Chinese Medicine Shensong Yangxin Capsule () Ameliorates Myocardial Microcirculation Dysfunction in Rabbits with Chronic Myocardial Infarction / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Chinese compound Shensong Yangxin Capsule ( , SSYX) on myocardial microcirculation in myocardial-infarcted rabbits.@*METHODS@#Myocardial infarction (MI) was established in rabbits by ligation of the left circumflex coronary. Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into the control group, the MI group (model), and the MI treated with SSYX group (MI+SSYX) by a random number table method. After 4 weeks of administration, low-energy real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) was conducted to assess the microcirculatory perfusion. Immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the capillary density. The endothelial ultrastructure was observed with a transmission electron microscope. The mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin 1 (ET-1), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The plasmic levels of ET-1, thromboxane A2 (TXA2), nitric oxide (NO) and von willebrand factor (vWF) were examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).@*RESULTS@#SSYX significantly improved the myocardial blood volume, myocardial micro bubble velocity, and myocardial inflow according to the examination of RT-MCE, and it visibly ameliorated the capillary endothelial structure. Furthermore, compared with the MI group, the plasma levels of TXA2, ET-1 and vWF contents significantly decreased in the MI+SSYX group, and the ET-1 mRNA expression levels of myocardium in the border zone significantly decreased, and the VEGF, PGI2 and eNOS mRNA expression levels significantly increased (all P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#SSYX has favorable advantages in ameliorating the impaired myocardial microcirculation following MI. The mechanisms of the effect are related to the ability of SSYX in balancing the endothelial-derived vasodilators and vasoconstrictors, and up-regulating the expression of VEGF and eNOS.

The effects of stelleta ganglion resection on heart failure in response to pressure overload / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To observe the impact and difference of resection of left stellate ganglion (LSG) or right stellate ganglion (RSG) on rats with heart failure. Methods: Thirty male SD rats were divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) by random number table method: control group, LSG group, RSG group. All three groups underwent TAC surgery to establish a pressure-overloaded heart failure model. Then, LSG and RSG were bluntly separated and removed in rats assigned to the LSG group or RSG group by surgery, while rats in the control group underwent sham operation. The changes in blood pressure and heart rate before operation, 30 minutes and 10 weeks after operation were recorded; echocardiography was performed before operation and 10 weeks after operation to detect the thickness of the ventricular septum, left ventricle posterior wall diameter, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left ventricular end diastolic volume, and calculate the left ventricular fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction. HE staining and Masson staining were performed to observe the degree of myocardial hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, and to judge the ventricular remodeling. Results: The heart rates of the three groups of rats were (352.4±4.3), (320.3±4.0) and (297.9±5.9) beats/min, and the blood pressure was (142.8±2.3), (123.4±2.7) and (129.6±2.9) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) at thirty minutes after surgery; the heart rates of the three groups of rats were (352.9±4.0), (321.6±3.4) and (301±4.1) beats/min, and the blood pressure was (145.6±1.9), (124.8±1.7) and (130.4±4.4) mmHg at 10 weeks after surgery. The heart rate and blood pressure in the LSG group and RSG group at 30 min and 10 weeks after surgery were significantly lower than those in the control group; at 10 weeks after surgery, the heart rate in the RSG group was significantly lower than that in the LSG group (P both<0.001). After 10 weeks, rats in the control group developed severe left ventricular dilatation. Degree of left ventricular hypertrophy was significantly reduced in the LSG group and RSG group than in the control group, the thickness of the ventricular septum was (3.2±0.3), (2.5±0.1) and (2.5±0.1) mm; the left ventricular end-diastolic diameters were (7.5±0.3), (5.5±0.3) and (5.7±0.2) mm; the left ventricular end-diastolic volume was (9.5±0.3), (4.5±0.2) and (4.8±0.2) ml; the left ventricular fractional shortening was (21.6±1.3)%, (49.1±3.9)% and (47.4±1.5)%; and the left ventricular ejection fraction was (50.9±2.5)%, (81.9±2.1)% and (80.0±2.3)%, respectively in the control group, LSG group and RSG group. Compared with the control group, the left ventricular posterior wall diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular end-diastolic volume were significantly lower and the left ventricular fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly higher in the LSG group and RSG group (all P<0.001). 10 weeks after operation, the values of type Ⅰ collagen in the control group, LSG group, and RSG group were (0.354±0.013), (0.211±0.012) and (0.243±0.013), respectively. Ratio of type Ⅰ/Ⅲ collagen was (1.109±0.065), (0.737±0.055) and (0.839±0.075), respectively. Compared with the control group, the ratio of type Ⅰcollagen and ratio of type Ⅰ/Ⅲ collagen were significantly lower in the LSG group and RSG group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Both left and right stellate ganglion resection can similarly reduce ventricular remodeling caused by pressure overload and delay the progression of heart failure in tis TAC rat model.

