Impact of acute glycemic variability on short-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a multicenter population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Given the increasing attention to glycemic variability (GV) and its potential implications for cardiovascular outcomes. This study aimed to explore the impact of acute GV on short-term outcomes in Chinese patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: This study enrolled 7510 consecutive patients diagnosed with acute STEMI from 274 centers in China. GV was assessed using the coefficient of variation of blood glucose levels. Patients were categorized into three groups according to GV tertiles (GV1, GV2, and GV3). The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause death, and the secondary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine the independent correlation between GV and the outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 7136 patients with STEMI were included. During 30-days follow-up, there was a significant increase in the incidence of all-cause death and MACEs with higher GV tertiles. The 30-days mortality rates were 7.4% for GV1, 8.7% for GV2 and 9.4% for GV3 (p = 0.004), while the MACEs incidence rates was 11.3%, 13.8% and 15.8% for the GV1, GV2 and GV3 groups respectively (p < 0.001). High GV levels during hospitalization were significantly associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality and MACEs. When analyzed as a continuous variable, GV was independently associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.679, 95% confidence Interval [CI] 1.005-2.804) and MACEs (HR 2.064, 95% CI 1.386-3.074). Additionally, when analyzed as categorical variables, the GV3 group was found to predict an increased risk of MACEs, irrespective of the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM). CONCLUSION: Our study findings indicate that a high GV during hospitalization was significantly associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality and MACE in Chinese patients with STEMI. Moreover, acute GV emerged as an independent predictor of increased MACEs risk, regardless of DM status.

The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants compared with vitamin K antagonist in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The benefit-risk profile of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) therapy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been well established yet. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DOAC compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with HCM and AF. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov were searched to identify studies comparing DOAC with VKA in patients with HCM and AF. The primary endpoint was thromboembolic events. The relative risks and standard errors were pooled by random-effect models using the generic inverse variance method. RESULTS: Seven observational studies involving 9395 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to the VKA group, the DOAC group displayed a similar risk of thromboembolic events [RR (95%CI): 0.93 (0.73-1.20), p = 0.59] and ischemic stroke [RR (95%CI): 0.65 (0.33-1.28), p = 0.22]. The incidence of major bleeding was comparable between the two groups [RR (95%CI): 0.75 (0.49-1.15), p = 0.19]. Meanwhile, DOAC therapy was superior to VKA therapy in reducing the incidences of all-cause death [RR (95%CI): 0.44 (0.35-0.55), p < 0.001], cardiovascular death [RR (95%CI): 0.41 (0.22-0.75), p = 0.004], and intracranial hemorrhage [RR (95%CI): 0.42 (0.24-0.74), p = 0.003]. CONCLUSION: In patients with HCM and AF, DOAC therapy was similar to VKA therapy in reducing the risk of thromboembolic events, without increasing bleeding risk. In addition, the DOAC group displayed significant advantages in reducing mortality and intracranial hemorrhage compared with the VKA group. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to provide more evidence for DOAC therapy in this population.

Predictive value of the stress hyperglycemia ratio in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: insights from a multi-center observational study.

BACKGROUND: Stress hyperglycemia is a strong predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Recently, the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) has been designed as an index to identify acute hyperglycemia with true risk; however, data regarding the impact of SHR on the prognosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the SHR in patients with acute STEMI and to assess whether it can improve the predictive efficiency of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score. METHODS: This study included 7476 consecutive patients diagnosed with acute STEMI across 274 emergency centers. After excluding 2052 patients due to incomplete data, 5417 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients were divided into three groups according to SHR tertiles (SHR1, SHR2, and SHR3) and were further categorized based on diabetes status. All patients were followed up for major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: After 30 days of follow-up, 1547 MACEs (28.6%) and 789 all-cause deaths (14.6%) occurred. The incidence of MACEs was highest among patients in the SHR3 group with diabetes mellitus (DM) (42.6%). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that patients with SHR3 and DM also had the highest risk for MACEs when compared with other groups (p < 0.001). Moreover, C-statistics improved significantly when SHR3 was added into the original model: the ΔC-statistics (95% confidence interval) were 0.008 (0.000-0.013) in the total population, 0.010 (0.003-0.017) in the DM group, and 0.007 (0.002-0.013) in the non-DM group (all p < 0.05). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for the original TIMI risk score for all-cause death was 0.760. When an SHR3 value of 1 point was used to replace the history of DM, hypertension, or angina in the original TIMI risk score, the Delong test revealed significant improvements in the AUC value (∆AUC of 0.009, p < 0.05), especially in the DM group (∆AUC of 0.010, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The current results suggest that SHR is independently related to the risks of MACEs and mortality in patients with STEMI. Furthermore, SHR may aid in improving the predictive efficiency of the TIMI risk score in patients with STEMI, especially those with DM.

