International heart journal最新文献

Myocardial fibrosis is a pathological feature of doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity that severely affects the prognosis of oncology patients. However, the specific cellular and molecular mediators driving doxorubicin-induced cardiac fibrosis, and the relative impact of different cell populations on cardiac fibrosis, remain unclear.

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and myocardial fibrosis and to find potential therapeutic targets. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to analyze the transcriptome of non-cardiomyocytes from normal and doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity in mouse model heart tissue.

We established a mouse model of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity with a well-defined fibrotic phenotype. Analysis of single-cell sequencing results showed that fibroblasts were the major origin of extracellular matrix in doxorubicin-induced myocardial fibrosis. Further resolution of fibroblast subclusters showed that resting fibroblasts were converted to matrifibrocytes and then to myofibroblasts to participate in the myocardial remodeling process in response to doxorubicin treatment. Ctsb expression was significantly upregulated in fibroblasts after doxorubicin-induced.

This study provides a comprehensive map of the non-cardiomyocyte landscape at high resolution, reveals multiple cell populations contributing to pathological remodeling of the cardiac extracellular matrix, and identifies major cellular sources of myofibroblasts and dynamic gene-expression changes in fibroblast activation. Finally, we used this strategy to detect potential therapeutic targets and identified Ctsb as a specific target for fibroblasts in doxorubicin-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Deficiency of vitamin B₁ (VB1), an essential micronutrient, causes heart failure (HF). A recent randomized controlled trial failed to show any improvement in HF prognosis after short-term VB1 supplementation. In the current study, we investigated the efficacy of long-term maintenance of normal blood VB1 levels in preventing adverse outcomes in patients with HF.

This study included 88 consecutive patients with HF who received guideline-directed medical therapy at Arida Municipal Hospital. The patients were divided into 3 groups: a control group with normal VB1 levels and no VB1 supplementation (normal group, n = 25), and those presenting with VB1 deficiency, who either required short-term VB1 supplementation (short-term supplementation group, n = 25), or long-term maintenance of normal blood VB1 levels (long-term maintenance group, n = 38). The time to the first appearance of composite outcomes, including cardiovascular death and hospitalization for HF, was compared between the 3 groups.

VB1 deficiency was observed in 63 (72%) patients. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the long-term maintenance group had better outcomes than the other 2 groups. In the multivariate analysis, long-term maintenance of normal blood VB1 levels and age were independent predictors of composite outcomes.

VB1 deficiency is frequently observed, and the long-term maintenance of normal blood VB1 levels may result in better outcomes in patients with HF. Our results suggest that the detection of VB1 deficiency and long-term restoration of VB1 levels may be part of the overall therapeutic strategy for HF.

The presence of epicardial connections (ECs) between the pulmonary veins (PVs) and atrium may contribute to atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. This study aimed to determine the impact of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on the presence of ECs and the interplay between SDB and ECs on AF recurrence.

We retrospectively reviewed 400 consecutive non-valvular AF patients. Among them, 235 patients exhibiting a 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI) of ≥ 10 events/hour underwent polysomnography to evaluate the SDB severity, measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). To facilitate the ablation of AF and ECs, a high-density mapping catheter (HDMC) was employed. AF recurrence was evaluated over a 12-month period post-AF ablation.

The key findings included: 1) 63% of AF patients with ECs had SDB with an AHI ≥ 20 events/hour. 2) Despite achieving complete PV isolations and precise EC ablation using an HDMC, SDB presence was associated with an increased AF recurrence. 3) Continuous positive airway pressure therapy for SDB improved AF recurrence among the AF patients with both ECs and SDB (57% versus 73%; P = 0.016). 4) AHI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.91, ≥ 28.4 events/hour) and left atrial volume (LAV) (OR = 1.42, ≥ 128.3 mL) were independent predictors of the presence of ECs, and AHI (OR = 1.44, ≥ 27.8 events/hour) was an independent predictor of the presence of AF recurrence.

It is essential for physicians to recognise the potential complexity of ECs and SDB in AF patients. Thus, screening and treating SDB in AF patients presenting with ECs might play a pivotal role in suppressing AF recurrence.

Inflammation plays a pathophysiological role in atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences. In addition to glycemic control, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are of wide concern for cardioprotective effects. The structure, half-life, homology, and clinical efficacy of GLP-1RAs exhibit remarkable disparity. Several studies have compared the disparities in anti-inflammatory effects between daily and weekly GLP-1RAs. This study aimed to compare the similarities and differences between liraglutide and dulaglutide in terms of inhibiting atherosclerotic inflammation and improving co-cultured endothelial cell function. The expression of inflammation markers was examined by immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and real-time PCR. The tube-forming ability of endothelial cells was tested on Matrigel. The results verify that 10/50/100 nmol/L liraglutide and 100 nmol/L dulaglutide markedly suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced atherosclerosis after 24 and 72 hours, respectively. Moreover, they promoted the polarization of M1 macrophages toward the M2 phenotype and improved the function of co-cultured endothelial cells. Both liraglutide and dulaglutide ameliorate atherosclerosis development. The difference between the two resided in the extended intervention duration required to observe the effect of dulaglutide, and liraglutide demonstrated a superior dose-dependent manner. We provide a potential strategy to understand the dynamics of drug action and possible timing administration.

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a benign tumor that arises mostly from left-sided valves. PFE can cause stroke, and surgical resection may be needed. Lambl's excrescence (LE) is a filiform valvular lesion and is considered a possible cause of stroke. A 79-year-old man with light-headedness and left-sided hemiparesis was diagnosed with stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a round-shaped mobile mass in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), which was considered the cause of the stroke. Surgical resection was performed transaortically, and during surgery, a mass was incidentally detected on the noncoronary cusp (NCC), which was also resected followed by aortic valve replacement. Pathology confirmed that the mass in the LVOT was a PFE and that the filiform mass on the NCC was LE. We herein report a rare case of PFE in the LVOT and coexisting LE on the NCC. A careful examination via TEE helps to identify other possible causes of stroke hidden behind the obvious cause.

