Objective To determine whether Ca2+ activated Cl- current(Icl(Ca)) contributes to the functional remodeling of the failing heart.Methods Whole cell patch-clamp recording technique was employed to record the Icl(Ca) in cardiac myocytes enzymatically isolatedfrom rapidly pacing induced canine failing hearts at room temperature and compared that of the normal hearts (Nor).Results Thecurrent density of DIDS(200M)sensitive Icl(Ca) induced by intracellular Ca2+ release trigged by L-type Ca2+ current(Ica,L)wassignificantly decreased in heart failare(HE)cells compared to Nor cells.At membrane voltage of 20mV,the Icl(Ca) density was 3.02±0.54 pA/pF in Nor(n=6)vs.1.31±0.25 pA/pF in HF(n=8)cells,(P＜0.01),while the averaged Ica,L density did not show differencebetween two groups.The time constant of current decay of Icl(Ca) was similar in both types of cells.On the other hand,in intra cellularCa2+ clamped mode,where the[Ca2+];was maintained at 100nmol/L,Icl(Ca) density be increased significantly in HF cells when themembrane voltage at+30mV or higher.Conclusions Our results suggest that Icl(Ca) density was decreased in pacing induced failingheart but the channel function be enhanced.Impaired Ca2+ handing in HF cells rather than reduced,Icl(Ca) channel function itself may havecaused this abnormality.The Icl(Ca) density reduction might contribute to the prolongation of action potential in failing heart.The Icl(Ca)channel function up-rugulation is likely to cause cardiac arrhythmia by inducing a delayed after depolarization,when Ca2+ overloadoccurred in diastolic failing heart cells.

Objective: To investigate the effect of diabetes on the intensity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a)-SUMOylation and SERCA2a activity of myocardium in experimental rats.
Methods: The 8 weeks old SD rats were divided into 2 groups, Diabetic group, with diet-induced type 2 diabetic rats and Control group, with normal rats. The systolic and diastolic cardiac functions were evaluated by echocardiography and left ventricular pressure measurement. The intensity of SERCA2a-SUMOylation was examined by co-immunoprecipitation and SUMOylation kit.
Results: Compared with Control group, Diabetic group had decreased systolic and diastolic cardiac functions, especially for diastolic function;decreased SERCA2a protein expression and intensity of SUMOylation;decreased SUMOylation E2 (Ubc9 ) protein expression. The protein levels of SUMO1, SAE1 and SAE2 were similar between 2 groups.
Conclusion: The intensity of SERCA2a-SUMOylation and Ubc9 decreased in diabetic myocardium which implies that SERCA2a-SUMOylation and Ubc9 were closely related to the damage of diabetic myocardium in experimental rats.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efifcacy of cutting balloon combining main branch single stent cross-over technique for treating the patients with coronary bifurcation lesions. Methods: A total of 113 patients with 121 bifurcation lesions treated in our hospital from 2012-01 to 2014-01 were enrolled. Cutting balloon pre-dilation was applied in both main and side branches followed by drug-eluting stent implantation at main branch. The procedural success rates, side branch blood lfow status and complications were observed. Follow-up studied for MACE occurrence was conducted at 9 months after the operation. Results: Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) presented that the minimum lumen diameters at pre- and post-operation in main branches were (2.12 ± 1.07) mm and (3.24 ± 0.87) mm, in side branches were (1.44 ± 0.73) mm and (1.82 ± 0.64) mm respectively,P<0.05-0.01, the procedural success rate was 100%. There were 11 (9.1%) lesions with dissection at proximal side branch, 5 (4.1%) lesions with side branch TIMI blood lfow

Objective: To study the aortic root imaging and clinical application in 15 patients with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
Methods: A total of 15 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis received TAVI in our hospital from 2011-03 to 2013-11 were studied. The CT scan and transthoracic echocardiography were conducted to measure the aortic root anatomy and the differences of annulus size between CT and echocardiography were calculated. The prosthetic valves were selected based on CT measurement. The pre-operative accuracy of measurement was evaluated by the follow-up study at 6 months after operation.
Results: The CT measured pre-operative aortic annulus short diameter was (21.5 ± 2.4) mm, long diameter was (27.3 ± 2.7) mm, the average inner diameter was (24.4 ± 2.4) mm, left ventricular out lfow (LVOF) tract long diameter was (28.3 ± 4.5) mm, the average inner diameter of LVOF was (24 ± 3.5), ascending aorta diameter was (35.3 ± 4.4) mm. The Venus Medtech A-Valve implanted in 8 patients with #26 and in 7 patients with #29. The average inner diameter of aortic annulus measured by CT was larger than transthoracic echocardiography, P<0.001. During 6 months follow-up period, no patients had aortic root rupture, coronary obstruction, moderate and severer aortic and peri-aortic regurgitation. There were 4 patients with atrio-ventricular block and received permanent pacemaker implantation.
Conclusion: There is a difference for aortic annulus size by CT and transthoracic echocardiography measurements. CT may presisely assess the aortic root morphology and provide strong support for TAVI.

