Objective To explore the safety and effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF). Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was designed (ClinicalTrial.gov registration number NCT03491969). From January 2019 to January 2023, 300 patients with IHF were enrolled in four medical centers in China, and were randomly assigned at a 1∶1 ratio to receive ALA (600 mg daily) or placebo on top of standard care for 24 months. The primary outcome was the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) or all-cause mortality events. The second outcome included non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), non-fatal stroke, changes of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) from baseline to 24 months after randomization. Results Finally, 138 patients of the ALA group and 139 patients of the placebo group attained the primary outcome. Hospitalization for HF or all-cause mortality events occurred in 32 patients (23.2%) of the ALA group and in 40 patients (28.8%) of the placebo group (HR＝0.753, 95%CI 0.473-1.198, P＝0.231; Figure 1A-1C). The absolute risk reduction (ARR) was 5.6%, the relative risk reduction (RRR) associated with ALA therapy was approximately 19.4% compared to placebo, corresponding to a number needed to treat (NNT) of 18 patients to prevent one event. In the secondary outcome analysis, the composite outcome of the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including the hospitalization for HF, all-cause mortality events, non-fatal MI or non-fatal stroke occurred in 35 patients (25.4%) in the ALA group and 47 patients (33.8%) in the placebo group (HR＝0.685, 95%CI 0.442-1.062, P＝0.091; Figure 1D). Moreover, greater improvement in LVEF (β＝3.20, 95%CI 1.14-5.23, P＝0.002) and 6MWD (β＝31.7, 95%CI 8.3-54.7, P＝0.008) from baseline to 24 months after randomization were observed in the ALA group as compared to the placebo group. There were no differences in adverse events between the study groups. Conclusions These results show potential long-term beneficial effects of adding ALA to IHF patients. ALA could significantly improve LVEF and 6MWD compared to the placebo group in IHF patients.

Objective: To explore the relationship between different serum albumin and lymphocyte levels in patients with 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia (COVID-19). Methods: A retrospective study was performed to identify the characteristics of the clinical data of 205 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in the Happy Street of Hanchuan People's Hospital, Xiaogan, Hubei Province from January 24 to February 12, 2020, including their general information, serum albumin (ALB) levels, lymphocyte counts (LYM), percentage of lymphocytes (LYM%) and other laboratory parameter levels. Low ALB group and normal ALB group were demarcated by the concentration of 35g/L, further to identify the differences of LYM and LYM% levels and the incidence of LYM and LYM% decline at different ALB levels between groups,as well as the correlation between ALB and LYM, LYM% levels in hypoalbuminemia conditions . Results: 17.5% of COVID-19 patients were associated with hypoalbuminemia. The levels of LYM and LYM% in the low ALB group were significantly lower than those in the normal ALB group (P <0.001). The incidence of LYM and LYM% decline in the low ALB group was significantly higher than those in the normal ALB group (P <0.001). The levels of LYM and LYM% in the low ALB group were significantly positively correlated with serum ALB concentrations (P <0.05). Conclusions The decrease of lymphocyte levels in COVID-19 patients may be correlated to hypoalbuminemia. COVID-19 patients complicated by hypoalbuminemia should be actively intervened to maintain serum albumin in the normal range.

Objective To investigate management strategy of minimally invasive surgery for common bile duct stones. Methods Three hundred and four cases of common bile duct stones were divided into 3 groups receiving respectively endoscopic papillary balloon delation plus laparoscopic cholecystectomy ( EPBD group, 35 cases ), endoscopic sphincterotomy plus LC ( EST group, 138 cases), and Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration plus LC (LCBDE group, 131 cases). Results There was no significant difference in treatment success rate, short-term complications and bile duct retained stones among these three group ( x2 = 1. 930, 0. 038, and 0. 427 respectively, P > 0. 05 ). There was significant difference among these three groups in operation time ( F = 17.941, P = 0. 000 ), and the operation time in LCBDE group was shorter than that in other two groups( EPBD-EST: P = 0. 122, EST-LCBDE:P = 0. 000, EPBD-LCBDE:P = 0. 020 ). There was significant difference among these three groups in postoperative hospital stay (F =24. 016,P =0. 000) ,and the postoperative hospital stay in EPBD group was shorter than that in other two groups ( EPBD-EST: P = 0. 000, EST-LCBDE : P = 0. 198, EPBD-LCBDE : P = 0. 000 ). In EPBD group,bile duct recurrent stones was found in 2 cases(6. 7% ) and cholangitis in 1 case(33% ) and no duodenal papilla stenosis was encountered; In LCBDE group, bile duct recurrent stones were found in 7 cases (6. 0% ), cholangitis in 3 cases ( 2. 6% ), and there was no duodenal papilla stenosis; In EST group, bile duct recurrent stones were complicated in 18 cases ( 15.8% ), duodenal papilla stenosis in 9 cases (7.9%), and cholangitis in 14 cases( 12. 3% ). There were significant differences among these three groups for these three complications( x2 = 6. 482, 9. 160, and 12. 020 respectively,P < 0. 05 ), and the rate of complications in EST group was higher than that in other two groups. Conclusion For common bile duct stones, EPBD is the first choice followed by LCBDE while EST is only indicated for very few cases.

AIM: To investigate the influence of Sini decoction (SND) on the proliferation and apoptosis of rabbit abdominal aorta smooth muscle cells after ballon injury and discuss the effect of vascular smooth muscle cell's (VSMCs) proliferation and apoptosis in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restenosis (RS) and the feasibility of SND preventing post-PCI RS. METHODS: The animal model of rabbit abdominal aorta ballon injury was set up and the therapertic group was treated with SND. The shape of proliferative and apoptotic cell were investigated by electron microscope. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed using ?-actin,PCNA and Cyclin E monoclonal antibodies. In situ Cell Death Detection Kit was used to identify apoptotic cells. Abdomial aorta angiography was operated in the 84th day subgroup and the stenosis degree was evalued by quantitative angiographic analysis. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, the therapeutic group displayed a lower proliferative percentage and a higher apoptosic percentage (P