The main cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is cardiovascular disease, and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been found to be one of the specific risk factors in the pathogenic process in recent years. TMAO is derived from intestinal bacterial metabolism of dietary choline, carnitine and other substances and subsequently catalyzed by flavin monooxygenase enzymes in the liver. The changes of intestinal bacteria in ESRD patients have contributed to the accumulation of gut-derived uremic toxins such as TMAO, indoxyl sulfate and indole-3-acetic acid. While elevated TMAO concentration accelerates atherosclerosis through mechanisms such as inflammation, increased scavenger receptor expression, and inhibition of reverse cholesterol transport. In this review, this research introduces the biological function, metabolic processes of TMAO and mechanisms by which TMAO promotes the progression of cardiovascular disease in ESRD patients and summarizes current interventions that may be used to reverse gut microbiota disturbances, such as activated carbon, fecal microbial transplantation, dietary improvement, probiotic and probiotic introduction. It also focuses on exploring intervention targets to reduce the gut-derived uremic toxin TMAO in order to explore the possibility of more cardiovascular disease treatments for ESRD patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the causal association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks using a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study. MethodsThe single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data associated with VTE and CVD from genome-wide association studies were obtained as instrumental variables. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the main MR method and other methods were used as supplementary methods. Cochran's Q test, the intercept term of MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO were used to assess pleiotropy and heterogeneity to ensure the robustness of the results. ResultsThe IVW method suggested a causal association between VTE and atrial fibrillation (OR=1.033, 95%CI 1.009 to 1.058, P=0.008), but no association was identified between VTE and coronary artery disease (OR=0.994, 95%CI 0.974 to 1.023, P = 0.551), heart failure (OR=1.021, 95%CI 0.992 to 1.050, P=0.159) and myocardial infarction (OR=1.012, 95%CI 0.971 to 1.055, P=0.568). The results of Cochran's Q test showed that there was no heterogeneity in the MR analyses of VTE and CVD. The MR-Egger intercept analysis and the MR-PRESSO global testing did not detect potential horizontal pleiotropy, and the results were robust. Reverse MR analysis was used to verify the presence of reverse causal associations. The reverse MR analysis demonstrated that reverse causal associations between VTE and CVD were not evidenced. ConclusionThe results of the MR study demonstrated a causal association between VTE and atrial fibrillation, but not with coronary artery disease, heart failure or myocardial infarction.
With the development of molecular and cellar cardiology, gene therapy to cardiovascular disease has become the hot spot and the direction of study. Now, preclinical studies on ultrasound-mediated gene delivery (UMGD) in cardiovascular disease have achieved some success, but it is still hindered by a series of practical challenges for clinical translation. Even so, UMGD still holds the promise to cardiovascular disease in gene therapy for its non-invasiveness, accuracy, safety and ability to deliver multiple genes with repeated deliveries. In this review, we will focus on the basic principle, the current development, the future prospect and drawbacks of UMGD in the therapeutic applications of cardiovascular disease.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for obesity and its comorbidities. MethodsSuch databases as PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 11, 2013), CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data, etc. were electronically searched from inception to November 2013, for including all studies on Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for obesity and its comorbidities. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality of included studies. And then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 25 before and after self-control studies involving 2 966 cases with overweight or obesity were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation, the patients had significant reduction in BMI (MD=-16.40, 95%CI-17.42 to-15.38, P < 0.000 01), type 2 diabetes mellitus prevalence (RR=0.23, 95%CI 0.17 to 0.31, P < 0.000 01), and hypertension prevalence (RR=0.34, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.43, P < 0.000 01); besides, fasting glucose, blood pressure and serum lipid levels obviously decreased (P < 0.000 01). ConclusionRoux-en-Y gastric bypass for obesity patients is effective in reducing weight loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus incidence and cardiovascular disease incidence. Due to the limitation of the design of the included studies, the conclusion needs to be verified by further conducting high quality randomized controlled trials with large sample-size.
ObjectivesTo explore the safety and efficacy of beta-blockers (BBs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its effect on prognosis. MethodsThe data of 366 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD in this department were analyzed retrospectively. The use rate and related events of BBs were evaluated, including comorbidity, indications, contraindications and related clinical indicators. ResultsOf the 366 patients, 156 (42.6%) had at least one indication of the use of BBs, but only 53 (34.0%) of these patients used BBs, and 61 patients (39.1%) had no contraindications but did not use BBs. At admission, 72 patients (19.7%) were treated with BBs, 177 (45.6%) with antiplatelet drugs, 145 (39.6%) with statins, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker was used in 168 (45.9%) patients. Twenty-five patients (6.8%) had ischemic heart disease during hospitalization. Fifty-seven patients (15.6%) had cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events during admission. The patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events had longer hospitalization (P<0.01) and higher in-hospital mortality (P=0.02). ConclusionsPatients with COPD have a clear indication of BBs use, but the clinical use rate is still very low. Further research is needed to explore the prescription disorders of BBs in patients with COPD.
Objectives To analyze the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of different severities. Methods The study included 50 patients with mild-to-moderate COPD and 50 with severe-to-very severe COPD admitted between January 2014 and January 2016. Comorbidities were recorded on the basis of data obtained from medical charts and clinical evaluations. The Charlson comorbidity index was calculated, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score was determined in each subject. Results There were more prevalences of smoking, depression and dyslipidemia in the patients with mild-to-moderate COPD than those with severe-to-very severe COPD (all P<0.001). The prevalences of high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, and chronic heart failure were not different significantly between the two groups. The Charlson comorbidity index and HADS scores were not different between the two groups. Conclusions Comorbidities are fairly common in COPD regardless of its severity. Certain risk factors for CVD, as smoking, dyslipidemia, and depression, appear to be more prevalent in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD.
