Objective To analyze the clinical effect of intravascular intervention for treating the severe stenosis of bilateral renal arteries (BRASS).Methods A total of 40 patients with BRASS admitted in Fuwai Hospital from September 2008 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.These patients,23 males and 17 females,aged from 21 to 76 years with average age of (59.75 ± 17.59) years,with luminal narrowing over 70％ in bilateral renal arteries,met the criteria of BRASS evidenced by angiography of renal arteries,and were subjected to renal artery interventional therapy. The etiological factors included arteriosclerosis (34 cases),Takayasu arteritis (3 cases) and congenital fibromuscular dysplasia (3 cases).After percutaneous endovascular intervention,the therapeutic effects were evaluated by lowering the systemic blood pressure and serum creatinine level in 12-month follow-up in average after operation. The data were analyzed with SPSS 13.0 statistical software.ResultsAmong the 80 reual arteries in 40 patients,18 arteries were treated with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA),while the other 62 arteries were treated with percutaneous transluminal renal artery stenting (PTRAS).Mter endovascular intervention,the mean systolic blood pressure decreased from ( 165.0 ± 27.0) mm Hg to ( 135.7 ± 25.3 ) mm Hg on the second day after operation ( P ＜ 0.01 ) ; and the mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from ( 88.9 ±15.1 ) mm Hg to (74.8 ± 13.2) mm Hg on the second day after operation ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Accordingly,the kinds of anti-hypertension drug used decreased from ( 3.1 ± 0.9 ) to ( 2.3 ± 1.2) ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Only one patient died suddenly 3 months after intervention,and one died of acute myocardial infarction 7 months after operation.The other 38 patients were followed up for 12 months.At last,the mean systolic blood pressure of patients decreased from ( 165.0 ±27.0) mm Hg to ( 133.53 ± 15.94) mm Hg and the mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from (88.9 ± 15.1 ) mm Hg to (77.37 ± 13.47 )mm Hg. Of all 38 patients,2 were cured (5.3％),27 were improved (71.1％) and 9 failed to treatment (23.7％).Of all 38 patients,76.4％ got hypertension lowered.Moreover,renal function (Scr) was improved in 2 patients (6.3％ ),steady in 21 patients ( 65.6％ ),declined in 9 patients ( 28.1％ ) resulted in azotemia stage.Of 38 patients,71.9％ patients got overall benefit from endovascular intervention in respect of renal function improved.Conclusions The procedure of PTBA or PTRAS offered a minimally invasive,relatively safe and effective technique for BRASS patients to decrease blood pressure and stabilize renal function.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of simultaneous hybrid carotid artery stenting and off-pump coronary artery bypass in the treatment of coronary artery disease associated with serious carotid artery stenosis.Methods From January 2008 to December 2010,30 consecutive patients of CAD associated with serious carotid artery stenosis underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass.Fifteen patients received the hybrid revascularization by carotid artery stenting,immediately followed by off-pump coronary artery bypass and 15 consecutive patients underwent staged carotid artery stenting and off-pump coronary artery bypass.ResultsRevascularization was successful in all 30 patients ( 100％ ).There were no procedure-related complications and no in-hospital death for both procedures.Although the postoperative courses were uneventful with the exception of 2 patients who suffered from strokes,no vital organ dysfunction occurred.In the staged group,atrial fibrillation,acute renal inefficiency and reoperation for bleeding occurred each in 1 patient,respectively.There was no significant difference in the ventilation time [(31.7 ± 27.8 ) h vs ( 17.9 ± 7.06 ) h,P =0.073],intensive care unit stay [( 87.7 ± 61.6 ) vs (52.3 ± 80.8) h,P=0.189],and the volume of chest drainage [(945 ±260) ml vs (764 ±334) ml,P =0.109] between the hybrid revascularization and staged procedure groups.There was a shorter hospital stay after CAS of patients undergoing hybrid CAS-OPCAB compared with staged CAS-OPCAB [(9.7 ± 3.3 ) vs ( 17.1 ± 6.9 ) days,P =0.001].Conclusion For patients with both carotid artery stenosis and coronary artery disease,simultaneous hybrid or staged revascularization by carotid artery stenting,followed with off-pump coronary artery bypass,are feasible,safe,and less invasive therapeutic strategies.Both procedures do not influence the liver and renal function.Besides,no significant difference exists in the volume of chest drainage,ICU stay,respirator time,and between the staged and hybrid procedures.Compared with staged CAS-OPCAB the patients undergoing hybrid CAS-OPCAB strategy needs a shorter postoperative hospital stay time and decreases the total hospitalization cost at hospital.Further investigation are warranted to study its long-term efficacy.

