Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of “one-stop” procedures combining radiofrequency catheter ablation and left atrial appendage closure by guidance of intracardiac echocardiography(ICE) in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent ICE-guided “one-stop” procedures at the Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command between December 2020 and January 2023. Patients were divided into elderly group (age≥60 years old) and non-elderly group (age 18-59 years old). The clinical characteristics, acute success rate, peri-operative complications and follow-up data between two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze whether age was the influencing factor for perioperative complications and atrial fibrillation recurrence.Results:A total of 213 atrial fibrillation patients were enrolled, including 158 (74.18%) in the elderly group (age: (68.3±5.0) years; 56.96% male) and 55 (25.82%) in the non-elderly group (age: (53.7±5.2) years; 81.82% male). The elderly group had lower proportions of males, persistent atrial fibrillation, and left atrial spontaneous echocardiographic contrast compared to the non-elderly group ( P<0.05). CHA 2DS 2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were higher in elderly group ( P<0.05). The acute success rate,“one-stop” procedure time, fluoroscopy time and the rate of peri-operative complications (6 (3.80%) in elderly group vs. 2 (3.64%) in non-elderly group) were similar between two groups (all P>0.05). The average time of clinical and telephone interviews in elderly group and non-elderly group was (16.9±6.1) months and (17.9±5.9) months, respectively. There was no significant difference in the rate of atrial fibrillation recurrence or clinical events between two groups (47 (30.72%) vs. 14 (26.42%), P=0.554; 10 (6.54%) vs. 2(3.77%), P=0.689, respectively). Iatrogenic atrial septal defects in 3-month transesophageal echocardiography follow up were detected in 44 patients (36.97%) in elderly group and 9 patients (19.57%) in non-elderly group ( P=0.032). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that age was not the influencing factor for peri-operative complications and atrial fibrillation recurrence ( P=0.905 and P=0.676, respectively). Conclusion:Intracardiac echocardiography-guided “one-stop” procedures in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in elderly patients are safe and effective.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between blood pressure trajectories and blood pressure variability with the risk of target organ damage in Chinese population from childhood to middle age.Methods:This study is a population-based, long-term follow-up cohort study. Participants who had their blood pressure measured at least 5 times in the Hanzhong Adolescent hypertension cohort from 1987 to 2023 were included in this study. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify different systolic and diastolic blood pressure trajectories, and the subjects were divided into low-increasing group, moderate-increasing group and high-increasing group according to blood pressure trajectories. Blood pressure variability was assessed using standard deviation (SD), variability independent of the mean (VIM), and average real variability (ARV). Target organ damage was evaluated during the final follow-up in 2023 (middle age). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between blood pressure trajectories and blood pressure variability with the risk of target organ damage.Results:A total of 2 447 subjects were included, with a median age of 48 years, of whom 1 373 were male (56.1%). Based on systolic blood pressure, 868 were in the low-increasing group, 1 238 in the moderate-increasing group, and 341 in the high-increasing group. For diastolic blood pressure, the distribution was 894, 1 263 and 290, respectively. Compared with the low-increasing group of systolic blood pressure, the moderate-increasing group (arteriosclerosis: OR=4.14, 95% CI 2.96-5.79; proteinuria: OR=2.06, 95% CI 1.38-3.07; left ventricular hypertrophy: OR=1.68, 95% CI 1.00-2.82) and high-increasing group (arterial stiffness: OR=15.44, 95% CI 10.14-23.50; proteinuria: OR=5.80, 95% CI 3.63-9.29; left ventricular hypertrophy: OR=2.93, 95% CI 1.55-5.53) had a higher risk of target organ damage (all P<0.005). The moderate-increasing group of diastolic blood pressure had a higher incidence of arterial stiffness ( OR=3.72, 95% CI 2.69-5.12) and proteinuria ( OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.15-2.42) than the low-increasing group (all P<0.005), while the high-increasing group had a significantly higher risk of all type of target organ damage compared to the low-increasing group (arterial stiffness: OR=10.84, 95% CI 7.08-16.61; proteinuria: OR=3.72, 95% CI 2.31-5.99; left ventricular hypertrophy: OR=2.38, 95% CI 1.23-4.59; all P<0.005). Additionally, higher systolic blood pressure variability was associated with an increased incidence of arterial stiffness (SD: OR=2.25, 95% CI 1.96-2.57; VIM: OR=1.64, 95% CI 1.45-1.86; ARV: OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.50-1.93) and proteinuria (SD: OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.44-1.89; VIM: OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.22-1.63; ARV: OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.26-1.67; all P<0.005). The results for diastolic blood pressure variability indicators were similar to those for systolic blood pressure. Conclusion:Early-life blood pressure trajectories are predictive of target organ damage risk in middle age. Higher blood pressure variability is related to an increased risk of arterial stiffness and proteinuria, but was less associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. Focusing on the risk of high blood pressure early in life can help prevent the occurrence of target organ damage in middle age.

