Impact of the diagnosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients undergoing liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Whether the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty disease has a different impact on liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma is not yet clear. Methods: Data from a two-center retrospective cohort study were collected to compare and investigate the differences between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis among liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Results: A total of 268 liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma were included. The prevalence among pre- and post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease was 10.82% and 30.22%, while for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, it was 7.09% and 26.87%, respectively. The clinicopathological parameters were similar between the two pre-transplant groups. In contrast, the post-transplant group with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease exhibited a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and a greater body mass index. However, the other parameters were similar between the two post-transplant groups (p > 0.05). Factors such as the largest tumor size > 4 cm, microvascular invasion, lack of tumor capsule, post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, and decreased post-transplant lymphocyte percentage were related to an increased risk of recurrence. Conclusion: In patients undergone liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma, the diagnosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty disease is more strongly associated with metabolic abnormalities than the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and is an independent predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence.

Impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease on liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease was proposed by international consensus to redefine the metabolic abnormal condition. However, its impact on liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma has not been explored. METHODS: A two-center retrospective cohort study on liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma was performed to analyze the impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease on the clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis. RESULTS: There were 201 liver transplant recipients enrolled from two hospitals in our study. The pre- and post-transplant prevalences of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease were 9.95% and 28.86%, respectively. The clinicopathological parameters revealed a similarity between patients with and without pre-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. In contrast, the group with post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease was linked with older age, a higher hepatitis recurrence rate and incidence of cardiovascular disease, usage of calcineurin inhibitors, a greater body mass index and waist circumference, lower albumin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and poorer tumor-free survival and overall survival. The multivariate analysis showed the largest tumor size >4 cm (95% confidence intervals: 0.06~0.63, p = 0.006), microvascular invasion (95% confidence intervals: 1.61~14.92, p = 0.005), post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (95% confidence intervals: 1.40~10.60, p = 0.009), and calcineurin inhibitors-based regimen (95% confidence intervals: 0.33~0.96, p = 0.036) were the independent risk factors for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that post-transplant metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is more closely to metabolic abnormalities and that it can help identify liver transplant recipients at high risk of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Feasibility and clinical benefits of the double-ProGlide technique for hemostasis after cryoballoon atrial fibrillation ablation with uninterrupted oral anticoagulants.

OBJECTIVE: To access the efficacy and safety of the double-ProGlide technique for the femoral vein access-site closure in cryoballoon ablation with uninterrupted oral anticoagulants (OAC), and its impact on the electrophysiology laboratory time as well as hospital stay after the procedure in this observational study. METHODS: Patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cryoballoon ablation with uninterrupted OAC at Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China from May 2019 to May 2021 were enrolled in this study. From October 2020, double-ProGlide technique was consistently used for hemostasis (ProGlide group), and before that conventional manual compression was utilized (manual compression group). The occurrence of vascular and groin complications was accessed during the hospital stay and until the three-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 140 participants (69.30% of male, mean age: 59.21 ± 10.29 years) were evaluated, 70 participants being in each group. Immediate hemostasis was achieved in all the patients with ProGlide closure. No major vascular complications were found in the ProGlide group while two major vascular complications were occurred in the manual compression group. The incidence of any groin complication was obviously higher in subjects with manual compression than patients with ProGlide devices (15.71% vs. 2.86%, P = 0.009). In addition, compared with the manual compression group, the ProGlide group was associated with significantly shorter total time in the electrophysiology laboratory [112.0 (93.3-128.8) min vs. 123.5 (107.3-158.3) min, P = 0.006], time from sheath removal until venous site hemostasis [3.8 (3.4-4.2) min vs. 8.0 (7.6-8.5) min, P < 0.001], bed rest time [8.0 (7.6-8.0) h vs. 14.1 (12.0-17.6) h, P < 0.001] and hospital stay after the procedure [13.8 (12.5-17.8) h vs. 38.0 (21.5-41.0) h, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of the double-ProGlide technique for hemostasis after cryoballoon ablation with uninterrupted OAC is feasible and safe, which has the clinical benefit in reducing the total electrophysiology laboratory time and the hospital stay length after the procedure.

