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Growth is an important trait in aquaculture that is influenced by various factors, among which genetic regulation plays a crucial role. Megalobrama amblycephala, one of the most important freshwater species in China, exhibits wide variations in body mass among individuals of the same age within the same pool. But the molecular mechanisms underlying wide variation in body mass remain unclear. Here, we performed muscle histological and transcriptome analysis of muscle tissues from Fast-Growing (FG) and Slow-Growing (SG) M. amblycephala at the age of 4 months old (4 mo) and 10 months old (10 mo) to elucidate its muscle development and growth mechanism. The muscle histological analysis showed smaller diameter and higher total number of muscle fibers in FG compared to SG at 4 mo, while larger diameter and total number of muscle fibers were detected in FG at 10 mo. The transcriptome analysis of muscle tissue detected 1171 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FG and SG at 4 mo, and 718 DEGs between FG and SG at 10 mo. Furthermore, 44 DEGs were consistently up-regulated in FG at both 4 mo and 10 mo. Up-regulated DEGs in FG at 4 mo were mainly enriched in the pathways related to cell proliferation, while down-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in cell fusion and muscle contraction. Up-regulated DEGs in FG at 10 mo were mainly enriched in the pathways related to cell proliferation and protein synthesis. Therefore, these results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of M. amblycephala muscle growth at different stages, and will be of great guiding significance to promote the fast growth of M. amblycephala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality sleep is essential for physical and mental health. We aimed to analyze sleep disorders in children with acute leukemia and explore associated factors. Methods: General data and sleep disorders in children with acute leukemia during chemotherapy were collected by general questionnaires, Children's Sleep Disorders Scale and the Parenting Stress Index-short form. Results: In total, 173 valid questionnaires were collected. The total Sleep Disorder Scale score > 39 is considered a sleep disorder, while sleep disorders accounted for 45.66% (79/173). In the cohort, 167 children had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with 40.12% (67/167) having sleep disorders, while six children had acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, with 50.00% (3/6) having sleep disorders. Single- and multi-factor regression analyses of age, gender, number of children in the family, and time spent using electronic devices showed that factors influencing sleep disorders in these children were mainly parental scolding and adenoid hypertrophy. Children with sleep disorders had more parental stress than those without sleep disorders (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The high incidence of sleep disorders in children with acute leukemia is related to airway conditions and parental behaviors. Sleep disorders in children can increase parenting stress. Factors potentially affecting sleep quality should be addressed as early as possible, while parental education should be strengthened to better facilitate the physical and psychological recovery of their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Renal function has an important bearing on plasma homocysteine levels. Plasma homocysteine is related to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, it remains unclear whether the association between plasma homocysteine levels and LVH is influenced by renal function. This study aimed to investigate relationships among left ventricular mass index (LVMI), plasma homocysteine levels, and renal function in a population from southern China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 2,464 patients from June 2016 to July 2021. Patients were divided into three groups based on gender-specific tertiles of homocysteine levels. LVMI ≥115 g/m2 for man or ≥95 g/m2 for woman was defined as LVH. Results: LVMI and the percentage of LVH were increased, while estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was decreased with the increase in homocysteine levels, both significantly. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that eGFR and homocysteine were independently associated with LVMI in patients with hypertension. No correlation was observed between homocysteine and LVMI in patients without hypertension. Stratified by eGFR, further analysis confirmed homocysteine was independently associated with LVMI (β = 0.126, t = 4.333, p < 0.001) only in hypertensive patients with eGFR ≥90 mL/(min·1.73 m2), not with 60≤ eGFR <90 mL/(min·1.73 m2). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that in hypertensive patients with eGFR ≥90 mL/(min·1.73 m2), the patients in high tertile of homocysteine levels had a nearly twofold increased risk of occurring LVH compared with those in low tertile (high tertile: OR = 2.780, 95% CI: 1.945–3.975, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Plasma homocysteine levels were independently associated with LVMI in hypertensive patients with normal eGFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is one of the main causes of hypertensive crisis (HTN-C). It is characterized by acute onset and severe disease, and early diagnosis and treatment are difficult. The objective was to describe the characteristics of RVH and factors associated with RVH leading to HTN-C in children. At present, there are few clinical studies on RVH in children with large cases in China. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of inpatient children with RVH. Patients were divided into non-hypertensive crisis (non-HTN-C) group, and HTN-C group according to the first symptoms and blood pressure. Further, HTN-C were classified as hypertensive urgency (HTN-U) or hypertensive emergency (HTN-E). Results: Fifty-four pediatric cases (41 boys and 13 girls) were included. 83.3% of the RVH cases were ≥ 6 years old. Three cases were classified into the non-HTN-C group. Of the 51 HTN-C cases, 18 cases were grouped as HTN-U and 33 as HTN-E. The HTN-U group were mainly asymptomatic (50.0%, 9/18) while the HTN-E group mainly presented with neurological symptoms (72.7%, 24/33). The number of unknown etiology children was 32 (59.2%). The top three known etiologies were Takayasu's arteritis (50.0%, 11/22), congenital renal dysplasia (27.3%, 6/22) and fibromuscular dysplasia (13.6%, 3/22). As for the target organ damage of RVH, patients had a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (71.4%, 35/49) and retinopathy (77.8%, 21/27). Conclusions: Most RVH patients with HTN-C as the first symptoms, especially for males over 6 years old, should be assessed for RVH even if they were asymptomatic. Most asymptomatic patients with RVH already had target organ damage, and symptomatic patients even developed life-threatening complications. As preventive measures, routine monitoring of BP during children's physical examinations is advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wuliangshan Black-bone chickens, an indigenous chicken breed in southwestern China, have characteristics of black skin, black bones, and black meat, and are suitable for rearing at high altitudes. After six generations of selection, the bodyweights of chickens have been greatly improved: cocks and hens have reached 2.0 kg and 1.5 kg weight at 126 days of age, respectively. The breast and thigh muscles are the main meat-producing parts of chicken; assessing and documenting the morphological features of breast and thigh muscle development and meat composition in Wuliangshan Black-bone chickens is very important in terms of their genetic breeding and also consumer interest. This study was conducted to illustrate the morphological features of the breast and thigh muscles at four developmental stages (1, 42, 84, and 126 days of age) of Wuliangshan Black-bone chickens and to compare the chemical composition, fatty acid, and amino acid contents of their meat at 126 days of age (D126). In total, 80 chickens (male, n = 40 and female, n = 40) in the sixth generation from the breeding farm were used in the experiment under free-range rearing conditions. The cross-sectional areas (CSA) of muscle fibers and meat composition were compared between different sex and different muscle types. The results showed that gender did not affect the CSA of the breast muscle fibers but did affect the CSA of the thigh muscle fibers at D42, D84, and D126 (p < 0.05). Muscle types affected the CSA of muscle fibers: male chickens exhibited significantly higher values than female chickens at D42, D84, and D126 (p < 0.05). The results of moisture, crude protein, and crude fat at D126 showed that moisture contents were higher in the thigh muscles than in the breast muscles in male and female chickens (p < 0.05). Gender affected the crude protein contents and crude fat contents: the breast muscle crude protein content was significantly higher than that in the thigh muscle, both in males and females (p < 0.05), whereas the crude fat contents were significantly higher in females than in males (p < 0.05); moreover, the thigh muscle fat contents were significantly higher than those of the breast muscles both in males and females (p < 0.05). Gender and muscle types also affected the fatty acid contents: the PUFA contents of the breast and thigh muscles were significantly higher in male than in female chickens (p < 0.05). Muscle types significantly influenced the total EAA, NEAA, and flavor amino acid contents. The total EAA contents of the breast muscles were significantly higher than those of the thigh muscles in males and females (p < 0.05), whereas the total NEAA and total flavor amino acid contents of the thigh muscles were significantly higher than those of the breast muscles (p < 0.05). Our results may lead to a better understanding of the effects of gender on the breast and thigh muscle development and meat composition of Wuliangshan Black-bone chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been classified separately as an independent risk factor for hypertension. However, comparisons between different body size indices and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive populations have not been reported yet. In this study, we enrolled 4,639 hypertensive patients from rural China. Anthropometric indices and cardiovascular disease risk factor variables were measured and analyzed using Spearman's correlation, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Patients in the highest quartile of body size indices were more likely to have left ventricular hypertrophy than those in the lowest quartile; these indices were BMI (adjusted OR: 3.55, 95% CI: 2.90; 4.35), WC (adjusted OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.84; 2.70), WHR (adjusted OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.18; 1.75), and WHtR (adjusted OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 2.62; 3.99). The areas under the ROC curves of BMI (AUC: 0.628, 95% CI: 0.612; 0.644), WHtR (AUC: 0.628, 95% CI: 0.560; 0.593), WHR (AUC: 0.530, 95% CI: 0.513; 0.547), and WC (AUC: 0.576, 95% CI: 0.513; 0.547) were all above 0.5, which indicated that the four anthropometric indicators may be associated with LVH. The four anthropometric indicators of obesity were identified as risk