El dilema clínico frente a los pacientes con ergometría positiva y prueba de perfusión miocárdica con SPECT normal / The clinical dilemma facing patients with positive stress test and normal SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging

La evaluación de la perfusión miocárdica con SPECT combina una prueba de esfuerzo (ergometría o estrés farmacológico) junto a imágenes de perfusión con radioisótopos. Este estudio es útil para establecer el diagnóstico de enfermedad arterial coronaria, estratificar el riesgo de infarto y tomar decisiones terapéuticas. Un resultado normal aporta un alto valor predictivo negativo, es decir, una muy baja probabilidad de que el paciente presente eventos cardiovasculares. El hallazgo de signos de isquemia en la ergometría podría poner en jaque el valor predictivo negativo de una perfusión normal. En presencia de este resultado, el paso siguiente es evaluar los predictores de riesgo en la ergometría, el riesgo propio del paciente en función de los antecedentes clínicos y el puntaje cálcico coronario, cuando este se encuentra disponible. Ante la presencia concomitante de otros marcadores de riesgo se sugiere completar la evaluación con un estudio anatómico.El uso de nuevas tecnologías podría mejorar la precisión en la predicción de eventos. (AU)

Assessment of myocardial perfusion with SPECT combines a stress test (ergometry or pharmacological stress) with radioisotope perfusion imaging. This test is helpful to diagnose coronary artery disease, stratify the risk of heart attack, and make therapeutic decisions. A normal result provides a high negative predictive value; therefore, the probability of cardiovascular events is very low. Signs of ischemia on an ergometry could jeopardize the negative predictive value of normal perfusion. In this clinical setting, the next step is to evaluate the risk predictors in the stress test, the individual risk based on the clinical history, and the coronary calcium score when available. Given the simultaneous presence of other risk markers,completing the evaluation with an anatomical study is suggested. The use of new technologies could improve the accuracy of event prediction. (AU)

Clinical analysis of 11 cases multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in children / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 11 children with MIS-C, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital from December 2022 to January 2023. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and follow-up of MIS-C were summarized in this study. Results: The 11 cases contained 7 boys and 4 girls, with an age of 4.4 (2.0, 5.5) years on admission. All the patients had fever, with a duration of 7(5, 9) days. Other clinical manifestations included rash in 7 cases, conjunctival hyperemia in 5 cases, red lips and raspberry tongue in 3 cases, lymphadenopathy in 3 cases, and swollen fingers and toes in 2 cases. There were 8 cases of digestive symptoms, 8 cases of respiratory symptoms, and 3 cases of nervous system symptoms. Eight patients had multi-system injuries, and one of them had shock presentation. All 11 patients were infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BF.7 variant. The laboratory examination results showed that all cases had elevated inflammatory indicators, abnormal coagulation function and myocardial damage. Six patients had elevated white blood cell counts, 5 cases had liver function abnormalities, 3 cases had kidney function abnormalities, and 8 cases had coronary artery involvement. All 11 patients received anti-infection treatment, of which 3 cases received only 2 g/kg intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), while the remaining 8 cases received a combination of IVIG and 2 mg/(kg·d) methylprednisolone. Among the 8 cases with coronary artery disease, 6 cases received low molecular weight heparin anticoagulation therapy. All patients were followed up in 2 weeks after being discharged, and their inflammatory markers had returned to normal by that time. The 8 cases with coronary artery disease and 3 cases with pneumonia showed significant improvement or back to normal at the 4-week follow-up. All patients had no new complications or comorbidities during follow-up of more than 3 months. Conclusions: MIS-C may present with Kawasaki disease-like symptoms, with or without gastrointestinal, neurological, or respiratory symptoms. Elevated inflammatory markers, abnormal coagulation function, and cardiac injury contribute to the diagnosis of MIS-C. IVIG and methylprednisolone were the primary treatments for MIS-C, and a favorable short-term prognosis was observed during a follow-up period of more than 3 months.

Factors that influence health literacy in patients with coronary artery disease / Fatores que influenciam o letramento em saúde em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana / Factores que influyen en la alfabetización en salud de los pacientes con enfermedad arterial coronaria

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the factors that exert an influence on health literacy in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: a cross sectional study, including 122 patients with coronary diseases (60.7% male; 62.07 ± 8.8 years old). Health literacy and specific knowledge about the disease were evaluated through interviews with the participants by means of the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and the Short version of the coronary artery disease education questionnaire. The data were described by means of central tendency measures and frequencies. The factors that exert an influence on health literacy were determined by means of a linear regression model. The significance level adopted was 5%. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: age and arterial hypertension presented an inverse and significant relationship with health literacy. On the other hand, higher schooling levels and having a job were associated with better scores in the health literacy instrument. Specific knowledge about the disease did not exert any influence on health literacy. The variables included in the regression model explained 55.3% of inadequate literacy. CONCLUSION: this study, knowledge about the disease exerts no influence on health literacy: however, the professionals should consider the sociodemographic and clinical factors to plan the interventions.

