【Objective】 To develop a simple and practical diagnostic protocol to optimize patient screening for fractional flow reserve（FFR）. 【Methods】 Consecutive patients who underwent both invasive coronary angiography and lesion-specific FFR measurement from July 2013 to August 2018 were retrospectively screened， resulting in a total of 372 patients（390 lesions） for inclusion. Visual estimation（VE） of stenosis was obtained from experts while percent diameter stenosis（DS%）， percent area stenosis（AS%）， lesion length（LL）， minimal lumen diameter（MLD）， and the ratio of LL to the fourth power of MLD（LL/MLD⁴） were recorded by quantitative software. An FFR value of ≤0.80 was considered to indicate the physiological significance of stenosis. 【Results】 The median age（25^th-75^th percentiles） of the included patients was 66 years（59-74 years） and positive FFR results were identified in 77 lesions（19.7%）. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was revealed as 0.711（95% CI 0.663-0.755） for VE， significantly greater than DS%（0.605）， AS%（0.608）， and LL（0.612； P<0.05 for all）， but without significant difference from that of MLD（0.667） and LL/MLD⁴（0.702）. The combination of VE with LL/MLD⁴ yielded a high sensitivity of 89.6%（95% confidence interval ［CI］， 80.6-95.4） and a negative predictive value of 94.4%（95% CI， 89.2-97.5）. 【Conclusion】 Overall， the combination of VE with LL/MLD⁴ can effectively identify those low-risk lesions for ischemia to avoid unnecessary FFR measurement， thus optimizing the use of pressure wire as well as reducing total medical expenditure and potential complications.

Objective To investigate the hemodynamic changes in a tortuous coronary to elucidate the effects of tortuosity on coronary perfusion and wall shear stress (WSS). Methods A single tortuous and non-tortuous patient-specific left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery cases were selected. Two LAD models with and without coronary tortuosity were reconstructed in Mimics software and then transferred to the ANSYS Fluent software for performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The hemodynamic characteristics of both the LAD models were compared. Results The vessel WSS of the tortuous coronary artery clearly decreased in the bend section where the maximum curvature was larger than 1 mm-1.Such a scenario could led to an inadequate blood supply in the downstream vessels. A low WSS (0-26 Pa) acted on the outer wall of the bend, whereas the inner wall of the bend had a high WSS (>100 Pa). The mean WSS of the non-tortuous and tortuous models was 10.79 Pa and 36.12 Pa, respectively. The overall WSS of the tortuous model was larger compared with that of the non-tortuous model. Conclusions Coronary tortuosity increased the overall WSS, which could delay the progress of coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective To evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of CalliSpheres,a domestic drugeluting microspheres,in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 12 HCC patients were enrolled in this study.Interventional chemoembolization with CalliSpheres was carried out in all patients.The preoperative and postoperative clinical data,laboratory results and imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed.Results The success rate of initial interventional chemoembolization in 12 patients was 100％,the median follow-up time was 7.5 months (6-9 months).One week after the treatment,both AST and ALT levels were obviously increased when compared with preoperative ones,the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05),although their mean values did not exceed the normal upper limit of 40 U/L.No statistically significant differences in Child-Pugh grading,creatinine level,hemoglobin,white blood cell count and platelet count existed between preoperative data and postoperative ones (P＞0.05).At 3 months and 6 months after treatment,the disease remission rates (CR+PR) were 75.00％ and 66.67％ respectively,the disease control rates (CR+PR+SD) were 91.67％ and 83.33％ respectively.In 10 HCC patients whose preoperative AFP was ≥ 200 μg/L,the postoperative AFP levels showed a significant decrease.Three months after the treatment,the complete remission rate,disease remission rate and disease control rate in the CalliSpheres combined with Lipiodol sequential transarterial chemoembolization group were better than those in the simple CalliSpheres embolization group,but the differences were not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Postoperative complications were mainly abdominal pain and fever.During follow-up period,the complications included pleural effusion (n=2),liver abscess (n=l) and lung metastasis (n=l).Conclusion The use of domestic CalliSpheres,as a drug-eluting microspheres,for the treatment of primary HCC is safe and feasible with satisfactory short-term efficacy.Its long-term efficacy and the effect of combination use of CalliSpheres and Lipiodol need to be further clarified with multicenter and large sample researches.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of plasma homocysteinemia(Hcy) on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

METHODSConsecutive 684 ACS patients undergoing first PCI in our department between January 2013 and December 2014 were prospectively enrolled.Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the pre-procedural plasma Hcy level: high-Hcy group (Hcy≥10 μmol/L, n=404) and control group (Hcy<10 μmol/L, n=280). The CIN was defined as serum creatinine ≥ 44.2 μmol/L or 25% increase compared to baseline within 48-72 h after PCI.The baseline clinical data and the ratio of CIN were compared between the 2 groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to define the independent risk factors for CIN.

