Hyperbaric oxygen may improve vascular endothelial function in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation.

Background: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy improves myocardial function and reduces clinical restenosis in coronary arteries. This study aims to evaluate whether the HBO2 therapy can improve vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation. Methods: The retrospective study included 115 patients undergoing coronary stent implantation. Patients receiving HBO2 therapy were included in the HBO2 group (n=55) and those without HBO2 therapy were included as controls (n=60). The levels of brachial artery endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD), endothelial-independent nitrate-mediated dilatation (NMD), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1(ET-1), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were used to evaluate vascular endothelial function. Results: There were no significant differences with regard to the above parameters at baseline in either group (p⟩0.05). In both the HBO2 and control groups the levels of FMD, NO and CGRP after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment (p⟨0.05). The levels of hs-CRP and ET-1 after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (p⟨0.05). After treatment, the levels of FMD, NO and CGRP in the HBO2 group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p⟨0.05), whereas the hs-CRP and ET-1 levels were significantly lower than those of the control group (p⟨0.05). Conclusion: Using HBO2 therapy as an adjunct treatment in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation may significantly improve vascular endothelial function. HBO2 therapy may have the potential to alter the course of coronary artery disease in the future. Further randomized, multicenter, prospective studies are needed.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on vascular endothelial function in patients with slow coronary flow.

BACKGROUND: To improve therapy for slow coronary flow (SCF), the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on vascular endothelial function in SCF patients is the focus of this investigation. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients who exhibited chest discomfort were retrospectively analyzed, and di-agnosed with SCF by coronary artery angiography at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China from 2014 to 2016. The patients were divided into two groups according to the following treatment: HBO group (n = 48) and the control group (n = 50). Patients in the control group were administrated with conventional treatment, while those in the HBO group were administrated HBO therapy for 4 weeks in addition to conventional treatment. To evaluate the effects of HBO on vas-cular endothelial functions, plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), endothelin-1 (ET-1), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as well as endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery were measured in both groups before and after their respective treatments. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in plasma levels of NO, ET-1, CGRP, hsCRP nor in FMD measurements between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05). Moreover, the levels of all the parameters measured showed no significant changes before and after treatment in the control group. However, when comparing the control group, FMD and plasma NO and CGRP levels were significantly increased in the HBO group after treatment (p < 0.01), whereas hsCRP and ET-1 levels decreased dramatically (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The HBO treatment in addition to conventional therapy may significantly improve the vascular endothelial function in SCF patients. (Cardiol J 2018; 25, 1: 106-112).

Use of gated myocardial perfusion imaging to assess clinical value of xinmailong injection in chronic congestive heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: This study used gated myocardial perfusion imaging (G-MPI) to assess the clinical value of Xinmailong injection in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: A total of 102 CHF patients were randomly divided into the control group (n = 51) and the Xinmailong group (n = 51). Patients in the control group were routinely treated. Patients in the Xinmailong group were additionally treated with Xinmailong injection in addition to routine treatment. Before and 3 months after treatment, G-MPI was used to determine changes in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV). Fourteen days after treatment, changes in plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were determined. RESULTS: Before treatment, there were no significant differences in LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV, and BNP levels between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After treatment, LVEDV, LVESV, and BNP levels were significantly lower, and LVEF was significantly higher in the Xinmailong group than in the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Additional use of Xinmailong injection in addition to routine treatment improves cardiac function of CHF patients. Because of the safety and effectiveness of Xinmailong injection; this therapy should be promoted.