Correlation of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to severity of coronary artery disease and in-hospital clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome: A prospective observational study

Objective:To explore correlation of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)to severity of coronary artery disease(CAD)and in-hospital clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods:In this prospective and observational study,we recruited 500 patients with ACS.For all the eligible patients,demographic details were collected,and laboratory parameters were evaluated.The CAD severity was evaluated in terms of the number of involved vessels.The NLR was calculated based on neutrophils and lymphocytes and the correlation of various risk factors and severity and outcome of CAD was performed.Results:77.2%of Patients was male,and 52%of the patients aged between 55-70 years.Based on the type of ACS,396 out of 500 patients had ST-elevation myocardial infarction.An ascending trend in the white blood cell levels and NLR value was noted as the severity of the ACS increased and the highest white blood cell levels and NLR was noted among classⅣpatients.The mean NLR value among the non-survivors were higher compared to the survivors(9.52±5.72 vs.4.76±2.36;P<0.01).Receiver operating curve showed that the cut-off NLR value was 5.76 with a sensitivity of 75.0%and a specificity of 77.3%.Conclusions:The NLR can be used as an independent prognostic marker in ACS.An elevated NLR value serves as a reliable predictor for short-term complications,notably in-hospital mortality.

Clopidogrel resistance response in patients with coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome： the role of hyperglycemia and obesity

Background Despite the proven benefits of clopidogrel combined aspirin therapy for coronary artery disease （CAD）, CAD patients with metabolic syndrome （MS） still tend to have coronary thrombotic events. We aimed to investigate the influence of metabolic risk factors on the efficacy of clopidogrel treatment in patients with CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. Methods Cohorts of 168 MS and 168 non-MS subjects with CAD identified by coronary angiography （CAG） were enrolled in our study. MS was defined by modified Adult Treatment Panel Ⅲ criteria. All subjects had taken 100 mg aspirin and 75 mg clopidogrel daily for more than 1 month, and administered loading doses of 600 mg clopidogrel and 300 mg aspirin before PCI. Blood samples were taken 24 h after the loading doses of clopidogrel and aspirin. Platelet aggregation was measured using light transmittance aggregometry （LTA） and thrombelastography （TEG）. Clopidogrel resistance was defined as more than 50% adenosine diphosphate （ADP） induced platelet aggregation as measured by TEG. Re- sults Platelet aggregation inhibition rate by ADP was significantly lower in patients with MS as measured both by TEG （55% ＋ 31% vs. 68% ± 32%; P 〈 0.001） and LTA （29% ± 23% vs. 42% ± 29%; P 〈 0.001）. In the multivariate analysis, elderly [OR （95% CI）： 1.483 （1.047±.248）; P = 0.002], obesity [OR （95% CI）： 3.608 （1.241-10.488）; P = 0.018], high fasting plasma glucose level [OR （95% CI）： 2.717 （1.176±.277）; P = 0.019] and hyperuricemia [OR （95% CI）： 2.583 （1.095-6.094）; P = 0.030] were all statistically risk factors for clopido- grel resistance. CAD patients with diabetes and obesity were more likely to have clopidogrel resistance than the CAD patients without dia- betes and obesity [75% （61/81） vs. 43% （67/156）; P 〈 0.001]. Conclusions CAD patients with MS appeared to have poorer antiplatelet response to clopidogrel compared to those without MS. Obesity, diabetes and hyperuricemia were all significantly associated with clopido- grel resistance.