OBJETIVO: investigar os fatores que influenciam o letramento em saúde em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, incluindo 122 pacientes com coronariopatias (60,7% do sexo masculino; 62,07±8,8 anos); letramento em saúde e conhecimento específico da doença foram avaliados por meio de entrevista com os participantes, pelo Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults e Short version of the coronary artery disease education questionnaire. Os dados foram descritos por medidas de tendência central e frequências. Fatores que influenciam o letramento em saúde foram determinados por modelo de regressão linear. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa. RESULTADOS: idade e hipertensão apresentaram uma relação inversa e significativa com letramento em saúde. Por outro lado, maior escolaridade e estar empregado associaram-se com maiores pontuações no instrumento de letramento em saúde. O conhecimento específico da doença não influenciou o letramento em saúde. As variáveis do modelo de regressão explicaram 55,3% do letramento inadequado. CONCLUSÃO: no presente estudo o conhecimento sobre a doença não influência o letramento em saúde, mas os profissionais devem considerar os fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos para planejar as intervenções.

OBJETIVO: investigar los factores que influyen en la alfabetización en salud de los pacientes con enfermedad arterial coronaria. MÉTODO: estudio transversal, que incluyó 122 pacientes con enfermedades coronarias (60,7% del sexo masculino; 62,07±8,8 años); se evaluó la alfabetización en salud y el conocimiento específico sobre la enfermedad mediante entrevistas con los participantes, utilizando el Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults e Short version of the coronary artery disease education questionnaire. Los datos fueron descritos por medidas de tendencia central y frecuencias. Los factores que influyen en la alfabetización en salud se determinaron mediante un modelo de regresión lineal. El nivel de significación adoptado fue del 5%. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética e Investigación. RESULTADOS: la edad y la hipertensión mostraron una relación inversa y significativa con la alfabetización en salud. Por otro lado, un mayor nivel educativo y tener empleo se asociaron con puntajes más altos en el instrumento de alfabetización en salud. El conocimiento específico sobre la enfermedad no influyó en la alfabetización en salud. Las variables del modelo de regresión explicaron el 55,3% de alfabetización inadecuada. CONCLUSIÓN: en el presente estudio, se concluyó que el conocimiento sobre la enfermedad no influye en la alfabetización en salud, pero los profesionales deben considerar los factores sociodemográficos y clínicos para planificar las intervenciones.

Factores que influyen en la alfabetización en salud de los pacientes con enfermedad arterial coronaria / Factors that influence health literacy in patients with coronary artery disease / Fatores que influenciam o letramento em saúde em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana

Objetivo: investigar los factores que influyen en la alfabetización en salud de los pacientes con enfermedad arterial coronaria. Método: estudio transversal, que incluyó 122 pacientes con enfermedades coronarias (60,7% del sexo masculino; 62,07±8,8 años); se evaluó la alfabetización en salud y el conocimiento específico sobre la enfermedad mediante entrevistas con los participantes, utilizando el Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults e Short version of the coronary artery disease education questionnaire. Los datos fueron descritos por medidas de tendencia central y frecuencias. Los factores que influyen en la alfabetización en salud se determinaron mediante un modelo de regresión lineal. El nivel de significación adoptado fue del 5%. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética e Investigación. Resultados: la edad y la hipertensión mostraron una relación inversa y significativa con la alfabetización en salud. Por otro lado, un mayor nivel educativo y tener empleo se asociaron con puntajes más altos en el instrumento de alfabetización en salud. El conocimiento específico sobre la enfermedad no influyó en la alfabetización en salud. Las variables del modelo de regresión explicaron el 55,3% de alfabetización inadecuada. Conclusión: en el presente estudio, se concluyó que el conocimiento sobre la enfermedad no influye en la alfabetización en salud, pero los profesionales deben considerar los factores sociodemográficos y clínicos para planificar las intervenciones.