Objective:To compare the impact of manual right arm blood pressure measurement with computer-controlled blood pressure meter (CCBPM) on the detection rate of hypertension among elderly individuals.Method:This was a cross-sectional study. Elderly residents undergoing routine health check-up in a village in Jiangxi Province from April to June 2024 were enrolled. Manual blood pressure measurements were performed on the right arm using an electronic sphygmomanometer, while standardized dual-arm synchronized blood pressure assessments were conducted using the CCBPM. Blood pressure data were recorded from three sources: manual measurement on the right arm; the first CCBPM measurement on the arm with higher systolic blood pressure (CCBPM single); and the mean blood pressure of the arm with higher systolic blood pressure from two (if the difference between the first two measurements was less than 5 mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) or three (if the difference exceeded 5 mmHg) CCBPM measurements (CCBPM mean). Hypertension detection rates from these three datasets were compared. Subgroup analysis was performed according to age (60-74 years old as the elderly group,≥75 years old as the senior group) and gender. Intra-group correlation coefficient ( ICC) was analyzed to evaluate the consistency of blood pressure data of different blood pressure measurement methods, and Kappa value was analyzed to evaluate the consistency of hypertension classification determined by different blood pressure measurement methods. Results:A total of 1 498 participants were enrolled, aged (71.30±6.83) years old, including 678 males (45.26%). The blood pressure and heart rate measured by the artificial right arm blood pressure measurement were higher than those measured by CCBPM single (blood pressure: (140.09±17.19)/(82.40±10.93) mmHg vs. (135.31±18.98)/(81.23±10.51) mmHg; heart rate: (75.76±11.72) beats/min vs.(72.94±11.21) beats/min) and CCBPM mean (blood pressure: (140.09±17.19)/(82.40±10.93) mmHg vs. (134.64±18.39)/(80.28±9.78) mmHg; heart rate: (75.76±11.72) beats/min vs. (72.87±10.70) beats/min, all P<0.05). The detection rate of hypertension determined by CCBPM mean was significantly lower than that of artificial right arm (40.25% (603/1 498) vs.54.34% (814/1 498)) and CCBPM single (40.25% (603/1 498) vs. 44.79% (671/1 498), all P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that that the detection rate of hypertension determined by CCBPM mean was lower than that measured by artificial right arm regardless of gender and age (all P<0.05). The consistency of blood pressure data between artificial right arm and the CCBPM mean was moderate (systolic blood pressure: ICC=0.70; diastolic blood pressure: ICC=0.62), with less consistent classification ( Kappa=0.37). The consistency of blood pressure data between CCBPM single and CCBPM mean is extremely high (systolic blood pressure: ICC=0.94; diastolic blood pressure: ICC=0.91), with highly consistent classification ( Kappa=0.74). Conclusions:Artificial right arm blood pressure measurement in physical examinations may overestimate the hypertension detection rate, and the standardized dual-arm synchronized blood pressure measurement using CCBPM can reduce irregular blood pressure measurement.