Utility of a pharmacogenetic-driven algorithm in guiding dual antiplatelet therapy for patients undergoing coronary drug-eluting stent implantation in China.

PURPOSES: The POPular Risk Score (PRiS), a pharmacogenetic-driven algorithm consisting of CYP2C19 genotype, platelet reactivity, and clinical risk factors, is developed to evaluate ischemic risk and guide dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DAPT in accordance with the PRiS in patients undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. METHODS: A total of 1757 patients recruited in this cohort study were divided into four groups according to the PRiS and type of P2Y12 receptor inhibitor treatment at discharge. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, definite or probable stent thrombosis, and target vessel revascularization) during 1-year follow-up. The safety endpoints were defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria as major bleeding (BARC 3a, 3b, 3c, and 5) and clinically relevant bleeding (BARC 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, and 5). RESULTS: Among 1046 patients with PRiS < 2 and 711 patients with PRiS ≥ 2, 34.2% and 38.3% of them were treated with ticagrelor, respectively. The PRiS ≥ 2 was an independent predictor for the 1-year incidence of MACE (HR(95%CI): 2.09 (1.37-3.20), p = 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression indicated that in the PRiS ≥ 2 group, ticagrelor was superior to clopidogrel in reducing the risk of MACE (HR(95%CI): 0.53 (0.29-0.98), p = 0.042), without increasing the bleeding risk. On the other hand, in the PRiS < 2 group, clopidogrel treatment was related to a remarkably lower rate of BARC class ≥ 2 bleeding (HR(95%CI): 0.39 (0.20-0.72), p = 0.003), but comparable incidences of MACE and BARC class ≥ 3 bleeding during 1-year follow-up. Similar associations between P2Y12 receptor inhibitors and 1-year endpoints in the PRiS < 2 and PRiS ≥ 2 group could also be identified in propensity score-weighted analysis and propensity score-matched analysis. CONCLUSION: Tailored DAPT based on the PRiS could assist in improving the prognosis of patients undergoing DES implantation. Further randomized controlled trials are required to provide more evidence for PRiS-guided DAPT.

Impact of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system inhibitor drugs on mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation and hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system inhibitors markedly play an active role in the primary prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on the mortality of patients with AF remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between treatment with ACEIs or ARBs and mortality in emergency department (ED) patients with AF and hypertension. METHODS: This multicenter study enrolled 2016 ED patients from September 2008 to April 2011; 1110 patients with AF and hypertension were analyzed. Patients were grouped according to whether they were treated with ACEI/ARB or not and completed a 1-year follow-up to evaluate outcomes including all-cause death, cardiovascular death, stroke, and major adverse events (MAEs). RESULTS: Among the 1110 patients with AF and hypertension, 574 (51.7%) received ACEI/ARB treatment. During the 1-year follow-up, 169 all-cause deaths (15.2%) and 100 cardiovascular deaths (9.0%) occurred, while 98 strokes (8.8%) and 255 MAEs (23.0%) occurred. According to the multivariate Cox regression analysis, ACEI/ARB therapy was significantly associated with a reduced risk of all-cause death (HR, 0.605; 95% CI 0.431-0.849; P = 0.004). Moreover, ACEI/ARB therapy was independently associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular death (HR 0.585; 95% CI 0.372-0.921; P = 0.020) and MAEs (HR 0.651, 95% CI 0.496-0.855, P = 0.002) after adjusting for other risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that ACEI/ARB therapy was independently associated with a reduced risk of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and MAEs in ED patients with AF and hypertension. These results provide evidence for a tertiary preventive treatment for patients with AF and hypertension.

