The aim of this updated guideline is to provide comprehensive recommendations for the management of gout in patients with common comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease(CKD), cardiovascular disease(CVD), diabetes, osteoarthritis(OA), and gastrointestinal disorders. This guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel consisting of specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and methodology. The development process adhered to standard methodologies, including PICO(population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) question deconstruction, systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation(GRADE) for evidence and recommendation evaluation, Delphi voting, and expert consensus. The guideline presents 26 evidence-based recommendations addressing 7 clinical questions for patients with hyperuricemia and gout in the context of comorbidities. Key recommendations include the maintenance of strict serum urate targets, particularly for patients with CKD stage≥3, chronic gouty arthritis, and OA, in order to prevent disease progression. In patients with CVD or diabetes, intra-articular triamcinolone is preferred over systemic glucocorticoids. Prioritized anti-inflammatory treatments for patients with CKD, gastrointestinal diseases and OA are recommended. The guideline also introduces emerging therapies, such as interleukin-1 inhibitors and selective urate transport inhibitors, as potential treatment options for refractory cases. The update offers a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to managing gout, particularly in individuals with associated comorbidities. Multidisciplinary collaboration and emerging new treatments and evidence ensure the optimization of the recommendations.

AIM To investigate the clinical effects of Modified Banxia Xiexin Decoction combined with Lizhong Decoction on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus due to Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer.METHODS One hundred and sixty-eight patients were randomly assigned into control group(84 cases)for 12-week intervention of conventional treatment,and observation group(84 cases)for 12-week intervention of Modified Banxia Xiexin Decoction,Lizhong Decoction and conventional treatment.The changes in clinical effects,compliance rate of blood glucoses,discontinuation and reduction rate of hypoglycemic drugs,continuous glucose parameters(TIR,GVP,FPG-ARV,MAGE),FPG,2 hPG,HbA1c,FINS,HOMA-β,HOMA-IR,lnISI,intestinal flora metabolites(SCFAs,CA,DC A,CDCA,CA/CDCA),score for Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher marked improvement rate,total effective rate,compliance rate of blood glucoses and discontinuation and reduction rate of hypoglycemic drugs,than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the two groups displayed increased TIR,FINS,HOMA-β,lnISI,SCFAs,CDCA(P＜0.05),and decreased GVP,FPG-ARV,MAGE,FPG,2 hPG,HbA1c,HOMA-IR,CA,DC A,CA/CDCA,score for Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions was found between the two groups(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus due to Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer,Modified Banxia Xiexin Decoction combined with Lizhong Decoction can improve islet β cell function and insulin resistance,enhance insulin sensitivity index and compliance rate of blood glucoses,reduce blood glucose fluctuation and dosages of hypoglycemic drugs,regulate intestinal flora metabolites,and affect glucose metabolism.

AIM To investigate the clinical effects of Modified Banxia Xiexin Decoction combined with Lizhong Decoction on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus due to Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer.METHODS One hundred and sixty-eight patients were randomly assigned into control group(84 cases)for 12-week intervention of conventional treatment,and observation group(84 cases)for 12-week intervention of Modified Banxia Xiexin Decoction,Lizhong Decoction and conventional treatment.The changes in clinical effects,compliance rate of blood glucoses,discontinuation and reduction rate of hypoglycemic drugs,continuous glucose parameters(TIR,GVP,FPG-ARV,MAGE),FPG,2 hPG,HbA1c,FINS,HOMA-β,HOMA-IR,lnISI,intestinal flora metabolites(SCFAs,CA,DC A,CDCA,CA/CDCA),score for Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher marked improvement rate,total effective rate,compliance rate of blood glucoses and discontinuation and reduction rate of hypoglycemic drugs,than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the two groups displayed increased TIR,FINS,HOMA-β,lnISI,SCFAs,CDCA(P＜0.05),and decreased GVP,FPG-ARV,MAGE,FPG,2 hPG,HbA1c,HOMA-IR,CA,DC A,CA/CDCA,score for Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions was found between the two groups(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus due to Cold-heat Complex in the Middle Energizer,Modified Banxia Xiexin Decoction combined with Lizhong Decoction can improve islet β cell function and insulin resistance,enhance insulin sensitivity index and compliance rate of blood glucoses,reduce blood glucose fluctuation and dosages of hypoglycemic drugs,regulate intestinal flora metabolites,and affect glucose metabolism.

The aim of this updated guideline is to provide comprehensive recommendations for the management of gout in patients with common comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease(CKD), cardiovascular disease(CVD), diabetes, osteoarthritis(OA), and gastrointestinal disorders. This guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel consisting of specialists in endocrinology, rheumatology, nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and methodology. The development process adhered to standard methodologies, including PICO(population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) question deconstruction, systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation(GRADE) for evidence and recommendation evaluation, Delphi voting, and expert consensus. The guideline presents 26 evidence-based recommendations addressing 7 clinical questions for patients with hyperuricemia and gout in the context of comorbidities. Key recommendations include the maintenance of strict serum urate targets, particularly for patients with CKD stage≥3, chronic gouty arthritis, and OA, in order to prevent disease progression. In patients with CVD or diabetes, intra-articular triamcinolone is preferred over systemic glucocorticoids. Prioritized anti-inflammatory treatments for patients with CKD, gastrointestinal diseases and OA are recommended. The guideline also introduces emerging therapies, such as interleukin-1 inhibitors and selective urate transport inhibitors, as potential treatment options for refractory cases. The update offers a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to managing gout, particularly in individuals with associated comorbidities. Multidisciplinary collaboration and emerging new treatments and evidence ensure the optimization of the recommendations.