Objective: To analyze the risk factors affecting prognosis of calciifc aortic stenosis in patients elder than 75 years of age and to compare the safety among different treatments. Methods: A total of 421 consecutive aortic stenosispatients treated in our hospital from 2008-01-01 to 2015-01-01 were retrospectively studied. The patients were at the age of (79.1 ± 3.5) years and with 243 (57.7%) of male gender. According to echocardiography data, the patients were divided into 3 groups: Mild stenosis group,n=112, Moderate stenosis group,n=83 and Severe stenosis group,n=226. All patients were followed-up for 1 year to observe the end point of all cause and cardiac death. In Severe stenosis group, mortalities by different treatments were compared; the risk factors related to death were calculated by Logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall 1 year all cause and cardiac mortalities were 22.3% (94/421) and 19.7% (83/421) respectively, both all cause and cardiac mortalities were similar among 3 groups,P>0.05. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that peripheral vascular disease (OR=2.31, 95% CI 1.215-4.392), LVEF (OR=0.966, 95% CI 0.942-0.991) and NT-proBNP (OR=2.022, 95% CI 1.140-3.586) were the independent risk factors for 1 year all cause death; diabetes (OR=2.157, 95% CI 1.213-3.836), LVEF (OR=0.975, 95% CI 0.950-1.000), NT-proBNP (OR=2.786, 95% CI 1.449-5.356) and blood levels of phosphorus (OR=5.755, 95% CI 1.462-22.657) were the independent risk factors for 1 year cardiac death. In Severe stenosis group, the all cause mortalities by medication, PBAV, TAVR and SAVR were 43.6%, 57.1%, 7.3% and 6.45% respectively, the patients with TAVR, SAVR had the lower mortality than those with medication, P<0.0001, while the mortality was similar between the patients with TAVR and SAVR, P>0.05. Conclusion: All cause and cardiac mortalities within 1 year were increasing with the age accordingly, while aortic stenosis grade was not related to mortality in elder patients with calcific aortic stenosis. Peripheral vascular disease and blood levels of phosphorus were the risk factors affecting prognosis. TAVR and SAVR had better effect for treating the patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objective To compare the efficacy of heparin and bivalirudin in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) .Methods A total of 90 patients with acute coronary syndrome were included in this study .They were divided into the study group and control group according to the requirements of random envelope method ,45 cases in each group .The study group received bivalirudin during PCI,the control group was given heparin .The Fbg,APTT,TT and PT were detected in the two groups ,and the inci-dence of adverse reactions ( heart failure , cardiac death , platelet reduction , hemorrhage of digestive tract ) was analyzed.Results After treatment,there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in various blood coagulation indicators (all P>0.05).The incidence rate of adverse events of the study group was 4.44％, which was significantly lower than 24.44％of the control group ,and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 =7.28,P<0.05).Conclusion Application of heparin and bivalirudin in PCI has similar efficacy ,but the safety of bivalirudin is higher ,which is worthy of clinical promotion .

To explore the safety and efficacy of levosimendan in treating the patients with severe aortic stenosis and to analyze the cardial function before and after medication in order to guide clinical treatment. Methods: A total of 20 patients admitted in our hospital from 2014-01 to 2015-12 were enrolled with the standard of echocardiography confirmed severe aortic stenosis, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)≤45%, NYHA III-IV and inefficacy for conventional anti-heart failure drug therapy. The patients received intravenous infusion of levosimendan at 0.1μg/(kg·min) by persistent pumping for 24 hours. Echocardiography, LVEF, dyspnea condition, NYHA grading and plasma levels of NT-proBNP were recorded pre- and post-medication to compare the cardiac function and symptoms of levosimendan therapy. Results: After levosimendan treatment, NYHA grade was improved, P=0.025 and NT-proBNP was reduced (9101.6±7368.0) pg/mLvs (13776.5±9503.7) pg/mL, P=0.018. The following parameters were similar before and after levosimendan therapy: LVEF (31.1±7.5)% vs (33.1±8.5)%, P=0.078, the average heart rate (79.6±13.8) bmp vs (82.8±9.5)bmp, P=0.200 and systolic blood pressure (99.6±11.7) mmHg vs (97.2±12.1) mmHg, P=0.071. There were 40% (8/20) patients with obviously improved and 50% (10/20) with improved dyspnea symptoms after levosimendan treatment. Conclusion: Our preliminary study presented that levosimendan could improve NYHA grading, remit dyspnea symptom and reduce blood NT-proBNP level in patients with severe aortic stenosis and heart failure; it had safety and tolerability at certain degree in clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of sheathless transfemoral aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods: In this prospective study, we enrolled 23 patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who were inoperable or at high-risk for surgical aortic valve replacement operation in Fuwai hospital From September 2012 to June 2015. Multislice spiral CT and angiography of femoral artery showed that all patients had minimal femoral artery diameters (<6.5 mm) and severe calcification which was not suitable for transfemoral TAVR through sheath. We attempted to apply the sheathless transfemoral TAVR using Venus-A prosthesis without sheath insertion, and procedure related complication during the procedure and hospital stay were observed. Results: The 6 mm×30 mm balloon was used for femoral artery predilation in 1 patient with iliofemoral artery stenosis before delivery system was transported. In the other 22 patients, the delivery system was transported directly. A total of 21 patients finished TAVR with transfemoral sheathless technique. In 2 patients, prosthesis was unable to fully expand after release due to severe valve calcification, and patients received urgent surgical aortic valve replacement. One patient had valve dislocation into the ascending aorta that was not related to the sheathless replacement technique, and delivery system and Venus-A valve were removed after femoral artery was opened surgically, and repeated sheathless TAVR implantation was performed and was successful. Moderate aortic regurgitation occurred in 2 patients immediately after procedure, and trace or mild aortic regurgitation was detected in rest of the patients. One patient had puncture site rupture and bleeding after procedure, and was successfully treated by balloon compression without blood transfusion. Complete atrioventricular block occurred in 3 patients within 24 hours after procedure and lasted after 48-72 hours, permanent pacemakers were implanted in these patients. Conclusion The sheathless transfemoral technique in TAVR is safe and feasible in severe aortic stenosis patients with small access vessel diameter.