Churg-Strauss Syndrome Revealed by Acute Coronary Artery Disease: A Case Report

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a very rare small-vessel vasculitis. Clinical features include asthma, rhinitis and/or sinusitis, and peripheral eosinophilia. Although cardiac findings are observed in 50% of cases, coronary artery disease is rarely reported and even more rarely suggestive. The value of cardiac MRI for these patients is discussed here. A 52-year-old non-smoker male without family antecedents of cardiovascular disease presented with worsening of atypical asthma that developed 10 months earlier. A month before, he had been admitted to the ICU because of respiratory distress and cardiogenic shock with chest pain. The angiogram revealed stenosis of the three main coronary arteries requiring the placement of several stents. Follow-up cardiac assessments showed good results. General impairment, unstable asthma associated with rhinitis, and eosinophilia suggested a systemic disease. The diagnosis of CSS was established considering that five criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were found. Prednisolone was prescribed at 1 mg/kg/day, which completely suppressed all symptoms and eosinophilia. Cardiac MRI was performed two months later and revealed a good control of myocardial lesions characterized by fibrosis beneath the anterior endocardium and the median septum. Immunosuppressive treatment was then administered together with corticosteroid therapy. These results suggest that acute coronary artery disease can reveal CSS in some cases. Here, the patient’s cardiac assessment was normal apart from the acute episode, and cardiac MRI helped detect signs of myocarditis and establish a prognosis of CSS.

The perioperative effects of metabolic syndrome on the off-pump coronary artery bypass

Objective Metabolic syndrome (MS),a disorder involving multiple metabolic abnormalities such obesity,hypertension,diabetes or abnormal glucose tolerance anddyslipidemia,has been observed in many patients receiving coronary artery bypass procedures. In this study we try to examine the perioperative effects of metabolic syndrome on the off-pump coronary artery

Effects of metabolic syndrome on onset age and long-term outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND: We aim to investigate effects of metabolic syndrome on onset age and long-termoutcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).METHODS: Patients with ACS (n=6,431) who underwent percutaneous coronary interventionfrom January to December 2013 were enrolled. After excluding patients with previous coronary arterydisease, 1,558 patients were diagnosed with early-onset ACS (men aged ≤50 years;women aged≤60 years) and 3,044 patients with late-onset ACS. Baseline characteristics and five-year clinicaloutcomes were measured.RESULTS: Body mass index, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and uric acidconcentrations were significantly higher, while the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)concentration was lower in the early-onset ACS group (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealedobesity (odds ratio [OR] 1.590, 95% confi dence interval [CI] 1.345–1.881), hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.403,95% CI 1.185–1.660), and low HDL-C (OR 1.464, 95% CI 1.231–1.742) as independent risk factorsfor early-onset ACS (all P<0.001). The fi ve-year follow-up showed that the incidences of all cause death(1.5% vs. 3.8%, P<0.001), cardiac death (1.1% vs. 2.0%, P=0.023), and recurrent stroke (2.2% vs. 4.2%,P<0.001) were lower, while bleeding events were more frequent in the early-onset ACS group. A subgroupanalysis showed higher incidences of recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) and revascularization in patientswith early-onset ACS and metabolic syndrome.CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and lower HDL-C level are independent riskfactors for early-onset ACS, recurrent MI, and revascularization. The control of metabolic syndromemay reduce the incidence of early-onset ACS and improve the long-term prognosis.

A Study of the Cardiovascular Risk Factor Profile in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome with Particular Reference to Metabolic Syndrome

Objectives: Cardiovascular risk factors for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are on rise in people of Indian origin. Moreover, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is higher in populations with ACS than in the general population. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factor profile of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and to study the prevalence and impact of metabolic syndrome in patients with acute coronary syndrome by using South Asian modified National cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition. Methods: This study was conducted between October, 2010 and March, 2011 at Government General Hospital, Kurnool, India. A total of 100 patients with ST or non-ST segment elevation ACS and who had clinical, electrocardiographic and biochemical diagnosis within the first 24 hrs of clinical onset were enrolled in the study. The enrolled subjects were divided into two groups: those with MS and those without MS. Cardiovascular risk factors defined by components of MS were evaluated. Analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Sixty patients had MS along with ACS and 40 patients had ACS without MS. The most prevalent component of MS was increased waist circumference (83.3%), followed by increased triglycerides (78.3%) and increased fasting blood sugar (76.7%). Majority of patients (58.3%) had presence of three components of MS. Conclusion: The MS is a highly prevalent condition among the patients with ACS and is associated with severe coronary artery disease. The identification of MS imparts a high risk status to the patient in developing cardiovascular disease but at the same time provides abundant opportunities for intervention. Hence it is of paramount importance to aim for stricter goals and lower cut offs for intervention at all levels of prevention: primordial, primary and secondary.

