BackgroundCalcific aortic stenosis (AS) is an active process sharing similarities with atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation. The pathophysiology of AS is notable for three cardinal components: inflammation, fibrosis and calcification. Monocytes play a role in each of these processes. The role of circulating monocytes in AS is not clear. The aim of the present study was to study an association between cir-culating apoptotic and non apoptotic CD14+ monocytes and AS features.MethodsWe assessed the number of CD14+ monocytes and apoptotic monocytes in 54 patients with significant AS (aortic valve area 0.74 ± 0.27 cm2) and compared them to 33 patients with similar risk factors and no valvular disease. The level of CD14+ monocytes and apoptotic monocytes was assessed by flow cytometry.ResultsThere was no difference in the risk factor profile and known coronary or peripheral vascular diseases between patients with AS and controls.Pa-tients with AS exhibited increased numbers of CD14+ monocytes as compared to controls (9.9% ± 4.9%vs. 7.7% ± 3.9%,P= 0.03). CD14+ monocyte number was related to age and the presence and severity of AS. In patients with AS, both CD14+ monocytes and apoptotic mono-cytes were inversely related to aortic valve area.ConclusionsPatients with significant AS have increased number of circulating CD14+ monocytes and there is an inverse correlation between monocyte count and aortic valve area. These findings may suggest that inflammation is operative not only in early valve injury phase, but also at later developed stages such as calcification when AS is severe.

Background One of the major challenges in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) ablation is ventricular tachy-cardia (VT) non-inducibility. The study aimed to assess whether fast rate (≥ 250 beats/min) right ventricular burst stimulation was useful for VT induction in patients with ARVC.Methods Ninety-one consecutive ARVC patients with clinical sustained VT that underwent electro-physiological study were enrolled. The stimulation protocol was implemented at both right ventricular apex and outflow tract as follows: Step A, up to double extra-stimuli; Step B, incremental stimulation with low rate (< 250 beats/min); Step C, burst stimulation with fast rate (≥ 250 beats/min); Step D, repeated all steps above with intravenous infusion of isoproterenol.Results A total of 76 patients had inducible VT (83.5%), among which 49 were induced by Step C, 15 were induced by Step B, 8 and 4 by Step A and D, respectively. Clinical VTs were induced in 60 patients (65.9%). Only two spontaneously ceased ventricular fibrillations were induced by Step C. Multivariate analysis showed that a narrower baseline QRS duration under sinus rhythm was independently associated with VT non-inducibility (OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0–1.1;P = 0.019).ConclusionFast rate (≥ 250 beats/min) right ventricular burst stimulation provides a useful supplemental method for VT induction in ARVC patients.

Objective To examine the relationship between upper leg length (ULL) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in older adults.Methods Data was collected from National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES, 2009–2010). 786 individuals (385 males and 401 females) who were 60 years of age or older were included in this analysis. MetS was defined as having at least three of following conditions, i.e., cen-tral obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. ULL was grouped into gender-specific tertiles.Results328 (41.7%) of participants were categorized as having MetS (38.7% in men and 49.1% in women,P = 0.002). Compared to individuals in the 1st tertile (T1) of ULL, those in the 3rd tertile (T3) had lower levels of triglycerides (120.8 vs. 153.1 mg/dL,P = 0.045), waist circumference (100.7vs. 104.2 cm,P = 0.049), and systolic blood pressure (126.7vs. 131.4 mmHg, P = 0.005), but higher levels of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (58.1vs. 52.4 mg/dL,P = 0.024). The odds ratios (95% CI) of MetS from multivariate logistic regression were 0.57 (0.32–1.03) for individuals in the T2 of ULL and 0.39 (0.24–0.64) for individuals in the T3 of ULL, respectively (P-value for the trend 0.022).Conclusions ULL was negatively associated with MetS in older adults. Further research is needed to identify potential mechanisms.