Objective:To explore the effect of sarpogrelate on platelet function in patients at the bridging stage before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods: A total of 40 consecutive patients with peripheral artery stent and scheduled for CABG in our hospital from 2011-05 to 2013-04 were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) alone group, n=19 and Sarpogrelate+LMWH group, n=21. The medications started at 5-7 days before CABG and stopped at 24 h before CABG. The platelet inhibition rates (platelet aggregation induced by collagen+ serotonin) were examined and compared between 2 groups at the baseline (before randomization), 24h and 1h before CABG respectively.
Results: The platelet inhibition rates were similar between 2 groups at the baseline (87.33 ± 6.82) % vs (86.11 ± 6.87) %, P=0.577 and 1h before CABG (62.60 ± 12.39) % vs (56.19 ± 14.99) %, P=0.148. At 24h before CABG, the platelet inhibition rate in Sarpogrelate+LMWH group was higher than that in LMWH alone group (83.87 ± 8.99)%vs (63.13 ± 10.88)%, P<0.001. Compared with the baseline, the falling range of platelet inhibition was lower in Sarpogrelate+ LMWH group at 24h before CABG, (3.46 ± 6.18) % vs (22.98 ± 9.43) %, P<0.001 and the falling range was similar between 2 groups at 1h before CABG (24.73 ± 14.19)%vs (29.92 ± 14.28)%, P=0.257.
Conclusion: Sarpogrelate + LMWH may result better platelet inhibition rate with quicker recovery of platelet function upon the medication stopping, which might be a feasible management in patients at the bridging stage before CABG.

Objective To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of renal artery stent treatment for severe atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) in the elderly. Methods In a prospective nonrandomized study in our hospital from January 2003 to April 2008, 147 consecutive elderly patients with ARAS (diameter reduction ≥ 65％) underwent percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and stenting (PTRAS) for resistant hypertension or reserving renal function. They were followed up for 6- 66 months and the effects of the procedure on renal function, blood pressure and cardiovascular events were observed. Results The success rate of PTRAS was 100％. During 6-66 months of follow up, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased, and less antihypertensive medication was taken (P<0.01). Serum creatinine was significantly decreased during 6-48 months of follow up (P<0. 05) and did not change significantly during 54-66 months of follow up (P>0. 05). Blood urea nitrogen was significantly decreased during 6-24 months of follow up (P<0.05) and did not change significantly during 30-66 months of follow up (P>0.05). Complications related with the procedure occurred in 7 cases (4.8％). 17 patients failed to follow up (11.6％) and in 18 cases cardiovascular events occurred (12.2％), including 4 cases of renal events (2. 7％), 4 cases of myocardial infarction (2.7％), 2 cases of stroke (1.4％) and 8 cases of cerebral and cardiovascular events (5.4％) during 6-66 months of follow up. The survival rates of free-of-events at year 1, 2, 3, 4 and5 were 91.0%(121/133), 90.2%(83/92), 78.5%(51/65), 73.8%(31/42) and 54.8%(17/ 31), respectively. The survival rates at year 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 94.0% (125/133), 90. 2% (83/ 92), 84.6%(55/65), 73. 8%(31/42) and 61.3%(19/31), respectively. Conclusions Renal artery stent as treatment for ARAS in the elderly has a beneficial effect on blood pressure control and on renal function during middle and long term follow up. The treatment may be helpful in reduction of cardiovascular events and mortality, which should be investigated further.

