2024 Vol. 28 No. 9
To explore the potential target and mechanism of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule (DZSM) in the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.
TCMSP and ETCM databases were employed to search the chemical components of DZSM. Swiss ADME database was used to screen active ingredients, and Swiss Target Prediction database was used to obtain potential targets of active ingredients. The CHD target was obtained by searching GeneCards and DisGeNET databases, and the DZSM-active ingredient-CHD target network was constructed. Molecular docking of key active ingredients and core targets was performed to verify binding properties. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed in the DAVID database. A mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7 cells) model induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was used to test the therapeutic effect of scutellarin on CHD in vitro. The production of nitric oxide (NO) in cell supernatant was measured by Griess reaction. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression level of serine/threonine kinase (AKT); The expression and phosphorylation of AKT protein were detected by Western Blot.
A total of 56 active compounds of DZSM were obtained to regulate CHD progression by acting on 136 targets. Among them, kaempferol, quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, scutellarein, 6-hydroxykaempferol, scutellarin, nonylphenol, Ophiopogonin D, and Ginsenoside Rb1 could regulate 113 CHD targets. AKT1, SRC, PPARG, EGFR, ESR1, PTGS2, SIRT1, MAPK1, MMP9 and PPARA genes were the core targets of DZSM therapy for CHD. Molecular docking showed that the key active ingredients and core targets had good binding properties. The results of in vitro experiments showed that scutellarin could reduce the production of nitric oxide and increase the level of AKT, protein expression and phosphorylation in macrophages (P < 0.05). KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DZSM treated CHD mainly by regulating cancer pathways, endocrine resistance, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, lipid and atherosclerosis, and relaxin signaling pathway.
DZSM plays a role in the treatment of CHD through multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway.
To construct a deep learning-based artificial intelligence model to automatically quantify left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) using static views of echocardiography.
The study included data of 1, 902 adults with left ventricular multi-slice echocardiographic views at end-systole and end-diastole. The collected dataset was divided into development set (1, 610 cases, with 1, 252 cases for model training and 358 cases for parameter adjustment), internal test set (177 cases for internal validation), and external test set (115 cases for external validation and generalization testing). The model achieved left ventricular segmentation and automatic quantification of LVEF through precise identification of the left ventricular endocardial boundary and inspection of key points. The Dice coefficient was employed to evaluate the performance of the left ventricular segmentation model, while the Pearson correlation coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient were used to assess the correlation and consistency between the automatically measured LVEF and the reference standard.
The left ventricular segmentation model performed well, with Dice coefficients ≥ 0.90 for both the internal and external independent test sets; the agreement between the automatically measured LVEF and the cardiologists' manual measurements was moderate, with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.46 to 0.71 and intragroup correlation analysis agreements from 0.39 to 0.57 for the internal test set; and Pearson correlation coefficients for the independent external test set were 0.26 to 0.54 and intra-group correlation analysis agreement of 0.23 to 0.50.
In this study, a left ventricular segmentation model with better performance is constructed, and initial application of the model for automatic quantification of LVEF for two-dimensional echocardiography has general performance, which requires further optimisation of the algorithm to improve the model generalisation.
To investigate the effects of different deflation methods of endotracheal tube cuff on coughing response and hemodynamics during extubation.
Ninety patients undergoing elective surgery for endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into study group and control group, with 45 patients in each group. In the study group, the cuff end of the endotracheal tube cuff was connected to a syringe and a non-liquid pressure gauge through a three-way stopcock. Before extubation, the cuff was aspirated to decrease the cuff pressure at a rate of 3 cmH2O/s. In the control group, the gas in cuff was rapidly deflated by aspirating all the gas inside with a syringe during extubation. The incidence and severity of coughing response during extubation were recorded in both groups. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before induction of general anesthesia (T0), before cuff deflation (T1), immediately after cuff deflation (T2), 1 minute after extubation (T3), 3 minutes after extubation (T4), and 5 minutes after extubation (T5). Adverse events were also recorded in both groups.
The coughing response during extubation started immediately after cuff deflation in both groups. The incidence and severity of coughing response were lower in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, values of MAP were lower at T2 to T4 and values of HR were lower at T2 to T5 in the study group (P < 0.05). The incidence of post-extubation pharyngeal discomfort was 6.67 % in the study group, which was lower than 26.67 % in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of post-extubation hypoventilation between the two groups (P>0.05).
The method of slowly reducing the pressure of the endotracheal tube cuff at a constant rate can reduce the incidence and severity of coughing, decrease postoperative extubation complications, and stabilize hemodynamics, with better effects than the method of rapidly aspirating all the gas inside the cuff at once.