ObjectiveTo validate a modified HEART [History, Electrocardiograph (ECG), Age, Risk factors and Troponin] risk score in chest pain patients with suspected non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) in the emergency department (ED).Methods This retrospective cohort study used a prospectively acquired database and chest pain patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected NSTE-ACS were enrolled. Data recorded on arrival at the ED were used. The serum sample of high-sensitivity cardiac Troponin I other than conventional cardiac Troponin I used in the HEART risk score was tested. The modified HEART risk score was calculated. The end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as a composite of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), percu-taneous intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), or all-cause death, within three months after initial presentation.Results A total of 1,300 patients were enrolled. A total of 606 patients (46.6%) had a MACE within three months: 205 patients (15.8%) were diag-nosed with AMI, 465 patients (35.8%) underwent PCI, and 119 patients (9.2%) underwent CABG. There were 10 (0.8%) deaths. A progres-sive, significant pattern of increasing event rate was observed as the score increased (P < 0.001 byχ2 for trend). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.84. All patients were classified into three groups: low risk (score 0–2), intermediate risk (score 3–4), and high risk (score 5–10). Event rates were 1.1%, 18.5%, and 67.0%, respectively (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe modified HEART risk score was validated in chest pain patients with suspected NSTE-ACS and may complement MACE risk assessment and patients triage in the ED. A prospective study of the score is warranted.

Objective Previous studies showed that hypoxia preconditioning could protect cardiac function against subsequent myo-cardial infarction injury. However, the effect of hypoxia on left ventricular after myocardial infarction is still unclear. This study therefore aims to investigate the effects of hypoxia training on left ventricular remodeling in rabbits post myocardial infarction. Methods Adult male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: group SO (sham operated), group MI (myocardial infarc-tion only) and group MI-HT (myocardial infarction plus hypoxia training). Myocardial infarction was induced by left ventricular branch ligation. Hypoxia training was performed in a hypobaric chamber (having equivalent condition at an altitude of 4000 m, FiO214.9%) for 1 h/day, 5 days/week for four weeks. At the endpoints, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the plasma was measured. Infarct size and capillary density were detected by histology. Left ventricular remodeling and function were as-sessed by echocardiography.Results After the 4-week experiment, compared with the group SO, plasma VEGF levels in groups MI (130.27 ± 18.58 pg/mL,P< 0.01) and MI-HT (181.93 ± 20.29 pg/mL,P< 0.01) were significantly increased. Infarct size in Group MI-HT (29.67% ± 7.73%) was deceased remarkably, while its capillary density (816.0 ± 122.2/mm2) was significantly increased. For both groups MI and MI-HT, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions were increased whereas left ventricular ejection fraction was decreased. However, compared with group MI, group MI-HT diminished left ventricular end-diastolic (15.86 ± 1.09 mm,P< 0.05) and end-systolic dimensions (12.10 ± 1.20 mm,P< 0.01) significantly and im-proved left ventricular ejection fraction (54.39 ± 12.74 mm,P< 0.05).ConclusionHypoxia training may improve left ven-tricular function and reduce remodeling via angiogenesis in rabbits with MI.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the serum resistin level and carotid artery atherosclerosis in elderly Chinese males. Methods The study enrolled 235 elderly Chinese males [median age 76 (range 60-97) years] scheduled for ultrasound examination of carotid artery plaque and determination of carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). They were divided into carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) and carotid atherosclerotic plaque-free (CAP-free) groups according to the ultrasound results. Their clinical profiles were col-lected, and the serum resistin and other blood biochemistry levels were determined.Results The CAP group was older and had a thicker mean CIMT than the CAP-free group. However, there was no difference in the serum resistin level between the groups. CIMT was positively correlated with age (r = 0.299,P< 0.001). The serum resistin level was not correlated with CIMT, even after controlling for age. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (β = 0.001,P< 0.001) and body mass index (β = 0.002,P= 0.015) were significantly and posi-tively correlated with the mean CIMT. Only age [odds ratio (OR): 1.159; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.078-1.183,P< 0.001] was associ-ated with the presence of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque. The serum resistin level was not correlated with the mean CIMT or associated with the presence of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque.Conclusion The results suggest that resistin might not be a risk factor for atherosclerosis in elderly Chinese males.

