Predictive value of SYNTAX-Ⅱ score on prognosis of patients with chronic total occlusion undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of SYNTAX-Ⅱ score on long term prognosis of patients diagnosed with chronic total occlusion (CTO) and received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Patients undergoing CTO-PCI in Fuwai hospital from January 2010 to December 2013 were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The SYNTAX-Ⅱ score of the patients was calculated. According to SYNTAX-Ⅱ score tertiles, patients were stratified as follows: SYNTAX-Ⅱ≤20, 20<SYNTAX-Ⅱ≤27, SYNTAX-Ⅱ>27. Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACCE), including all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke and any revascularization. Secondary endpoints included stent thrombosis, heart failure and target lesion failure (TLF). Patients were followed up by outpatient visit or telephone call at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after PCI, and annually up to 5 years. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors of all-cause death in patients undergoing CTO-PCI. The predictive value of SYNTAX score with SYNTAX-Ⅱ score for all-cause death was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC). Results: A total of 2 391 patients with CTO and received PCI were enrolled in this study. The mean age was (57.0±10.5) years, 1 994 (83.40%) patients were male. There were 802 patients in lower tertile group (SYNTAX-Ⅱ≤20), 798 patients in intermediate group (20<SYNTAX-Ⅱ≤27) and 791 patients in upper tertile group (SYNTAX-Ⅱ>27). At the end of 5-year follow-up, the loss to follow-up rate of the three groups was 9.10%(73/802), 10.78%(86/798)and 8.85%(70/791), respectively. The rate of all-cause mortality (1.78% (13/729) vs. 3.65% (26/712) vs. 9.02% (65/721), P<0.001), cardiac death (1.37% (10/729) vs. 2.11% (15/712) vs. 4.85% (35/721), P<0.001), target vessel myocardial infarctions (4.25% (31/729) vs. 4.49% (32/712) vs. 7.07% (51/721), P=0.03), probable stent thrombosis (1.51% (11/729) vs. 2.81% (20/712) vs. 3.61% (26/721), P=0.04) and heart failure (1.78% (13/729) vs. 1.97% (14/712) vs. 5.41% (39/721), P<0.001) increased in proportion to increasing SYNTAX-Ⅱ score (all P<0.05). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that female (HR=2.05, 95%CI 1.12-3.73, P=0.01), left ventricular ejection fraction (HR=0.97, 95%CI 0.95-1.00, P=0.05) and SYNTAX-Ⅱ score (HR=1.07, 95%CI 1.02-1.11,P=0.01) were independent predictors for all-cause mortality in patients undergoing CTO-PCI. The predicted value of the SYNTAX-Ⅱ score for all-cause death was significantly higher than the SYNTAX score (AUC 0.71 vs. 0.60, P=0.003). Conclusion: For CTO patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, SYNTAX-Ⅱ score is an independent predictor for 5-year all-cause death, and SYNTAX-Ⅱ serves as an important predictor for all-cause death in these patients.

The acute and long-term outcome of patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction concurrent with chronic total occlusion / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To evaluate the acute and long-term outcome of patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) concurrent with chronic total occlusion (CTO) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: 11 905 STEMI patients from the China Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry were enrolled in this study and divided into CTO group and non-CTO group according to the angiography results of primary PCI. 1∶3 propensity score matching was used to match the patients between the two groups. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality and mortality at 1-year post PCI. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including death, re-myocardial infarction, revascularization, heart failure associated readmission, stroke and major bleeding at 1-year post PCI. Results: There were 931 CTO patients (7.8%) in this cohort (male=755 (81.1%), mean age (62.2±11.4 years)). The rest 10 974 patients were STEMI without CTO (male=8 829 (80.5%),mean age (60.0±11.8) years). After propensity score matching, 896 patients were enrolled in CTO group and 2 688 in non-CTO group. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the CTO group than in non-CTO group (4.2% vs. 2.4%, P=0.006). The ratio of all cause death, cardiac death, and MACE at 1-year follow up was also significantly higher in the CTO group than in non-CTO group (8.5% vs. 4.4%, P<0.001, 5.3% vs. 2.6%, P=0.001, 35.1% vs. 23.3%, P<0.001, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed that CTO (HR=1.54, 95%CI 1.06-2.22, P=0.022), advanced age (HR=1.06, 95%CI 1.04-1.08, P<0.001), and previous heart failure history (HR=4.10, 95%CI 1.90-8.83, P<0.001) were independent risk factors of 1-year mortality. Conclusions: The in-hospital and 1-year mortality increased significantly in STEMI patients concurrent with CTO. CTO, advanced age and history of heart failure are independent risk factors of 1-year death among STEMI patients.