factors for LVH. Weight control might help reduce the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding has become more frequent and intensive due to climate change, particularly in Asian countries. However, evidence on the long-term health effects of floods from large-scale studies on the vulnerable aged population in China is insufficient. This study analyzed the long-term effects of exposure to flood on electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities, a commonly used indicator of cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening, in middle-aged and elderly people. We evaluated the Chinese National Stroke Screening Survey data of 80,711 follow-up records from 38,375 participants aged > 40 years with two or more visits between 2013 and 2018 in this longitudinal study. Flood exposure was assessed as the presence of a satellite-detected flooded area within 500 m of the residence within 5 years before the survey date. The association between ECG abnormalities and flood exposure was analyzed using a random effects model with multiple adjustments. As age is an important CVD risk factor, a varying-coefficient function was derived to estimate the nonlinear modifying effect of age on the association between ECG abnormalities and flood exposure. The strata-specific associations between ECG abnormalities and flood exposure were applied to characterize vulnerability to flood. The fully adjusted model suggested that flood exposure was associated with an increased risk for ECG abnormalities among the middle-aged and elderly population (odds ratio [OR] 1.74, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.49, 2.03). The ORs of flood exposure for ECG suggesting atrial fibrillation, ST depression, and left ventricular hypertrophy were 1.85 (95 % CI 1.16, 2.94), 6.92 (95 % CI 5.23, 9.16), and 1.55 (95 % CI 0.66, 3.65), respectively. These associations were generally robust in various subpopulations, while a sublinear curve for the negative modifying effect of age was observed on the population vulnerability to flood. Flood exposure was associated with an increased long-term risk for an ECG abnormality. The need for effective measures to mitigate vulnerability to flood is not negligible in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensives. Therefore, early identification of at-risk patients is necessary. The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of LVH among Chinese hypertensives by designing a nomogram. 832 hypertensives were divided into two groups based on the presence of LVH. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariable logistic regression were successively applied for optimal variable selection and nomogram construction. Discrimination power, calibration, and clinical usefulness were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Internal validation was performed using the bootstrap method. The nomogram included five predictors, namely gender, duration of hypertension, age, body mass index (BMI), and systolic blood pressure. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.724 (95% CI: 0.687-0.761), indicating moderate discrimination. The calibration curve showed an excellent agreement between the predicted LVH and the actual LVH probability. The risk threshold between 5% and 72% according to the decision curve analysis, and the nomogram is clinically beneficial. Internal validation by bootstrapping with 1000 samples showed a good C-index of 0.715, which suggested that the predictive abilities for the training set and testing set were in consistency. Our study proposed a nomogram that can be utilized to assess the LVH risk rapidly for Chinese hypertensives. This tool could be useful in identifying patients at high risk for LVH. Further studies are required to ascertain the stability and applicability of this nomogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective assessment of cardiac hypertrophy in forensic pathology practice is of great significance for forensic pathologists, for whom reference values for normal heart weights are needed. Developed regions such as Europe, the United States, and Japan recalculate the weight of human organs at regular intervals, but in China, there has been no systematic calculation of the weights of human organs since 2006. To statistically analyse the heart weight of Chinese adults postmortem and obtain a reference range. 4170 adult autopsy reports were collected from 12 forensic departments in 10 provinces in China. The causes of death were classified by sex, and heart weight and the heart weight/body height ratio reference values were further calculated according to different body mass index and body heights. Finally, the cutoff value of cardiac hypertrophy in Chinese adults was calculated. In the group of non-cardiovascular disease causes of death, the cardiac weight of the electric death group was higher, while the heart weight of the prolonged bed-rest group was significantly reduced. After the electric death and prolonged bed-rest groups were excluded, heart weight, the heart weight/body height ratio, and cutoff values for cardiac hypertrophy were further classified and analysed according to body mass index. The mean reference values for heart weight in men and women with normal weight status were 325.82 ± 41.60 g and 286.39 ± 44.84 g, and the heart weight/body height ratios were 1.95 ± 0.23 in men and 1.82 ± 0.27, respectively. The cutoff values for cardiac hypertrophy were 387.35 g for men and 346.80 g for women. The heart weight reference values of both sexes in this study were significantly higher than those in 2006, which is considered related to the development of China's economy and the improvement of people's living standards. This study also suggests the need for a new round of statistical surveys and updated data on the weight of other organs. • This study proposes updated references values for normal heart weight in China. • Gender, age, and BMI should be taken into account to measure heart hypertrophied. • Normal heart weight does not exclude cardiac pathology as the cause of death. • Heart weight does not necessarily increase in cases of sudden unexplained death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Asians; cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic; genetic testing; hypertrophy EN Asians cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic genetic testing hypertrophy 2086 2089 4 11/25/20 20201124 NES 201124 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disorder characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy.[1] Although considered as a dominant Mendelian disease mainly caused by rare pathogenic variants in sarcomere genes, the genetic underpinnings of nearly half of patients remain unsolved.[2] Increasing evidence implies that HCM has a more complex genetic architecture.[3] We identified an East Asian-specific common missense variant in I TNNI3 i (rs3729712) associated with HCM in an exome-wide case-control association study of Chinese origin and replicated the finding in 3 independent studies ( I P i =5.80×10 SP -22 sp ). The association was confirmed in each of the 3 replication studies, among which the Beijing replication samples and Xi'an-1 cases were genotyped by a panel sequencing of cardiomyopathy candidate genes, and the Xi'an-1 controls and Xi'an-2 samples by Sanger sequencing. Patients with HCM were classified into SARC+ (pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant identified in a sarcomere gene) and SARC- (no potentially pathogenic variant identified in a sarcomere gene) groups by the presence of any variant of pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or unknown significance in the 8 sarcomere genes (MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2, TNNI3, MYL2, MYL3, TPM1, and ACTC1) in the discovery study (495 vs 491), Beijing replication study (226 vs 303), and Xi'an-1 study (342 vs 304). [Extracted from the article]

Swertia is a diverse genus of herbs belonging to the family Gentianaceae and comprising roughly 170 species distributed throughout the world, but is most diverse in temperate and subtropical regions and in montane tropics. In Bhutan, China, India, Japan, and Nepal, some Swertia species are recognized for their anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, activity, finding use in traditional medicine to treat malaria fever, liver diseases, gastric trouble, jaundice, diabetes, hepatitis, and other ailments. The aim of the present review is to provide updated and comprehensive information on the genus Swertia , for promotin the development and uses of such ethnomedical resources. Swertia species have been used in Indian traditional medical systems, the traditional Chinese system, and traditional Tibetan folk medicine for treating various ailments. In China, it has also been used as medicinal herbs for treating hepatitis, cholecystitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, dysentery, and scabies. Broad spectrums of phytochemicals such as xanthonoids, iridoids/secoiridoids, flavonoid, alkaloids, and terpenoids have been identified from Swertia spp. The crude extracts and isolated metabolites from Swertia spp. exhibited a wide range of in vitro and in vivo biological and pharmacological activities, including anticancer, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-hepatitis, anthelmintic, anti-leishmanial, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, hepatoprotective, gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility, inhibitors of 5α-reductase, β-glucuronidase inhibitory, anti-Benign prostatic hyperplasia and anti-mutagenic activities. The extensive literature survey reveals that Swertia species have been used for medicinal purpose in various parts of the world and there is significant traditional evidence of their uses. Additional research is required targeting individual ingredients responsible for the pharmacological effects, elucidating its mechanisms of action as well as safety and toxicological assessment. • The genus Swertia has been well-known for its botanical diversity and pharmaceutical uses in traditional and folk medicine. • Review consist ethnobotanical and pharmacological significance of different Swertia species. • Swertia spp. has been studied with respective to taxonomy, ethnobotany, pharmacological activities and toxicology. • Comprehensive descriptions of biological activities of Swertia spp. have been demonstrating multi affirmative characters of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare central and brachial blood pressure (BP) in the association of target organ damage (TOD) in a community-based elderly population, 1599 (aged 71.4 ± 6.1 years) participants in northern Shanghai were recruited. TOD included left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 1556), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (n = 1524), carotid plaque (n = 1558), arteriosclerosis (n = 1485), and microalbuminuria (n = 1516). Both central and brachial BP significantly correlated with TOD. In full-model regression, central BP was significantly associated with all TOD (P ≤ .04), whereas brachial BP was only significantly associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and arteriosclerosis (P ≤ .01). Similarly, in stepwise regression, central BP was significantly associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, arteriosclerosis, and microalbuminuria (P ≤ .04), while