Risk factors for perioperative major cardiac events in Chinese elderly patients with coronary heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery

Background Few studies have investigated perioperative major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in elderly Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) undergoing noncardiac surgery.This study examin...     

Isoniazid-induced rhabdomyolysis in a patient with chronic heart failure: a case report

Rhabdomyolysis is one of the identified uncommon .but potentially lethal complications of isoniazidintoxication, which can be secondary to severe muscle exertion due to generalized seizures or can be caused by direct toxicity of either the drug or one of its metabolites on muscles.1＇2 ^However, as widely used anti-tuberculosis drug in China, isoniazid induced rhabdomyolysis appears to be very rare. To our knowledge, there is no report indicating association between rhabdomyolysis and isoniazid intoxication in Chinese population. We presented herein a case report of isoniazid-induced rhabdomyolysis in a Chinese man with chronic heart failure.     

Potential biomarkers predicting risk of pulmonary hypertension in congenital heart disease: the role of homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide

Background Pulmonary hypertension （PH） is a common complication of congenital heart disease （CHD）.Although risk stratification is vital for prognosis and therapeutic guidance,the need for understanding the role of novel biomarkers cannot be overlooked.The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes of homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide levels and find potential biomarkers for early detection and treatment.Methods Between September 2012 and April 2013,we prospectively collected data on 158 pediatric patients with left to right shunt CHD at our institution.Standard right heart catheterizations were performed in all cases.Seventy-seven cases were associated with PH.The levels of homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide were detected with fluorescence polarization immunoassay and a sensitive silver-sulphur electrode,respectively.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the expression of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase （MTHFR）,cystathionine β-synthase （CBS）,and cystathionine gamma-lyase （CSE）.Radioimmunoassays were used to obtain folic acid and vitamin B12 levels.Results The difference in the levels of homocysteine,folic acid,vitamin B12,hydrogen sulfide,as well as the MTHFR and CSE expression between patients with PH and without PH were statistically significant （all P ＜0.05）.Homocysteine had the best sensitivity and specificity to predict PH （P ＜0.001）.Subgroup analysis showed that the levels of homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide,and the expression of CSE and MTHFR between patients with dynamic and obstructive PH were significantly different （all P ＜0.05）.Based on the ROC curve,homocysteine had the best sensitivity and specificity to predict obstructive PH （P=0.032）,while CSE had the most significant sensitivity and specificity to predict the dynamic PH （P=0.008）.Conclusions Increased levels of homocysteine and decreased levels of hydrogen sulfide were significantly negatively correlated in PH associated with CHD.The underlying mechanism involved the decreased expression of MTHFR and CSE along with vitamin B12 deficiency.Homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide are potential biomarkers to predict PH.     

Heart rate distribution and predictors of resting heart rate after initiation of beta-blocker treatment in patients with coronary artery disease： REsults of Sympathetic Evaluation And Research of China （RESEARCH） study

Background The importance of heart rate as secondary prevention strategies for patients with coronary artery disease （CAD） is emphasized by multiple guidelines. However, limited information is available on the heart rate distribution and the change patterns of resting heart rate when initiating beta-blocker therapy among Chinese patients with CAD. Methods The REsults of Sympathetic Evaluation And Research of China （RESEARCH） study is a multi-centre, prospective, observational study involving 147 centers in 23 cities across China. All eligible beta-blocker naive patients were prescribed with metroprolol succinate. Initial dosage and target heart rate were selected at the discretion of their physicians in charge according to their usual institutional practice. The heart rate distribution and the change patterns of resting heart rate after initiation of beta-blocker therapy were observed. Results The majority of patients （63.6%） were prescribed with 47.5 mg metroprolol succinate. At baseline, there were only 17.4% of patients whose heart rate was less than 70 beats per minute, and the proportion reached 42.5% and 79.1%, one month and two months after initiation of beta-blockers, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that baseline heart rate （B=0.900, SE=0.006, t=141.787, P〈0.0001） and the dosage （B=-0.007, SE=0.002, t=-3.242, P=0.001） were independent predictors of resting heart rate 2 months after beta-blocker therapy. Conclusions Resting heart rate is not optimally controlled in a broadly representative cohort of Chinese outpatients with CAD even after initiation of β-blocker therapy, and baseline heart rate and the dosage of beta-blocker are both independent predictors of resting heart rate after β-blocker therapy.     

