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OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the discriminating predictive indicators in peripheral blood and left atrium blood for predicting the risk of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) in atrial fibrillation patients underwent catheter ablation. METHODS: A total of 108 consecutive AF patients treated with radiofrequency ablation between July 2022 and July 2023 were enrolled and divided into two groups based on preprocedural transesophageal echocardiography: the non LASEC group (n = 71) and the LASEC group (n = 37). Circulating platelet and endothelial- derived MPs (PMPs and EMPs) in peripheral blood and left atrial blood were detected. Plasma soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were observed. Diagnostic efficiency was measured using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Peripheral sP-selectin, vWF and EMPs expressions elevated in all subjects when compared to those in left atrium blood. Levels of sP-selectin and vWF were significantly higher in peripheral blood of LASEC group than those of non LASEC group (p = 0.0018,p = 0.0271). Significant accumulations of peripheral PMPs and EMPs were documented in LASEC group by comparison with non LASEC group (p = 0.0395,p = 0.018). The area under curve(AUC) of combined PMPs and sP-selectin in predicting LASEC was 0.769 (95%CI: 0.678-0.845, sensitivity: 86.49%, specificity: 59.15%), significantly larger than PMPs or sP-selectin alone. CONCLUSIONS: Expressions of PMPs, sP-selectin, EMPs and vWF Increased in NVAF patients with LASEC and that might be potential biomarkers for LASEC prediction.

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Background: The potential role of neprilysin (NEP) in glucose metabolism has been found by basic studies but lacks population evidence. The objective of this study was to examine the association between serum NEP and diabetes in Chinese adults. Methods: In a prospective longitudinal cohort study - the Gusu cohort (n=2,286, mean age: 52 years, 61.5% females), the cross-sectional, longitudinal, and prospective associations between serum NEP and diabetes were systemically examined by logistic regression adjusting for conventional risk factors. Serum NEP was measured at baseline using commercial ELISA assays. Fasting glucose was repeatedly measured 4 years apart. Results: The cross-sectional analysis found a positive association between serum NEP and fasting glucose at baseline (ß=0.08, P=0.004 for log-transformed NEP). This association persisted after controlling for the dynamic risk profiles during follow-up (ß=0.10, P=0.023 for log-transformed NEP). The prospective analysis found that a higher level of serum NEP at baseline was associated with a higher risk of diabetes during follow-up (OR=1.79, P=0.039 for log-transformed NEP). Conclusions: Serum NEP was not only associated with prevalent diabetes but also predicted the future risk of diabetes development in Chinese adults, independent of many behavioral and metabolic factors. Serum NEP may be a predictor and even a new therapeutic target for diabetes. However, the casualty and mechanisms of NEP in the development of diabetes require further investigation.

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Introduction: There is a strong bidirectional relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), both of which can lead to an increase in harmful metabolism and cardiovascular risk. It was discovered that C1q/TNF-related protein 4 (CTRP4) regulates glucolipid metabolism and feeding behavior. However, the correlation between serum CTRP4 and NAFLD in T2DM patients is not yet fully understood. Methods: This study enrolled 188 T2DM participants who were separated into 2 distinct groups (NAFLD and non-NAFLD) according to abdominal ultrasound imaging results. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to evaluate the levels of serum CTRP4. Clinical data and CTRP4 concentration were compared between the two groups. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation of serum CTRP4 levels with NAFLD risk in T2DM patients. Results: Compared with non-NAFLD, the concentration of CTRP4 was lower in NAFLD group (median 2.46 vs. 2.89, P < 0.001). The log(CTRP4) value was found to be negatively correlated with alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference in a Pearson correlation analyses (r = -0.159, -0.156, -0.224, -0.268, all P < 0.05); besides, the trend χ2 test demonstrated that the prevalence of NAFLD rose as CTRP4 concentration decreased (P < 0.001). Regression analysis suggested that NAFLD served as an independent factor influencing log(CTRP4) independently (ß-coefficient = -0.12, P = 0.011), even after adjusting for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and white blood cells. Finally, the results of the logistic regression analysis demonstrated that BMI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.196, P = 0.028], triglyceride (OR = 2.744, P < 0.001), and CTRP4 (OR = 0.615, P = 0.032) were independently associated with NAFLD in T2DM. Conclusions: T2DM patients with NAFLD have lower CTRP4 serum concentrations than those without NAFLD. The risk of NAFLD in patients with T2DM is inversely correlated with serum CTRP4 levels.

