Association of dietary flavonoid intakes with prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Flavonoids are a class of secondary plant metabolites that have been shown to have multiple health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This study was to explore the association between dietary flavonoid consumption and the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) in adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: The six main types of flavonoids, including isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, flavones, and flavonols, were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010 and 2017-2018 by the two 24-h recall interviews. The prevalence of CRDs, including asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis, was determined through a self-administered questionnaire. The analysis included 15,753 participants aged 18 years or older who had completed a diet history interview. After adjustment for potential confounders, the inverse link was found with total flavonoids, anthocyanidins, flavanones, and flavones, with an OR (95%CI) of 0.86 (0.75-0.98), 0.84 (0.72-0.97), 0.80(0.69-0.92), and 0.85(0.73-0.98) for the highest group compared to the lowest group. WQS regression revealed that the mixture of flavonoids was negatively linked with the prevalence of CRDs (OR = 0.88 [0.82-0.95], P < 0.01), and the largest effect was mainly from flavanones (weight = 0.41). In addition, we found that flavonoid intake was negatively linked with inflammatory markers, and systemic inflammation significantly mediated the associations of flavonoids with CRDs, with a mediation rate of 12.64% for CRP (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Higher flavonoid intake was related with a lower prevalence of CRDs in adults, and this relationship may be mediated through systemic inflammation.

Associations of urinary volatile organic compounds with cardiovascular disease among the general adult population.

This study was to estimate the associations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposure with the prevalence of total and specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the general adult population. This cross-sectional study analyzed 15 urinary VOC metabolites in the general population using the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 5,213). The weighted study population with 47.0 years median age, was primarily female (51.2%). The prevalence of total CVD in the overall population was 7.9%. The single-exposure analyzes of AAMA, ATCA, CEMA, CYMA, DHBMA, 3HPMA, and 3MHA +4MHA were significantly associated with increased prevalence of total CVD. Qgcomp regression consistently showed that urinary VOCs-mixed exposure was positively correlated with the prevalence of total and specific CVDs (chronic heart failure, angina, and stroke), and highlighted each VOCs metabolite weights and direction. The similar results were observed for the WQS regression using mixed analysis methods. In conclusion, exposure to VOCs increases CVD prevalence and advances the identification of risk factors for CVD for environmental study.

Associations of vitamin B6 turnover rate with the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertensive adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study was to assess the association between vitamin B6 turnover rate and mortality in hypertensive adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: Vitamin B6 status including serum pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) levels, serum 4-pyridoxal acid (4-PA) levels, and vitamin B6 turnover rate (4-PA/PLP) were obtained from the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset of hypertensive adults with follow-up through December 30, 2019. Using Cox proportional risk regression models, Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed for PLP, 4-PA and 4-PA/PLP quartiles in relation to cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. A total of 5434 participants were included in this study (mean age, 58.48 years; 50.4% men), and the median 4-PA/PLP was 0.75. The median follow-up time was 11.0 years, with 375 and 1387 cardiovascular and all-cause deaths, respectively. In multivariate COX regression models, PLP was negatively associated with cardiovascular mortality (HR [95% CI] quartile 4 vs. 1: 0.66 [0.47-0.94], Ptrend = 0.03) and 4-PA/PLP was positively associated with cardiovascular mortality (HR [95% CI] quartile 4 vs.1: 1.80 [1.21-2.67], Ptrend = 0.01). Similarly, the higher the quartile of PLP, the lower the risk of all-cause mortality (HR [95% CI] quartile 4 vs. 1: 0.67 [0.56-0.80], Ptrend < 0.01). The higher the quartile of 4-PA and 4-PA/PLP, the higher the risk of all-cause mortality (HR [95% CI] quartile 4 vs. 1: 1.22 [1.01-1.48], Ptrend < 0.01; and 2.09 [1.71-2.55], Ptrend < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that higher vitamin B6 turnover rate was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertensive adults.

Ear Crease Features Are Associated with Complexity of Coronary Lesions.