Impacts of smoking status on the clinical outcomes of coronary non-target lesions in patients with coronary heart disease: a single-center angiographic study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Coronary atherosclerotic plaque could go through rapid progression and induce adverse cardiac events. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of smoking status on clinical outcomes of coronary non-target lesions.@*METHODS@#Consecutive patients with coronary heart disease who underwent two serial coronary angiographies were included. All coronary non-target lesions were recorded at first coronary angiography and analyzed using quantitative coronary angiography at both procedures. Patients were grouped into non-smokers, quitters, and smokers according to their smoking status. Clinical outcomes including rapid lesion progression, lesion re-vascularization, and myocardial infarction were recorded at second coronary angiography. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the association between smoking status and clinical outcomes.@*RESULTS@#A total of 1255 patients and 1670 lesions were included. Smokers were younger and more likely to be male compared with non-smokers. Increase in percent diameter stenosis was significantly lower (2.7 [0.6, 7.1] % vs. 3.5 [0.9, 8.9]%) and 3.4 [1.1, 7.7]%, P = 0.020) in quitters than those in smokers and non-smokers. Quitters tended to have a decreased incidence of rapid lesions progression (15.8% [76/482] vs. 21.6% [74/342] and 20.6% [89/431], P = 0.062), lesion re-vascularization (13.1% [63/482] vs. 15.5% [53/432] and 15.5% [67/431], P = 0.448), lesion-related myocardial infarction (0.8% [4/482] vs. 2.6% [9/342] and 1.4% [6/431], P = 0.110) and all-cause myocardial infarction (1.9% [9/482] vs. 4.1% [14/342] and 2.3% [10/431], P = 0.128) compared with smokers and non-smokers. In multivariable analysis, smoking status was not an independent predictor for rapid lesion progression, lesion re-vascularization, and lesion-related myocardial infarction except that a higher risk of all-cause myocardial infarction was observed in smokers than non-smokers (hazards ratio: 3.00, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-8.62, P = 0.042).@*CONCLUSION@#Smoking cessation mitigates the increase in percent diameter stenosis of coronary non-target lesions, meanwhile, smokers are associated with increased risk for all-cause myocardial infarction compared with non-smokers.

Gender difference in efficacy of intra-aortic balloon pump in acute myocardial infarction patients complicating with cardiogenic shock / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the effect of gender on the efficacy of intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP) applied in patients with cardiogenic shock complicated by acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Methods: A total of 209 patients diagnosed as cardiogenic shock complicated by AMI admitted in Fuwai Hospital from June 2012 to May 2018 were enrolled in our study. We collected the data from medical records and investigated their clinical manifestation and laboratory examination and IABP support, as well as 28-day (from diagnosis of cardiogenic shock) mortality retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the 28-day survival rates of patients of different genders/with or without IABP treatment. Adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, dual antiplatelet, coma, APACHEⅡ score and SAPSⅡ score, Cox regression analysis was used to detect the affect of IABP treatment on the risk of all-cause mortality in different crowd, and using Z test to evaluate the modification effect of gender on IABP treatment efficacy. Results: A total of 209 patients were included in this study, with 148 males (80 (54.05%) cases received IABP support) and 61 females (22 (36.06%) cases received IABP support). A total of 102 patients received IABP treatment. The 28-day survival rate of male patients was higher than that of females (39.2% (58/148) vs. 26.2% (16/61), Log-rank P=0.034). The 28-day survival rate of patients receiving IABP was significantly higher than that of non-IABP groups (46.1% (47/102) vs. 25.2% (27/107), Log-rank P=0.001 7). Among female patients, there was no statistically significant difference in 28-day survival rate between those who received IABP and those who did not receive IABP (P=0.889). While in male patients, the 28-day survival rate of those who received IABP was higher than that of those who did not receive IABP (51.2% (41/80) vs. 25.0% (17/68), P=0.001). The survival rate of male patients treated with IABP was higher than that of male patients who did not receive IABP, female patients who did not receive IABP and female patients who received IABP (all P<0.05). After multiple regression analysis and adjustment of confounding factors, it was found that IABP implantation can significantly reduce the 28-day mortality risk in male patients (HR=0.44, 95%CI 0.25-0.77 P=0.004). While it had no inpact on the death risk in female patients(P= 0.401). The impact of IABP implantation in patients of different genders was significantly different (Z=-2.32, P=0.020). Conclusion: In AMI patients complicating cardiogenic shock, there is a gender difference in the impact of IABP implantation on the 28-day mortality risk, and protective effects are seen only in men.

Impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the progression and revascularization of coronary non-target lesions in patients with coronary heart disease / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on progression and revascularization of coronary non-target lesions in patients with coronary heart disease. Methods: From January 2010 to September 2014, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with coronary heart disease who underwent two consecutive coronary angiographies at Fuwai Hospital. At least one coronary non-target lesion was recorded at the first procedure in these patients. Patients were grouped according to the diagnose of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Demographic features, risk factors of coronary heart disease, laboratory results as well as characteristics of coronary non-target lesions were collected at baseline (first coronary angiography) and follow-up (second coronary angiography). Lesion progression was defined by quantitative coronary angiography analysis. Lesions revascularization was recorded. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to define the impacts of diabetes mellitus on progression and revascularization of non-target lesions. Subgroup analysis in diabetic and non-diabetic groups were further performed. Receiver operating characteristics curve was used to identify the predictive value of HbA1c. Results: A total of 1 255 patients were included, and 1 003(79.9%) were male, age was(58.0±9.7) years old. And 486 patients were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Follow-up time was (14.8±4.5) months. Compared with non-diabetic group, diabetic group were older with less male and had higher BMI index as well as higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, prior myocardial infarction and prior percutaneous coronary intervention(all P<0.05). Diabetic patients also had higher level of white blood cells, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, endothelin and HbA1c at both baseline and follow-up compared with non-diabetic patients (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference on progression of non-target lesions (20.0%(97/486) vs. 18.5%(142/769), P=0.512), revascularization of non-target lesions (13.2%(64/486) vs. 15.9%(122/769), P=0.190) and non-target lesion related myocardial infarction(1.9%(9/486) vs. 1.3%(10/769), P=0.436) between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus was not an independent predictor for progression and revascularization of non-target lesions (Both P>0.05). Subgroup analysis in diabetic patients showed that baseline HbA1c level(HR=1.160, 95%CI 1.009-1.333, P=0.037) was an independent predictor for non-target lesion progression. Cut-off value of HbA1c was 6.5% (Area Under Curve(AUC) 0.57, specificity 88.7%; sensitivity 24.2%, P=0.046) by receiver operating characteristics curve. Patients with HbA1c level above 6.5% had 2.8 times higher risk of lesion progression compared with patients with HbA1c level below 6.5% (HR=2.838, 95%CI 1.505-5.349, P=0.001). Compared with non-diabetic patients, diabetic patients with HbA1c below 6.5% also had lower risk of lesion progression (HR=0.469, 95%CI 0.252-0.872, P=0.012). ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction was an independent predictor for revascularization of non-target lesions in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is not an independent predictor for progression and revascularization of coronary non-target lesions in patients with coronary heart disease. However, elevated HbA1c level is a risk factor for progression of non-target lesion in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Characteristics of Coronary Artery Lesions in Smokers With Coronary Heart Disease and Prognostic Evaluation After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / 中国循环杂志

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of coronary lesions and evaluate the prognosis post-percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in smokers with coronary heart disease. Methods: The data were derived from PANDA III, which was a perspective, multi-center, "all-comer", randomized controlled trial. Between Dec. 2013 and Aug. 2014, 2 348 patients from 46 centers were enrolled. Mean age was (61.2 ±10.6) years old, 1 658 patients (70.6%) were male. All the patients underwent PCI and biodegradable polymer drug eluting stents were implanted as indicated. Patients were divided into non-smoking group, quitter group and smoking-group based on the basis of smoking status at baseline. Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and repeated revascularization. Secondary endpoint were stent thrombosis and target lesion failure (TLF), including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and ischemia driven target lesion revascularization. Results: Smokers and quitters were more often males. Compared with non-smoking group and quitter group, patients in smoking group were significantly younger (P<0.0001), proportion of hypertension (P=0.0002), diabetes mellitus (P=0.0052) and previous PCI history (P<0.0001) was significantly lower. The incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the smoking group was as high as 41.3% (363/879), which was significantly higher than that of the quitter group and non-smoking group (P<0.0001). A total of 1 130 (96.7%), 286 (95.3%) and 846 (96.2%) patients in the non-smoking group, quitter group and smoking-group completed the 2-year follow-up, respectively. The results of 2-years follow-up showed that MACE rate of non-smoking group, quitter group and smoking-group was 11.23%, 13.64% and 12.21%(P=0.54), respectively. Multivariable cox regression analysis indicated that smoking status was not an independent predictor for all-cause mortality and TLF.