Objective: to investigate the factors that exert an influence on health literacy in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: a crosssectional study, including 122 patients with coronary diseases (60.7% male; 62.07 ± 8.8 years old). Health literacy and specific knowledge about the disease were evaluated through interviews with the participants by means of the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and the Short version of the coronary artery disease education questionnaire. The data were described by means of central tendency measures and frequencies. The factors that exert an influence on health literacy were determined by means of a linear regression model. The significance level adopted was 5%. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: age and arterial hypertension presented an inverse and significant relationship with health literacy. On the other hand, higher schooling levels and having a job were associated with better scores in the health literacy instrument. Specific knowledge about the disease did not exert any influence on health literacy. The variables included in the regression model explained 55.3% of inadequate literacy. Conclusion: this study, knowledge about the disease exerts no influence on health literacy: however, the professionals should consider the sociodemographic and clinical factors to plan the interventions.

Objetivo: investigar os fatores que influenciam o letramento em saúde em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana. Método: estudo transversal, incluindo 122 pacientes com coronariopatias (60,7% do sexo masculino; 62,07±8,8 anos); letramento em saúde e conhecimento específico da doença foram avaliados por meio de entrevista com os participantes, pelo Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults e Short version of the coronary artery disease education questionnaire. Os dados foram descritos por medidas de tendência central e frequências. Fatores que influenciam o letramento em saúde foram determinados por modelo de regressão linear. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa. Resultados: idade e hipertensão apresentaram uma relação inversa e significativa com letramento em saúde. Por outro lado, maior escolaridade e estar empregado associaram-se com maiores pontuações no instrumento de letramento em saúde. O conhecimento específico da doença não influenciou o letramento em saúde. As variáveis do modelo de regressão explicaram 55,3% do letramento inadequado. Conclusão: no presente estudo o conhecimento sobre a doença não influência o letramento em saúde, mas os profissionais devem considerar os fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos para planejar as intervenções.

Método indirecto para la verificación del intervalo de referencia del perfil lipídico / Indirect method for the verification of the lipid profile reference range

Introducción: La dislipidemia es uno de los problemas más frecuentes en los niños y adolescentes y su estudio es importante debido a su fuerte correlación con la enfermedad cardiovascular aterosclerótica en adultos. Muchos países desarrollaron valores de referencia nacionales investigando los lípidos séricos utilizando datos basados en la población nacional propia. Nuestro objetivo fue verificar el intervalo de referencia del perfil lipídico calculando las curvas de percentiles a través del método indirecto en nuestra población pediátrica. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron los resultados de nuestra base de datos utilizando el método indirecto. Luego de aplicar filtros y criterios de exclusión se calcularon los percentiles 25, 50, 75, 95 y 99 para colesterol total (CT), colesterol HDL (C-HDL), colesterol no HDL (C-no-HDL), triglicéridos (TG) y colesterol LDL (C-LDL) y para el C-HDL además se calculó el percentil 10. El valor de referencia para el cambio (RCV) se utilizó para determinar si existía diferencia clínicamente significativa entre los valores de percentiles obtenidos y los utilizados en el consenso de la SAP. Resultados: No se evidenció diferencia clínicamente significativa contra los valores propuesto por la SAP, excepto para los TG para las edades 1,5,7 años en el percentil 95 y para la edad de 8 años en el percentil 75 y 95; para el C-HDL en el percentil 10 para las edades 1,16 y 17 años. Discusión: Se obtuvieron los percentiles de los lípidos y se compararon con los valores de referencia utilizados por el consenso en el que están basados las guías (AU)

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is one of the most common problems in children and adolescents and its study is important because of its strong correlation with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Many countries have developed national reference values investigating serum lipids using data based on their own national population. Our aim was to verify the lipid profile reference range by calculating percentile curves through the indirect method in our pediatric population. Materials and methods: The results of our database were analyzed using the indirect method. After applying filters and exclusion criteria, the 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th, and 99th percentiles were calculated for total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C); for HDL-C, the 10th percentile was also calculated. The reference change values (RCV) were used to determine whether there was a clinically significant difference between the percentile values obtained and those used in the consensus of the Argentine Association of Pediatrics (SAP). Results: There was no clinically significant difference with the values proposed by the SAP, except for TG for ages 1, 5, and 7 years at the 95th percentile and for age 8 years at the 75th and 95th percentile; and for HDL-C at the 10th percentile for ages 1, 16, and 17 years. Discussion: Lipid percentiles were obtained and compared with the reference values used by the consensus on which the guidelines are based (AU)