BACKGROUND The presence of a Frank's sign ear crease is closely correlated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The SYNTAX score indicates the complexity of coronary lesions. This present investigation sought to identify the correlation between SYNTAX score and several specific ear creases. MATERIAL AND METHODS Four specific types of ear creases - crossing crease not originated from ear hole (CC-NEH), crossing crease originated from ear hole (CC-EH), vertical creases on the face side (VC-F), and vertical creases dividing earlobe and face (VC-EF) - were investigated in patients undergoing coronary angiography. A Frank's sign score system was introduced based on the 4 creases. Demographic data, clinical data, and SYNTAX score were also documented. The association between ear creases and SYNTAX score, as well as the correlation between Frank's score and SYNTAX score, were statistically analyzed. RESULTS CC-NEH had the highest positive predictive value (positive predictive value=0.439), and VC-F had the highest negative predictive value for the detection of intermediate and high SYNTAX score (negative predictive value=1.000). VC-EF and CC-NEH were associated with intermediate and high SYNTAX scores (OR=2.913-7.694, all P<0.05). Only 2.9% of patients with Frank's score=0 had intermediate or high SYNTAX scores, and 52.2% and 50.0% of patients with Frank's sign score=3 and 4 had intermediate or high SYNTAX scores, respectively. The Frank's sign score was significantly and positively correlated with SYNTAX score (r=0.457, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Features of specific ear creases and Frank's sign scores were associated with intermediate and high complexity of coronary lesions.

Enhanced MiR-711 transcription by PPARγ induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis targeting calnexin in rat cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction.

MicroRNA 711 (miR-711) levels in the heart change dynamically after myocardial infarction (MI). As peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) can upregulate miR-711 in adipocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, this study examined the precise mechanism of PPARγ-mediated miR-711 upregulation and its role in the heart in the early stages after MI. In a rat model of MI induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, immunohistochemical and western blot analyses revealed increased PPARγ expression in cardiomyocyte nuclei after MI. PPARγ modulated miR-711 levels in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays revealed that it bound the premiR-711 promoter to upregulate miR-711. Bioinformatics analysis identified calnexin as a putative miR-711 target; this was confirmed by luciferase, western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Additionally, the transfection of a miR-711 mimic into cardiomyocytes induced the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis response by upregulating glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), activating transcription factor (ATF6), spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), apoptotic signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12, and endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1 alpha (ERO1a). Similarly, on day 2 after MI, increased miR-711 levels in the heart were accompanied by increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, decreased calnexin levels, and increased levels of GRP78, ATF6, spliced XBP1, ASK1, CHOP, and caspase-12, as well as cardiomyocytes apoptosis. The mechanism underlying these effects may involve the direct binding of PPARγ to the pre-miR-711 promoter for the upregulation of miR-711, which may induce ER stress-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis via calnexin. These findings augment the general knowledge of the post-MI pathological process and suggest a therapeutic strategy for cardiac remodelling in the early stages after MI.

Application of an Infection Control Protocol (ICP) Reduced Cardiac Device Infection (CDI) in Low-Volume Centers.

BACKGROUND Cardiac device infection (CDI) is a serious complication of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantations. Many risk factors have been identified, but several are still uncertain. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the risk factors. Moreover, an infection control protocol (ICP) was carried out, and its efficacy in reducing CDIs was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 1259 patients who received permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantations were enrolled in this study in a 3-year period in a high-volume center and low-volume centers in the central area of Shaanxi Province, China. Follow-up data of all enrolled patients were collected. The risk factors for CDIs were identified and analyzed. The ICP was adopted in the low-volume centers. Data, including CDI rates, medical costs, and microbiology, were collected and compared. RESULTS Male gender, diabetes, CKD, operation duration, PPM replacement, and low center volume were identified as the risk factors for CDIs. Furthermore, CDI rates in low-volume centers were significantly higher than in high-volume centers. The adoption of an ICP dramatically reduced CDI rates in low-volume centers without significant increases in medical costs. CONCLUSIONS ICPs were easily carried out, effective, and economical in controlling CDIs in low-volume centers, which was identified as a risk factor of CDIs.

Diagnostic efficacy of fractional flow reserve with coronary angiography in dual-source computed tomography scanner.

