BACKGROUNDAngiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) plays a crucial role in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and is expressed only in sites of vascular remodeling. Ang-2 expression can be regulated by hypoxia inducible factors and other regulators with exposure to hypoxia. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on serum Ang-2 concentrations, and analyze the correlation between serum Ang-2 and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSSixty-four patients with CHD were selected as the study group, each undergone PCI. Thirty-two healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Pre-PCI and post-PCI serum Ang-2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was evaluated using angiographic Gensini scores, and the coronary collateral vessels were scored according to Rentrop's classification.

RESULTSConcentrations of pre-PCI serum Ang-2 in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (4625.06 ± 1838.06 vs. 1945.74 ± 1588.17 pg/ml, P < 0.01); however, concentrations of post-PCI serum Ang-2 were significantly lower than those of pre-PCI (3042.63 ± 1845.33 pg/ml vs. 4625.06 ± 1838.06 pg/ml, P < 0.01). Concentrations of pre-PCI serum Ang-2 were significantly correlated with Gensini scores (r = 0.488, P < 0.01); however, the decrease in serum Ang-2 after PCI was not correlated with Gensini scores, coronary collateral vessel grading, or left ventricular ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONSSerum Ang-2 concentrations significantly increased in patients with CHD, and PCI treatment significantly decreased these concentrations. Serum Ang-2 concentrations, but not the decrease in serum Ang-2 concentrations, were significantly correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis. These results suggested that Ang-2 may be a biomarker of myocardial ischemia and vessel remodeling.

Adult ; Angiopoietin-2 ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Aged ; Blood Platelet Disorders ; complications ; therapy ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 5 years outcome post PCI in aged patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSA total of 269 patients (mean age 63.8 +/- 9.4 years, 236 males) with CAD underwent PCI between January 2000 and December 2001 were followed up and data on angiographic restenosis, the major adverse cardiac events, the cumulative survival rates and the correlated risk factors were collected and analyzed. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the levels of their FPG at baseline (group 1: FPG < 5.6 mmol/L; group 2: 5.6 mmol/L < or = FPG < 6.1 mmol/L; group 3: 6.1 mmol/L < or = FPG < 7.0 mmol/L; group 4: FPG > or = 7.0 mmol/L).

RESULTSAt the end of the 5 years follow-up, the incidences of major adverse cardiac events, target lesion revascularization, recurring angina pectoris and angiographic restenosis of group 2 were significantly higher than those of group 1 (P < 0.05) and similar as those in group 3 (P > 0.05). The cumulative survival rates of cardiovascular events of group 2, group 3 and group 4 were all significantly decreased compared with group 1 (P < 0.05). The logistic regression model analysis showed that FPG was an independent risk factor for angiographic restenosis, incidence of major adverse cardiac events, all-cause mortality and recurring angina pectoris (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFPG > or = 5.6 mmol/L and over is associated with increased incidences of major adverse cardiac events in aged patients with CAD who underwent PCI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; epidemiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

This paper has briefly introduced the definition, classification, harms, sources and control of particles, lists the particle evaluation method of coronary stents. And the development trend of particle evaluation method of coronary stents is also analyzed.
Biocompatible Materials ; adverse effects ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Particle Size ; Stents

Humans ; Coronary Artery Disease/therapy* ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Blood Component Removal ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of blood pressure control in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) of China in order to provide guidance for the prevention and treatment of CHD. METHODS: The patients with CHD were retrospectively collected from 2011~2014 in PLA General Hospital and Hainan Branch Hospital. Then analyzed the difference of blood pressure compliance rate between different surgical methods percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG), secondary preventive drugs(aspirin, clopidogrel, nitrates, trimetazidine, nicorandil, hypotensor, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering drugs) and lifestyle(smoking, drinking, exercise). RESULTS: ①Effects of surgical methods on blood pressure:Male's systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) in the CABG group were lower in the PCI group and control group, and female's DBP in the CABG group were lower in the PCI group. ②Usage rate of secondary prevention drugs:usage rate of trimetazidine, calcium antagonist, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor antagonist (ARB) in hypertension group were higher than in normal blood pressure group. ③ Lifestyle condition:compliance rate of blood pressure in the smoking group was lower than that in the non smoking group. And there was no significant difference in blood pressure compliance rate among whether drinking and doing exercise or not. CONCLUSIONS Blood pressure control in patients with CHD was still not satisfied. Compared with PCI, CABG may be more beneficial in the control of blood pressure in patients with CHD. Smoking cessation and improving the usage rate of secondary preventive drugs are still the main means of blood pressure control.
Blood Pressure ; China ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether patients, who are at risk of major acute coronary events, are safe to undergo and benefit from early intervention after using simvastatin.

METHODSThe study was a randomized, open, two-dosage-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and benefits of simvastatin administered to 197 patients (10 mg group, n = 98 and 20 mg group, n = 99), within 48 hours of hospitalization for a diagnosis of unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction (MI), with total cholesterol (TC) >/= 180 mg/dL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >/= 100 mg/dL. Lipid levels were measured immediately, followed by the 3rd, 6th and 12th month after admission and all adverse events were recorded during follow-up.

