Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the value of assessing Selvester QRS score in evaluating myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)patients.Methods:A total of consecutive 149 patients with HCM,who were admitted in Fuwai Hospital from October 2008 to September 2013,were enrolled in this study.Qualitative and quantitative analyses of myocardial fibrosis were conducted based on late gadolinium enhancement(LGE)derived from enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR).According to the qualitative analysis of myocardial fibrosis by CMR-LGE,the patients were divided into the LGE-negative group(n=46)and the LGE-positive group(n=103).Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram examination was performed and the Selvester QRS score was calculated.Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the predictive factors of positive LGE,and the correlation analysis between the Selvester QRS score and the LGE score was also performed.Results:Compared with the LGE-negative group,the proportion of patients with a family history of HCM(12.8%vs.28.2%),the proportion of patients with a positive Selvester QRS score(65.2%vs.83.5%)and the Selvester QRS score([1.65±1.81]points vs.[5.71±3.80]points)were higher,the maximum thickness of the left ventricular wall([20.5±3.2]mm vs.[24.5±5.0]mm)and the percentage of left ventricular myocardial scar area([5.0±5.5]%vs.[17.1±11.4]%)were larger in the LGE-positive group(all P<0.05).Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that the Selvester QRS score(OR=1.429,95%CI:1.128-1.802,P=0.003)and the maximum left ventricular wall thickness(OR=1.257,95%CI:1.029-1.537,P=0.025)were independent predictors of positive LGE.Pearson correlation analysis showed that in all HCM patients,the Selvester QRS score was positively correlated with the LGE score(r=0.682,P<0.001),and the percentage of left ventricular myocardial scar area was positively correlated with the percentage of enhanced area to the total mass of left ventricular myocardium(LGE%)(r=0.682,P<0.001);In the LGE positive group,the Selvester QRS score was positively correlated with the LGE score(r=0.569,P<0.001).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off values of Selvester QRS score and maximum left ventricular wall thickness for predicting positive LGE were≥3.5 points and≥21 mm,respectively.Conclusions:In HCM patients,the Selvester QRS score is significantly associated with myocardial fibrosis,and the total score≥3.5 serves as a good predictive cutoffvalue for identifying the presence of LGE.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term outcomes and predictors of coronary atherosclerotic lesions deemed functionally non-ischemic (quantitative flow ratio(QFR)>0.80) and deferred from intervention.Methods:This study is a post-hoc analysis of the FAVOR Ⅲ China trial, which enrolled 3 825 patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or with myocardial infarction occurring at least 72 hours prior to screening, between December 5, 2018 and January 9, 2020 from 26 research centers in China. Coronary vessels with QFR>0.80 and without interventional treatment were analyzed in this study. The primary endpoint was 3-year target vessel revascularization. Vessels with revascularization (revascularized group) during follow-up were matched 1∶1 using propensity score matching to comparable vessels without revascularization (non-revascularized group). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for target vessel revascularization (TVR).Results:A total of 6 212 functionally negative vessels with deferred intervention were included in the final analysis, among which 153 vessels (2.5%) underwent TVR during a 3-year follow-up. Prior to propensity score matching, 6 059 vessels comprised the non-revascularized group. At the vessel level, compared to the non-revascularized group, the revascularized group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of males (79.1% (121/153) vs. 70.2% (4 253/6 059), P=0.018), higher body mass index ((25.6±4.0) kg/m2 vs. (24.3±5.2) kg/m2, P=0.003), and a higher prevalence of hypertension (73.9% (113/153) vs. 65.1% (3 944/6 059), P=0.025). And 152 pairs of vessels were successfully matched. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified in-stent restenosis lesions ( HR=2.59, 95% CI 1.28-5.23, P=0.008) as an independent risk factor for target vessel revascularization. Conclusions:Coronary lesions classified as functionally non-ischemic at baseline are not entirely stable and may progress to lesions that requiring revascularization over time. In-stent restenosis emerges as a critical independent predictor of revascularization.

