Objective To explore the effect of enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)on ser-um vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)level and cardiopulmonary function in patients with stable angina pectoris(SAP).Methods A prospective double-blind controlled trial was con-ducted on 300 SAP patients admitted to Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine and Geriatrics of Jincheng People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023.They were randomly divided in-to study group(150 cases)and control group(150 cases).Coronary angiography or coronary CT angiography indicated that there were 101,101 and 98 cases,respectively,of one-,two-and three-vessel diseases.The patients of both groups were given conventional drug therapy(secondary pre-ventive drug for coronary heart disease),and those of the study group received EECP therapy ad-ditionally.The changes in serum VEGF level and related indicators of cardiopulmonary exercise test before and after one course of standardized treatment(36 h)were observed and compared be-tween the two groups.Results The VEGF level was significantly higher in the patients with three-vessel disease than those with two-and one-vessel diseases(P＜0.05).The level was obvi-ously increased in the study group and control group after intervention than before(238.41±82.57 ng/L vs 218.75±82.58 ng/L,224.47±85.08 ng/L vs 218.96±83.04 ng/L,P＜0.01),and the former group obtained better improvement of VEGF than the latter group(P＜0.01).The level in the study group and the control group with one-,two-and three-vessel lesions was notably higher than those before intervention(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The study group with one-,two-and three-vessel lesions had statistical differences in the VEGF level after intervention when compared with that in the control group(P＜0.01).The levels of Peak VO2/kg and VO2/kg@AT were sig-nificantly increased in both groups after intervention than before(P＜0.01),with those of the study group notably higher than those of the control group[19.87±5.18 ml/(kg·min)vs 17.15±5.18 ml/(kg·min),P＜0.01;14.33±2.24 ml/(kg·min)vs 12.81±1.57 ml/(kg·min),P＜0.01].Conclusion EECP treatment is helpful to increase VEGF level and improve cardiopul-monary function in SAP patients.

Objective To explore the effect of enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)on ser-um vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)level and cardiopulmonary function in patients with stable angina pectoris(SAP).Methods A prospective double-blind controlled trial was con-ducted on 300 SAP patients admitted to Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine and Geriatrics of Jincheng People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023.They were randomly divided in-to study group(150 cases)and control group(150 cases).Coronary angiography or coronary CT angiography indicated that there were 101,101 and 98 cases,respectively,of one-,two-and three-vessel diseases.The patients of both groups were given conventional drug therapy(secondary pre-ventive drug for coronary heart disease),and those of the study group received EECP therapy ad-ditionally.The changes in serum VEGF level and related indicators of cardiopulmonary exercise test before and after one course of standardized treatment(36 h)were observed and compared be-tween the two groups.Results The VEGF level was significantly higher in the patients with three-vessel disease than those with two-and one-vessel diseases(P＜0.05).The level was obvi-ously increased in the study group and control group after intervention than before(238.41±82.57 ng/L vs 218.75±82.58 ng/L,224.47±85.08 ng/L vs 218.96±83.04 ng/L,P＜0.01),and the former group obtained better improvement of VEGF than the latter group(P＜0.01).The level in the study group and the control group with one-,two-and three-vessel lesions was notably higher than those before intervention(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The study group with one-,two-and three-vessel lesions had statistical differences in the VEGF level after intervention when compared with that in the control group(P＜0.01).The levels of Peak VO2/kg and VO2/kg@AT were sig-nificantly increased in both groups after intervention than before(P＜0.01),with those of the study group notably higher than those of the control group[19.87±5.18 ml/(kg·min)vs 17.15±5.18 ml/(kg·min),P＜0.01;14.33±2.24 ml/(kg·min)vs 12.81±1.57 ml/(kg·min),P＜0.01].Conclusion EECP treatment is helpful to increase VEGF level and improve cardiopul-monary function in SAP patients.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, treatment strategies, and maternal and infant outcomes of pregnancy complicated by right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) to provide evidence for clinical management. Methods: By searching literature on RSIE during pregnancy from the databases of CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP, CBM, PubMed, OVID, EMbase and ScienceDirect, relevant information were collected to analyze the clinical manifestations, risk factors, positions of intracardiac vegetations, results of blood culture, treatment strategies and maternal and infant outcomes of RSIE. Results: A total of 15 articles were retrieved, involving 18 infected gravidas with the average age of (27.7±4.8) years and average gestational age at onset of (27.8±6.9) weeks. Fever (n=14), cough (n=12), anemia (n=8) and shortness of breath or dyspnea (n=8) were the common symptoms. Cardiac murmurs were detected on auscultation in seven cases, of which six were systolic murmurs and one was unspecified. Heart sounds of five cases were clear on auscultation without any murmurs. Nine cases were complicated by pulmonary embolism and five by heart failure. The major risk factors were congenital heart diseases (10/18) and intravenous drug abuse (6/18). Vegetations were commonly seen on the tricuspid valves (10/18), followed by the pulmonary valves (4/18). The rate of positive blood culture was high (15/16) with Staphylococcus (9/15) and Streptococcus (3/15) being the primary pathogens. Most pregnancies were timely ended by cesarean section. Apart from receiving fundamental antibiotic therapy for infective endocarditis, 11 patients underwent cardiac surgery, including vegetation removal, valve repair or replacement and surgery for congenital heart diseases, before or after pregnancy or during cesarean section based on their gestational age, condition, and cardiopulmonary function. There was no maternal death, but one neonatal death was reported due to severe asphyxia following cesarean section at 28 weeks. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were good during follow-up. Conclusions Pregnancy complicated by RSIE is rare and complex, requiring early diagnosis and individualized treatment. Adequate and full-course antibiotic therapy, appropriate surgical procedures and timely termination are of great importance for improving maternal and infant outcomes.