To investigate the application of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of left atrial ear volume and function changes in patients with patent foramen ovale and atrial fibrillation.
Eighty patients with patent foramen ovale were selected as the study objects, and were divided into atrial fibrillation group (n=44) and non-atrial fibrillation group (n=36), and 30 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in three groups. The left atrial appendage volume and changes of function in three groups were compared.
The left atrial appendage maximum volume (LAAVmax), left atrial appendage minimum volume (LAAVmin), left atrial appendage opening maximum area (MA) and left atrial appendage opening maximum length diameter (MD) in the atrial fibrillation group and non-atrial fibrillation group were significantly higher, and the left atrial appendage maximum emptying velocity (LAAeV) and left atrial appendage maximum filling velocity (LAAfV) were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The LAAVmax, LAAVmin as well as MA and MD of left auricular opening in patients with left auricular spontaneous imaging (SEC) in the atrial fibrillation group were significantly higher than those in the non-atrial fibrillation group, and LAAeV and LAAfV were significantly lower than those in the non-atrial fibrillation group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the incidence of end-point events in the atrial fibrillation was significantly higher than that in the non-atrial fibrillation group (P < 0.05).
The application of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of left atrial ear volume and function changes in patients with patent foramen ovale and atrial fibrillation is effective. The left atrial appendage function of patients with atrial fibrillation is worse than that of patients without atrial fibrillation.
To observe the effect of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) monitoring in percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO).
The data of 98 patients with PFO were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent interventional plugging. They were divided into X-ray group (n=50) and TTE group (n=48) according to different intraoperative guidance methods. The occlusions, complications, surgical indexes, right-to-left shunt (RLS) grading and the improvement of headache in patients with migraine were compared between the two groups.
A total of 98 cases of PFO were successfully occluded, among which 2 cases in the TTE group received transesophageal ultrasound guidance due to poor intraoperative sound window. The operation time of the TTE group was significantly longer than that of the X-ray group (P < 0.05). After operation, RLS rating and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) score of migraine patients in the two groups were significantly lower than those before operation (P < 0.05).
Simple TTE guided percutaneous PFO occlusion has a good improvement effect on RLS and migraine in PFO patients, and can avoid radiation damage caused by X-ray to doctors and patients.
To explore the application value of different preprotein converting subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in familial hypercholesterolemia(FH).
Patients with FH in our hospital were selected and divided into alirocumab group and evolocumab group according to the different PCSK9 inhibitors after excluding the confounding factors of baseline data such as gender and age by propensity score matching, 41 patients in each group were matched. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The therapeutic effect, and blood lipids levels[triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) index, apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1), apolipoprotein B (Apo B)], coronary flow reserve[absolute coronary flow reserve (CFR), relative coronary flow reserve (rCFR), fractional flow reserve (FFR)], endothelial function indicators[serum nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), flow mediated dilatation (FMD)]and adverse reactions before and after treatment were compared between both groups.
After three months of treatment, the overall standardized rate of LDL-C in the alirocumab group was 97.56 % (40/41), and 92.68 % in the evolocumab group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, Apo B, and ET-1 in both groups decreased, while the levels of HDL-C, Apo A1, CFR, rCFR, FFR, NO, and FMD increased. Additionally, the levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, Apo B, and ET-1 in the alirocumab group were lower than those in the evolocumab group, while the levels of HDL-C, Apo A1, CFR, rCFR, FFR, NO, and FMD were higher, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was 12.20 % in the alirocumab group and 9.76 % in the evolocumab group, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05).
Alirocumab or evolocumab combined with rosuvastatin in treating FH can effectively improve the lipid metabolism, coronary flow reserve function and vascular endothelial function in the treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia, but alirocumab has a better effect.
To explore the correlation between left atrial diameter (LAD) and renal function in patients with atrial fibrillation.
A total of 364 patients with atrial fibrillation were selected as study subjects. Clinical data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, height, body weight, smoking history, drinking history, atrial fibrillation type, history of hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, heart failure, medication history, high-sensitivity troponin I, brain natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, creatinine, urea nitrogen, LAD, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWTd), and interventricular septal thickness (IVSTd). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and body mass index were calculated. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlations of LAD with creatinine, urea nitrogen, and eGFR. With eGFR < 60 mL/(min·1.73 m2) setting as renal insufficiency, univariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of renal insufficiency in patients with atrial fibrillation. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between LAD and renal insufficiency in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Spearman correlation analysis showed that LAD was positively correlated with creatinine (r=0.279, P < 0.001) and urea nitrogen (r=0.190, P < 0.001) in patients with atrial fibrillation, and negatively correlated with eGFR (r=-0.263, P < 0.001). Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, history of diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation type, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor medication history, diuretic medication history, LAD, LVEF, LVDd, and IVSTd were all influencing factors of renal insufficiency in patients with atrial fibrillation (P < 0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the first quartile of LAD (LAD ≤ 38 mm), the risk of renal insufficiency in patients with atrial fibrillation in the fourth quartile of LAD (LAD>47 mm) increased by 5.199 times(OR=5.199; 95 %CI, 1.210 to 22.337; P=0.027).