Objective: To investigate the impact of aortic root morphology on the implantation depth of aortic valve prosthesis during trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in bicuspid aortic valve patients. Methods: Clinical data of 40 patients with native bicuspid aortic valve stenosis who underwent TAVR using the self-expandable prosthesis (the Venus A-valve) from 2014 to 2017 in Fuwai Hospital was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into non-deep implantation group (implant depth ≤10 mm by instant angiogram after implantation,29 cases) and deep implantation group (implant depth> 10 mm by instant angiogram after implantation,11 cases).Pre-procedural aortic root characteristics (e.g. calcification, angle and dimensions) were assessed by CT. The impact of aortic root morphology on the implantation depth and clinical outcomes were also evaluated. Results: The age was (75.1±5.9) years with equal representation from the raphe-type and non-raphe type (52.5%(21/40) and 47.5%(19/40)).The bigger aorta angle ((56.5±4.5)° vs. (47.4±9.4)°, P=0.004),more frequent mild-calcification (HU850, <200 mm³) or severe-calcification(HU850, >1 000 mm³) of aortic leaflets (7/11 vs. 4/29, P=0.006), as well as higher ratio of left ventricular outflow tract perimeter to annulus perimeter ((109.2±7.5)% vs. (101.5±6.5)%, P=0.004) were found in the deep implantation group compared to the non-deep implantation group. The new in-hospital onset of bundle-branchheart-block or atrioventricular block conduction disturbance rate was higher in the deep implantation group than in the non-deep implantation group (6/11 vs. 2/29, P=0.030).Left ventricular ejection fraction was similar between deep implantation group and non-deep implantation group at baseline((49.9±8.9)% vs. (55.8±10.4)%, P=0.117), and was significantly lower in the deep implantation group than in the non-deep implantation group at 30 days after implantation ((51.6±12.8)% vs. (60.9±8.1)%, P=0.020). Conclusion Aortic root morphology of bicuspid aortic valve patients is associated with implantation depth of the prosthesis during TAVR, which affects the conduction system and left ventricular function during and post TAVR.

Objective To evaluate the effect of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on anxiety and depression among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods A total of 600 CHD patients were divided into the stent group (n = 400) and the non-stent group (n = 200) according to stent implantation during coronary angiography, and 400 cases in the stent group were further divided into the intervention group (n = 200) and the non-intervention group (n = 200) according to post-stenting psychological interventions. The anxiety and depression were scored using self-rating anxiety and depression scales 1 day after admission, 1 day after PCI and at discharge from hospital, and the anxiety and depression scores were compared at different time points. Results The mean age, sex ratio, hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesteroland low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were comparable among the three groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences among the three groups in terms of anxiety or depression scores one day after admission (P > 0.05). One day after PCI, the anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher among CHD patients in the intervention and non-intervention groups than in the non-stent group (P < 0.05), and the anxiety (t = 11.21, P < 0.01; t = 9.96, P < 0.01) and depression scores (t = 8.56, P < 0.01; t = 6.73, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in the intervention and non-intervention groups one day after PCI than one day after admission. At discharge from hospital, there were significant differences among the three groups in terms of anxiety and depression scores (P < 0.05), and the anxiety (t = 21.57, P < 0.01; t = 15.77, P < 0.01) and depression scores (t = 24.33, P < 0.01; t = 15.01, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in the intervention and non-intervention groups at discharge from hospital than one day after PCI, while the anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower among CHD patients in the intervention group than in the non-intervention group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The anxiety and depression are aggravated among CHD patients after PCI, and psychological interventions may alleviate the anxiety and depression.