[Correlation between periodontal disease and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD) and periodontal disease (PD). METHOD: Forty-five patients with CAD (CAD group) and 40 patients without CAD (control group) were compared with their pathological changes of periodontal tissues and inflammatory markers [high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)]. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that the prevalence of PD was 84.44% in CAD group and 22.50% in control group (P < 0.01). The levels of hsCRP, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha were (5.75 +/- 1.26) mg/L, (10.32 +/- 2.96) ng/L, and (9.17 +/- 2.14) ng/L in CAD group and (1.13 +/- 0.73) mg/ L, (2.87 +/- 1.45) ng/L, and (5.84 +/- 1.96) ng/L in control group (P < 0.01). Gingival index and plaque index were statistically different between two both groups (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that in addition to pulse pressure and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, periodontal disease index was a higher risk factor of CAD. Its relative risk was 1.217 (95% CI was 1.120-1.805, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PD can cause CAD. The improvement of public oral health plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of CAD.

[The research of related factors affecting the longevity of double chamber cardiac pacemaker].

OBJECTIVE: To research the related factors affecting the dual chamber cardiac pacemaker (PM) longevity, and provide the clinical basis for the PM reasonable application and design. METHODS: From 1991, 71 patients with AVB or SSS who used 9 kinds of dual-chamber PM were followed up. Every installed PM's related parameters, such as sensing electric current, resistance and pacing electric voltage, which may affect the PM longevity voltage had been recorded regularly. At the end point of survey, according to the related parameters of patients and PMs, the 71 patients were grouped into several groups. Then the related parameters were analyzed by statistical methods. RESULTS: The average of PM service life is 111 months +/- 19 months. Patient's basal heart rate, battery capacity, pacing electric voltage, pacing frequency, resistance, threshold value, pulse width and sensing electric current had all affected the PM's longevity (all P < 0.05) counted by Wilcoxon (Gehan) test. Sensing electric current (P = 0.000, RR = 3.072, 95% CI = 2.130 - 4.429), pacing electric voltage (P = 0.040, RR = 2.121, 95% CI = 1.126 - 3.998) and resistance (P = 0.049, RR = 1.786, 95% CI = 1.007 - 3.169) were the important predicting indictors of the PM longevity by Cox'proportional hazard risk regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Sensing electric current, pacing electric voltage and resistance are the important affecting factors of the PM longevity. Patient's basal heart rate, battery capacity, pacing frequency, threshold value and pulse width have influence of different degree on dual-chamber PM longevity.

[The relationship between resting heart rate and target organs damage in senile essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between resting heart rate (RHR)and target organs damage in senile essential hypertension. METHODS: All 206 elderly essential hypertensive patients (age: 60 - 85 years) were divided into three groups according to the levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP): SBP < 160 mm Hg, 160 mm Hg /= 180 mm Hg. Each of the groups mentioned above were divided into five groups according to the levels of RHR [RHR1 group: RHR < 65 beats/minute(bpm); RHR2: 65 bpm /= 80 bpm]. Electrocardiography, carotid ultrasonography, echocardiography, creatinine clearance rate (CCr) and quantitative test for 24 hours' urinary microalbuminuria (MAU) were performed. RESULTS: (1) Compared with RHR1-RHR4 groups, the RHR5 group showed with lower levels of MAU and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with RHR1 and RHR2 groups, RHR5 or RHR4 group showed with higher levels of carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) and carotid arterial diameter (CAD), lower CCr and MAU (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) The levels of IMT, CAD, LVMI, MAU were positively correlated to RHR (r = 0.312, 0.289, 0.630, 0.563, 0.576 respectively, all P < 0.01), however, the levels of LVEF, CCr were negatively correlated to RHR (r = -0.563, -0.510. all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Target organ damage (TOD) seems not only related with PP, SBP, DBP, but also related with RHR in senile essential hypertension. RHR may be one of the important risk factors in TOD.