Relationship Between Polymorphism of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase and Congenital Heart Defect

To investigate the relationship between G1958A gene polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD) and occurrence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in North China. Methods One hundred and ninety-two CHD patients and their parents were included in this study as case group in Liaoning Province by birth defect registration cards, and 124 healthy subjects (age and gender matched) and their parents were simultaneously selected from the same geographic area as control. Their gene polymorphism of MTHFD G1958A locus was examined with PCR-RFLP, and serum folic acid and homocysteine (Hcy) levels were tested with radio-immunoassay and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). Results There existed gene polymorphism at MTHFD G1958A locus in healthy subjects living in North China. The percentages of GG, GA, and AA genotype were 57.98%, 35.57%, and 6.45% respectively, and the A allele frequency was 24.23%, which was significantly different from Western population. No difference was observed when comparing genotype distribution and allele frequency between the case and control groups, so was the result from the comparison between genders. The A allele frequency of arterial septal defect patients’ mothers (10.87%) was significantly lower than that of controls (28.15%) (P=0.014), with OR=0.31 (95% CI: 0.09-0.84), and no difference in the other subgroups. The percentage of at least one parent carrying A allele in arterial septal defect subgroup (43.48%) was significantly lower than that in controls (69.64%) (P=0.017), with OR=0.34 (95% CI: 0.12-0.92). The analysis of genetic transmission indicated that there was no transmission disequillibrium in CHD nuclear families. Their serum folic acid level was significantly higher than that of controls (P=0.000), and Hcy level of the former was higher than that of the latter with no statistical significance (P>0.05). Serum Hcy and folic acid levels of mothers with gene mutation were lower than those of mothers with no mutation. Conclusion No significant difference of genotype distribution and allele frequency existed between CHD patients and healthy population. MTHFD G1958A mutation in parents (particularly in mother) can decrease the risk of arterial septal defect in offspring. The possible mechanism of protection might be mutation, which can increase MTHFD enzyme activity, folic acid metabolism and homocysteine remethylation, and decrease Hcy level.

Empirical Studies of Effects of High Blood Pressure on Medical Costs and Heart Disease: Is the 2017 ACC/AHA Guideline Supported by Enough Evidence?

Background: The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA) and other organizations announced a new hypertension guideline in November 2017. However, previous studies have pointed out that this new guideline might lack sufficient evidence to justify its use. Data and Methods: The effects of blood pressure (BP) on medical costs and on the probability of having heart disease as anamnesis are analyzed. We used a dataset containing 175,123 medical checkups and 6,312,125 receipts from 88,211 individuals obtained from three health insurance societies from April 2013 to March 2016. The dataset was divided into subgroups based on whether the patients had diabetes and took hypertension medications. The power transformation and probit models were used in the study. Results: We observed negative effects of systolic BP (SBP) on medical costs in most subgroups. We could not find evidence that higher SBP made the medical costs and probability of having heart diseases higher. The results raise uncertainty about the reliability of the new guideline, at least for SBP. Conclusion: The results of this study did not support the new 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, at least for SBP. The new guideline must be more carefully reevaluated by additional studies. Limitations: The dataset was observatory, the sample period was only 3 years, and we could not complete a time-series analysis of individuals.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphism C677T is Associated with Increased Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Chinese Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Objective Chronic cardiovascular diseases induced by long-term poor blood glucose control are the main cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Previous researches report that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene(MTHFR)polymorphisms might influence the occurrence of coronary heart disease(CHD)in T2DM patients.The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether MTHFR C677T and A1298C mutations are associated with the risk of CHD inT2DM patients.Methods A total of 197 subjects with T2DM were studied,of which 95 patients with CHD.The genotypes of MTHFR C677T and A1298C were analyzed by using dideoxy chain-termination method,and compared between patients with CHD and those without CHD.Results We found that the frequency of the 677T allele was significantly higher in T2DM patients with CHD than those without CHD(P=0.011).However,there was no significant difference in any of the examined haplotypes between T2DM patients with and without CHD.Furthermore,the 677T allele was associated with a higher risk of CHD development in diabetic patients with lower homocysteine(Hey)levels(≤15μmol/L)(P=0.006),while no effect of MTHFR gene polymorphism on the incidence of CHD was found in patients with higher Hey levels(>15 μmol/L)(P=0.491).Conclusion The MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism is associated with the risk of CHD of diabetic patients and could be used as an effective marker for CHD in Chinese diabetic populations with normal Hey levels.