LAD of patients with atrial fibrillation is significantly related to renal function, and LAD is an influencing factor of renal insufficiency in patients with atrial fibrillation.
To investigate the relationship between impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and slow flow or no reflow (SF/NRF) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Clinical materials of 80 STEMI patients with SF/NRF and 84 STEMI patients without SF/NRF in the hospital from October 2021 to October 2022 were retrospectively collected, including blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTnⅠ), fibrinogen, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), D-dimer, uric acid, homocysteine, the ratio of absolute value of neutrophils to absolute value of lymphocytes (NLR), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and 2 h postprandial blood glucose level. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of SF/NRF in STEMI patients with PCI; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose levels for SF/NRF in STEMI patients with PCI.
Compared with non-SF/NRF group, the levels of cTnⅠ, fibrinogen and HDL-C in SF/NRF group were significantly higher, while the levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and NLR were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Compared with non-SF/NRF group, the stent diameter, stent length and the time from chest pain to catheter room in SF/NRF group were significantly longer (P < 0.05). The levels of fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose in SF/NRF group were significantly higher than those in non-SF/NRF group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose were the influencing factors of SF/NRF in STEMI patients with PCI, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of the two indicators for diagnosis of SF/NRF in STEMI patients during PCI was significantly higher than that by fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose alone (Z=3.272, 4.369, P < 0.001).
IGR is related to SF/NRF during PCI in STEMI patients, and fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose levels are the influencing factors of SF/NRF in STEMI patients.
To investigate the effects of probiotics combined with sacubitril valsartan and amiodarone on short-term and long-term efficacy of patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.
A total of 90 patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation in the First Hospital of Zhangjiakou City from June 2021 to June 2022 were selected and randomly divided into three groups, with 30 cases in each group. Control group was treated with amiodarone, sacubitril valsartan group was treated with amiodarone and sacubitril valsartan, and probiotics group was treated with probiotics, amiodarone and sacubitril valsartan. The recurrence situation, atrial structure indexes[left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end systolic volume index (LVESVI), left atrial volume (LAV), left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI)], myocardial fibrosis indexes[galactin-3 (Gal-3), soluble growth stimulation expression gene 2 protein (sST2)], inflammatory response indexes[intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6)], neuroendocrine hormone indexes[aldosterone, norepinephrine (NE), angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ)], metabolites of gut microbiota[total bile acids, trimethylamine oxide (TMAO)] and incidence of adverse events were compared among the three groups.
At 12 months after treatment, the recurrence rate of the probiotics group was significantly lower than that of the sacubitril valsartan group and the control group (P < 0.05); after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment, the LAD, LAV, LVESVI, LVEDVI, sST2 and Gal-3 in the probiotics group were significantly lower than those in the sacubitril valsartan group and the control group (P < 0.05), and these indexes in the sacubitril valsartan group were also significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment, the LVEF of the probiotics group was significantly higher than that of the sacubitril valsartan group and the control group (P < 0.05), and the LVEF of the sacubitril valsartan group was also significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment, the CRP, IL-6, ICAM-1, NE, aldosterone and AngⅡ in the probiotics group were significantly lower than those in the sacubitril valsartan group and the control group, and these indexes in the sacubitril valsartan group were also significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment, the TMAO and total bile acids in the probiotics group were significantly lower than those in the control group and the sacubitril valsartan group (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events among the three groups (P>0.05).
Probiotics combined with sacubitril valsartan and amiodarone can improve atrial structure after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation, inhibit myocardial fibrosis, reduce inflammatory response, regulate neuroendocrine hormones and metabolites of gut microbiota, prevent long-term recurrence of atrial fibrillation, and have a high safety.