Clinical characteristics and thrombotic risk of atrial fibrillation with obstructive sleep apnea: results from a multi-center atrial fibrillation registry study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep apnea is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) but it is underdiagnosed. Whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is correlated with thrombotic risk in AF remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and assess the thrombotic risk of AF with OSA. METHODS: In the present registry study,1990 consecutive patients with AF from 20 centers were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether they presented with both AF and OSA. All the patients were followed up for 1 year to evaluate the incidences of stroke and non-central nervous system (CNS) embolism. RESULTS: Of the 1990 AF patients, 70 (3.5%) and 1920 (96.5%) patients were in the OSA group and non-OSA group, respectively. The results of the multivariate logistic model analysis showed that male sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and major bleeding history were independent risk factors for patients with AF and OSA. The comparison of the Kaplan-Meier curves using the log-rank test revealed that AF with OSA was correlated with an increased risk of non-CNS embolism (p < 0.01). After multivariate adjustments were performed, OSA remained an independent risk factor for non-CNS embolism (HR 5.42, 95% CI 1.34-22.01, p = 0.02), but was not correlated with the risk of stroke in patients with AF. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that male sex, high BMI values, smoking, and major bleeding history were independent risk factors for patients with AF and OSA. Moreover, OSA was an independent risk factor for non-CNS embolism in AF. Our results indicate that non-CNS embolism requires focus in patients with AF and OSA.

Predictive performance of different bleeding risk scores in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

This study aims to evaluate the predictive values of the HAS-BLED, ORBIT, ATRIA, REACH, PARIS, and PRECISE-DAPT scores in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who received both anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy. 930 patients were consecutively recruited and followed up for 1 year. The primary endpoints were BARC class ≥3 bleeding and BARC class ≥2 bleeding. BARC class ≥3 bleeding occurred in 36 patients(3.9%), while BARC class ≥2 bleeding was seen in 134 patients (14.4%). The predictive performance of the HAS-BLED score for BARC class ≥3 bleeding was unsatisfactory (c-statistic = 0.575). The discrimination of the ATRIA, ORBIT, PARIS, and PRECISE-DAPT scores was also low-to-moderate. The REACH score was useless in bleeding risk stratification for this population. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that previous bleeding events and hemoglobin were two independent predictors of BARC class ≥3 bleeding. Compared to the HAS-BLED score, the model constructed by previous bleeding events and hemoglobin displayed a significant improvement in bleeding risk prediction [c-statistics: 0.704 vs. 0.575 (p = .008), NRI = 0.662,IDI = 0.049]. In patients with AF and ACS or undergoing PCI who received anticoagulant+antiplatelet therapy, the HAS-BLED, ORBIT, ATRIA, REACH, PARIS, and PRECISE-DAPT scores displayed only low-to-moderate performance in predicting BARC class≥3 bleeding. Future studies are required to develop more reliable scoring systems for bleeding risk evaluation in this population.

Performance of the REACH, PARIS, BleeMACS, and PRECISE-DAPT scores for predicting 1-year bleeding events in patients undergoing coronary drug-eluting stent implantation.

