Myocardial Infarction with Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA): A Review of the Current Position.

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) remains a puzzling clinical entity that is characterized by clinical evidence of myocardial infarction (MI) with normal or near-normal coronary arteries on angiography (stenosis <50%). Major advances in understanding this condition have been made in recent years. The precise pathogenesis is poorly understood and is being studied and examined further.

Clinical Outcomes and Predictors of ST-Elevation Versus Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries.

Background: Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) can be clinically categorized as ST-segment elevation (STE) and non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE), whose clinical prognosis are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcome and their predictors of patients with STE and NSTE in MINOCA population.

Methods: A total of 265 patients with MINOCA (102 with STE, and 163 with NSTE) were consecutively collected.

Impact of Preoperative Occult Renal Dysfunction on Early and Late Outcomes After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass.

Background: Renal dysfunction is independently associated with increased early and late mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Off-pump CABG (OPCABG) avoids postoperative complications from the cardiopulmonary bypass, but it is unclear how it is impacted by occult renal dysfunction (ORD). This study aimed to investigate the effects of ORD on early and late outcomes after OPCABG.

NLRC5 deficiency ameliorates cardiac fibrosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy by regulating EndMT through Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main causes of heart failure in patients with diabetes. Cardiac fibrosis caused by endothelial mesenchymal transformation (EndMT) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of DCM. NLRC5 is a recently discovered immune and inflammatory regulatory molecule in the NOD-like receptor family, and is involved in organ fibrosis.

The Association Between Lymph Node Stage and Clinical Prognosis in Thyroid Cancer.

To investigate the association between lymph node (N) stage and clinical outcome in thyroid cancer patients with initial distant metastasis. A total of 3,198 cases (1,435 males and 1,763 females) between 2004 and 2015 with initial distant metastasis were obtained from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database. Patients with a median follow up time of 13 months and a median age of 66 years were analyzed.

MFGE8 attenuates Ang-II-induced atrial fibrosis and vulnerability to atrial fibrillation through inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by potentiated growth of atrial fibroblasts and excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix. Atrial fibrosis has emerged as a hallmark of atrial structural remodeling linked to AF. Nonetheless, the specific mechanism underlying the progression of atrial fibrosis to AF is still largely unknown.

MALDI-TOF MS for the rapid identification and drug susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi.

The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for identifying filamentous fungi and assessing the activities of common antifungal drugs against different kinds of filamentous fungi that are commonly encountered in a clinical setting. A total of 123 strains of filamentous fungi (24 species) were submitted for identification by MALDI-TOF MS, and the findings were compared with those obtained by conventional methods. The discrepancies were further investigated by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis.

The Integrative Regulatory Network of circRNA, microRNA, and mRNA in Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common irregular heart rhythm which influence approximately 1-2% of the general population. As a potential factor for ischemic stroke, AF could also cause heart failure. The mechanisms behind AF pathogenesis is complex and remains elusive.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) in Chinese patients: Clinical features, treatment and 1 year follow-up.

Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is characterised by clinical evidence of myocardial infarction with normal or near-normal coronary arteries on angiography (stenosis<50%). We investigated clinical features among Chinese MINOCA patients and one-year follow-up on medication management and cardiovascular events.

Methods: The data of 2029 patients with acute myocardial infarction were consecutively collected.

Nrf2 deficiency exacerbates frailty and sarcopenia by impairing skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics in an age-dependent manner.

Aim: Mitochondrial dysfunction during aging is a key factor that contributes to sarcopenia. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been increasingly recognized to regulate mitochondrial function. The present study aimed to investigate the role of Nrf2 in the development of frailty and sarcopenia during aging, and to demonstrate whether Nrf2 contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass and function by regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics during the aging process.

The Protective Effects of Levo-Tetrahydropalmatine on ConA-Induced Liver Injury Are via TRAF6/JNK Signaling.

Aims: Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) is an active ingredient of W. T. Wang, which has many bioactive properties.

Clinical significance of soluble immunoglobulins A and G and their coated bacteria in feces of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG are major components in human intestinal mucosal surface and sera, and IgA- or IgG-coated bacteria play a vital role in the intestinal homeostasis. However, the correlation of IgA, IgG and their coated bacteria with the clinical characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been fully clarified.

Methods: The levels of soluble IgA and IgG in sera and feces were detected by ELISA, and the percentage of IgA- and IgG-coated bacteria in feces was analyzed by flow cytometry.

Pegylated Interferon-α Plus Ribavirin Therapy Improves Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Attaining Sustained Virological Response.

Background: Pegylated interferon (pegIFN) in combination with ribavirin (RBV) has successfully improved the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected individuals, which reduces the progression of the chronic liver disease. However, the influence of combination therapy (pegIFN/RBV) on cardiac function has yielded ambiguous results. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of combination therapy with pegIFN/RBV on cardiac function of HCV-infected individuals with SVR.

Salidroside mediates apoptosis and autophagy inhibition in concanavalin A-induced liver injury.

Salidroside (Sal) is a glycoside extract from L. with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer and cardioprotective properties. The present study explored the protective effects and the possible mechanisms of Sal on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced liver injury in mice.

The Hepatoprotection by Oleanolic Acid Preconditioning: Focusing on PPAR Activation.

Objective: Previous studies have characterized the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of oleanolic acid (OA). This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of OA hepatoprotection in concanavalin A- (ConA-) induced acute liver injury.

Materials And Methods: ConA (20 mg/kg) was intravenously injected to induce acute liver injury in Balb/C mice.

Isorhamnetin: A hepatoprotective flavonoid inhibits apoptosis and autophagy via P38/PPAR-α pathway in mice.

Isorhamnetin, a flavonoid compound extracted from plants' fruit or leaves, like sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), has many biological functions, including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The present study is in order to explore the hepatoprotective effect of isorhamnetin on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute fulminant hepatitis and the underlying mechanism.

Familial hypercholesterolemia in Chinese patients with premature ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: Prevalence, lipid management and 1-year follow-up.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), characterized by elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and premature coronary artery disease (CAD), remains mostly underdiagnosed and undertreated. We investigated the prevalence of clinical FH among Chinese patients with premature ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and one-year follow-up on their lipid management and cardiovascular events.

Methods: Four hundred and ninety-eight premature STEMI patients (363men) were enrolled.

Meta-analysis of the effects of Bifidobacterium preparations for the prevention and treatment of pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea in China.

Bifidobacterium preparations are increasingly used for pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in China. The aim of this study was to review existing evidence on the efficacy of Bifidobacterium preparations for the prevention and treatment of pediatric AAD in China. Searches were performed with Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CNKI, and CBM databases.

Neuroprotective effect of lignans extracted from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. on glaucoma-related neurodegeneration.

Glaucoma is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and axon degeneration. The development of neuroprotective drug is required for improving the efficiency of glaucoma treatment. Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.