Correlation of carotid plaque vulnerability with lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and protease activity in patients with coronary artery disease

Objective: To study the correlation of carotid plaque vulnerability with lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and protease activity in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with coronary heart disease combined with carotid atherosclerosis in People's Hospital of Dongxihu District Wuhan City between April 2015 and October 2017 were selected and divided into vulnerable group and stable group according to ultrasonic judgment of carotid plaque vulnerability;the healthy volunteers who underwent physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The serum was collected to determine the contents of lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and protease activity indexes, and the peripheral blood was collected to determine the expression of inflammatory response indexes. Results: LDL-C, Lp(a), CXCL5, E-selectin, CatK and Meprin- levels in serum as well as ERK1/2, NF-κB and TNF-α expression in peripheral blood of stable group and vulnerable group were significantly higher than those of control group whereas ATGL, Omentin-1, Vaspin, PAI-1, TIMP1 and TIMP2 levels were significantly lower than those of control group;LDL-C, Lp(a), CXCL5, E-selectin, CatK and Meprin-levels in serum as well as ERK1/2, NF-κB and TNF-α expression in peripheral blood of vulnerable group were significantly higher than those of stable group whereas ATGL, Omentin-1, Vaspin, PAI-1, TIMP1 and TIMP2 levels were significantly lower than those of stable group. Conclusion: The changes of carotid plaque vulnerability in patients with coronary artery disease are closely related to the changes in lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and protease activity in the course of disease.

Adipose tissue and vascular inflammation in coronary artery disease

Obesity has become an important public health issue in Western and developing countries,with well known metabolic and cardiovascular complications.In the last decades,evidence have been growing about the active role of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ in determining these pathological consequences.As a consequence of the expansion of fat depots,in obese subjects,adipose tissue cells develope a phenotypic modification,which turns into a change of the secretory output.Adipocytokines produced by both adipocytes and adipose stromal cells are involved in the modulation of glucose and lipid handling,vascular biology and,moreover,participate to the systemic inflammatory response,which characterizes obesity and metabolic syndrome.This might represent an important pathophysiological link with atherosclerotic complications and cardiovascular events.A great number of adipocytokines have been described recently,linking inflammatory mileu and vascular pathology.The understanding of these pathways is crucial not only from a pathophysiological point of view,but also to a better cardiovascular disease risk stratification and to the identification of possible therapeutic targets.The aim of this paper is to review the role of Adipocytokines as a possible link between obesity and vascular disease.

Association of Serum Chemerin Levels with Coronary Artery Disease: Pathogenesis and Clinical Research

Recent studies have revealed that chemerin plays an essential role in the development of cardiovascular diseases.Autopsy studies found a strong correlation between the secretion of chemerin in peripheral tissues and aortic and coronary atherosclerosis.Plasma chemerin is a marker of systemic infl ammation and is associated with metabolic syndrome.Chemerin plays a vital role in vascular infl ammation and atherogenesis.Plasma chemerin levels are increased in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy,and chemerin is associated with left ventricular dysfunction.In this review,we focus on chemerin expression,chemerin processing,its biological function,and its role in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.

