Effects of intracoronary injection of nicorandil and tirofiban on myocardial perfusion and short-term prognosis in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after emergency PCI

BACKGROUND:This study investigated the effects of the intracoronary injection of nicorandil and tirofiban on myocardial perfusion and short-term prognosis in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).METHODS:Seventy-eight STEMI patients with age>65 years who underwent emergency PCI were consecutively enrolled.These patients received conventional PCI and were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group(n=39 per group).The control group received an intracoronary injection of tirofiban followed by a maintenance infusion for 36 hours after surgery.The treatment group received intracoronary injection of tirofiban and nicorandil,and then intravenous infusion of tirofiban and nicorandil 36 hours after surgery.The following parameters were measured:TIMI grade,corrected TIMI frame count(c TFC),TIMI myocardial perfusion grade(TMPG),STsegment resolution(STR)rate 2 hours post-operatively,resolution of ST-segment elevation(STR)at 2 hours postoperatively,peak level of serum CK-MB,left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)at 7–10 days postoperatively,and major adverse cardiac events(MACEs)in-hospital and within 30 days post-operatively.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,more patients in the treatment group had TIMI 3 and TMPG 3,and STR after PCI was significantly higher.The treatment group also had significantly lower c TFC,lower infarction relative artery(IRA),lower peak CK-MB,and no reflow ratio after PCI.The treatment group had significantly higher LVEDD and LVEF but lower incidence of MACEs than the control group.CONCLUSION:The intracoronary injection of nicorandil combined with tirofiban can effectively improve myocardial reperfusion in elderly STEMI patients after emergency PCI and improve shortterm prognoses.

One-year status of hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement from 85 hospitals in China

Aims:Surveys and research on the applications of the hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)are important for understanding the current status and future development of this technology in China.This article aimed to investigate the status of hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement in China in 2022.Methods:We investigated the overall status of HVPG technology in China-including hospital distribution,hospital level,annual number of cases,catheters used,average cost,indications,and current challenges by using online questionnaire.By counting the number and percentages of cases of these results,we hope to clarify the current status of HVPG measurements in China.Results:According to the survey,85 hospitals in China used HVPG technology in 2022 distributed across 29 provinces.A total of 4989 HVPG measurements were performed in all of the surveyed hospitals in 2022,of which 2813 cases(56.4%)were measured alone.The average cost of HVPG measurement was 5646.8±2327.9 CNY.Of the clinical teams who performed the measurements(sometimes multiple per hospital),94.3%(82/87)used the balloon method,and the majority of the teams(72.4%,63/87)used embolectomy catheters.Conclusions:This survey clarified the clinical application status of HVPG in China and confirmed that some medical institutions in China have established a foundation for this technology.It is still necessary to continue promoting and popularizing this technology in the future.

Characterization of the chemical constituents of Jie-Geng-Tang and the metabolites in the serums and lungs of mice after oral administration by LC-Q-TOF-MS

Jie-Geng-Tang(JGT),a traditional formula,is employed in the treatment of sore throat and cough and comprises Platycodonis Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in the ratio 1:2.Our previous study demonstrated that JGT protected mice from S.aureus-induced acute lung injury(ALI).Five constituents of JGT showed antibacterial activities against S.aureus in vitro.However,the potential effective constituents of JGT in vivo were still unclear.In this study,the chemical constituents of JGT were identified by liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight spectrometry(LC-Q-TOF-MS).A total of 96 constituents were identified or assumed,including seven organic acids,45 flavonoids,36 triterpene saponins,and eight compounds of other types.The structures of 31 of the constituents were confirmed by comparing them with corresponding authentic standards.Moreover,15 prototypes and 49 metabolites were deduced in the serums of mice,24 prototypes and 47 metabolites were deduced in the lungs of mice after the oral administration of JGT.Three types of constituents,namely organic acids,flavonoids,and triterpene saponins,could be absorbed into the blood.Moreover,flavonoids and triterpene saponins were more likely distributed in the lung than in the blood.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report on the systematic metabolites profile of JGT in vivo.The results reported were beneficial to the elucidation of the effective material basis of JGT.

A Potential Functional Cure in Chinese HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Peg-interferon Alpha-2a

Background and Aims:Data are limited on the use of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a(peg-IFNα)in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection(CHB).We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of peg-IFNαin Chinese patients with hepatitis B envelope antigen-negative CHB in routine clinical practice.Methods:In this prospective,multicenter,observational,non-interventional cohort study,patients were assessed for up to 1 year after peg-IFNαtreatment cessation.Treating physicians established the dosing and treatment duration according to Chinese clinical practice.Effectiveness of peg-IFNαtreatment was measured by the percentage of:patients with HBV DNA<2000 IU/mL and loss of hepatitis B surface antigen(commonly known as HBsAg);HBV DNA level at end of treatment(EOT),and 6 months and 1 year posttreatment;and time course change in quantitative HBV DNA and HBsAg.Results:At EOT,6 months posttreatment,and 1 year posttreatment,the percentage of patients with HBV DNA<2000 IU/mL was 90.0%,81.8%,and 82.2%,and that of patients with HBsAg loss was 6.5%,9.4%,and 9.5%,respectively.The HBV DNA level decreased from 5.61 log IU/mL at baseline to 2.48 log IU/mL at EOT and 2.67 log IU/mL at 1 year posttreatment.The HBsAg level decreased from 3.08 log IU/mL at baseline to 2.24 log IU/mL at EOT and 2.10 log IU/mL at 1 year posttreatment.The incidence of adverse events was 52.0%.Conclusions:Peg-IFNαhas the potential to provide functional cure(HBsAg loss)for CHB and is well tolerated in hepatitis B envelope antigen-negative CHB patients in routine clinical practice in China.