Objectives:This study aims to investigate the incidence,characteristics and clinical outcomes of vagal response(VR)during pulmonary vein isolation(PVI).Methods:A total of 702 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(AF)who received the first PVI radiofrequency ablation in Central China Fuwai Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were consecutively enrolled.PVI was initiated from right superior pulmonary vein(RSPV),followed by other pulmonary veins(PVs).The VR was defined as atrioventricular block(AVB),asystole or a 50%increase in the RR interval.Results:Among 702 patients with AF,380 patients(54.1%)were paroxysmal AF and 322 patients(45.9%)were persistent AF.77 patients(11.0%)developed 81 VR episodes,which were more common in paroxysmal group than in persistent AF group(19.5%vs.0.9%,P<0.001).VR manifestations included 51 sinus arrest(63.0%),26 sinus bradycardia(32.1%),and 4 atrioventricular block(AVB,4.9%).Most VR episodes were observed in the left superior ganglionated plexi(67[82.7%]).Paroxysmal AF(OR=18.667,95%CI:6.638-52.491,P<0.001),body mass index(BMI)≥28.0 kg/m2(OR=2.361,95%CI:1.376-4.051,P=0.002)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)≥62.0%(OR=1.964,95%CI:1.119-3.447,P=0.019)were independent risk factors of VR.During a mean of(13.0±7.1)months follow up,among paroxysmal AF patients,6 patients(8.1%)with VR and 33 patients(10.8%)without VR experienced AF recurrence(P=0.496).Kaplan-Meier curves estimated that the AF-free survival rate was similar between VR group and non-VR group among paroxysmal AF patients(log-rank P=0.735).Conclusions:The most common sites of VR when initiating PVI from right RSPV occur in left superior ganglionated plexi.Paroxysmal AF,BMI≥28.0 kg/m2 and LVEF≥62.0%are independent risk factors of VR.VR does not affect AF-free survival.

Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in China,and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ES-CC)is the predominant histological subtype.Most people are diagnosed with ESCC at an advanced stage and are thus ineligible for surgical resection.The current therapeutic options for unresectable locally advanced ESCC are limited.The risks of recurrence and metastasis are high after first-line treatment,such as with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy(dCCRT).Recent advances in targeted therapies and im-mune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)have expanded the clinical treatment options for ESCC.However,no consensus has been reached on whether maintenance therapy provides survival benefits or which maintenance strategies should be prioritized.We provide a systematic re-view of the progress of research on postprimary maintenance therapy for patients with unresectable locally advanced ESCC,with the goal of optimizing comprehensive treatment strategies and providing information for personalized therapeutic decision making.

Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in China,and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ES-CC)is the predominant histological subtype.Most people are diagnosed with ESCC at an advanced stage and are thus ineligible for surgical resection.The current therapeutic options for unresectable locally advanced ESCC are limited.The risks of recurrence and metastasis are high after first-line treatment,such as with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy(dCCRT).Recent advances in targeted therapies and im-mune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)have expanded the clinical treatment options for ESCC.However,no consensus has been reached on whether maintenance therapy provides survival benefits or which maintenance strategies should be prioritized.We provide a systematic re-view of the progress of research on postprimary maintenance therapy for patients with unresectable locally advanced ESCC,with the goal of optimizing comprehensive treatment strategies and providing information for personalized therapeutic decision making.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the incidence,characteristics and clinical outcomes of vagal response(VR)during pulmonary vein isolation(PVI).Methods:A total of 702 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation(AF)who received the first PVI radiofrequency ablation in Central China Fuwai Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were consecutively enrolled.PVI was initiated from right superior pulmonary vein(RSPV),followed by other pulmonary veins(PVs).The VR was defined as atrioventricular block(AVB),asystole or a 50%increase in the RR interval.Results:Among 702 patients with AF,380 patients(54.1%)were paroxysmal AF and 322 patients(45.9%)were persistent AF.77 patients(11.0%)developed 81 VR episodes,which were more common in paroxysmal group than in persistent AF group(19.5%vs.0.9%,P<0.001).VR manifestations included 51 sinus arrest(63.0%),26 sinus bradycardia(32.1%),and 4 atrioventricular block(AVB,4.9%).Most VR episodes were observed in the left superior ganglionated plexi(67[82.7%]).Paroxysmal AF(OR=18.667,95%CI:6.638-52.491,P<0.001),body mass index(BMI)≥28.0 kg/m2(OR=2.361,95%CI:1.376-4.051,P=0.002)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)≥62.0%(OR=1.964,95%CI:1.119-3.447,P=0.019)were independent risk factors of VR.During a mean of(13.0±7.1)months follow up,among paroxysmal AF patients,6 patients(8.1%)with VR and 33 patients(10.8%)without VR experienced AF recurrence(P=0.496).Kaplan-Meier curves estimated that the AF-free survival rate was similar between VR group and non-VR group among paroxysmal AF patients(log-rank P=0.735).Conclusions:The most common sites of VR when initiating PVI from right RSPV occur in left superior ganglionated plexi.Paroxysmal AF,BMI≥28.0 kg/m2 and LVEF≥62.0%are independent risk factors of VR.VR does not affect AF-free survival.