Comparison on the clinical characteristics of patients with Takotsubo syndrome from China and from Europe/North America / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) from China and compare these features with patients from Europe/North America. Methods: We reviewed case reports published between 1990 and 2020 with the key words of "Takotsubo syndrome" "stress cardiomyopathy" "apical balloon syndrome" and "broken heart syndrome", in Wanfang, CNKI, Pubmed and Web of Science databases, and 1 294 articles were identified, including 128 articles reporting 163 cases in China and 1 166 articles reporting 1 256 cases in Europe/North America. The characteristics of demographics, triggers, symptoms, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, left ventriculogram,coronary angiography, treatment and prognosis were analyzed and compared between Chinese and European/North American cases. Results: A total of 1 294 articles (1 419 cases: 163 from China, 1 256 from Europe/North America) were included in the final analysis. The characteristics of Chinese cases included: (1) demographic:the age was (59.6±16.9) years, which was similar with that of European/North American ((59.7±17.4) years, P=0.90), and female accounting for 78.5% (128/163), which was lower than that of European/North American (85.4% (1 073/1 256), P=0.02). (2) Triggers:mental triggers accounted for 48.5% (79/163), physical triggers accounted for 43.6% (71/163), and no triggers accounted for 7.9% (13/163), respectively. Compared with Europe/North America, the ratio of patients with mental triggers was higher in China, while the ratio of patients with physical triggers and no triggers was lower (P<0.05). (3) Symptoms: chest pain (52.8% (86/163)), chest tightness (35.0% (57/163)), shortness of breath (33.1% (54/163)), dizziness (16.0% (26/163)), sweating (15.3% (25/163)), palpitations (12.3% (20/163)), syncope (9.2% (15/163)) abdominal pain/diarrhea (8.6% (14/163)), hypotension (7.4% (12/163)), and fatigue (1.2% (2/163)) were illustrated in sequence. Compared with patients in Europe/North America, the ratio of patients with chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, palpitations, abdominal pain/diarrhea was higher in Chinese patients, while the ratio of patients with hypotension was lower in Chinese patients (P<0.05). (4) Electrocardiogram: main manifestations were myocardial ischemia symptoms, such as ST-segment elevation (63.8% (104/163)), T wave inversion (46.0% (75/163)), ST-segment depression (8.6% (14/163)). Compared with European/North American, the ratio of patients with ST-segment elevation, T wave inversion, and atrioventricular block was higher in Chinese patients (P<0.05). (5) Echocardiography and imaging:apical dyskinesia (59.5% (97/163)) and apical/left ventricular bulbar dilation (36.2%(59/163)) dominated the echocardiography findings. Compared with European/North American, the ratio of patients with apical dyskinesia, apical/left ventricular bulbar dilation, and mitral regurgitation was higher in Chinese patients, while the ratio of patients with dyskinesia in other parts and left ventricular ejection fraction<50% was lower in Chinese patients (P<0.05). Left ventricular angiography showed 36.2% (59/163) of apical dyskinesia in Chinese patients, which was higher than that reported in European/North American patients, and 38.7% (63/163) of apical/left ventricular bulbar dilation was reported in Chinese patients, which was similar to that reported in European/North American patients. Coronary angiography showed percent of no stenosis or stenosis less than 50% was 87.1% (142/163), which was similar to that reported in European/North American patients (P>0.05). The typical type of TTS accounted for 96.3% (157/163), which was significantly higher than that reported in European/ American patients, while the ratio of basal type and midventricular type was lower (P<0.01). (6) Treatment and prognosis:the applied drugs in China were listed in order as following, β-blockers (41.1% (67/163)), antiplatelet agents (37.4%(61/163)), ACEI/ARB (36.2%(59/163)), anticoagulants (27.0%(44/163)), diuretics (19.6% (32/163)), etc. Compared with Europe/North America, the ratio of antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, statins, diuretics, and nitrates use was higher in China (P<0.05), while the use of oxygen therapy and IABP was similar (P>0.05). The hospital mortality in China was 5.5% (9/163), during 1-year follow-up the recurrence rate was 3.7% (6/163) and the mortality was 0. The prognosis was similar with that in Europe/North America. Conclusions: Compared with TTS cases in Europe/North America, TTS cases in China also occur usually in middle-aged and elderly women, most of whom have mental/physical triggers and typical imaging manifestations, followed by a low hospital mortality rate and recurrence rate.