Comparative outcomes of subcutaneous and transvenous cardioverter-defibrillators / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#The comparative outcomes of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) and transvenous ICD (T-ICD) have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of currently available S-ICD and T-ICD.@*METHODS@#The study included 86 patients who received an S-ICD and 1:1 matched to those who received single-chamber T-ICD by gender, age, diagnosis, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and implant year. The clinical outcomes and implant complications were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#The mean age of the 172 patients was 45 years, and 129 (75%) were male. The most common cardiac condition was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, 37.8%). The mean LVEF was 50%. At a mean follow-up of 23 months, the appropriate and inappropriate ICD therapy rate were 1.2% vs. 4.7% (χ = 1.854, P = 0.368) and 9.3% vs. 3.5% (χ = 2.428, P = 0.211) in S-ICD and T-ICD groups respectively. There were no significant differences in device-related major and minor complications between the two groups (7.0% vs. 3.5%, χ = 1.055, P = 0.496). The S-ICD group had higher T-wave oversensing than T-ICD group (9.3% vs. 0%, χ = 8.390, P = 0.007). Sixty-five patients had HCM (32 in S-ICD and 33 in T-ICD). The incidence of major complications was not significantly different between the two groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The efficacy of an S-ICD is comparable to that of T-ICD, especially in a dominantly HCM patient population. The S-ICD is associated with fewer major complications demanding reoperation.

Effect of the Shensong Yangxin Capsule on Energy Metabolism in Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Shensong Yangxin Capsule (SSYX), traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat arrhythmias, angina, cardiac remodeling, cardiac fibrosis, and so on, but its effect on cardiac energy metabolism is still not clear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of SSYX on myocardium energy metabolism in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.</p><p><b>Methods</b>We used 2 μl (10 mol/L) AngII to treat neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) for 48 h. Myocardial α-actinin staining showed that the myocardial cell volume increased. Expression of the cardiac hypertrophic marker-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) messenger RNA (mRNA) also increased by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Therefore, it can be assumed that the model of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes was successfully constructed. Then, NRCMs were treated with 1 μl of different concentrations of SSYX (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 μg/ml) for another 24 h. To explore the time-depend effect of SSYX on energy metabolism, 0.5 μg/ml SSYX was added into cells for 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Mitochondria was assessed by MitoTracker staining and confocal microscopy. mRNA and protein expression of mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes - Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), energy balance key factor - adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), fatty acids oxidation factor - carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1), and glucose oxidation factor - glucose transporter- 4 (GLUT-4) were measured by PCR and Western blotting analysis.</p><p><b>Results</b>With the increase in the concentration of SSYX (from 0.25 to 1.0 μg/ml), an increased mitochondrial density in AngII-induced cardiomyocytes was found compared to that of those treated with AngII only (0.25 μg/ml, 18.3300 ± 0.8895 vs. 24.4900 ± 0.9041, t = 10.240, P < 0.0001; 0.5 μg/ml, 18.3300 ± 0.8895 vs. 25.9800 ± 0.8187, t = 12.710, P < 0.0001; and 1.0 μg/ml, 18.3300 ± 0.8895 vs. 24.2900 ± 1.3120, t = 9.902, P < 0.0001; n = 5 per dosage group). SSYX also increased the mRNA and protein expression of PGC-1α (0.25 μg/ml, 0.8892 ± 0.0848 vs. 1.0970 ± 0.0994, t = 4.319, P = 0.0013; 0.5 μg/ml, 0.8892 ± 0.0848 vs. 1.2330 ± 0.0564, t = 7.150, P < 0.0001; and 1.0 μg/ml, 0.8892 ± 0.0848 vs. 1.1640 ± 0.0755, t = 5.720, P < 0.0001; n = 5 per dosage group), AMPK (0.25 μg/ml, 0.8872 ± 0.0779 vs. 1.1500 ± 0.0507, t = 7.239, P < 0.0001; 0.5 μg/ml, 0.8872 ± 0.0779 vs. 1.2280 ± 0.0623, t = 9.379, P < 0.0001; and 1.0 μg/ml, 0.8872 ± 0.0779 vs. 1.3020 ± 0.0450, t = 11.400, P < 0.0001; n = 5 per dosage group), CPT-1 (1.0 μg/ml, 0.7348 ± 0.0594 vs. 0.9880 ± 0.0851, t = 4.994, P = 0.0007, n = 5), and GLUT-4 (0.5 μg/ml, 1.5640 ± 0.0599 vs. 1.7720 ± 0.0660, t = 3.783, P = 0.0117; 1.0 μg/ml, 1.5640 ± 0.0599 vs. 2.0490 ± 0.1280, t = 8.808, P < 0.0001; n = 5 per dosage group). The effect became more obvious with the increasing concentration of SSYX. When 0.5 μg/ml SSYX was added into cells for 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, the expression of AMPK (6 h, 14.6100 ± 0.6205 vs. 16.5200 ± 0.7450, t = 3.456, P = 0.0250; 12 h, 14.6100 ± 0.6205 vs. 18.3200 ± 0.9965, t = 6.720, P < 0.0001; 24 h, 14.6100 ± 0.6205 vs. 21.8800 ± 0.8208, t = 13.160, P < 0.0001; and 48 h, 14.6100 ± 0.6205 vs. 23.7400 ± 1.0970, t = 16.530, P < 0.0001; n = 5 per dosage group), PGC-1α (12 h, 11.4700 ± 0.7252 vs. 16.9000 ± 1.0150, t = 7.910, P < 0.0001; 24 h, 11.4700 ± 0.7252 vs. 20.8800 ± 1.2340, t = 13.710, P < 0.0001; and 48 h, 11.4700 ± 0.7252 vs. 22.0300 ± 1.4180, t = 15.390; n = 5 per dosage group), CPT-1 (24 h, 15.1600 ± 1.0960 vs. 18.5800 ± 0.9049, t = 6.048, P < 0.0001, n = 5), and GLUT-4 (6 h, 10.2100 ± 0.9485 vs. 12.9700 ± 0.8221, t = 4.763, P = 0.0012; 12 h, 10.2100 ± 0.9485 vs. 16.9100 ± 0.8481, t = 11.590, P < 0.0001; 24 h, 10.2100 ± 0.9485 vs. 19.0900 ± 0.9797, t = 15.360, P < 0.0001; and 48 h, 10.2100 ± 0.9485 vs. 14.1900 ± 0.9611, t = 6.877, P < 0.0001; n = 5 per dosage group) mRNA and protein increased gradually with the prolongation of drug action time.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>SSYX could increase myocardial energy metabolism in AngII-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, SSYX might be considered to be an alternative therapeutic remedy for myocardial hypertrophy.</p>

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shensong Yangxin Capsules on Heart Rhythm and Function in Congestive Heart Failure Patients with Frequent Ventricular Premature Complexes: A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter Clinical Trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pharmacological therapy for congestive heart failure (CHF) with ventricular arrhythmia is limited. In the study, our aim was to evaluate the effects of Chinese traditional medicine Shensong Yangxin capsules (SSYX) on heart rhythm and function in CHF patients with frequent ventricular premature complexes (VPCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study randomized 465 CHF patients with frequent VPCs to the SSYX (n = 232) and placebo groups (n = 233) for 12 weeks of treatment. The primary endpoint was the VPCs monitored by a 24-h ambulatory electrocardiogram. The secondary endpoints included the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores, and composite cardiac events (CCEs).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical characteristics were similar at baseline. SSYX caused a significantly greater decline in the total number of VPCs than the placebo did (-2145 ± 2848 vs. -841 ± 3411, P < 0.05). The secondary endpoints of the LVEF, NYHA classification, NT-proBNP, 6MWD, and MLHFQ scores showed a greater improvements in the SSYX group than in the placebo group (ΔLVEF at 12th week: 4.75 ± 7.13 vs. 3.30 ± 6.53; NYHA improvement rate at the 8th and 12th week: 32.6% vs. 21.8%, 40.5% vs. 25.7%; mean level of NT-proBNP in patients with NT-proBNP ≥125 pg/ml at 12th week: -122 [Q1, Q3: -524, 0] vs. -75 [Q1, Q3: -245, 0]; Δ6MWD at 12th week: 35.1 ± 38.6 vs. 17.2 ± 45.6; ΔMLHFQ at the 4th, 8th, and 12th week: -4.24 ± 6.15 vs. -2.31 ± 6.96, -8.19 ± 8.41 vs. -3.25 ± 9.40, -10.60 ± 9.41 vs. -4.83 ± 11.23, all P < 0.05). CCEs were not different between the groups during the study period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In this 12-week pilot study, SSYX was demonstrated to have the benefits of VPCs suppression and cardiac function improvement with good compliance on a background of standard treatment for CHF.</p><p><b>TRIAL REGISTRATION</b>www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-12002061 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=7487) and Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01612260 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01612260).</p>

Effect of Shensong Yangxin on the Progression of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation is Correlated with Regulation of Autonomic Nerve Activity / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Shensong Yangxin (SSYX), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has long been used clinically to treat arrhythmias in China. However, the mechanism of SSYX on atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the effect of SSYX on the progression of paroxysmal AF is correlated with the regulation of autonomic nerve activity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen mongrel dogs were randomly divided into control group (n = 6), pacing group (n = 6), and pacing + SSYX group (n = 6). The control group was implanted with pacemakers without pacing; the pacing group was implanted with pacemakers with long-term intermittent atrial pacing; the pacing + SSYX group underwent long-term intermittent atrial pacing and SSYX oral administration.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the pacing group, the parameters of heart rate variability were lower after 8 weeks in the pacing + SSYX group (low-frequency [LF] component: 20.85 ± 3.14 vs. 15.3 ± 1.89 ms 2 , P = 0.004; LF component/high-frequency component: 1.34 ± 0.33 vs. 0.77 ± 0.15, P < 0.001). The atrial effective refractory period (AERP) was shorter and the dispersion of the AERP was higher after 8 weeks in the pacing group, while the changes were suppressed by SSYX intake. The dogs in the pacing group had more episodes and longer durations of AF than that in the pacing + SSYX group. SSYX markedly inhibited the increase in sympathetic nerves and upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 expression in the pacing + SSYX group. Furthermore, SSYX suppressed the decrease of acetylcholine and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein induced by long-term intermittent atrial pacing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SSYX substantially prevents atrial electrical remodeling and the progression of AF. These effects of SSYX may have association with regulating the imbalance of autonomic nerve activity and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.</p>