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of coronary artery tortuosity and its correlation with poor prognosis in patients with septal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients with septal HCM who were hospitalized in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital and Zhengzhou University People′s Hospital between December 1, 2017 and June 10, 2021 were selected. Non-HCM patients were matched by gender, age, and hypertension as control group. Septal HCM was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of coronary artery tortuosity. Clinical baseline data and coronary angiography findings were compared using a multifactorial logistic analysis of the risk factors for coronary artery tortuosity. Patients were followed up until July 1, 2022, with the primary outcome being the composite endpoint of malignant arrhythmia, ischemic stroke and all-cause death. Incidence densities were compared between the coronary artery tortuosity and non-coronary artery tortuosity groups of septal HCM patients. The Cox risk-ratio model was used to analyze risk factors for primary outcomes in septal HCM patients.Results:There were 156 patients in the septal HCM group and 156 patients in the control group, both aged (57.0±11.4) years, and 75 (48.1%) were female. The incidence of coronary artery tortuosity was significantly higher in the septal HCM group than in the control group (63.5% vs. 36.5%, P<0.01), and the coronary artery tortuosity score was also higher in the septal HCM group than in the control group ( P<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that septal HCM was a risk factor for coronary artery tortuosity ( OR=3.27, 95% CI: 2.02-5.29, P<0.01). In the septal HCM patients, after (2.5±1.2) years of follow-up, the incidence density of primary outcome was significantly higher in the coronary artery tortuosity group than in the non-coronary artery tortuosity group ( P=0.02), while each on-point in coronary artery tortuosity score increased the risk of primary outcome by 53% for septal HCM patients ( HR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.26-1.86, P<0.01). Conclusions:Patients with septal HCM are more prone to suffer coronary artery tortuosity and suffer from it to a greater extent. Coronary artery tortuosity is an important risk factor for adverse events in patients with septal HCM.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the changes in the quality of care for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during China's health system reform from 2009 to 2020. This study aimed to assess the changes in care processes and outcome for STEMI patients in Henan province of central China between 2011 and 2018. METHODS: We compared the data from the Henan STEMI survey conducted in 2011-2012 ( n = 1548, a cross-sectional study) and the Henan STEMI registry in 2016-2018 ( n = 4748, a multicenter, prospective observational study). Changes in care processes and in-hospital mortality were determined. Process of care measures included reperfusion therapies, aspirin, P2Y12 antagonists, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and statins. Therapy use was analyzed among patients who were considered ideal candidates for treatment. RESULTS: STEMI patients in 2016-2018 were younger (median age: 63.1 vs . 63.8 years) with a lower proportion of women (24.4% [1156/4748] vs . 28.2% [437/1548]) than in 2011-2012. The composite use rate for guideline-recommended treatments increased significantly from 2011 to 2018 (60.9% [5424/8901] vs . 82.7% [22,439/27,129], P <0.001). The proportion of patients treated by reperfusion within 12 h increased from 44.1% (546/1237) to 78.4% (2698/3440) ( P <0.001) with a prolonged median onset-to-first medical contact time (from 144 min to 210 min, P <0.001). The use of antiplatelet agents, statins, and β-blockers increased significantly. The risk of in-hospital mortality significantly decreased over time (6.1% [95/1548] vs . 4.2% [198/4748], odds ratio [OR]: 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.88, P = 0.005) after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS Gradual implementation of the guideline-recommended treatments in STEMI patients from 2011 to 2018 has been associated with decreased in-hospital mortality. However, gaps persist between clinical practice and guideline recommendation. Public awareness, reperfusion strategies, and construction of chest pain centers need to be further underscored in central China.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Aspirin/therapeutic use* ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Hospital Mortality ; Registries ; Treatment Outcome ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objective: To investigate the blood lipid levels and prevalence of dyslipidemia in people with hypertension and diabetes in Henan province. Methods: From April 2016 to April 2017, multi-stage cluster sampling was adopted to investigate 71 285 local residents aged between 35 and 75 from 6 districts and counties in Henan province including Zhongmu county of Zhengzhou city, Huojia county of Xinxiang city, Hualong district of Puyang city, Qi county of Hebi city, Xigong district of Luoyang city, and Wugang city of Pingdingshan city. Blood samples were collected. According to the diagnostic criteria of hypertension and diabetes, the study population was divided into control group (n=29 427), hypertension group (n=21 965), diabetes group (n=8 009) and hypertension-diabetes group (n=11 884). Comparisons on blood lipid levels and dyslipidemia between 4 groups were performed. Results: The total cholesterol (TC) level of all subjects was 4.37 (3.78, 5.05) mmol/L. The triglyceride (TG) level was 1.27 (0.97, 1.80) mmol/L, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was 2.34 (1.88, 2.88) mmol/L and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was 