Safety and Efficacy of Chemical Ablation With Anhydrous Alcohol Combined With Gelatin Sponge for Patients With Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy / 中国循环杂志

Objectives:To analyze the safety and efficacy of chemical ablation of anhydrous alcohol combined with gelatin sponge for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods:The clinical data of 7 HOCM patients, who underwent chemical ablation with anhydrous alcohol and gelatin sponge in Fuwai Hospital from May 2017 to December 2017, were analyzed. Results:There were 5 males and 2 females, with a median age of 56 years (range, 43-67 years), the mean interventricular septum thickness was (19.6 ± 4.8) mm, the number of ablated septal branch was 1-2, the amount of used anhydrous alcohol was 1.4 (1.0-2.0) ml, the amount of applied gelatin sponge was 0.5 (0.1-1.3) ml. After procedure, the left ventricular outflow tract pressure was significantly decreased ([31.6 ± 12.6] mmHg vs [86.4 ± 20.7] mmHg, P＜0.001), NYHA cardiac function was significantly improved (1.4 ± 0.5 vs 2.7 ± 0.8, P ＜0.05), no relevant complications occurred. Conclusions:Chemical ablation with anhydrous alcohol and gelatin sponge is safe and effective for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Long-term Prognosis of Patients After Implantation of Biodegradable Polymer Drug Eluting Stent or Excel Stent / 中国循环杂志

Objectives:To evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus on prognosis of coronary artery disease patients after implantation of the novel biodegradable polymer drug eluting stents. Methods:PANDA Ⅲ was a perspective, multi-center, "all-comer", randomized controlled trial. Between Dec. 2013 and Sep. 2014, 2 348 patients from 46 centers were enrolled. All the patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, among them 1 174 patients implanted with BuMA stent and 1 174 patients implanted with Excel stent. Mean age was 61.2 ±10.6, 1 658 patients (70.6%) were male, 570 (24.2%) patients presented with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 1 778 (75.7%) without DM. Patients were divided into DM and non-DM groups. Primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF), including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and ischemia driven target lesion revascularization. Secondary endpoints included stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of death, myocardial infarction and any revascularization. Results:A total of 558 (97.9%) and 1 704 (95.8%) patients completed 2-year follow-up in DM and non-DM groups. Incidence of TLF in the DM and non-DM group was 8.24% vs. 6.81%, P=0.25, and cardiac death rate was significantly higher in the DM group compared with non-DM group:2.87% vs. 1.12%, P=0.004. Incidence of MACE was similar between two group:13.98% vs. 11.38, P=0.10. Myocardial infarction and any revascularization events were numericallyhigher in the DM group compared with non-DM group, but without statistical significance:5.73% vs. 5.11%, P=0.56; 6.45% vs. 5.46%, P=0.38, respectively. Incidence of all-cause death was significantly higher in the DM group compared with non-DM group:4.30% vs. 2.46%, P=0.03. The results were similar after propensity match analysis. Multivariable analysis showed that DM and baseline SYNTAX score were independent factors for 2-year cardiac death. Conclusions:Two-year incidence of TLF is similar in coronary artery disease patients with or without DM post implantation of biodegradable polymer drug eluting stent or Excel stent, however, the rate of death especially cardiac death is significantly higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group.

Correlation Study Between Serum Level of Cardiac M2-muscarinic Receptor Autoantibody and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy / 中国循环杂志

Objectives: To study serum level of M2-muscarinic receptor autoantibody (M2-AAb) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with its relationship to relevant clinical parameters. Methods: Our research included in 2 groups: HCM group, 133 patients and they were divided into 3 subgroups:Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) subgroup, 72, Latent obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (LHOCM) subgroup, 22 and Non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NOCM) subgroup, 39; since there was no obstruction of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) in LHOCM and NOCM patients at resting, LHOCM and NOCM patients were combined as LHOCM+NOCM subgroup, 61 in comparison with HOCM subgroup. And Control group, 40 subjects had no organic heart disease and autoimmune diseases which were confirmed by 12 lead ECG, transthoracic echocardiography and routine hematological tests, they were not using β-blockers, glucocorticoids and immune-suppressants. Serum levels of M2-AAb were examined by ELISA, the relationship between M2-AAb and relevant clinical parameters were studied. Results: Compared with Control group, HCM group had increased serum level of M2-AAb [22.91 (17.21, 29.64) ng/ml] vs (17.14±5.66) ng/ml, P<0.01; M2-AAb was similar among HOCM, LHOCM and NOCM subgroups; M2-AAb in female patients were higher than male, P=0.001. Further investigation presented that the patients with family history of sudden death had the higher M2-AAb, P<0.05; patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or left atrial diameter (LAD)≥50 mm or moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) had the higher M2-AAb than those without such problems, all P<0.05. In HCM group, log M2-AAb was positively related to resting LVOT gradient (r=0.178, P=0.040); in HOCM subgroup, log M2-AAb was marginal positively related to resting LVOT gradient (r=0.224, P=0.058). Conclusions: Serum M2-AAb was elevated in HCM patients; gender, family history of sudden death may affect M2-AAb level; patients combining AF or LAD≥50 mm or moderate-severe MR had the higher M2-AAb and it was related to resting LVOT gradient.

