Increasing Uric Acid Concentration in Elderly With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Objectives Plasma uric acid （UA） concentration was suspected to elevate in elderly with ischemic cardiomyopathy （ICM）. Methods We analyzed the data of 235 elderly aged 60 years and older with coronary heart disease： silent myocardial ischemia or angina pectoris confirmed by angiography. Among these patients, 154 had ICM defined as left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVDd） male 〉 55 mm, female 〉 50 mm （mean. 63.51 ± 7.70 mm） measured by echocardiography. Difference in UA was analyzed between patients with and without ICM. Results There was significant increase of UA in ICM compared with non-ICM （432.82 ± 143.05 umol/L vs 361. 06 ± 137.35 umol/L, P 〈 0. 05 ） ; and UA was positively related to LVDd （ r = 0. 25, P 〈 0. 05 ）. Conclusions There was significant increase of UA in elderly with ICM due to longterm silent myocardial ischemia and angina pectoris. Moreover, UA was positively related to LVDd. （ S Chin J Cardiol 2009; 10（4） ： 212 -215）

Improvement of increased cQTd is associated with heart function in patients with ischemic heart failure

Background Chronic heart failure （CHF） is life-threatening without timely or effective intervention. In this study, we investigated the association between QT dispersion corrected for heart rate （cQTd） and heart function in patients with CHF. Methods From January 2013 to December 2015, we continuously enrolled 240 patients categorized as New York Heart Association functional class （NYHA） III-IV with a left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） 〈 40%. Based on the etiology, the patients were divided into a dilated cardiomyopathy （DCM） group （n = 120） and an ischemic cardiomyopathy （ICM） group （n = 120）. Then, based on the cQTd width, the ICM group was divided into two subgroups： a QS group （cQTd ≤60 ms, n = 70） and a QL group （cQTd 〉 60 ms, n = 50）. All patients were examined by echocardiography and 12-lead electrocardiography （ECG） at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after enrollment. Results After one year of optimized medical treatment, patients in both groups showed significant improvement in LVEF and NYHA classification from baseline. However, the cQTd in the ICM group, especially the QL, was significantly shorter than that in the DCM group at each time point. In addition, the cQTd was negatively correlated with LVEF and 6-min walking test and positively correlated with NYHA class in the ICM group. Conclusions The present findings clearly demonstrate that cQTd is a meaningful parameter for assessing heart function in the follow-up of ICM patients.

Clinical outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy in dilated-phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Backgrounds Clinical trials have demonstrated that cardiac resynchronization therapy （CRT） is effective in patients with ＂non-is- chemic cardiomyopathy＂. However, patients with dilated-phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy （DHCM） have been generally excluded from such trials. We aimed to compare the clinical outcome of CRT in patients with DHCM, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy （IDCM）, or ischemic cardiomyopathy （ICM）. Methods A total of 312 consecutive patients （DHCM： n = 16; IDCM： n = 231; ICM： n = 65） undergoing CRT in Fuwai hospital were studied respectively. Response to CRT was defmed as reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume （LVESV） _〉 15% at 6-month follow-up. Results Compared with DHCM, IDCM was associated with a lower total mortality （HR： 0.35, 95% CI： 0.13-0.90）, cardiac mortality （HR： 0.29; 95% CI： 0.11-0.77）, and total mortality or heart failure （HF） hospitalizations （HR： 0.34, 95% CI： 0.17-0.69）, independent of known confounders. Compared with DHCM, the total mortality, cardiac mortality and total mortality or HF hospitalizations favored ICM but were not statistically significant （HR： 0.59, 95% CI： 0.22-1.61; HR： 0.59, 95% CI： 0.21-1.63; HR： 0.54, 95% CI： 0.26-1.15; respectively）. Response rate to CRT was lower in the DHCM group than the other two groups although the differences didn＇t reach statistical significance. Conclusions Compared with IDCM, DHCM was associated with a worse outcome after CRT. The clinical outcome of DHCM patients receiving CRT was similar to or even worse than that of ICM patients. These indicate that DHCM behaves very differently after CRT.

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reveals similarities and differences of molecular features between dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies represent the most common clinical and genetic heterogeneous group of diseases that affect the heart function.Though progress has been made to elucidate the process,molecular mechanisms of different classes of cardiomyopathies remain elusive.This paper aims to describe the similarities and differences in molecular features of dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)and ischemic cardiomyopathy(ICM).We firstly detected the co-expressed modules using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA).Significant modules associated with DCM/ICM were identified by the Pearson correlation coefficient(PCC)between the modules and the phenotype of DCM/ICM.The differentially expressed genes in the modules were selected to perform functional enrichment.The potential transcription factors(TFs)prediction was conducted for transcription regulation of hub genes.Apoptosis and cardiac conduction were perturbed in DCM and ICM,respectively.TFs demonstrated that the biomarkers and the transcription regulations in DCM and ICM were different,which helps make more accurate discrimination between them at molecular levels.In conclusion,comprehensive analyses of the molecular features may advance our understanding of DCM and ICM causes and progression.Thus,this understanding may promote the development of innovative diagnoses and treatments.