Novel way of patent foramen ovale detection and percutaneous closure by intracardiac echocardiography: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common congenital heart disease and is associated with several diseases, including stroke and migraine. PFO diagnosis involves transoesophageal echocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, and transcranial Doppler. Recent studies have shown that intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) can be used to diagnose and guide percutaneous transcatheter closure. CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old male presented with paroxysmal dizziness and limb weakness for the past 3 mo. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a history of stroke, and a bubble test revealed the presence of PFO. The patient was then transferred to our hospital for PFO closure. Under ICE guidance, the separation of the septum primum and septum secundum was unclear; we then used a Swartz catheter to confirm PFO by applying physical pressure on the right part of the atrial septum without using any contrast. The ICE continuously and clearly guided the procedure. CONCLUSION: ICE can guide PFO closure in patients with a history of stroke. When PFO is not evident under ICE, a Swartz catheter can be used.

Blood lead level in Chinese adults with and without coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy study found that edetate disodium (disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) chelation therapy significantly reduced the incidence of cardiac events in stable post-myocardial infarction patients, and a body of epidemiological data has shown that accumulation of biologically active metals, such as lead and cadmium, is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, limited studies have focused on the relationship between angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) and lead exposure. This study compared blood lead level (BLL) in Chinese patients with and without CAD. METHODS: In this prospective, observational study, 450 consecutive patients admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital with suspected CAD from November 1, 2018, to January 30, 2019, were enrolled. All patients underwent coronary angiography, and an experienced heart team calculated the SYNTAX scores (SXscore) for all available coronary angiograms. BLLs were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry and compared between patients with angiographically diagnosed CAD and those without CAD. RESULTS: In total, 343 (76%) patients had CAD, of whom 42% had low (0-22), 22% had intermediate (23-32), and 36% had high (≥ 33) SXscore. BLLs were 36.8 ± 16.95 µg/L in patients with CAD and 31.2 ± 15.75 µg/L in those without CAD (P = 0.003). When BLLs were categorized into three groups (low, middle, high), CAD prevalence increased with increasing BLLs (P < 0.05). In the multivariate regression model, BLLs were associated with CAD (odds ratio (OR): 1.023, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.008-1.039; P = 0.0017). OR in the high versus low BLL group was 2.36 (95% CI: 1.29-4.42,P = 0.003). Furthermore, BLLs were independently associated with intermediate and high SXscore (adjusted OR: 1.050, 95% CI: 1.036-1.066; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: BLLs were significantly associated with angiographically diagnosed CAD. Furthermore, BLLs showed excellent predictive value for SXscore, especially for complex coronary artery lesions.

Prognostic Factors and a Nomogram Predicting Survival in Patients with Breast Ductal Carcinoma in situ with Microinvasion: A Population-Based Study.

PURPOSE: Ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISM) can be challenging to balance the risks of overtreatment versus undertreatment. We aim to identify prognostic factors in patients with DCISM and construct a nomogram to predict breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed with DCISM from 1988 to 2015 who were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Clinical variables and tumor characteristics were evaluated, and Cox proportional-hazards regression was performed. A nomogram was constructed from the multivariate logistic regression to combine all the prognostic factors to predict the prognosis of DCISM patients at 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years. RESULTS: We identified 5438 total eligible breast cancer patients with a median and max survival time of 78 and 227 months, respectively. Here, patients with poorer survival outcomes were those diagnosed between 1988 and 2001, African-American race, under 40 years of age, higher tumor N stage, progesterone receptor-negative tumor, and received no surgery. The nomogram was constructed by the seven variables and passed the calibration and validation steps. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of both the training set and the validating set (5-year AUC: 0.77 and 0.88, 10-year AUC: 0.75 and 0.73, 15-year AUC: 0.72 and 0.65). Receiving chemotherapy was associated with a better BCSS (hazard ratio, HR=0.45, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 0.23-0.89), especially in patients with estrogen receptor (ER) negative, progesterone receptor (PR) negative (HR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.13-0.97) and ER+PR-/ER-PR+ DCISM (HR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.01-0.59). CONCLUSION: Our current study is the first to construct nomograms of patients with DCISM which could help physicians identify breast cancer patients that more likely to benefit from more intensive treatment and follow-up. Chemotherapy might benefit patients with ER-PR- and ER+PR-/ER-PR+ DCISM.

Oroxylin A attenuates osteoarthritis progression by dual inhibition of cell inflammation and hypertrophy.

