Search

Objective To investigate the potential factors influencing myocardial fibrosis (MF) in non-ischemic heart failure(HF) patients with an emphasis on the role of right heart catheter (RHC) parameters. Methods This retrospective research collected clinical data from 33 non-ischemic heart failure patients admitted to China-Japan Friendship Hospital who received endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and right heart catheter (RHC) examination. All the patients were divided into two groups: mild MF (n=17) and severe MF (n=16), by means of K-means cluster analysis. MF was quantitatively evaluated by Masson staining. Potential factors influencing MF were analyzed. Results Compared with that in mild MF group, patients in severe MF group had aggravated cardiac function (cardiac index, 2.15±0.76 vs. 2.94±1.10,P＜0.05), accompanied by higher systolic right ventricle pressure (RVP), systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) and total pulmonary resistance (TPR) (P＜0.05). Hypertension and TPR were independently correlated with the degree of MF in multiple linear regression analysis (Adjusted R2=0.454, P＜0.001). Conclusions Hypertension and TPR, reflecting afterload of left and right ventricle, are found to be independently correlated with degree of MF in non-isch- emic heart failure patients. Cardiologists should pay more attention to high-risk patients in order to retard MF progression through timely intervention.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal).This article has been retracted at the request of the Authors.The article is a duplicate of a paper that has already been published as ''Development and Effects of a Community Capacity Builded Exercise Maintenance Program for Frail Elderly Women at High Risk'' (Year: 2016, Department of public health, Graduate school, Kyungpook National University). http://www.riss.kr/search/detail/DetailView.do?p_mat_type=be54d9b8bc7cdb09&control_no=ba62bd6f85b4c3a6ffe0bdc3ef48d419#redirectOne of the conditions of submission of a paper for publication is that authors declare explicitly that the paper is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. As such this article represents a severe abuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process.

Background: Inflammation plays a vital role in the occurrence and progression of atrial fibrillation (AF). The association between pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATA) and AF recurrence following ablation has not been fully clarified. Hypothesis: We aimed to evaluate the association between PCATA and AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: Patients who underwent the first RFCA for AF and performed coronary computed tomography angiography before ablation between 2018 and 2021 were enrolled. The predictive values of PCATA for AF recurrence after ablation were investigated. The area under curve (AUC), relative integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and categorical free net reclassification improvement (NRI) were used to assess the discrimination ability of different models for AF recurrence. Results: During 1‐year follow‐up, 34.1% patients experienced AF recurrence. The multivariable analysis model revealed that PCATA of the right coronary artery (RCA) was an independent risk factor for AF recurrence. Patients with a high level of RCA‐PCATA had a high risk of recurrence, after adjusting for other risk factors by restricted cubic splines. The performance in predicting AF recurrence was significantly improved by adding the marker of RCA‐PCATA to the clinical model (AUC: 0.724 vs. 0.686, p =.024), with a relative IDI of 0.043 (p =.006) and continuous NRI of 0.521 (p <.001). Conclusions: PCATA of RCA was independently associated with AF recurrence after ablation. PCATA may be helpful for risk classification for AF ablation patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molting hormone (ecdysteroid) is one of the most important hormones in insects. The synthesis and inactivation of the ecdysteroid regulate the developmental process of insects. A major pathway of ecdysone inactivation is that ecdysone is converted to 3-dehydroecdysone, and then further to 3-epiecdysone in insects. Two enzymes (ecdysone oxidase: EO and 3DE-3α-reductase) participate in this pathway. In this study, based on the previously characterized cDNAs in Spodoptera littoralis, we cloned and characterized EO and 3DE-3α-reductase genes in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The heterologously expressed proteins of the two genes in yeast showed the ecdysone oxidase and 3DE-3α-reductase activities, respectively. Expression of BmEO was only detected in the midgut at transcriptional and translational levels. We also localized EO within the midgut goblet cell cavities. For Bm3DE-3α-reductase gene, RT-PCR and western blot showed that it was expressed in the midgut and the Malpighian tubules. Moreover, we localized 3DE-3α-reductase within the midgut goblet cell cavities and the cytosol of principal cells of the Malpighian tubules. These two genes have similar expression profiles during different developmental stages. Both genes were highly expressed at the beginning of the 5th instar, and remained a relative low level during the feeding stage, and then were highly expressed at the wandering stage. All these results showed that the profiles of the two genes were well correlated with the ecdysteroid titer. The functional characterization of the enzymes participating in ecdysone inactivation in the silkworm provides hints for the artificial regulation of the silkworm development and biological control of pests.

