Expression and Potential Significance of miR-499 and IL-1ß in Serum of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Context: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the terminal manifestation of many heart diseases, and atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia in DCM. The mutual influence of DCM and AF can ultimately lead to a poor prognosis for patients. Objective: The study intended to investigate the risk factors for DCM complicated with AF as well as the expression and clinical value of miR-499 and IL-1ß, to provide more research targets for controlling the risk of AF in clinical practice. Design: The research team conducted a retrospective, observational, case-control study. Setting: The study took place at Huai'an First People's Hospital. Participants: Participants were 79 patients with DCM who had been admitted to the hospital between January 2018 and January 2023. Groups: The study included two groups: (1) 31 participants with atrial fibrillation (AF), the AF group and (2) 48 participants without AF, the non-AF group. Outcome Measures: The research team: (1) examined the baseline characteristics of the two groups and compared the groups using single factor analysis; (2) compared the group's serum indicators and echocardiographic parameters; (3) evaluated the expression and potential relationship of microRNA (miR-499) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) to AF, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Pearson, and compared the group's expressions of miR-499 and IL-1ß; and (4) analyzed the potential relationship between participants' characteristics and the occurrence of AF, using binary logistic regression. Results: Compared to the non-AF group, the AF group's: (1) age (P = .000) and number of participants with a high pulmonary artery pressure (P = .004) were significantly greater; (2) LVEF was significantly lower (P = .030) and LVESD (P = .000), LAD (P = .018), uric acid (P = .000), and BNP (P = .000) were significantly higher; and (3) serum miR-499 (P = .020) and IL-1ß (P = .000) were significantly higher. Also, a significant positive correlation existed between miR-499 (P = .019) and IL-1ß (P = .022) and DCM with AF. In addition, the AF group's age (P = .001), disease duration (P = .032), serum triglyceride levels (P = .036), uric acid value (P = .001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left atrial anteroposterior diameter, LAD, pulmonary hypertension were significant independent risk factors DCM with AF. Conclusions: A close relationship exists between the abnormal expression of serum miR-499 and IL-1ß and DCM complicated with AF, which will be of great importance in future research. In addition, the data of patients with DCM are related to the occurrence and development of AF, and clinicians should actively perform early drug interventions to reduce myocardial remodeling, so as to reduce the incidence of AF.

Comparison of Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery: Hemi-Sternotomy vs. Right Anterolateral Thoracotomy Incision.

Objective: This study aims to compare patient data from two different surgical approaches for minimally invasive valve surgery: hemi-sternotomy and right anterolateral thoracotomy. The primary objective is to determine the safety and efficacy of both surgical incisions. Methods: Between December 2019 and December 2022, a total of 90 patients underwent minimally invasive valve surgery at our center. Among them, 36 patients received the hemi-sternotomy incision with an average age of 45.86 ± 14.83, and 54 patients received the right anterolateral thoracotomy with an average age of 56.77 ± 14.83 years. In the hemi-sternotomy group, 21 patients underwent aortic valve surgery, and 15 had mitral valve surgery, while in the right anterolateral thoracotomy group, 30 patients underwent aortic valve surgery, and 15 patients had mitral valve surgery. Results: No deaths or significant bleeding occurred in the hemi-sternotomy group. However, in the right anterolateral thoracotomy group, one patient died from continuous low cardiac output syndrome after surgery, and one patient suffered a femoral artery dissection. All other patients were discharged without complications. The aortic clamp time and the cardiopulmonary bypass time were significantly lower in the hemi-sternotomy group compared to the right anterolateral thoracotomy group. Conversely, the two groups had no significant differences in intubation time, 24-hour drainage, hospitalization time, and blood transfusion. On the second day after surgery, serum c-TNT and NT-PROBNP levels significantly increased in both groups, but they were significantly higher in the right anterolateral thoracotomy group than in the hemi-sternotomy group. However, on the fifth day after surgery, serum c-TNT and NT-PROBNP levels decreased significantly in both groups, with no significant differences between them. Conclusions: Minimally invasive valve surgery, whether performed with right anterolateral thoracotomy or hemi-sternotomy, is safe and effective after the learning curve. Patients can benefit from these advances in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and surgeons can easily master these techniques.

