Role of arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction on lower limb performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

AimTo verify whether arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction influence lower limb muscle strength and gait speed in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsCross-sectional study including seventy-eight older adults with T2DM (aged 67 ± 6 years and 42 % male). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV), while endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Lower limb muscle strength and gait speed were assessed using the 30-second chair stand test (30s-CST) and 10-Meter Walk Test, respectively.ResultsBoth PWV (m/s) and FMD (%) were univariately associated with number of repetitions in 30s-CST and gait speed (P < 0.05). After control for age, sex and body mass index, PWV remained associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: ?0.494 to ?0.054; P = 0.015) and gait speed (95 % CI: ?0.039 to ?0.002; P = 0.031). After adjustments for control variables, T2DM duration and glycemic control, FMD was associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: 0.008 to 0.324; P = 0.039) and gait speed (95 % CI: 0.011 to 0.038; P = 0.001).ConclusionIn older adults with T2DM, both arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are associated with decreased leg muscle strength and slower gait speed.     

Gender difference in association between diabetes mellitus and all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation patients

ObjectiveThere may be gender difference in correlation of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular events. We attempt to investigate whether there is gender-heterogeneity in one-year outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with DM or not.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with AF admitted to the emergency departments in the Chinese AF Multicenter Registry study were enrolled. Basic demographics information, initial Blood Pressure and heart rate, medical histories, and treatments of each patient were collected. Follow-up was carried out with a mean duration of one year. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and systemic embolism.ResultsA total of 2016 patients were selected from September 2008 and April 2011. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in male AF patients with DM than those without (21.8 % & 13.6 %, P = 0.014). Cox regression analysis showed that there was an interaction between gender and DM for one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.049). DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality regardless of univariate analysis (HR = 1.436, 95%CI:1.079–1.911, P = 0.013) or multivariate analysis (HR = 1.418, 95%CI: 1.059–1.899, P = 0.019). For male patients with AF, DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.048), but not for female patients with AF (P = 0.362).ConclusionDM was independently associated with one-year all-cause mortality in the entire cohort of AF patients. This association was found mainly in male patients with AF, but not in female patients. DM management programs may need to reflect gender difference.     

Fibrinogen concentrate and maternal outcomes in severe postpartum hemorrhage: A population-based cohort study with a propensity score-matched analysis

Study objectiveFibrinogen concentrate is used to treat severe postpartum hemorrhage despite limited evidence of its effectiveness in obstetric settings. We aimed to explore the association between its administration and maternal outcomes in women with severe postpartum hemorrhage.Design, setting and patientsThis secondary analysis of the EPIMOMS prospective population-based study, exploring severe maternal morbidity, as defined by national expert consensus (2012–2013, 182,309 deliveries, France), included all women with severe postpartum hemorrhage and transfused with red blood cells during active bleeding.MeasurementsThe primary endpoint was maternal near-miss or death, and the secondary endpoint the total number of red blood cells units transfused.InterventionsWe studied fibrinogen concentrate administration as a binary variable and then by the timing of its administration. We used multivariable analysis and propensity score matching to account for potential indication bias.Main resultsAmong the 730 women with severe postpartum hemorrhage and transfused, 313 (42.9%) received fibrinogen concentrate, and 142 (19.5%) met near-miss criteria or died. The risk of near-miss or death was not significantly lower among the women treated with fibrinogen concentrate than among those not treated, in either the multivariable analysis (adjusted RR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.72–1.49; P = 0.855) or the propensity score analysis (RR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.55–1.32; P = 0.477). Among women treated with fibrinogen concentrate, administration more than three hours after red blood cell transfusion started was associated with a higher risk of near-miss or death than administration before or within 30 min after the transfusion began (adjusted RR = 2.07; 95% CI, 1.10–3.89; P = 0.024). Results were similar for the secondary endpoint.ConclusionsThe use of fibrinogen concentrate in severe postpartum hemorrhage needing red blood cell transfusion during active bleeding is not associated with improved maternal outcomes.     

去肾交感神经术治疗难治性高血压

难治性高血压(resistant hypertension, RH)是指在改善生活方式基础上应用可耐受的足够剂量且合理的3种降压药物(包括一种噻嗪类利尿剂)治疗至少4周后, 诊室和诊室外(包括家庭血压或动态血压监测)血压值仍在目标水平之上, 或至少需要4种降压药物才能使血压达标, 目前尚缺乏有效的治疗方案。去肾交感神经术(renal sympathetic denervation, RDN)作为RH的一种治疗手段, 在病理生理机制上已被基础实验证实。早期Ⅰ代RDN的临床试验结果并不统一, Ⅱ代RDN改进了消融技术并在最近的高血压临床试验应用中得到了阳性结论, 同时RDN用于治疗其他疾病的临床试验也产生了阳性结果。但由于目前尚无对肾交感神经活动的具体评估方法, 无法准确筛选出适宜行RDN的人群, 故其临床应用仍存在争议。     

Cardioprotective effects of sinomenine in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model

BackgroundIschemia reperfusion (I/R) play an imperative role in the expansion of cardiovascular disease. Sinomenine (SM) has been exhibited to possess antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of the study was scrutinized the cardioprotective effect of SM against I/R injury in rat.MethodsRat were randomly divided into normal control (NC), I/R control and I/R + SM (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), respectively. Ventricular arrhythmias, body weight and heart weight were estimated. Antioxidant, inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators and plasmin system indicator were accessed.ResultsPre-treated SM group rats exhibited the reduction in the duration and incidence of ventricular fibrillation, ventricular ectopic beat (VEB) and ventricular tachycardia along with suppression of arrhythmia score during the ischemia (30 and 120 min). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) altered the level of antioxidant parameters. SM treatment significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the level of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK) and troponin I (Tnl). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the tissue factor (TF), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) and inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators.ConclusionOur result clearly indicated that SM plays anti-arrhythmia effect in I/R injury in the rats via alteration of oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction.