B-type natriuretic peptide levels at admission predict the prognosis of patients with infective endocarditis undergoing cardiac surgery.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and the prognosis of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: In total, 162 IE patients with recorded BNP levels upon admission were included in the present study. The primary end point was all-cause mortality. Results: Multivariate Cox analysis revealed a significant association between log BNP and all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a poorer prognosis for patients with BNP levels ≥ the 75th percentile. Furthermore, the linear trend test indicated a significant link between BNP quartiles and the primary end point within the models. Conclusion: Elevated BNP levels upon admission could predict all-cause mortality in IE patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Infective endocarditis (IE) refers to an infection affecting the heart lining, heart valves or blood vessels. Despite advancements in medical and surgical interventions, the overall mortality rate remains high among IE patients after surgery. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a peptide released in response to increased stress on the ventricular and atrial walls and is commonly used as a biomarker for heart failure. This study was aimed to assess the potential of BNP in predicting all-cause mortality in IE patients. The results indicate that elevated BNP levels upon admission could predict a worse prognosis following endocarditis surgery. Additionally, elevated BNP levels upon admission were associated with an increased risk of death.

MicroRNA-1907 enhances atherosclerosis-associated endothelial cell apoptosis by suppressing Bcl-2.

Injury and endothelial cell apoptosis are hall marks of atherosclerosis (AS). However, the mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis remain ill-defined. Recent evidence of a role for microRNAs in AS-associated endothelial cell apoptosis encouraged us to address this question. Here, AS was developed in ApoE (-/-) mice supplied with a high-fat diet (HFD), compared to ApoE (-/-) mice supplied with a normal diet (ND). Mouse endothelial cells were isolated from the aortic arch using flow cytometry based on their expression of CD31. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) as an in vitro model for AS. Gene expression was quantified by RT-qPCR and protein levels were analyzed by Western blotting. Apoptosis was evaluated by FITC Annexin V Apoptosis assay and by TUNEL staining. Predicting binding patterns between miRNAs and the 3'-UTR of mRNA from the target gene was performed by bioinformatics analyses and confirmed by a dual luciferase reporter assay. We found that HFD mice, but not ND mice, developed AS in 12 weeks. A significant reduction in endothelial cells and a significant increase in mesenchymal cells were detected in the aortic arch of the HFD mice, compared to those of ND mice. Endothelial cell apoptosis was significantly higher in HFD mice, seemingly due to functional suppression of protein translation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein through upregulation of miR-1907, confirmed by in vitro analysis. Moreover, inhibition of miR-1907 abolished the effects of ox-LDL-induced apoptotic cell death on HAECs. Thus, AS-associated endothelial cell apoptosis may partially result from downregulation of Bcl-2, via upregulation of miR-1907 which binds and suppresses the translation of Bcl-2 mRNA.

Influence of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Mood and Quality of Life After Stent Implantation in Young and Middle-Aged Patients With Coronary Heart Disease.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), established only a few decades ago, is widely used by clinical psychologists. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CBT on mental status and quality of life (QOL) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in young and middle-aged patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Seventy-five anxiety/depression patients (mean age, 52.2 ± 6.2 years, including 8 individuals < 45 years old) with CHD treated with PCI were randomly divided into a CBT group (n = 38) and control group (n = 37). The CBT group received 8 weeks of CBT in addition to the routine postoperative treatment that was also administered to control patients. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A), and Coronary Revascularization Outcome Questionnaire (CROQ-PTCA-POST, Chinese version) were administered before, 3 days, and 8 weeks after intervention. HAM-D17 and HAM-A scores were decreased after treatment, but were more substantially reduced in patients that underwent CBT than those in the control group (11.7 ± 4.5 versus 15.1 ± 3.9, P = 0.001 and 10.6 ± 3.4 versus 16.5 ± 4.6, P = 0.003, respectively). QOL was improved in both groups, but overall satisfaction was higher in the CBT group compared with control patients (89.3 ± 5.2 versus 77.8 ± 9.5, P < 0.05). CBT can relieve depression and anxiety after PCI in young and middle-aged patients with CHD. CBT can improve patient QOL.

[Relevance between carotid plaque scores and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relevance between carotid plaque and the severity of coronary artery disease. METHODS: A total of 207 patients(149 males,58 females) undergoing coronary angiography were definitely diagnosed with coronary heart disease. They were divided into 3 groups of one-vessel disease (1VD, n = 69), two-vessel disease (2VD, n = 57) and three-or-more vessel disease (3VD, n = 81) by the number of involved vessels. Their physical findings, biochemical data and carotid ultrasonographic results were collected. And the scores of Crouse, Gensini and Leaman were calculated to compare the relevance. RESULTS: No significant differences existed among all three groups except for a higher age and the presence of plaque in 2VD and 3VD groups than 1VD group ((63 ± 11) and (60 ± 11) vs (57 ± 10)years old, 82%(n = 47) and 81%(n = 66) vs 65%(n = 45), both P < 0.05) . Crouse had a positive correlation with Gensini (r = 0.455, P < 0.01) and Leaman scores (r = 0.358, P < 0.01) . CONCLUSION: Assessment of plaque scores by carotid ultrasonography is clinically relevant for predicting the severity of coronary artery disease.

[Preliminary study of real-time three-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography for coronary artery disease assessment].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of real-time three-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography for coronary artery disease assessment. METHODS: A total of 14 patients suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent real-time three-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography. The initial infusion rate of dobutamine was 5 µg×kg⁻¹ ×min⁻¹, followed by 10 µg×kg⁻¹×min⁻¹ and peak infusion 20 µg×kg⁻¹×min⁻¹ in 3 min stages. At baseline state, stress stages and after the study, the real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) images were captured and assessed by wall motion score index (WMSI) and regional ejection fraction (rEF). And the parameters of these two modalities versus coronary angiography (CAG) were compared and analyzed. Adverse reactions were also observed. RESULTS: All patients completed the stress study uneventfully. As compared with CAG, these two modalities showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) and satisfactory agreement (κ values of 0.704 and 0.759 respectively). The diagnostic parameters of these modalities were: sensitivity (78% vs 89%), specificity (92% vs 88%), positive predictive value (PPV) (88% vs 84%), negative predictive value (NPV) (85% vs 91%) and overall accuracy (86% vs 88%). CONCLUSION: Real-time three-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography is an effective, rapid and safe technique of assessing coronary artery disease. It is worthy of wider clinical applications.