Objective:To analyze plaque characteristics of non-culprit coronary lesions with cholesterol crystals in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) by using optical coherence tomography(OCT). We also investigated the potential association between cholesterol crystals with plaque rupture and healed plaque at non-culprit segment.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Between January 2017 and December 2017, patients with AMI who underwent 3-vessel OCT imaging were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of cholesterol crystals at the non-culprit lesions. All patients underwent coronary angiography and OCT examination, and non-culprit plaque characteristics were compared between the two groups. The generalized estimating equation log-binomial multirariate regression model was used to assess the relationship between non-culprit lesions with cholesterol crystals and plaque rupture and plaque healing. The follow-up data collection ended in October 2023. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted, and log-rank tests were used to compare the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events between the two groups.Results:A total of 173 AMI patients were included (aged (56.8±11.6) years; 124 men (71.7%)). Among 710 non-culprit lesions identified by OCT, there were 102 (14.4%) in cholesterol crystals group and 608 (85.6%) in non-cholesterol crystals group. Compared with non-culprit lesions without cholesterol crystals, those with cholesterol crystals had smaller minimum lumen diameter, severer diameter stenosis, and longer lesion length (all P<0.01). The prevalence of plaque rupture (17.6% (18/102) vs. 4.9% (30/608), P=0.001) and thin-cap fibroatheroma (31.4% (32/102) vs. 11.5% (70/608), P<0.01) was higher in the cholesterol crystals groups than in the non-cholesterol crystals group. In addition, vulnerable plaque characteristics such as (44.1% (45/102) vs. 25.8% (157/608), P<0.01), macrophages were more frequently observed in non-culprit lesions with cholesterol crystals. The generalized estimating equation log-binomial multivariate regression analyses showed that non-culprit cholesterol crystals were positively correlated with healed plaque ( OR=1.583, 95% CI: 1.004-2.495, P=0.048). Conversely, cholesterol crystals were not associated with plaque rupture ( OR=1.632, 95% CI: 0.745-3.576, P=0.221). The follow-up time was 2 142 (1 880, 2 198) days. Non-culprit cholesterol crystals were not related to the major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AMI (log-rank P=0.558). Conclusions:Among AMI patients, non-culprit lesions with cholesterol crystals presented with severer luminal stenosis and increased plaque vulnerability. The presence of non-culprit cholesterol crystals was associated with rather than plaque rupture.

AIM To evaluate the quality of Beidougen Formula Granules.METHODS Fifteen batches of standard decoctions and three batches of formula granules were prepared,after which paste rate and contents,transfer rates of magnoflorine,daurisoline,dauricine were determined.HPLC specific chromatograms were established,and cluster analysis was adopted in chemical pattern recognition.RESULTS For three batches of formula granules,the paste rates were 15.1%-16.6%,the contents of magnoflorine,daurisoline,dauricine were 18.93-19.39,9.42-9.60,6.79-6.85 mg/g with the transfer rates of 34.42%-35.25%,43.81%-44.65%,27.27%-27.51%from decoction pieces to formula granules,respectively,and there were seven characteristic peaks in the specific chromatograms with the similarities of more than 0.95,which demonstrated good consistence with those of standard decoctions and accorded with related limit requirements.Fifteen batches of standard decoctions were clustered into two types,and the medicinal materials produced from Jilin,Hebei,Shangdong could be used for the preparation of formula granules.CONCLUSION This reasonable and reliable method can provide references for the quality control and clinical application of Beidougen Formula Granules.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients. METHODS: AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE. RESULTS: During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.

Objective::Microchannels are associated with the progression of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques. However, in patients with culprit optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined plaque erosion, the knowledge of microchannels and culprit lesion vulnerability is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate culprit lesion characteristics in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by plaque erosion with and without microchannels using OCT.Methods::In all, 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion who underwent OCT of the culprit lesion at the 2 nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) from August 2014 to December 2017 were included and divided into the microchannel group ( n= 116, 33.3%) and no-microchannel group ( n = 232, 66.7%). The clinical characteristics and OCT-derived plaque features were compared between both groups. Results::Among the 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion, culprit lesions with microchannels had higher incidence of lipid plaque (59.5% vs. 45.3%, P= 0.012); calcification (41.4% vs. 24.6%, P= 0.002); spotty calcification (30.2% vs. 18.1%, P= 0.014); macrophages accumulation (72.4% vs. 45.7%, P < 0.001); and cholesterol crystals (32.8% vs. 14.2%, P < 0.001) than those without microchannels. In addition, minimal lumen area was smaller ((1.9 ± 0.9) mm 2vs. (2.8 ± 2.3) mm 2, P < 0.001) and lumen area stenosis was greater ((71.3% ± 13.4%) vs. (65.3% ± 19.3%), P= 0.001) in the microchannel group than in the no-microchannel group. Conclusion::In patients with STEMI caused by plaque erosion, one-third manifested typical microchannel characteristics, and those with microchannels were associated with more severe luminal stenosis and more vulnerable plaque features than those without microchannels.