To evaluate the value of serum B-cell activating factor (BAFF) level in predicting cardiovascular events in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
A total of 166 patients with coronary angiography for STEMI in the Nantong Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from January 2020 to June 2022 were selected as research objects, and general materials, medical history, echocardiography and laboratory data were collected. Patients were followed up for 12 months to record the incidence condition of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The predictive value of serum BAFF level for MACE was evaluated by Cox proportional hazard model; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of serum BAFF level for prediction of MACE was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC) was calculated. The optimal cut-off value for serum BAFF level was determined by the ROC curve, the patients were grouped based on this optimal cut-off, and the Log-rank test was used to draw the Kaplan-Meier curve for analyzing the incidence of MACE.
Among the 166 patients, 26 cases had MACE within 12 months of follow-up, and the incidence rate of MACE was 15.7 %. In the MACE group, the age and levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, cardiac troponin Ⅰ, creatine kinase isoenzyme, and serum BAFF were significantly higher than those in the non-MACE group (P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazard model analysis revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between age and incidence of MACE (HR=1.267, 95 %CI, 1.126 to 1.426, P < 0.001) as well as a significant positive association between serum BAFF level and incidence of MACE (HR=1.020, 95 %CI, 1.003 to 1.038, P=0.024). The sensitivity of serum BAFF level in predicting MACE was 76.2 %, and the specificity was 82.9 %. ROC curve analysis identified the optimal cut-off value of serum BAFF was 1.07 ng/mL, patients were divided into a group with serum BAFF>1.07 ng/mL and another with serum BAFF ≤ 1.07 ng/mL, and the cumulative survival rate in the group with serum BAFF ≤ 1.07 ng/mL was significantly higher than that in the group with serum BAFF>1.07 ng/mL (P < 0.001).
The increase of serum BAFF level is significantly positively correlated with the increased incidence of MACE in STEMI patients, and serum BAFF level can be used as a predictor of cardiovascular events in STEMI patients.
To investigate the relationship between the levels of soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 protein (sST2), myoglobin (Myo), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peripheral blood and cardiac function in elderly patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF) complicated with sarcopenia.
A total of 122 patients with DHF were divided into DHF complicated with sarcopenia group (60 cases) and DHF group (62 cases) according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia. In addition, 58 healthy healthy population with physical examination and 60 patients with sarcopenia alone were included in the control group and sarcopenia alone group, respectively. The levels of sST2, Myo, IL-6 and cardiac function indexes[left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), and cardiac index (CI)]were measured in each group. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between sST2, Myo, IL-6 and each cardiac function index. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of sST2, Myo, IL-6 alone and their combination in diagnosing DHF complicated with sarcopenia.
Compared with the control groupand the sarcopenia alone group, the levels of sST2, Myo, IL-6 and HR were increased, while LVEF, CO, SV, and CI were decreased in the DHF group and the DHF complicated with sarcopenia group (P < 0.05). Compared with the DHF group, the levels of sST2, Myo, IL-6 and HR were increased, while LVEF, CO, SV, and CI were decreased in the DHF complicated with sarcopenia group (P < 0.05). The sST2, Myo, and IL-6 were negatively correlated with LVEF, CO, SV, and CI (P < 0.001), and positively correlated with HR (P < 0.001). The sST2, Myo, IL-6, LVEF, and SV were independent influencing factors for DHF complicated with sarcopenia (P < 0.05). The area under the curve of combined detection of sST2, Myo, and IL-6 for diagnosing DHF complicated with sarcopenia was 0.936, indicating a better diagnostic efficacy than individual tests.
The levels of sST2, Myo, and IL-6 in peripheral blood are significantly increased in elderly patients with DHF complicated with sarcopenia, and these markers are significantly correlated with cardiac function indexes. Combined detection of these three markers has a higher diagnostic efficacy for DHF complicated with sarcopenia.
To investigate the effects of different dosages of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin in elderly patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
A total of 180 patients with STEMI undergoing PCI were prospectively selected as study subjects and divided into group A, group B, group C, group D, group E, and group F using a random number table method, with 30 patients in each group. The group A received low-dose simvastatin orally, the group B received high-dose simvastatin orally, the group C received low-dose atorvastatin orally, the group D received high-dose atorvastatin orally, the group E received low-dose rosuvastatin orally, and the group F received high-dose rosuvastatin orally. The levels of serum inflammatory factors[interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)], myocardial injury markers[creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)], cardiac function indicators[left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac index (CI), cardiac output (CO)], as well as the ST-segment resolution, occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events, and adverse reactions were compared among the groups.
At 1 day and 1 month postoperatively, the levels of IL-6, hs-CRP, and TNF-α decreased successively in groups A, B, C, D, E, and F(P < 0.05). At 1 day and 1 month postoperatively, the levels of cTnT, CK-MB, and NT-proBNP also decreased successively in the groups A, B, C, D, E, and F (P < 0.05). At 1 month postoperatively, the LVEF, CO, and CI increased successively in the groups A, B, C, D, E, and F (P < 0.05). The proportions of patients with ST-segment resolution successively increased in the groups A, B, C, D, E, and F (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the total incidence of adverse cardiovascular events and adverse reactions among the groups (P>0.05).
Both low-dose and high-dose atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin can effectively relieve inflammation reactions, improve myocardial function, and promote ST-segment resolution in elderly patients with STEMI undergoing PCI, with high-dose rosuvastatin showing the best effect.
To investigate the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and baseline clinical characteristics in super-aged (≥ 80 years old) patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).
A total of 108 super-aged patients with persistent AF were included in AF group, and 127 super-aged patients with sinus rhythm were included in control group. 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring was conducted to compare heart rate and HRV time-domain indicators[standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the average of normal to normal intervals (SDANN) every 5 minutes throughout the recording, mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent N-N intervals (RMSSD), average value of standard deviation of 5-minute NN intervals throughout the recording (SDNN index), heart rate variability (HRV) index, and percentage of NN intervals with differences greater than 50 ms accounting for the total number of NN intervals (PNN50)]. Clinical characteristics of AF patients were collected, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the correlation between HRV time-domain indicators and heart rate and baseline clinical characteristics.
SDNN, RMSSD, HRV index, PNN50, and SDNN index were higher in the AF group than in the control group (P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that increased SDNN was significantly associated with hypertension (P=0.001), use of β-blockers (P=0.003), and slow heart rate (P < 0.001). Increased RMSSD wassignificantly associated with hypertension (P=0.040), use of β-blockers (P=0.002), and slow heart rate (P < 0.001). Increased HRV index was significantly associated with heart failure (P=0.003) and slow heart rate (P < 0.001). Increased PNN50 was significantly associated with slow heart rate (P=0.004). Increased SDNN index was significantly associated with the use of β-blockers (P=0.002) and slow heart rate (P < 0.001). Increased SDANN was significantly associated with hypertension (P=0.006), slow heart rate (P < 0.001), and use of dabigatran (P=0.021).
There is a correlation between HRV and baseline clinical characteristics in super-aged patients with persistent AF, which may be due to the activity status of the autonomic nervous system.
To investigate the effect of probiotics in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and its impact on intestinal microecology.
A total of 112 patients with CHF were selected as research subjects and randomly divided into study group and control group, with 56 patients in each group. The control group received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) combined with angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blockers (ARB) for treatment, while the study group received bifidobacterium viable capsules on the basis of treatment in the control group. The levels of myocardial fibrosis markers[type Ⅰ collagen precursor C-propeptide (PⅠCP), type Ⅲ collagen precursor N-propeptide (PⅢNP), PⅠCP/PⅢNP, type Ⅰ collagen carboxyl-terminal peptide (ⅠCTP)], cardiac function indicators[leftventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV)], intestinal flora abundance, plasma trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) levels, and serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) levels were measured in both groups. The therapeutic effects, drug safety, re-hospitalization rate, and mortality rate within 3 months after discharge were observed in both groups.
The total effective rate in the study group was 71.43 %, which was higher than 51.79 % in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the LVEF in the study group was higher than that in the control group, while LVEDD, LVESD, and LVESV were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the PⅠCP/PⅢNP in the study group was higher than that in the control group, while the ⅠCTP level was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the abundances of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria in the study group were lower than those in the control group, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of TMAO, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in either group after treatment. Within 3 months after discharge, the re-hospitalization rate in the study group was 12.50 %, which was lower than 30.36 %in the control group (P < 0.05). The mortality rates in the study group and the control group were 1.79 % and 7.14 %, respectively, but no statistically significant difference was observed(P>0.05).
The combination of probiotics with ACEI and ARB can effectively reduce myocardial fibrosis in patients with CHF and improve intestinal microecology and prognosis.
To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Zexie Decoction in treatment of elderly patients with grade 1 of essential hypertension (extremely high risk) differentiated as syndrome of excessive phlegm and dampness.
From May 2021 to April 2023, 103 elderly patients with grade 1 of essential hypertension (extremely high risk) in the Department of Geriatric Diseases in the authors' hospital were selected as research objects, and they were randomly divided into control group (n=51) and study group (n=52). The control group received lifestyle interventions, while the study group was treated with modified Zexie Decoction on the basis of the control group. After two weeks of treatment, the clinical efficacy, the score of traditional Chinese medicine symptoms, blood pressure, blood lipid level, and maximum intima-media thickness of the carotid artery (dIMTmax) were compared between the two groups.