OBJECTIVE: The management of patients with intermediate coronary lesions is a major clinical issue. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is considered the gold criterion for the assessment of ischaemic stenosis, but it requires an invasive procedure. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) for fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) is a novel noninvasive alternative for the diagnosis of ischaemic lesions. The aim was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of FFRCT for ischaemic coronary artery stenosis lesions of intermediate severity. METHODS: A total of 129 patients underwent 64-row dual-source CTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA). In all, 156 vessels were identified as intermediate-grade coronary artery stenosis by subsequent ICA, defined as a maximum diameter reduction of 50%-70%. The FFR was also measured during ICA. FFRCT was computed from the three-dimensional dual-source CTA model and coronary flow dynamics data. RESULTS: Per-patient diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values and accuracy of FFRCT amounted to 89.2%, 81.5%, 66.0%, 94.9% and 83.7%, respectively; and 86.9%, 73.6%, 58.0%, 93.1% and 77.6% on the per-vessel basis, respectively. FFRCT and FFR showed a good positive correlation. Bland-Altman analysis displayed good concordance between FFRCT and FFR. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that the area under the curve of FFRCT was 0.918 (95% confidence interval 0.849-0.986) on the per-patient analysis and 0.916 (95% confidence interval 0.863-0.969) on per-vessel analysis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: FFRCT is featured by moderate accuracy in discriminating lesions of intermediate coronary artery stenosis that cause myocardial ischaemia. Impact statement How to treat intermediate coronary stenosis represents a major clinical issue. FFRCT has recently emerged as a novel noninvasive method evaluating ischemic lesions. In this study, we defined such lesion as 50-70% diameter stenosis. We designed the study to assess the diagnostic efficacy of FFRCT both at per-vessel level and at per-vessel levels for ischemic lesions.

Association between neutrophilic granulocyte percentage and depression in hospitalized patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Previous researches reveal that depression is associated with increased inflammatory markers. As a simple and cheap inflammatory marker, we hypothesize that neutrophilic granulocyte percentage is associated with depression in hospitalized heart failure patients, whose prevalence of depression is at a very high level. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-six cases of hospitalized heart failure patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45% and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV were enrolled. All the enrolled patients received Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (24-items) (HAM-D24). The demographic, clinical data, blood samples and echocardiography were documented. The Pearson simple linear correlation was performed to evaluate the confounding factors correlated with HAM-D24 depression index. The significantly correlated factors were enrolled as independent variables in Logistic regression to determine the risk or protective factors for depression, which was taken as dependent variable. RESULTS: Two hundred ten cases of hospitalized heart failure patients (57.4%) had depression. Among them, 134 patients (63.8%) had mild depression, 58 patients (27.6%) had moderate depression and 18 patients (8.6%) had severe depression. Pearson simple linear correlation revealed that in hospitalized patients with heart failure, the neutrophils granulocyte percentage was positively correlated with the HAM-D24 depression index (r = .435, p < .001). After the adjustment of age, BMI, number of members of the household, smoking index, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, hemoglobin, TC, LDL-C, creatinine, cystatin-C, TBIL and albumin, the neutrophils granulocyte percentage is still significantly associated with depression in hospitalized heart failure patients (OR = 1.046, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The neutrophils granulocyte percentage may be used as a new marker for depression in hospitalized heart failure patients.

Matrine pretreatment improves cardiac function in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy via suppressing ROS/TLR-4 signaling pathway.

AIM: Matrine is an alkaloid from Sophora alopecuroides L, which has shown a variety of pharmacological activities and potential therapeutic value in cardiovascular diseases. In this study we examined the protective effects of matrine against diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in rats. METHODS: Male SD rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce DCM. One group of DCM rats was pretreated with matrine (200 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), po) for 10 consecutive days before STZ injection. Left ventricular function was evaluated using invasive hemodynamic examination, and myocardiac apoptosis was assessed. Primary rat myocytes were used for in vitro experiments. Intracellular ROS generation, MDA content and GPx activity were determined. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of relevant mRNAs and proteins. RESULTS: DCM rats exhibited abnormally elevated non-fasting blood glucose levels at 4 weeks after STZ injection, and LV function impairment at 16 weeks. The cardiac tissues of DCM rats showed markedly increased apoptosis, excessive ROS production, and activation of TLR-4/MyD-88/caspase-8/caspase-3 signaling. Pretreatment with matrine significantly decreased non-fasting blood glucose levels and improved LV function in DCM rats, which were associated with reducing apoptosis and ROS production, and suppressing TLR-4/MyD-88/caspase-8/caspase-3 signaling in cardiac tissues. Incubation in a high-glucose medium induced oxidative stress and activation of TLR-4/MyD-88 signaling in cultured myocytes in vitro, which were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine. CONCLUSION: Excessive ROS production in DCM activates the TLR-4/MyD-88 signaling, resulting in cardiomyocyte apoptosis, whereas pretreatment with matrine improves cardiac function via suppressing ROS/TLR-4 signaling pathway.