Objective:To investigate the current status of life stress and hypertension among couples of childbearing age across diverse economic regions in China, and to explore relevant influencing factors.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study, with subjects from the “Research on the standardized system of comprehensive prevention and control of birth defects based on preconception-prenatal-postnatal whole chain”. From February to May 2021, urban and rural couples of childbearing age (18-49 years old) from Beijing, Henan, and Gansu provinces were enrolled, representing the eastern, central, and western regions of China, respectively. The detection rate, cognition and control of hypertension in the general population, as well as the detection rate of hypertension in different genders and regions were analyzed. Subjects were divided into hypertensive group and non-hypertensive group based on whether their blood pressure was≥140/90 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and the general clinical data of the two groups were compared. Subjects were also divided into prehypertension and hypertension group and normal blood pressure group based on whether their blood pressure was≥130/80 mmHg, and the general clinical data of the two groups were compared, with subgroup analyses conducted by gender. Multifactorial logistic regression model was applied to identify factors associated with prehypertension and hypertension in both males and females.Results:A total of 1 942 couples of childbearing age, comprising 3 884 individuals, aged (29.8±5.2) years were enrolled, with 1 942 males (50.0%). The overall hypertension detection rate was 6.3% (246/3 884), with a detection rate of 10.5% (203/1 942) in males and 2.2% (43/1 942) in females. The hypertension detection rates in Beijing, Henan, and Gansu were 6.2% (92/1 482), 11.6% (139/1 200), and 1.2% (15/1 202), respectively. The overall detection rate of prehypertension and hypertension was 40.5% (1 574/3 884). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that life pressure factors had no effect on female blood pressure levels ( P>0.05), while a significant or high level of life/work pressure was a risk factor for prehypertension and hypertension in males ( OR=2.30, 95% CI 1.06-4.99, P<0.05). Conclusion:The detection rate of prehypertension and hypertension among young couples of childbearing age in China is high, with poor awareness and control of hypertension. There are sex differences in the relationship between life pressure and blood pressure levels. Comprehensive consideration of individual living environments and mental health factors is crucial in blood pressure management. Measures to reduce life stress and enhance mental resilience should be implemented to address this public health issue.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and morbidity trends of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in Shenzhen, China.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Data were based on the Shenzhen Birth Cohort. Pregnant women who gave birth from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2023 were included. Incidence and change trends of HDP and its different pathological types were analyzed. The enrolled pregnant women were divided into the HDP group and the non-HDP group according to whether HDP occurred. General clinical data and pregnancy outcomes were collected from both groups. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women with different pathological types of HDP was analyzed, and subgroup analyses were performed based on age and body mass index (BMI).Results:A total of 90 117 pregnant women were enrolled, aged (31.6±4.4) years. There were 4 117 cases in the HDP group and 86 000 in the non-HDP group. The overall incidence of HDP in the whole study population was 4.57% (4 117/90 117). From 2018—2023, the incidence of HDP in Shenzhen showed an increasing trend year by year, from 2.88% (523/18 155) to 7.04% (271/3 851). Specifically, the incidence of gestational hypertension increased from 0.93% (168/18 155) to 3.09% (119/3 851), the incidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia increased from 1.78% (323/18 155) to 3.17% (122/3 851), the incidence of chronic hypertension increased from 0.01% (1/18 155) to 0.42% (16/3 851), and the incidence of chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia increased from 0.17% (31/18 155) to 0.36% (14/3 851). The age ((32.8±4.8) years vs. (31.5±4.3) years, P<0.05) and BMI in the first trimester ((23.37±3.77) kg/m 2 vs. (21.35±2.91) kg/m 2, P<0.05) of HDP group were higher than those of the non-HDP group. Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of HDP in pregnant women aged≥50.0 years was the highest in all age subgroups (42.86% (6/14)). The incidence of HDP in pregnant women with BMI≥30.0 kg/m 2 in the first trimester was the highest among all BMI subgroups (20.44% (241/1 179)). The proportions of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, small for gestational age, placental abruption, and late abortion in HDP group were 30.82% (1 269/4 117), 30.46% (1 254/4 117), 6.80% (280/4 117), 4.86% (200/4 117), 3.59% (148/4 117), and 0.80% (33/4 117), respectively. Conclusions:The incidence of HDP among pregnant women has been increased year by year in Shenzhen, China. With the increase in age and BMI during early pregnancy, the incidence of HDP showed an overall upward trend.

Objective:To preliminarily assess the biocompatibility and durability of the TruDelta TM transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system. Method:Six adult sheep were divided into 3 groups based on the duration of follow-up: 30 days ( n=1), 90 days ( n=3) and 180 days ( n=2). The TruDelta TM TMVR system was implanted through a transapical approach under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. The operability of the TMVR system was evaluated using an instrument performance evaluation scale (consisting of 39 items), with scores ranging from 1 (worst) to 10 (best) assigned by the operator. Echocardiography was conducted preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and at 30, 90, and 180 days post-implantation. At the last follow-up time point, the intervention mitral valve membrane and major organs were dissected for observation. The artificial valves were taken for hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and observed under a scanning electron microscope. Result:All six procedures were successfully completed using 29S size TruDelta TM TMVR device. At the final follow-up, echocardiogram demonstrated good valve function without obvious paravalvular leakage, with a transvalvular gradient of (7.8±3.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and a mitral valve orifice area of (1.8±0.2) cm 2. Autopsy findings revealed no structural valve failure and almost complete endothelialization (>75%) with 90 to 180 days. Both HE staining and scanning electron microscopy confirmed optimal endothelialization of the valve stent. Conclusion:The preclinical animal study indicates that the TruDelta TM device exhibits favorable biocompatibility and durability.