The relationship between serum amyloid A and apolipoprotein A-I in high-density lipoprotein isolated from patients with coronary heart disease

Background Alteration in the protein composition of high-density lipoprotein （HDL） has been proposed as a mechanism for the development of coronary heart disease （CHD）.In HDL,an increase in serum amyloid A protein （SAA） accompanying the decrease in apolipoprotein A-I （apoA-I） has been found during the acute inflammation period.However,whether this phenomenon persists in CHD patients,a disease related to inflammation,is unknown.The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between SAA and apoA-I in HDL isolated from CHD patients.Methods Overall,98 patients with confirmed stable CHD and 90 control subjects matched for age and gender were enrolled in this case-control study.Potassium bromide （KBr） density gradient ultracentrifugation was used to isolate HDL from plasma.The levels of SAA and apoA-I in the HDL samples were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.Pearson＇s correlation and general linear models were used in the analysis.Results Compared with controls,patients with CHD had a significant decrease in the amount of apoA-I （（14.21±8.44） μg/ml vs.（10.95±5.95） μg/ml,P =0.003） in HDL and a significant increase in the amount of log SAA （1.21±0.46 vs.1.51±0.55,P 〈0.00001）.Differences were independent of age,body mass index （BMI）,HDL cholesterol （HDL-C）,and other factors.An independently and statistically significant positive correlation between log SAA and apoA-I in HDL was observed only in the CHD group （β =2.0,P =0.026）.In the general linear model,changes in Iog（SAA）,age,age2,gender,BMI and HDL-C could explain a statistically significant 43% of the variance in apoA-I.Conclusions This study provides direct evidence for the first time that there was an independent positive correlation between log SAA and apoA-I in the HDL of CHD patients,indicating the alteration of protein composition in HDL.However,the question of whether this alteration in HDL is associated with impairment of HDL functions requires further research.     

Late intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia would be prevented by ablation of right atrial potential isthmuses during the surgical operation for congenital heart disease

Intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia （IART） is not uncommon after surgical correction of congenital heart disease （CHD）. The patients with IART are often refractory to antiarrhymic agents and present with severe symptoms. Current treatment approach to IART has shifted largely to interventional procedures which have a good short-term success rate, however, late recurrence rate is still high. With the development of mapping technique especially the application of three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping,     

Left ventricle geometry remolding after heart transplantation: A two-dimensional ultrasound study

The function of the transplanted heart will be affected by acute allograft rejection, chronic rejection, high blood pressure and so on, which may induce the reconstruction of the left ventricle and the increase of left ventricular mass （LVM）, and eventually lead to left ventricular hypertrophy that will significantly affect the prognosis of heart transplantation （HT）. The purpose of this study was to dy- namically monitor the changes of left ventricular geometric patterns after HT using two-dimensional echocardiography and to understand the remodeling process and its possible influencing factors. The left ventricular internal diameter, interventricular septal wall thickness, posterior wall thickness at end dias- tole were measured and the relative wall thickness （RWT）, left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index were calculated respectively in 34 HT patients and 34 healthy volunteers by two-dimensional echocardiography. The type of left ventricular geometry was identified based on the echocardiographic determination of LVM index （LVMI） and RWT. The HT patients were divided into three groups ac- cording to the time length after surgery： A （3 months postoperatively）, B （6 months postoperatively） and C （12 months postoperatively）. We compared the parameters of left ventricle between HT group and normal control group, and explored the risk factors causing the increase of LVM. The results showed that 4 patients （16%） in group A had concentric remodeling. Nine patients （34.62%） in group B had re- construction, including 5 cases of concentric remodeling, 2 cases of concentric hypertrophy and 2 cases of eccentric hypertrophy. The hypertrophy incidence rate was 15.4% in group B. 15 patients （62.5%） had reconstruction in group C, including 9 cases of concentric remodeling, 5 cases of concentric hyper- trophy, and 1 case of eccentric hypertrophy. The prevalence of hypertrophy was 25%. Multivariate analysis showed that hypertension and acute rejection history were the risk factors that resulted in left ventricular hypertrophy. It is concluded that the left ventricular remodeling occurs following cardiac transplantation at an early stage and the incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy increases with survival time. In this study, the one-year prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy was 25% after surgery. Hy- pertension and acute rejection history are risk factors that can predict the left ventricular hypertrophy.     

