BACKGROUND: The profile and clinical significance of the oral microbiome in patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (noHCM) and obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) remain unexplored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the difference of oral microbiome between noHCM and oHCM patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 18 noHCM patients and 26 oHCM patients from Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between 2020 and 2021. Clinical and periodontal evaluations were conducted, and subgingival plaque samples were collected. Metagenomic sequencing and subsequent microbial composition and functional analyses were performed. RESULTS: Compared to oHCM patients, those with noHCM had higher systolic blood pressure (138.1 ± 18.8 mmHg vs . 124.2 ± 13.8 mmHg, P = 0.007), a larger body circumference (neck circumference: 39.2 ± 4.0 cm vs . 35.1 ± 3.7 cm, P = 0.001; waist circumference: 99.7 ± 10.5 cm vs . 92.2 ± 10.8 cm, P = 0.027; hip circumference: 102.5 ± 5.6 cm vs . 97.5 ± 9.1 cm, P = 0.030), a greater left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (46.6 ± 4.9 mm vs . 43.1 ± 4.9 mm, P = 0.026), and a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (64.1 ± 5.7 % vs . 68.5 ± 7.8%, P = 0.048). While overall biodiversity and general microbial composition were similar between the noHCM and oHCM groups, ten taxa displayed significant differences at the genus and species levels, with Porphyromonas gingivalis showing the highest abundance and greater enrichment in noHCM (relative abundance: 7.79535 vs . 4.87697, P = 0.043). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis identified ten distinct pathways, with pathways related to energy and amino acid metabolism being enriched in oHCM patients, and those associated with genetic information processing less abundant in the oHCM group. Metabolic potential analysis revealed ten significantly altered metabolites primarily associated with amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, porphyrin metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversion, and lysine degradation. CONCLUSIONS The higher abundance of Porphyromonas gingivalis , which is known to impact cardiovascular health, in noHCM patients may partially account for clinical differences between the groups. Pathway enrichment and metabolic potential analyses suggest microbial functional shifts between noHCM and oHCM patients, potentially reflecting inherent metabolic changes in HCM.
Humans ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/microbiology* ; Female ; Male ; Microbiota/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Mouth/microbiology* ; Aged

Gut microbial communities are likely remodeled in tandem with accumulated physiological decline during aging, yet there is limited understanding of gut microbiome variation in advanced age. Here, we performed a metagenomics-based enterotype analysis in a geographically homogeneous cohort of 367 enrolled Chinese individuals between the ages of 60 and 94 years, with the goal of characterizing the gut microbiome of elderly individuals and identifying factors linked to enterotype variations. In addition to two adult-like enterotypes dominated by Bacteroides (ET-Bacteroides) and Prevotella (ET-Prevotella), we identified a novel enterotype dominated by Escherichia (ET-Escherichia), whose prevalence increased in advanced age. Our data demonstrated that age explained more of the variance in the gut microbiome than previously identified factors such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or diet. We characterized the distinct taxonomic and functional profiles of ET-Escherichia, and found the strongest cohesion and highest robustness of the microbial co-occurrence network in this enterotype, as well as the lowest species diversity. In addition, we carried out a series of correlation analyses and co-abundance network analyses, which showed that several factors were likely linked to the overabundance of Escherichia members, including advanced age, vegetable intake, and fruit intake. Overall, our data revealed an enterotype variation characterized by Escherichia enrichment in the elderly population. Considering the different age distribution of each enterotype, these findings provide new insights into the changes that occur in the gut microbiome with age and highlight the importance of microbiome-based stratification of elderly individuals.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Bacteroides ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology* ; Escherichia coli/classification* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics* ; Metagenomics ; East Asian People

Objective To compare and analyze the application value of domestic Octoparms and imported Celect inferior vena cava filter(IVCF)in the interventional treatment of venous thromboembolism(VTE).Methods Forty patients with VTE were randomly divided into Octoparms group(experimental group)and Celect group(control group)according to the double-blinded method of the central random system.All the patients underwent filter placement,catheter-directed thrombolysis and filter retrieval.The primary end point was the success of filter placement and retrieval,and the secondary end point included indwelling complications such as the occurrence of pulmonary embolism(PE)and filter tilt and migration.Results Forty patients were enrolled in this study,22 patients and 18 patients were divided into the experimental group and the control group,respectively.Among them,11 cases were identified with right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis,29 cases with left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis,17 cases with PE,and 6 cases with inferior vena cava thrombosis.The success rate of IVCF placement was 100%in all participants.Immediately after filter place-ment,the angle of filter tilt was(3.8±2.3)° in the experimental group and(4.9±2.8)° in the control group(t=1.44,P=0.16).Filter retrieval was successful in 21 cases(21/22,95.5%)of the experimental group and 17 cases(17/18,95.5%)of the control group.There was no significant difference between the two groups(t=0.14,P=0.89).The mean indwelling time of filter was(8.0±2.1)days in the experimental group and(9.7±3.1)days in the control group(t=0.73,P=0.47).The angle of filter tilt was(5.3±3.4)° in the experimental group and(5.7±7.7)° in the control group(t=0.19,P=0.85).There was no significant difference for filter placement and retrieval between the two groups(t=0.48 and 2.00,P=0.06 and 0.64,respectively).There were no complications of filter migration,strut penetration or new PE in both groups.Conclusion The application value of domestic Octoparms and impor-ted Celect IVCF is similar in interventional treatment of VTE.