brachial BP was not associated with any TOD. Receiver operating characteristic analyses indicated that central BP identified arteriosclerosis and microalbuminuria better than brachial BP (P ≤ .01). In conclusion, central BP showed superiority over brachial BP in the association of hypertensive TOD in a community-based elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hyperpyrexia, anhidrosis, pain insensitivity, self-inflicted injuries, and intellectual disability. The anesthetic management of these patients is challenging owing to the high risk of perioperative complications resulting from their autonomic dysfunction, such as hyperthermia, hypotension, and bradycardia, which result from autonomic nervous system dysfunction.Case Presentation: Two 3-year-old Han Chinese identical male twins (weighing 13.5 kg and measuring 93 cm tall) were previously diagnosed as having congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis based on clinical features and genetic screening. According to the presence of loud snoring and heavy breathing during sleep and neck radiograph findings, they were diagnosed as having tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy and needed adenotonsillectomy. Because of innate analgesia, some reports suggested that patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis do not require perioperative pain control. Accordingly, our patients did not receive opiates. We describe the general anesthetic management of these patients using sevoflurane and propofol, but without opiates, for adenotonsillectomy. Remarkable tachycardia and hypertension occurred during airway manipulation and when the surgical stimuli increased, and their temperatures increased from 36 °C and 36.8 °C to 37.8 °C and 38.5 °C, respectively. Patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis lack pain sensation, but they may have tactile hyperesthesia. Surgical noxious stimuli may therefore produce a stress response and unpleasant sensations, leading to hemodynamic fluctuation and temperature increase.Conclusions: On the basis of these findings, we suggest that careful intraoperative opiate titration may be justified to blunt the surgical stress response and promote hemodynamic and temperature stability in similar patients; we also recommend the preparation of warming and cooling devices and continuous temperature monitoring in these patients. Since anesthetic management of these patients is not simple, careful attention is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Naoxintong capsule (NXT) has been approved by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), which is used for cardiocerebrovascular disease treatment. Here we found that NXT extract significantly promoted H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell autophagy involved in increased autophagy-associated gene expression leading to inhibition of mTOR signaling. Moreover, NXT extract increased PPARγ protein expression and transcription activity of H9c2 cell. Consistent with this, in PPARγ gene silenced H9c2 cells, NXT had no effect on autophagy and mTOR signaling. Furthermore, NXT/PPARγ-mediated H9c2 autophagy led to inhibition of cardiomyocyte cell hypertrophy. These findings suggest that the extract of NXT inhibited H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell hypertrophy via PPARγ-mediated cell autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) and interventricular septum thickness (IVST) are generally regarded as the functional parts of the left ventricular (LV) structure. This paper aims to examine the effects of geographical indices on healthy Han adults' LV structural indices and to offer a scientific basis for developing a unified standard for the reference values of adults' LV structural indices in China. Fifteen terrain, climate, and soil indices were examined as geographical explanatory variables. Statistical analysis was performed using correlation analysis. Moreover, a back propagation neural network (BPNN) and a support vector regression (SVR) were applied to developing models to predict the values of two indices. After the prediction models were built, distribution maps were produced. The results show that LV structural indices are characteristically associated with latitude, longitude, altitude, average temperature, average wind velocity, topsoil sand fraction, topsoil silt fraction, topsoil organic carbon, and topsoil sodicity. The model test analyses show the BPNN model possesses better simulative and predictive ability in comparison with the SVR model. The distribution maps of the LV structural indices show that, in China, the values are higher in the west and lower in the east. These results demonstrate that the reference values of the adults' LV structural indices will be different affected by different geographical environment. The reference values of LV structural indices in one region can be calculated by setting up a BPNN, which showed better applicability in this study. The distribution of the reference values of the LV structural indices can be seen clearly on the geographical distribution map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been limited data addressing outcomes of extensive septal myectomy in Chinese patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). In this study, the objective was to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of extensive septal myectomy in a relative large number of Chinese HOCM patients over long-term follow-up.Methods: We retrospectively studied 139 consecutive HOCM patients (age 43 ± 15 years, 37 % male) who underwent extensive left ventricular septal myectomy. During the perioperative period, all patients were examined by echocardiography. All-cause death and cardiac death were considered as primary endpoints during follow-up. Perioperative data was obtained by retrospective review of institutional surgical databases. Follow-up data of echocardiography and clinical status was recorded through outpatient interview.Results: Perioperative events consisted of arrhythmia, retraction injury to aortic valve leaflets, pleural effusion, and hemodialysis and the use of intra-aortic balloon pump. There was no in-hospital mortality. The follow-up period averaged 5.6 ± 0.9 years and overall survivals were 100.0, 99.3, 99.3, 98.5 and 97.8 % at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively. Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient decreased form preoperative 84 ± 17 mmHg to 12 ± 3 mmHg at 2.5 years after surgery and it further reduced to 6 ± 3 mmHg at 5 years after surgery (P < 0.05). Compared with the preoperative levels, interventricualr septal thickness decreased by 32 % while diastole left ventricular inner diameter approximately increased by 10 % and ejection fraction (EF) was significantly elevated during follow-up (P < 0.05). By echocardiography detection, mitral regurgitation was ameliorated for HOCM patients after surgery. There was significant improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. The proportion of NYHA III and IV decreased from preoperative 58 to 19 % at 2.5 years after surgery and it reduced to 11 % at 5 years after operation.Conclusion: Extensive septal myectomy offers minimal operative risk and provides long-term relief for LVOT obstruction in Chinese HOCM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association of metabolic syndrome (MS) with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is controversial. The objective of our study was to investigate the influence of MS on LV mass and geometry in community-based hypertensive patients among Han Chinese. Materials and Methods: This study included 1733 metabolic syndrome patients according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition and 2373 non-MS hypertension patients. LV hypertrophy was diagnosed by the criteria of LV mass >49.2 g/m27 for men and 46.7 g/m27 for women. LV geometric patterns (normal, concentric remodeling, concentric or eccentric hypertrophy) were calculated according to LV hypertrophy and relative wall thickness. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of MS for LV hypertrophy and LV geometry abnormality. Results: The LV mass and LV mass index were higher in the MS group than in the non-MS group. In multiple adjusted models. LV mass index, LV mass, interventricular septum, and post wall were raised with the increased number of MS disorders. MS was associated with increased LV hypertrophy risk (unadjusted OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.21-1.57); age, sex, and blood pressure (BP; adjusted OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.22-1.59). MS was also associated with increased risk of eccentric hypertrophy in male and female patients. MS was only associated with increased risk of concentric hypertrophy in female patients; and MS was not associated with concentric remodeling. Conclusion: LV mass and LV mass index were associated with the increased number of MS disorders in the Chinese community-based hypertensive population. MS was not only associated with increased LV hypertrophy risk, but also associated with concentric and eccentric LV geometry abnormality, especially in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both nocturnal hypertension and nondipping pattern are associated with target organ damages (TODs); however, no data exist with respect to Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The authors recruited 1322 patients with CKD admitted to our hospital division and referred with data in this cross-sectional study. Patients with nocturnal systolic hypertension had a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) compared with patients with normal nocturnal systolic blood pressure (SPB; all, P<.001), while patients in the dipper and nondipper groups had similar levels of eGFR, LVMI, and cIMT when the patients had a similar nocturnal SBP. Factorial-designed analysis of variance indicated that the main effect of nocturnal SBP was significant for all TOD differences (all, P<.001), but no significance existed with respect to the main effect of the dipper pattern and an interaction between the two factors (all, P>.05). Nocturnal systolic hypertension, rather than nondipping pattern, was an independent risk factor for TOD in CKD patients. Nocturnal hypertension, rather than a nondipping pattern, was better associated with TOD in CKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) is a traditional economic tree species in China. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is widely used in combination to treat hypertension and complications in clinical practice. However, the antihypertensive effect of GBE alone is weak and it is also difficult to study the mechanism because of its complex composition. This study was to prepare a new component group of Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBLCG) with clear chemical structures, and to investigate its effect on reducing blood pressure and improving myocardial hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats with GBE and amlodipine as positive controls. The results showed that total flavonoid aglycones (TFAs) of GBLCG was mainly composed of quercetin (QCT), kaempferol (KMF) and isorhamnetin (ISR); Total terpenoid lactones (TTLs) of GBLCG might be a novel cocrystal composed of Ginkgolide A (GA), Ginkgolide B (GB) Ginkgolide C (GC), Ginkgolide J (GJ) and bilobalide (BB). The hypotensive activity of GBLCG (4.4 mg/kg) group was better than that of GBE group (p < 0.05), and the effect of improving myocardial hypertrophy was better than that of amlodipine besylate group (p < 0.01). GBLCG might reduce blood pressure and improve myocardial hypertrophy by promoting the synthesis and release of NO in endothelial cells, reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting platelet aggregation and promoting lesion circulation. Eventually, we hope to introduce GBLCG as a new drug for hypertension. [Display omitted] • Prepared a new component group of Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBLCG). • A novel cocrystal composed of terpenoid lactones was obtained for the first time. • The hypotensive effect of GBLCG was better than Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a common cardiac disease mainly caused by gene mutations in sarcomeric cytoskeletal, calcium-handling, nuclear envelope, desmosomal, and transcription factor genes, inherited cardiomyopathy is becoming one of the major etiological factors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and heart failure (HF). This disease is characterized by remarkable genetic heterogeneity, which makes it difficult to screen for pathogenic mutations using Sanger sequencing. In the present study, three probands, one with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHCM) and two with familial dilated cardiomyopathy (FDCM), were recruited together with their respective family members. Using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS), 24 genes frequently known to be related to inherited cardiomyopathy were screened. Two hot spots (TNNI3-p.Arg145Gly, and LMNA-p.Arg190Trp) and double (LMNA-p.Arg190Trp plus MYH7-p.Arg1045His) heterozygous mutations were found to be highly correlated with familial cardiomyopathy. FDCM patients with doubly heterozygous mutations show a notably severe phenotype as we could confirm in our study; this indicates that the double mutations had a dose effect. In addition, it is proposed that genetic testing using NGS technology can be used as a cost-effective screening tool and help guide the treatment of patients with familial cardiomyopathy particularly regarding the risk of family members who are clinically asymptomatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive anthropogenic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs have caused an alarming increase in harmful cyanobacterial blooms, threatening sustainability of lakes and reservoirs worldwide. Hypertrophic Lake Taihu, China’s third largest freshwater lake, typifies this predicament, with toxic blooms of the non-N2 fixing cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. dominating from spring through fall. Previous studies indicate N and P reductions are needed to reduce bloom magnitude and duration. However, N reductions may encourage replacement of non-N2 fixing with N2 fixing cyanobacteria. This potentially counterproductive scenario was evaluated using replicate, large (1000 L), in-lake mesocosms during summer bloom periods. N+P additions led to maximum phytoplankton production. Phosphorus enrichment, which promoted N limitation, resulted in increases in N2 fixing taxa (Anabaena spp.), but it did not lead to significant replacement of non-N2 fixing with N2 fixing cyanobacteria, and N2 fixation rates remained ecologically insignificant. Furthermore, P enrichment failed to increase phytoplankton production relative to controls, indicating that N was the most limiting nutrient throughout this period. We propose that Microcystis spp. and other non-N2 fixing genera can maintain dominance in this shallow, highly turbid, nutrient-enriched lake by outcompeting N2 fixing taxa for existing sources of N and P stored and cycled in the lake. To bring Taihu and other hypertrophic systems below the bloom threshold, both N and P reductions will be needed until the legacy of high N and P loading and sediment nutrient storage in these systems is depleted. At that point, a more exclusive focus on P reductions may be feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A male sterile plant appeared in the radish breeding program at the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hubei, China. In its progeny, a two-type (half of plants male sterile, the other half male fertile) line 01GAB was established. An F population of 260 plants from a cross of male-sterile 01GAB and a male fertile line 9802H segregated for male fertility in a 3:1 ratio indicating that fertility was restored by a single dominant gene, here designated RsMs. A PCR-based DNA marker specific to the male fertility Rfob gene in 9802H was absent in 01GAB. Linkage analysis placed the RsMs locus 10.7 cM away from the Rfo locus. In an F population of hybrids between 01GAB and male fertile 9802B, a co-dominant DNA marker for the RSultr3.2A (a radish sulfate transporter gene) locus was linked to the RsMs locus at 1.5 cM suggesting that fertility restoration in 01GAB was located in the region with known male sterility restorers in radish. However, no maintainer for the 01GAB source of male sterility has been identified so far. Cytological observations have shown that the abnormalities in male sterile anthers first appeared in tapetum at the tetrad stage, followed by a hypertrophy of the tapetal cells at the vacuolate microspore period. These results suggest that male sterility in 01GAB is likely to be genetic in nature, or it may represent a new type of the cytoplasmic male sterility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hepatic hormone involved in the regulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. This study aims to test the hypothesis that elevated FGF21 concentrations are associated with