RESULTSCIN occurred in 133(19.4%) out of 684 enrolled patients, and the incidence of CIN was significantly higher in high Hcy group than in the control group (22.0%(89/404)vs. 15.7%(44/280), P=0.040). After adjusting the confounding factors, including age, acute myocardial infarction, co-morbidities(hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and old myocardial infarction), laboratory examination (level of cystatin C and uric acid), glomerular filtration rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, angiographic and procedural characteristics (3 diseased vessels, multiple stent implantation), treatment at admission (spironolactone, digoxin), multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high Hcy was independently associated with the development of CIN (OR=1.70, 95%CI 1.60-2.64, P=0.021).

CONCLUSIONElevated Hcy prior PCI is an independent risk factor of CIN in ACS patients undergoing first PCI.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Incidence ; Kidney Diseases ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective To investigate the prevalence of CKD in patients underging coronary angiography with suspected coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods A total of 1031patients with suspected CHD undergoing coronary angiography in Zhongda Hospital from December 2008 to October 2009 were enrolled in the study.The prevalence of CKD and associated risk factors were analyzed.GFR Wag estimated with MDRD equation.CKD was deftned as eGFR<60branches of coronary artery was considered as CHD. Results The mean age of patients were (64.37±11.02)years.There were 543 males and 488 females,including 551 patients with CHD and 134 patients with CKD(13%).Patients with CHD had a significantly higher prevalence of CKD compared with patients without CHD(18.33%vs 6.88%,P<0.01).With the increasing number of stenosis coronary vessels(n=0,1,2,3),eGFR was declined[(84.25±19.00),(81.61±23.92),increased(0.42%,0.82%,1.96%,3.25%,P=0.006),and the prevalence of CKD increased (6.88%,13.11%,21.57%,23.38%,P<0.01).Logistic regression analysis indicated that increasing age(OR 1.094,95%C/1.068 to 1.120),increasing number of stenosis coronary vessels(OR 1.288,95%CI 1.074 to 1.543).hypertension(OR 1.974,95%CI 1.082 to 3.603),cardiac systolic insufficiency(OR 3.183,95%CI 1.696 to 5.972),and hyperuricemia(OR 5.366,95%CI 3.224 to 8.9311 were risk factors for CKD. Conclusions The prevalence of CKD in patients with CHD diagnosed by coronary angiography is quite high.Aging,elevated number of stenosis coronary vessels,hypertension,cardiac systolic insufficiency and hyperuricemia are important risk factors for angiographic patients with CKD.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of firofiban in gerontal patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS). MethodA total of 106 elderly patients with ACS admitted form December 2006 to June 2008 were enrolled in a prospective case-control study. Patients were divided into percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) group and medicine group. Both groups were randomly divided into two sub-groups, tirofiban sub-group and placebo sub-group. Patients in the PCI group received tirofiban infused in dose of 10 μg·kg- within 3 minutes as loading dose before operation and then an infusion of 0.15μg'kg-1·min-1 as maintenance dose for 24～36 hours. In medicine group,the loading dose was 0.4 μg·kg-1·min-1×30 min and the maintaining dose was 0.1 μg·kg-1·min-1×48 hours, The rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) consisting of death, myocardial infarction or refractory ischemia during hospital stay stay and 30 days' follow-up, bleeding rates TIMI grade, corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) and myocardial blush grade(MBG) after PCI were compared between sub-groups of PCI group. ResultsThe basic clinical data were similar among the sub-groups. In medicine group,the MACE rate during 30 days' follow-up was much lower in the tirofiban sub-group than in the placebo sub-group (12.0% vs. 36.4 %, P < 0.05). In comparison with medicine group, in PCI group, there were fewer TIMI frames [(23.5 ±5.1) frames vs. (31.4±5.2) frames, P < 0.01] and higher percentage of myocardial blush grade 3(64.3% vs. 29.0%, P < 0.01) in firotiban sub-group of PCI group. No significant differences in bleeding rates were found between all sub-groups. ConclusionsTirofiban is safe and effective in gerontal ACS patients with blood flow and reperfusion improved.