Advances in diagnosis and management of chronic heart failure in China: reference limits of N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, pharmacal management, and community care

Heart failure,the final outcome of various heart diseases,has an increasingly high prevalence in China.Diagnosis,medical treatments,and community managements of heart failure are substantial clinical challenges.N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） is a useful biomarker for diagnostic and prognostic predictions in heart failure patients;however,the levels of reference value in normal Chinese populations are lacking.The usage of classic Western medicines has greatly improved;furthermore,the treatment pattem of the integration of Western treatments and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is also widely explored.Moreover,community managements of heart failure have been paid more attention and the long-term mechanism is being built.Here,we summarize the range of reference values of NT-proBNP in normal Chinese subjects,current therapies including Western treatments and especially TCM,as well as community care among people with chronic heart failure patients in China.Keywords：chronic heart failure; N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; pharmacology; community care     

Effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment on insulin resistance and ghrelin levels in non-diabetic apnoeic patients with coronary heart disease

Background Obesity is a common risk factor for several diseases.Obesity related hormone and increased insulin resistance (IR) may contribute to the effects of obstructive sleep apnoea on cardiovascular...     

Two successful neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment for severe heart failure after cardiac surgery

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation （ECMO） can play an important role by providing short-term circulatory support to enable myocardial recovery in patients with life-threatening heart failure. Currently, over 4000 children who received ECMO for cardiac support have been reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Registry, with the majority1 of patients placed on ECMO following cardiac surgery. It has been recently reported that the overall survival rate of approximately 40% in children requiring ECMO after repair of congenital heart lesions.1-3 The risk of mortality was significantly increased in boys, patients younger than 1 month old,     

Heart-lung transplantation for end-stage heart disease with Eisenmenger＇s syndrome： report of two cases

From September 2006 to January 2007, 2 patients with end-staged heart and lung disease （congenital disease,Eisenmenger＇s syndrome, severe pulmonary artery hypertension and heart failure） underwent heart and lung transplantation （HLT） at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.     

Initial experience of occluding special type patent ductus arterioses using the Amplatzer vascular plug

Background Occluders licensed for clinical use are not fit for some special Krichenko E patent ductus arterioses.The Amplatzer vascular plug I (AVP1) has not been licensed for use for closure of patent...     

Febuxostat, a nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase: a promising medical therapy for chronic heart failure?

Heart failure is currently one of the most common and most cost-intensive of the chronic diseases The main cause of chronic heart failure （CHF） is the abnormalities of both cardiac contractile performance and myocardial energy metabolism. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS） have been proposed to contribute to both of them. Xanthine oxidoreductase （XO） is a major source of ROS in the cardiovascular system. XO inhibitors （XOIs） have been the cornerstone of the clinical management of gout and conditions associated with hyperuricemia for several decades.     

Original article：A novel two-stage complete repair method for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries

Background Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect （PA-VSD） and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries （MAPCAs） remains a challenging complex congenital heart disease nowadays. In the present study, we aimed to develop a two-stage surgical method and to evaluate outcomes of this method in managing PA-VSD and MAPCAs. Methods Between December 2003 and December 2008, 7 female and 4 male patients between the age of 5 and 10 years who were suffering from PA-VSD and MAPCAs were selected and recruited. The native pulmonary artery trunks were absent in all patients; the lungs were solely supplied by major aortopulmonary collaterals, and the numbers of supplied lung segments ranged from 15 to 20 （17.9±1.6）. There were a total of 43 MAPCAs in all the patients （3-5 （3.9~0.7） MAPCAs per patient）. The accumulated Nakata index was （222.9＋_29.9） mm2/m2 （ranged from 182 to 272）. All the patients underwent two sequential operations. Stage one included left major aortopulmonary collateral unifocalization and modified Blalock-Taussig shunt from left posterior lateral thoracotomy; stage two comprised right unifocalization, ligation of the shunt, followed by ventricular septal defect closure and right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction assisted with cardiopulmonary bypass from midline sternotomy. Results All the patients survived the initial surgery, but one of them died of low cardiac output syndrome on the third day after the second operation. Postoperative complications included pneumonia in one case and capillary leak syndrome in another. Postoperative oxygen saturation maintained about 95%-100%, which was significantly higher than pre-operation （P 〈0.01）. During the follow-up period of 3-51 （25.4±15.2） months, there were no late death and no need for reintervention. All the patients enjoyed their lives with good conditions. Conclusions This two-stage complete repair strategy was well-tolerated and effective with good outcome, thus offering an alternative surgical approach in the treatment of PA-VSD and MAPCAs.     