Shensong Yangxin (SSYX) ameliorates disordered excitation transmission by suppressing cardiac collagen hyperplasia in rabbits with chronic myocardial infarction / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The traditional Chinese medicine Shensong Yangxin (SSYX) can improve the clinical symptoms of arrhythmia in an integrated manner. This study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological effect of SSYX on the hearts of myocardial-infarcted rabbits and further explore the mechanism by which SSYX alleviates myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial infarction (MI) was established in rabbits by ligation of the left circumflex coronary. The rabbits were treated with SSYX (0.5 g/kg/d) or saline for 8 weeks by oral administration. Microelectrode array (MEA) technology was used in vivo for extracellular electrophysiological recordings of the infarct border zone. Masson's trichrome staining was used to observe myocardial fibrosis. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the protein expression levels of collagen I (COL I) and collagen III (COL III). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) was performed to evaluate the TGF-β1 and MMP-2 mRNA expression levels. The results showed that the total activation time (TAT) and the dispersion of TAT were significantly increased and the excitation propagation markedly disordered after MI. SSYX could significantly decrease TAT and the dispersion of TAT, and significantly ameliorate the chaotic spread pattern of excitation. Furthermore, SSYX treatment could significantly decrease COL I and COL III protein levels and down-regulate TGF-β1 and MMP-2 mRNA expression levels in MI rabbits. It was concluded that SSYX may ameliorate cardiac electrophysiological abnormalities in infarcted hearts by decreasing the protein levels of COL I and COL III, down-regulating the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and MMP2, and thereby reducing adverse cardiac remodeling.

Shensong Yangxin (SSYX) ameliorates disordered excitation transmission by suppressing cardiac collagen hyperplasia in rabbits with chronic myocardial infarction / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The traditional Chinese medicine Shensong Yangxin (SSYX) can improve the clinical symptoms of arrhythmia in an integrated manner. This study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological effect of SSYX on the hearts of myocardial-infarcted rabbits and further explore the mechanism by which SSYX alleviates myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial infarction (MI) was established in rabbits by ligation of the left circumflex coronary. The rabbits were treated with SSYX (0.5 g/kg/d) or saline for 8 weeks by oral administration. Microelectrode array (MEA) technology was used in vivo for extracellular electrophysiological recordings of the infarct border zone. Masson's trichrome staining was used to observe myocardial fibrosis. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the protein expression levels of collagen I (COL I) and collagen III (COL III). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) was performed to evaluate the TGF-β1 and MMP-2 mRNA expression levels. The results showed that the total activation time (TAT) and the dispersion of TAT were significantly increased and the excitation propagation markedly disordered after MI. SSYX could significantly decrease TAT and the dispersion of TAT, and significantly ameliorate the chaotic spread pattern of excitation. Furthermore, SSYX treatment could significantly decrease COL I and COL III protein levels and down-regulate TGF-β1 and MMP-2 mRNA expression levels in MI rabbits. It was concluded that SSYX may ameliorate cardiac electrophysiological abnormalities in infarcted hearts by decreasing the protein levels of COL I and COL III, down-regulating the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and MMP2, and thereby reducing adverse cardiac remodeling.