The total effective rate in the study group was 90.38 %, which was significantly higher than 56.86 % in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of primary and secondary symptoms in both groups decreased significantly when compared to those before treatment, and the scores of primary and secondary symptoms in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures in both groups decreased significantly when compared to those before treatment, and the systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly in both groups, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased significantly, and the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group, but the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the dIMTmax in the treatment group was (0.92±0.12) mm, which was significantly less than (1.10±0.15) mm in the control group (P < 0.05).
Modified Zexie Decoction can effectively improve clinical symptoms in elderly patients with essential hypertension, regulate blood pressure and lipid levels, alleviate vascular endothelial injury, and reduce the carotid intima-media thickness.
To compare the effectiveness and safety of ketamine and etomidate for rapid sequential intubation.
Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies with ketamine and etomidate for RSI in patients with acute and critical illnesses published by China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP Network, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Clinicaltrials.gov from the date of database creation to May 1, 2023 were searched by computer. The literatures were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the data of literatures were also extracted for quality assessment. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software.
A total of 15 literatures with 20 839 patients were included, including 3 RCT studies and 12 cohort studies. Meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences in the success rate of primary intubation (RR=0.99, 95 %CI, 0.98 to 1.00, P=0.10), incidence of cardiac arrest (RR=1.00, 95 %CI, 0.62 to 1.62, P=0.99), time of mechanical ventilation (MD=0.33, 95 %CI, -0.34 to 1.01, P=0.33), and mortality rate (RR=1.05, 95 %CI, 0.95 to 1.16, P=0.31) between the ketamine group and the etomidate group, but the incidence of adrenal insufficiency (RR=0.54, 95 %CI, 0.41 to 0.70, P < 0.001) and ICU stay (MD=-0.44, 95 %CI, -0.70 to -0.18, P=0.001) in the etomidate group were significantly lower and shorter than those in the ketamine group, while the incidence of hypoxemia was significantly higher in the etomidate group (RR=1.50, 95 %CI, 1.27 to 1.79, P < 0.001).
During the process of RSI with sufficient preoxygenation, ketamine is a safe and effective alternative drug, and compared with etomidate, it has a lower incidence of adrenal insufficiency and shorter ICU stay.
To investigate the effect of esketamine on perioperative pain and depression in patients with thoracoscopic pulmonary nodule resection.
A total of 120 patients with selective thoracoscopic pulmonary nodule resection were randomly divided into low-dose esketamine group (group L), high-dose esketamine group (group H) and saline control group (group C), with 40 cases in each group. Before skin incisionafter anesthetic induction, 0.25 mg/kgesketamine, 0.50 mg/kg esketamine and the equivalent amount of saline were separately administered for patients in the three groups. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for pain and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) score were compared among the three groups at the time points of one day before surgery (T0), one day after surgery (T1), three days after surgery (T2), and the day of discharge (T3), and postoperative analgesia within 24 h and perioperative adverse reactions were also recorded.
The VAS scores for rest and coughing at T1 were significantly lower in group L and group H than group C (P < 0.05); compared with group C, the total press number of analgesic pump with in 24 h and effective press number were significantly decreased in group L and group H, and the dosage of sufentanil was also significantly decreased(P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in depression scores at different time points among the three groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, hallucinations, and nightmares among the three groups (P>0.05).
Esketamine can effectively alleviate pain on the first day after operation and reduce the dosage of opioid analgesics without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions in patients with thoracoscopic pulmonary nodule resection; compared with 0.25 mg/kg esketamine, 0.50 mg/kg esketamine doesn't demonstrate better postoperative analgesia or improvement in perioperative depression.
To explore the value of bronchial diastolic response (BDR) test in predicting the cough variant asthma (CVA) in patients with chronic cough or negative result of BDR test.
A total of 140 patients with chronic cough and negative result of BDR test were selected and treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting β2-agonists for 4 weeks, and their lung functions were detected before and after treatment. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive values of the forced expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of predicted value (FEV1 %), exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), forced expiratory flow at 25 % to 75 %(FEF25 % to 75 %)and forced expiratory flow rate in 25 % to 75 % (FEF %25 % to 75 %) alone or their combined diagnosis.
After treatment, there were 98 cases diagnosed as negative for CVA and 42 cases diagnosed as positive for CVA. In combination of evaluation indexes, the top three combinations for CVA diagnosis were FEF %25 % to 75 %+△FEV1 %, FEF25 % to 75 % +FeNO, and △FEV1 +△FEV1 %. Venn diagram of the combined prediction showed that there was an overlap in CVA positive diagnostic patients with FeNO ≥ 41.50×10-9 mol/L, △FEV1 % ≥ 5.90 %, and FEF %25 % to 75 % ≤ 61.99 %.