Role of voltage-gated potassium channels in pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary heart disease

The influence of hypoxia on the activity of voltage-gated potassium channel in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells （PASMCs） of rats and its roles in the pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary heart disease were investigated. Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into control group （n=10）, acute hypoxic group （n=10）, and chronic hypoxic groups （n=60）. The chronic hypoxic groups were randomly divided into 6 subgroups （n=10 each） according to the chronic hypoxic periods. The rats in the control group were kept in room air and those in acute hypoxic group in hypoxia envi- ronmental chamber for 8 h. The rats in chronic hypoxic subgroups were kept in hypoxia environmental chamber for 8 h per day for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days, respectively. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure （mPAP）, right ventricular hypertrophy index （RVHI）, and the current of voltage-gated potas- sium channel （IK） in PASMCs were measured. Results showed that both acute and chronic hypoxia could decrease the IK in PASMCs of rats and the I-V relationship downward shifted to the right. And the peak Ir density at ＋60mV decreased with prolongation of hypoxia exposure. No significant difference was noted in the density oflK （at ＋60 mV） and I-V relationship between control group and chronic hy- poxic subgroup exposed to hypoxia for 5 days （P〉0.05）, but there was a significant difference between control group and chronic hypoxic subgroup exposed to hypoxia for 10 days （P〈0.05）. Significant dif- ferences were noted in the IK density （at ＋60 mV） and I-V relationships between control group and chronic hypoxic subgroups exposed to hypoxia for 20 days and 30 days （P〈0.01）. Compared with con- trol rats, the mPAP and RVHI were significantly increased after chronic exposure to hypoxia for 10 days （P〈0.05）, which were further increased with prolongation of hypoxia exposure, and there were signifi- cant differences between control group and chronic hypoxic subgroups exposed to hypoxia for 20 days and 30 days （P〈0.01）. Both the mPAP and the RVHI were negatively correlated with the density OflK （r---0.89769 and -0.94476, respectively, both P〈0.01）. It is concluded that exposure to hypoxia may cause decreased activity of voltage-gated potassium channel, leading to hypoxia pulmonary vasocon- striction （HPV）. Sustained HPV may result in chronic pulmonary hypertension, even chronic pulmonary heart disease, contributing to the pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary heart disease.     

Association between C-reactive protein gene ＋1059 G/C polymorphism and the risk of coronary heart disease： a meta-analysis

Background C-reactive protein （CRP） gene ＋1059 G/C polymorphism has been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease （CHD） risk, but the results remain inconclusive. This meta-analysis was therefore conducted to clarify these controversies. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all case control studies on the association between CRP gene ＋1059 G/C polymorphism and CHD risk. All the related studies were further strictly selected according to the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was performed with STATA 10.1 （StataCorp, USA）. The association was assessed by odds ratio （OR） and 95% confidence interval （C/）; both Begg＇s funnel plot and Egger＇s regression test were used to assess the publication bias. Results This meta-analysis on a total of 13 studies comprising 6316 CHD cases and 4467 controls showed no significant association between CRP gene ＋1059 G/C polymorphism and CHD risk in the overall study （for C/C＋C/G vs. G/G： OR=1.01, 95% C/=0.81-1.25, P=0.96; for C/C vs. C/G＋G/G： OR=1.17, 95% C/=0.77-1.77, P=0.47; for C/C vs. G/G： 0R=1.17, 95% C/=0.77-1.77, P=0.47; for C allele vs. G allele： 0R=1.01, 95% C/=0.81-1.24, P=-0.96）. However, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the results showed significant association between CRP gene ＋1059 G/C polymorphism and CHD risk among Caucasians （for C/C vs. G/G： OR=2.54, 95% C1=1.13-5.72, P=0.02; C/C vs. C/G＋G/G： OR=2.45, 95% C1=1.09-5.51, P=-0.03）, but not among Asians and Africans （P 〉0.05）. Conclusion CRP gene ＋1059 G/C polymorphism may be associated with increased CHD risk among Caucasians and more evidences need to validate the conclusion.     