the change of renal function and the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in the different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Methodology/Principal Findings: 240 subjects including 200 CKD patients (146 outpatients and 54 long-term hemodialytic patients) and 40 healthy control subjects were recruited. All CKD subjects underwent echocardiograms to assess left ventricular mass index. Plasma FGF21 levels and other clinical and biochemical parameters in all subjects were obtained based on standard clinical examination methods. Plasma FGF21 levels were significantly increased with the development of CKD from early- and end-stage (P<0.001 for trend), and significantly higher in CKD subjects than those in healthy subjects (P<0.001). Plasma FGF21 levels in CKD patients with LVH were higher than those in patients without LVH (P = 0.001). Furthermore, plasma FGF21 level correlated positively with creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), β2 microglobulin, systolic pressure, adiponectin, phosphate, proteinuria, CRP and triglyceride, but negatively with creatinine clearance rate (CCR), estimated glomerular filtrate rate (eGFR), HDL-c, LDL-c, albumin and LVH after adjusting for BMI, gender, age and the presence of diabetes mellitus. Multiple stepwise regression analyses indicated that FGF21 was independently associated with BUN, Phosphate, LVMI and β2 microglobulin (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Plasma FGF21 levels are significantly increased with the development of early- to end-stage CKD and are independently associated with renal function and adverse lipid profiles in Chinese population. Understanding whether increased FGF21 is associated with myocardial hypertrophy in CKD requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The role of Guanxinshutong capsule in myocardial injury is investigated. • Myocardial injury-transverse aortic constriction causes ventricular remodeling. • Guanxinshutong capsule ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in rats. • This study provides a guidance for the treatment of myocardial injury in clinic. Guanxinshutong capsule (GXST), which consists of five traditional Chinese medicines, has been used for a long time in China for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. However, the effects on GXST on myocardial injury (MI) have not been studied in detail. In these experiments, we found that GXST administration decreased MI-associated ventricular remodeling (VR) with a reduction in interventricular septal thickness in diastole (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall diameter in systole (LVPWs), and left ventricular posterior wall diameter in diastole (LVPWd) to ameliorate cardiac function and architecture, as measured by echocardiography. Furthermore, histological analysis showed that GXST could ameliorate pathological alterations in the myocardium. And Sirius red staining, wheat germ agglutinin staining and inflammation-related immunohistochemistry results showed that GXST ameliorated the fibrosis areas, cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α). In addition, GXST upregulated intercellular junction proteins (N-cad and Cx-43) and downregulated the angiogenesis-related proteins (PDGF and VEGFA), myocardial fibrosis-related proteins (TGF-β1), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9). We also found that GXST medium-dose group (1 g/kg/d) dosage was the most efficacious. In conclusion, GXST protected cardiac tissues against MI by reducing VR, thus indicating the potential application of GXST in the treatment of MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are often jointly present, especially in early onset cases of either disease. We investigated clinical characteristics of hypertensive patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and diabetic patients with newly diagnosed hypertension. Methods: Our study subjects were recruited in a China nationwide multicenter registry of hypertension and diabetes (n = 2510). We performed logistic regression to compare patients seen for hypertension in cardiology, with newly diagnosed diabetes (n = 137) and patients seen for diabetes mellitus in endocrinology, with newly diagnosed hypertension (n = 155). Albuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio of ≥ 30 mg/g, and left ventricular hypertrophy according to the Cornell product index. Results: These two groups of patients with both hypertension and diabetes mellitus were similar in most of the characteristics (P ≥ 0.06). However, hypertensive patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, compared to diabetic patients with newly diagnosed hypertension, had a significantly greater body mass index (26.3 vs. 25.4 kg/m2, P = 0.03) and slower heart rate (73.7 vs. 78.1 beats/min, P = 0.01). In logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex (48.3% women) and age (mean 60.0 ± 11.5 years), the odds ratio for newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus versus newly diagnosed hypertension was 1.27 (95% CI 1.03–1.56) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.66–0.96) for body mass index (+ 3 kg/m2) and heart rate (+ 10 beat/min), respectively. Hypertensive patients with newly diagnosed diabetes also had a lower prevalence of albuminuria (16.0% vs. 30.1%, P = 0.02) and slightly and non-significantly higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (5.1% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.14) than diabetic patients with newly diagnosed hypertension. Conclusions: Earlier or later onset of hypertension than diabetes mellitus may have different risk factors and organ damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]