Objective:Investigate the impact of calcification on the long-term outcomes of patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent PCI and had at least one CTO lesion at Fuwai Hospital between January 2010 and December 2013 were consecutively enrolled. Calcification was evaluated by coronary angiography, and patients were divided into two groups: moderate/severe calcification group and non/mild calcification group. Clinical follow-up was completed up to 5 years. Incidence of PCI-related complications and immediate procedural outcomes were compared between two groups, and the primary endpoint was the target lesion failure (TLF) at 5 years after PCI. Clinical follow-up endpoint events were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test, and Cox multivariate regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between calcification and TLF.Results:The study included 2 659 CTO patients with an age of (57.2±10.5) years, of whom 442 (16.6%) were female, and among whom 13.5% (360/2 659) had moderate/severe calcification. Compared with the non/mild calcification group, the moderate/severe calcification group had a higher incidence of PCI-related complications (43.2% (156/361) vs. 32.5% (772/2 374), P<0.001) and procedural failure (34.3% (124/361) vs. 24.3% (577/2 374), P<0.001). Additionally, the moderate/severe calcification group showed a higher risk of the primary endpoint event (TLF) during the 5-year follow-up (19.8% vs. 15.3%, log-rank P=0.028). Higher incidence of cardiac death was observed in moderate/severe calcification group (5.7% vs. 2.7%, log-rank P=0.003). Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that moderate/severe calcified plaques remained an independent risk factor for 5-year TLF after CTO-PCI ( HR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.79, P=0.043). Conclusion:Compared with CTO patients with non/mild calcification, those with moderate/severe calcification have higher procedural failure and complication rates, as well as poorer long-term prognosis, mainly due to an increase in cardiac death.

Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the value of assessing Selvester QRS score in evaluating myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)patients.Methods:A total of consecutive 149 patients with HCM,who were admitted in Fuwai Hospital from October 2008 to September 2013,were enrolled in this study.Qualitative and quantitative analyses of myocardial fibrosis were conducted based on late gadolinium enhancement(LGE)derived from enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR).According to the qualitative analysis of myocardial fibrosis by CMR-LGE,the patients were divided into the LGE-negative group(n=46)and the LGE-positive group(n=103).Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram examination was performed and the Selvester QRS score was calculated.Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the predictive factors of positive LGE,and the correlation analysis between the Selvester QRS score and the LGE score was also performed.Results:Compared with the LGE-negative group,the proportion of patients with a family history of HCM(12.8%vs.28.2%),the proportion of patients with a positive Selvester QRS score(65.2%vs.83.5%)and the Selvester QRS score([1.65±1.81]points vs.[5.71±3.80]points)were higher,the maximum thickness of the left ventricular wall([20.5±3.2]mm vs.[24.5±5.0]mm)and the percentage of left ventricular myocardial scar area([5.0±5.5]%vs.[17.1±11.4]%)were larger in the LGE-positive group(all P<0.05).Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that the Selvester QRS score(OR=1.429,95%CI:1.128-1.802,P=0.003)and the maximum left ventricular wall thickness(OR=1.257,95%CI:1.029-1.537,P=0.025)were independent predictors of positive LGE.Pearson correlation analysis showed that in all HCM patients,the Selvester QRS score was positively correlated with the LGE score(r=0.682,P<0.001),and the percentage of left ventricular myocardial scar area was positively correlated with the percentage of enhanced area to the total mass of left ventricular myocardium(LGE%)(r=0.682,P<0.001);In the LGE positive group,the Selvester QRS score was positively correlated with the LGE score(r=0.569,P<0.001).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off values of Selvester QRS score and maximum left ventricular wall thickness for predicting positive LGE were≥3.5 points and≥21 mm,respectively.Conclusions:In HCM patients,the Selvester QRS score is significantly associated with myocardial fibrosis,and the total score≥3.5 serves as a good predictive cutoffvalue for identifying the presence of LGE.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term outcomes and predictors of coronary atherosclerotic lesions deemed functionally non-ischemic (quantitative flow ratio(QFR)>0.80) and deferred from intervention.Methods:This study is a post-hoc analysis of the FAVOR Ⅲ China trial, which enrolled 3 825 patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or with myocardial infarction occurring at least 72 hours prior to screening, between December 5, 2018 and January 9, 2020 from 26 research centers in China. Coronary vessels with QFR>0.80 and without interventional treatment were analyzed in this study. The primary endpoint was 3-year target vessel revascularization. Vessels with revascularization (revascularized group) during follow-up were matched 1∶1 using propensity score matching to comparable vessels without revascularization (non-revascularized group). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for target vessel revascularization (TVR).Results:A total of 6 212 functionally negative vessels with deferred intervention were included in the final analysis, among which 153 vessels (2.5%) underwent TVR during a 3-year follow-up. Prior to propensity score matching, 6 059 vessels comprised the non-revascularized group. At the vessel level, compared to the non-revascularized group, the revascularized group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of males (79.1% (121/153) vs. 70.2% (4 253/6 059), P=0.018), higher body mass index ((25.6±4.0) kg/m2 vs. (24.3±5.2) kg/m2, P=0.003), and a higher prevalence of hypertension (73.9% (113/153) vs. 65.1% (3 944/6 059), P=0.025). And 152 pairs of vessels were successfully matched. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified in-stent restenosis lesions ( HR=2.59, 95% CI 1.28-5.23, P=0.008) as an independent risk factor for target vessel revascularization. Conclusions:Coronary lesions classified as functionally non-ischemic at baseline are not entirely stable and may progress to lesions that requiring revascularization over time. In-stent restenosis emerges as a critical independent predictor of revascularization.

