Factors influencing recovery of left ventricular structure in patients with chronic heart failure / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and β-blockers (βB) have beneficial effects on left ventricular (LV) remodeling, alleviate symptoms and reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However the correlation between the d osages of ACE inhibitors, βB, and recovery of LV structure remains controversial. Clinical factors associated with recovery of normal ventricular structure in CHF patients receiving medical therapy are poorly defined. Here we aimed to identify variables associated with recovery of normal or near-normal structure in patients with CHF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We recruited 231 consecutive CHF outpatients, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) > 55/50 mm (male/female), who were receiving optimal pharmacotherapy between January 2001 and June 2009, and followed them until December 31, 2009. They were divided into three groups according to LVEDD and whether they were still alive at final follow-up: group A, LVEDD ≤ 60/55 mm (male/female); group B, LVEDD > 60/55 mm (male/female); and group C, those who died before final follow-up. Apart from group C, univariate analysis was performed followed by Logistic multivariate analysis to determine the predictors of recovery of LV structure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 217 patients completed follow-up, and median follow-up time was 35 months (range 6 - 108). Twenty-five patients died during that period; the all-cause mortality rate was 11.5%. Group A showed clinical characteristics as follows: the shortest duration of disease and shortest QRS width, the lowest N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at baseline, the highest dose of βB usage, the highest systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the lowest New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, serum creatinine, uric acid, total bilirubin and NT-proBNP after treatment. Logistic multivariate analysis was performed according to recovery or no recovery of LV structure. Data showed that LVEF at follow-up (P = 0.013), mitral regurgitation at baseline (P = 0.020), LVEDD at baseline (P = 0.031), and βB dosage (P = 0.041) were independently associated with recovery of LV diameter.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study suggests that four clinical variables may predict recovery of LV structure to normal or near-normal values with optimal drug therapy alone, and may be used to discriminate between patients who should receive optimal pharmacotherapy and those who require more aggressive therapeutic interventions.</p>

Optimal pharmacotherapy according to guideline improved prognosis of outpatients with chronic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of optimal pharmacotherapy according to guideline on treating chronic heart failure(CHF) in real world clinical practice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 231 consecutive outpatients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%) and enlarged left ventricular end diastolic diameter (male > 55 mm, female > 60 mm) were recruited from January 2001 to June 2009. All patients were treated with optimal pharmacotherapy according to guideline recommendations and followed up to December 31, 2009. Mortality, rehospitalization and changes of heart size and cardiac function at baseline and at the end of follow-up period were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) 14 patients were lost during follow-up (6.1%), and follow-up was complete in 217 patients (93.9%). 97.2% and 98.2% patients were prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and β-blockers (βB). Combined of ACE inhibitors and BB use was applied in 95.3% patients. The target dose of ACE inhibitors and βB were reached in 50.7% and 37.3% patients. (2) Lower mortality and re-hospitalization rates were observed in this cohort: all-cause morality, average annual mortality was 11.5% and 3.9% respectively. Re-hospitalization rate was 27.6%. (3) Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) decreased from (68.2 ± 7.2) mm to (62.2 ± 9.6) mm. LVEDD value was normal or near normal (male ≤ 60 mm, female ≤ 55 mm) in 43.2% patients. LVEF improved form (29.8 ± 7.5)% to (43.3 ± 11.8)%, LVEF was > 40% in 60.4% patients, LVEF was ≤ 40% but increased ≥ 10% after treatment in 22.9% patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Optimal pharmacotherapy according to guideline can improve prognosis of outpatients with CHF.</p>

Electrophysiological characterization and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial tachycardia originating from the left atrial appendage / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the electrophysiological characteristics and efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of focal atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the left atrial appendage (LAA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Electrophysiologic study and RFA were performed in 9 patients (4 female) with focal AT originating from the LAA. Atrial appendage angiography was performed to identify the origin of AT. P waves were classified as negative, positive, isoelectric, or biphasic.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age was (21 +/- 9) years. AT occurred spontaneously or was induced by isoproterenol infusion rather than programmed extrastimulation and burst atrial pacing. A characteristic P-wave morphology and endocardial activation pattern were observed. Positive P-wave in inferior leads was seen in all patients, upright or biphasic (+/-) component P wave was observed in lead V1, isoelectric component or an upright component P wave with low amplitude ( < 0.1 mV) was seen in lead V2-V6. Earliest endocardial activity occurred at the distal coronary sinus (CS) in all patients. The earliest endocardial activation at the successful RFA site occurred (36.7 +/- 7.9) ms before the onset of P wave. RFA was successful in all 9 patients immediately post procedure. AT reoccurred in 2 patients within 1 month post RFA and AT disappeared post the 2nd-RFA. AT reoccurred in 1 patient and terminated after the 3rd RFA. At the final follow-up (12 +/ 5) months, all 9 patients were free of arrhythmias without antiarrhythmic drugs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The LAA is an uncommon site of origin for focal AT. The characteristic P wave and activation timing are suggestive for focal AT originating from the LAA. LAA focal ablation is safe and effective for patients with focal AT originating from the LAA.</p>