~rognostic value of baseline C-reactive protein levels in patients mdergoing coronary revascularization

Background C-reactive protein （CRP） is a lowly expressed marker for inflammatory response. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of baseline CRP levels in patients undergoing coronary revascularization in the context of modern medical treatment. Methods This was a retrospective study in a single center. Four hundred and fourteen patients were enrolled, who underwent coronary revascularization and received adequate medication for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. The study compared the follow-up clinical outcomes between high level CRP group （CRP 〉5 mg/L） and low level one. The median follow-up time was 551 days. Results Compared with low CRP group, the relative risk （RR） of the major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events （MACCE） in high CRP group was 5.131 （95% CI： 1.864-14.123, P=0.002）. There were no significant differences in death myocardial infarction and stroke during the follow-up between two groups, but a higher risk of re-revascularization was found in high CRP group （RR 6.008, 95% CI： 1.667-21.665, P=0.006）. Cox regression analysis showed that only CRP level could contribute to MACCE during the follow-up. MACCE-free rate was much lower in high CRP group （Kaplan-Meier log-rank P 〈0.001）. Conclusion In the context of modern medical treatment, the baseline level of CRP is an independent predictor for long-term prognosis in patients with coronary revascularization.     

Midterm results of diagnostic treatment and repair strategy in older patients presenting with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary artery hypertension

Background Congenital heart disease with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension （SPAH）,previously thought to have irreversible pulmonary vascular disease （PVD）,has been recently successfully corrected using diagnostic treatment and repair strategy by our surgery team.This study aimed to evaluate the midterm results of a selected cohort of older patients with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect （VSD） and SPAH using diagnostic treatment and repair strategy.Methods The records of 56 patients older than six years with nonrestrictive VSD and SPAH undergoing diagnostic treatment and repair strategy from 2006 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.All patients received advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension （PAH） therapy and radical repairs were performed when transcutaneous oxygen saturation （SPO2） increased up to 93％.Results There were no operative deaths.SPO2 and baseline six-minute walk test （SMWT） distance of all selected patients increased significantly and mean pulmonary artery pressure （MPAP） regressed significantly after diagnostic treatment and at late follow-up （P ＜0.01）.The incidence of late postoperative PAH was seen in six （10.7％） patients and by Logistic regression analysis,early postoperative PAH was an independent risk factor related to late postoperative PAH.Conclusions Diagnostic treatment and repair strategy was effective and safe for treatment of nonrestrictive VSD and SPAH and the midterm results were excellent.Diagnostic treatment strategy was effective in assessing the reversibility of SPAH in older patients associated with nonrestrictive VSD and the PVD in these selective patients is generally reversible.     

Effects of low doses of aerosolized iloprost combined with tadalafil in treatment of adult congenital heart disease with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension （PAH） is a common and serious complication of congenital heart disease （CHD）.Many studies have confirmed that the prostacyclin analogues,5-phosphodiesterase （PDE-5） inhibitors,and endothelin receptor antagonists,were safe and effective in the treatment for PAH due to CHD.1,2 But whether the combination of targeted PAH therapy drugs provides similar synergistic effects is still controversial.1,2 Therefore,we investigated whether adult patients with severe PAH secondary to CHD would benefit from iloprost combined with low-dose tadalafil.     

谭新华教授治疗男科病遣方用药特色探讨

谭新华教授系湖南中医药大学第一附属医院中医外科学主任医师,博士生导师,湖南省名中医,国家首批、第三批中医药学术经验继承人指导老师,享受政府特殊津贴.谭教授悬壶杏林50余年,在中医外科领域耕耘不止,硕果累累,尤擅论治男性生殖系统疾病,所创制的前炎清方、三草安前汤治疗慢性前列腺炎疗效显著.笔者跟师学习两年来,感受颇深,受益匪浅,现就谭新华教授治疗男科病遣方用药特色介绍如下.