Effect of temperature on hospital admission among patients with chronic systolic heart failure / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of temperature on hospital admission among patients with chronic systolic heart failure (CSHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data regarding in-hospital patients with CSHF were gathered from 12 hospitals in Hubei province, between 2000 and 2010. Patients with a history of congenital heart disease and the history of cancer from this series, were excluded. Chi-square (χ(2)) tests and t tests were used for descriptive analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were performed to determinate the risk of hospital admission of every month to compare with the previous one. We used 2-tailed 95% confidence interval (CI), and tests with P < 0.01 to consider the significant levels, statistically. We also used the SPSS 13.0 for Windows, release 15, 2006 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Ill) for data analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) 48 964 patients were enrolled in the present study. The numbers of admission increased 18.71%, 13.84%, -21.90%, -34.62%, -21.97%, -3.81%, -2.04%, 10.13%, -17.13%, -0.85%, 21.54% and 42.70% from January to December when compared to the average number of admission. (2) The odds ratios (ORs) (95% CI, P values) of hospital admission in January, February and December were 1.09 (0.96 - 1.23, 0.54), 0.98 (0.84 - 1.10, 0.46) and 0.96 (0.84 - 1.08, 0.59), respectively in females which did not show any significant differences when compared to the number in August. However the ratios were 0.61 (0.54 - 0.69, < 0.01), 0.80 (0.68 - 0.92, < 0.01) and 0.73 (0.64 - 0.83, < 0.01), respectively, in males that showed significant differences when, compared to the figures in August. (3) The OR of admission increased more when temperature got lower for patients with coronary artery disease, hypertension heart disease or rheumatic heart disease, but not with dilated cardiomyopathy. (4) The OR of admission showed a different impact on patients with different occupation, along with the change of temperature. Low or high temperature did not seem to have different effects on the OR of admission in patients who were free-lanced or unemployed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Temperature seemed to have significant effects on the risk of admission, which related to gender, etiology or occupation.</p>

Serum uric acid levels correlate with atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic systolic heart failure / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Studies have shown that increased levels of serum uric acid (SUA) are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, less is known about the prognostic value of SUA levels for AF in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of the study was to examine the prognostic value of SUA levels for AF in patients with CHF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen thousand six hundred and eighty-one patients diagnosed with CHF from 12 hospitals were analyzed. Patients were categorized into AF group and non-AF group, death group, and survival group according to the results of the patients' medical records and follow-up. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to examine the risk of AF. The sensitivity and specificity of SUA level in predicting the prognosis were examined by multivariate Cox models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of univariate predictors in overall patients showed that the higher SUA level was associated with AF. SUA level (HR, 1.084; 95%CI, 1.017 - 1.144; P < 0.001), diuretics (HR, 1.549; 95%CI, 1.246 - 1.854; P < 0.001), and New York Heart Association (NYHA) (HR, 1.237; 95%CI, 1.168 - 1.306; P < 0.001) function class were the independent risk factors for AF. The sensitivity and specificity of the models were 29.6% and 83.8% respectively for predicting AF. When SUA level was added to these models, it remained significant (Wald c(2), 1494.88; P < 0.001 for AF); 58.8% (95%CI, 57.7% - 60.0%) of the observed results were concordant with the separate model.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Higher SUA level is associated strongly with AF in patients with CHF. SUA level can increase the sensitivity and specificity in predicting AF.</p>

Prognosis investigation in patients with chronic heart failure and pericardial effusion / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Researchers still do not reach the consensus on the incidence, characters and the prognostic value of pericardial effusion (PE) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). This study is to investigate the incidence, characters and the prognostic value of pericardial effusion (PE) in patients with CHF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One thousand one hundred and eighty-nine patients, with a diagnosis of CHF consecutively admitted to three centers, were enrolled. M-mode echocardiography was used to determine the presence or absence of PE and to semi-quantify it. The 118 patients with PE and 472 without PE were followed up. The relationship between the PE and other parameters and the prognostic value of PE for CHF were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After following up, 550 patients were analyzed, of which 226 were dead. The incidence of PE was 9.92%. Moderate PE was the most common which account 90.68% (107/118). The 6.78% of the patients (8/118) had small while only 2.54% (3/118) had large one. The systolic blood pressure (OR=1.04, 95%CI (1.01-1.07), P=0.08), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR=1.09, 95%CI (1.02-1.15), P=0.06), and main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD) (OR=1.51, 95%CI (1.24-1.85), P<0.001) were the independent predictors of PE. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (OR=1.013, 95%CI (1.005-1.026), P=0.02), systolic blood pressure (OR=1.02, 95%CI (1.00-1.03), P=0.015), LVEF (OR=1.08, 95%CI (1.04-1.12), P<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (OR=3.53, 95%CI (1.99-6.44), P<0.001) were determined as the independent predictors of CHF prognosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The PE is not uncommon in CHF patients and most PE are small to moderate. PE is not related to the etiology of CHF while is strongly connected with higher systolic blood pressure, low LVEF and large MPAD. PE dose not increase the risk of death in patients with CHF.</p>