Clinical characteristics of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery in children / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) in children. Methods: There were 17 children diagnosed with AAOCA from January 2013 to January 2022 in Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.Their clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging data, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results: These 17 children included 14 males and 3 females, with the age of (8.7±3.5) years. There were 4 anomalous left coronary artery (ALCA) and 13 anomalous right coronary artery (ARCA). Seven children presented with chest pain or chest pain after exercise, three patients presented with cardiac syncope, one complained chest tightness and weakness, and the other six patients had no specific symptoms. Cardiac syncope and chest tightness occurred in patients with ALCA. Fourteen children had the dangerous anatomical basis of myocardial ischemia caused by coronary artery compression or stenosis on imaging. Seven children had coronary artery repair, of whom two were ALCA and five were ARCA. One patient had received heart transplantation because of heart failure. The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events and poor prognosis in ALCA group was higher than that in ARCA group (4/4 vs. 0/13, P<0.05). They were followed up in the outpatient department regularly for 6 (6, 12) months; except for the one who lost visit, the rest of the patients had a good prognosis. Conclusions: Cardiogenic syncope or cardiac insufficiency usually occurs in ALCA, and adverse cardiovascular events and poor prognosis are more common in ALCA than in ARCA. Early surgical treatment should be considered for children with ALCA and ARCA accompanied by myocardial ischemia.

Five-year outcomes of biodegradable versus second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents used in complex percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#There are few data comparing clinical outcomes of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (CPCI) when using biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) or second-generation durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES). The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of BP-DES and compare that with DP-DES in patients with and without CPCI during a 5-year follow-up.@*METHODS@#Patients who exclusively underwent BP-DES or DP-DES implantation in 2013 at Fuwai Hospital were consecutively enrolled and stratified into two categories based on CPCI presence or absence. CPCI included at least one of the following features: unprotected left main lesion, ≥2 lesions treated, ≥2 stents implanted, total stent length >40 mm, moderate-to-severe calcified lesion, chronic total occlusion, or bifurcated target lesion. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and total coronary revascularization (target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization [TVR], and non-TVR) during the 5-year follow-up. The secondary endpoint was total coronary revascularization.@*RESULTS@#Among the 7712 patients included, 4882 (63.3%) underwent CPCI. Compared with non-CPCI patients, CPCI patients had higher 2- and 5-year incidences of MACE and total coronary revascularization. Following multivariable adjustment including stent type, CPCI was an independent predictor of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.151; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.017-1.303, P  = 0.026) and total coronary revascularization (aHR: 1.199; 95% CI: 1.037-1.388, P  = 0.014) at 5 years. The results were consistent at the 2-year endpoints. In patients with CPCI, BP-DES use was associated with significantly higher MACE rates at 5 years (aHR: 1.256; 95% CI: 1.078-1.462, P  = 0.003) and total coronary revascularization (aHR: 1.257; 95% CI: 1.052-1.502, P  = 0.012) compared with that of DP-DES, but there was a similar risk at 2 years. However, BP-DES had comparable safety and efficacy profiles including MACE and total coronary revascularization compared with DP-DES in patients with non-CPCI at 2 and 5 years.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients underwent CPCI remained at a higher risk of mid- to long-term adverse events regardless of the stent type. The effect of BP-DES compared with DP-DES on outcomes was similar in CPCI and non-CPCI patients at 2 years but had inconsistent effects at the 5-year clinical endpoints.

Effectiveness and safety of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (MUSKARDIA) in patients with stable coronary artery disease and concomitant diabetes mellitus: a subgroup analysis of a randomized clinical trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Preliminary studies have indicated that Shexiang Baoxin Pill (MUSKARDIA) has a coronary artery dilation effect and increases the coronary blood flow, relieving the symptoms of angina. This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of MUSKARDIA on patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM).@*METHODS@#This was a subgroup analysis of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IV trial. CAD patients with a medical history of DM or baseline fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥7.0 mmol/L were grouped according to the treatment (standard therapy plus MUSKARDIA or placebo). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), which was the composite outcome of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. The secondary outcome was the composite outcome of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure, and coronary angioplasty.@*RESULTS@#MACEs occurred in 2.6% (9/340) and 4.8% (18/376) of patients in the MUSKARDIA and placebo groups, respectively ( P  = 0.192). Secondary composite outcome was significantly less frequent with MUSKARDIA than with placebo (15.3% [52/340] vs . 22.6% [85/376], P  = 0.017). Risk of MACEs (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-1.57) was comparable between two groups. In patients with uncontrolled DM (≥4 measurements of FBG ≥7 mmol/L in five times of follow-up), the risk of secondary outcome was significantly lower with MUSKARDIA (5/83, 6.0%) than with placebo (15/91, 16.5%) (HR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.13-0.95).@*CONCLUSION@#As an add-on to standard therapy, MUSKARDIA shows a trend of reduced MACEs in patients with stable CAD and DM. Furthermore, MUSKARDIA may reduce the frequency of all-cause death, hospitalization, and coronary angioplasty in this population, especially in those with uncontrolled DM.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-12003513.