基于SHERPA和HEART的老年人车载信息系统界面设计研究

目的改善老年驾驶员对车载信息系统界面的使用体验。方法提出基于SHERPA(系统人为错误减少与预测方法)和HEART(人误评估与减少技术)的老年人车载信息系统界面设计研究方法。首先,成立焦点小组对评估界面进行SHERPA定性分析,绘制车载信息系统界面层次任务分析图,通过错误分类表定义错误类型;其次,运用HEART定量分析错误类型,设定差错诱发条件,确定各条件的影响评估比例,从而计算人误概率;最后,在此基础上,分析差错诱发条件,归纳差错发生原因,根据差错纠正措施进行设计改良,对改良界面进行结果验证。结论该方法可以有效发现与老年人车载信息系统界面显著相关的差错诱发条件,既可帮助设计师找到交互设计改良的重点,也可减少老年驾驶员对车载信息系统界面的误操作情况。

船舶用AH32钢常温抗拉强度测量结果不确定度评定

开展船舶用AH32钢抗拉强度测量结果的不确定度评定,对规范试验过程和合理使用抗拉强度数据具有重要意义,也可为其他船舶用钢抗拉强度不确定度分析提供参考。对船舶用AH32钢的拉伸试验测量结果不确定度进行评定及分析,依据GB/T 228.1—2021相关要求开展拉伸试验及不确定度评价,合理地确定相关不确定度来源,对材料性能做出适当评价具有可操作性。在某些质量可靠性高的不确定度分析中,引入拉伸速率不确定度,识别不确定度分量的影响程度,可以使不确定度评价具有规范性和针对性。

Regeneration of the heart:f rom molecular mechanisms to clinical therapeutics

Heart injury such as myocardial infarction leads to cardiomyocyte loss,fibrotic tissue deposition,and scar formation.These changes reduce cardiac contractility,resulting in heart failure,which causes a huge public health burden.Military personnel,compared with civilians,is exposed to more stress,a risk factor for heart diseases,making cardiovascular health management and treatment innovation an important topic for military medicine.So far,medical intervention can slow down cardiovascular disease progression,but not yet induce heart regeneration.In the past decades,studies have focused on mechanisms underlying the regenerative capability of the heart and applicable approaches to reverse heart injury.Insights have emerged from studies in animal models and early clinical trials.Clinical interventions show the potential to reduce scar formation and enhance cardiomyocyte proliferation that counteracts the pathogenesis of heart disease.In this review,we discuss the signaling events controlling the regeneration of heart tissue and summarize current therapeutic approaches to promote heart regeneration after injury.

基于多中心的老年OSAHS合并冠心病患者不良预后的Nomogram预测模型构建

目的基于多中心分析老年阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)合并冠心病患者不良预后的影响因素并构建Nomogram预测模型。方法于2020年3月至2022年3月选取江苏省中医院共357例老年OSAHS合并冠心病患者,按照7∶3比例将纳入患者分为建模组(n=250)及验证组(n=107)。对患者进行为期1年的随访,根据患者预后将建模组分为预后良好组(n=215)和预后不良组(n=35)。单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析影响老年OSAHS合并冠心病患者不良预后的因素,并根据此结果构建Nomogram预测模型,再以H-L拟合度曲线评估模型的有效性,以受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线评估模型的区分度。结果单因素分析结果显示,体重指数、睡眠呼吸暂停低通气指数(AHI)、睡眠平均氧饱和度(SaO_(2))、超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)及白细胞介素-6(IL-6)为老年OSAHS合并冠心病患者不良预后的影响因素(P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,体重指数较高、AHI水平较高、hs-CRP水平较高、低水平的睡眠平均SaO_(2)为老年OSAHS合并冠心病患者不良预后的影响因素(P<0.05)。验证模型显示,建模组χ^(2)=6.125,P=0.421,ROC曲线下面积AUC为0.958(95%CI:0.926~0.980),敏感度及特异度分别为82.86%、96.28%;验证组χ^(2)=5.754,P=0.311,AUC为0.932(95%CI:0.893~0.960),敏感度及特异度分别为85.70%、88.40%。结论体重指数较高、AHI水平较高、hs-CRP水平较高、低水平的睡眠平均SaO_(2)为老年OSAHS合并冠心病患者不良预后的影响因素,以此构建的Nomogram预测模型具有较好的区分度及有效性,可帮助临床预测患者不良预后的发生风险,具有较高的临床价值。