Objective: To analyze the value of applying random urine potassium-to-creatinine ratio (rUK/Ucr) in diagnosing renal potassium loss., Methods: patients diagnosed with hypokalemia, including 373 cases of renal potassium loss, 83 cases of non-renal potassium loss , and 358 cases of normal serum potassium, between 2017 and 2021 were enrolled. The clinical data of the patients were collected and the correlation between rUK/Ucr and 24-hour urine potassium (24 hUK) in the three groups was analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of applying rUK/Ucr in diagnosing renal potassium loss., Results: Serum potassium decreased in the normal serum potassium group, the renal potassium loss group, and the non-renal renal potassium loss group ( P <0.01). The 24 hUK and the rUK/Ucr of the renal potassium loss group were higher than those of the non-renal potassium loss group and normal serum potassium group ( P <0.01). rUK/Ucr showed low to moderate correlation with 24 hUK. The AUC of 24 hUK and rUK/Ucr for determining renal potassium loss were 0.73 and 0.71, respectively. When the optimal cutoff point of rUK/Ucr for determining renal potassium loss was 3.4, the sensitivity was 67.6% and the specificity was 67.5%., Conclusion: rUK/Ucr shows a moderate correlation with 24 hUK and its accuracy in determining renal potassium loss is comparable to that of 24 hUK. When 24-hour urine samples cannot be obtained, it is recommended that rUK/Ucr be used instead of 24 hUK to determine whether renal potassium loss exists, with the optimal cutoff point for diagnosis being 3.4., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors are usually treated by surgical resection. We herein report two cases of intra-abdominal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors that were unresectable and underwent spontaneous regression without any treatment. Our case report and literature review show that regression is more common in the middle-aged and older male populations. Abdominal discomfort and fever were the most common symptoms, but the majority of patients had no obvious physical signs. There was no specific indicator for diagnosis. The majority of the lesions regressed within 3 mo and nearly all of the masses completely resolved within 1 year. We conclude that the clinical characteristics of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors are variable and, accordingly, the disease needs to be subdivided and treated on an individual basis. Surgery is always the first-line treatment; however, for those masses assessed as unresectable, conservative therapy with intense follow-up should be considered.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a rare complication of gastric surgery. The most commonly accepted concepts regarding its pathogenesis are bile stasis, sepsis and ischemia, but it has not been well described how to identify and manage this disease in the early stage. We report three cases of AAC in elderly patients immediately after gastric surgery, which were treated with three different strategies. One patient died 42 d after emergency cholecystectomy, and the other two finally recovered through timely cholecystostomy and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage, respectively. These cases informed us of the value of early diagnosis and proper treatment for perioperative AAC after gastric surgery. We further reviewed reported cases of AAC immediately after gastric operation, which may expand our knowledge of this disease.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence characters of dyslipidemia and borderline dyslipidemia in aging residents from Beijing communities and to evaluate the relative risk of cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) to dyslipidemia., Methods: The samples were selected by random cluster multistage method. Serum lipid level and CRF were determined through questionnaire, physical examination and biochemical detection for 1974 subjects who was 65 and over 65 years old in Beijing communities., Results: Age- and sex-adjusted standardized incidence of dyslipidemia and borderline dyslipidemia in ≥ 65 yrs was 35.11% (693/1974) and 28.57% (564/1974) respectively, optimal lipid was 36.32% (717/1974).Vs optimal status 3 borderline factors(BF) , 1 major CRF, 2 CRFs, and 3 CRFs to have dyslipidemia, the relative risks are OR = 1.537, 95%CI 0.597-3.959, OR = 1.898, 95%CI 0.993-3.628, OR = 2.441, 95%CI 1.268-4.698, and OR = 4.256, 95%CI 2.104-8.608 respectively., Conclusions: The prevalence of major CRFs of ≥ 65 yrs resident from Beijing communities are higher than the average level of China. The risk is higher while the number of borderline and major CRFs much more.

