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Abstract Background In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and functional mitral regurgitation (MR), catheter ablation reduces the severity of MR and improves cardiac remodeling. However, its effects on prognosis are uncertain. Methods This retrospective study included 151 consecutive patients with AF and functional MR, 82 (54.3%) of whom were treated by catheter ablation (Ablation group) and 69 (45.7%) with drug therapy without ablation (Non-ablation group). Forty-three pairs of these patients were propensity matched on the basis of age, CHA2DS2-VASc scores, and left ventricular ejection fraction. The primary outcome evaluated was severity of MR, cardiac remodeling and the combined incidence of subsequent heart failure-related hospitalization and strokes/transient ischemic attacks. Results Patients in the Ablation group showed a significant decrease in the severity of MR (p

Abstract Background Complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB) is an important predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation. However, the association between CRBBB and AF development remains unclear. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 2639 patients (male, n = 1549; female, n = 1090; mean age, 58 ± 13 years). CRBBB was defined as a late R (R′) wave in lead V1 or V2 with a slurred S wave in lead I and/or lead V6 with a prolonged QRS duration (≥120 ms). Results Among the 2639 patients, CRBBB was detected in 40 patients (1.5%), and the prevalence of AF was 7.4% (196/2639). The proportion of patients with AF and CRBBB was higher than the proportion of patients with AF without CRBBB (22.5% vs. 7.2%; p = 0.001). In the forward multivariate logistic analysis, CRBBB (odds ratio [OR], 3.329; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.350–8.211; p = 0.009), complete left bundle branch block (OR, 2.209; 95% CI, 1.238–3.940; p = 0.007), age (OR, 1.020; 95% CI, 1.005–1.035; p = 0.009), valvular heart disease (OR, 2.332; 95% CI, 1.531–3.552; p

Background: The efficacy of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (MR) and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is not known. The aim of the study is to determine the efficacy of catheter ablation for AF in patients with functional MR and LVSD, and to validate its effects on the severity of MR and cardiac reverse remodeling.Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 54 patients with functional MR who underwent AF ablation, including 21 (38.9%) with LVSD and 33 (61.1%) with normal LV systolic function (LVF). The primary outcomes evaluated were freedom from recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa), severity of MR, and left atrial (LA) and LV remodeling.Results: During a mean follow-up of 20.7 ± 16.8 months, freedom from recurrent ATa was not significantly different between patients with LVSD and those with normal LVF after the first ablation (P = 0.301) and after multiple ablations (P = 0.728). Multivariable predictors of recurrent ATa were AF duration [hazard ratio (HR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.25; P = 0.039), previous stroke (HR 5.28, 95% CI 1.46–19.14; P = 0.011), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99; P = 0.012). Compared with baseline, there was a significant reduction in severity of MR (P = 0.007), LA size (P < 0.001) and LV end-systolic dimension (P = 0.008), and improvement in the LV ejection fraction (P = 0.001) after restoring sinus rhythm in patients with LVSD.Conclusion: Catheter ablation is a valid option for the treatment of AF in patients with functional MR and LVSD, even though multiple procedures may be required.

AIM: To observe the consolidation effect of visual function training in amblyopic therapy on children with amblyopia of different degrees(mild, moderate and severe)which had been normalized. METHODS: Totally 78 amblyopic children were divided into two groups: visual function training group(n=36, 70 eyes)and control group(n=42, 67 eyes). The rollback situation of the two groups in 6, 12, 24 and 36 months were observed after visual acuity reached 0.9 during treatment.RESULTS: The rollback rates were both 0 in visual function training group and control group with different degrees of amblyopia after 6 months. There was no significant difference in rollback rate between the 2 groups with different degrees of amblyopia after 6 and 12 months. There was no significant difference in rollback rate between the two groups with mild amblyopia after 24 and 36 months(P=0.269, 0.269). However, the rollback rate in training group with moderate amblyopia was significantly different from in control group after 24 and 36 months(P=0.004, 0.002). There was no significant difference in rollback rate between the two groups with severe amblyopia after 24 and 36 months. CONCLUSION: Visual function training can reduce the rollback rate and consolidate the effect of amblyopic treatment effectively for children with moderate amblyopia. However, the effect is not as good for children with mild and severe amblyopia.

As a new spraying method, suspension plasma spraying (SPS) can prepare biological coatings with uniform microstructures and few defects. In the paper, the principle of hydroxyapatite (HA) nano biological coatings prepared by SPS was introduced. The formation mechanisms of structure of sintering zones and densification zones were summarized, and the droplet evolution of the suspension during flight was analyzed. The effects of process parameters on HA biological coatings by SPS were discussed, and the deposition mechanisms of HA coatings were revealed. Besides, the mechanical properties, antibacterial properties, cell compatibility and in vitro bioactivity of HA coatings prepared by SPS were summarized.

Increased expression of adhesion molecules is thought to serve an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Myricitrin, a bioactive compound of Myrica cerifera, has been demonstrated to exhibit anti‑atherogenic effects. However, the effect of myricitrin on the expression of adhesion molecules in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of myricitrin on tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α)‑induced expression of adhesion molecules in VSMCs in vitro. The results revealed that myricitrin inhibited the adhesion of human THP‑1 monocyte cells to TNF‑α‑stimulated mouse MOVAS‑1 VSMC cells, and reduced the expression of adhesion molecules in TNF‑α‑stimulated MOVAS‑1 cells. In addition, myricitrin significantly inhibited the TNF‑α‑induced expression of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB p65, and prevented the TNF‑α‑induced degradation of nuclear factor of κ light chain enhancer in B‑cells inhibitor α. Furthermore, myricitrin inhibited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species in TNF‑α‑stimulated MOVAS‑1 cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that myricitrin inhibits the expression of vascular cell adhesion protein‑1 and intercellular adhesion molecule‑1 in TNF‑α‑stimulated MOVAS‑1 cells potentially via the NF‑κB signaling pathway. Therefore, myricitrin may be an effective pharmacological agent for the prevention or treatment of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which is associated with the increased expression of adhesion molecules in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Cordycepin is one of the major bioactive components of Ophiocordyceps sinensis that has been demonstrated to exert anti-atherogenic activity; however, its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the in vitro effects of cordycepin on the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced suppression of adhesion molecule expression. The results of the present study demonstrated that cordycepin markedly inhibited the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in TNF-α-stimulated human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs). Cordycepin significantly inhibited the TNF-α-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) activation (P<0.05), markedly inhibited the TNF-α-induced expression level of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 and markedly prevented the TNF-α-associated degradation of IκBα in HA-VSMCs. The results of the present study suggest that cordycepin inhibits the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in TNF-α-stimulated HA-VSMCs via downregulating the MAPK/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, cordycepin may have a potential therapeutic application for preventing the advancement of atherosclerotic lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]