Efficacy of minimally invasive left ventricular epicardial lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Ventricular resynchronization might be achieved via minimally invasive left ventricular epicardial lead placement.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Six patients with congestive heart failure underwent minimally invasive left ventricular epicardial lead placement after failed coronary sinus cannulation were followed up for 1 year, cardiac function and LV lead threshold were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no in-hospital deaths, intraoperative complications and diaphragm stimulation. Correct lead positioning was achieved in all 6 patients. LV lead thresholds remained unchanged [(1.2 ± 0.5) V vs (1.1 ± 0.4) V, P = 0.68] at 12 months follow-up. Improvements on 6 min walking test [(327 ± 77) m vs (267 ± 68) m, P = 0.001], LVEF [(26.1 ± 6.0)% vs (38.2 ± 4.7)%, P = 0.004], and NYHA functional class were evidenced at 12 months follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Minimally invasive left ventricular epicardial lead placement is a safe and reliable technique and should be considered as an alternative option in case of difficult coronary venous anatomy and inability to position the lead for resynchronization therapy.</p>

Neuregulin-1 preconditioning protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury through a PI3K/Akt-dependent mechanism / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1), the ligand of the myocardial ErbB receptor, is a protein mediator with regulatory actions in the heart. This study investigated whether NRG-1 preconditioning has protective effects on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and its potential mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We worked with an in vivo rat model with induced myocardial ischemia (45 minutes) followed by reperfusion (3 hours). NRG-1 message was detected in the heart using RT-PCR and the protein levels of NRG-1 and ErbB4 were detected by Western blotting analysis. Infarct size was assessed using the staining agent triphenyltetrazolium chloride and cardiac function was continuously monitored. The levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in plasma were analyzed to assess the degree of cardiac injury. The extent of cardiac apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and by Western blotting analysis of cleaved caspase-3. We examined the phosphorylation of Akt in the myocardium and the effect of PI3K/Akt inhibition on NRG-1-induced cardioprotection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Transcription and expression of NRG-1 and phosphorylation of its ErbB4 receptor were significantly upregulated in the I/R hearts. NRG-1 pretreatment reduced the infarct size following cardiac I/R in a concentration-dependent manner with an optimal concentration of 4 µg/kg in vivo. NRG-1 pretreatment with 4 µg/kg, i.v. markedly reduced the plasma creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels. Pretreatment with NRG-1 also significantly reduced the percentage of TUNEL positive myocytes and the level of cleaved caspase-3 in the I/R hearts. Pretreatment with NRG-1 significantly increased phosphorylation of Akt following I/R. Furthermore, the cardioprotective effect limiting the infarct size that was induced by NRG-1 was abolished by co-administration of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The concentration of NRG-1, a new autacoid, was rapidly upregulated after myocardial I/R. NRG-1 preconditioning has cardioprotective effects against I/R injury through a PI3K/Akt-dependent mechanism in vivo.</p>

The clinical characteristics of 5 patients with inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical characteristics of patients with inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical characteristics, electrocardiogram, serum chemistry and diagnostic methods were retrospectively investigated in 5 patients with inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The electrocardiograms of all patients were abnormal, with prominent left ventricular voltage and ST-T changes. One male patient with clinicopathological features of early onset, muscle weakness, ventricular preexcitation, elevations of two serum proteins and intracytoplasmic vacuoles containing autophagic material and glycogen in biceps brachial muscle cells was diagnosed Danon's disease. Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in one male patient with early onset, short PR interval and biopsy findings of ragged-red fibers in biceps brachial muscle. Three patients were diagnosed as Fabry's disease with clinical characteristics including pain and acroparesthesias, angiokeratoma and decrease of alpha-galactosidase A activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Some of the rare inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy might easily be clinically misdiagnosed as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, systemic and careful case history inquiring and specific relevant examinations would help to make the right diagnosis in these patients.</p>