Objective: Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for the development of insulin resistance. However, whether a smoker has a lesser waist circumference (WC) and whether the potential changes in WC may reduce the benefits of smoking cessation remains in dispute. The aims of this study are to re-examines the relationships between smoking and metabolic risk factors by the data from Beijing adults., Methods: A total of 3710 men and 6344 women, aged 18 - 92 years old, were sampled from community centers in Beijing for this cross-sectional clinical study between April and August 2007. Their concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and plasma glucose (PG) were measured. And the anthropometric parameters (WC, body weight and height) and blood pressure (BP) were record according to a standard protocol. Their social, demographic, personal medical history and behavioral characteristics were collected by the well-trained staff. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The relationships between smoking and metabolic syndrome were analyzed by χ(2) test and logistic regression., Results: The mean age and glucose concentration were similar in both genders. Males tended to have a higher mean BP (systolic and diastolic), a higher level of TG and a lower HDL-C. Among the obesity indices, the mean WC was higher in males than that in females whereas the mean BMI higher in females. The means of BMI and WC were 24.99 kg/m(2) and 89.13 cm for males and 25.49 kg/m(2) and 85.49 cm for females respectively. Smoking was an independent risk factor of metabolic syndrome in male subjects. It was mainly due to a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, i.e. a higher level of TG and a lower level of HDL-C in smokers. And the trough prevalence of central obesity was higher in former smokers than current smokers. With adjustment for age, alcohol intake, and regular physical activity, the odds ratios [OR (95%CI)] of never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers were 1.00, 1.10 (0.92 - 1.47), and 1.36 (1.02 - 1.69) for hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.05) and 1.00, 1.08 (0.79 - 1.32), and 1.59 (1.13 - 1.89) for low HDL-C respectively (P < 0.05). The odds ratios of the MS were 1.00 (referent), 1.10 (0.76 - 1.43), and 1.49 (1.06 - 1.89) for never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers respectively (P < 0.05). Cessation of smoking had a general trend of lowering the risk of metabolic syndrome in a year-dependent manner in males. In females, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity was similar between smokers and nonsmokers. Among the features of metabolic syndrome, only a low HDL-C was associated with chronic smoking in females., Conclusion: Although smokers tend to have a lower waist circumference than nonsmokers, the males have higher risk factors for metabolic disorders. There is no significant relationship between smoking and metabolic syndrome in female subjects.

Aim: To study the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for advanced gastric cancer by performing a meta-analysis of the published studies., Methods: All published controlled trials of NAC for advanced gastric cancer vs no therapy before surgery were searched. Studies that included patients with metastases at enrollment were excluded. Databases included Cochrane Library of Clinical Comparative Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, and American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting abstracts from 1978 to 2010. The censor date was up to April 2010. Primary outcome was the odds ratio (OR) for improving overall survival rate of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Secondary outcome was the OR for down-staging tumor and increasing R0 resection in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Safety analyses were also performed. All calculations and statistical tests were performed using RevMan 5.0 software., Results: A total of 2271 patients with advanced gastric cancer enrolled in 14 trials were divided into NAC group (n = 1054) and control group (n = 1217). The patients were followed up for a median time of 54 mo. NAC significantly improved the survival rate [OR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.55], tumor stage (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.26-2.33) and R0 resection rate (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.19-1.91) of patients with advanced gastric cancer. No obvious safety concerns were raised in these trials., Conclusion: NAC can improve tumor stage and survival rate of patients with advanced gastric cancer with a rather good safety.