This study aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of the REACH, PARIS, BleeMACS, and PRECISE-DAPT scores in Chinese patients undergoing coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. A total of 1911 patients undergoing coronary DES implantation were consecutively recruited and followed up for 1 year. The primary endpoints were BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding and BARC type 2,3, or 5 bleeding. The BleeMACS score and the PRECISE-DAPT score were significantly associated with 1-year incidence of BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding, but not BARC type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. The discrimination of the PRECISE-DAPT score was moderate for BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding (c-statistic = 0.633), while those of the REACH (c-statistic = 0.533), PARIS (c-statistic = 0.553), and BleeMACS scores (c-statistic = 0.613) were relatively low. However, the analysis of c-statistic, NRI, and IDI detected no significant discrimination improvement of the PRECISE-DAPT score for BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding compared to the other three scores. The calibrations of the PRECISE-DAPT and BleeMACS scores were modest (Hosmer-Lemeshow test p > .05). Decision curve analysis indicated net benefit of the PRECISE-DAPT score in bleeding risk evaluation. In conclusion, the PRECISE-DAPT score performed moderately in predicting BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding, while the discriminative capacities of the REACH, PARIS, BleeMACS scores were relatively low in patients undergoing DES implantation. But no significant discrimination improvement of the PRECISE-DAPT score compared to the other scores could be detected. Further studies are required to develop standardized bleeding risk scores for this population.

Sex-related prognostic value of systolic blood pressure on admission in critically ill patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

The present study aimed to evaluate sex-specific association between admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) and in-hospital prognosis in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). In this retrospective, observational study, 1268 ADHF patients requiring intensive care were consecutively enrolled and divided by sex. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to SBP tertiles: high (≥ 122 mmHg), moderate (104-121 mmHg) and low (< 104 mmHg). The primary endpoint was either all-cause mortality, cardiac arrest or utilization of mechanical support devices during hospitalization. Female patients were more likely to be older, have poorer renal function and higher ejection fractions (p < 0.001). The C statistics of SBP was 0.665 (95%CI 0.611-0.719, p < 0.001) for men and 0.548 (95% CI 0.461-0.634, p = 0.237) for women, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that admission SBP as either a continuous (OR = 0.984, 95% CI 0.973-0.996) or a categorical (low vs. high, OR = 3.293, 95% CI 1.610-6.732) variable was an independent predictor in male but the risk did not statistically differ between the moderate and high SBP strata (OR = 1.557, 95% CI 0.729-3.328). In female, neither low (OR = 1.135, 95% CI 0.328-3.924) nor moderate (OR = 0.989, 95% CI 0.277-3.531) SBP had a significant effect on primary endpoint compared with high SBP strata. No interaction was detected between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and SBP (p for interaction = 0.805). In ADHF patients admitted to ICU, SBP showed a sex-related prognostic effect on primary endpoint. In male, lower SBP was independently associated with an increased risk of primary endpoint. Conversely, in female, no relationship was observed.

Relationship between creatinine clearance and clinical outcomes in Chinese emergency patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Few real-world data on the relation between creatinine clearance (CrCl) and adverse clinical outcomes in Chinese emergency department (ED) patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: In this prospective, observational, multicenter AF study, enrolled AF patients presenting to an ED at 20 hospitals in China from November 2008 to October 2011, with a follow-up of 12 month. A total of 863 AF patients with CrCl data were analyzed, and patients were categorized as CrCl ≥ 80, 50 ≤ CrCl < 80, 30 ≤ CrCl < 50, and CrCl < 30(ml/min). Outcomes of analyses were all-cause death, cardiovascular death, thromboembolism (TE), and major bleeding. RESULTS: Among the whole patients, 126(14.6%) patients died during 12-month follow-up, 53(40.2%) among CrCl < 30 ml/min group, and 48(16.2%), 22(6.5%), and 3(3.2%) among 30 ≤ CrCl50, 50 ≤ Crl < 80, and CrCl ≥ 80 ml/min groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Cardiovascular death and TE rates also increased with decreasing CrCl. On multivariate analysis, patients with CrCl < 30 ml/min were associated with higher risks of all-cause death (HR 5.567; 95%CI1.618-19.876; p = .007) and higher cardiovascular death (HR11.939; 95%CI1.439-99.031; p = .022) as compared with CrCl≥80 ml/min category. Nevertheless, for TE and major bleeding risk, CrCl groups showed no significant difference after adjustment for variables in CHA2 DS2 -VASc score and status of warfarin prescription in our cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese ED nonvalvular AF patients, incidence rates of death increased with reducing CrCl across the whole range of renal function. CrCl < 30 ml/min was associated with all-cause death, cardiovascular death, but not for TE and major bleeding.