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Accumulated evidence have revealed profound associations between C1q/TNF-related proteins (CTRPs) and coronary artery disease (CAD); yet, the relationship of CTRP4 to CAD has not been investigated. We examined the role of CTRP4 in CAD, and especially in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: A total of 138 patients referred for coronary angiography were included in this study and were classified into 3 groups (ACS, CAD and control group). Comparisons regarding clinical data and CTRP4 concentration were performed among 3 groups. Weighted least-squares regression analysis was used to identify the independent predicting factors for CTRP4. RESULTS: Compared with either CAD (median 7.19 vs. 9.43, P < 0.05) or control group (median 7.22 vs. 9.43, P < 0.01), ACS group showed higher CTRP4 concentration. In addition, trend χ2 test revealed the presence of ACS increased with increased CTRP4 concentration (P = 0.010). Finally, in the weighted least-squares regression analysis, ACS was the only independent variable influencing CTRP4 concentration (ß- coefficient = 3.082, P = 0.004), even after adjusting for high-sensitivity C reactive protein (ß- coefficient = 3.050, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: CTRP4 was associated with ACS; moreover, ACS was the independent factor in predicting CTRP4 concentration. The potentially important implications of CTRP4 in ACS may offer a novel insight into understanding the link between inflammation and ACS.

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The purpose was to explore the effect of the WeChat platform health management and refined continuous nursing model on life quality of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after PCI. 100 AMI patients treated in the cardiovascular medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 2018 to June 2019 were selected as the study subjects and randomly divided into research group and reference group, with 50 cases in each group. The reference group received routine nursing after PCI, while the research group received WeChat platform health management and continuous refined nursing. There were no significant differences in sex ratio, age, BMI, complications, education level, and residence between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05). The MPR values of patients in the two groups after intervention were significantly higher than those before intervention (P < 0.05), and the MPR value in the research group after intervention was significantly higher than that in the reference group (P < 0.05). The SF-36 scores of patients in the two groups after intervention were significantly higher than those before intervention (P < 0.001), and the SF-36 score in the research group after intervention was higher than that in the reference group (P < 0.001). The emotional, physical, and economic dimensions of patients in the research group after intervention were significantly lower than those in the reference group (P < 0.001). The HAMA and HAMD scores of patients in the research group after intervention were significantly lower than those in the reference group (P < 0.001). The nursing satisfaction score of patients in the research group was significantly higher than that in the reference group (P < 0.001). The total incidence of complications of patients in the research group after intervention was significantly lower than that in the reference group (P < 0.05). The WeChat platform health management and refined continuous nursing model can effectively improve the medication compliance of patients after PCI, improve the life quality, alleviate depression and anxiety, and reduce postoperative complications, with a definite effect, which is worthy of promotion and application.

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Aims: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with left ventricular thrombus (LVT). Methods and Results: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for cohort studies comparing the use of VKAs vs. NOACs for the treatment of LVT from the earliest date available to September 30, 2020. The predetermined efficacy and safety outcomes included thromboembolic events, resolution of LVT, clinically significant bleedings, and all-cause death. Fixed-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effects. Publication bias analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to check the robustness of results. A total of 6 studies enrolling 837 patients (mean age 60.2 ± 1.6 years; 77.2% were male) were included. We found no significant differences in thromboembolic events [relative risk (RR) 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-3.06, P 0.08, I2 12.7%], the rate of resolution of thrombus (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.96-1.21, P 0.21, I2 4.8%), and clinically significant bleedings (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.37-1.32, P 0.27, I2 0%) between the VKAs and NOACs group. Additionally, no significant difference in all-cause mortality was found between the two groups (RR 1.24, 95% CI 0.79-1.96, P 0.35, I2 0.0%). Sensitivity analyses, using the "1-study removed" method, detected no significant differences. Conclusion: NOACs and VKAs have similar efficacy and safety in treating LVT, prompting the inference that NOACs are the possible alternatives of VKAs in LVT therapy.