Investigation on the prevalence and related factors of medicinal therapy in patients with chronic svstolic heart failure / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and related factors of medicinal therapy in patients with chronic systolic heart failure (CSHF).Methods Data on in-hospital patients with CSHF were studied from 12 hospitals in Hubei province,in 2000 and 2010.Differences on gender and age were calculated and Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determinate the independent risk factors of all-cause mortality.Results (1) 16 681 patients were enrolled in this study.Among which,6453 died during the 5.82 ± 1.63 years of follow-up.The annual medical expenditure was larger in the survival group than in the dead ones (3.19 ± 0.65 vs.3.32 ± 0.57,P＜0.01).(2)The prevalence of Angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker increased along with age which accounted as 7.73％,7.35％,12.26％,14.29％,17.19％,19.87％ and 20.49％,respectively,in the ＜30,30-39,40-49,50-59,60-69,70-79 and ≥80-year groups.The distribution of digitalis,diuretics,β-receptor blocker,Angiorensin- converting enzyke inhibitors showed inversed U shape.(3)The annual medical expenditure increased as patients got older,with age groups ＜30,30-39,40-49,50-59,60-69 and 70-79 years old as 2.96 ± 0.70,3.09 ± 0.62,3.15 ± 0.58,3.30 ± 0.59 and 3.25 ±0.58,respectively (P＜0.01).It reduced to the same level as in the 50-59 year-old group.The distribution of annual medical expenditure showed similar pattern in males.However,the trends were only found in patients at 50-59,60-69,70-79 and ≥80 years-old groups in female.Conclusion More attention should be paid to medicinal therapy in patients with CSHF.Medicinal therapy shifted with age and gender,of which females had more adverse trend than in males.

Impact of red cell distribution width on outcome of 16 681 patients with chronic systolic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determinate the prognostic value of red cell distribution width (RDW) and the relationships between RDW and clinical characteristics in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 16 681 in-hospital patients with chronic systolic HF and LVEF < 50% from 12 hospitals in Hubei province, China were enrolled. All patients were followed up with telephone call. Patients were divided into RDW ≤ 13.2% (n = 3981), 13.3% - 14.1% (n = 3996), 14.2% - 14.8% (n = 4319) and ≥ 14.9% (n = 4385) groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine whether RDW is an independent risk factor of all-cause mortality in overall patients, patients with various etiologies. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to determine the risk of all-cause mortality among various RDW groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with RDW ≤ 13.2% group, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause mortality for RDW 13.3% - 14.1%, 14.2% - 14.8% and ≥ 14.9% were 0.892 (95%CI 0.818 - 0.973, P = 0.01), 0.859 (95%CI 0.793 - 0.931, P < 0.01) and 1.034 (95%CI 0.961 - 1.111, P = 0.373) respectively. (2) Compared with MCV normal group, the adjusted HRs of MCV elevation and MCV decline groups were 1.351 (95%CI 1.063 - 1.718, P < 0.01) and 1.316 (95%CI 1.034 - 1.675, P < 0.01), respectively. (3) Compared to patients with rheumatic heart diseases, the adjusted HR for all-cause mortality in patients with coronary heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertensive heart disease with RDW > 16% were 1.437 (95%CI 1.141 - 1.810, P < 0.01), 1.651 (95%CI 1.276 - 2.138, P < 0.01) and 1.276 (95%CI 1.004 - 1.621, P < 0.01), respectively. (4) The RDW is independently correlated with BMI (r = -0.345, P < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.321, P < 0.01), albumin (r = -0.411, P < 0.01), blood urine nitrogen (r = 0.476, P < 0.01), right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = 0.383, P < 0.01), LVEF (r = -0.463, P < 0.01) and heart rate (r = 0.379, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is a J shape relationship between all-cause mortality and RDW. The elevation or decline of MCV with increased RDW is linked with increased all-cause mortality in CHF patients.</p>

Action potential duration restitution and the potential association with ventricular arrhythmia in Langendorff-perfused chronic heart failure rabbit hearts / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the action potential duration restitution (APDR) change and potential association with ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in Langendorff-perfused chronic heart failure rabbit hearts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: control (CTL, n=15) group and chronic heart failure (CHF, n=15) group. CHF was induced by injecting isoproterenol (300 µg×kg(-1) ×d(-1)) for 14 days. Four weeks later, cardiac function and structure change of both groups were assessed by echocardiography. In the whole Langendorff-perfused hearts, the monophasic action potential (MAP) and the effective refractory period (ERP) were recorded from left anterior basal ventricle, left anterior free wall, left anterior apex and left posterior basal ventricle, left posterior free wall and left posterior apex, the APD curves were also constructed in both groups; at the six sites of every isolated heart, the programmed electrical stimulation and burst pacing were used to induce action potential duration (APD) alternans and VA, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Left ventricular ejection was reduced and end-dimension was enlarged in rabbits of CHF group. Compared with the same sites of CTL group, the 90% of MAP duration (MAPD90), the ERP, the max slope (Smax) of APDR curves, the pacing cycle length of inducing the APD alternans and the VAs were significantly increased (all P<0.05) in CHF group; the spatial dispersions of MAPD90, ERP and Smax of APDR curves in CHF group were also greater than in CTL group (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ventricular APD alternans might be linked with occurrence of the VA in CHF rabbits. Increase of the Smax from APDR curves and the spatial dispersions of Smax in this CHF model might facilitate the development of ventricular arrhythmia.</p>

A cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in Chinese patients with premature ventricular contractions without structural heart disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Anxiety appears to be more common in patients with coronary artery disease (CHD) than in the general population, and anxiety symptoms may precede onset of CHD and play an important role in development of CHD. Little is known about the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in Chinese patients with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Our objective was to study anxiety symptoms and potential risk factors in a Chinese population with PVCs but without structural heart disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Zung self-rating anxiety scale (ZSAS) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. Correlation between anxiety symptoms and socio-demographics and medical factors were analyzed by Logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 1144 patients with PVCs (487 males and 657 females), age (53 ± 23) years old, disease duration 1 month to 24 years, a total of 381 (33.3%) patients were categorized as having anxiety symptoms. Anxiety symptoms increased with age, low income, low education level, nationality, PVC count/24 hours, bad social support, village settlement type (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression indicated that six variables-education level, ethnic minorities, dwelling place, age, PVC count/24 hours, and social support-significantly and independently related with anxiety symptoms (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the Chinese population, anxiety symptoms in subjects with PVCs were frequent. Education level, ethnic minorities, dwelling place, age, PVC count/24 hours, and social support were independent risk factors for anxiety symptoms. Further research on the relationship between PVCs and anxiety symptoms in China is necessary.</p>

Anticoagulation therapy in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Non-valvular atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke; however, the appropriate intensity of anticoagulation therapy for Chinese patients has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and the efficacy of standard-intensity warfarin therapy, low-intensity warfarin therapy, and aspirin therapy for the prevention of ischemic events in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 786 patients from 75 Chinese hospitals were enrolled in this study and randomized into three therapy groups: standard-intensity warfarin (international normalized ratio (INR) 2.1 to 2.5) group, low-intensity warfarin (INR 1.6 to 2.0) group and aspirin (200 mg per day) group. All patients were evaluated by physicians at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after randomization to obtain a patient questionnaire, physical examination and related laboratory tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The annual event rates of ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or systemic thromboembolism were 2.6%, 3.1% and 6.9% in the standard-intensity warfarin, low-intensity warfarin and aspirin groups, respectively (P = 0.027). Thromboembolic event rates in both warfarin groups were significantly lower than that in the aspirin group (P = 0.018, P = 0.044), and there was no significant difference between the two warfarin groups. Severe hemorrhagic events occurred in 15 patients, 7 (2.6%) in the standard-intensity warfarin group, 7 (2.4%) in the low-intensity warfarin group and 1 (0.4%) in the aspirin group. The severe hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups were higher than that in the aspirin group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.101). The mild hemorrhagic and total hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups (whether in the standard-intensity warfarin group or low-intensity warfarin group) were much higher than that in the aspirin group with the annual event rates of total hemorrhages of 10.2%, 7.6% and 2.2%, respectively, in the 3 groups (P = 0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in all cause mortality among the three study groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In Chinese patients with NVAF, the warfarin therapy (INR 1.6 - 2.5) for the prevention of thromboembolic events was superior to aspirin.</p>

Effect of anxiety and depression on the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The effects of anxiety and depression on the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) are not clear. Whether CPVA can alleviate the anxiety and depression symptoms of persistent AF patients is unknown.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and sixty-four patients with persistent AF, of which 43 treated with CPVA (CPVA group) and 103 treated with anti-arrhythmics drugs (medicine group), were enrolled. The Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were assessed before and 12 months after treatment in all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The scores of SAS (40.33 ± 7.90 vs. 49.76 ± 9.52, P < 0.01) and SDS (42.33 ± 8.73 vs. 48.17 ± 8.77, P < 0.01) decreased 12 months after CPVA. Over 12 months follow-up, AF relapsed in 17 patients in CPVA group. Compared with the data in the recurrent group (17 patients), the scores of SAS and SDS were significantly lower in the non-recurrent group (26 patients) at baseline. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed normal scores of SAS and SDS were the independent risk factors of AF recurrence after CPVA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Anxiety and depression increase the recurrence risk of persistent AF after CPVA. CPVA can ameliorate the anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with persistent AF.</p>

Activating protein kinase C enhances ventricular action potential duration restitution and increase arrhythmia susceptibility in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine effects of activating protein kinase C (PKC) on ventricular action potential duration restitution (APDR) and Burst stimulus induced arrhythmia in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male rabbits were equally divided into three groups randomly: control group (Tyrode's solution perfusion), PKC agonist phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, 100 nmol/L) group and PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (BIM, 500 nmol/L) group. Thirty minutes after perfusion, the monophasic action potential (MAP) and effective refractory period (ERP) were determined in right basal ventricle (RB), right apex (RA), left basal ventricle (LB) and left apex (LA) of all the animals, and APDR curve was drawn. Burst stimulus method was used to induce ventricular arrhythmia in perfused rabbit hearts; Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of PKC in four different areas of ventricle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the ERP, 90% of monophasic action potential duration (MAPD(90)) and ERP/MAPD(90) were significantly shortened (all P < 0.01), the max slopes (S(max)) of APDR curve were significantly steeper (RB: 1.22 ± 0.23 vs. 0.65 ± 0.19; RA: 2.99 ± 0.29 vs. 1.02 ± 0.18; LB: 1.84 ± 0.21 vs. 0.85 ± 0.12; LA: 4.02 ± 0.32 vs.1.12 ± 0.23, all P < 0.01) and the incidences of ventricular arrhythmia were significantly increased in the PMA group. All parameters were similar between the BIM group and the control group (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Activating PKC could enhance the max slopes of APDR curve at various ventricular areas and subsequently increase arrhythmia susceptibility in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts.</p>

