Objective To compare the influence of aging on apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related protein in adult and aged male Wistar rat hearts after acute coronary artery occlusion. Methods The acute myocardial infarction rat model was established by left anterior descending(LAD)occlusion.A total of 115 adult and aged rats,aged 6-24 months,were included in the study.The rats were divided into 4 groups:aged model group,aged control group,adult model group and adult control group.Animals were killed 1,3,5 hours,1 and 7 days after coronary occlusion.Hemodynamic parameters[heart rate(HR),left ventricular systolic pressure(LUSP),left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP),±dp/dtmax)]were obtained from each group at every time points.The apoptosis and necrosis of myocardium were detected with TUNEL way and TTC stain.The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed with immumohistochemical stain. Results DNA fragmentation occured 1 hour after coronary occlusion and apparently peaked earlier in the aged than in the adult rat hearts.At 3 hour,the apoptotic index of aged model group was obviousily higher than that in adult model group[(51.90±23.15)%us.(18.67±17.15)%,P<0.01].The basal levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were higher in the aged than in the adult rat hearts.The expression of Bcl-2 in aged model group and adult model group were 2.7±0.9 and 1.8±0.8,P<0.05.The expression of Bax in aged model group and adult model group were 6.2±2.9 and 4.2±1.5,P<0.05. Conclusions The ability of aged rats to resist ischemia is poor,aging may alter the expressions of Bcl-2 and/or Bax,increase cardiomyocyte apoptosis,thereby,enhance the myocardial dysfunction during acute myocardial infarction.

Objective To study on the value and safety of early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-creatography (ERCP)and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) in acute biliary pancreatitis. Methods Ninety-two patients with acute biliary pancreatitis underwent early ERCP (within 72 hours) and received endoscopic therapy (ERCP group). Another 40 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis were treated conservatively without ERCP (control group). The disappearance of abdominal pain, decrease of serum amylase level, the mean days and costs of hospitalization and complications were observed in all patients. Results In ERCP group, all patients were performed EST, stones in 72 choledocholithiasis patients had been removed with net-basket or air pocket. Ten cases of severe acute biliary pancreatitis received endoscopic pancreatic duct stents drainage. Ninety two cases of acute biliary pancreatitis received endoscopic nasal catheter bile drainage. The days of the disappearance of abdominal pain, the decrease of serum amylase levels, the cost of the hospitalization and the days of the hospitalization were significantly shorter in the early ERCP group than in the control group. The mortalities in ERCP and control group were 8. 3% and 33. 3% respectively. Conclusion Early ERCP endoscopic therapy is a safe procedure has the superiorities in lowering the mortality, hospital days and expense.

Objective To study the safety and feasibility of endobiliary intraductal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to reopen occluded self-expandable metal stents in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.Methods 11 patients with malignant biliary obstruction and blocked metal stents were prospectively studied.During ERCP, after biliary cannulation, the blocked metal stents underwent RFA using a bipolar radiofrequency probe which was introduced into the stenotic bile duct via a guide wire.This was followed by a balloon to repeatedly remove debris and then endoscopic nasobiliary drainage.The patients were closely observed and followed up.Results RFA was successfully carried out in all the patients and patencies were achieved when compared with pre-RFA.The median post-RFA luminal diameter of the strictures showed significant improvement: 6 (4 ～ 10) mm versus 2 (0 ～ 5) mm, and the mean post-RFA total bilirubin level decreased sharply : (39.4 ± 8.7) μ mol/L versus (130.1 ± 38.2) μmol/L.Following this intervention, 3 patients developed fever, which were controlled with conservative therapy.There was no mortality, haemorrhage, bile duct perforation or bile leak.Of the 11 patients, 3 were dead and 6 were alive at a median follow-up of 187 (75 ～ 304) days.The median stent patency was 135 (75 ～ 203) days and the median survival was 278 (75 ～ 304) days.Four patients had their stents patent at the time of the last follow-up or death.Seven patients had their stents blocked on 113, 124, 154, 203, 96, 135 and 112 days post-procedure.Condusions Endobiliary intraductal RFA is technically feasible and safe to reopen occluded metal stents in malignant biliary obstruction.This efficacy needs to be confirmed by future randomized studies.

