril-indapamide combination as first-line treatment of hypertension.

Background: A low-dose combination of perindopril and indapamide may effectively reduce blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients, but some factors related to study design might have contributed to the between-group differences in the rate of reduction of BP observed in some trials.

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the efficacy and safety profiles (through review of randomized, controlled trials) of the fixed, low-dose combination perindopril 2 mg and indapamide 0.625 mg given as 1 tablet daily as first-line antihypertensive therapy in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

Comparison of metoprolol with low, middle and high doses of carvedilol in prevention of postinfarction left ventricular remodeling in rats.

The dose-related beneficial effects of carvedilol on survival in heart failure have been verified, however, the effects on left ventricular remodeling (LVRM) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been defined. This experiment was designed to compare the effects of low, middle, and high doses of carvedilol (LD-car, MD-car, and HD-car) with metoprolol (Meto) in preventing postinfarction LVRM in rats. After the left coronary artery was ligated, 177 surviving female SD rats were randomized to: (1) AMI (n = 35), (2) LD-car (0.