Objective: To examine the current ambulance transport rates and ascertain factors associated with use of emergency medical service (EMS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Beijing., Methods: Between January 1 and December 31, 2006, a cross-sectional and multicenter survey was conducted in 19 hospitals in Beijing and included patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) admitted within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. Data were collected by structured interviews and medical records review within 1 week after admission. Patients were categorized into the EMS group and the self-transport group according to their modes of transport to the initial hospital. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate logistic analysis., Results: Of the 789 patients with STEMI, only 260 (33.0%) arrived at the initial hospital by EMS, while the remaining 529 (77.0%) relied on self-transport. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age >/= 65 years (OR: 1.530, 95%CI: 1.050 - 2.230, P = 0.027), higher education level (OR: 2.032, 95%CI: 1.257 - 3.284, P = 0.004), history of coronary artery disease (OR: 0.474, 95%CI: 1.049 - 2.458, P = 0.029), unbearable symptoms (OR: 0.592, 95%CI: 1.090 - 2.520, P = 0.008), anxiety (OR: 0.760, 95%CI: 1.238 - 3.695, P = 0.006) and attribution of symptoms to cardiac origin (OR: 0.402, 95%CI: 1.020 - 2.171, P = 0.041) were independent predictors of EMS use. However, presence of pre-infarction angina significantly decreased the likelihood of using EMS (OR: 0.626, 95%CI: 0.431 - 0.907, P = 0.013)., Conclusions: Only one-third of patients with STEMI arrived at the hospital by EMS in Beijing. Demographics, history of coronary artery disease, symptoms characteristics and cognitive factors of patients were associated with the EMS use.

Objective: To study the difference in prevalence of major risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) in resident from Beijing communities in different age groups so as to offer suggestions for prevention of CHD in Beijing., Methods: The samples were selected by random cluster multistage method. Serum lipid level and CHD factors were determined through questionnaire, physical examination and biochemical detection for 10 054 subjects in Beijing communities during June 2007 to August 2007. According to age, the subjects were divided into 3 groups: 20 - 44 yr group, 45 - 59 yr group and > or = 60 yr group., Results: After age and sex standardization the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, smoking and obesity was 9.30%, 41.57%, 10.18%, 35.81% and 22.89% respectively. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and diabetes showed an rising trend with advancing age (trend chi(2): 15.6, 31.7 and 18.0, all P < 0.001). The group of 45 - 59 yr had the highest prevalence in smoking and obesity 28% and 25.27% respectively. Over 30% in the groups of 45 - 59 yr and > or = 60 yr were in the borderline of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension and over 40% were overweight. After age and sex standardization, 67.15% of community residents had at least 1 CHD risk factor, 21.37% and 8.50% 2 or over 3 CHD risk factors. As compared with group 20 - 44 yr, the odds ratio (95%CI) for clustering of CHD risk factors in groups 45 - 59 yr and > or = 60 yr were 2.63 (95%CI 2.371 - 2.924) and 4.3 (95%CI 3.764 - 4.913) respectively. The odds ratio (95%CI) for clustering of CHD risk factors for male vs female was 4.392 (95%CI 3.938 - 4.899)., Conclusion: The prevalence of CHD major risk factors of Beijing community residents is high. Groups of 45 - 59 yr and > or = 60 yr have a higher prevalence and clustering of CHD major risk factors than 20 - 44 yr group. So these age groups deserve a higher priority of comprehensive prevention and control strategies of CHD.