Serum troponin I level in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe serum troponin I (TNI) level in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Six hundreds and twelve HCM patients were analyzed prospectively from January 1990 to November 2007.Ultracardiography were detected for all the patients. The diagnostic criteria of HCM is ventricular wall thickness more than 15 mm. Serum TNI level was measured in 116 patients with HCM. Clinical data including age, gender, history, main symptoms, NYHA grade, coronary angiograph, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were compared between patients with normal and increased TNI levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 116 patients who detected TNI, 62 of them (53.4%) had a degree higher than normal. The median TNI value of all these patients is 0.07 ng/ml (0 - 4.38 ng/ml). Sixty-nine patients (59.5%) had undergone coronary angiography. Only 9 of them (13.0%) could be diagnosised as coronary heart disease. The TNI values of HCM patients with or without coronary heart disease were similar. The factors related to a higher TNI value included maximal depth of ventricule (P < 0.05), significant T inversion (P < 0.01) and chest pain (P < 0.05). Compared to all the 612 patients, the ones who detected serum TNI were likely to have chest pain (45.7% vs. 34.5%, P < 0.01) and significant T inversion (75.9% vs. 30.1%, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increased serum TNI could be seen in half of HCM patients, especially in those patients with chest pain or significant T inversion. It is therefore important to different these patients from patients with acute coronary syndrome.</p>

Impact of admission heart rate on in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the impact of admission heart rate (HR) on in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The data of 904 in-hospital patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were collected from database of Beijing Anzhen Hospital during 2003--2004. The patients were divided into three groups according to the admission HR: < 80 beats/min, 80 - 90 beats/min and > 90 beats/min. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic dimension (LVESD) and the cases of in-hospital death were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) Age, gender, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, the number of diseased vessel detected by coronary angiography were similar among three groups. LVEDD in group > 90 beats/min [(51.9 +/- 7.5) mm] and group 80 - 90 beats/min [(51.6 +/- 5.8) mm] were significantly larger compared with group < 80 beats/min [(50.3 +/- 5.3) mm, all P < 0.05]; LVESD in group > 90 beats/min [(39.5 +/- 8.7) mm] were also significantly increased compared with group 80 - 90 beats/min [(37.1 +/- 7.1) mm] and group < 80 beats/min [(34.8 +/- 6.2) mm, all P < 0.05]; LVEF was significantly lower in group > 90 beats/min (46.0% +/- 10.6%) compared with group 80 - 90 beats/min (49.5% +/- 11.3%) and group < 80 beats/min (54.6% +/- 10.8%, all P < 0.05). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in group > 90 beats/min (18.2%) than those in group 80 - 90 beats/min and in group < 80 beats/min (8.5%, 3.9%, all P < 0.05). (2) Multivariate analysis showed that admission HR was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (OR = 1.025, 95% CI 1.008 - 1.043, P = 0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The high level of admission HR was a powerful predictor of in-hospital mortality and ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction.</p>

The primary observation on the effect of pravastatin to non-ischemic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and safety of adding pravastatin (Pra) on top of standard therapy in non-ischemic heart failure patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 61 patients hospitalized in our hospital from Jan 2005 to Jul 2006 were randomly divided into pravastatin group (Pra 20 mg/d on top of standard therapy, n = 30) and control group (standard therapy, n = 31) and followed 6 months. The changes on cardiac function, flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of brachial artery, plasma TNF-alpha level, liver and kidney function were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Pra treated patients, FMD of brachial artery significantly increased after 3 months treatments and NYHA stage significantly improved, plasma BNP, TNF-alpha levels and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension significantly decreased, LVEF significantly increased significantly 6 months post therapy compared to baseline (all P < 0.01). In control group, the patients' NYHA stage also significantly improved (P < 0.05) and LVEF tended to be higher (P = 0.052) while FMD, plasma BNP and TNF-alpha levels remained unchanged at 6 months post therapy compared to baseline. In Pra group, the level of TC (P < 0.05) and LDL-C (P = 0.051) also significantly decreased while HDL-C remained unchanged 6 months post therapy. One patient in Pra group discontinued the study drug because of anaphylaxis. No event on liver and kidney dysfunction was noticed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pravastatin was effective and safe in treating non-ischemic heart failure patients and can significantly improve left ventricular remodeling, endothelial and cardiac functions as well as reduce the levels of inflammatory factors.</p>