Intraoperative management and early post-operative outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequently observed in aging end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients who require orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). This situation is challenging for both the pa- tients and the medical staff. Methods: We retrospectively studied the case records of 26 ESLD patients with CAD who underwent OLT with total clamping of the inferior vena cava between 2014 and 2018. We analyzed the details of the pre-operative evaluation, intraoperative anesthetic management and post-operative prognosis of these patients. Results: All patients tolerated the anhepatic stage well. Post-reperfusion syndrome (PRS) was observed in 13 patients (50%) and 2 of them were severe but corrected well. ST-segment depression was frequently observed during the anhepatic stage and reperfusion stage. No mortality due to cardiac-related events occurred among the patients during hospitalization. OLT with the modi ed piggyback technique could successfully be performed in ESLD patients with mild and moderate CAD. Conclusions: A thorough evaluation and optimization of recipients, strict monitoring and optimized man-agement of circulation, knowledge of the complicated changes during OLT procedures, and strategies to ameliorate post-reperfusion syndrome favorite the outcomes.

Fatty liver disease:Disparate predictive ability for cardiometabolic risk and all-cause mortality

AIM: To assess the association of a surrogate of fatty liver disease(FLD) with incident type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and all-cause mortality.METHODS: In a prospective population-based study on 1822 middle-aged adults, stratified to gender, we used an algorithm of fatty liver index(FLI) to identify associations with outcomes. An index ≥ 60 indicated the presence of FLD. In Cox regression models, adjusted for age, smoking status, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure, we assessed the predictive value of FLI for incident diabetes, coronary heart disease(CHD), and all-cause mortality.RESULTS: At a mean 8 year follow-up, 218 and 285 incident cases of diabetes and CHD, respectively, and 193 deaths were recorded. FLD was significantly associated in each gender with blood pressure, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, uric acid, and C-reactive protein; weakly with fasting glucose; and inversely with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and sex hormonebinding globulin. In adjusted Cox models, FLD was(with a 5-fold HR) the major determinant of diabetes development. Analyses further disclosed significant independent prediction of CHD by FLD in combined gender [hazard ratio(HR) = 1.72, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.17-2.53] and men(HR = 2.35, 95%CI: 1.25-4.43). Similarly-adjusted models for all-cause mortality proved, however, not to confer risk, except for a tendency in prediabetics and diabetic women.CONCLUSION: A surrogate of FLD conferred significant high risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease, independent of some metabolic syndrome traits. Allcause mortality was not associated with FLD, except likely in the prediabetic state. Such a FLI may reliably be used in epidemiologic studies.

Impaired fasting glucose:Pro-diabetic,“atheroprotective”and modified by metabolic syndrome

AIM:To investigate whether impaired fasting glucose(IFG)confers cardiovascular risk.METHODS:A non-diabetic population-based sample representative of middle-aged and elderly Turks was studied at 8.5 years’follow-up for incident diabetes and coronary heart disease(CHD).Metabolic syndrome(MetS)was defined by ATP-Ⅲcriteria modifiedfor male abdominal obesity,and IFG and type 2 diabetes were identified by criteria of the American Diabetes Association.Stratification by presence of MetS was used.Outcomes were predicted providing estimates for hazard ratio(HR)obtained by use of Cox proportional hazards regression analysis in models that controlled for potential confounders.RESULTS:In 3181 adults(aged 52±11.5 years at baseline),analysis stratified by MetS,gender and IFG status distinguished normoglycemic subjects by a"hypertriglyceridemic waist"phenotype consisting of significantly higher waist circumference,fasting triglyceride and lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol,regardless of gender and MetS.Additionally,lipoprotein(Lp)(a)tended to be lower in(especially female)participants with MetS.Multivariable linear regression in a subset of the sample demonstrated decreased Lp(a)levels to be associated with increased fasting glucose and insulin concentrations,again particularly in women.In Cox regression analysis,compared with normoglycemia,baseline IFG adjusted for major confounders significantly predicted incident diabetes at a 3-fold HR in men and only women with MetS.Cox models for developing CHD in 339 individuals,adjusted for conventional risk factors,revealed that IFG status protected against CHD risk[HR=0.37(95%CI:0.14-0.998)]in subjects free of MetS,a protection that attenuated partly in male and fully in female participants with MetS.CONCLUSION:IFG status in non-diabetic people without MetS displays reduced future CHD risk,yet is modulated by MetS,likely due to autoimmune activation linked to serum Lp(a).