BackgroundFew studies have compared change in the health-related quality of life (HRQL) following treatment of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) with either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study is tocompare changes in HRQL six months after hospital discharge between NSTE-ACS pa-tients who underwent either PCI or CABG.Methods HRQL was assessed using the Seattle angina questionnaire at admission and six months after discharge in 1012 consecutive patients with NSTE-ACS. To assess associations of PCI and CABG with HRQL changes, logistic regression models were constructed treating changes in the score of each dimension of the Seattle angina question-naire as dependent variables.Results Although both the PCI and CABG groups experienced angina relief and other improvements at 6-month follow-up (P<0.001), the CABG relative to PCI group showed more significant improvements in angina frequency (P= 0.044) and quality of life (P= 0.028). In multivariable logistic analysis, CABG also was an independent predictor for both im-provement of angina frequency (OR: 1.62, 95%CI: 1.09-4.63,P= 0.042) and quality of life (OR: 2.04, 95%CI: 1.26-6.92,P= 0.038) relative to PCI.Conclusions In patients with NSTE-ACS, both PCI and CABG provide great improvement in disease-specific health status at six months, with that of CABG being more prominent in terms of angina frequency and quality of life.

In-stent thrombosis after cessation of antiplatelet medications in patients with drug-eluting stents (DES) is a significant problem in medical practice, particularly in the perioperative period. We report a case of an 87-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and chronic atrophic gastritis. Very late thrombosis of a sirolimus-eluting stent occurred 1207 days after implantation, seven months after discontinuation of clopidogrel, and the interruption of aspirin 13 days in preparation of an elective endoscopic gastroin-testinal procedure presented with acute myocardial infarction. The patient was treated with thrombectomy and successfully revascularized with superimposition of two sirolimus-eluting stents. Medications administered in the catheterization laboratory included low molecular weight heparin and nitroglycerin. Flow was defined as grade 2 according to the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction scale. Electrocardio-gram after the procedure revealed persistent, but decreased, ST-segment elevation in the anterolateral leads. The patient recovered and was discharged on aspirin and clopidogrel indefinitely. There was no cardiac event during the two year follow-up period. This case underlines the importance of maintaining the balance of thrombosis and bleeding during perioperation of non-cardiac procedure and the possible need for continuation of aspirin therapy during periendoscopic procedures among patients with low bleeding risks who received DES.

Coronary artery disease remains a major cause of mortality. Presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary artery is responsible for lu-men stenosis which is often used as an indicator for determining the severity of coronary artery disease. However, the degree of coronary lumen stenosis is not often related to compromising myocardial blood flow, as most of the cardiac events that are caused by atherosclerotic plaques are the result of vulnerable plaques which are prone to rupture. Thus, identification of vulnerable plaques in coronary arteries has become increas-ingly important to assist identify patients with high cardiovascular risks. Molecular imaging with use of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has fulfilled this goal by providing functional information about plaque activity which enables accurate assessment of plaque stability. This review article provides an overview of diagnostic applications of molecular imaging tech-niques in the detection of plaques in coronary arteries with PET and SPECT. New radiopharmaceuticals used in the molecular imaging of coro-nary plaques and diagnostic applications of integrated PET/CT and PET/MRI in coronary plaques are also discussed.

Hexarelin, a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide, can bind to and activate the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) in the brain similar to its natural analog ghrelin. However, the peripheral distribution of GHSR in the heart and blood vessels suggests that hexarelin might have direct cardiovascular actions beyond growth hormone release and neuroendocrine effects. Furthermore, the non-GHSR CD36 had been demonstrated to be a specific cardiac receptor for hexarelin and to mediate its cardioprotective effects. When compared with ghrelin, hexarelin is chemically more stable and functionally more potent. Therefore, it may be a promising therapeutic agent for some car-diovascular conditions. In this concise review, we discuss the current evidence for the cardiovascular action of hexarelin.