Factors associated with coronary artery disease in young population (age ≤ 40): analysis with 217 cases / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relevant factors of coronary artery disease (CAD) in young people under 40 years of age.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study population was 292 young patients accepting coronary angiography in Fuwai Hospital from July to December 2006, including 272 men and 20 women, with the mean age being 36.7 ± 3.7 years. The diagnosis of CAD was made in the cases presenting ≥ 50% stenosis in coronary lumen in coronary angiography. Based on the diagnosis, 217 patients (204 men, 13 women) were assigned to CAD group, and 75 (68 men, 7 women) to non-CAD group. Clinical data and metabolic characteristics of the patients were collected and analyzed using t-test, χ² test, and multinomial logistic regression with SPSS 8.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most study subjects were current smokers (209/292, 71.6%), and more than half had body mass index (BMI)>24 kg/m² (230/292, 78.8%) and usually took high-fat diet (162/292, 55.5%). The proportion of heavy smokers (smoking history ≥ 10 years and ≥ 20 cigarettes per day) were significantly higher in the CAD group than in the non-CAD group [20.7% (45/217) vs. 9.3% (7/75), P=0.015)]. Heavy smoking [odds ratio (OR), 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.74-2.05], hypertension (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.48-1.65), alcohol (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.30-1.46), type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.25-1.50), high-fat diet (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.28-1.43), and BMI>24 kg/m² (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.17) were factors related to CAD in the young patients (all P<0.05). Total cholesterol (4.56 ± 1.46 mmol/L vs. 4.09 ± 1.00 mmol/L), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.38 ± 1.11 mmol/L vs. 2.14 ± 0.63 mmol/L), lipoprotein a (134.97 ± 109.70 mg/L vs. 101.58 ± 58.39 mg/L), uric acid (359.89 ± 100.09 μmol/L vs. 336.75 ± 94.36 μmol/L), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (9.98 ± 12.19 mm/hour vs. 4.89 ± 4.92 mm/hour), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (3.42 ± 4.39 mg/L vs. 2.80 ± 3.77 mg/L) and Big endothelin-1 (1.41 ± 1.50 fmol/mL vs. 0.77 ± 1.13 fmol/mL) in plasma were significantly increased in the CAD group compared with the non-CAD group (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Heavy smoking, hypertension, alcohol consumption, type 2 diabetes mellitus, high-fat diet and BMI>24 kg/m² were significantly related to CAD in patients aged ≤ 40, with heavy smoking presenting the highest OR. Metabolic syndrome and inflammation were also more common in young CAD patients than in non-CAD patients.</p>

First report of a novel abluminal groove filled biodegradable polymer rapamycin-eluting stent in de novo coronary artery disease: results of the first in man FIREHAWK trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Durable polymers used for first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) potentially contribute to persistent inflammation and late DES thrombosis. We report the first in human experience with the rapamycin-eluting biodegradable polymer coated cobalt-chromium FIREHAWK stent with abluminal groove.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 21 patients with stable or unstable angina, or prior myocardial infarction, with single de novo native coronary stenoses < 30 mm in length in vessel sizes ranging from 2.25 to 4.0 mm were enrolled. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 30 days defined as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (Q and non-Q), or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization. Secondary endpoints include device, lesion, and clinical success rates, 4-month in-stent late lumen loss by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), proportion of uncovered or malapposed stent struts by optical coherence tomograpphy (OCT) at 4 months, and MACE at 4, 12, 24 and 36-month follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Device success was 95.7%, lesion and clinical success was 100.0%. There were no MACE events at 30 days. One patient died of non-cardiac hemorrhagic stroke 5 days after index procedure. At 4 months, in-stent late loss was (0.13 ± 0.18) mm, and complete strut coverage was 96.2% by OCT with 0.1% strut malapposition. At 4-month follow-up there was no additional MACE events, and a single target vessel (non-target lesion) revascularization.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The FIREHAWK abluminal groove biodegradable polymer rapamycin-eluting stent demonstrated feasibility, safety and efficacy in this first in human experience. OCT findings indicated excellent stent strut coverage 4 months after implantation. Larger studies are required to confirm whether the early FIREHAWK stent results translate into longer term restenosis and thrombosis benefits.</p>