A new scoring system for predicting short-term outcomes in Chinese patients with critically-ill acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) contributes millions of emergency department (ED) visits and it is associated with high in-hospital mortality. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a multiparametric score for critically-ill ADHF patients. METHODS: In this single-center, retrospective study, a total of 1268 ADHF patients in China were enrolled and divided into derivation (n = 1014) and validation (n = 254) cohorts. The primary endpoint was any in-hospital death, cardiac arrest or utilization of mechanical support devices. Logistic regression model was preformed to identify risk factors and build the new scoring system. The assigning point of each parameter was determined according to its ß coefficient. The discrimination was validated internally using C statistic and calibration was evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. RESULTS: We constructed a predictive score based on six significant risk factors [systolic blood pressure (SBP), white blood cell (WBC) count, hematocrit (HCT), total bilirubin (TBIL), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and NT-proBNP]. This new model was computed as (1 × SBP < 90 mmHg) + (2 × WBC > 9.2 × 109/L) + (1 × HCT ≤ 0.407) + (2 × TBIL > 34.2 µmol/L) + (2 × eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2) + (1 × NTproBNP ≥ 10728.9 ng/ml). The C statistic for the new score was 0.758 (95% CI 0.667-0.838) higher than APACHE II, AHEAD and ADHERE score. It also demonstrated good calibration for detecting high-risk patients in the validation cohort (χ2 = 6.681, p = 0.463). CONCLUSIONS: The new score including SBP, WBC, HCT, TBIL, eGFR and NT-proBNP might be used to predict short-term prognosis of Chinese critically-ill ADHF patients.

Evaluation of pharmacotherapy recommendations in guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically assess drug therapy in the guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease and to provide recommendations for the development of such guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic search was conducted in databases and on websites to identify guidelines for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Qualified guidelines were assessed through the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II). Evidence from the guidelines was extracted from the guidelines themselves. The Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine (OCEBM) evidence grading system was used to regrade and assess this evidence. RESULTS: A total of 11 guidelines for the medical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) (2015-2019) were finally included, and after scoring using the AGREE II tool, the median scores in each domain were as follows: Ⅰ. scope and purpose (median score=88.9%, range: 76.4%-91.7%), Ⅱ. stakeholder involvement (median =38.9%, range: 18.1%-61.1%), Ⅲ. rigour of development (median =69.3%, range: 39.6%-77.6%), Ⅳ. clarity and presentation (median =97.2%, range: 91.7%-100%), Ⅴ. applicability (median =45.8%, range: 24%-68.8%) and Ⅵ. editorial independence (median =94.0%, range: 0-100%). Most of the guidelines scored over 60%, which is worthy of clinical recommendation, but different guidelines suggest that there is a great difference in drug therapy, mainly due to various populations, diverse focuses of attention, distinct efficacy of drugs between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and the preference of guiding developers for select evidence. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The quality of medical treatment guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease varies considerably. Over the past 5 years, medical treatment has been heterogeneous among different guidelines. Consideration of factors leading to heterogeneity of recommendations for drug treatment, especially preferences for evidence selection, will help upgrade the guidelines.