Short and long-term therapeutic efficacy of drug-eluting stents (Firebird) for the treatment of coronary artery disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the short and long-term therapeutic efficacy of drug-eluting stents (Firebird) for the treatment of coronary artery disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Nov. 2003 to Jan. 2005, 501 Firebird stents were implanted in 410 patients with 460 lesions. All patients were administered with aspirin and clopidogrel before and after the procedures. Follow-up was made by telephone or interview, 102 out of 410 patients were followed up by angiography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The procedure success rate was 99.5%. Stent thrombosis occurred in one patient during the procedure and one sudden death developed 10 hours after the procedure in hospital. The major adverse cardiac event (MACE, including death, acute myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization) rate during hospitalization was 0.2% (1/410). The MACE rate was 4.3% (16/376) and the stent thrombosis rate was 1.1% (4/376) during clinical follow-up of 376 patients (12.8 +/- 3.2 months). The angiographic restenosis rate in 102 patients with 122 lesions was 9.8% (12/122).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Firebird drug-eluting stent could be used safely and effectively in patient with coronary heart disease.</p>

Transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy versus dual-chamber cardiac pacing for the treatment of aged patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the safety and efficacy of transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH) versus dual-chamber cardiac pacing (PM) for the treatment of aged > 60 years old) patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medically uncontrolled symptomatic aged patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM, n = 23) were treated by transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH, n = 15) or dual-chamber cardiac pacing (PM, n = 8) and followed up for 24 months. Two patients needed permanent pacemaker after TASH were excluded from the analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NYHA class improved from 3.2 +/- 0.7 to 1.5 +/- 0.5 and from 3.0 +/- 0.1 to 1.9 +/- 0.6 and general symptomatic score decreased from 5.9 +/- 1.6 to 1.8 +/- 0.7 and from 4.5 +/- 1.3 to 2.3 +/- 1.6 post TASH or PM treatments, respectively (all P < 0.01 vs. baseline). The decrease of left ventricular outflow pressure gradient (PG) was (80.0 +/- 35.5) mm Hg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) and (49.3 +/- 37.7) mmHg post TASH and PM treatments respectively (all P < 0.05 vs. baseline) and the PG decrease was more significant in TASH group compared to PM group (P < 0.01). Interventricular septal thickness was significantly reduced post TASH [(22 +/- 4) mm vs. (17 +/- 3) mm, P < 0.05] and remained unchanged in PM group. Three patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (2 patients in TASH group and 1 in PM group) developed chronic atrial fibrillation during the follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both therapeutic approaches-TASH and PM implantation, significantly reduced PG and significantly improved NYHA class and general symptomatic score in aged symptomatic patients with HOCM. TASH was superior to PM in terms of PG decrease and general symptomatic score improvement.</p>

Clinical study of pravastatin with different dosage in early admission period in patients with unstable angina / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of early intervention by pravastatin with two different dosage on inflammatory factors and endothelial vasodilator function in patients with unstable angina (UA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>108 patients with UA were investigated consecutively and divided randomly into three groups (group 20 mg, n = 37; group 10 mg, n = 37; group control, n = 34). Blood samples were examined at admission and 4, 8 weeks after the therapy of pravastatin. Fourty patients of UA were chosen from those three groups (15, 15 and 10 cases respectively). The endothelium-dependent vasodilation and the function of vascular endothelium of them were measured. In the dosage of 20 mg pravastatin group non-endothelium-dependent vasodilation in brachial artery was also tested by ultrasound before and 8 weeks after the therapy. Cardiac events were followed up for 2 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The use of pravastatin in early admission period of UA could significantly reduce inflammatory factors and improve vascular endothelium function, which was more obviously in the group of 20 mg/d than in group of 10 mg/d. These benefits occurred in 4th week and more obviously in 8th week after the therapy. (2) The lipid lowering therapy in the early stage of admission (24 - 48 h) resulted in the reduction of cardiac events in the hospital.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The use of pravastatin 20 mg/d seems better than that of 10 mg/d in all the fields as above in early admission period of UA patients.</p>