The imbalance between the anabolism and catabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is of great importance to osteoarthritis (OA) development. Aberrant inflammatory responses and hypertrophic changes of chondrocytes are the main contributors to these metabolic disorders. In the present study, we found that Oroxylin A (ORA), a flavonoid compound derived from Oroxylum indicum, maintained ECM hemostasis of chondrocytes by Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) stimulation. Besides, it was demonstrated that IL-1ß induced over-production of inflammatory mediators was attenuated by ORA treatment. Moreover, ORA could rescue IL-1ß mediated hypertrophic alterations of chondrocytes. Mechanistically, ORA's protective effects were found to be associated with both NF-κB and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling inhibition. Meanwhile, molecular docking analysis revealed that ORA could strongly bind to the inhibitor kappa B kinaseß (IKKß) and dishevelled, Dsh Homolog 2 (Dvl2), the upstream molecules of the NF-κB axis and ß-catenin axis, respectively. In addition, ORA driven chondroprotective effects were also affirmed in a surgically induced OA mouse model. Taken together, the current study suggested that ORA might be a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of OA.

Effects and mechanisms of glucose-insulin-potassium on post-procedural myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects and mechanisms of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) on post-procedural myocardial injury (PMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 200 non-diabetic patients with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) were divided into the Group GIK and Group G, with 100 patients in each group. Patients in Group G were given intravenous infusion of glucose solution 2 hours before PCI. As compared, patients in Group GIK were given GIK. RESULTS: Both post-procedural creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB; 62.1 ± 47.8 vs. 48.8 ± 52.6 U/L, P = 0.007) and cTnI (0.68 ± 0.83 vs. 0.19 ± 0.24 ng/mL, P < 0.001) in Group GIK were significantly higher than those in Group G. In Group G, 9.0% and 4.0% of patients had post-procedural increases in CK-MB 1-3 times and > 3 times, which were significantly lower than those in Group GIK (14.0% and 7.0%, respectively; all P values < 0.01); 13.0% and 7.0% of patients had post-procedural increases in cTnI 1-3 times and > 3 times, which were also significantly lower than those in Group GIK (21.0% and 13.0%, respectively; all P < 0.001). Pre-procedural (10.2 ± 4.5 vs. 5.1 ± 6.3, P < 0.001) and post-procedural rapid blood glucose (RBG) levels (8.9 ± 3.9 vs. 5.3 ± 5.6, P < 0.001) in Group G were higher than those in Group GIK. In adjusted logistic models, usage of GIK (compared with glucose solution) remained significantly and independently associated with higher risk of post-procedural increases in both CK-MB and cTnI levels > 3 times. Furthermore, pre-procedural RBG levels < 5.0mmol/L were significantly associated with higher risk of post-procedural increases in both CK-MB and cTnI levels. CONCLUSIONS: In non-diabetic patients with CHD, the administration of GIK may increase the risk of PMI due to hypoglycemia induced by GIK.

Screening for malachite green contamination on live fish skin with chewing gum based viscoelastic SERS sensor.

Malachite green (MG), a prohibited but still found antimicrobial in aquafarm and during live fish shipping, is a hot target in food safety screening. Herein, a novel chewing gum based flexible SERS (G-SERS) sensor was proposed for rapid sampling and detection of MG on live fish skin. The whole analysis takes <5 min, while the limit of detection for MG is 0.73 pg. Different from other reports, MG contaminated live fish was monitored daily with the G-SERS sensor, during which the fish was firstly raised in 0.5 ppm MG solution for one day, followed by freshwater for a week. It was found that the SERS signal of residue MG on fish skin could still be seen even on the sixth day, roughly the sale cycle of live fish in a marketplace. Furthermore, the method was also applied for MG screening on the skin of fish purchased from a supermarket and a local street marketplace. MG was found on some fishes from the latter but not from the former, which was cross-validated by LC-MS, suggesting MG risks still exist in smaller marketplaces. This work demonstrated the feasibility of using the flexible SERS sensor for onsite food safety screening.