Comparison of Outcomes of Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair Versus Surgical Mitral Valve Repair for Functional Mitral Regurgitation.

AIMS: Patients affected by functional mitral regurgitation represent an increasingly high-risk population. Edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has emerged as a promising treatment option for these patients. However, there is limited research on the comparative outcomes of TEER versus surgical mitral valve repair (SMVr). This study seeks to compare the demographics, complications, and outcomes of TEER and SMVr based on a real-world analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the NIS database, from the years 2016 to 2018, a total of 6233 and 2524 patients who underwent SMVr and TEER were selected, respectively. The mean ages of the patients were 65.68 years (SMVr) and 78.40 years (TEER) (p < 0.01). The mortality rate of patients who received SMVr was similar to that of patients who were treated with TEER (1.7% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.603). Patients who underwent SMVr more likely suffered from perioperative complications including cardiogenic shock (2.3% vs. 0.4%, p < 0.001), cardiac arrest (1.7% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.025), and cerebrovascular infarction (0.9% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.013). The average length of hospital stay was longer (8.59 vs. 4.13 days, p < 0.001) for SMVr compared to TEER; however, the average cost of treatment was higher ($218 728.25 vs. $215 071.74, p = 0.031) for TEER compared to SMVr. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that SMVr was associated with worse adjusted cardiogenic shock (OR, 7.347 [95% CI, 3.574-15.105]; p < 0.01) and acute kidney injury (OR, 2.793 [95% CI, 2.356-3.311]; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent TEER demonstrated a notable decrease in postoperative complications and a shorter hospitalization period when compared to those who underwent SMVr.

Associations of dietary flavonoid intake with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Flavonoids are widely distributed polyphenolic compounds in the diet that possess various health-promoting effects. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary flavonoid intake and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: The data on the six main subclasses of flavonoids, including isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, flavones, and flavonols, were obtained from the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset of adults. The participants were followed up until December 30, 2019. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dietary flavonoid intake and mortality. The study included a total of 8758 adults (mean age 44.00 years; 47.40% men). A median follow-up of 10.7 years yielded 1113 all-cause deaths and 261 cardiovascular deaths were recorded. In comparison to category 1, category 4 of flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and total flavonoids were associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality, with multivariable-adjusted HRs of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.55-0.92, Ptrend = 0.021), 0.58 (95% CI: 0.45-0.74, Ptrend<0.001), and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.50-0.80, Ptrend = 0.010), respectively. Similarly, higher intake of category 4 flavonoids was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality, with HRs of 0.68 (95% CI: 0.29-0.89, Ptrend = 0.035) for flavones, 0.41 (95% CI: 0.22-0.78, Ptrend = 0.001) for flavonols, and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.36-0.80, Ptrend = 0.021) for total flavonoids. CONCLUSION: Dietary flavonoid intake is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Increasing dietary flavonoid intake may reduce the risk of death in adults.

Palmitic acid in type 2 diabetes mellitus promotes atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability via macrophage Dll4 signaling.

Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus are increasingly susceptible to atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability, leading to severe cardiovascular events. In this study, we demonstrate that elevated serum levels of palmitic acid, a type of saturated fatty acid, are significantly linked to this enhanced vulnerability in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Through a combination of human cohort studies and animal models, our research identifies a key mechanistic pathway: palmitic acid induces macrophage Delta-like ligand 4 signaling, which in turn triggers senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells. This process is critical for plaque instability due to reduced collagen synthesis and deposition. Importantly, our findings reveal that macrophage-specific knockout of Delta-like ligand 4 in atherosclerotic mice leads to reduced plaque burden and improved stability, highlighting the potential of targeting this pathway. These insights offer a promising direction for developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risks in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Non-linear associations of serum and red blood cell folate with risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertensive adults.

