ATF3 coordinates the survival and proliferation of cardiac macrophages and protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Cardiac resident MerTK macrophages exert multiple protective roles after ischemic injury; however, the mechanisms regulating their fate are not fully understood. In the present study, we show that the GAS6-inducible transcription factor, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), prevents apoptosis of MerTK macrophages after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury by repressing the transcription of multiple genes involved in type I interferon expression (Ifih1 and Ifnb1) and apoptosis (Apaf1). Mice lacking ATF3 in cardiac macrophages or myeloid cells showed excessive loss of MerTK cardiac macrophages, poor angiogenesis and worse heart dysfunction after IR, which were rescued by the transfer of MerTK cardiac macrophages.

One Endothelium-Targeted Combined Nucleic Acid Delivery System for Myocardial Infarction Therapy.

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic heart disease are the leading causes of heart failure and mortality. Currently, research on MI treatment is focused on angiogenic and anti-inflammatory therapies. Although endothelial cells (ECs) are critical for triggering inflammation and angiogenesis, no approach has targeted them for the treatment of MI.

Machine learning-based coronary artery calcium score predicted from clinical variables as a prognostic indicator in patients referred for invasive coronary angiography.

Objectives: Utilising readily available clinical variables, we aimed to develop and validate a novel machine learning (ML) model to predict severe coronary calcification, and further assessed its prognostic significance.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients who underwent coronary CT angiography and subsequent invasive coronary angiography. Multiple ML algorithms were used to train the models for predicting severe coronary calcification (cardiac CT-measured coronary artery calcium [CT-CAC] score ≥ 400).

Shoulder vibratory exercises improves shoulder external rotation muscle strength and shoulder function: Randomized comparison trial.

Background: Based on electromyography measurements, shoulder vibratory exercises efficiently stimulate shoulder muscles activity. Yet very few studies have supported that shoulder vibratory exercises increased shoulder muscles strength and function, and the noninferiority compared with conventional elastic resistance exercises remains unknown.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of vibratory exercises versus conventional elastic resistance exercises with elastic bands on shoulder external rotation muscles strength and functional performance in young adults.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction is involved in the development of systemic inflammatory responses and lung injury in type A aortic dissection: a case-control study.

Background: The definite pathogenesis of lung injury complicated by type A aortic dissection (TAAD) remains unclear. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between intestinal injury, lung injury, and systemic inflammatory responses, with the aim of exploring the mechanism underlying intestinal injury and its impact on systemic inflammatory responses and lung injury in patients with TAAD.

Methods: Patients with TAAD (n=36) and those with aortic root aneurysm (ARA) (n=30) were compared.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL): A Novel Biomarker for Prognostic Assessment and Risk Stratification of Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is associated with poor prognosis in cardiovascular diseases. However, the predictive value of TRAIL for the short-term outcome and risk stratification of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) remains unknown.

Methods: This study prospectively included 151 normotensive patients with acute PE.

Gender differences in bicuspid aortic valve Sievers types, valvulopathy, aortopathy, and outcome of aortic valve replacement.

Background: The gender difference of the bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is not well understood.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of gender on the Sievers types, valvulopathy, aortopathy, and outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) of BAV patients in a cohort of Chinese patients.

Methods: Among 992 BAV patients without aortic dissection nor congenital heart disease, 658 underwent AVR.

The Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent and significantly associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment has a protective effect on cardiovascular events in OSA patients. However, whether CPAP therapy significant reduces the risk of recurrent cardiovascular (CV) events in OSA patients with established cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases remains disputed.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in China: Genetic and clinical characteristics from a real-world, multi-center, cohort study.

Background: There is a lack of large-scale data on the clinical and genotype characteristics of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) patients in Asia.

Objective: To define the characteristics of phenotypic and genetic HoFH probands from mainland China.

Methods: We collected data from patients with suspected HoFH from ten clinical hospitals across mainland China from 2003 to 2019.

Therapeutic and Prognostic Significance of Arachidonic Acid in Heart Failure.

Background: Accurate prediction of death is an unmet need in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF). Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites play an important role in the multiple pathophysiological processes. We aimed to develop an AA score to accurately predict mortality in patients with acute decompensated HF and explore the causal relationship between the AA predictors and HF.

Fast assessment of left ventricular systolic function in obstructive sleep apnea patients with automated function imaging: Comparison with mitral annular plane systolic excursion.

Background: Early detection of left ventricular (LV) subclinical dysfunction is clinically relevant before developing irreversible impairment in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Mitral annulus plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) is a fast tool for OSA due to high prevalent obesity; another quick but more comprehensive tool is LV global longitudinal stain (GLS) based on automated function imaging (AFI). We therefore aimed to compare the feasibility and reproducibility of AFI to MAPSE in OSA patients, as a good model in whom obesity is common.

Echocardiographic changes in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction after sacubitril-valsartan treatment.

Background: To observe the changes of cardiac structure and function in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after taking Sacubitril-Valsartan for 6 months.