Association between body mass index and mortality in atrial fibrillation patients with and without diabetes mellitus: Insights from a multicenter registry study in China.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 1991 AF patients were enrolled and divided into two groups according to whether they have DM at recruitment. Baseline information was collected and a mean follow-up of 1 year was carried out. The primary outcome was defined as all-cause mortality with the secondary outcomes including cardiovascular mortality, stroke and major adverse events (MAEs). Univariable and multivariable Cox regression were performed to estimate the association between BMI and 1-year outcomes in AF patients with and without DM. 309 patients with AF (15.5%) had comorbid DM at baseline. Patients with DM were more likely to have cardiovascular comorbidities, receive relevant medications but carry worse 1-year outcomes. Multivariable Cox regressions indicated that elevated BMI was related with reduced risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and major adverse events. Compared to normal weight, overweight [HR (95% CI): 0.548 (0.405-0.741), p < 0.001] and obesity [HR (95% CI): 0.541 (0.326-0.898), p = 0.018] were significantly related with decreased all-cause mortality for the entire cohort. Remarkably reduced all-cause mortality in the overweight [HR (95% CI): 0.497 (0.347-0.711), p < 0.001] and obesity groups [HR (95% CI): 0.405 (0.205-0.800), p = 0.009] could also be detected in AF patients without DM, but not in those with DM. CONCLUSION: Elevated BMI was associated with reduced mortality in patients with AF. This association was modified by DM. The obesity paradox confined to AF patients without DM, but could not be generalized to those with DM.

The efficacy and safety of CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy compared with conventional antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 genotype is closely associated with the metabolism and efficacy of clopidogrel, thereby having an important impact on clinical outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy in patients with ACS or undergoing PCI. PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.gov were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy with conventional therapy in patients with ACS or undergoing PCI. Eight RCTs involving 6708 patients were included in this meta-analysis. CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy was slightly superior to the conventional antiplatelet therapy in reducing the risk of MACE [RR(95%CI): 0.71(0.51-0.98), p = .04]. Meanwhile, the genotype-guided therapy group had significantly lower incidence of myocardial infarction [RR(95%CI): 0.56(0.40-0.78), p < .01], but similar risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, stent thrombosis, urgent revascularization and stroke compared to the conventional therapy group. Incidences of major/minor bleeding and major bleeding were comparable between the two groups. In patients with ACS or undergoing PCI, CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy displayed benefit over conventional antiplatelet therapy in reducing the risk of MACE and myocardial infarction, without increasing bleeding risk. Further RCTs are needed to provide more evidences for CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy.

Increased mortality in patients with secondary diagnosis of atrial fibrillation: Report from Chinese AF registry.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between mortality and the primary diagnosis in AF patients is poorly recognized. The purpose of the study is to compare the differences on mortality in patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of AF and to identify risk factors amenable to treatment. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study using data from the Chinese AF registry. For admitted patients, a follow-up was completed to obtain the outcomes during 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 2015 patients with confirmed AF were included. AF was the primary diagnosis in 40.9% (n = 825) of them. 78.9% (n = 939) of the secondary AF diagnosis patients and 55.5% (n = 458) of the primary AF diagnosis patients were sustained AF. Compared with primary AF diagnosis group, the secondary AF diagnosis group was older with more comorbidities. At 1 year, the unadjusted mortality was much higher in the secondary AF diagnosis groups compared with the primary AF diagnosis groups. In Cox regression analysis with adjustment for confounding factors, patients with secondary AF diagnosis were associated with an increased mortality (relative risk 1.723; 95% CI: 1.283 to 2.315, p < .001). On multivariate analysis, age ≥ 75, LVSD, COPD, and diabetes were independent predictors of mortality in patients with primary AF diagnosis, while for the secondary AF diagnosis group, the risk factors were age ≥ 75, heart failure, and previous history of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting to ED with secondary diagnosis of AF were suffering from higher mortality risks compared with primary AF diagnosis patients. Physicians should distinguish these two groups in clinical practice.