小球藻及光照耦合作用下AH32船板钢的腐蚀行为

利用自主搭建的模拟动态海水实验装置,研究小球藻及光照耦合作用下AH32船板钢的腐蚀行为。实验结果表明,无藻条件下,光照对AH32钢在海水中的腐蚀行为影响较小。有藻+黑暗条件下,试样表面生成团聚的片状FePO4,在一定程度上阻挡腐蚀介质与基体的接触。有藻+光照环境下,AH32钢的自腐蚀电位最高,腐蚀电流密度最低,为2.1×10^(-5)A/cm^(2),基体表面生成相对稳定的双层氧化膜,有效阻止腐蚀性介质对基体的侵蚀,提高了AH32钢的耐蚀性能及服役寿命。

Heart Surgery Practice in Sub Saharan Africa: Single Nigerian Institutional Midterm Results and Challenges

Background: The majority of prospective cardiac surgical patients in sub Saharan Africa lack access to open heart surgery. We reviewed our midterm results to identify the obstacles to growth and challenges with sustainability. Methods: Records of patients undergoing heart surgery at LASUTH from December 2004 to March 2006 were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and outcome data. Results: Twenty four patients age 10-50, mean 28.0 +/? 10.49 years and 13 (54.2%) males underwent surgery. 12 (50.0%) patients had mechanical valve replacements, 11 (45.8%) closure of septal defects and 1 (4.2%) left atrial myxoma resection. Logistic euroscore for valve patients was 5.81 +/? 4.74 while observed mortality was 8.3% (1/12). Overall 30 days operative mortality was 8.3% (2/24) and major morbidity 4.2% (1/24). Patients with septal defects closure stopped clinic visits within a year. Valve patients follow up was complete in 90.1% with mean duration of 55.2 +/? 15.3 months. Late events occurred only in females with mitral valve replacements. The 5-year freedom from thromboembolism and bleeding was 74.0% and survival 82.0% in valve patients. Conclusion: Despite limited resources heart surgery can safely be performed with good outcomes by trained local personnel under supervision of visiting foreign teams until they are proficient to operate independently. Patients with less complex congenital defects have excellent postsurgical outcomes, while patients with rheumatic valve replacement are subject to ongoing valve related morbidity and mortality therefore require lifetime follow up. Choice of prosthetic valve for the mostly indigent and poorly educated population remains a challenge. We now prefer stented tissue valve despite its known limitations, in child bearing age females desirous of childbirth and others unlikely to comply with anticoagulation regimen. Barriers to sustainability include poor infrastructures, few skilled manpower, inadequate funding and restricted patient access due to inability to pay without third party insurance or government Medicaid.

Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Acquired Heart Failures Amenable to Surgical Interventions in the Sub-Saharan Africa

Heart failure (HF) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and indeed worldwide. The management of this condition has largely been thought to be within the domain of the Physician with the Surgeon having little or no role to play. The commonest cause of HF that may require surgical intervention is rheumatic valvular heart disease especially in the young age group while ischaemic heart disease still remains at the low rung of the ladder and interestingly, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is becoming common. Most of the literatures reviewed failed to identify pericardial diseases, though it ranked topmost in the face of tuberculosis and HIV infections in the sub-region, and the other non-cardiac structures as important causes of HF which is amenable to surgical intervention. Equally, what have not been clearly identified are the surgical aspects;indeed its sub-classifications into heart and non-heart causes have hitherto not been documented. Even though these lists from this review are not exhaustive of the numerous unidentified causes of surgical HF, this would act as stimulus for further and extensive documentation of guideline for the recognition of these sub-classifications of HF amenable to surgery.

基于等离子体视觉和光谱特征的AH36钢激光焊接熔深熔宽预测研究

针对AH36船用钢不同激光功率和焊接速度的激光焊接,通过高速摄像提取焊接过程等离子体的图像,同时采集了光谱信息,最终建立GA-BP(Genetic Algorithm-Back propagation)神经网络以预测焊缝的质量即熔深和熔宽,并与常用的回归分析方法和未经优化的BP神经网络预测效果相比较。结果表明,焊缝熔深和熔宽均随激光功率的增大而增大,随焊速提高而降低;等离子体面积、高度、灰度以及电子密度均随激光功率增大呈增大趋势。当采用仅考虑焊接工艺参数的回归模型进行预测时,熔深预测相对误差18.2%,熔宽预测相对误差12.1%。而采用引入焊接过程等离子体特征的BP神经网络,虽然精度提高,但由于随机性存在导致相对误差变化较大,进一步采用GA算法进行全局求解能力优化后,熔深预测相对误差降低至7.23%,熔宽预测相对误差降低至5.79%,模型稳定性也明显改善。综合考虑工艺参数和等离子体特征建立的神经网络模型能够更准确预测AH36钢激光焊接焊缝形貌,为焊接工艺规划和质量预测提供参考。

