Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disease characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), diastolic dysfunction, and increased sudden-death risk. Early detection of the phenotypic expression of the disease in genetic carriers without LVH (Gen+/Phen-) is crucial for emerging therapies. This clinical study aims to identify echocardiographic predictors of phenotypic development in Gen+/Phen-. Sixteen Gen+/Phen- (one subject with troponin T, six with myosin heavy chain-7, and nine with myosin-binding protein C3 mutations), represented the study population. At first and last visit we performed comprehensive 2D speckle-tracking strain echocardiography. During a follow-up of 8 ± 5 years, five carriers developed LVH (LVH+). At baseline, these patients were older than those who did not develop LVH (LVH-) (30 ± 8 vs. 15 ± 8 years, p = 0.005). LVH+ had reduced peak global strain rate during the isovolumic relaxation period (SRIVR) (0.28 ± 0.05 vs. 0.40 ± 0.11 1/s, p = 0.048) and lower global longitudinal strain (GLS) (-19.8 ± 0.4 vs. -22.3 ± 1.1%; p < 0.0001) than LVH- at baseline. SRIVR and GLS were not correlated with age (overall, p > 0.08). This is the first HCM study investigating subjects before they manifest clinically significant or relevant disease burden or symptomatology, comparing at baseline HCM Gen+/Phen- subjects who will develop LVH with those who will not. Furthermore, we identified highly sensitive, easily obtainable, age- and load-independent echocardiographic predictors of phenotype development in HCM gene carriers who may undergo early preventive treatment.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effects of concurrent isolated training (T) or training combined with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on cardiac remodeling and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
METHODS: Six-month-old male SHR were divided into sedentary (S, n = 12), concurrent training (T, n = 13), sedentary supplemented with NAC (SNAC, n = 13), and concurrent training with NAC supplementation (TNAC, n = 14) groups. T and TNAC rats were trained three times a week on a treadmill and ladder; NAC supplemented groups received 120 mg/kg/day NAC in rat chow for eight weeks. Myocardial antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid hydroperoxide concentration were assessed by spectrophotometry. Gene expression of NADPH oxidase subunits Nox2, Nox4, p22 phox, and p47 phox was evaluated by real time RT-PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Bonferroni or Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn.
RESULTS: Echocardiogram showed concentric remodeling in TNAC, characterized by increased relative wall thickness (S 0.40 ± 0.04; T 0.39 ± 0.03; SNAC 0.40 ± 0.04; TNAC 0.43 ± 0.04 *; * p < 0.05 vs T and SNAC) and diastolic posterior wall thickness (S 1.50 ± 0.12; T 1.52 ± 0.10; SNAC 1.56 ± 0.12; TNAC 1.62 ± 0.14 * mm; * p < 0.05 vs T), with improved contractile function (posterior wall shortening velocity: S 39.4 ± 5.01; T 36.4 ± 2.96; SNAC 39.7 ± 3.44; TNAC 41.6 ± 3.57 * mm/s; * p < 0.05 vs T). Myocardial lipid hydroperoxide concentration was lower in NAC treated groups (S 210 ± 48; T 182 ± 43; SNAC 159 ± 33 *; TNAC 110 ± 23 *# nmol/g tissue; * p < 0.05 vs S, # p < 0.05 vs T and SNAC). Nox 2 and p22 phox expression was higher and p47 phox lower in T than S [S 1.37 (0.66-1.66); T 0.78 (0.61-1.04) *; SNAC 1.07 (1.01-1.38); TNAC 1.06 (1.01-1.15) arbitrary units; * p < 0.05 vs S]. NADPH oxidase subunits did not differ between TNAC, SNAC, and S groups.
CONCLUSIONS: N-acetylcysteine supplementation alone reduces oxidative stress in untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats. The combination of N-acetylcysteine and concurrent exercise further decreases oxidative stress. However, the lower oxidative stress does not translate into improved cardiac remodeling and function in untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats.