This study aims to assess the associations of serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertensive adults. Data on serum and RBC folate from the 1999-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Through December 31, 2015, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were identified from the National Death Index. Multiple Cox regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to determine the relationship between folate concentrations and outcomes. A total of 13,986 hypertensive adults were included in the analysis (mean age, 58.5 ± 16.1 years; 6898 [49.3%] men). At a median of 7.0 years of follow-up, 548 cardiovascular deaths and 2726 all-cause deaths were identified. After multivariable adjustment, the fourth quartile of serum folate was associated with cardiovascular (HR = 1.32 [1.02-1.70]) and all-cause (HR = 1.20 [1.07-1.35]) mortality compared to the second quartile, whereas the first quartile was only linked with increased all-cause (HR = 1.29 [1.15-1.46]) mortality. The inflection points for the non-linear associations of serum folate with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were 12.3 ng/mL and 20.5 ng/mL, respectively. In addition, the highest quartile of RBC folate was associated with cardiovascular (HR = 1.68 [1.30-2.16]) and all-cause (HR = 1.30 [1.16-1.46]) mortality compared to the second quartile, but the lowest quartile was not associated with either outcome. The inflection points for the non-linear associations of RBC folate with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were 819.7 and 760.1 ng/mL, respectively. The findings suggest non-linear associations between serum and RBC folate levels and the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hypertensive adults.

Comparison of outcomes between transcatheter tricuspid valve repair and surgical tricuspid valve replacement or repair in patients with tricuspid insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Tricuspid regurgitation is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but with limited treatment options. The objective of this study is to compare the demographic characteristics, complications, and outcomes of transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVr) versus surgical tricuspid valve replacement (STVR) or surgical tricuspid valve repair (STVr), using real-world data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our study analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2018 and identified 92, 86, and 84 patients with tricuspid insufficiency who underwent STVr, STVR, and TTVr, respectively. The mean ages of patients who received STVr, STVR, and TTVr were 65.03 years, 66.3 years, and 71.09 years, respectively, with TTVr patients significantly older than those who received STVr (P < 0.05). Patients who received STVr or STVR had higher mortality rates (8.7% and 3.5%, respectively) compared to those who received TTVr (1.2%). Patients who underwent STVr or STVR were also more likely to experience perioperative complications, including third-degree atrioventricular block (8.7% STVr vs. 1.2% TTVr, P = 0.329; 38.4% STVR vs. 1.2% TTVr, P < 0.05), respiratory failure (5.4% STVr vs. 1.2% TTVr, P = 0.369; 15.1% STVR vs. 1.2% TTVr, P < 0.05), respiratory complications (6.5% STVr vs. 1.2% TTVr, P = 0.372; 19.8% STVR vs. 1.2% TTVr, P < 0.05), acute kidney injury (40.2% STVr vs. 27.4% TTVr, P = 0.367; 34.9% STVR vs. 27.4% TTVr, P = 0.617), and fluid and electrolyte disorders (44.6% STVr vs. 22.6% TTVr, P = 0.1332; 50% STVR vs. 22.6% TTVr, P < 0.05). In addition, the average cost of care and the average length of hospital stay were higher for patients who underwent STVr or STVR than for those who received TTVr (USD$37995 ± 356008.523 STVr vs. USD$198397 ± 188943.082 TTVr, P < 0.05; USD$470948 ± 614177.568 STVR vs. USD$198397 ± 188943.082 TTVr, P < 0.05; 15.4 ± 15.19 STVr vs. 9.6 ± 10.21 days TTVr, P = 0.267; 24.7 ± 28.81 STVR vs. 9.6 ± 10.21 days TTVr, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TTVr has shown to have favorable outcomes compared to STVr or STVR, but more research and clinical trials are required to help formulate evidence-based guidelines for the role of catheter-based management in tricuspid valve disease.

Association of depression with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy in age, sex, and education level-specific differences.

Previous studies have shown that hypertension and depression are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes and reduced quality of life. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is strongly linked to increased mortality and cardiovascular disease, and depression may be one of the key factors contributing to hypertensive LVH. The authors consecutively enrolled 353 patients with uncomplicated hypertension between November 2017 and May 2021. All participants completed the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) to assess their depression status, with depression defined as a HAM-D score of 20 or higher. Linear regression analysis revealed a positive association between HAM-D and LVMI (adjusted ß, 1.51, 95% CI, 1.19-1.83, p < .001). Logistic regression models showed that individuals with hypertension and depression had a higher risk of LVH than those with hypertension alone (adjusted OR, 2.51, 95% CI, 1.14-5.52, p = .022). The association between depression and LVH significantly interacted with age, sex, education levels, but not BMI and household income. Following age, sex, and education levels stratification, an independent association of depression and LVH was observed only in age <60 years (age <60 years: OR, 7.36, 95% CI, 2.25-24.13, p < .001), male (male: OR, 16.16, 95% CI, 3.80-68.73, p < .001), and higher education levels (high school and above: OR, 11.09, 95% CI, 2.91-42.22, p < .001). Our findings suggest that depression is a significant risk factor for LVH in hypertensive patients, particularly in those who are under 60 years of age, male, and have higher education levels.