Objective:Investigate the impact of calcification on the long-term outcomes of patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent PCI and had at least one CTO lesion at Fuwai Hospital between January 2010 and December 2013 were consecutively enrolled. Calcification was evaluated by coronary angiography, and patients were divided into two groups: moderate/severe calcification group and non/mild calcification group. Clinical follow-up was completed up to 5 years. Incidence of PCI-related complications and immediate procedural outcomes were compared between two groups, and the primary endpoint was the target lesion failure (TLF) at 5 years after PCI. Clinical follow-up endpoint events were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test, and Cox multivariate regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between calcification and TLF.Results:The study included 2 659 CTO patients with an age of (57.2±10.5) years, of whom 442 (16.6%) were female, and among whom 13.5% (360/2 659) had moderate/severe calcification. Compared with the non/mild calcification group, the moderate/severe calcification group had a higher incidence of PCI-related complications (43.2% (156/361) vs. 32.5% (772/2 374), P<0.001) and procedural failure (34.3% (124/361) vs. 24.3% (577/2 374), P<0.001). Additionally, the moderate/severe calcification group showed a higher risk of the primary endpoint event (TLF) during the 5-year follow-up (19.8% vs. 15.3%, log-rank P=0.028). Higher incidence of cardiac death was observed in moderate/severe calcification group (5.7% vs. 2.7%, log-rank P=0.003). Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that moderate/severe calcified plaques remained an independent risk factor for 5-year TLF after CTO-PCI ( HR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.79, P=0.043). Conclusion:Compared with CTO patients with non/mild calcification, those with moderate/severe calcification have higher procedural failure and complication rates, as well as poorer long-term prognosis, mainly due to an increase in cardiac death.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected with Delta variant, so as to provide further references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A real-world study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of 166 COVID-19 patients infected with Delta variant at Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University.Results:The study enrolled 5 asymptomatic cases, 123 non-severe cases (mild and moderate type), and 38 severe cases (severe and critical type). Among these patients, 69 (41.6%) were male and 97 (58.4%) were female, with a mean age of 47.0±23.5 years. Thirty-nine cases (23.5%) had received 1 or 2 doses of inactivated vaccine. The incidence of severe COVID-19 cases was 7.7% in 2-doses vaccinated patients, which was lower than that of 11.5% in 1-dose and 26.8% in unvaccinated patients. The proportion of severe cases in 2 dose-vaccinated patients was 7.7%, which was lower than that of 11.5% in 1-dose vaccinated patients and 26.8% in unvaccinated patients, but the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). The most common clinical symptom was fever (134 cases, 83.2%), and 39.1% of cases presented with high-grade fever (≥39 °C); other symptoms were cough, sputum, fatigue, and xerostomia. The proportion of fever in severe cases was significantly higher than that of non-severe cases (97.4% vs. 76.4%, P<0.01). Similarly, the proportion of severe cases with high peak temperature (≥39 ℃) () was also higher than that of non-severe cases (65.8% vs. 30.9%, P<0.01). The median minimal Cycle threshold (Ct) values of viral nucleic acid N gene and ORFlab gene were 20.3 and 21.5, respectively, and the minimum Ct values were 11.9 and 13.5, respectively. Within 48 h of admission, 9.0% of cases presented with decreased white blood cell counts, and 52.4% with decreased lymphocyte counts. The proportions of increased C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, interleukin 6, and interleukin 10 were 32.5%, 57.4%, 65.3%, and 35.7%, respectively. The proportions of elevated C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and interleukin-6 in severe cases were significantly higher than those in non-severe cases ( P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that older age and higher peak temperature were associated with a higher likelihood of severe cases ( OR>3, 95% CI: 2-7, P<0.01). In terms of treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was used in 97.6% of non-severe cases and 100% in severe cases. Other treatments included respiratory and nutritional support, immunotherapy (such as neutralizing antibodies and plasma of recovered patients). The median times from admission to progression to severe cases, of fever clearance, and of nucleic acid conversion were 5 days, 6 days and 19 days, respectively. No deaths were reported within 28 days. Conclusions:The symptoms of Delta variant infection in Guangzhou are characterized by a high proportion of fever, high peak temperature, long duration of fever, high viral load, a long time to nucleic acid conversion, and a high incidence of severe cases. The severe cases exhibit a higher percentage of elderly patients, a longer duration of fever and have a higher fever rate and a higher hyperthermia rate than non-severe cases. Age and hyperthermia are independent risk factors for progression to severe disease. The combination of TCM and Western medicine can control the progression of the disease effectively.