After treatment, patient's showing FeNO ≥ 41.50×10-9 mol/L, △FEV1 % ≥ 5.90 % and FEF %25 % to 75 % ≤ 61.99 % can be used to predict CVA and the response to anti-asthma treatment.
To construct home-based rehabilitation nursing program for elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on functional physical fitness index.
Through literature search, case review and the daily needs, disease characteristics, physical fitness and other core indicators of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the first draft of home rehabilitation nursing program for elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was constructed. The expert consultation questionnaire was prepared, and 12 experts related to respiratory and rehabilitation were selected through group discussion, and two rounds of expert consultation were conducted.
The recovery rate of the two rounds of expert consultation questionnaires was 83.3 % for both rounds, with an expert authority coefficient of 0.90. The home-based rehabilitation nursing program consists of four primary indicators, eleven secondary indicators, and thirty-three tertiary indicators.
The home-based rehabilitation nursing program for elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease constructed based on functional physical fitness is feasible, scientific and innovative, which can provide theoretical basis for clinical application.
To explore the risk factors of aspiration during hospitalization in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and establish a predictive model.
Based on the case-control design, clinical materials of 316 IS patients treated in the Department of Neurology of Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from March 2022 to October 2023 were retrospectively collected. According to incidence of aspiration during hospitalization, the patients were divided into case group with 89 cases (aspiration occurred during hospitalization) and control group with 227 cases (no aspiration occurred during hospitalization). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed in both groups to screen out the risk factors of aspiration during hospitalization in IS patients. R software was used to extract 70 % of the data from the two groups as the training set (establishing a Nomogram model), and the remaining 30 % data was used as test set. Value of predictive model was evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve.
There were significant differences in the terms of age, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, number of lesions, homocysteine (Hcy) level, spontaneous cough, and grading of Wada drinking water test between the case group and the control group (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that large age (OR=2.201, 95 %CI, 1.254 to 3.865), high NIHSS score (OR=4.816, 95 %CI, 1.652 to 14.041), multiple lesions (OR=2.649, 95 %CI, 1.249 to 5.613), high level of Hcy (OR=1.501, 95 %CI, 1.044 to 2.158), weakened or absent spontaneous cough (OR=3.384, 95 %CI, 1.639 to 6.987), and high grading of Wada drinking water test (OR=2.878, 95 %CI, 1.422 to 5.783) were the risk factors of aspiration during hospitalization in IS patients (P < 0.05). In the training set, the AUC of the Nomogram model for predicting aspiration during hospitalization in IS patients was 0.872 (95 %CI, 0.827 to 0.919), and was 0.859 (95 %CI, 0.807 to 0.904) in the test set. The calibration curve analysis showed that P value was 0.869 in the training set and 0.898 in the test set. The decision curve analysis for both the training set and test set showed that the Nomogram model was of good clinical applicability.
The risk of aspiration during hospitalization in IS patients is related to large age, high NIHSS score, multiple lesions, high level of Hcy, weakened or absent spontaneous cough, and high grading of Wada drinking water test. The Nomogram predictive model established on these factors can effectively evaluate the risk of aspiration during hospitalization in IS patients.
To analyze the current situation and influencing factors of medication deviation in hospital-home transition period in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
A total of 178 elderly patients with chronic heart failure were selected as the study objects. General information of patients was collected. The 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale (SEAMS) and family APGAR index questionnaire were analyzed. The occurrence of medication deviation was recorded one week after discharge. The influencing factors of medication deviation in elderly patients with CHF were analyzed.
Fifty patients (28.09 %) had at least one medication deviation within one week after discharge. A total of 108 cases of medication deviation occurred in 178 patients. The main type of medication deviation was patient-derived causes. Age, quantity of medication in discharge order, medication compliance and family care index were the influencing factors of medication deviation (P < 0.05).
The occurrence of medication bias in the hospital-family transition period of elderly CHF patients is not optimistic. Medical staff should pay more attention to patients with older-age, a large number of drugs prescribed by discharged doctors, poor medication compliance as well as poor family functions, and take timely targeted measures to ensure medication safety.
To investigate the application effect of ultrasound-guided dynamic needle tip positioning technology in peripheral venous catheterization in children with venipuncture difficulties.