Decellularized extracellular matrix materials for treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy

Ischemic cardiomyopathy(ICM)affect millions of patients globally.Decellularized extracellular matrix materials(dECM)have components,microstructure and mechanical properties similar to healthy cardiac tissues,and can be manufactured into various forms of implantable biomaterials including injectable hydrogels or epicardial patches,which have been extensively reported to attenuate pathological left ventricular remodeling and maintain heart function.Recently,dECM medical devices for ICM treatment have been approved for clinical use or studied in clinical trials,exhibiting considerable translation potential.Cells,growth factors and other bioactive agents have been incorporated with different dECM materials to improve the therapeutic outcomes.In addition,more detailed aspects of the biological effects and mechanisms of dECM treatment are being revealed.This review summarized recent advances in dECM materials from variable sources for cardiac repair,including extraction of extracellular matrix,cell integration,smart manufacturing of injectable hydrogels and cardiac patch materials,and their therapeutic applications.Besides,this review provides an outlook on the cutting-edge development directions in the field.

Disease Prevention and Alleviation by Human Myoblast Transplantation

Myoblast implantation is a unique, patented technology of muscle regeneration being tested in Phase III clinical trials of muscular dystrophy, ischemic cardiomyopathy, Phase II trial of cancer, and Phase I trial of Type II diabetes. Differentiated and committed, myoblasts are not stem cells. Implanted myoblasts fuse spontaneously among themselves, replenishing genetically normal myofibers. They also fuse with genetically abnormal myofibers of muscular dystrophy, cardiomyopathy, or Type II diabetes, transferring their nuclei containing the normal human genome to provide stable, long-term expression of the missing gene products. They develop to become cardiomyocytes in the infracted myocardium. Myoblasts transduced with VEGF165 allow concomitant regeneration of blood capillaries and myofibers. They are potent biologics for treating heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathy, diabetic ischemia, erectile dysfunction, and baldness. Myoblasts, because of their small size, spindle shape, and resilience, can grow within wrinkles and on skin surfaces, thus enhancing the color, luster and texture of the skin “plated” with them. They can be injected subcutaneously as a cellular filler to reduce wrinkles. Intramuscular injection of myoblasts can augment the size, shape, consistency, tone and strength of muscle groups, improving the lines, contours and vitality to sculpt a youthful appearance. This highly promising technology has great social economic values in treating hereditary, fatal and debilitating disease conditions.

QT DISPERSION: A RISK INDICATOR FOR SEVERE VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIA IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC AND IDIOPATHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Increased QT dispersion in the surface ECG (QTd = QTmax minus QTmin) is considered as an indicator of electrical inhomogeneitv and a useful predictor for severe ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in patients with different heart diseases. Patients with ischemic and idiopathic cardiomyopathy have a very high incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. We compared QT, QTc. JT and JTc dispersion in ischemic (ICMP) and idopathic (CCMP) cardiomyopathy patients with and without severe ventricular arrhythmia and normal controls.

The effect of spironolactone on the levels of GATA4 protein and hypoxia inducible factor-1α in patients receiving coronary stent implantation

In the present study,we aimed to explore the protective effect of spironolactone on cardiac function in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation by determining the serum levels of GATA4 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)proteins before and after the coronary stent implantation.A total of 134 patients undergoing coronary stent implantation in our hospital from March 2019 to March 2020 were retrospectively selected using the propensity score matching(PSM)method.Of the 134 patients,67 patients taking spironolactone were used as a test group,and the other 67 patients without taking spironolactone were used as a control group.In all patients,the levels of serum GATA4,HIF-1α,and troponin I proteins were determined before as well as 24 h and 6 months after the coronary stent implantation.Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and left ventricular systolic global longitudinal strain(GLS)were determined before and 6 months after the coronary stent implantation.There were no significant differences in the HIF-1αlevel between the two groups before and 6 months after the operation,while the HIF-1αlevel was significantly lower in the test group compared with the control group at 24 h after the operation(P<0.01).There were no significant differences in the GATA4 protein level between the two groups before and 24 h after the operation,while the GATA4 protein level was significantly lower in the test group compared with the control group at 6 months after the operation(P<0.01).There was no significant difference in LVEF between the two groups before and 6 months after the operation.GLS was significantly improved at 6 months after the operation compared with that before the operation in both groups,while GLS was significantly better in the test group compared with the control group at 6 months after the operation(P<0.01).Collectively,spironolactone could protect cardiac function probably by improving myocardial hypoxia and inhibiting myocardial remodeling.