Serum cystatin C,monocyte/high-density lipoprotein-C ratio,and uric acid for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease and heart failure

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease(CHD)and heart failure(HF)are the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.Early and accurate diagnoses of CHD and HF are essential for optimal management and prognosis.However,conventional diagnostic methods such as electrocardiography,echocardiography,and cardiac biomarkers have certain limitations,such as low sensitivity,specificity,availability,and cost-effectiveness.Therefore,there is a need for simple,noninvasive,and reliable biomarkers to diagnose CHD and HF.AIM To investigate serum cystatin C(Cys-C),monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(MHR),and uric acid(UA)diagnostic values for CHD and HF.METHODS We enrolled 80 patients with suspected CHD or HF who were admitted to our hospital between July 2022 and July 2023.The patients were divided into CHD(n=20),HF(n=20),CHD+HF(n=20),and control groups(n=20).The serum levels of Cys-C,MHR,and UA were measured using immunonephelometry and an enzymatic method,respectively,and the diagnostic values for CHD and HF were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.RESULTS Serum levels of Cys-C,MHR,and UA were significantly higher in the CHD,HF,and CHD+HF groups than those in the control group.The serum levels of Cys-C,MHR,and UA were significantly higher in the CHD+HF group than those in the CHD or HF group.The ROC curve analysis showed that serum Cys-C,MHR,and UA had good diagnostic performance for CHD and HF,with areas under the curve ranging from 0.78 to 0.93.The optimal cutoff values of serum Cys-C,MHR,and UA for diagnosing CHD,HF,and CHD+HF were 1.2 mg/L,0.9×10^(9),and 389μmol/L;1.4 mg/L,1.0×10^(9),and 449μmol/L;and 1.6 mg/L,1.1×10^(9),and 508μmol/L,respectively.CONCLUSION Serum Cys-C,MHR,and UA are useful biomarkers for diagnosing CHD and HF,and CHD+HF.These can provide information for decision-making and risk stratification in patients with CHD and HF.

Prognostic Factors for Acute Heart Failure (AHF) in the Cardiology Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University Hospital Point G (UH Pt G)

Background and Aim: The absence of data in our context motivates this study aiming to determine the frequency of AHF at the ICU, assess the in-hospital evolution of the disease and to find out poor prognosis.Material and Methods: It was an observational and descriptive study covering the time from January 1, 2014 to March 30, 2017 involving all inpatient records in ICU. From January 2014 to December 2017, collected data included those on socio-demographic, history of diseases and physical examination, and some labor dataincluding Pro BNP, serum creatinine, blood ionogram,?cardiac enzymes and blood count. Also data electrocardiography, echocardiography and in-hospital evolution were collected. Statistical Analysis:Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (IBM Inc) version 18. Results: AHF occured in 47.36% with a mean age of 58.74 ± 18.407 and extremes of 17 and 90 years, women representing 53.1% (sex ratio Male:Female = 0.88). Hypertension and diabetes were the predominant cardiovascular risk factors with respectively 67.4% and 18.4%. At admission?44%, 37.7% and 17.9% of patients were respectively hypertensive,?normotensive and hypotensive. The clinical expression was mainly global heart failure with 42.6% followed by left heart failure and right heart failure with respectively 37% and 20.4%. The coronary syndromes (all forms) was the first cause of ICA with 34% of cases followed by pulmonary embolism and hypertension with respectively 25.3% and 24.1%. Mean hospital stay was 5.61 ± 3.527 days (1 to 25 days). Complications were recorded in 18.5% of patients with cardiogenic shock in half of all cases. In multi-variate analysis, only hypotension at admission was shown to be the independent factor of poor prognosis with p = 0.016 and OR = 4.453 (1.322 - 14.996). Conclusion: As a common manifestation heart failure can be rapidly fatal in presence of collapsus or hypotension at admission. These factors should be accurately managed to reduce mortality, which remains high in our context.