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BACKGROUND: Catecholamine excess arising from pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) can cause a wide spectrum of cardiac manifestations, including acute cardiac complications (ACCs) and subclinical myocardial injuries (SMIs). In this study, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of ACCs and SMIs in a large cohort of patients with PPGLs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of consecutive patients with PPGLs admitted between January 2013 and July 2020 (n = 189). The prevalence of ACCs and SMIs and characteristics of patients identified with ACCs and SMIs were investigated. Moreover, comparisons were performed between patients with and without ACCs. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (7.4%) fulfilled the criteria for ACCs, including nine (4.8%) who presented with Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy, four (2.1%) with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and finally one (0.5%) with catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. Compared to those without ACCs (n = 175), patients with ACCs had a higher prevalence of epinephrine-producing PPGLs (81.8% vs 33.9%, P = 0.006) and were more likely to show invasive behavior (61.5% vs 27.3%, P = 0.022) or hemorrhage/necrosis (53.9% vs 17.4%, P = 0.005) on histology. The apical sparing pattern (5/7, 71.4%) was the dominant impairment pattern of longitudinal strain (LS) for patients displaying Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy. In patients without cardiac symptoms, a fairly high proportion (21/77, 27.3%) of patients who underwent screening for troponin and/or natriuretic peptide and/or echocardiography had SMIs. CONCLUSIONS: One in every fourteen PPGL patients presented with ACCs, and in the patients with Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy, the apical sparing pattern was the primary impairment pattern of LS. Additionally, nearly one-third of patients without symptoms had SMIs. The diagnosis of PPGLs should be considered in patients with acute reversible cardiomyopathy, especially in those exhibiting an apical sparing pattern of LS.

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BACKGROUND: Previously, we developed a novel Coronary Artery Tree description and Lesion EvaluaTion (CatLet©) angiographic scoring system, which was capable of accounting for the variability in the coronary anatomy and assisting in the risk-stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our preliminary study revealed that the CatLet score better predicted clinical outcomes for AMI patients than the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score. However, the reproducibility of the CatLet score in both inter- and intra-observer remains to be evaluated. METHODS: A total of 30 consecutive AMI patients, admitted in September of 2015, were independently assessed by two experienced interventional cardiologists to evaluate the inter-observer reproducibility of the CatLet score. Another set of 49 consecutive AMI patients, admitted between September and October in 2014, were assessed by one of the two interventional cardiologists on two occasions 3 months apart to evaluate the intra-observer reproducibility of the CatLet score. The weighted kappa was used to express the degree of agreement. RESULTS: The weighted kappa values (95% confidence interval) for the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of the CatLet Score were 0.82 (0.59-1.00, Z = 7.23, P < 0.001) and 0.86 (0.54-1.00, Z = 5.20, P < 0.001), respectively, according to the tertile analysis (≤14, 15-22, >22). Regarding the adverse characteristics pertinent to lesions and dominance parameters, the kappa values for the inter-observer variability were 0.80 (0.56-1.00, Z = 6.47, P < 0.001) for total number of lesions, 0.57 (0.28-0.85, Z = 3.03, P < 0.001) for bifurcation, 0.69 (0.43-0.96, Z = 5.06, P < 0.001) for heavy calcification, 1.00 (0.72-1.00, Z = 6.93, P < 0.001) for tortuosity, 0.54 (0.26-0.82, Z = 3.78, P < 0.001) for thrombus, 0.69 (0.48-0.91, Z = 6.29, P < 0.001) for right coronary artery dominance, 0.69 (0.41-0.96, Z = 4.91, P < 0.001) for left anterior descending artery length, and 0.22 (0.06-0.51, Z = 1.56, P = 0.06) for diagonal size. Equivalent values for the intra-observer variability were moderate to almost perfect (range 0.54-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: The reproducibility of the CatLet angiographic scoring system for evaluation of the coronary angiograms ranged from substantial to excellent. The high reproducibility of the CatLet angiographic scoring system will boost its clinical application to patients with AMI.

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