OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors related to renal impairment in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspective of integrated Chinese and Western medicine. METHODS: Totally 492 patients with DKD in 8 Chinese hospitals from October 2017 to July 2019 were included. According to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) staging guidelines, patients were divided into a chronic kidney disease (CKD) 1-3 group and a CKD 4-5 group. Clinical data were collected, and logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to different CKD stages in DKD patients. RESULTS: Demographically, male was a factor related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD (OR=3.100, P=0.002). In clinical characteristics, course of diabetes >60 months (OR=3.562, P=0.010), anemia (OR=4.176, P<0.001), hyperuricemia (OR=3.352, P<0.001), massive albuminuria (OR=4.058, P=0.002), atherosclerosis (OR=2.153, P=0.007) and blood deficiency syndrome (OR=1.945, P=0.020) were factors related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD. CONCLUSIONS Male, course of diabetes >60 months, anemia, hyperuricemia, massive proteinuria, atherosclerosis, and blood deficiency syndrome might indicate more severe degree of renal function damage in patients with DKD. (Registration No. NCT03865914).
Humans ; Male ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Hyperuricemia ; Kidney ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications*

Background: The impact of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) on survival outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (HF) is unclear, and the relationship between intensity of glycemic control of FPG in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and HF prognosis remains uncertain. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of FPG in patients with acute HF. Methods: A total of 624 patients hospitalized with acute HF from October 2000 to April 2014 were enrolled in this study. All patients were stratified by three groups according to their admission FPG levels (i.e., DM, impaired fasting glucose [IFG], and non-DM). All-cause and cardiovascular mortality was the primary end point, and HF re-hospitalization was the secondary end point during follow-up period. Results: A total of 587 patients were included in final analysis. The all-cause mortality rates of patients with DM, IFG, and non-DM were 55.5%, 40.3%, and 39.2%, with significant difference (P = 0.001). Moreover, compared with those with IFG (34.3%) and non-DM (32.6%), patients with DM had significantly higher rate of cardiovascular mortality (45.1%). Multiple Cox regression analysis showed that DM as well as IFG was related to all-cause mortality (DM: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.936, P < 0.001; IFG: HR = 1.672, P = 0.019) and cardiovascular mortality (DM: HR = 1.739, P < 0.001; IFG: HR = 1.817, P = 0.013). However, they were both unrelated to HF re-hospitalization. DM patients with strictly controlled blood glucose (FPG <3.9 mmol/L) had higher all-cause mortality than patients with non-DM, IFG, and DM patients with moderately controlled glucose (3.9 mmol/L≤ FPG <7.0 mmol/L). Likewise, both the primary end point and secondary end point were found to be worse in DM patients with poorly controlled blood glucose (FPG ≥7.0 mmol/L). Conclusions IFG and DM were associated with higher all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute HF. The association between mortality and admission FPG in DM patients with acute HF appeared U-shaped.
Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; mortality ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

We evaluated the role of IL-10- in IL-33-mediated cholesterol reduction in macrophage-derived foam cells (MFCs) and the mechanism by which IL-33 upregulates IL-10. Serum IL-33 and IL-10 levels in coronary artery disease patients were measured. The effects of IL-33 on intra-MFC cholesterol level, IL-10, ABCA1 and CD36 expression, ERK 1/2, Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4 activation, and IL-10 promoter activity were determined. Core sequences were identified using bioinformatic analysis and site-specific mutagenesis. The serum IL-33 levels positively correlated with those of IL-10. IL-33 decreased cellular cholesterol level and upregulated IL-10 and ABCA1 but had no effect on CD36 expression. siRNA-IL-10 partially abolished cellular cholesterol reduction and ABCA1 elevation by IL-33 but did not reverse the decreased CD36 levels. IL-33 increased IL-10 mRNA production but had little effect on its stability. IL-33 induced ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and increased the luciferase expression driven by the IL-10 promoter, with the highest extent within the −2000 to −1752 bp segment of the 5′-flank of the transcription start site; these effects were counteracted by U0126. IL-33 activated Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4, but only the STAT3 binding site was predicted in the above segment. Site-directed mutagenesis of the predicted STAT3-binding sites (CTGCTTCCTGGCAGCAGAA→CTGCCTGGCAGCAGAA) reduced luciferase activity, and a STAT3 inhibitor blocked the regulatory effects of IL-33 on IL-10 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) confirmed the STAT3-binding sequences within the −1997 to −1700 and −1091 to −811 bp locus regions. IL-33 increased IL-10 expression in MFCs via activating ERK 1/2 and STAT3, which subsequently promoted IL-10 transcription and thus contributed to the beneficial effects of IL-33 on MFCs.
Binding Sites ; Cholesterol ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; Computational Biology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Foam Cells* ; Humans ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-33* ; Luciferases ; Macrophages* ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Initiation Site

BACKGROUNDMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a risk factor for stroke and thromboembolism event. Left atrial or LA appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus is a surrogate of potential stroke. The relationship between MS and atrial thrombus remains unclear. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of MS on risk stratification of LA/LAA thrombus formation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODSThis cross-sectional study enrolled 294 consecutive NVAF patients without prior anticoagulant and lipid-lowering therapies. LA/LAA thrombus was determined by transesophageal echocardiography. Risk assessment of LA/LAA thrombus was performed using the CHADS2 , CHA2DS2 -VASc, MS, CHADS2 -MS, and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS scores. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine which factors were significantly related to LA/LAA thrombus. Odds ratio (OR) including 95% confidence interval was also calculated. The predictive powers of different scores for the risk of LA/LAA thrombus were represented by C-statistics and compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTSLA/LAA thrombi were identified in 56 patients (19.0%). Logistic analysis showed that MS was the strongest risk factor for LA/LAA thrombus in NVAF patients (OR = 14.698, P < 0.001). ROC curve analyses revealed that the C-statistics of CHADS2 -MS and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS was significantly higher than those of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2 -VASc scores (CHADS2 -MS vs. CHADS2 , 0.807 vs. 0.726, P = 0.0019). Furthermore, MS was helpful for identifying individuals with a high risk of LA/LAA thrombus in the population with a low risk of stroke (CHADS2 or CHA2DS2 -VASc score = 0).

CONCLUSIONSMS is associated with LA/LAA thrombus risk in patients with NVAF. In addition to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2 -VASc scores, the CHADS2 -MS and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS scores provide additional information on stroke risk assessment.

Aged ; Atrial Appendage ; pathology ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEIt is revealed that circulating fibrocytes are elevated in patients/animals with cardiac fibrosis, and this review aims to provide an introduction to circulating fibrocytes and their role in cardiac fibrosis.

DATA SOURCESThis review is based on the data from 1994 to present obtained from PubMed. The search terms were "circulating fibrocytes " and "cardiac fibrosis ".

STUDY SELECTIONArticles and critical reviews, which are related to circulating fibrocytes and cardiac fibrosis, were selected.

RESULTSCirculating fibrocytes, which are derived from hematopoietic stem cells, represent a subset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibiting mixed morphological and molecular characteristics of hematopoietic and mesenchymal cells (CD34+/CD45+/collagen I+). They can produce extracellular matrix and many cytokines. It is shown that circulating fibrocytes participate in many fibrotic diseases, including cardiac fibrosis. Evidence accumulated in recent years shows that aging individuals and patients with hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation have more circulating fibrocytes in peripheral blood and/or heart tissue, and this elevation of circulating fibrocytes is correlated with the degree of fibrosis in the hearts.

CONCLUSIONSCirculating fibrocytes are effector cells in cardiac fibrosis.

Coronary Disease ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; physiology ; Fibrosis ; pathology ; Heart Failure ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; pathology ; Myocardium ; pathology

OBJECTIVEThis study was aimed to investigate the effects of carbon monoxide releasing molecule (CORM-2), a novel carbon monoxide carrier, on the reendothelialization of carotid artery in rat endothelial denudation model.

METHODSMale rats subjected to carotid artery balloon injury were treated with CORM-2, inactive CORM-2 (iCORM-2) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The reendothelialization capacity was evaluated by Evans Blue dye and the immunostaining with anti-CD31 antibody. The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) was detected by flow cytometry. The proliferation, migration, and adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were assessed by using [3H]thymidine, Boyden chamber and human fibronectin respectively. The expressions of protein were detected by using western blot analysis.

RESULTSCORM-2 remarkably accelerated the re-endothelialization 5 d later and inhibited neointima formation 28 d later. In addition, the number of peripheral EPCs significantly increased in CORM-2-treated rats than that in iCORM-2 or DMSO-treated rats after 5 d later. In vitro experiments, CORM-2 significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration and adhesion of HUVECs. The levels of Akt, eNOS phosphorylation, and NO generation in HUVECs were also much higher in CORM-2 treated group. Blocking of PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway markedly suppressed the enhanced migration and adhesion of HUVECs induced by CORM-2.

CONCLUSIONCORM-2 could promote endothelial repair, and inhibit neointima formation after carotid artery balloon injury, which might be associated with the function changes of HUVECs regulated by PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carotid Artery, Common ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDWhether an addition of OAC to double antiplatelet therapy for patients with an indication of chronic oral anticoagulation undergoing PCI-S may improve clinical outcomes is still debated. This meta-analysis aimed to update and re-compare the benefits and risks of triple antithrombotic therapy (TT) with double anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) after in patients who requiring oral anticoagulation after percutaneous coronary interventions with stenting (PCI-s).

METHODSTen reports of observational retrospective or prospective studies were retrieved, including a total of 6296 patients, follow-up period ranging from 1 year to 2 years.

RESULTSBaseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The main finding of this study is the overall incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI) and stent thrombosis was comparable between two groups. Patients with TT was associated with significant reduction in ischemic stroke (OR: 0.27; 95%CI: 0.13 - 0.57; P = 0.0006) as compared to DAPT. We reaffirmed triple therapy significantly increased the risk of major bleeding (OR: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.22 - 1.78; P < 0.0001) and minor bleeding (OR: 1.55; 95%CI: 1.07 - 2.24; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONSTriple therapy is more efficacious in reducing the occurrence of ischemic stroke in PCI-s patients with an indication of chronic oral anticoagulation (OAC), compared with DAPT. However, it significantly increased major and minor risk of bleeding. It is imperative that further prospective randomized controlled trials are required to defne the best therapeutic strategy for patients with an indication of chronic OAC undergoing PCI-s.

