Increased red blood cell distribution width might predict left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy has been confirmed to be an independent risk factor for stroke and death in patients with atrial fibrillation. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the potential risk factors for left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with atrial fibrillation.A series of consecutive patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation between June 2018 and December 2019 were included. The patients' clinical data were analyzed. The cut-off values, sensitivity and specificity of the independent risk factors were calculated using a receiver operating characteristic curve.Among 87 patients with atrial fibrillation, 39 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and 48 patients without left ventricular hypertrophy were included. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that red blood cell distribution width (odds ratio [OR] 4.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.69-14.13, P < .05) was an independent risk factor, while the concentration of low-density lipoprotein (OR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17-0.83, P < .05) and left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82-0.95, P < .05) were inversely associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in atrial fibrillation patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated that the area under the curve was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.71-0.90, P < .05) with a cut-off value of 13.05, and the red blood cell distribution width predicted left ventricular hypertrophy status among atrial fibrillation patients with a sensitivity of 72.1% and a specificity of 76.9%.Red blood cell distribution width was associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Risk factors for depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranges from 10% to 42%, but the diagnosis of depression in patients with COPD is often unrecognized and untreated. Unrecognized depression has major implications for compliance with medical treatment, prolonged lengths of stay, increased frequency of hospital admissions, and increased consultations with primary care physicians. Many studies have attempted to identify risk factors for progression, prognosis and response to therapy in patients with depression. However, few studies have examined the risk factors for depression in patients with COPD, and some results remain controversial. AIM: To identify the potential risk factors to define patients with COPD who are at "high risk" of depression. METHODS: The clinical data of 293 patients with COPD were reviewed from January 2017 to December 2018. The correlations between demographics, clinical characteristics and depression were analyzed. The risk factors for depression in patients with COPD were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value, sensitivity and specificity of the independent correlation factors were calculated with a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Of the 293 patients included, 65 (22.18%) individuals were identified to have depression. Significant differences were detected between patients with and without depression in terms of body mass index (BMI), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and COPD assessment test (CAT) score (all P < 0.05). Low BMI, low FEV1, and high CAT were independent risk factors for depression in patients with COPD and the cutoff values of BMI, FEV1, and CAT scores were 21.373 kg/m2, 0.855 L and 12.5, respectively. CONCLUSION: Low BMI, low FEV1, and high CAT score were identified as independent risk factors for depression in patients with COPD.

Alkaloids from Veratrum taliense Exert Cardiovascular Toxic Effects via Cardiac Sodium Channel Subtype 1.5.

Several species of the genus Veratrum that produce steroid alkaloids are commonly used to treat pain and hypertension in China and Europe. However, Veratrum alkaloids (VAs) induce serious cardiovascular toxicity. In China, Veratrum treatment often leads to many side effects and even causes the death of patients, but the pathophysiological mechanisms under these adverse effects are not clear. Here, two solanidine-type VAs (isorubijervine and rubijervine) isolated from Veratrum taliense exhibited strong cardiovascular toxicity. A pathophysiological study indicated that these VAs blocked sodium channels Na(V)1.3-1.5 and exhibited the strongest ability to inhibit Na(V)1.5, which is specifically expressed in cardiac tissue and plays an essential role in cardiac physiological function. This result reveals that VAs exert their cardiovascular toxicity via the Na(V)1.5 channel. The effects of VAs on Na(V)1.3 and Na(V)1.4 may be related to their analgesic effect and skeletal muscle toxicity, respectively.

[Factors associated with retention in a community-based methadone maintenance treatment among heroin addicts].

OBJECTIVE: To explore factors associated with retention in a community-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) among heroin addicts in Xichang of Sichuan province. METHODS: All 206 heroin addicts were first admitted to MMT community-based program between March to September 2004. Baseline data of patients characteristics, social function, drug using behaviors, sexual behaviors, dose of methadone and retention were collected. RESULTS: Up to Oct, 2005, all 206 patients contributed 8.98 +/- 5.74 person-months of following-up. The retention rates were 58.7% after 6 months and 34.6% after 12 months respectively. Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that the employed (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39 - 0.92), helping family to do housework in past 30 days more than once a day (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42 - 0.82) and previous self-detoxification > or = 3 times (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.47 - 0.91) were independently associated with retention. CONCLUSION: We should give individual counseling to help heroin addicts increasing compliance.

[Incidence rates of human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis as well as the rate of retention in a 6-month follow-up study of female sex workers in areas with heavy drug use in Xichang of Sichuan province, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis incidence rates as well as the retention rate in a cohort with 6-month follow-up study among female sex workers (FSWs). METHODS: From December, 2004, to January, 2005, a community-based baseline survey was conducted to recruit 343 FSWs for a prospective cohort study in Xichang county of Sichuan province, China. Follow-up visits were conducted at 6 months to analyze risk factors associated with cohort retention for subjects' baseline sociodemographic and sexual behavioral characteristics. Blood specimens were also collected to test antibodies against HIV and syphilis. RESULTS: During the 6-month follow-up period, HIV and syphilis incidence appeared to be 1.00 per 100 person-years and 6.23 per 100 person-years, respectively. The rate of retention in the cohort was 53.6% (184/343). Results from multivariate logistic regression model showed that factors were significantly associated with cohort retention including people with minority ethnic background (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18-0.74), people having participated in AIDS prevention program (OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.17-2.86) or being clients in the last 6 months > or = 50 (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.11-2.77) and having changed living/working place (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.94). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the syphilis incidence and unprotected sex behavior were high among local FSWs. People belonged to Han nationality, having participated in AIDS prevention program and having a steady living/working place were associated with cohort retention at 6-month follow-up study among FSWs, respectively.