Clinical features of five patients with delayed third degree atrioventricular block after ethanol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical features of patients with delayed third degree atrioventricular block after ethanol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The clinical data of cases with delayed third degree atrioventricular block after septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy at our hospital from 2000 to 2011 were collected.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five out of 235 patients (2.1%) developed delayed third degree atrioventricular block. Delayed third atrioventricular block occurred at 32 h post ablation (28 - 120 h). Their average age is 46 (33 - 64) years old, there are 4 males and 1 female. Left ventricular outflow gradient before ablation was 70 - 100 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). Intraprocedural third degree atrioventricular block occurred in 4 patients. The average injected dose of Ethanol was 1.8 (1.4 - 4.3) ml. Syncope occurred in 3 patients. Temporary pacemaker was reimplanted to all 5 patients and removed after an average of 8 d (3 - 18 d). All 5 patients were in normal sinus rhythms at discharge without the need of implanting permanent pacemaker. There was no syncope in these 5 patients after discharge during the telephone follow up for an average of 9 (1 - 72) months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of delayed third degree atrioventricular block after septal ablation is rare. Prolonged electrocardiography monitoring and prophylactic temporary pacemaker backup post ablation are necessary to detect this event and to prevent syncope related to delayed third degree atrioventricular block after septal ablation.</p>

Comparison of dobutamine stress echocardiography and exercise echocardiography in evaluating left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient induced by dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and exercise echocardiography (EE) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DSE and EE were performed in 40 consecutive patients with HCM and LVOT gradient < 50 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) at rest. Dobutamine was administered intravenously at incremental doses of 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1200 µg/min at 5 min intervals. LVOT gradients were measured at rest, at peak exercise and during each dose of DSE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LVOT gradient at rest was lower than 30 mm Hg in 36 patients and between 30 and 49 mm Hg in 4 patients. Of the 36 patients with LVOT gradient < 30 mm Hg at rest, mechanical LVOT obstruction (latent LVOTO) was evidenced in 17 patients during EE and in 18 patients during DSE and good consistency (91.7%, kappa value 0.833) was found between the two maneuvers. The provoked gradient was similar between DSE at 800 µg/min and EE at peak exercise (P = 0.181). In the 4 patients with LVOT gradient between 30 and 49 mm Hg [(38.8 ± 2.6) mm Hg], LVOT gradient increased to (85.3 ± 26.4) mm Hg during EE and (105.0 ± 28.0) mm Hg during DES.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DES and EE are comparable and suitable provoke methods for identifying LVOT obstruction in patients with HCM.</p>

The in-hospital outcome and predictors of major adverse cardiac events after transradial intervention in patients with coronary artery disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study is to evaluate the in-hospital clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease who underwent transradial intervention (TRI) and analyze the predictors of clinical outcome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2004 to May 2009, there were 16 281 patients who underwent transradial intervention, as well as 5388 patients who underwent transfemoral intervention (TFI) at our institution. The clinical characteristics, procedural characteristics, and in-hospital clinical adverse events were compared between TRI and TFI groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (composite of death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization) of TRI.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The annulations time was significantly longer for TRI than TFI (P < 0.01), fluoroscopy time, amount of contrast agent and procedural success rate (95.5% for TRI and 96.2% for TFI) were similar between the two groups. However, the rates of vascular complications (0.1% for TRI group and 1.3% for TFI group, P < 0.01), incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (1.6% vs. 3.8%, P < 0.01) and in-hospital death (0.2% vs. 0.4%, P < 0.01) were all significantly lower in TRI group compared with TFI group. The following characteristics were identified as independent multivariate predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events of TRI: age ≥ 65 (OR: 1.98, 95%CI: 1.50 - 2.61, P < 0.01), prior myocardial infarction (OR: 2.14, 95%CI: 1.63 - 2.82, P < 0.01), use of drug-eluting stent (DES) (OR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.47 - 0.98, P = 0.04), dissection during procedure (OR: 4.08, 95%CI: 2.28 - 7.33, P < 0.01), left main lesion (OR: 2.12, 95%CI: 1.09 - 4.13, P = 0.03), number of implanted stents (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.09 - 1.43, P < 0.01), and total stented length (OR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00 - 1.02, P = 0.03).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In this large single-centre patient cohort, the transradial intervention is superior to transfemoral intervention in terms of in-hospital safety and efficacy. Age ≥ 65, prior myocardial infarction, use of DES, dissection during procedure, left main lesion, number of implanted stents and total stented length were identified as independent multivariate predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events of TRI.</p>