1.31 (1.08, 1.59) mmol/L. Except for the TC level in women aged 65-75 years and LDL-C levels in women aged 55-64 and 65-75 years, there were significant differences in TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C levels between subjects of control group, hypertension group, diabetes group, and hypertension-diabetes group in different age ranges (including 35-44, 45-54, 55-64,and 65-75 years) and genders(all P<0.01).Except for the LDL-C and HDL-C in men aged 35-44 years and LDL-C in women aged 65-75 years, there were significant differences in the dyslipidemia rates of TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C between subjects of control group, hypertension group, diabetes group and hypertension-diabetes group in different age ranges and genders(P<0.01 or <0.05). After adjusting for age, gender, smoking, drinking, snoring, region, and body mass index, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension (OR=1.221, 95%CI 1.113-1.339, P<0.01), diabetes (OR=1.636, 95%CI 1.461-1.833, P<0.01) and hypertension-diabetes (OR=1.832, 95%CI 1.658-2.023, P<0.01) were independent risk factors for TC abnormality. Hypertension (OR=1.566, 95%CI 1.478-1.659, P<0.01), diabetes (OR=2.182, 95%CI 2.031-2.342, P<0.01) and hypertension-diabetes (OR=2.655, 95%CI 2.492-2.829, P<0.01) were also independent risk factors for TG abnormality. Diabetes (OR=1.510, 95%CI 1.309-1.742, P<0.01) and hypertension-diabetes (OR=1.461, 95%CI 1.285-1.661, P<0.01) were independent risk factors for LDL-C abnormality. Diabetes (OR=1.261, 95%CI 1.180-1.346, P<0.01) and hypertension-diabetes (OR=1.195, 95%CI 1.126-1.268, P<0.01) were independent risk factors for HDL-C abnormality. Conclusion The prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with hypertension and diabetes is high in Henan province, so adequate blood lipid education and control should be applied to people with risk factors as soon as possible.

Objective: To investigate the compliance of smoking cessation and the effect of smoking status on long-term clinical prognosis in male patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after drug-eluting stent (DES) therapy. Methods: A total of 656 ACS patients after DES therapy were studied, according to the post-operative smoking status, the patients were divided into 3 groups: Non-smoking group,n=226, Quit smoking group,n=283 and Persistent smoking group, n=147. The patients were followed-up for the average of 27 months, the major adverse cardio-/cerebral-vascular events (MACCE) were recorded in detail, and the effect of smoking status for MACCE occurrence were evaluated by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results: The pre-operative smoking rate was 65.5% (430/656) of patients and post-operative smoking rate was 22.4% (147/656). Compared with Non-smoking group and Quit smoking group, the patients in Persistent smoking group had the younger age (P<0.001), more patients with abnormal blood lipids (P=0.005) and having lower level of education (P<0.001). The all cause death rates in Non-smoking group, Quit smoking group and Persistent smoking group were at 1.8%, 1.1% and 6.1% respectively,P=0.004; the MACCE occurrence rates were at 7.1%, 5.3% and 15.0% respectively,P=0.002. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that post-operative smoking was the independent risk factor for MACCE occurrence, HR =1.404, 95% CI (1.206-1.793),P=0.008. Conclusion: Smoking is the independent risk factor for MACCE occurrence in male ACS patients after DES therapy.

Objective To observe the early reperfusion therapy status for patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) hospitalized in tertiary and secondary hospitals in Henan province.Methods Baseline data, early reperfusion treatment and in-hospital mortality of STEMI patients hospitalized in 17 hospitals in Henan province (8 tertiary hospitals, 9 secondary hospitals) from June 2011 to June 2012 were obtained using a uniformed questionnaire.Results One thousand six hundred and eighty six patients were enrolled, of which 886 patients were hospitalized in tertiary hospitals and 880 patients were early hospitalized in secondary hospitals.Six hundred and fifty four patients (38.8％, 654/1 686) underwent early reperfusion therapy (543 with thrombolysis and 111 with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)).There was no difference in the proportion of early reperfusion therapy between tertiary and secondary hospitals (40.1％ (355/886) vs.37.4％ (299/800), P =0.257).The median time from symptom onset to first medical contact, door-to-needle and door-to-balloon was 132 min, 18 min and 60 min, respectively.The median time from symptom onset to first medical contact (150 min vs.120 min, P =0.001), door-to-needle (30 min vs.18 min, P =0.003) and symptom onset-to-thrombolysis (3.5 h vs.2.7 h, P =0.001) were significantly longer in tertiary hospitals than in secondary hospitals.No difference was found in median time of door-to-balloon, symptom onset-to-primary PCI or symptom onset-to-elected PCI between tertiary and secondary hospitals (all P ＞0.05).The proportion of door-to-needle≤30 min was lower in tertiary hospitals than in secondary hospitals (46.4％ (84/181) vs.62.2％ (153/246), P =0.001).However, there was no difference in the proportion of door-to-balloon ≤90 min between tertiary and secondary hospitals (58.8％ (60/102) vs.57.1％ (4/7), P =1.000).In-hospital mortality was also similar between tertiary and secondary hospitals (5.8％ (51/886) vs.5.5％ (44/800), P =0.820).Conclusions Early reperfusion rate is low, and thrombolysis is the main early reperfusion therapy in both tertiary and secondary hospitals in Henan province.Tertiary hospitals did not take advantage of their primary PCI capability.There is great room for improvement in early reperfusion therapy in tertiary and secondary hospitals.