Methods: Elderly patients with HFrEF hospitalized in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from May 2019 to May 2020 were enrolled continuously in the single-center, retrospective, cohort study. Patients' Echocardiographs were examined for the evaluation of their cardiac condition.

DNA methylome profiling reveals epigenetic regulation of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A in human vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability is a key feature of atheroprogression and precipitating acute cardiovascular events. Although the pivotal role of epigenetic regulation in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization is being recognized, the DNA methylation profile and its potential role in driving the progression and destabilization of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains largely unknown. We conducted a genome-wide analysis to identify differentially methylated genes in vulnerable and non-vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions to understand more about pathogenesis.

Deficiency of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α attenuates apoptosis and promotes migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α is widely expressed in the vasculature and has pleiotropic and lipid-lowering independent effects, but its role in the growth and function of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during vascular pathophysiology is still unclear. Herein, VSMC-specific PPARα-deficient mice ( ) were generated by Cre-LoxP site-specific recombinase technology and VSMCs were isolated from mice aorta. PPARα deficiency attenuated VSMC apoptosis induced by angiotensin (Ang) II and hydrogen peroxide, and increased the migration of Ang II-challenged cells.

ER-anchored CRTH2 antagonizes collagen biosynthesis and organ fibrosis via binding LARP6.

Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, mainly collagen protein, is the hallmark of organ fibrosis. The molecular mechanisms regulating fibrotic protein biosynthesis are unclear. Here, we find that chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule expressed on TH2 cells (CRTH2), a plasma membrane receptor for prostaglandin D2, is trafficked to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane in fibroblasts in a caveolin-1-dependent manner.

Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography for Detecting Subclinical Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Myocardial ischemia and left ventricular dysfunction have been documented in young adults with familial hypercholesterolemia. We investigated whether speckle-tracking echocardiography can be used to detect subclinically impaired global and regional myocardial function in patients with this lipid disorder. This single-center study included 47 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and 37 healthy control subjects who underwent transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and speckle-tracking echocardiography from January 2003 through December 2016.

OPG/TRAIL ratio as a predictive biomarker of mortality in patients with type A acute aortic dissection.

Following hospital discharge, patients with type A acute aortic dissection (TA-AAD) may present an increase in mortality risk. However, little is known about specific biomarkers associated with post-discharge survival, and there is a paucity of prognostic markers associated with TA-AAD. Here, we identify nine candidate proteins specific for patietns with TA-AAD in a cross-sectional dataset by unbiased protein screening and in-depth bioinformatic analyses.

Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction detected in obstructive sleep apnea with automated function imaging and its association with nocturnal hypoxia.

Background: Early detection of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is crucial in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to its close relationship with cardiovascular diseases. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) derived from automated function imaging (AFI) can precisely assess global longitudinal function. The aim of this study was to determine if LV GLS was reduced in patients with OSA and a normal LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and to assess any associated determinants.

PHD Finger Protein 19 Promotes Cardiac Hypertrophy via Epigenetically Regulating SIRT2.

Epigenetic regulations essentially participate in the development of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. PHD finger protein 19 (PHF19) is a polycomb protein that controls H3K36me3 and H3K27me3. However, the roles of PHF19 in cardiac hypertrophy remain unknown.

mir15a/mir16-1 cluster and its novel targeting molecules negatively regulate cardiac hypertrophy.

In response to pathological stimuli, the heart develops ventricular hypertrophy that progressively decompensates and leads to heart failure. miRNAs are increasingly recognized as pathogenic factors, clinically relevant biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets. We identified that mir15a/mir16-1 cluster was negatively correlated with hypertrophic severity in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Different hypothermic and cerebral perfusion strategies in extended arch replacement for acute type a aortic dissection: a retrospective comparative study.

Background: The optimal hypothermic level in total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation for acute type A aortic dissection (aTAAD) has not been established, and the superiority of unilateral or bilateral cerebral perfusion remains a controversial issue. Therefore, we evaluated the application of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) with a core temperature of 29 °C and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion in aTAAD treated by total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation.

Methods: From July 2019 to January 2020, 25 aTAAD patients underwent total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation via MHCA (29 °C) and bilateral selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (modified group).

Is the frozen elephant trunk technique justified for chronic type A aortic dissection in Marfan syndrome?

Background: Chronic type A aortic dissection (cTAAD) in Marfan syndrome (MFS) is rare. Surgical experience is limited and the role of frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique remains undefined. We seek to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the total arch replacement (TAR) and FET technique for cTAAD in MFS.

Association of ECE1 gene polymorphisms and essential hypertension risk in the Northern Han Chinese: A case-control study.

Background: The ECE1 gene polymorphisms have been studied as a candidate gene in essential hypertension, but no consensus has been reached. To systematically explore their possible association, a case-control study was conducted.

Methods: This study included 398 hypertensive subjects and 596 healthy volunteers as control subjects in the Northern Han Chinese.