We report a case of sigmoid colonic carcinoma associated with deposited ova of Schistosoma japonicum. A 57-year old woman presented with a 10-mo history of left lower quadrant abdominal pain and a 2-mo history of bloody stools. She had a significant past medical history of asymptomatic schistosomiasis japonica and constipation. A colonoscopy showed an exophytic fragile neoplasm with an ulcerating surface in the sigmoid colon. During the radical operative procedure, we noted the partially encircling tumor was located in the distal sigmoid colon, and extended into the serosa. Succeeding pathological analysis demonstrated the diagnosis of sigmoid colonic ulcerative tubular adenocarcinoma, and showed deposited ova of Schistosoma japonicum in both tumor lesions and mesenteric lymph nodes. Three days after surgery the patient returned to the normal bowel function with one defecation per day. These findings reveal that deposited schistosome ova play a possible role in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of newly diagnosed abnormal glucose tolerance in patients with acute coronary syndrome and without known diabetes mellitus (DM) and to access the correlation of glycometabolic abnormality with traditional risk factors of cardiovascular diseases., Methods: The clinical data of 1328 patients with cute coronary syndrome (ACS), without previous DM, and with the admission blood glucose < 11.1 mmol/ who were consecutively admitted in 52 hospitals of 7 cities in China from June 1 to August 31 2005, were collected. A simple oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was conducted before they were discharged., Results: Glycometabolic perturbation was seen in 887 of the 1328 patients (67%). The prevalence rates of newly diagnosed DM and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) were 22% and 45% respectively. Blood pressure, blood lipid, body mass index, waistline, and hemoglobin A1C were all significantly higher in those with glycometabolic perturbation than in those with normal glucose metabolism (all P < 0.05). Waistline and blood lipid were the risk factors of abnormal glycometabolic status (both P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Newly diagnosed DM is common among the ACS patients without DM history. Newly diagnosed glycometabolic status is associated with waistline and blood lipid.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ACEI, AT1 receptor antagonism, and combination of these two drugs on ventricular remodeling, and the vary of eNOS in rats with myocardial infarction (MI)., Methods: Eighty-six rats were randomly divided into four groups at twenty-four hours after MI, and treated for 2 weeks and 6 weeks. (1) MI-placebo (n = 22); (2) MI-Fosinopril (n = 20, 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)); (3) MI-Irbesartan (n = 23, 50 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)); (4) MI-Fosinopril + Irbesartan (n = 21, 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) + 50 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)); and sham-ligation. Mean blood pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were evaluated, as well as ventricular weight (VW)/body weight (BW) ratio. The total collagen was quantified by histomorphometry. The expressions of eNOS mRNA and protein within the noninfarction zone were determined by RT-PCR and histomorphometry., Results: Acute myocardial infarction resulted in a significant increase of LVEDP (P < 0.05), LVDd (P < 0.01), and VW/BW (P < 0.01), and total collagen (at 2 weeks 6.1 +/- 0.7 vs 3.6 +/- 0.5 and at 6 weeks 5.1 +/- 0.8 vs 3.6 +/- 0.4, P < 0.01) in noninfarcted region. Treatment with fosinopril, irbesartan and combination of these two drugs improved them. At the sixth week, irbesartan and combination therapy decreased more significantly total collagen compared with fosinopril (3.4 +/- 0.7 and 3.3 +/- 0.7 vs 4.2 +/- 0.6, P < 0.05). The level of eNOS mRNA expression increased more significantly in combination therapy group than in fosinopril or irbesartan group alone (at 2 weeks 1.55 +/- 0.17, at 6 weeks 1.61 +/- 0.16, P < 0.01). eNOS protein increased., Conclusion: Fosinopril or irbesartan alone, and combination of these two drugs can improve hemodynamics, limited myocardial hypertrophy, attenuated the development of myocardial interstitial fibrosis in the noninfarcted left ventricule. The use of irbesartan, especially combined with fosinopril was more effective than fosinopril alone in the suppression interstitial fibrosis. Combination therapy was more effective than fosinopril and irbesartan alone in enhancing eNOS mRNA and protein expression.

Objective: To explore the disease-causing gene mutation in Chinese with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)., Methods: The peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 5 HCM families without consanguinity, including 5 probands, 2 males and 3 females, 28 sporadic HCM patients, 18 males and 10 females, and 80 healthy controls. The exons in the functional regions of cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3) were amplified with PCR and the amplified products were sequenced., Results: A frame shift mutation-Arg346fs mutation in exon 13, the first mutation identified in Chinese-was discovered in one family with HCM. However, the members of the same HCM family with the Arg346fs mutation showed differences in phenotype and prognosis., Conclusion: Cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3) may be one of the main disease-causing genes. The heterogeneity of phenotype suggests that multiple factors may be involved in the pathogenesis.

Objective: To study the disease-causing gene mutation in Chinese with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype., Methods: Samples of peripheral blood were collected from five Chinese patients with HCM in whose families at least 2 HCM patients existed. The exon in the functional regions of the beta myosin heavy chain gene (beta-MHC) were amplified with PCR and the products were sequenced. The relation between the genotype and phenotype was analyzed., Results: Two mutations were first identified. Eighty controls were normal in the genetic test., Conclusion: beta-MHC may be the main disease-causing gene. Two mutations have different phenotypes. In one family, the identical mutation has different phenotypes and prognoses. The heterogeneity of phenotype suggests that multiple factors be involved in the pathogenesis.