Effect of intracoronary infusion of bone marrow mononuclear cells or peripheral endothelial progenitor cells on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mini-swine / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To simulate and assess the clinical effect of intracoronary infusion of bone marrow mononuclear cells or peripheral endothelial progenitor cells on myocardial reperfusion injury in mini-swine model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three mini-swine with myocardial reperfusion injury were used as designed in the study protocol. About (3.54 +/- 0.90) x 10(8) bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC group, n = 9) or (1.16 +/- 1.07) x 10(7) endothelial progenitor cells (EPC group, n = 7) was infused into the affected coronary segment of the swine. The other mini-swine were infused with phosphate buffered saline as control (n = 7). Echocardiography and hemodynamic studies were performed before and 4 weeks after cell infusion. Myocardium infarction size was calculated. Stem cell differentiation was analyzed under a transmission electromicroscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Left ventricular ejection fraction dropped by 0% in EPC group, 2% in MNC group, and 10% in the control group 4 weeks after cell infusion, respectively (P < 0.05). The systolic parameters increased in MNC and EPC groups but decreased in the control group. However, the diastolic parameters demonstrated no significant change in the three groups (P > 0.05). EPC decreased total infarction size more than MNC did (1.60 +/- 0.26 cm2 vs. 3.71 +/- 1.38 cm2, P < 0.05). Undermature endothelial cells and myocytes were found under transmission electromicroscope.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Transplantation of either MNC or EPC may be beneficial to cardiac systolic function, but might not has obvious effect on diastolic function. Intracoronary infusion of EPC might be better than MNC in controlling infarction size. Both MNC and EPC may stimulate angiogenesis, inhibit fibrogenesis, and differentiate into myocardial cells.</p>

Analysis of myocardial perfusion and metabolism in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy undergoing percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation by99 Tcm-MIBI and 18F-FDG images / 中华核医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the use of gated SPECT in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and the effects of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) on myocardial perfusion.Methods 99 Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images were performed in 31 HOCM patients before PFSMA and in 15 patients 3-7 d after PTSMA.The images in different left ventricular segments were analysed by using scores.Results In 99Tcm-MIBI images, uptake decreased at the septal regions in 12 HOCM patients (80.0%, 12/15) after PTSMA, 18F-FDG images also showed decreased uptake at the septal regions in 5 HOCM patients (33.3%, 5/15) after PTSMA.Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI images might be an important method to evaluate PTSMA results, and 18 F-FDG images showed important value as reference.

No-reflow protection and long-term efficacy for acute myocardial infarction with Tongxinluo: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial (ENLEAT Trial) / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>No-reflow after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is related to the severe prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Tongxinluo, a traditional Chinese medicine, on no-reflow and the infarction area after emergency PCI for STEMI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 219 patients (female 31, 14%) undergoing emergency PCI for STEMI from nine clinical centers were consecutively enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial from January 2007 to May 2009. All patients were randomly divided into Tongxinluo group (n = 108) and control group (n = 111), given Tongxinluo or placebo in loading dose 2.08 g respectively before emergency PCI with aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 300 mg together, then 1.04 g three times daily for six months after PCI. The ST segment elevation was recorded by electrocardiogram at hospitalization and 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 hours after coronary balloon dilation to evaluate the myocardial no-flow; myocardial perfusion scores of 17 segments were evaluated on day 7 and day 180 after STEMI with static single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to determine the infarct area.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no statistical significance in sex, age, past history, chest pain, onset-to-reperfusion time, Killip classification, TIMI flow grade just before and after PCI, either in the medication treatment during the follow up such as statin, β-blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) between two groups. There was significant ST segment restoration in Tongxinluo group compared to the control group at 6 hours ((-0.22 ± 0.18) mV vs. (-0.18 ± 0.16) mV, P = 0.0394), 12 hours ((-0.24 ± 0.18) mV vs. (-0.18 ± 0.15) mV, P = 0.0158) and 24 hours ((-0.27 ± 0.16) mV vs. (-0.20 ± 0.16) mV, P = 0.0021) reperfusion; and the incidence of myocardial no-reflow was also reduced significantly at 24-hour reperfusion (34.3% vs. 54.1%, P = 0.0031). The myocardial perfusion scores of 17 segments evaluated by static SPECT was improved significantly on day 7 and day 180 after STEMI in Tongxinluo group compared to the control group (0.61 ± 0.40 vs. 0.76 ± 0.42, P = 0.0109 and 0.51 ± 0.42 vs. 0.66 ± 0.43, P = 0.0115, respectively). There was no significant difference in severe adverse events between two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tongxinluo as a kind of traditional Chinese medicine could reduce myocardial no-reflow and infarction area significantly after emergency PCI for STEMI with conventional medicine therapy.</p>