Non-infarct related artery microvascular obstruction is associated with worse persistent diastolic dysfunction in patients with revascularized ST elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Infarct-artery (IRA) microvascular obstruction (MVO) is associated with diastolic dysfunction (DD) in STEMI patients. However, association between nonIRA MVO and DD in STEMI patients remains unknown. We hypothesized that revascularized STEMI patients with IRA and nonIRA MVO (IRA + nonIRA+), compared to those without nonIRA MVO (IRA + nonIRA-), have worse DD at presentation and long-term follow-up. METHODS: 87 IRA-revascularized STEMI patients had cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [to evaluate MVO] and TTE (to evaluate diastolic function) within 1 week of presentation. Diastolic function was re-assessed by TTE at 3.97 ± 3.24 years. Baseline and follow-up DD prevalence and grade were studied in IRA + nonIRA + vs. IRA + nonIRA- MVO patients. RESULTS: 54 (62%) patients were IRA + nonIRA+ and 33 (38%) IRA + nonIRA-at baseline. IRA + nonIRA + patients had higher DD frequency at baseline (40.7 vs. 6.1%, p = 0.006) and follow-up (50.0 vs. 13.0%, p = 0.05). Only IRA + nonIRA + patients had increase in mitral medial E/e' (20.0%, p = 0.043) and trend towards increase in mitral E/A (31.1%, p = 0.063) at follow-up. IRA + nonIRA + patients had greater left atrial volume index increase (23.7%, p = 0.032 vs. 15.5%, p = 0.029) and smaller prolongation in deceleration time (15.4%, p = 0.018 vs. 18.7%, p = 0.044) at follow-up compared to IRA + nonIRA-. Grade 1 DD increased (60.9-73.9%) and combined grades 2/3 decreased (30.4-13.0%) at follow-up in IRA + nonIRA-patients. In contrast, grade 1 DD decreased (77.8-61.1%) and combined grades 2/3 increased (8.3-22.2%) at follow-up in IRA + nonIRA + patients. CONCLUSION: Concurrent IRA and nonIRA MVO in revascularized STEMI patients is associated with higher DD prevalence and worse DD grade on long-term follow-up.

First-degree relatives with similar phenotypic characterisation of acute myocardial infarction: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Genetic susceptibility to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI) is well established. However, lack of replication, and difficulty in the identification of specific genes that underlie impressive linkage peaks remain challenges at the molecular level due to the heterogeneity of phenotype and their associated genotypes. We present two cases of first-degree family members of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) having similar clinical and angiographic features of obstructive coronary lesions at same anatomic locations. CASE PRESENTATION: The father presented with significant chest discomfort and loss of consciousness. The electrocardiogram (ECG) showed an acute anterior ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Coronary angiogram demonstrated a subtotal occlusion in the mid-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. One week later, the son presented after an in-hospital cardiac arrest with pulseless electric activity preceded by significant chest pain and loss of consciousness. His ECG also showed an acute anterior STEMI. Catheterization revealed strikingly similar angiographic characteristics with his father: subtotal occlusion in the proximal to mid-LAD coronary artery. CONCLUSIONS: More considerations should be given to patients with similar phenotypic characterization in genetic studies of CAD/MI in the future.

[Clinical effect of psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback in the treatment of preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback in the treatment of preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Sixty children each with inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined type ADHD were enrolled. According to the intervention measure, they were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, psychological and behavioral intervention, biofeedback treatment and comprehensive treatment (psychological and behavioral intervention + biofeedback). Attention concentration time and impulse/hyperactivity and hyperactivity index scores of the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ) were evaluated after 4 months of treatment. RESULTS: The attention concentration time increased in all types children with ADHD after psychological and behavioral intervention, biofeedback treatment or comprehensive treatment (P<0.05). In children with inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD or combined-type ADHD, biofeedback or comprehensive treatment reduced the impulse/hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). In children with inattentive or combined-type ADHD, psychological and behavioral intervention or comprehensive treatment reduced the hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). In children with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, biofeedback treatment, psychological and behavioral intervention or comprehensive treatment reduced the hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In children with ADHD, psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback treatment can improve the attention concentration and impulsive/hyperactive and hyperactive symptoms. The treatment strategies are slightly different for children with different types of ADHD.