Aged ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Publication Bias ; Stents

BACKGROUNDRecently there has been a great deal of interest in the role of serum uric acid (SUA) in atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to establish whether there is a relationship between levels of SUA and recurrence of paroxysmal AF after catheter ablation.

METHODSThree hundred and thirty patients diagnosed with paroxysmal AF were analyzed. Patients were categorized into quartiles on the basis of their pre-operative SUA measurement and follow-up, and Kaplan-Meier estimation with a Log-rank test was used for the analysis of the influence of SUA on the recurrence of AF. Pre-procedural clinical variables were correlated with the clinical outcome after ablation using multivariate Logistic analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the relationship between SUA and the recurrence of AF.

RESULTSAfter a mean follow-up of (9.341 ± 3.667) (range 3.0 - 16.3) months, recurrence rates from the lowest SUA quartile to the highest SUA quartile were 16.0%, 26.4%, 28.3%, and 29.3% respectively (P = 0.014). After adjustment for gender, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), triglyceride (TG), left atrial diameter (LA), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and SUA, there was an increased risk of recurrence in subjects in the highest SUA quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio 2.804, 95% confidence interval 1.466 - 5.362, P = 0.002). Following multivariate Logistical analysis, SUA was found to be an independent predictor of recurrence (hazard ratio 1.613, 95% confidence interval 1.601 - 1.625, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONIn a retrospective study of patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing catheter ablation, elevated preoperative SUA levels were associated with a higher rate of recurrence of AF.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; blood ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To evaluate the impact of insulin resistance (IR) on prognosis in nondiabetic acute coronary syndrome patients.Methods In this prospective study,we enrolled 332 nondiabetic patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome.The patients were divided into three groups by HOMA-IR which calculated by formula:low HOMA-IR group (HOMA-IR ＜ 2),44 cases; moderate HOMA-IR group (2 ≤ HOMA2-IR ＜ 6),99 cases; high HOMA-IR group (HOMA≥6) with HOMA index,179 cases.The in-hospital medical records of patients were compared,and all patients were followed up for one year after discharge.Results Incidence of hypertension (P =0.013),dyslipidemia (P ＜ 0.001),faster resting heart rate (P ＜0.001) and number of triple vessel coronary artery disease (P =0.017)in high HOMA-IR group were significantly higher than in low and moderate HOMA-IR group.During follow-up,the major end-point events increased in proportion to IR grade:64.3％ (26/44) in the high HOMA-IR group,54.7％ (52/99)in moderate HOMA-IR group and 41.3％ (74/199)in low HOMA-IR group (P =0.034).Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that high sensitivity C reactive protein(OR =1.012,95％CI:1.002-1.022,P =0.022),HOMA-IR (OR =1.250,95％ CI:1.043-1.497,P =0.015),triple vessel coronary artery disease (OR =5.914,95％ CI:2.947-11.868,P ＜ 0.001),ischemic changes on ECG(OR =5.495,95％ CI:2.925-10.324,P ＜ 0.001) and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤40％) (OR =13.205,95％ CI:5.000-34.661,P ＜ 0.001) were independent risk factor for major end-point events during follow-up.Conclusions Increased insulin resistance is linked with poor prognosis of nondiabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUNDRecent studies indicate that bone marrow-derived cells may significantly contribute to atherosclerosis, post-angioplasty restenosis and transplantation-associated vasculopathy. The responsible bone marrow (BM) cells and mechanisms regulating the mobilization of these cells are currently unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on injured arteries and its effects on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the process of vascular remodeling.

METHODSBalloon-mediated vascular injury was established in female rats (n = 100) which received radioprotective whole female BM cells by tail vein injection and male MSCs through a tibial BM injection after lethal irradiation. The injured and contralateral carotid arteries were harvested at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after treatment.

RESULTSMorphometric analysis indicated that intima to media area-ratio (I/M ratio) significantly increased at 28 days, 0.899 ± 0.057 (P < 0.01), compared with uninjured arteries. Combining fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemical analysis showed that a significant number of the neointimal cells derived from MSCs, (45.2 ± 8.5)% at 28 days (P = 0.01), compared with (23.5 ± 6.3)% at 14 days. G-CSF was induced in carotid arteries subject to balloon angioplasty (fold mRNA change = 8.67 ± 0.63 at three days, relative G-CSF protein = 0.657 ± 0.011 at three days, P < 0.01, respectively, compared with uninjured arteries). G-CSF was chemotactic for MSCs but did not affect the differentiation of MSCs into smooth-muscle-like cells.

CONCLUSIONIncreased expression of G-CSF by injured arteries plays an essential role in contribution to recruitment and homing of MSCs to the site of the arterial lesion.

Angioplasty, Balloon ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Carotid Arteries ; surgery ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Neointima ; surgery ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular System Injuries ; surgery ; therapy