Risk factors related to coronary artery occlusion in female patients with ischemic angina pectoris / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To analyze the risk factors of coronary artery occlusion in female patients with ischemic angina pectoris. Methods: Clinical data of 1 600 patients (666 females and 934 males) who underwent coronary angiography from January 2013 to December 2015 due to angina pectoris in 6 major coronary intervention centers in China were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics were compared between the female and male groups, and between the non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) and ischemic obstructive coronary artery disease (IOCA) subgroups of female subjects with angina pectoris. The risk factors related to the degree of coronary artery occlusion in female patients were analyzed. Results: In the enrolled patients who underwent coronary angiography for angina pectoris, female group was older than the male group, and the proportion of patients with hypertension, diabetes and ischemia accompanied by IOCA was significantly higher than that of the male group (P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that age≥65 years, hypertension, diabetes, and typical angina symptoms were associated with an increased risk of IOCA in female patients with angina pectoris. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age≥65 years old (OR=1.784, 95%CI: 1.146-2.776, P=0.010), hypertension (OR=1.782, 95%CI: 1.201-2.644, P=0.004) and typical angina symptoms (OR=1.642, 95%CI: 1.127-2.393, P=0.010) were independent risk factors for female patients with angina pectoris diagnosed as IOCA. The correlation analysis between the number of risk factors and the type of coronary artery disease obstruction showed that the incidence of INOCA decreased significantly with the increase of the number of risk factors, from 45.5% to 14.2%. The incidence of IOCA increased significantly with the number of risk factors, from 54.5% to 85.8% (P for trend<0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of INOCA in female patients with angina pectoris suspected of coronary heart disease is higher than that of male. The incidence of IOCA increased significantly, and the incidence of INOCA decreased significantly in proportion to the increase of the number of combined risk factors.

Clinical features and long-term prognosis of diabetic patients with low or intermediate complexity coronary artery disease post percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and long-term prognostic factors of diabetic patients with low or intermediate complexity coronary artery disease (CAD) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This was a prospective, single-centre observational study. Consecutive diabetic patients with SYNTAX score (SS)≤32 undergoing PCI between January and December 2013 in Fuwai hospital were included in this analysis. The patients were divided into two groups based on SS, namely SS≤22 group and SS 23-32 group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors related to poor 5-year prognosis. The primary outcomes were cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction, the secondary outcomes were all cause death and revascularization. Results: Of the 3 899 patients included in the study, 2 888 were men (74.1%); mean age was 59.4±9.8 years. There were 3 450 patients in the SS≤22 group and 449 patients in the SS 23-32 group. Compared with SS≤22 group, the incidence of revascularization was higher in SS 23-32 group (18.9% (85/449) vs. 15.2% (524/3450), log-rank P=0.019). There was no significant difference in all-cause death, cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction between the two groups (log-rank P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR=1.05, 95%CI 1.02-1.08, P<0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR=3.12, 95%CI 1.37-7.07, P=0.007) and creatinine clearance rate (CCr)<60 ml/min (HR=3.67, 95%CI 2.05-6.58, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for 5-year cardiac death, while left ventricular ejection fraction (HR=0.94, 95%CI 0.91-0.96, P<0.001) was a protective factor. Previous PCI (HR=2.04, 95%CI 1.38-3.00, P<0.001), blood glucose level≥11.1 mmol/L on admission (HR=2.49, 95%CI 1.32-4.70, P=0.005) and CCr<60 ml/min (HR=1.85, 95%CI 1.14-2.99, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for 5-year recurrent myocardial infarction. The SS of 23-32 was independently associated with risk of revascularization (HR=1.54, 95%CI 1.09-2.16, P=0.014), after adjusting for residual SS. Residual SS was not a risk factor for 5-year prognosis. Conclusions: In diabetic patients with low-or intermediate complexity CAD, SS 23-32 is associated with increased risk of 5-year revascularization; the clinical characteristics of the patients are associated with the long-term mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction, but not related to revascularization.