Long-term treatment with ivabradine in transgenic atrial fibrillation mice counteracts hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated channel overexpression.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have demonstrated that ivabradine (IVA), is a selective inhibitor of funny current (If) and exerts antiarrhythmic effects in the settings of various diseases such as heart failure and myocardial ischemia. However, little is known regarding the effects of long-term IVA treatment on If current and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) channel overexpression. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated both the If current and HCN channel expression in wild-type (WT) mice and transgenic (TG) atrial fibrillation (AF) mice (heart-specific overexpressing of (pro) renin receptor TG mice) and examined the effects of IVA on the If current and HCN channel expression, and whether those effects were sufficient to prevent an AF episode. Compared with WT mice, the If current density (at -170 mV: TG, -39.6 ± 4.6 pA/pF; WT, -26.9 ± 3.0 pA/pF; P < 0.001) and activation kinetics (V1/2 : TG, -109.45 ± 1.35 mV; WT, -128.20 ± 1.65 mV), as well as HCN2 and HCN4 messenger RNA expression and HCN4 protein expression were significantly increased in the atrial myocytes of TG mice. After 4 months of IVA treatment (7 mg/kg per day orally) the effects of IVA on TG AF mice were accompanied by the inhibition of upregulation of HCN2 and HCN4 protein expression in atrial tissue, and then resulted in a uniform If loss of function. Furthermore, we observed that ivabradine significantly decreased the incidence of AF in the TG mice (41.2% in TG mice, 16.7% in TG + IVA mice; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IVA reduced the incidence of AF in mice, and the antiarrhythmic effects of IVA are not limited to heart rate reduction, as they partially counteract HCN overexpression and reverse electrophysiological cardiac remodeling by attenuating If gain-of-function.

Predictors of digoxin use and risk of mortality in ED patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate factors of digoxin use and its relation to mortality in ED patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: The Chinese AF registry enrolled 2016 AF patients from 20 representative EDs, and the period of study was one year. Predictors of digoxin use and its relation to mortality were assessed by logistic and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Digoxin was assigned in 609 patients (30.6%), and younger age, lower body mass index values, and existence of permanent AF, heart failure (HF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and valvular heart disease were identified to be factors associated with digoxin use. During the follow-up, compared to patients without digoxin therapy, digoxin-treated patients had significantly higher risk of all-cause death (17.2% vs. 13.0%, P=0.012) and cardiovascular death (15.1% vs. 6.7%, P<0.001), but similar risk of sudden cardiac death (1.1% vs. 0.7%, P=0.341). However, after adjustment for related covariates, digoxin use was no longer notably associated with increased all-cause mortality (hazards ratio [HR] 0.973, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.718-1.318) and cardiovascular death (HR 1.313, 95% CI 0.905-1.906). Besides, neutral associations of digoxin treatment to mortality were obtained in relevant subgroups, with no interactions observed between digoxin and gender, HF, valvular heart disease, or concomitant warfarin treatment in mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: In ED patients with AF, digoxin was more frequently assigned to vulnerable patients with concomitant HF or valvular heart disease, and digoxin use was not related to a significantly increased risk of mortality.

[Er3+:Yb3+ co-doped nanocrystals BaGd2ZnO5 of up-conversion optical temperature sensing].

By far, the most efficient upconversion nanocrystals luminescence materials BaGd2ZnO5: 4%Yb3+ , 1%Er3+, with stable chemical performance, were prepared by using Sol-gel method. XRD pattern shows that the sample is pure phase, belongs to the orthogonal crystals, and space group is Pbnm; SEM micrograph shows that the prepared sample of the morphology sized around 150 nm is evenly distributed. Samples with 971 nm semiconductor laser excitation produce a strong green emission, visible to the naked eye, and uponversion strength and pump energy relation n = 1.22 is two-photon for the realization of the upconversion emission. They originated from Er3+ ions 2H(11/2)--2H(11/2)-->4I(15/2) and 4S(3/2)-->4I(15/2) transition emission, Er3+ ions main excited state absorption (ESA) process is: 4I(15/2)-->4I(11/2)-->2F(7/2)-->2H(11/2), 4S(3/2), Yb3+ was added because of its large absorption cross section (10(4) cm(-1)) so that it is easy to transfer excitation energy to the E3+ ions which enhance the layout particles number and the energy state of the 1F7/2, thereby enhancing the intensity of the peaks of the spectrum. Fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique based on the green upconversion emission of the sample has been studied because the Er3+ ions 2H(11/2) and 4S(3/2) energy level spacing is small. The electrons at the two levels conform to the Boltzmann distribution which is a function of temperature, and thus the fluorescence intensity ratio of two levels can be used to measure the temperature of the substrate material. This method does not interfere with temperature field of the measured object, and can eliminate the uncertainty of the accuracy; the test has a wide temperature range and reasonable temperature resolution, the pump source used is simple, convenient and inexpensive, and has more commercial values. The temperature range of the samples is from 350 to 800 K, and the highest temperature measuring sensitivity can reach 0.0031 K(1). At the same time, under low excitation density, it can produce higher conversion transmission power, making it become ideal material for distance non-contact temperature measurement.