[Long-term outcomes of 125I brachytherapy combined with maximal androgen blockade for metastatic prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term clinical value of prostate 125I brachytherapy (BT) combined with maximal androgen blockade (MAB) in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 173 cases of mPCa treated by MAB (n = 126) or BT+MAB (n = 47) from December 2011 to December 2016 and followed up for 6－76 (44.17 ± 19.73) months. We compared the PSA level, prostate volume, IPSS, progression-free survival, and the rates of 3- and 5-year overall survival between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the minimum PSA level was significantly lower in the BT+MAB than in the MAB group ï¼»3.77 ± 4.14ï¼½ vs ï¼»5.96 ± 7.01ï¼½ ng/ml, P = 0.046) and the time to reach the minimum level was shorter in the former than in the latter (ï¼»5.19 ± 2.83ï¼½ vs ï¼»6.52 ± 3.34ï¼½ mo, P = 0.016). The prostate volume was markedly reduced in both of the groups at 1, 3 and 5 years after treatment as compared with the baseline, even more significantly in the BT+MAB than in the MAB group (P < 0.01), though with no statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment (P = 0.307). The IPSS was remarkably decreased in both of the groups at 1 and 3 years (P < 0.01) but showed no significant difference at 5 years after treatment as compared with the baseline (P > 0.05) or between the two groups before and after treatment (P > 0.05). The progression-free survival was obviously longer in the BT+MAB than in the MAB group (ï¼»37.29 ± 15.73ï¼½ vs ï¼»29.41 ± 14.37ï¼½ mo, P = 0.011), and the rates of 3- and 5-year overall survival were higher in the former than in the latter (74.60% and 60.70% vs 62.60% and 51.50%, P = 0.227 and P = 0.356). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed no statistically significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups (P = 0.105). CONCLUSIONS: Both MAB and BT+MAB are effective therapies for mPCa, but the latter can achieve a longer progression-free survival.

Association between baseline platelet count and severe adverse outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to evaluate the association between baseline platelet count (PC) and severe adverse outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in current real-world practice. METHODS: A total of 18,788 patients underwent PCI with drug-eluting stents constituted the study population. Patients were categorized as having low (< 150 × 1000/µL), normal (150-300 × 1000/µL), and high (≥ 300 × 1000/µL) baseline PC. The primary endpoints included in-hospital and follow-up all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was major bleeding requiring a blood transfusion. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality rates for patients with low, normal, and high baseline PC were 0.6%, 0.4%, and 0.4%, respectively (P = 0.259). Similarly, mortality rates during long-term follow-up (median 23.8 months) for patients with low, normal, and high baseline PC were 0.9%, 0.6%, and 0.7%, respectively (P = 0.079). After multivariate adjustment, patients with low or high baseline PC tended to have similar risks for both in-hospital and follow-up mortality compared with the normal group. Subgroup analyses failed to demonstrate an independent prognostic value of baseline PC in specific population groups except patients who undwent transfemoral PCI. There was also no significant difference in the incidence of major bleeding requiring a blood transfusion in the low, normal, and high groups (0.5%, 0.3%, and 0.3%, respectively; P = 0.320). After multivariate adjustment, low or high baseline PC did not significantly increase the risk of major bleeding. CONCLUSION: There is no significant association between baseline PC and severe adverse outcomes following PCI in current real-world practice.

Microvascular obstruction in non-infarct related coronary arteries is an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular obstruction (MVO) in infarct-related artery (IRA) territory has been associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. However, the prognostic value of non-IRA MVO in this patient population remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred ninety nine patients presenting to our institution with STEMI were enrolled. All patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention per institutional STEMI protocol followed by a cardiac MRI within 1 week of presentation and the IRA and non-IRA MVO segments were determined. All cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure, and ventricular tachycardia were counted as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Patients with non-IRA MVO had lower composite MACE free survival at 6 months (HR 2.15, 95% CI, 1.06-4.35; p = 0.029) compared to those without non-IRA MVO. In a sub-analysis of patients with multi vessel disease (MVD), patients with non-IRA MVO also had lower composite MACE-free survival at 6 months as compared to those without non-IRA MVO (HR 2.47, 95% CI, 1.02-5.97; p = 0.037). Non-IRA MVO continued to be predictive of MACE in a cox proportional hazards model adjusting for additional prognostic factors using inverse probability weighting (p = 0.007). Non-IRA MVO was more prevalent in patients with LAD culprit vessel STEMI rather than those with RCA or Circumflex culprit vessels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with STEMI and non-IRA MVO have significantly lower MACE free survival at 6 months as compared to those without non-IRA MVO.