Left bundle branch pacing vs biventricular pacing in heart failure patients with left bundle branch block:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Left bundle branch pacing(LBBP)is a novel pacing modality of cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT)that achieves more physiologic native ventricular activation than biventricular pacing(BiVP).AIM To explore the validity of electromechanical resynchronization,clinical and echocardiographic response of LBBP-CRT.METHODS Systematic review and Meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the standard guidelines as mentioned in detail in the methodology section.RESULTS In our analysis,the success rate of LBBP-CRT was determined to be 91.1%.LBBP CRT significantly shortened QRS duration,with significant improvement in echocardiographic parameters,including left ventricular ejection fraction,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular end-systolic diameter in comparison with BiVP-CRT.CONCLUSION A significant reduction in New York Heart Association class and B-type natriuretic peptide levels was also observed in the LBBP-CRT group vs BiVP-CRT group.Lastly,the LBBP-CRT cohort had a reduced pacing threshold at follow-up as compared to BiVP-CRT.

Digitalis Medication in Treatment of Heart Failure

In Mexico, digitalis was known since the 16th century and was used to treat patients with bloating, and it was not until the 20th century that it began to be used as a medicine for heart failure. In conjunction with diuretics. Digitalis was later used in combination individualized with the new medications, for this purpose and research has shown that the combination of medications on an individualized basis is what is currently successfully available for the medical treatment of heart failure.

Burden, Type, and Associated Factors of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Heart Failure in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Various thyroid abnormalities have been reported during heart failure (HF). The present study aimed to evaluate the burden, type, and associated factors of thyroid disorders in Cameroonian patients with heart failure. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from January to May 2020, involving volunteer adults followed for heart failure at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Those receiving treatment that could cause thyroid dysfunction were excluded. Thyroid hormone levels (TSH, free T3, and free T4) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: A total of 63 patients (30 women;47.6%) were included. The median age was 65 (IQR: 56 - 70) years. The main etiology of heart failure was hypertension (52.4%) followed by valvular heart disease (14.3%). Thyroid dysfunction was seen in 38 (60.3%, [95% CI: 47.2 - 72.4]) patients, of which 30 (79%) had hypothyroidism and 8 (21%) had hyperthyroidism. The most frequent thyroid dysfunction was Low T3 syndrome in 27% (95% CI: 16.6 - 39.7) of the study population followed sub-clinical hypothyroidism in 19.1% (95% CI: 10.3 - 30.9) of patients. Patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were more likely to have hypothyroidism than those with preserved ejection fraction (OR: 3.5, [95% CI: 1.2 - 9.9], p = 0.016). Also, patients with more than one hospital admission in the past 12 months were more likely to have hypothyroidism (OR: 5.3, [95% CI: 1.3 - 21.5], p = 0.013). Conclusion: The burden of thyroid dysfunction was high in this group of patients with HF. These were mainly low T3 syndrome and sub-clinical hypothyroidism. These were associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and those with more than one hospitalization within the past 12-months.

Dapagliflozin and sacubitril on myocardial microperfusion in patients with post-acute myocardial infarction heart failure and type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)frequently coexist,creating a complex and challenging clinical scenario,particularly when complicated with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).AIM To examine the effects of dapagliflozin combined with sakubactrovalsartan sodium tablets on myocardial microperfusion.METHODS In total,98 patients were categorized into control(n=47)and observation(n=51)groups.The control group received noxital,while the observation group was treated with dapagliflozin combined with noxital for 6 months.Changes in myocardial microperfusion,blood glucose level,cardiac function,N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)level,growth differentiation factor-15(GDF-15)level,and other related factors were compared between the two groups.Additionally,the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)and adverse reactions were calculated.RESULTS After treatment,in the observation and control groups,the corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts were 37.12±5.02 and 48.23±4.66,respectively.The NT-proBNP levels were 1502.65±255.87 and 2015.23±286.31 pg/mL,the N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide(NT-proANP)levels were 1415.69±213.05 and 1875.52±241.02 ng/mL,the GDF-15 levels were 0.87±0.43 and 1.21±0.56 g/L,and the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)levels were 6.54±1.56 and 8.77±1.94 mg/L,respectively,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The cumulative incidence of MACEs in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was 13.73%(7/51)in the observation group and 10.64%(5/47)in the control group,with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Dapagliflozin combined with nocinto can improve myocardial microperfusion and left ventricular remodeling and reduce MACE incidence in patients with post-AMI heart failure and T2DM.The underlying mechanism may be related to the reduction in the expression levels of NT-proANP,GDF-15,and hs-CRP.

Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors effects on myocardial function in patients with type 2 diabetes and asymptomatic heart failure

BACKGROUND Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors(SGLT2i)have shown efficacy in reducing heart failure(HF)burden in a very heterogeneous groups of patients,raising doubts about some contemporary assumptions of their mechanism of action.We previously published a prospective observational study that evaluated mechanisms of action of SGLT2i in patients with type 2 diabetes who were in HF stages A and B on dual hypoglycemic therapy.Two groups of patients were included in the study:the ones receiving SGLT2i as an add-on agent to metformin and the others on dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors as an add-on to metformin due to suboptimal glycemic control.AIM To evaluate the outcomes regarding natriuretic peptide,oxidative stress,inflammation,blood pressure,heart rate,cardiac function,and body weight.METHODS The study outcomes were examined by dividing each treatment arm into two subgroups according to baseline parameters of global longitudinal strain(GLS),N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide,myeloperoxidase(MPO),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP),and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.To evaluate the possible predictors of observed changes in the SGLT2i arm during follow-up,a rise in stroke volume index,body mass index(BMI)decrease,and lack of heart rate increase,linear regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There was a greater reduction of MPO,hsCRP,GLS,and blood pressure in the groups with higher baseline values of mentioned parameters irrespective of the therapeutic arm after 6 months of follow-up.Significant independent predictors of heart rate decrease were a reduction in early mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity at the interventricular septal annulus ratio and BMI,while the predictor of stroke volume index increase was SGLT2i therapy itself.CONCLUSION SGLT2i affect body composition,reduce cardiac load,improve diastolic/systolic function,and attenuate the sympathetic response.Glycemic control contributes to the improvement of heart function,blood pressure control,oxidative stress,and reduction in inflammation.

FCAW焊接修复对AH36/2205不锈钢复合板接头性能的影响

由于减少了贵重合金元素的使用,AH36/2205不锈钢金属复合板在应用中有着巨大的经济效益。复层和基层金属间的物理、化学性质存在差异,焊接质量不稳定,因此焊接修复不可避免。为了研究焊接修复对于焊接接头性能的影响,针对14 mm+2 mm的AH36/2205不锈钢金属复合板,采用药芯焊丝气体保护焊(FCAW)进行1~3次焊接修复模拟试验。结果表明:AH36/2205不锈钢金属复合板不适合采用FCAW进行焊接修复,1次修复试板的点蚀率达到了167.7 mdd。随着修复次数的增加,不锈钢复合板接头的力学性能及耐晶间腐蚀性能良好,而点蚀率增加,接头的耐点蚀性能下降。

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Heart Failure in Sub-Saharan Africa Environment: Experience of the Principal Hospital of Dakar (Senegal)

Background: Heart failure is a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In patients with chronic Heart Failure and cardiac desynchrony, studies have suggested that cardiac resynchronization, can improve cardiac function and the quality of life of patients. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, very few studies have been done on cardiac resynchronization which is in its infancy. The aim of this study is to report the local data from our hospital. Method: It was a transversal, descriptive and analytical study conducted from November 2019 to September 2022 at the Cardiology Department of the Principal Hospital of Dakar. Results: Twelve patients were implanted for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). The sex ratio was 8 males/4 females. The average age was 67 ± 11 years. Ten patients had non-ischemic heart disease and the two others had ischemic one. All of them had NYHA III or IV scores before CRT. The Quality of Life (QOL) was judged as poor by all of the patients. The average duration of QRS was 156 ± 9 ms. 27.9% ± 5% was the mean Left Ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Complications occur in 3/12 patients (25%). It was one CS vein dissection, one micro LV lead dislodgement and one phrenic nerve stimulation. Nine patients, who were considered as responders, had an improvement of QOL and NYHA, the LVEF increased and the end-diastolic dimension, and the duration of the QRS interval all decreased. Two patients do not respond and one (1) who had permanent atrial fibrillation, was a secondary responder after an atrioventricular junction ablation. Conclusion: Cardiac resynchronization is a therapy that improves the QOL of patients, the LVEF and reduces the duration of the QRS interval. However, this procedure is not without risk of complications. In sub-Saharan Africa, the major challenge is to improve the financial accessibility of this therapy for the population.