Accuracy of gestalt perception of acute chest pain in predicting coronary artery disease

AIM To test accuracy and reproducibility of gestalt to predict obstructive coronary artery disease(CAD)in patients with acute chest pain.METHODS We studied individuals who were consecutively admitted to our Chest Pain Unit.At admission,investigators performed a standardized interview and recorded14 chest pain features.Based on these features,a cardiologist who was blind to other clinical characteristics made unstructured judgment of CAD probability,both numerically and categorically.As the reference standard for testing the accuracy of gestalt,angiography was required to rule-in CAD,while either angiography or non-invasive test could be used to rule-out.In order to assess reproducibility,a second cardiologist did the same procedure.RESULTS In a sample of 330 patients,the prevalence of obstructive CAD was 48%.Gestalt’s numerical probability was associated with CAD,but the area under the curve of0.61(95%CI:0.55-0.67)indicated low level of accuracy.Accordingly,categorical definition of typical chest pain had a sensitivity of 48%(95%CI:40%-55%)and specificity of 66%(95%CI:59%-73%),yielding a negligible positive likelihood ratio of 1.4(95%CI:0.65-2.0)and negative likelihood ratio of 0.79(95%CI:0.62-1.02).Agreement between the two cardiologists was poor in the numerical classification(95%limits of agreement=-71%to 51%)and categorical definition of typical pain(Kappa=0.29;95%CI:0.21-0.37).CONCLUSION Clinical judgment based on a combination of chest pain features is neither accurate nor reproducible in predicting obstructive CAD in the acute setting.

Clinical characteristics of different computed tomography coronary angiography plaque properties in patients with coronary artery disease

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of different computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) plaque properties in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods:Patients who were diagnosed with coronary artery disease in Ankang Central Hospital between February 2015 and March 2017 were selected and divided into soft plaque group, mixed plaque group and calcified plaque group according to the plaque properties judged by CTCA examination, and healthy volunteers who received physical examination in Ankang Central Hospital during the same period were selected as control group. The serum levels of material metabolism indexes, cytokines as well as collagen synthesis and degradation indexes of the four groups were measured. Results: Serum UA, Hcy, PCSK9, LDL-C, GDF-15, CXCL5, hs-CRP, RANTES, IL-6, MMP1, ST2, CysC and I-CTP levels of soft plaque group, mixed plaque group and calcified plaque group were significantly higher than those of control group, serum UA, Hcy, PCSK9, LDL-C, GDF-15, CXCL5, hs-CRP, RANTES, IL-6, MMP1, ST2, CysC and I-CTP levels of soft plaque group and mixed plaque group were significantly higher than those of calcified plaque group, and serum UA, Hcy, PCSK9, LDL-C, GDF-15, CXCL5, hs-CRP, RANTES, IL-6, MMP1, ST2, CysC and I-CTP levels of soft plaque group were significantly higher than those of mixed plaque group. Conclusion: CTCA can accurately determine the plaque properties and evaluate the disorder of material metabolism, cytokine secretion as well as collagen synthesis and degradation during the change of plaque properties in patients with coronary artery disease.

Effect of Metabolic Syndrome Score, Metabolic Syndrome, and Its Individual Components on the Prevalence and Severity of Angiographic Coronary Artery Disease