[As2O3 Up-Regulates the Proportion of CD4+CD25+CD127low Tregs in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ATO on the proportion of Treg in the peripheral blood of patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in vitro. METHODS: The peripheral blood of 20 newlydiagnosed patients were collected, and the peripheral blood monomuclear cells (PBMNC) were extracted. After the PBMNC were treated with ATO of different concentrotions (0, 1, 2.5 and 5 µmol/L) for 96 hours, the proportion of CD44+ CD25+CD127low regulatatory T cells (Treg) were detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of Foxp3 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR, and the levels of IFN-γ,IL-4,IL-17 and TGF-ß1 were detected by ELTSA to verify the results of flow cytomery. RESULTS: ATO significantly increased the proportion of Treg (P<0.01) at the concentration of 2.5 and 5 µmol/L, and the rising degree of Treg proportion improved with the increasing ATO concentration(r= 0.524). Treg proportion increased at a concentration of 1 µmol/L, but without statistical significance (P>0.05). At 1(P<0.05), 2.5(P<0.01) and 5 µmol/L(P<0.01), ATO significantly up-regulated the expression of Foxp3 mRNA, and the increase of Foxp3 mRNA positively and linearly correlated with the increase of Treg cell-frequency(r=0.523). ATO significantly reduced the levels of IFN-γ (at ATO 1,2.5 and 5 µmol/L, P<0.01), IL-4 (at ATO 2.5 µmol/L, P<0.01; at ATO 5 µmol/L, P<0.01) and IL-17(at ATO 2.5 µmol/L, P<0.05; at ATO 5 µmol/L, P<0.01). ATO had no significant effect on TGF-ß1 at 1(P>0.05) and 2.5 µmol/L (P>0.05), but significantly reduced TGF-ß1 level at 5 µmol/L (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ATO can mediate the immune regulation through up-regulating the proportion of Treg in peripheral blood of patients with SAA and reducing the levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17.

Impact of obesity on mortality in patients with diabetes: Meta-analysis of 20 studies including 250,016 patients.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The impact of body mass index on mortality among patients with diabetes remains controversial. Therefore, we carried out a meta-analysis of pertinent studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched OVID/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases for all reported studies, which investigated the relationship between body mass index and mortality in patients with diabetes. Summary estimates of hazard ratios (HRs) were obtained with a random effects model. Univariate meta-regressions were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies including 250,016 patients with diabetes were identified. The results of the present study showed a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality in overweight patients (HR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.74-0.91, P < 0.0001, and I2 = 91.6%) as compared with normal weight patients. The survival benefits of obesity were only observed in the elderly patients (HR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.63-0.75, P < 0.0001, and I2 = 50.4%), but not in the younger patients (HR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.84-1.20, P = 0.96, I2 = 80.1%). Furthermore, the beneficial prognostic impacts on overweight (coefficient = 0.030, P = 0.041) and obesity (coefficient = 0.032, P = 0.010) were attenuated with clinical follow-up duration. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis showed a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality in overweight patients with diabetes compared with normal weight patients. However, the survival benefits of obesity were only observed among the elderly patients.

The serum anion gap is associated with disease severity and all-cause mortality in coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations between the serum anion gap (AG) with the severity and prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We measured serum electrolytes in 18,115 CAD patients indicated by coronary angiography. The serum AG was calculated according to the equation: AG = Na+[(mmol/L) + K+ (mmol/L)] - [Cl- (mmol/L) + HCO3- (mmol/L)]. RESULTS: A total of 4510 (24.9%) participants had their AG levels greater than 16 mmol/L. The serum AG was independently associated with measures of CAD severity, including more severe clinical types of CAD (P < 0.001) and worse cardiac function (P = 0.004). Patients in the 4th quartile of serum AG (≥ 15.92 mmol/L) had a 5.171-fold increased risk of 30 days all-cause death (P < 0.001). This association was robust, even after adjustment for age, sex, evaluated glomerular filtration rate [hazard ratio (HR): 4.861, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.150-10.993, P < 0.001], clinical diagnosis, severity of coronary artery stenosis, cardiac function grades, and other confounders (HR: 3.318, 95% CI: 1.76-2.27, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: In this large population-based study, our findings reveal a high percentage of increased serum AG in CAD. Higher AG is associated with more severe clinical types of CAD and worse cardiac function. Furthermore, the increased serum AG is an independent, significant, and strong predictor of all-cause mortality. These findings support a role for the serum AG in the risk-stratification of CAD.