Relationship between red blood cell distribution width levels and atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients

Background Information on the relationship between red blood cell distribution width(RDW)and atrial fibrillation(AF)in patients with essential hypertension are scarce.The study aimed to assess the relationship between AF and RDW in hypertensive patients.Methods We enrolled 432 hypertensive patients,including 350 AF patients and 82 patients as controls.Patients'demographic,clinical,laboratory and echocardiographic characteristics were recorded.The AF patients were further divided into the persistent and paroxysmal AF subgroups.Electrocardiograms were monitored to identify the cardiac rhythm during blood sampling,and based on the rhythm,the paroxysmal AF group was categorized into the presence(with AF rhythm during blood sampling)and absence(with sinus rhythm during blood sampling)groups.Results The AF group had elevated RDW levels than the controls(12.7%±0.8%vs.12.4%±0.7%,P=0.002),and the persistent AF subgroup had higher RDW levels than the paroxysmal AF subgroup(12.9%±0.8%vs.12.6%±0.8%,P=0.007).Furthermore,in the paroxysmal AF group,the presence group had higher RDW levels than the absence group(13.0%±0.6%vs.12.5%±0.9%,P=0.001).There was no significant difference in RDW levels between the persistent AF subgroup and presence group of the paroxysmal AF subgroup(P=0.533)and between the absence group of the paroxysmal AF subgroup and control group(P=0.262).In multivariate regression analysis,in hypertensive patients,the presence of AF rhythm is an independent predictor for increased RDW concentration(P=0.001).Conclusions The RDW may be associated with the presence of AF rhythm,which implies the importance of maintaining the sinus rhythm in hypertensive patients.

Association between big endothelin-1 and CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores in non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Background Endothelial function,as measured by big endothelin-1(ET-1),has been demonstrated to be useful in predicting adverse long-term events in patients with cardiovascular disease.Nevertheless,there are little data about the association between big ET-1 and thromboembolism risk in atrial fibrillation(AF).We aimed to investigate the relationship between big ET-1 and CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores used for evaluating thromboembolic risk in patients with non-valvular AF.Methods The study population consisted of 238 consecutive AF patients(67.6%with paroxysmal AF and 32.4%with persistent AF).The patients were divided into two groups(high-or low-intermediate risk group)based on CHADS2 and CHA2 DS2-VASc scores(score≥2 or<2,respectively).Clinical,laboratory,and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated,and the CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores were compared between groups.The association between big ET-1 levels and CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc score was assessed.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores.Results The high CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc score group had older age,higher big ET-1 levels,and enlarged left atrial diameter than the low CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc score group(P<0.05).Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that big ET-1 level was an independent determinant of high CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores[odds ratio(OR)=2.545 and OR=3.816;both P<0.05].Conclusions Our study indicates that in non-valvular AF,big ET-1 was significantly correlated with CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores and an independent predictor of high CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores.Big ET-1 may serve as a useful marker for risk stratification in this setting.

Ablation strategies for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia(VT) in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(ARVC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. However, different ablation strategies showed inconsistency in acute and long-term outcomes. Methods We searched the databases of Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library through October 17, 2019 for studies describing the clinical outcomes of VT ablation in ARVC. Data including VT recurrence, all-cause mortality, acute procedural efficacy and major procedural complications were extracted. A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis was further performed in comparative studies of endo-epicardial versus endocardial-only ablation. Results A total of 24 studies with 717 participants were enrolled. The literatures of epicardial ablation were mainly published after 2010 with total ICD implantation of 73.7%, acute efficacy of 89.8%, major complication of 5.2%, follow-up of 28.9 months, VT freedom of 75.3%, all-cause mortality of 1.1% and heart transplantation of 0.6%. Meta-analysis of 10 comparative studies revealed that compared with endocardial-only approach, epicardial ablation significantly decreased VT recurrence(OR: 0.50;95% CI: 0.30–0.85;P = 0.010), but somehow increased major procedural complications(OR: 4.64;95% CI: 1.28–16.92;P = 0.02), with not evident improvement of acute efficacy(OR: 2.74;95% CI: 0.98–7.65;P = 0.051) or all-cause mortality(OR: 0.87;95% CI: 0.09–8.31;P = 0.90). Conclusion Catheter ablation for VT in ARVC is feasible and effective. Epicardial ablation is associated with better long-term VT freedom, but with more major complications and unremarkable survival or acute efficacy benefit.

Effect of renal denervation for patients with isolated systolic hypertension:a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Renal denervation(RDN)is a promising treatment based on catheter intervention for patients with refractory hypertension.However,the effect in patients with isolated systolic hypertension(ISH)remains controversial.The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the blood pressure lowing effect of RDN in patients with ISH compared with combined systolic/diastolic hypertension(CH)patients.METHODS PubMed,Embase,Cochrane and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for prospective clinical studies that included RDN.The outcomes of interest were the change of 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure(SBP)from baseline.We used the fixed effects model to calculate weighted mean difference(WMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI).RESULTS Six trials were included,with 1405 participants,including 597 patients with ISH and 808 patients with CH.Mean follow-up was five months.The reduction of 24-hour ambulatory SBP was significantly greater for the CH patients than the ISH patients(WMD=3.89,95%CI:2.32–5.45,P<0.0001).RDN also showed a greater reduction in office SBP in the CH patients compared to the ISH patients(WMD=10.24,95%CI:4.24–15.74,P=0.0003).And the effect was independent of age,length of follow-up,and ablation device.CONCLUSIONS RDN provides superior blood pressure control in the CH patients compared with the ISH patients,and the CH patients may be the best suitable population for which RDN is indicated.

The Low-Carbon Operations in Ecotourism Service Supply Chain Management

The ecotourism has quickly developed as the fastest growing industry in recent years. Ecotourism is one kind of tourism industry that also consists of complex service providers like travel agents, hotels, transportations （such as airplane, bus, and ship） restaurants, and destinations, connecting with operational diversity; therefore, those of supported services are linked with a supply chain together, and its management is called ecotourism service supply chain management （ESSCM）. Moreover, a low-carbon operation management has also become an important challenge to ecotourism nowadays. Based on the problems of service and low-carbon operation management made together above, exploring an effective solution into ecotourism is worthy. Using ESSCM as a strategy for solving industrial problems of service and low-carbon operations management in ecotourism is explored in this paper. The contributions here include clearly explanations of what ESSCM is and how ESSCM is used with low-carbon operations as a sustainability strategy, and finally a practical case study is also examined in the end.

Factors influencing adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in the early period after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in China

Anticoagulants are routinely prescribed in the first several weeks after atrial fibrillation(AF)catheter ablation.Nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants(NOACs)have been recommended over warfarin for their superiority.Unlike warfarin need regular clinical visit to perform blood test,NOACs are more patient friendly.But the lack of routine medical contact may lead to poor adherence.Strict adherence to anticoagulant treatment is essential for both efficacy and safety.Considering NOACs are increasingly commonly used in China,it is therefore necessary to evaluate the adherence of NOACs after AF catheter ablation.The purpose of this research was to investigate the treatment adherence and identify factors that could improve the quality of anticoagulation.