Background： The clinical significance of metabolic syndrome （MS） score, MS, and its individual components with respect to risk prediction of coronary artery disease （CAD） remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate whether and to what extent MS score, MS, and its individual components were related to the risk of CAD. Methods： Among 1191 participants who underwent coronary angiography for the confirmation of suspected myocardial ischemia, 858 were included in this study according to the inclusion criteria from September 2010 to June 2013. MS was diagnosed with the 2005 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed by Gensini score. Results： The results showed that the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios （ORs） tbr CAD were as follows： MS score, 1.327; MS, 2.013; elevated waist circumference, 1.447; reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 1.654： and elevated fasting glucose, 1.782： all P〈 0.05： whereas for elevated triglycerides, 1.324, and elevated blood pressure, 1.342, both P 〉 0.05. Alter multivariate adjustment, results showed that only MS and elevated fasting glucose were significantly associated with CAD （OR, 1.628, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.151-2.305, P = 0.006 for elevated fasting glucose, and OR, 1.631, 95% CI, 1.208-2.203, P = 0.001 for MS）. The study showed that only MS score and elevated fasting glucose were significantly associated with Gensini score （standardized coefficient, 0.101, P = 0.031 for elevated fasting glucose and standardized coefficient, 0.103, P = 0.009 for MS score）. Conclusions： The present study demonstrated that MS score, MS, and its individual components might have different contributions to CAD prevalence and severity. MS and elevated fasting glucose were independent risk factors for the prevalence of angiographic CAD whereas MS score and elevated fasting glucose were significantly associated with the severity of CAD.

Effect of metabolic syndrome on prognosis and clinical characteristics of revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease

Background People with metabolic syndrome are at higher risk for developing coronary artery disease （CAD）. The effect of the metabolic syndrome on outcomes in patients with preexisting CAD has not been well studied. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence, characteristics, in hospital and long term prognosis of CAD with metabolic syndrome and to determine the factors influencing the prognosis of the disease. Methods The DESIRE registry contains data of 3696 patients with CAD between 2001 and 2004. Mean long term followup was （8294±373） days. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on modified International Diabetes Federation （IDF） Worldwide Definition of the Metabolic Syndrome, using body mass index （BMI） instead of waist circumference. Results Of 2596 patients with complete records of height, weight, and so on, 1280 （49.3%） were identified with metabolic syndrome. The patients with metabolic syndrome had higher level of body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose and disordered blood lipid （all P〈0.0001）, with higher creatinine [（10.5±4.3） mg/L vs （9.9±2.9） mg/L, P〈0.0001] and the number of white blood cells [（7.49±2.86）×10^9/L VS （7.19 ± 2.62） ×10^9/L, P=0.008） compared with those without metabolic syndrome. The patients with metabolic syndrome showed severer coronary angiographic alterations （left main artery and/or ≥2-vessel） （73.6% vs 69.6%, P=0.031）. There were no significant differences of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events （MACCE） or mortality in hospital between the two groups. During followup, the ratio of MACCE in CAD with metabolic syndrome patients increased significantly （11.8% vs 10.0%, P=0.044）. Fasting blood glucose （≥ 1000 mg/L） and triglyceride （TG ≥1500 mg/L） were responsible for most of the increased risk associated with the metabolic syndrome （adjusted OR 1.465, 95% CI 1.037-1.874, P=0.032; OR 1.378, 95% CI 1.01±1.768, P=0.044）. Conclusions The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was very high in CAD patients. The metabolic syndrome confers a higher risk of long term MACCE in patients with CAD, and dysglycaemia and hypertriglycaemia appear to be responsible for most of the associated risk.

Acute coronary syndrome in the older adults

Coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the developed world. Advanced age is the single strongest risk factor for coronary artery disease （CAD） and independent predictor for poor outcomes following an acute coronary syndrome （ACS）. ACS refers to a spectrum of conditions compatible with acute myocardial ischemia and/or infarction due to various degrees of reduction in co- ronary blood flow as a result of plaque rupture/erosion and thrombosis formation or supply and demand mismatch.