Protection of side-branch ostium by the jailed balloon technique validated by three-dimensional optical coherence tomography / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of jailed balloon technique on side branch (SB) ostium using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography(OCT). Methods: This is a retrospective study. Consecutive coronary disease patients with coronary artery bifurcation lesions who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and completed pre-and post-procedural OCT examinations at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from September 2019 to March 2022 were enrolled. Patients were divided into the jailed balloon technique group and the unprotected group according to the options applied for the SB. The SB ostium area difference was calculated from OCT images (SB ostium area difference=post-PCI SB ostium area-pre-PCI SB ostium area). The SB ostium area differences were compared between the two groups and compared further in the subgroup of true bifurcation lesions and non-true bifurcation lesions. In the jailed balloon group, the SB ostium area difference was compared between the active jailed balloon technique and the conventional jailed balloon technique, between the jailed balloon>2.0 mm diameter and the jailed balloon≤2.0 mm diameter, and between the higher balloon pressure (>4 atm, 1 atm=101.325 kPa) and the lower balloon pressure (≤4 atm). Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the correlation between the technical parameters of the jailed balloon technique and the SB protection effect. Results: A total of 176 patients with 236 bifurcation lesions were enrolled, aged (60.7±9.3) years, and there were 128 male patients (72.7%). There were 67 patients in the jailed balloon technique group with 71 bifurcation lesions and 123 patients in the unprotected group with 165 bifurcation lesions. Fourteen patients had 2 to 3 lesions, which were treated in different ways, so they appeared in the unprotected group and the jailed balloon technique group at the same time. The area difference in SB ostium was greater in the jailed balloon group than in the unprotected group (0.07 (-0.43, 1.05)mm2 vs.-0.33 (-0.83, 0.26)mm2, P<0.001), and the results were consistent in the true bifurcation lesion subgroup (0.29 (-0.35, 0.96)mm2 vs.-0.26 (-0.64, 0.29)mm2, P=0.004), while the difference between the two groups in the non-true bifurcation lesion subgroup was not statistically significant (P=0.136). In the jailed balloon technique group, the SB ostium area difference was greater in patients treated with the active jailed balloon technique than in those treated with the conventional jailed balloon technique ((0.43±1.36)mm2 vs. (-0.22±0.52)mm2, P=0.013). The difference in SB ostium area was greater in those using>2.0 mm diameter jailed balloons than in those using≤2.0 mm diameter jailed balloons (0.25 (-0.51, 1.31) mm2 vs.-0.01 (-0.45, 0.63) mm2, P=0.020), while SB ostium area difference was similar between those endowed with higher balloon pressure (>4 atm) compared to those with lower balloon pressure (≤4 atm) (P=0.731). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between jailed balloon diameter and SB ostium area difference (r=0.344, P=0.019). Conclusions: The jailed balloon technique significantly protects SB ostium, especially in patients with true bifurcation lesions. The active jailed balloon technique and larger diameter balloons may provide more protection to the SB.

Efficacy of intravascular ultrasound versus coronary angiographic guided drug-eluting stent implantation in the treatment of left main coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To compare the efficacy of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and coronary angiography guided drug eluting stent (DES) implantation for the treatment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesions. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies, which compared IVUS with coronary angiography guided DES implantation for the treatment of LMCA lesions published before August 2021 were searched in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases. Baseline data, interventional procedures and endpoint events of each study were collected. The primary endpoint was major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE), and the secondary endpoints were all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel revascularization (TVR). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool were used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Results: Nine studies were included, including 3 RCT and 6 observational studies, with a total of 5 527 cases of LMCA. All the 6 observational studies had NOS scores≥6, and the 3 RCT had a low risk of overall bias. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with coronary angiography guided group, MACE rate (OR=0.55, 95%CI 0.47-0.66, P<0.001), all-cause death (OR=0.56, 95%CI 0.43-0.74, P<0.001), cardiac death (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.30-0.61, P<0.001), MI (OR=0.64, 95%CI 0.52-0.79, P<0.001), TLR (OR=0.49, 95%CI 0.28-0.86, P=0.013) and TVR (OR=0.77, 95%CI 0.60-0.98, P=0.037) were all significantly lower in the IVUS guided group. Conclusions: Compared with angiography guided, IVUS guided PCI with DES implantation in LMCA lesions could significantly reduce the risk of MACE, death, MI, TLR and TVR. IVUS is thus superior to coronary angiography for guiding PCI treatment among patients with LMCA.