Cardiac electrophysiological differences between Kunming and C57BL6/J mice / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the alterations of cardiac electrophysiological properties and substantial mechanism and find the stable arrhythmia mouse model in Kunming (KM) and C57BL6/J (C57) mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Electrocardiogram recordings were used to analyze the QT interval in vivo, and mono- phasic action potential of right and left ventricular epicardium was recorded to elicit changes of action potential duration (APD) in conventional and programmed electrical stimulation (PES). Transient outward potassium current (Ito) was recorded via whole-cell patch-clamp technique in single right and left epicardial myocytes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>QT interval was prolonged in KM mice relative to C57 mice (62.51±4.47 ms vs. 52.59±4.85 ms, P<0.05) The APD at 50% repolarization of the left ventricular epicardium (18.60±0.91 ms vs. 12.90±0.35 ms), and APDs at 50% (17.31±6.05 ms vs. 12.00±3.24 ms) and 70% repolarization (36.13±5.32 ms vs. 21.95±8.06 ms) of the right ventricular epicardium in KM mice were more sensitive to PES-induced ventricular tachycardia (25%, 3 of 12 hearts), and especially to Burst-induced ventricular tachycardia (50%, 6 of 12 hearts)compared with C57 mice, which were 20% (2 of 10 hearts) and 30% (3 of 10 hearts) respectively. Ito densities both in the left and right ventricular epicardial myocytes from KM mice were significantly decreased compared with C57 mice, respectively (all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data showed that KM mice with the prolonged QT interval and APD are vulnerabilities to ventricular arrhythmia, which are attributed to lower Ito densities in ventricular myocytes obtained from KM mice than that from C57 mice.</p>

Characteristics of in-hospital patients with chronic heart failure in Hubei province from 2000 to 2010 / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the current status of chronic heart failure (CHF) in Hubei province and analyze the epidemiology of CHF including the general condition, etiology and pharmacological therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data of in-hospital patients with CHF were investigated between 2000 and 2010 from 12 hospitals in Hubei Province.</p><p><b>INCLUSION CRITERIA</b>over 18 years of age, organic heart disease and with the symptom of HF including dyspnea and fatigue. Patients with a history of myocardial infarction in the prior 12 months, congenital heart disease, pericardial disease and the history of cancer were excluded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) A total of 12 450 patients were enrolled (7166 male, 57.56%). The average age was (62.0 ± 14.5) years. Patients in the scale of age ≥ 80, 70 - 79, 60 - 69, 50 - 59, 40 - 49 and < 40 was 9.53% (1187/12 450), 30.80% (3835/12 450), 23.45% (2920/12 450), 18.81% (2342/12 450), 10.73% (1336/12 450) and 6.67% (830/12 450), respectively (P < 0.01). The NYHA class I, II, III and IV was 0.60%, 23.20%, 50.31% and 26.50%, respectively. (2) The age of patients was significant reduced from 2000 - 2003, 2004 - 2006 to 2007 - 2010 [(66.4 ± 14.1) years, (64.9 ± 14.4) years and (64.2 ± 14.8) years, P < 0.01]. (3) The major causes of CHF were hypertension (31.54%), coronary heart disease (28.24%), dilated cardiomyopathy (26.57%) and rheumatic valvular heart disease (17.49%). The most frequent etiology for CHF was rheumatic valvular heart disease in patients aged less than 40 years old, dilated cardiomyopathy in patients aged 40 - 49 and 50 - 59 years and hypertension in patients aged 60-69, 70-79 and ≥ 80 years. (4) Drug use was as follows: Digitalis (47.49%), diuretics (68.75%), ACEI (50.66%), β-blocker (44.06%) and aldosterone antagonist (53.08%). Use of digitalis (Wald χ(2) = 903.41, P < 0.01;r = 0.271, P < 0.01), diuretics (Wald χ(2) = 818.05, P < 0.01; r = 0.249, P < 0.01), aldosterone antagonists (Wald χ(2) = 76.92, P < 0.01; r = 0.091, P < 0.01) increased while the β-blocker (Wald χ(2) = 160.65, P < 0.01; r = -0.117, P < 0.01) declined in proportion to NYHA class increase.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The age of in-hospital patients with CHF declined in the previous 10 years. The primary etiology was hypertension for aged CHF in-hospital patients with CHF. There was big gap between guideline recommended standard therapy and current drug use for in-hospital patients with CHF in Hubei province.</p>