Objective: To evaluate chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for detecting blood levels of aldosterone and rennin with its diagnostic value of primary aldosteronism (PA) with comparison to radio immunoassay (RIA). Methods: According to American protocols of CLSI, we conducted a veriifcation study between RIA and CLIA for their precision, accuracy, linearity and reference ranges; meanwhile, taking clinical diagnosis as golden standard, examined renin activity or concentration and aldosterone concentration in 20 healthy volunteers and 40 hypertension patients by both RIA and CLIA, compared the ratios of ARR (aldosterone concentration/renin activity) or ADRR (aldosterone concentration/renin concentration) for the speciifcity and sensitivity of PA diagnosis. Results: Within-lot and between-lot accuracies of CLIA for detecting aldosterone levels were below 5% and 10%, the recoveries were 102% and 95% respectively. There was a good linear correlation in the range of aldosterone at (3-74) ng/dl and renin at (0.99-330) μIU/ml. In healthy volunteers, renin level was higher in 2 subjects, while aldosterone level and ADRR ratio were within normal references in all subjects by the manufacturer. In hypertension patients, the sensitivity and speciifcity for aldosterone and rennin detections by CLIA were at 85.7% and 97.0%, by RIA were at 85.7% and 94.0%. Conclusion: CLIA has the superiority of simple performance, repeatable and without radioactive contamination; it is recommended for replacing RIA as necessity.

Objective: To explore the effect of the aortic arch type on technical indicators in patients with carotid artery stent implantation.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 224 consecutive patients treated in Fu Wai hospital for unilateral carotid artery stent implantation from 2011-01 to 2012-12. We summarized the catheter category, type and the operating techniques including ① retracement, turn and insertion of the catheter, ② retracement, turn of catheter+the guidance of guide wire,③ retracement, turn of catheter+the guidance of guide wire+the supporting of another catheter, ④ using special graphic catheter+the guidance of guide wire+the supporting of another catheter. The procedural X-ray exposure time, dosage of contrast agent and operation related complications were recorded. According to Myla classiifcation, the aortic arches were divided into Myla I, Myla II and Myla III types.
Results: There were 7/224 (3.1%) patients with Myla I aortic arch, 113 (50.4%) with Myla II aortic arch and 104 (46.4%) with Myla III aortic arch. A total of 48/104 (46.2%) Myla III patients used special techniques (tech③, tech④), it was more than the patients with Myla I, (1/7,14.3%) and Myla II (17/113, 15.0%), P<0.01. The patients with Myla III aortic arch had the longer X-ray exposure time and used the higher dose of contrast agent, all P<0.01. The procedural success rate in patients with
Myla III was 96.2%, it was lower than those with Myla I (100%) and Myla II (100%), P=0.045. The procedural complication rate in patients with Myla III was 22.1%, it was higher than those with Myla I (0%) and Myla II (8.9%), P=0.007.
Conclusion: The aortic arch type is the important inlfuential factor for the techniques used in carotid stent implantation. There were more dififculties and complications for stent implantation in patients with Myla III aortic arch.