Objective To study the characteristics of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in patients less than 50 years-old of premature stable coronary heart disease(PSCHD)complicated with nonalcoholic fatty liver(NAFL).Methods One hundred and six patients with documented PSCHD were recruited into this study and their clinical data,including biochemical parameters,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP),white blood cell(WBC)count,ete.,were analyzed based on whether they had NAFL by B-type ultrasound scanning and their homeostasis model assessment ratio(Homa-IR)by the criteria for metabolic syndrome formulated by the International Diabetes Federation.Results Thirty-two (30.1percent)of 106 patients of PSCHD complicated with NAFL,and 74(69.9 percent)without NAFL. As compared to patients without NAFL,patients with NAFL had higher fasting blood glucose(FBS),serum level of insulin(INS),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),serum activity of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),hsCRP,WBC count,body mass index(BMI),Homa-IR,and higher proportion of those with abnormal blood glucose,hypertension.metabolic syndrome(MS)and carotid atherosclerosis (CA)(P＜0.05),respectively.Bi-variate correlation analysis revealed that hsCRP positively correlated to BMI,TG,ALT and Homa IR(r=0.420,P=0.000;r=0.200,P=0.040;r=0.218,P=0.048:and r=0.546,P=0.000,respectively)and inversely correlated with serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)(r=-0.220,P=0.023).WBC count positively correlated with FBS(r=0.211,P=0.030).BMI,hsCRP,ALT,and proportions of hypertension,diabetes,MS,NAFL and CA in patients with Homa-IR above median were significantly higher than those in patients with that below median ( P＜0.05,respectively).Conclusions More risk faetors for chronic inflammatory reaction,cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance were clustered more obviously in patients of PSCHD complicated with NAFL.

BACKGROUND:Among many transplanted cells,adult autologous bone barrow-derived mononuclear cells have beenused in clinical practice because they are easy to be obtained,without immunological rejection and ethical disputationand other advantages.How to distinguish donor cells from receptors and observe the survival of donor cells following stem cell transplantation still trouble people.OBJECTIVE: superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)particles-labeled bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells from minipigs were used to observe the feasibility of in vivo tracking with magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).DESIGN:A controlled observation experiment.SETTING:Institute of Cardiovascular Disease,Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University.MATERIALS:This experiment was carried out in the Institute of Cardiovascular Disease,Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University between April 2006 and August 2006.Healthy Chinese minipigs,aged 3 to 4 months,weighing from 20 to 30 kg,were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Southeast University[SYXK(Su)2002-0012].METHODS: Autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells of minipigs were isolated and cultured. Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells in the suspension were traced with SPIO particles.Ferrum in the cells were shown by Prussian blue staining, and cell viability was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion method. Eleven minipigs used for preparation of model of myocardial infarction were divided into experimental group(n=9)and control group(n=2).By means of percutaneous left or right cervical artery or femoral artery puncturation, 1.5 to 2.0 mm balloon was used to occlude 1/3 left anterior descending branch,304 to 405 kPa,60 minutes later,ischemic preconditioning was conducted 3 tO 4 times before operation. When pig models of myocardial infarction were successful that was proved by surface electrocardiogram,bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells were percutaneously injected into coronary artery.Coronary arteriography was performed through femoral artery acupuncture at 24 hours after establishing infarction models.Suspension of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells was perfused into coronary artery with OTW catheter.Then,the injector and OTW catheter for containing cells were rinsed with normal saline containing heparin and infused with the residual cells within 10 minutes.Non-labeled cells were perfused in 2 minipigs of control group by the same method.Postoperatively, bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells were traced by magnetic resonance and compared with Prussian blue-stained myocardial tissue sections.RESULTS: Seven minipigs of experimental group and one minipig of control group were Involved in the final analysis.One of each group was used for preparation of model of myocardial Infarction.One minipig of experimental group died from anesthetic accident before magnetic resonance.①Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells all were nearly labeled by SPIO particles. Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells could further proliferate in culture medium containing Fe2O3-PLL without obvious changes of cellular shape. ②T2+WI showed that 5 of 8 models of myocardial infarction presented fuzzy low-echo signal region in peripheral myocardial infarction after transplantation of labeled cells and the low-echo signal disappeared 4 weeks Iater. Ex vivo T2+WI sequence showed there was a dot-distributed low-echo signal region in the peripheral infarction region.③It was found in histological examination that 5 models(cell number over 106) had Prussian blue-positive cells,which distributed the same as those in magnetic resonance signal reducing region.CONCLUSION:SPIO particles-labeled bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells are safe and effective;T2+ WI is sensitive to tracing SPIO particles-labeled bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells;Magnetic resonance can in vivo trace SPIO particles-labeled stem cells transplanted through coronary artery,magnetic resonance signal change is related with the number of stem cells and division growth.