A total of 60 children who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair under elective general anesthesia in Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province from August 2022 to August 2023 were enrolled. The children were divided into control group (30 cases, group C) and ultrasound-guided dynamic needle tip positioning group (30 cases, group U) by random number table method. After sedation, the children in group C received the traditional peripheral venous puncture and catheterization to open the peripheral venous access, while the children in group U were sedated and received ultrasound-guided dynamic needle tip positioning technology to guide the peripheral venous puncture and catheterization to open the peripheral venous access. The success rate of the first venous puncture, the success rate of catheter placement, the time of catheter placement, and occurrence of complications werecompared between the two groups.
Compared with group C, the success rate of first puncture and catheter placement in group U were significantly increased, and the time of catheter placement was significantly shortened(P < 0.05). After puncture, subcutaneous congestion occurred in 5 children in group C and 2 children in group U, but there was no statistical significance in the incidence of subcutaneous congestion between the two groups (P>0.05).
Ultrasound-guided dynamic needle tip positioning technology can significantly improve the success rate of peripheral venous catheterization and shorten the time of catheterization in children with venipuncture difficulties, which has certain clinical significance for reference.
To explore the effects of intervention model based on empowerment theory on health belief, self-care behavior and prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
A total of 500 patients with PCI for myocardial infarction in the hospital from November 2021 to October 2023 were randomly divided into control group (n=250) and observation group (n=250). The control group was given routine intervention mode, the observation group was given intervention mode based on empowerment theory, and both groups were intervened until one month after discharge. Before and after intervention, the health belief[the Coronary Heart Disease Health Belief Scale (CADHBS)], self-care ability[the Evaluation for Self-care Ability (ESCA)], cardiac function indexes[left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 6 minutes walking test (6MWT)] and quality of life[the Chinese Questionnaire of Quality of Life in Chinese Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases (CQQC)] were compared between the two groups; the incidence rate of adverse cardiac events during intervention was compared between the two groups.
Compared with the control group, the total score of CADHBS and the score of each dimension as well as the total score of ESCA and the score of each dimension in the observation group were significantly higher (P < 0.05). After intervention, the LVEF and 6MWT in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The total incidence rate of adverse cardiac events was 19.60 % in the observation group, which was significantly lower than 28.00 % in the control group (P < 0.05). After intervention, the CQQC score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).
For the patients with PCI for myocardial infarction, implementation of intervention model based on empowerment theory can enhance health belief and self-care ability, improve the cardiac function and quality of life, and reduce the incidence rate of adverse cardiac events.
Ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death marked by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation, is regulated by complex cellular metabolic pathways, including iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, and oxidation-reduction system, is associated with many organ injuries and degeneration, and has great potential in the treatment of ischemic diseases and lipid peroxide-related degenerative diseases. Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) is the most common cause of death in patients with acute myocardial infarction after revascularization therapy. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is intimately related to the pathological process of MIRI. Ferroptosis is associated with MIRI through oxidative stress, iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammatory response. Intervention of ferroptosis during reperfusion can effectively improve cardiac function and reduce myocardial infarct size. In this paper, the research progress was explored between ferroptosis and MIRI, and the specific role of ferroptosis in MIRI was discussed.
Metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) based diagnostics that identify microbial nucleic acids in clinical samples may be a useful tool in addressing some of these challenges. Studies of mNGS in immunocompromised hosts have demonstrated that these diagnostics are capable of identifying causative organisms in a subset of patients for whom conventional testing has been negative. But the reports evaluating the diagnostic efficiency of mNGS in immunocompromised patients are limited to individual patients or small retrospective studies at present. This article reviewed and analyzed the literature to provide new ideas for conducting related research on mNGS in clinical practice.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia, characterized by high morbidity and mortality.The mechanism of AF is not very clear, and there is still a lack of effective radical treatments.Therefore, the prevention of AF is particularly important.Different dietary patterns are closely related to the occurrence and development of AF.This study reviewed the relationships of different dietary factors such as the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet), fish and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, olive oil, nuts, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, fried food and salt with the occurrence of AF, and explored its mechanism of action.
As one of the research directions of novel dietary adjuvant treatment for heart diseases, ketogenic diet has the advantages of improving risk factors, inhibiting ventricular remodeling, and protecting the heart. This paper reviews and summarizes the research achievements of the effect of ketogenic diet on heart diseases and cardiovascular risk factors, elaborates the heart-related mechanism from multiple perspectives, analyzes its positive impacts on reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors and treating heart-related diseases, and summarizes the adverse reactions and contraindications of ketogenic diet, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of heart diseases.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a clinically challenging anemia disease to treat. This paper presents a comprehensive review of inpatient and outpatient nursing for patients with AIHA, covering aspects such as health education, psychological nursing, observation on condition of the disease, and continuous nursing, so as to provide reference for clinical treatment and nursing of AIHA.