Effect of lamotrigine on cognitive function and serum inflammatory factors in patients with depression of recurrent bipolar disorder

In the present study, an effort was made to investigate the effect of lamotrigine on cognitive function and serum inflammatory factors in patients with depression of recurrent bipolar disorder and to explore its possible mechanism.140 patients with depression of recurrent bipolar disorder, admitted from June 2015 to April 2017, were selected as the research subjects, followed by random division into the research group and the control group with 70 cases [n=70] in each group. The control group was treated with sodium valproate and the research group was treated with lamotrigine. After 2 months of treatment, comparison was made between the two groups for the emotional state, cognitive function and serum inflammatory factors. Results showed that the Hamilton Depression Scale [HAMD] score and Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale BRMS score in the research group were significantly lower than in the control group [P<0.05]. The time of Trail Making Test-A[TMT-A] and Trail Making Test-B[TMT-B] in the research group was significantly shorter than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference [P<0.05]. The serum levels of MIF, IL-1beta and IL-6 in the research group were significantly lower than those in the control group and the difference was statistically significant [P<0.05]. Research concluded that lamotrigine may help alleviate the clinical symptoms and improve cognitive function in patients with depression of recurrent bipolar disorder

Effect of Chronic Stress on Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Function and Susceptibility of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Experimental Rats / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To investigate the changes of cardiac sympathetic nerve function and susceptibility of ventricular arrhythmia at chronic stress condition in experimental rats. Methods: A total of 30 SD rats were randomly assigned into two groups: Control group, the rats were fed with normal condition and Chronic stress group, the rats were fed with unpredictable chronic stimulus program.n=15 in each group and all animals were treated for 4 weeks. The behavior of rats was assessed by open ifeld test and sucrose intake test, the susceptibility of ventricular arrhythmia was measured by Burst stimulus program under narcosis condition, and the sign of cardiac sympathetic nerve reconstruction, tyrosine hydroxylase content was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with Control group, Chronic stress group had decreased ratio of sucrose favorite/open field test, P0.05. Immunohistochemistry presented that Chronic stress group had much higher tyrosine hydroxylase content (1397.8 ± 268.8) um2/mm2 than Control group (995 ± 232.3) um2/mm2,P Conclusion: Chronic stress may increase the susceptibility of ventricular arrhythmia in experimental rats, and the cardiac sympathetic nerve reconstruction might be an important mechanism.

Influence of Wenxin particle on cardiac electrophysiology in depressed rats after myocardial infarction / 心血管康复医学杂志

Objective: To investigate influence of Wenxin particle on cardiac electrophysiology in rats complicated with depression after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: A total of 50 SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal group, MI group, depression group, MI complicated with depression group (model group) and Wenxin particle group (Wenxin particle were given to model rats by gavage, 2 g/d, 28d). Model（MI complicated with depression）rats were made by acute ligation of left coronary artery and supply chronic unpredictable mild stress in order. The influences of Wenxin particle on cardiac electrophysiological indexes, such as monophasic action potential (MAP90), left ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were evaluated in Wenxin particle group. Results: (1) Compared with normal group, there were significant decrease in behavior scores (P<0.05) in model group, after four-week treatment with Wenxin particle, their behavior scores significantly increased (P<0.01); (2) Compared with normal group, there were significant increase in MAPD90 and ERP, and significant decrease in VFT in model group (P<0.05); compared with model group, there were significant decrease in MAPD90 [(89.33±7.12) ms vs. (72.29±8.37) ms] and ERP [(84.00±6.57) ms vs. (68.00±7.43) ms], and significant increase in VFT [(7±3.11)V vs. (29±5.60)V] in Wenxin particle group, P<0.05. Conclusion: Wenxin particle can improve cardiac electrical remodeling in rats complicated with depression after myocardial infarction, including decrease monophasic action potential duration and effective refractory period, and raise ventricular fibrillation threshold.

Evaluation for application of remote electrocardiogram recorder in community residents / 心血管康复医学杂志

Objective: To evaluate the value of clinical application of Heart of the City type TJH-03A remote electrocardiogram recorder (remote ECG). Methods: A total of 1 014 community residents from Wuhan received ECG examination by Heart of the City type TJH-03A remote ECG recorder. Clinical and ECG data of all subjects were collected and analyzed. Results: There were 359 (35.40%) cases with normal ECG and 655 (64.60%) cases with abnormal ECG, after remote ECG examination . There were 581 cases had a variety of arrhythmia in 655 cases with abnormal ECG, so there were 828 cases times with abnormal ECG, in which there were （1）320 cases times (38.65%) with repolarization abnormality,（2）98 cases times(11.84%) with sinus bradycardia, （3）98 cases times (11.84%)with myocardial ischemia,（4）78 cases times (9.42%)with conduction block,（5）56 cases times(6.76%) with ventricular hypertrophy and high voltage,（6）43 cases times(5.19%) with atrial premature beats（7）37 cases times (4.47%)with atrial fibrillation,（8）35 cases times (4.23%)with sinus tachycardia,（9）24 cases times (2.90%)with ventricular premature beats, （10）19 cases times (2.29%)with suspected myocardial infarction according to ECG abnormality rate order. In addition, there were 5 cases times with QT interval prolongation, and abnormal ECG with abnormality rate ≤3 cases times: atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, Brugada wave, dextrocardia. Conclusion: Heart of the City type TJH-03A remote electrocardiogram recorder is convenient to use, it can perform remote electrocardiogram record, and find a variety of arrhythmias. It’s important for ECG diagnosis, especially for diagnosis of arrhythmias.