BACKGROUND:Previous study reveals that,glycated albumin plays an important role on the apoptosis of endothelial cells and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 through increasing the activity of mitogen activated protein kinase and protein tyrosine kinase,besides generating active oxygen products. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of glycated albumin on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) . DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A single sample observation was carried out in the Cardiovascular Laboratory of Southeast University(Nanjing,Jiangsu,China) from May to November in 2006. MATERIALS:ECV304 HUVEC strain was provided from Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(China) . METHODS:Experimental procedures were assigned to two parts. On one hand,HUVECs were cultured with glycated albumin of the concentration of 400 mg/L for 0,8,16,24,48,or 72 hours. On the other hand,HUVECs were cultured with glycated albumin of the concentrations of 100,200,400,and 800 mg/L for 24 hours. In the control group,HUVECs were incubated with bovine serum albumin of the concentration of 400 mg/L and RPMI 1640 culture medium without addition of the serum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The proliferation of HUVECs was estimated by MTT colorimetric assay. The content of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the supernatant was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS:Glycated albumin inhibited the proliferation rate of HUVECs in a time-dependent manner(P

Objective Assessment of right ventricular function in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) is difficult. The Doppler myocardial performance index (MPI) may provide a method of assessing function in these patients. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the right ventricular function and its changes in patients with ASD after transcatheter closure of ASD. Methods MPI, defined as the sum of isovolumic relaxation time and isovolumic contraction time derived by ejection time, was measured from tricuspid inflow and right ventricular outflow; Doppler velocity profiles recorded during routine echocardiography. Twenty nine patients ( 13 men, 16 women;mean age 25.28 ± 12.69, range 6 to 57 years) were diagnosed to secundum ASD [the stretched diameters of ASD were from 9 To 36 (24.91 ±7.98) mm], and had a successfully placed Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) (the sizes of ASO were from 11 to 40 mm ); there were 81 sex-matched, age-matched healthy people (control group 41men, 40 women; mean age 29.02 ± 14.22, range 4 to 45 years).MPI was measured again on 3 days and 1 month after closure of ASD. Change in the study group was assessed and compared to the control subjects with structurally normal hearts. A complete 2- dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examination was performed in all study groups. Results 1) The isovolumic relaxation and isovolumic contraction times [respectively(77.59 ± 14.39)ms vs (60.93 ± 12.94)ms, P＜0.0001; (28.28 ± 10.88)ms vs (23.64 ± 9.01)ms, P=0.027] were prolonged, and ejection time [(260.65 ± 21.86 )ms vs (271.85 ± 21.92)ms, P=0.033] was shortened in patients with ASD compared with that in control subjects, resulting in a marked increase in the MPI(0.40 ± 0.07 vs 0.31 ± 0.05, P＜0.0001) from normal values; 2) by Pearson's correlations, the MPI had no correlation with heart rate and blood pressure in control subjects and patients with ASD, but it correlated positively with age in patients with ASD; 3) by Pearson's correlations, the MPI correlated positively with the diameter of ASD and pulmonary artery pressure; 4) after transcatheter closure of ASD, the MPI decreased markedly. Conclusions 1) MPI is a conceptually new, simple, and reproducible Doppler index in patients with ASD; 2) MPI is free from the effect of age, heart rate and blood pressure; (3) MPI appears to be relatively dependent on changes in the diameter of ASD and pulmonary artery pressure; 4) the right ventricular function was improved after transcatheter closure of ASD.