Differentially expressed mRNAs and their upstream miR-491-5p in patients with coronary atherosclerosis as well as the function of miR-491-5p in vascular smooth muscle cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and are biomarkers for coronary atherosclerosis (AS). A novel miRNA-mRNA regulation network of coronary AS still needs to be disclosed. The aim of this study was to analyze potential mRNAs in coronary AS patients and the role of their upstream miR-491-5p in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We first confirmed top ten mRNAs according to the analysis from Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE132651) and examined the expression levels of them in the plaques and serum from AS patients. Five mRNAs (UBE2G2, SLC16A3, POLR2C, PNO1, and AMDHD2) presented significantly abnormal expression in both plaques and serum from AS patients, compared with that in the control groups. Subsequently, they were predicted to be targeted by 11 miRNAs by bioinformatics analysis. Among all the potential upstream miRNAs, only miR-491-5p was abnormally expressed in the plaques and serum from AS patients. Notably, miR-491-5p overexpression inhibited viability and migration, and significantly increased the expression of contractile markers (α-SMA, calponin, SM22α, and smoothelin) in VSMCs. While silencing miR-491-5p promoted viability and migration, and significantly suppressed the expression of α-SMA, calponin, SM22α, and smoothelin. Overall, miR-491-5p targeted UBE2G2, SLC16A3, and PNO1 and regulated the dysfunctions in VSMCs.

A Variant of IL1B Is Associated with the Risk and Blood Lipid Levels of Myocardial Infarction in Eastern Chinese Individuals.

In this study, we determined to interpret the effects of the interleukin (IL)1B gene rs1143634 C/T polymorphism on myocardial infarction (MI) risk. This study, conducted in a Chinese Han population, recruited 369 MI patients and 465 controls. The variant of IL1B gene (rs1143634 C/T polymorphism) was genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. In this study, a significant link was shown between the IL1B rs1143634 C/T polymorphism and MI risk. We found that the IL1B rs1143634 C/T polymorphism enhanced the risk of MI in this population. Subgroup analysis detected that the IL1B rs1143634 C/T polymorphism associated with MI susceptibility in males, smokers, and individuals with diabetes mellitus. In addition, the IL1B rs1143634 C/T polymorphism was related with the levels of blood lipids including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol (TC). This study uncovers that the IL1B rs1143634 C/T polymorphism may associate with the risk and blood lipid levels of MI in an Eastern Chinese Han population.Abbreviations: MI: myocardial infarction; IL-1: Interleukin-1; SNP: single nucleotide polymorphism; BMI: Body Mass Index; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; 95% CI: 95% confidence interval; OR: odds ratio.

Associations of CD14 variants with the triglyceride levels and risk of myocardial infarction in an Eastern Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: CD14 is crucial in the progression of myocardial infarction (MI). Several studies have explored the association between the risk of MI and the CD14 C-260 T polymorphism, but have reported inconsistent results. METHODS: This study analyzed the association of the CD14 C-260 T polymorphism with susceptibility to MI. Totally, 240 MI patients and 298 normal subjects were included. The association between MI risk and the target polymorphism was assessed using 95% confidence intervals and odds ratios obtained through logistic regression. RESULTS: The T allele of the CD14 C-260 T polymorphism was linked with an elevated risk of MI in Chinese Han people; subgroup analysis indicated that this effect was associated with smoking, male gender, and hypertension. In addition, the data revealed that different genotype carriers of the CD14 C-260 T polymorphism showed significantly distinct TG levels in MI patients. CONCLUSION: Totally, the T allele of the CD14 C-260 T polymorphism is associated with an elevated risk of MI.

Premature senescence of cardiac fibroblasts and atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Premature senescence is associated with atrial fibrosis and has an antifibrotic effect in mice. However, the role of senescence in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the association of premature senescence with fibrosis and also determined the role of senescence in the recurrence of AF after surgery ablation. Western blot, Sirius red staining, SA-ß-gal staining and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the degree of atrial fibrosis ,the expression of TGF-ß and collagens, and also the senescence markers in 72 tissue specimens of left atrial appendage in this study. Then the patients undergoing successful surgical ablation were followed up for 12 months. The expression of collagens and TGF-ß was paralleled by a high level of atrial fibrosis and were increased in AF group, especially in the persistent AF group. Western blotting of P16 and SA-ß-gal staining showed an increased premature senescence in the sinus rhythm, paroxysmal AF and persistent AF groups. In addition, positive area of senescence markers, SA-ß-gal and P16, was correlated positively with fibrotic lesions. We also found a lower ratio of P16/TGF-ß in patients with recurrence of AF than in patients without recurrent AF. In conclusion, premature senescence is associated with atrial fibrosis in AF, and may have an antifibrotic role in AF.