Objective::Microchannels are associated with the progression of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques. However, in patients with culprit optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined plaque erosion, the knowledge of microchannels and culprit lesion vulnerability is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate culprit lesion characteristics in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by plaque erosion with and without microchannels using OCT.Methods::In all, 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion who underwent OCT of the culprit lesion at the 2 nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (Harbin, China) from August 2014 to December 2017 were included and divided into the microchannel group ( n= 116, 33.3%) and no-microchannel group ( n = 232, 66.7%). The clinical characteristics and OCT-derived plaque features were compared between both groups. Results::Among the 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosion, culprit lesions with microchannels had higher incidence of lipid plaque (59.5% vs. 45.3%, P= 0.012); calcification (41.4% vs. 24.6%, P= 0.002); spotty calcification (30.2% vs. 18.1%, P= 0.014); macrophages accumulation (72.4% vs. 45.7%, P < 0.001); and cholesterol crystals (32.8% vs. 14.2%, P < 0.001) than those without microchannels. In addition, minimal lumen area was smaller ((1.9 ± 0.9) mm 2vs. (2.8 ± 2.3) mm 2, P < 0.001) and lumen area stenosis was greater ((71.3% ± 13.4%) vs. (65.3% ± 19.3%), P= 0.001) in the microchannel group than in the no-microchannel group. Conclusion::In patients with STEMI caused by plaque erosion, one-third manifested typical microchannel characteristics, and those with microchannels were associated with more severe luminal stenosis and more vulnerable plaque features than those without microchannels.

Objective: To determine the impact of inflammatory reaction levels and the culprit plaque characteristics on preprocedural Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The is a retrospective study. A total of 1 268 STEMI patients who underwent pre-intervention optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination of culprit lesion during emergency PCI were divided into 2 groups by preprocedural TIMI flow grade (TIMI 0-1 group (n =964, 76.0%) and TIMI 2-3 group (n =304, 24.0%)). Baseline clinical data of the 2 groups were collected; blood samples were collected for the detection of inflammatory markers such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), myocardial injury marker, blood lipid, etc.; echocardiography was used to determine left ventricular ejection fraction; coronary angiography and OCT were performed to define the lesion length, diameter stenosis degree of the infarct-related arteries, presence or absence of complex lesions, culprit lesion type, area stenosis degree and vulnerability of culprit plaques. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent correlation factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of continuous independent correlation factors was analyzed, and the best cut-off value of TIMI 0-1 was respectively determined according to the maximum value of Youden index. Results: The mean age of 1 268 STEMI patients were (57.6±11.4) years old and 923 cases were males (72.8%). Compared with TIMI 2-3 group, the patients in TIMI 0-1 group were older and had higher N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level, lower cardiac troponin I (cTnI) level, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and higher hsCRP level (5.16(2.06, 11.78) mg/L vs. 3.73(1.51, 10.46) mg/L). Moreover, the hsCRP level of patients in TIMI 0-1 group was higher in the plaque rupture subgroup (all P<0.05). Coronary angiography results showed that compared with TIMI 2-3 group, the proportion of right coronary artery (RCA) as the infarct-related artery was higher, the angiographical lesion length was longer, minimal lumen diameter was smaller, and diameter stenosis was larger in TIMI 0-1 group (all P<0.05). The prevalence of plaque rupture was higher (75.8% vs. 61.2%) in TIMI 0-1 group. Plaque vulnerability was significantly higher in TIMI 0-1 group than that in TIMI 2-3 group with larger mean lipid arc (241.27°±46.78° vs. 228.30°±46.32°), more thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA, 72.4% vs. 57.9%), more frequent appearance of macrophage accumulation (84.4% vs. 70.7%) and cholesterol crystals (39.1% vs. 25.7%). Minimal flow area was smaller [1.3(1.1-1.7)mm² vs. 1.4(1.1-1.9)mm², all P<0.05] and flow area stenosis was higher (78.2%±10.6% vs. 76.3%±12.3%) in TIMI 0-1 group. Multivariable analysis showed that mean lipid arc>255.55°, cholesterol crystals, angiographical lesion length>16.14 mm, and hsCRP>3.29 mg/L were the independent correlation factors of reduced preprocedural TIMI flow grade in STEMI patients. Conclusions: Plaque vulnerability and inflammation are closely related to reduced preprocedural TIMI flow grade in STEMI patients.
Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnostic imaging* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/diagnostic imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/surgery* ; Stroke Volume ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Ventricular Function, Left