Development of "liquid sunshine" could be a key technology to deal with the issue of fossil fuel depletion. β-caryophyllene is a terpene compound with high energy density and has attracted attention for its potential application as a jet fuel. The high temperature and high light-tolerant photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 (hereafter Synechococcus 2973), whose doubling time is as short as 1.5 h, has great potential for synthesizing β-caryophyllene using sunlight and CO₂. In this study, a production of ~121.22 μg/L β-caryophyllene was achieved at 96 h via a combined strategy of pathway construction, key enzyme optimization and precursor supply enhancement. In addition, a final production of ~212.37 μg/L at 96 h was realized in a high-density cultivation. To our knowledge, this is the highest production reported for β-caryophyllene using cyanobacterial chassis and our study provide important basis for high-density fuel synthesis in cyanobacteria.
Biofuels/microbiology* ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism* ; Light ; Photosynthesis ; Synechococcus/radiation effects*

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) and global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) risk scores for in-hospital mortality in Chinese non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients. Methods: Data of present study derived from the prospective, multi-center registry trial of Chinese AMI (CAMI). Among 31 provinces, municipalities or autonomous districts in China, at least one tertiary and secondary hospital was selected. From January 2013 to September 2014, 5 896 consecutive non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients who were admitted to 107 hospitals within 7 days of symptom onset were enrolled. For each patient, TIMI and GRACE risk scores were calculated using specific variables collected at admission. Their prognostic value was evaluated by the endpoint of in-hospital mortality. Results: Among 5 896 NSTEMI patients (age was (65.4±12.1) years old), 68.2% (n=4 020) were males. The in-hospital mortality was 6.0% (n=353) and the median length of hospital stay was 10.0 (7.0, 13.0) days. The incidence of pre-hospital cardiac arrest was 3.6% (n=213) among 5 896 NSTEMI patients. Six hundreds and forty five patients (10.9%) received primary percutaneous coronary intervention, and 6 patients underwent emergent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (0.1%), and the median time of reperfusion was 529.5 (256.0, 1 065.0) minutes. The prescription percentage of statins, β-blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blockers, and aldosterone antagonists were 94.8% (n=5 587), 71.7% (n=4 228), 65.5% (n=3 864) and 26.0% (n=1 533) respectively. The area under the curve of GRACE risk score for in-hospital mortality (0.7930 (95%CI 0.767-0.818)) was better than that of TIMI risk score (0.5588 (95%CI 0.532-0.586), P<0.001). Conclusion GRACE risk score demonstrates better predictive accuracy than TIMI risk score for in-hospital mortality in NSTEMI patients in this patient cohort.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of bare metal stent for treating focal coronary artery aneurysm complicating with severe stenosisin single coronary artery. Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed in 7 patients who were diagnosed as local coronary artery aneurysm complicating with severe stenosis(≥70%) in single coronary artery and treated with bare metal stent during the period from December 2012 to June 2015 in Fuwai Hospital. All 7 patients were male with age of (62±11) years old. During the interventional operation, the narrow parts were pre-expanded,and all patients received bare metal stents implantation to cover aneurysms.The clinical and imaging data of patients immediately post procedure and at postoperative follow-up were collected to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Results: There were 5 cases of left anterior descending aneurysms and 2 cases of right coronary artery aneurysms. The diameter of aneurysm was (5.21±1.28)mm, and the length was (13.71±3.88)mm. There was intracranial vortex in coronary arteriography immediately after intervention.Proximalstenosis of coronary artery aneurysm was disappeared,and the distal blood flow was TIMI class 3.There were no signs of aortic dissection and thrombus formation.During 6(6 16) months follow-up, the aneurysms were disappeared,and there were no major adverse cardiovascular events which including myocardial ischemia, acute myocardial infarction, revascularization,bleeding,and death for all patients. Conclusion Initial experience shows that double-layer bare metal stents implantation for patients with localized coronary artery aneurysm complicating with severe stenosis in single vessel is safe and effective.