Spontaneous remission is often observed in extracardiac cases of sarcoidosis, such as skin sarcoidosis. However, for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), the prognosis is unfavorable. Although corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for CS, data regarding the natural history of isolated CS are limited. We describe a rare case of isolated CS with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction that improved without steroid therapy.

Shoshin beriberi is a fulminant form of wet beriberi, but there are no large-scale studies detailing the clinical features of this disease. We investigated the clinical features and outcomes of Shoshin beriberi using data from a nationwide database in Japan.Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we identified patients with Shoshin beriberi between July 2010 and March 2021. We retrospectively investigated the characteristics, comorbidities, treatment, and in-hospital mortality of patients with Shoshin beriberi. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney U-test was used for continuous variables.We identified 62 patients with Shoshin beriberi. The median (interquartile range) age was 63 (48-69) years. Furthermore, 54 patients were male (87%). The most common comorbidity was alcohol-related disorder (34%). The median (interquartile range) length of hospital and intensive care unit stays were 17 (range, 10-35) and 5 (range, 1-9) days, respectively. The proportion of patients who received venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intra-aortic balloon pump, continuous renal replacement therapy, and mechanical ventilation was 11, 5, 29, and 63%, respectively. Among the patients with Shoshin beriberi, 53% received 2 or more catecholamines or inotropes. The in-hospital mortality was 23%. Impaired consciousness at admission was significantly related to in-hospital death (P < 0.001).The present study is the first and largest to describe the clinical features of patients with Shoshin beriberi using a nationwide database. Impaired consciousness at admission was significantly associated with in-hospital death.

This study aimed to compare lower limb events associated with preplanned and finally selected treatment strategies-the validity and usefulness of the physician-chosen strategy were verified.We examined the data of 1003 patients in the registry of multicenter endovascular treatment for superficial femoral and popliteal artery disease study and prospectively enrolled patients who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) of the femoropopliteal (FP) artery between February 2017 and June 2018 from 67 Japanese institutes. The outcome measures were major adverse limb events (MALE) and target vessel revascularization.The EVT strategies were classified into balloon angioplasty-alone (37.3%), primary stenting (26.7%), and provisional stenting (36.0%) groups. In the initial strategy analysis for the balloon angioplasty-alone, primary stenting, and provisional stenting groups, two-year rates of freedom from MALE (95% confidence interval) were 0.680 (0.620-0.732), 0.754 (0.688-0.808), and 0.798 (0.746-0.840), respectively. Additionally, the rate of MALE was significantly higher among patients in the balloon angioplasty-alone group than among those in the primary or provisional stenting groups in the initial strategy analysis (P = 0.007). Changes in treatment strategy were more frequent in the primary stenting group than in the other groups. Furthermore, the rate of MALE did not significantly differ among the three groups in the final strategy analysis (P = 0.56).Limb outcomes for the final applied strategy did not differ among the three strategies. Additionally, the physician's selection bias was mostly appropriate in the EVT of the FP artery.

Targeting circular RNA has been a novel approach to preventing and limiting acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Here, we planned to investigate the role and mechanism of circ_0020887 in AMI progression.Hypoxic injury in human cardiomyocytes (AC16) was measured using cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, flow cytometry, and colorimetric assay kits. RNA and protein expressions were determined using real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting. Direct interplay between RNAs was determined using dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, and RIP assays.In the plasma and hypoxia-induced AC16 cells of patients with AMI, circ_0020887 and miR-370-3p were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, concomitant with the upregulation of cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1). Circ_0020887 interference could inhibit hypoxia-induced AC16 cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Circ_0020887 could sponge miR-370-3p, and miR-370-3p could target CYP1B1. The inhibition effect of circ_0020887 knockdown on hypoxia-induced AC16 cell injury could be reversed by the miR-370-3p inhibitor. Besides, CYP1B1 overexpression also overturned the suppressive effect of miR-370-3p on hypoxia-induced AC16 cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.In conclusion, circ_0020887 regulated the miR-370-3p/CYP1B1 axis to regulate hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury, confirming that circ_0020887 might promote cardiomyocyte injury.

Hypertension is a common chronic disease in elderly people over 80 years old. Clinically, H-type hypertension occurs when hypertension coexists with hyperhomocysteinemia level of ≥ 10 umol/L. Effective identification of risk factors for H-type hypertension in the elderly can greatly improve patient prognosis.Consecutively, 494 patients with hypertension admitted to the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the study population. They were divided into H-type hypertension (n = 197) and non-H-type hypertension groups (n = 297). Patient data were collected, including basic information, history, and clinical data. The random forest model and LASSO analysis were used to screen the influencing factors for H-type hypertension. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to analyze the selected variables.A total of 197 elderly people over 80 years old suffered from H-type hypertension, with an incidence rate of 39.88%. The random forest model and LASSO analysis results showed that the top 8 independent variables in importance ranking were ejection fraction (EF), fibrinogen, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), B-type natriuretic peptide, creatinine, fasting blood glucose, uric acid, and serum triiodothyronine levels. The results of multivariate analysis showed that EF was the protective factor, while fibrinogen, HbA1c, and creatinine were the risk factors for H-type hypertension in elderly people over 80 years old (P < 0.05).Healthcare professionals can indirectly assess the prevalence of H-type hypertension by focusing on EF, fibrinogen, creatinine, and HbA1c in elderly hypertensive patients. This provided proactive intervention and medical services to improve prognosis outcomes.