Baseline characteristics and 1-year follow-up of Chinese atrial fibrillation patients according to age: a registry study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases with age, and may lead to complications and reduced quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics, management, and prognosis of Chinese AF patients and whether there were differences according to age. METHODS: This registry-based study enrolled ambulatory, outpatient clinic, or hospitalized patients with AF in four sites in China. Based on the Birmingham 2009 schema, patients without and with valve lesion were stratified into three groups according to age. RESULTS: Between September 2008 and April 2011, 2,016 patients were enrolled, including 1,606 patients without valve lesion and 410 patients with valve lesion. Compared with the other two groups, patients >74 years of age were more likely to have morbidity and a CHADS2 score >1, and less likely to receive oral anticoagulants and rhythm-control drugs. At the 1-year follow-up, patients >74 years of age were more likely to have died or suffered a cerebrovascular event or systemic embolism. Age as a continuous variable (subdivided hazard ratio [SHR] 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-1.01, P = 0.29) was not associated with risk of a cerebrovascular event or systemic embolism at 1-year but age ≥75 years (SHR 1.73, 95% CI 1.05-2.87, P = 0.03) was an independent risk factor for the outcome at 1-year when all AF patients were included. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly AF patients are inadequately studied and treated compared with younger patients. Education on evidence-based management and the design of randomized controlled trials, specifically targeting the elderly, especially the Chinese elderly, should improve the management and prognosis of this frail segment of the AF population.

Impact of hemoglobin adducts of ethylene oxide on the prevalence and prognosis of chronic kidney disease in US adults: an analysis from NHANES 2013-2016.

Animal experiments have shown that high exposure to ethylene oxide (EO) can cause multiple system damages including the renal system. Recent studies have reported associations between exposure to EO and cancer, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. However, the impact of exposure to EO on the prevalence and prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans is scarcely investigated. The study was designed to investigate the associations between EO exposure and incidence and prognosis of CKD among 2900 US adults. Exposure to EO was measured by detecting the levels of hemoglobin adducts of EO (HbEO). The diagnosis of CKD was made according to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) > 30 mg/g. Prognosis of CKD was assessed based on the evaluation system initiated by KDIGO that consists of eGFR and UACR. Survey-weighted generalized linear models and proportional odds models were constructed to assess the associations between HbEO and prevalence and prognosis of CKD, with odds ratios (ORs) and proportional odds ratios (PORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reported, respectively. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) function was performed to depict the correlation between HbEO and CKD. The weighted median (interquartile range) of HbEO was 31.3 (23.1-60.3) pmol/g Hb. A total of 491 participants (16.9%) were diagnosed with CKD, and 153 participants (5.31%) were identified to be at high or very high risk. Referred to the first tertile of HbEO, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for CKD in the second and third tertile were 1.46 (0.85, 2.50) and 1.69 (1.00, 2.85), and the adjusted PORs (95% CIs) for prognosis of CKD in the second and third tertile were 1.37 (0.94, 1.99) and 1.58 (1.10, 2.26). When HbEO was analyzed as a continuous variable, the adjusted OR (95% CI) for CKD and POR (95% CI for prognosis of CKD were 1.24 (0.97, 1.58) and 1.22 (1.01, 1.47), respectively. RCS analysis revealed a non-linear positive correlation between HbEO and prevalence of CKD (P for nonlinearity < 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated smoking status had a significant impact on this association, which remained significant among never smokers but lost significance among smokers. Among US adults, increased EO exposure was independently related to increased CKD prevalence and poor CKD outcomes, which was established in never smokers but not among ever smokers.