Effect of partial body weight support training on the cardiac function, neuroendocrine function, and vascular endothelial function in patients with early heart failure

Objective:To explore the effect of partial body weight support training (PBWST) on the cardiac function, neuroendocrine function, and vascular endothelial function in patients with early heart failure.Methods: A total of 98 patients with early heart failure who were admitted in our hospital were included in the study and randomized into the observation group and the control group. The patients in the control group were given routine drugs and rehabilitation. On this basis, the patients in the observation group were given PBWST. The patients in the two groups were treated for 3 months. The changes of cardiac function, neuroendocrine function, and vascular endothelial function indicators before and after rehabilitation in the two groups were detected.Results: LVESD and ESV after training in the two groups were significantly reduced. LVESD and ESV after training in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. SV, CI, LVEF, and FS after training in the observation group were significantly elevated when compared with before training. LVEF and FS after training in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group. LVEF after training in the control group was significantly elevated. PRA, AngⅡ, ET, and ALD levels after training in the observation group were significantly reduced, while NO was significantly elevated, and the improvement of the above indicators was significantly superior to that in the control group.Conclusions: PBWST can improve the cardiac function in patients with early heart failure, inhibit the excessive activation of neuroendocrine system, and protect the vascular endothelial function in order to enhance the clinical efficacy.

Pachymic Acid Ameliorates Pulmonary Hypertension by Regulating Nrf2-Keap1-ARE Pathway

Objective:Pulmonary hypertension(PH)is a severe pulmonary vascular disease that eventually leads to right ventricular failure and death.The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which pachymic acid(PA)pretreatment affects PH and pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats.Methods:PH was induced via hypoxia exposure and administration of PA(5 mg/kg per day)in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Hemodynamic parameters were measured using a right ventricular floating catheter and pulmonary vascular morphometry was measured by hematoxylin-eosin(HE),a-SMA and Masson staining.MTT assays and EdU staining were used to detect cell proliferation,and apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL staining.Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of proteins related to the Nrf2-Keapl-ARE pathway.

Comparison of hepatic resection and transarterial chemoembolization for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To compare the outcomes of hepatic resection and transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) staging system.METHODS: A consecutive sample of 540 patients with solitary HCC who underwent liver resection(n = 312) or TACE(n = 128) were included in the present study. Baseline characteristics, tumor characteristics, and post-operative complications were compared between the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for long-term survival analysis. Independent prognostic predictors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards model(univariate and multivariate analyses).RESULTS: The TACE and liver resection groups had similar baseline demographic and clinicopathological characteristics. The TACE group showed a significantly lower rate of major complications than the liver resection group(3.9% vs 17.4%, P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that TACE did not contribute to poor overall survival compared with liver resection; however, a solitary tumor diameter of greater than 6 cm should be considered a risk factor for poor overall survival(HR = 1.328, 95%CI: 1.002-1.783, P = 0.048). The liver resection and TACE groups had comparable overall survival rates at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years(86.2%, 62.8%, and 44.0% vs 88.3%, 59.8%, and 40.6%, respectively, P = 0.419). In cases with tumor diameters equal to or less than 6 cm, the liver resection group showed a survival benefit compared with the TACE group at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years(P = 0.030). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of HCC cases with tumor diameters ofmore than 6 cm were similar among the liver resection and TACE groups(P = 0.467).CONCLUSION: A tumor diameter of 6 cm should be the cutoff for deciding between liver resection and TACE.