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Taohong Siwutang （TSD） on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury （MIRI） in ovariectomized （OVX） female mice. MethodAfter the OVX model of female mice was established， the estradiol （E₂） level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） to verify the model. Sixty OVX mice were randomly divided into six groups： Sham operation group， model group， low， medium， and high dose groups （9， 18， 36 g·kg^-1） of TSD， and nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2） inhibitor group， with 10 mice in each group. The MIRI model was verified by a laser speckle flowmeter. The pathological changes in myocardial tissue were detected by 2，3， 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Serum creatine kinase isoenzyme （CK-MB）， cardiac troponin Ⅰ （CTnⅠ）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） levels were detected by ELISA. The expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） were observed by immunofluorescence staining. The expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， apoptotic B-cell lymphomato-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， inflammatory cytokines interleukin-18 （IL-18）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， the serum levels of CK-MB， CTnⅠ， MDA， and IL-6 in the model group were increased （P<0.01）， and the levels of SOD and IL-10 were decreased （P<0.01）. The damage scores of TTC and HE staining in myocardial tissue were increased （P<0.01）. The expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in myocardial tissue by immunofluorescence were decreased （P<0.01）， and the protein expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， and Bcl-2 in myocardial tissue were decreased. The protein expressions of Bax， IL-18， and IL-1β were increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， serum levels of CK-MB， CTnⅠ， MDA， and IL-6 of TSD groups were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and SOD and IL-10 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. TTC staining and HE staining damage scores of myocardial tissue were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in myocardial tissue by immunofluorescence were increased （P<0.01）. The protein expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， and Bcl-2 were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and those of Bax， IL-18， and IL-1β were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The effect of the high dose group of TSD was the most significant. The serum levels of CK-MB， CTnⅠ， MDA， and IL-6 in the Nrf2 inhibitor group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the levels of SOD and IL-10 were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The damage scores of TTC and HE staining in myocardial tissue were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in myocardial tissue by immunofluorescence were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The protein expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， and Bcl-2 in myocardial tissue were significantly decreased， and those of Bax， IL-18， and IL-1β were significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionTSD can alleviate MIRI in OVX mice， reduce oxidative stress response and the release of inflammatory factors， and inhibit apoptosis， playing a protective role in OVX mice with MIRI， which may be related to the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of distal radial artery approach in emergency percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) of elderly ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI) patients.Methods:This study is a cross-sectional study. Elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction who received emergency PCI at the Third Central Hospital of Tianjin from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected. They were divided into the distal radial artery group and the classic radial artery group based on the puncture location. The success rate, puncture time, surgical success rate, and surgical time of the two groups were observed; The incidence of complications in patients, including radial artery occlusion rate, radial artery spasm rate, local hematoma rate, aneurysm incidence rate were recorded.Results:There were 70 cases in the distal radial artery group, including 33 males (47.1%), aged (65.6±6.7) years old; There were 70 cases in the classic radial artery group, including 35 males (50.0%), aged (66.4±6.9) years old. There was no statistically significant difference in puncture success rate, puncture time, surgical success rate, and surgical time between the distal radial artery group and the classical radial artery group ( P>0.05). The incidence of radial artery occlusion in the distal radial artery group was significantly lower than that in the classical radial artery group (1.4% vs. 8.6%, P=0.024). The postoperative compression time in the distal radial artery group was significantly shorter than that in the classical radial artery group ((291.6±10.5) min vs. (343.5±9.8) min, P=0.047). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of radial artery spasm, local hematoma, and aneurysm between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The distal radial artery approach has a lower radial artery occlusion rate, shorter compression time, and better safety. It can be used as a new approach for emergency PCI in elderly patients with STEMI for clinical application.