Impact of statin use on major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with normal stress myocardial perfusion imaging and elevated coronary artery calcium score

INTRODUCTION@#Normal stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) carries a favourable prognosis. Conversely, elevated coronary artery calcium (CAC) is associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). There is limited information on the prognosis and management of patients with elevated CAC and normal MPI. We aimed to assess the outcomes of patients with elevated CAC and normal MPI in relation to post-MPI statin use.@*METHODS@#A retrospective review of normal MPI with CAC score >300 was performed between 1 March 2016 and 31 January 2017 in a Singapore tertiary hospital. Patients with known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or left ventricular ejection fraction <50% on MPI were excluded. Patient demographics, prescriptions and MACE (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and/or ischaemic stroke) at 24 months after MPI were traced using electronic records. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate for independent predictors of MACE.@*RESULTS@#We included 311 patients (median age 71 years, 56.3% male), of whom 65.0% were on moderate to high-intensity statins (MHIS) after MPI. MACE was significantly lower in the post-MPI MHIS group (3.5% vs. 9.2%, P = 0.035). On univariate binary logistic regression, post-MPI MHIS use was the only significant predictor for MACE (odds ratio [OR] 0.355 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.131-0.962], P = 0.042), even after multivariate adjustment (adjusted OR 0.363, 95% confidence interval 0.134-0.984, P = 0.046).@*CONCLUSION@#Post-MPI MHIS use is associated with lower MACE and is an independent negative predictor for 24-month MACE among patients with normal MPI and CAC >300.

Mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine formulas and active ingredients in regulation of macrophage subsets involved in inflammation and repair of coronary heart disease / 中国中药杂志

Coronary artery disease(CAD) caused by atherosclerosis(AS) is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. The pathogenesis of CAD is complex, and the subset and function of cardiac macrophages are important factors affecting the occurrence and development of AS and the prognosis of CAD. Recent studies have shown that some traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) formulas and active ingredients can regulate macrophage subsets involved in the inflammation, injury, and repair process of CAD. This paper summarized the significant role of macrophages in AS and myocardial infarction. Based on the plasticity of macrophages, this paper elaborated that traditional Chinese medicine prevented and attenuated AS by regulating macrophage subsets, reducing the level of inflammatory factors, and promoting macrophage autophagy.Traditional Chinese medicine participated in the cardiac repair process after myocardial infarction by accelerating the recruitment of M2 macrophages, inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophages mediated by glycolysis, inhibiting M1 macrophage-mediated cardiac nerve remodeling, and promoting M2 macrophage-mediated angiogenesis. In addition, in vitro studies on the regulation of macrophage subsets by the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine were also reviewed. It was pointed out that nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB), adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt), chemokine(C-C motif) ligand 2/C-C chemokine receptor type 2(CCL2/CCR2) were the key targets and pathways for the regulation of macrophages by TCM.

Association Analysis Between Methylation of SCARB1 Gene Promoter and Coronary Heart Disease / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the relationship between scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SCARB1) gene promoter methylation and the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. Methods A total of 120 patients with coronary heart disease treated in Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from December 2018 to May 2020 were selected as the case group,while 140 gender and age matched healthy participants were randomly selected as the control group for a case-control study.The methylation status was detected by high-throughput target sequencing after bisulfite converting,and the methylation of CpG sites in the promoter region of SCARB1 gene was compared between the two groups. Results The case group showed higher methylation level of SCARB1+67 and lower methylation level of SCARB1+134 than the control group (both P<0.001),and the differences remained statistically significant in men (both P<0.001) and women (both P<0.001).The overall methylation level in the case group was lower than that in the control group [(80.27±2.14)% vs.(81.11±1.27)%;P=0.006],while this trend was statistically significant only in men (P=0.002). Conclusion The methylation of SCARB1 gene promotor is associated with the pathogenesis and may participate in the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease.

Lower Baseline LDL Cholesterol Affects All-cause Mortality in Patients with First Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#Foreign studies have reported that coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with high baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) may have a good prognosis, which is called the "cholesterol paradox". This study aimed to examine whether the "cholesterol paradox" also exists in the Chinese population.@*METHODS@#A total of 2,056 patients who underwent the first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 2014 and 2016 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study and classified into two groups based on baseline LDL-C = 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL). The outcomes of interest included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause mortality, recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction, unexpected coronary revascularization, or any nonfatal stroke.@*RESULTS@#All-cause mortality occurred in 8 patients (0.7%) from the low-LDL-C group and 12 patients (2.4%) in the high-LDL-C group, with a significant difference between the two groups (adjusted hazard ratio: 4.030, 95% confidence interval: 1.088-14.934; P = 0.037). However, no significant differences existed for the risk of MACE or other secondary endpoints, such as unexpected revascularization, nor any nonfatal stroke in the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#In this study, a high baseline LDL-C was not associated with a low risk of clinical outcomes in CAD patients undergoing first PCI, which suggested that the "cholesterol paradox" may be inapplicable to Chinese populations.

