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）

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.

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.