Objective: To evaluatethe efficacy of renal artery stenting combining optimal drug therapy in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.
Methods:This is a prospective cohort study for patients who received percutaneous renal artery stenting in our hospital from 2011-09 to 2013-03. All patients had conifrmed diagnosis of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis combing hypertension and/or renal functional damage. Thepatients received optimal drug therapy for anti-platelet and blood pressure, lipids, glucose controlling, and they were followed-up for at least 12 months to observe the improvement of blood pressure and renal function.
Results:There were 149 patients at the mean age of (61.54 ± 9.63) years and 185 renal artery stenosis with stent implantation;the average stenosis rate was (83.11±7.30)%and the success rate of operation was 99.32%(148/149). During follow-up period, the patients had increased estimated glomerular ifltration rate (GFR) compared to base line from (76.49 ± 22.50) ml/(min·1.73 m2) to (84.09 ± 28.79) ml/(min·1.73 m2), P<0.05 and decreased 24 h urinary protein from 0.1(IQR 0.02, 0.5) g to 0.04 (IQR0.01, 0.11)g, P<0.001;less type of drug therapy for hypertension from 2.22 to 1.56, P<0.05, decreased clinical and 24h dynamic systemic/diastolic blood pressure from (153.4 ± 15.6)/(83.77 ± 12.60) mmHg to (134.6 ± 14.4)/(73.57 ± 9.12) mmHg and from (143.32 ± 19.87)/(80.51 ± 11.33) mmHg to (124.44 ± 14.90)/(69.09 ± 9.49) mmHg, all P<0.05.
Conclusion:Renal artery stenting combining optimal drug therapy may improve blood pressure controlling and renal function in strictly selected patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Objective: To explore a single center large cohort of patients with Takayasu’s arteritis for their clinical manifestation and long-term outcome in China. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 566 patients with Takayasu’s arteritis admitted in our hospital from 2002-01 to 2013-11 for their clinical characteristics, laboratory ifndings, angiographic features, treatment and long-term outcomes. Results: The patient’s ratio for female to male gender was 1 to 3.8 and the average onset age was (28.9 ± 12.0) years. The most common non-speciifc symptom, initial symptom and complication were fever (52/566 patients, 9.2%), dizziness (214 patients, 37.8%) and hypertension (392 patients, 69.3%) respectively. The patients with pulmonary artery and coronary artery involvement were 83 (14.7%) and 66 (11.7%) respectively, and 131 (23.1%) patients had faster erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The major vascular damage was steno-occlusive lesion and the most common involvement was left sub-clavian artery, which was observed in 278 (49.1%) patients. The treatments were mainly included in medication, interventional therapy, autologous blood vessel transplantation, artiifcial blood vessel transplantation and aortic valve replacement. There were 32 patients died during the mean follow-up period of (5.0 ± 0.2) years. Hypertension, complication and the progressive stage of disease were the major factors affecting prognosis in relevant patients (regression coefifcients: 4.664, 1.959 and 1.870 respectively, allP<0.05). Conclusion: Hypertension was the leading reason for patients’ hospital visit. Takayasu’s arteritis was closely related to cardiovascular disease, the early diagnosis and treatment were really important in clinical practice.

Objective: To explore the clinical features and prognosis in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) combining neurological symptoms. Methods: We retrospectively studied 274 TA patients combining neurological symptoms who admitted to our hospital from 2002-01 to 2013-10 for their clinical and imaging features with prognosis. Results: The ratio of male to female was 1:4.3 and the mean age of disease onset was at (28.2±11.2) years. The most common neurological symptom was dizziness (214/274 cases, 78.1%), most frequent type was type III TA (112 cases, 40.9%), most common affected artery was left subclavian artery (147 cases, 53.6%), and there were 77 cases (28.1%) with (3-4) branches of the aortic arch involvement. For stroke conditions, ischemic stroke was more frequently observed in patients with steno-occlusive lesions in subclavian artery and common carotid artery, while hemorrhagic stroke was more frequently found in patients with steno-occlusive lesions in descending aorta, abdominal aorta and/or renal artery. Heart failure was the most common cause of death, it was also the most common cardiovascular event in surviving cohorts. Conclusion: TA patients could have many neurological symptoms, which were related to the number and site of artery involvement.

OBJECTIVETo estimate the current knowledge on hypertension and the effect of management on hypertension in patients attending hospital clinics.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was used in the outpatients over the age of 35 years in 18 general hospitals (provincial, district and community) which represented the different levels of medical care in 8 major cities covering Northern and Southern China including an interview with two blood pressure measurements and one questionnaire in one clinical visit.

RESULTSA total of 9 703 subjects participated in this project, who were similarly distributed by gender and age in the hospitals at different levels. Of all the 9 703 subjects, 4 510 (46.5%) were found to be hypertensive. 6.4%, 12.1%, 25.5%, 41.1% and 14.6% of all the participants were categorized into knowledge on hypertension grade 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively. The classification was based on the number of correct answers to four questions about knowledge of hypertension. The higher the grade of hypertension knowledge the more response to higher rate of awareness, treatment, and control in this hypertensive population was noticed. There was significantly positive correlation between the grade of hypertension knowledge and treatment compliance. The major cause of poor treatment compliance was due to lack of hypertension knowledge.

CONCLUSIONThere was poor knowledge on hypertension in the investigated participants, which would influence on the management of hypertension. Data suggested that health education on the knowledge of hypertension in the population needs to be improved.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Outpatients ; Patient Education as Topic