Objective:To conduct evidence-based exercise training for patients with peripheral arterial disease, develop review indicators, analyze barriers and enablers in the evidence-based practice process, and develop change strategies.Methods:Guided by the clinical evidence application model of the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Center, the study identified clinical nursing problems, formed the evidence-based practice team, systematically searched, evaluated, and summarized evidence of exercise training in patients with peripheral arterial disease, developed review indicators, and clarified review methods. The baseline review was conducted from October 1 to 31, 2022. The integrated-promoting action on research implementation in health services (i-PARIHS) framework was used to analyze the barriers and enablers of the baseline review results, and corresponding strategies were formulated.Results:A total of 20 best evidence were included, and 11 review indicators were developed, with only one indicator having a compliance rate of 100%. This study analyzed 22 barriers and 24 enablers, and formulated 14 change strategies.Conclusions:The review indicators constructed based on the best evidence are scientific, effective, appropriate, and feasible. The analysis of barriers and enablers, as well as the formulation of change strategies, can provide guarantees for promoting clinical practice of exercise training for patients with peripheral arterial diseases.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of sappanone A(SA)against high-fat diet-induced myocardial lipotoxicity through ferroptosis in rats.Methods Sixteen healthy male rats were equally divided into the normal diet(NCD)and model groups(n=8).Another 40 healthy male rats were equally divided into the high-fat diet(HFD),high-fat diet+normal saline(HFD+saline),high-fat diet+low-dose SA(HFD+10 mg/kg SA),high-fat diet+medium-dose SA(HFD+20 mg/kg SA),and high-fat diet+high-dose SA(HFD+40 mg/kg SA)groups(n=8).Ultrasonography detected the changes in cardiac systolic function in the rats.Changes of myocardial hypertrophy,myocardial fibrosis,and myocardial cell apoptosis were evaluated by HE,Masson,Sirius red,and TUNEL staining.Differen-tially expressed genes in the myocardium of the HFD+20 mg/kg SA and HFD groups were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing.The SA signaling pathway was analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.Results Compared with the NCD group,the model group had significantly increased left ventricular wall thickness,cross-sectional area of the myocardium,percentage of myocardial fibrosis,myocardial collagen deposition,and apoptosis,and significantly reduced short-axis shortening rate(all P＜0.05).Compared with the HFD group,the SA treatment groups has significantly reduced left ventricular wall thickness,cross-sectional area of the myocardium,percentage of myocardial fibrosis,myocardial collagen deposition,and apoptosis,and significantly increased short-axis shortening rate(all P＜0.05).Transcriptome sequencing revealed that ferroptosis was the most abundant pathway.Conclusion High-fat diet can induce myocardial lipotoxicity,and SA has a protective effect against myocardial lipotoxicity through ferroptosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical application value of contrast-enhanced chest CT in the detection of responsible vessels for hemoptysis before selective arterial embolization(SAE).Methods The clinical data of 74 patients with hemoptysis trea-ted with interventional therapy and preoperative contrast-enhanced chest CT and digital subtraction angiography(DSA)were ana-lyzed retrospectively.The responsible vessels were identified and then embolized via angiography.The detection of the responsible vessels via preoperative contrast-enhanced chest CT was analyzed.The patients were followed up to observe the efficacy and compli-cations,and the influencing factors of interventional efficacy and recurrence were analyzed.Results A total of 245 responsible ves-sels were detected by preoperative contrast-enhanced chest CT,including bronchial arteries(n=178),ectopic bronchial arteries(n=10)and non-bronchial systemic artery(NBSA)(n=57),which could accurately show the anatomical information of responsible vessels.A total of 4 posterior intercostal arteries were missed.The diagnostic accuracy was 98.4％(245/249).All patients were followed up for 12 to 25.6 months.The immediate hemostasis rate was 93.2％(69/74)and the effective rate was 79.7％(59/74),respectively.The factors affecting the efficacy were bronchial artery to pulmonary circulation fistula,pleural thickening at the bleeding site,and underly-ing lung disease.Among the 59 patients with effective treatment,underlying lung disease was the influencing factor for postoperative recurrence.Conclusion Contrast-enhanced chest CT can provide anatomical information about the responsible vessels for interven-tional therapy of hemoptysis,improving surgical efficiency and reducing the recurrence rate of hemoptysis.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and clinical effects of unilateral superior gluteal artery perforator propeller flap combined with contralateral centripetal advancement flap in repairing huge pressure ulcers in the sacrococcygeal region.Methods:The study was a retrospective observational study. From June 2020 to April 2023, 15 patients with stage Ⅳ pressure ulcers with sacrococcygeal defect area greater than 10.0 cm×10.0 cm who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, including 8 males and 7 females, aged from 30 to 86 years. The pressure ulcers before debridement were all accompanied by different degree of infection and necrosis. Debridement and negative pressure sealing and irrigation treatment were performed in stage Ⅰ. After debridement, the skin and soft tissue defect area was 12.0 cm×10.5 cm to 20.0 cm×17.0 cm. After the wound bed infection was controlled, unilateral superior gluteal artery perforator propeller flap combined with contralateral centripetal advancement flap was used to repair the pressure ulcer wounds in stage Ⅱ. The perforator flap area was 12.0 cm×7.0 cm to 16.0 cm×10.5 cm. The donor area wound was sutured directly. After operation, the survival, complications, and wound healing of flap donor area were observed. During regular follow-up, the recurrence of pressure ulcers, the appearance and texture of the flap, and the scars in the donor site were observed.Results:After operation, 1 patient had fluid accumulation under the flap and survived after drainage and dressing change. The flaps of the other patients survived well without infection, local necrosis, and sinus formation under the flap. The wounds in the donor area healed well. All patients were followed up for more than 6 months, and there was no recurrence of pressure ulcers. The appearance of the flap was not bloated, the texture was soft, and the compression resistance and elasticity were good. The donor site wound healed well without obvious scar.Conclusions:The surgical method of repairing giant sacrococcygeal pressure ulcers with unilateral superior gluteal artery perforator propeller flap combined with contralateral centripetal advancement flap is simple and easy to operate. It can repair large defect area with the donor area being sutured directly, which is worthy of clinical promotion.