Objective To study the diagnostic and predictive values of amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients presenting acute dyspnea. Method A total of 533 patients with dyspnea were studied. According to the clinical characteristics and echocardiographic findings, the patients were divided into two groups, namely acute congestive heart failure group (ACHF) and non-ACHF group. NT-proBNP levels were assayed in all patients in order to evaluate the diagnostic value, and predictive value in patients of ACHF group by following up study to know the clinical destination of patients to be cardiac death or re-admission into hospital. Results There were 272 ACHF patients and 261 non-ACHF patients, and the levels of NT-proBNT were significantly different between two groups ( 2683.4±86.9) pg/mL vs. (238.6+8.7) pg/mL, P＜0.01) . A total of 220 patients were followed for 158 ±32. 8 days. The level of NT-proBNT in myocardium of patients in re-admission group was 2683 + 86. 9 pg/mL and in death group was 3283.4 + 105.7 pg/mL which both were higher than that in patients without cardiac events ( 1123. 5 + 72. 1 pg/mL) ( P ＜0. 01 ) . By using multivariate Cox analysis, log NT-proBNT was ( r = 0. 987, P = 0. 002), and atrial fibrillation (r = 0. 876, P = 0. 005 ) and ventriculat tachycardia ( r=0. 891, P =0. 005) were the valid predictors of cardiac events. Conclusions Routine determination of NT-proBNT in Emergency Department should be useful for quickly sorting patients with acute dyspnea. The NT-proBNT could be used as a good prognostic indicator of ACHF. In addition, log NT-proBNT and atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia were the independent risk factors of cardiac events.

Objective:To assess whether cardiac structure and function are associated with frailty in elderly inpatients.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.Inpatients aged 65 years or over, admitted to Beijing Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital and Beijing Tsinghua Changgeng Hospital, were consecutively recruited from September 2018 to April 2019.A total of 925 elderly inpatients were enrolled in the study, including 285 frailty patients and 640 non-frailty patients.Frailty was assessed with the Fried frailty phenotype.Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected.The association of cardiac structure and function with frailty was analyzed.Results:Compared with the non-frailty group, the frailty group was older, had lower body mass index, and had higher rates of heart failure, atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter, history of stroke/transient ischemic attack, renal insufficiency, and history of falls.N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)levels were higher while creatinine clearance and hemoglobin levels were lower(all P<0.05); The frailty group had a larger anterior-posterior left atrial diameter[(37.8±7.1)mm vs.(36.3±5.1)mm, t=-3.134, P=0.002]and a higher proportion with the left atrial anterior posterior diameter ≥45 mm[15.8%(45/285) vs.6.1%(39/640), χ2=22.452, P<0.001], a lower left ventricular ejection fraction[(60.1±9.5)% vs.(61.9±7.5)%, t=2.817, P=0.005]and a faster peak mitral inflow velocity[(0.8±0.3)cm/s vs.(0.7±0.2)cm/s, t=-2.675, P=0.003]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the left atrial anterior posterior diameter ≥45 mm was an independent correlation factor for frailty( OR=2.249, P=0.015). Increased age( OR=1.099, P<0.001), heart failure( OR=1.786, P=0.049), history of stroke/transient ischemic attack( OR=1.960, P=0.001)and decreased hemoglobin( OR=0.984, P=0.008)were independently associated with frailty. Conclusions:The left atrial anterior posterior diameter ≥45 mm and heart failure were independently associated with frailty.Assessing cardiac structure and function and screening for cardiovascular diseases in frailty patients should be emphasized.

Objective:We evaluated frailty in elderly hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation and analyzed the relevance, consistency, and diagnostic power of different frailty tools.Methods:From September 2018 to April 2019, a total of 197 elderly patients with atrial fibrillation aged ≥ 65 years in Beijing Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, and Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital were prospectively enrolled.Five frailty tools, including the clinical frailty scale(CFS), FRAIL scale(FRAIL), Fried frailty phenotype(Fried), Edmonton frail scale(EFS), and comprehensive geriatric assessment-frailty index(CGA-FI), were used for frailty assessment.Results:A total of 197 hospitalized elderly patients with atrial fibrillation were enrolled, with an average age of(77.5±7.1)years old(57.4% male). The prevalence of frailty, according to the five frailty tools, were 25.4%(FRAIL), 27.9%(EFS), 34.5%(Fried), 40.6%(CFS), and 42.6%(CGA-FI), respectively.CFS had a good correlation(correlation coefficient 0.80)and and consistency(Kappa value 0.71, 95% CI 0.61~0.81)with CGA-FI.The combined frailty index was used as the gold standard for frailty diagnosis.The results showed that CFS and CGA-FI had high diagnostic sensitivity(95.9 % and 98.0 %, respectively)and specificity(77.7 % and 75.7 %, respectively). Conclusions:Frailty is common in elderly hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation, showing multidimensional features, and physical weakness is not prominet.CFS and CGA-FI are recommended for the assessment of frailty in patients with atrial fibrillation, which had good correlation and consistency.