Protocol to study the effects of AMPK-mTOR/PINK-Parkin dual signaling pathways on the formation of coronary heart disease showing blood stasis symptom pattern based on traditional Chinese medicine theory of“heart governing blood and vessels”

In this study,we aim to combine gene transfection techniques with the modeling methods previously employed by the research group to deeply investigate the corresponding theories of traditional Chinese medicine regarding“myocardial energy metabolism”and“aortic thrombosis”.Our goal is to elucidate the biological mechanism underlying the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome from the perspectives of“heart and vessels”and“Qi(in traditional Chinese medicine,it refers to the most fundamental and subtle substances that constitute the human body and maintain life activities.At the same time,it also has the meaning of physiological function.In terms of traditional Chinese medicine,Qi and different words are used together to express different meanings)and blood”.The research content is divided into four modules as follows:1.establishment of an animal model of coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome through fibrinogen overexpression.2.Investigation of the mitochondrial quality control system in coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome under fibrinogen overexpression.3.Study of platelet autophagy in coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome under fibrinogen overexpression.4.Examination of the relationship between the AMPK-mTOR pathway and metabolism in platelet autophagy of coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome under fibrinogen overexpression.Ninety-six Sprague Dawley rats will be randomly assigned to the following groups:control group,model group,fibrinogen group and adeno-associated virus group.All rats will undergo a 14-week model construction process,and modern molecular biology methods will be employed to evaluate the model and examine relevant research indicators.The obtained data will be analyzed according to a predefined statistical analysis plan.

OUTCOMES OF INVASIVE STRATEGY TO PATIENTS WITH NON-ST-ELEVATION ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES

Objective To compare the outcomes of an invasive with a conservative strategy in the manage-ment of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes. Methods From January 2000 to June 2001, 505 patients presenting with unstable angina or non-Q wave myocardial infarction were divided into two groups (conservative vs. invasive) according to management strategy. Patients assigned to an early invasive strategy underwent coronary angiography within 7d of enrollment after intensive antiplatelet, antithrombotic and antiangina therapy and revascularization as appropriate. All patients were followed up at least 6 months. The primary endpoints were cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction. Recurrence angina and readmission were the secondary end-point. Results There were 194 patients in conservative group and311 patients in invasive group. Overall, coronary angiography was performed in 100% and 56% , and revascularization in 93% and 52% in the invasive and conservative groups, respectively. During a mean of 11±5.7 months (range 6 ~ 24 months) of follow-up, the occurrence of primary endpoint was significantly lower in the invasive group than that in the conservative group (3.9% vs 8. 2% , P =0. 036). The rate of recurrent angina (48% vs 17% , P =0. 001) , readmission (41% vs 13% , P = 0. 001) and revascularization (12% vs 35% , P =0. 001) was also significantly lower in patients assigned to invasive strategy. Conclusion The study indicates that the early invasive approach may be the preferred strategy in patients with unstable angina or non-Q wave myocardial infarction.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a novel predictor of cardiovascular disease

AIM:To clarify whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.METHODS:We carried out a prospective observational study with a total of 1637 apparently healthy Japanese men and women who were recruited from a health check-up program.NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography.The metabolic syndrome(MS)was defined according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program(NCEP)ATP Ⅲ criteria.Five years after the baseline evaluations,the incidence of cardiovascular disease was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire.RESULTS:Among 1221 participants available for outcome analyses,the incidence of cardiovascular disease was higher in 231 subjects with NAFLD at baseline(5 coronary heart disease,6 ischemic stroke,and 1 cerebral hemorrhage)than 990 subjects without NAFLD(3 coronary heart disease,6 ischemic stroke,and 1 cerebral hemorrhage).Multivariate analyses indicated that NAFLD was a predictor of cardiovascular disease independent of conventional risk factors(odds ratio 4.12,95% CI,1.58 to 10.75,P = 0.004).MS was alsoindependently associated with cardiovascular events.But simultaneous inclusion of NAFLD and MS in a multivariate model revealed that NAFLD but not MS retained a statistically significant correlation with cardiovascular disease.CONCLUSION:Although both of them were predictors of cardiovascular disease,NAFLD but not MS retained a statistically significant correlation with cardiovascular disease in a multivariate model.NAFLD is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and may play a central role in the cardiovascular risk of MS.