Objective:To investigate the clinical subtypes of acute aortic dissection (AAD) through latent class analysis.Methods:This study was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Patients with AAD admitted to five hospitals, including Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital, Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, between August 2010 and December 2021 were enrolled. Based on clinical and biological characteristics, latent class analysis (models with 2 to 5 latent classes) was conducted to classify the enrolled patients. The optimal classification scheme was determined using model fitting evaluations, including log-likelihood (LL), entropy, Lo-Mendell-Rubin adjusted likelihood ratio test and so on. Clinical data of different subtypes were compared, and in-hospital mortality was analyzed across the entire population and among subgroups receiving different treatments.Results:A total of 2 689 AAD patients, aged 54 (46, 63) years were included, with 1 305 (48.5%) having DeBakey type Ⅰ, 156 (5.8%) type Ⅱ, and 1 228 (45. 7%) type Ⅲ dissections. The cohort comprised 2 134 (79.4%) males. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 22.8% (613/2 689). Latent class analysis indicated that a two-class model was optimal (LL=147 413.242, entropy=0.812, and PLMRT<0.001). Patients were classified into two subtypes, named clinical subtype 1 and clinical subtype 2. Compared to clinical subtype 1, clinical subtype 2 had a higher proportion of females, was older, had more dissections involving the ascending aorta, and exhibited higher rates of organ dysfunction (elevated alanine aminotransferase and creatinine levels) and inflammatory response (neutrophilia) (all P<0.05). Clinical subtype 2 also showed higher in-hospital mortality compared to subtype 1 (26.3% (238/905) vs. 21.0% (375/1 784), P=0.002). Among patients undergoing surgical treatment, clinical subtype 2 had higher mortality than subtype 1 (40.1% (67/167) vs. 30.0% (101/337), P=0.027). However, no significant differences in mortality were observed between the two subtypes among patients receiving medical therapy or endovascular and hybrid procedures (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Comprehensive latent class analysis identifies two subtypes of AAD with distinct clinical characteristics and treatment responses. These findings provide new insights into individualized clinical decision-making and prognostic evaluation for AAD patients.

Objective:To develop a nomogram based on the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) for predicting the risk of aortic-related adverse events within 30 days in patients with acute uncomplicated type B aortic intramural hematoma.Methods:This single-center retrospective cohort study screened consecutive patients with acute uncomplicated type B aortic intramural hematoma treated at the Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine Departments of the General Hospital of the Northern Theater Command from April 2018 to April 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on the optimal MLR cut-off value for predicting aortic-related adverse events: low MLR and high MLR group. MLR was defined as the ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes. Aortic-related adverse events were defined as a composite of aortic-related death or aortic intramural hematoma progression (including aortic dissection and penetrating aortic ulcers) within 30 days. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve identified the optimal MLR cut-off value. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of aortic-related adverse events within 30 days, based on which nomogram models were constructed: the clinical characteristics model and the clinical characteristics-MLR model. The DeLong test was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of different risk models. The additional predictive value of MLR was assessed using the net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI).Results:A total of 332 patients were included, of whom 217 were male (65.4%), with an average age of (64.3±9.4) years. A total of 107 aortic-related adverse events occurred during the 30-day follow-up period. The optimal cut-off value for MLR was 0.529. There were 189 cases in the low MLR group (MLR<0.529) and 143 cases in the high MLR group (MLR≥0.529). The rate of aortic-related adverse events was higher in the high MLR group compared to the low MLR group (44.1% (63/143) vs. 23.3% (44/189), P<0.001), mainly due to a higher rate of progression to aortic dissection (9.8% (14/143) vs. 1.1% (2/189), P<0.001) and penetrating aortic ulcers (31.5% (45/143) vs. 20.6% (39/189), P=0.025). Multivariate analysis identified diabetes ( OR=0.25, 95% CI 0.08-0.78, P=0.017), anemia ( OR=3.45, 95% CI 1.28-9.27, P=0.014), maximum descending aorta diameter ( OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.15, P=0.007), ulcer-like projections ( OR=4.04, 95% CI 2.26-7.24, P<0.001), and MLR ( OR=6.61, 95% CI 2.50-17.46, P<0.001) as independent predictors of aortic-related adverse events during the 30-day follow-up period. The clinical characteristics model includes diabetes, anemia, ulcer-like projections and maximum diameter of the descending aorta, and the clinical characteristics-MLR model includes the above clinical characteristics and MLR. The results of the DeLong test showed that the clinical characteristic-MLR model demonstrated a higher area under the ROC curve compared to the clinical characteristic model alone (0.784 (95% CI 0.736-0.841) vs. 0.742 (95% CI 0.691-0.788), P=0.031). The continuous NRI was 0.461 (95% CI 0.237-0.685, P<0.001) and the IDI was 0.077 (95% CI 0.043-0.112, P<0.001), indicating that the inclusion of the MLR in the model significantly improved the predictive accuracy. Conclusion:The integration of MLR with other clinical characteristics improves the early identification of high-risk patients with acute uncomplicated type B aortic intramural hematoma, optimizing clinical decisions and improving patient outcomes.