Association of N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) with hyperuricemia among adult participants.

BACKGROUND: N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) is a widely used active ingredient in insect repellents, and its effects on human health have been a matter of debate. This study aims to investigate the relationship between DEET exposure and hyperuricemia in the adult population. METHODS: Our study utilized a cross-sectional design and analyzed data from adult participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2016. 3-diethyl-carbamoyl benzoic acid (DCBA) was used as a specific indicator of DEET exposure. DCBA was categorized using quartiles based on its distribution within the study population. Multiple linear regression models were employed to examine the association between DCBA exposure and serum uric acid (SUA) levels in adults. The relationship between DCBA and the prevalence of hyperuricemia in adults was assessed using multiple logistic regression models. Dose-response relationships were analyzed using restricted cubic spline regression. RESULTS: A total of 8708 participants were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 46.49 years, and the total number of male participants was 50.93%. The median levels of DCBA and SUA were 2.07 ng/mL and 5.40 mg/dL, respectively. Hyperuricemia was found in 19.99% of the participants. In multivariate-adjusted linear regression models, it was found that higher SUA levels were associated with the highest quartile of DCBA compared with the lowest quartile of DCBA (ß [95% CI]: 0.19 [0.08, 0.30], Ptrend<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, a positive association was found between the prevalence of hyperuricemia and DCBA levels (OR [95% CI] quartile 4 vs. 1: 1.41 [1.14-1.74], Ptrend<0.001). Furthermore, linear associations were observed between DCBA concentrations and SUA levels (P for nonlinearity = 0.479) and the prevalence of hyperuricemia (P for nonlinearity = 0.755). CONCLUSION: Higher DCBA concentrations were found to have a positive association with the prevalence of hyperuricemia in the general adult population.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Versus Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Patients with Mitral insufficiency.

AIMS: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most prevalent form of valvular heart disease. Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) and transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) have recently emerged as alternatives to open heart surgical repair or replacement. However, studies on the comparative outcomes of TMVr and TMVR are limited. This study aims to compare the demographics, complications and outcomes of TMVr and TMVR based on a real-world investigation of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 2016-2018 in the NIS database, a total of 210 and 3370 patients who underwent TMVR and TMVr, respectively, were selected. The mean age of the patients was 75.99 years (TMVr) and 69.6 years (TMVR) (p <0.01). The mortality of patients who received TMVR was higher compared to that of patients who were treated with TMVr (8.1 vs. 1.9%, p <0.01). The patients who underwent TMVR were more likely to suffer perioperative complications including blood transfusions (16.2 vs. 5.0%, p <0.01) and acute kidney injury (22.9 vs. 13.3%, p <0.01). The average cost of treatment was higher (USD $278864 vs. USD $216845, p <0.01), and the average duration of hospitalization was longer (8.73 vs. 4.17 d, p <0.01) for TMVR compared to TMVr. When taking into account perioperative comorbidities and other factors, TMVR was associated with a worse adjusted in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 3.307 [95% CI, 1.533-7.136]; p <0.01). CONCLUSION: TMVr is associated with lower mortality, peri-procedural morbidity, and resource use compared to TMVR. A patient-centered approach can help guide decision-making about the choice of intervention for the individual patient and more studies evaluating the long-term outcomes and durability of TMVR are needed at present.