Right ventricular-arterial uncoupling as an independent prognostic factor in acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction accompanied with coronary artery disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Right ventricular (RV)-arterial uncoupling is a powerful independent predictor of prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Coronary artery disease (CAD) can contribute to the pathophysiological characteristics of HFpEF. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of RV-arterial uncoupling in acute HFpEF patients with CAD.@*METHODS@#This prospective study included 250 consecutive acute HFpEF patients with CAD. Patients were divided into RV-arterial uncoupling and coupling groups by the optimal cutoff value, based on a receiver operating characteristic curve of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP). The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, recurrent ischemic events, and HF hospitalizations.@*RESULTS@#TAPSE/PASP ≤0.43 provided good accuracy in identifying patients with RV-arterial uncoupling (area under the curve, 0.731; sensitivity, 61.4%; and specificity, 76.6%). Of the 250 patients, 150 and 100 patients could be grouped into the RV-arterial coupling (TAPSE/PASP >0.43) and uncoupling (TAPSE/PASP ≤0.43) groups, respectively. Revascularization strategies were slightly different between groups; the RV-arterial uncoupling group had a lower rate of complete revascularization (37.0% [37/100] vs . 52.7% [79/150], P <0.001) and a higher rate of no revascularization (18.0% [18/100] vs . 4.7% [7/150], P <0.001) compared to the RV-arterial coupling group. The cohort with TAPSE/PASP ≤0.43 had a significantly worse prognosis than the cohort with TAPSE/PASP >0.43. Multivariate Cox analysis showed TAPSE/PASP ≤0.43 as an independent associated factor for the primary endpoint, all-cause death, and recurrent HF hospitalization (hazard ratios [HR]: 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-3.39, P <0.001; HR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.30-8.47, P = 0.012; and HR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.10-3.37, P = 0.021, respectively), but not for recurrent ischemic events (HR: 1.48, 95% CI: 0.75-2.90, P = 0.257).@*CONCLUSION@#RV-arterial uncoupling, based on TAPSE/PASP, is independently associated with adverse outcomes in acute HFpEF patients with CAD.

Alcohol, coronary artery disease with myocardial infraction, lifestyle medicine: A case study

@#This 63 year old, heavy drinker, previous smoker man, was physically active, a community leader and with good sleeping habits. His diet: processed foods and drinks, meat, poultry products; minimal fruits and vegetables added about a year earlier. Two weeks prior, after drinking alcohol, he experienced progressive difficulty of breathing on physical exertion, relieved by rest. The night before the incident he had a drinking spree. Early morning, he had severe shortness of breath, difficulty of breathing and chest heaviness. He was rushed to the nearby hospital, was admitted at the ICU with the diagnosis of Ischemic Heart Disease with Myocardial Infarction, and, Type 2 Diabetes. The diagnosis was sustained and the management continued upon transfer to a better-equipped hospital. Strict nutritional prescription was introduced and early ambulation started while still in the hospital. His medications were steeply tapered off while lifestyle modification intensified. His progress was extraordinary. This case exemplified the havoc of heavy alcohol drinking, and, its uneventful cold turkey abstinence; favored early ambulation post myocardial infarction, and showed the independence of each CVD risk factor. Is intensive Lifestyle Modification safe and beneficial even in morbid situations?

Chinese expert consensus on the rehabilitation treatment and nursing practice for stable coronary artery disease / 中华内科杂志

Cardiac rehabilitation, with exercise training as the core component, has well-known benefits for stable coronary heart disease. This therapeutic approach is gradually gaining wide application in domestic clinical practice and is currently recommended by major guidelines at home and abroad. In recent years, more progress has been made in the technical specifications and nursing practice of rehabilitation treatment for coronary heart disease. This consensus is written by experts from the Professional Committee of Cardiopulmonary Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medical Association and the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Medical Association, with a view to further promoting the development of physical therapy and nursing practice for stable coronary heart disease in China.