Objective:To explore the prognosis of patients with acute aortic syndrome (AAS) in the real world and to examine the risk factors associated with poor outcomes in AAS.Methods:This is a single-center retrospective study. Patients diagnosed with AAS at Xinqiao Hospital from January 2021 to July 2023 were included. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and aorta-related mortality, while the secondary endpoints included stroke, myocardial infarction, secondary interventions, and readmission for any cause. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, and risk factors for primary endpoint events were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression.Results:A total of 254 AAS patients, aged (58.9±13.2) years were included in this study. There were 178 cases of aortic dissection, 69 cases of aortic intramural hematoma, and 7 cases of aortic penetrating ulcer. The median follow-up time was 545 days. Seventy-three all-cause deaths occurred among patients with AAS, including 61 aorta-related deaths; 3 strokes, 1 myocardial infarction, 9 secondary surgeries, and 35 readmissions for any cause were observed. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis demonstrated significant differences in all-cause mortality rates based on the Stanford classification, AAS disease classification, eGFR, and albumin levels (all P<0.05), and similar results were also observed in aorta-related death (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression suggested that albumin<35 g/L ( HR=2.372, 95% CI 1.337-4.210, P=0.003), eGFR<90 ml·min -1·1.73 m -2 ( HR=2.457, 95% CI 1.261-4.786, P=0.008), and Stanford type A AAS ( HR=3.420, 95% CI 1.998-5.856, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in AAS patients; albumin<35 g/L( HR=2.432, 95% CI 1.295-4.570, P=0.006), eGFR<90 ml·min -1·1.73 m -2( HR=2.523,95% CI 1.243-5.122, P=0.010), and Stanford type A AAS ( HR=3.455,95% CI 1.819-6.564, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for aorta-related mortality in AAS patients. Conclusions:In the real world, the prognosis of patients with AAS remains pessimistic. Patients with type A AAS, renal dysfunction, hypoproteinemia may have a higher risk of poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) using a short-clip strategy for patients with moderate-to-severe or greater degenerative mitral regurgitation caused by commissural prolapse.Methods:This retrospective study included patients with severe mitral regurgitation secondary to commissural prolapse who underwent TEER at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine between September 2022 and July 2024. Preoperative clinical and imaging data, intraoperative details, procedural outcomes, and 1-month postoperative follow-up results were collected.Results:A total of 19 patients were enrolled, aged (74.1±6.1) years, including 12 males. Among them, 10 patients had external commissural prolapse, and 9 patients had internal commissural prolapse. Preoperatively, all patients exhibited severe mitral regurgitation (4+), with an effective regurgitant orifice area of (0.55±0.17) cm2, left atrial volume of (104.77±36.57) ml, left ventricular end-diastolic volume of (102.29±32.47) ml, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension of (5.34±0.59) mm, and prolapse width of (1.18±0.34) cm. All procedures utilized short clips (NTR or NTW clips) to target the prolapsed commissural region and were completed successfully without intraoperative complications. At 1-month follow-up, no mortality, stroke, single-leaflet device attachment, myocardial infarction, or unplanned mitral reintervention occurred. Mitral regurgitation severity improved to ≤2+ in all patients, with left atrial volume of (74.49±33.83) ml, left ventricular end-diastolic volume of (85.90±18.05) ml, and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension of (4.93±0.37) mm (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The short-clip strategy, focusing on precise clip placement at the commissural interface, is feasible and effective for TEER in patients with severe mitral regurgitation due to commissural prolapse.