Association of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) with obesity among adult participants: Results from NHANES 2007-2016.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) exposure and obesity-related outcomes in the general adult population using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined the data from the NHANES from 2007 to 2016 and totally evaluated 8,770 individuals. DEET's primary oxidative metabolite, 3-(diethylcarbamoyl) benzoic acid (DCBA), is a sensitive and specific indicator of DEET exposure. DCBA was divided into three groups based on the interquartile range. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were used to define obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively. The association among DCBA and obesity-related outcomes was evaluated using a multivariable linear and logistic regression model. RESULTS: Overall, median age of participants was 46.0 (IQR 31.0, 59.0) years, with 4295 (49.2%) men, while median BMI and WC were 27.8 (24.0, 32.0) and 29.6 (86.6, 108.1) kg/m2, respectively. Approximately 3,251 (35.9%) cases of obesity and 4,778 cases (54.4%) of abdominal obesity were observed. In multivariable-adjusted linear regression models, as the tertiles of DCBA increased, BMI and WC monotonically increased regardless of the adjustments (all p for trend <0.01). By referring the lowest tertile of DCBA, the highest tertile was associated with a higher BMI (ß = 0.83, 95% confidence intervals [CI] [0.45, 1.21]; p < 0.001) and WC (ß = 1.59, 95% CI [0.59, 2.60]; p = 0.002). The multivariate odds ratios (95% CI) for obesity increased monotonically as 1.18 (0.97-1.44) and 1.36 (1.15-1.61) (p for trend 0.001). Similar associations between DCBA and the prevalence of abdominal obesity were observed across increasing DCBA tertiles compared with the reference tertile (OR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.02, 1.44]; OR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.08-1.54]; p for trend = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that higher DCBA concentrations are positively associated with the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity in the general adult population.

DNA Methyltransferase 3b Accelerates the Process of Atherosclerosis.

Background: DNA methylation plays a key role in establishing cell type-specific gene expression profiles and patterns in atherosclerosis. The underlying mechanism remains unclear. Previous studies have shown that DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) may play an important role in atherosclerosis. This study aimed to establish the regulatory role of DNMT3b in the development of atherosclerosis. Methods: We constructed a viral vector carrying Dnmt3b shRNA to transduce ApoE-/- mice. Meanwhile, healthy human peripheral blood Treg cells were treated with inhibitor of DNMT3b (AZA and EGCG) or transduced with DNMT3b shRNA. Results: It showed that Dnmt3b silencing attenuated atherosclerosis, including decreased lesion size and macrophage content and increased collagen and smooth muscle cells content in ApoE-/- mice. To further investigate the possible mechanisms, combined with previous studies by our group, we showed that Foxp3-TSDR methylation level was significantly reduced Foxp3 expression and peripheral blood Treg levels were significantly increased by Dnmt3b shRNA vector transduction in animals committed to western diet for 12 and 18 weeks. Consistently, inhibition of DNMT3b (AZA and EGCG) decreased the expression levels of DNMT3b, which can increase the expression levels of FOXP3, and increase the levels of TGF-ß and IL-10 and decrease the levels of IL-ß and IFN-γ. After transduction with DNMT3b shRNA, the effect was more obvious. Conclusions: DNMT3b accelerated atherosclerosis, and may be associated with FOXP3 hypermethylation status in regulatory T cells.

Model Embraced Electromechanical Coupling Time for Estimation of Heart Failure in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective: This study aimed to establish a model embraced electromechanical coupling time (EMC-T) and assess the value of the model for the prediction of heart failure (HF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and Methods: Data on 82 patients with HCM at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital between February 2019 and November 2021 were collected and then formed the training dataset (n = 82). Data were used to screen predictors of HF using univariate and multivariate analyses. Predictors were implemented to discover the optimal cut-off value, were incorporated into a model, and shown as a nomogram. The cumulative HF curve was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Additionally, patients with HCM at other hospitals collected from March 2019 to March 2021 formed the validation dataset. The model's performance was confirmed both in training and validation sets. Results: During a median of 22.91 months, 19 (13.38%) patients experienced HF. Cox analysis showed that EMC-T courses in the lateral wall, myoglobin, PR interval, and left atrial volume index were independent predictors of HF in patients with HCM. Five factors were incorporated into the model and shown as a nomogram. Stratification of patients into two risk subgroups by applying risk score (<230.65, ≥230.65) allowed significant distinction between Kaplan-Meier curves for cumulative incidence of HF events. In training dataset, the model had an AUC of 0.948 (95% CI: 0.885-1.000, p < 0.001) and achieved a good C-index of 0.918 (95% CI: 0.867-0.969). In validation dataset, the model had an AUC of 0.991 (95% CI: 0.848-1.000, p < 0.001) and achieved a strong C-index of 0.941 (95% CI: 0.923-1.000). Calibration plots showed high agreement between predicted and observed outcomes in both two datasets. Conclusion: We established and validated a novel model incorporating electromechanical coupling time courses for predicting HF in patients with HCM.