Clinical and angiographic characteristics of premenopausal women with coronary artery disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Coronary artery disease (CAD) is generally considered as a disease of middle-aged men. It is widely accepted that the risk for CAD of premenopausal women is low because of hormone protection. Based on our clinical experience, more and more premenopausal women suffer from angina and myocardial infarction without adequate concern. Even now, there are still limited detailed data to describe the characteristics, mechanism and prognosis of premenopausal CAD patients. This article aimed to analyze the clinical and angiographic characteristics of premenopausal women with CAD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 565 premenopausal women and 721 postmenopausal women (56 - 60 years old) who underwent coronary angiography for the first time from April 2004 to December 2007 were enrolled. The clinical data and coronary angiographic characteristics (presence, localization, length and severity) were compared between the premenopausal and postmenopausal CAD groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Premenopausal CAD patients presented less frequently with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia compared with postmenopausal CAD patients (55.0% vs 66.0%, 15.0% vs 31.5%, 23.9% vs 37.4%, respectively; all P < 0.05). Although we found more frequent involvement of single vessel in premenopausal CAD (43.2% vs 26.9%, P = 0), and triple vessels in postmenopausal (56 - 60 years old) CAD patients (33.8% vs 20.4%, P = 0), much more severe lesions (> or = 90%) at left main (2.9% vs 1.1%, P = 0.048) and proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) (28.2% vs 16.6%, P = 0) in the premenopausal CAD group were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Premenopausal women with chest discomfort are always found to have obvious atherosclerosis, more inclined to be located at the left main and proximal LAD, which is a strong predictor of an adverse clinical outcome.</p>

The Val606Met mutation of human beta myosin heavy chain in a Chinese familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy family / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the disease-causing gene mutation in Chinese families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples of peripheral blood were collected from three Chinese families with HCM (at least two HCM patients existed/family). The exons in the functional regions of the beta myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7) were amplified with PCR and the products were sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A Val606Met missen mutation was identified in the exon 16 of MYH7 gene in a Chinese family and this mutation was identified in all HCM patients (n = 4) and there was also a 15-years-old young mutation carrier who was not HCM patient now (penetrance of 80%). This mutation was not identified in other healthy family members in this family, in other 2 Chinese familiar HCM families and in 120 non-HCM control patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Val606Met missen mutation is closely associated with familiar HCM in a Chinese family which is associated with clinical phenotype with a penetrance of 80%.</p>

Dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety and efficiency of the dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and estimate the difference between provokable obstruction and resting obstruction in these patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Echocardiography was performed in 22 patients with HCM (LVOTPG < 50 mm Hg at rest, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) at rest and at the end point of dobutamine stress. Dobutamine was administered via an infusion pump, starting at a dose of 5 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1) and increasing every 5 minutes by 5 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1) till the maximum dose of 20 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1). Fifty-seven patients with HCM (LVOTPG > 50 mm Hg at rest) were also studied at rest.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In these 22 patients, the mean maximum velocity of LVOT was 5.39 +/- 1.60 m/s, the mean maximum LVOTPG was 125.7 +/- 62.4 mm Hg at the end point of dobutamine stress and the mean dose of dobutamine was 13.90 +/- 6.85 microg x min(-1)xkg(-1). Sixteen patients evidenced positive stress results at the end point of dobutamine stress. The main difference between the provokable obstruction and resting obstruction was that in provokable obstruction patients, the SAM positive patients were fewer and the proportion of Maron II patients was higher (50%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Dobutamine stress echocardiography was a safe and sensitive way for detecting patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Provokable obstruction patients had fewer SAM and higher proportion of Maron II.</p>