RESULTSTC levels fell by 10.15% and 14.52% in the 10 mg and 20 mg groups (P < 0.05), and LDL-C levels fell 13.87% and 19.38% in the 10 mg and 20 mg groups, respectively (P < 0.01), 12 months after using simvastatin. The rates of achieving target TC reached 26.3% and 36.5% in the 10 mg and 20 mg groups (P < 0.01), and that of LDL-C reached 28.2% and 40.3% in the 10 mg and 20 mg groups, respectively (P < 0.01). There were higher rates of MI and re-hospitalization resulting from angina pectoris and revascularization in the 10 mg group compared with the 20 mg group.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that early intervention with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, simvastatin, in acute coronary syndromes is possible and safe. It also indicates that the clinical dosage of simvastatin are relatively smaller than that for satisfactory lipid control in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Simvastatin ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDAlthough the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting rapid progression of atherosclerotic lesions has been intensively studied in unstable coronary artery disease, the data from patients with stable angina (SA) are largely absent. The present study evaluated a middle-size patient cohort who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation and follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) and tested the hypothesis that increased plasma level of high-sensitive CRP would indicate rapid progression of de novo non-target coronary artery lesions in Chinese patients with SA.

METHODSThe study population comprised of 311 consecutive patients with chronic SA who underwent coronary stent implantation on initial admission and angiographic follow-up ((8.5 ± 1.2) months). Rapid angiographic progression of non-target lesion was angiographically assessed and the patients were classified into two groups according to whether the progression existed or not. The relation of plasma CRP levels to the progression of atherosclerosis was investigated.

RESULTSBaseline demographic, clinical, and angiographic data were similar in patients with and without progression. Rapid angiographic progression of non-target lesions occurred in 136 patients (43.7%) at follow-up: 77 had a ≥ 10% diameter reduction of pre-existing stenosis ≥ 50%, 26 had a ≥ 30% diameter reduction of a pre-existing stenosis < 50%, 64 developed a new lesion ≥ 30% in a previously normal segment, and 4 had progression of a lesion to total occlusion. Progression of non-target lesions was not associated with target lesion restenosis formation. High-sensitive CRP levels were markedly higher in progression patients than in non-progression ones (1.60 (0.80 - 3.46) mg/L vs. 0.96 (0.55 - 1.87) mg/L, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that plasma CRP independently predicted rapid angiographic progression of non-target lesions (P = 0.001). High-sensitive CRP levels above 1.32 mg/L (the cutoff value) were associated with a 3.5-fold increase in the risk of developing rapid atherosclerotic progression (OR = 3.497, 95%CI 2.045 - 5.980).

CONCLUSIONThe data confirmed and extended previous studies that plasma CRP might independently predict non-target lesion progression in patients with SA after stent implantation.

Angina Pectoris ; therapy ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and monocyte chemotactic factor-1 (MCP-1) following percutaneous coronary interventional procedures (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and evaluate the impact of PCI on the inflammatory indices and postoperative vascular restenosis.

METHODSThis study involved 80 patients undergoing PCI procedures for CAD compromising a single coronary artery. Forty healthy individuals with normal findings by coronary angiography were selected as the control group. Before and after PCI or coronary angiography, plasma hs-CRP and MCP-1 were measured in all the subjects by immunonephelometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), respectively.

RESULTSIn the CAD patients, the plasma hs-CRP level was significantly elevated after PCI as compared with the preoperative level (2.37-/+0.56 microg/L vs 1.59-/+0.41 microg/L, P<0.01), whereas in the control group, the hs-CRP level underwent no significant changes after coronary angiography (1.18-/+0.37 microg/L vs the preoperative level of 1.13-/+0.32 microg/L, P>0.05). PCI procedures also resulted in significant elevation of plasma MCP-1 level in the CAD patients (26.04-/+5.43 pg/L vs the preoperative level of 18.07-/+4.30 pg/L, P<0.01), but in the control group, MCP-1 showed no significant variation after coronary angiography (9.80-/+2.64 pg/L vs the preoperative level of 9.63-/+2.52 pg/L, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPlasma hs-CRP and MCP-1 are elevated in CAD patients following PCI procedures, but their roles in the vascular restenosis following the procedures need further investigation.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the occurrence and prognosis of coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSF) with blood homocysteine (Hcy) levels in patients receiving emergency percutaneous coronary intervention therapy (PCI).

METHODSFrom January, 2010 to December, 2011, 138 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction received emergency angioplasty, among whom 46 patients developed CSF and 92 did not (control group). Blood Hcy levels were determined in these patients. The patients with CSF were classified into two groups with mild and moderate Hcy elevations (32 and 14 cases, respectively), and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during hospitalization and at 3 months of follow-up as well as major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were compared between the two groups and analyzed for their association with Hcy level.

RESULTSThe patients with CSF showed significantly higher blood Hcy levels than the control patients (P=0.001). At 3 months of follow-up, the patients with CSF and moderate Hcy elevation had significantly lower LVEF (P=0.031) and higher incidence of MACE (P=0.019) than those with mild Hcy elevation. Hcy levels were negatively correlated with LVEF (r=-0.310, P=0.036) and positively with MACE (r=0.342, P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONA high blood Hcy level is closely correlated with the occurrence of CSF in emergency PCI, affects the recovery of LVEF and increases the incidence of MACE.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Stroke Volume ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left