Therapeutic effect of fixed-dose combination therapy (Polypill) for cardiovascular disease is a hot spot in the field of cardiovascular medicine. A variety of Polypill have been developed for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, and a plenty of clinical evidence of Polypills for cardiovascular disease has been accumulated all over the world. In this paper, we raise ideas and expectation about research & development thinking of Polypill and Chinese herbal compound prescription based on a meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Polypill in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (published in JAMA in Nov. 2014) as well as main clinical research literature in this field in recent years.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of n-3 PUFAs (fish oil) for prevention of cardiovascular events. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from the following electronic databases: PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2009), CBM, and CNKI. Quality assessment and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently. Disagreement was resolved through discussion. All data were analyzed by using Review Manager 4.2 software. Results Five studies involving 37 689 participants met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis results showed that: 1) Compared with placebo, the incidence rates of the cardiovascular death (RR=0.91, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.98), cardiovascular events (RR=0.95, 95%CI 0.91 to 0.98), angina (RR=0.79, 95%CI 0.64 to 0.96), and myocardial infarction (RR=0.79, 95%CI 0.65 to 0.96) could be reduced by n-3 PUFAs (fish oil). 2) There were no significant differences in death from any cause, the hospitalization rates of cardiovascular disease, sudden death, and heart failure (RR=0.95, 95%CI 0.90 to 1.00; RR=0.97, 95%CI 0.93 to 1.02; RR=0.90, 95%CI 0.79 to 1.01; RR=0.98, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.06). 3) Compared with placebo, the incidence rates of the arrhythmia and stroke could be increased, but there were no significant differences (RR=1.14, 95%CI: 0.80 to 1.62; RR=1.12, 95%CI 0.97 to 1.30). Conclusion Compared with placebo, n-3 PUFAs (fish oil) has good effects on reducing the incidence rates of total cardiovascular events, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris, and it has the same efficacy in death from all cause, sudden death, heart failure, and the hospitalization rates of cardiovascular disease. There are no significant differences in the increased rates of arrhythmia and stroke.
Objective To measure the level of circulating endothelial progenitor cells ( EPCs) in peripheral blood of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( AECOPD) , and to explore the relationship between EPCs and severity markers of the disease and cardiovascular adverse outcome predictors.Methods Forty patients with COPD were recruited, including 27 at acute exacerbation phase and 13 with stable COPD from December 2010 to December 2011. Sixteen healthy nonsmokers were included as controls. Circulating EPCs were isolated by Ficoll density-gradient centrifugation and purified by Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting system. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hsCRP) was estimated by using a latex immunoturbidimetric assay kit, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9) was measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . Arterial blood gas analysis and echocardiograph were performed in the AECOPD patients. The correlations between circulating EPCs, lung function, and cardiovascular markers were investigated. Results Circulating EPCs were significantly lower in AECOPD and stable COPD patients compared with the healthy controls [ ( 5.1 ±2.6) ×103 /mL and ( 6.0 ±3.2) ×103 /mL vs. ( 9.0 ±4.3) × 103 /mL, Plt;0. 05] . EPCs had a weak correlation with hsCRP ( P = 0. 033) , but not with MMP-9. In the AECOPD patients, EPC counts were significantly inversely correlated with PASP ( pulmonary artery systolic pressure) and NT-proBNP ( amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) levels, and positively with left ventricular ejection fraction. No correlations were found between EPCs and lung function, blood gas, hospital stays or smoking index. Conclusions Circulating EPCs were significantly lower in AECOPD patients compared with healthy controls, in which systemic inflammation might be involved. Decreased EPCs were correlated with cardiac dysfunction in patients with AECOPD, which may account for the increased cardiovascular risk in this population.
Objectives To retrospectively analyze the isolation rate and drug-resistance of pseudomonas aeruginosa in Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2013 to 2016. Methods The specimens were collected and cultured. If the isolated bacteria were from the same part of the same patient, the first isolated strains were only counted. The isolated pathogens were identified and the drug-resistance were analyzed. Results A total of 1 404 pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated. The majority of them were from postoperative recovery room of surgery department (62.1%) and ICU of internal medicine (22.3%). The specimen source were mainly from respiratory tract (75.7%), followed by blood (10.0%) and venous catheter (5.5%). The resistance rate of piperacillin and piperacillin/sulbactam to pseudomonas aeruginosa was 0.6% to 10.4%. The resistance rate of ceftazidime and cefepime was 0.3% to 11.7%. The resistance rate of imipenem and meropenem was 7.6% to 20.1%. The resistance rate of amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin was 0.3% to 3.2%. The resistance rate of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin was 0.6% to 5.2%. Conclusions The isolates of pseudomonas aeruginosa are mainly from postoperative recovery room of surgery department and ICU of internal medicine . Imipenem and meropenem are not the best choices for pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. It has great value to combine piperacillin, piperacillin/sulbactam, ceftazidime and cefepime with aminoglycoside or quinolone antibiotics for the treatment of pseudomonas aeruginosa infection which will reduce drug resistance.