暂无摘要。

The aim of this study was to differentiate between elderly aortic stenosis (AS) patients with and without cardiovascular complications (CCs).In total, 156 consecutive patients with AS aged ≥ 70 years were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups as follows: AS without CCs (group I; n = 110) and AS with CCs (group II; n = 46). Routine electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters, peak and mean transvalvular pressure gradients (TPGs), aortic valve area (AVA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and BNP/peak TPG ratio were measured.The mean ages in groups I and II were 80.4 ± 5.5 and 82.5 ± 7.2 years. Left ventricular hypertrophy was greater in group II than in group I. Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions and left ventricular fractional shortening were normal in both groups. Peak and mean TPGs were greater in group II (67.2 ± 39.3 and 40.2 ± 26.4 mmHg) than in group I (52.0 ± 23.0 and 30.2 ± 13.9, both P < 0.005); however, the AVA showed no significant difference between the 2 groups. The median BNP levels were 65.9 and 433.7 pg/mL in groups I and II (P < 0.0001). A correlation between peak TPG and BNP levels was observed in both groups. The BNP/peak TPG ratio was < 3.0 in all patients of group I and ≥ 3.0 in almost all patients of group II (P< 0.0001). The area under the curve using BNP/peak TPG ratio was 0.9883.BNP and BNP/peak TPG ratio could differentiate between AS with and without CCs in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we examine the association between the hyperuricemia(HU) and hypertension(HTN) in Chinese young adults. Besides, the correlation between the occurrence of thickened left ventricular wall and HU was identified in patients with HTN.
METHODS: In all, 360 patients with HTN and 1991 young adults with normal blood pressure(NBP) were enrolled in the study. Participant characteristics were collected. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression tests were utilized to identify the correlation between the presence of HU and HTN, and the correlation between the occurrence of thickened ventricular septum and HU in patients with HTN.
RESULTS: The prevalence of HU in Chinese young adults with HTN was significantly higher than young adults with NBP(36.39% vs. 16.93%). Univariable analyses revealed that 8 factors were related with the presence of HTN with p value < 0.001, including HU, male, body mass index(BMI) ≥ 24 kg/m2, total cholesterol(TC) > 5.17mmol/L, triglyceride(TG) > 1.70mmol/L, high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) < 1.0mmol/L, fasting blood glucose(FBG) > 6.10mmol/L and fatty liver. After adjusting these covariates, multivariable analysis revealed that HU[odds ratio(OR):1.47, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.10-1.95, p = 0.008] remained independent association with HTN in young adults. Additionally, univariable and multivariable logistic analyses revealed that HU kept the independent effect on the presence of thickened interventricular septum(adjusted OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.05-3.11, P = 0.03) and thickened left ventricular posterior wall(adjusted OR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.28-4.08, P = 0.005) in young adults with HTN.
CONCLUSIONS: HU was independently associated with HTN in young adults. HU was independently correlated with thickened left ventricular wall, including interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall, in young adults with HTN.

Background and Objectives: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) represents a significant cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (CHD). A large inferior vena cava diameter (IVCD), potentially indicative of fluid overload and a contributing factor to elevated cardiovascular risk, has not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, our study aims to gain further insights into this aspect. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients receiving CHD in a single medical center with available echocardiography from October to December 2018. They were categorized into four groups based on LVH geometry and IVCD. Cox proportional hazard models assessed the risk of major adverse cardiovascular effects (MACEs) and cardiovascular and overall mortality after multivariate adjustments. Kaplan-Meier analysis depicted MACE-free events and survival during the follow-up time. Results: Of the 175 CHD patients, 38, 42, 45, and 50 exhibited small IVCD with eccentric and concentric LVH and large IVCD with eccentric and concentric LVH, respectively. Compared to small IVCD and eccentric LVH, large IVCD and eccentric LVH had the highest risk of MACEs, followed by large IVCD and concentric LVH (aHR: 4.40, 3.60; 95% CI: 1.58-12.23, 1.28-10.12, respectively). As for cardiovascular mortality, large IVCD and concentric LVH had the highest risk, followed by large IVCD and eccentric LVH, and small IVCD and concentric LVH. (aHR: 14.34, 10.23, 8.87; 95% CI: 1.99-103.35, 1.41-74.33; 1.01-77.87). The trend in overall mortality risk among the groups was similar to that of cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions: LVH geometry and IVCD co-modify the risk of MACEs and cardiovascular and overall mortality in CHD patients. The highest risk of MACEs is associated with large IVCD and eccentric LVH, while the highest risk of cardiovascular and overall mortality is linked with large IVCD and concentric LVH.

暂无摘要。

There is increasing evidence that gender impacts the onset and progression of cardiovascular pathology. However, it is vastly unclear how this variable determines the ultimate outcomes, particularly in the setting of pressure overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). This study was carried out to fill this gap, at least in part, by assessing myocardial expression of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in female and male rats afflicted with LVH. Both female and male rats underwent abdominal aorta banding to induce LVH or were kept intact as control groups. At the end of the experiment, carotid artery catheterization was performed to measure systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. Fibrosis and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area were assessed by conventional histological analyses. Protein and mRNA expression were evaluated by Western blot/immunofluorescence staining and real-time RT-PCR technique, respectively. In LVH groups, male rats exhibited higher SBP and DBP, heart weight to body weight ratio, and fibrosis compared with female rats. However, both sexes showed a similar increase in cardiomyocyte size after LVH induction. In female, but not in male rats, LVH instigated the GPER mRNA and protein expression in the heart. These results, confirm a significant interaction between gender and myocardial remodeling in terms of GPER expression. Thus, it can be argued that sex differences in the cardiac GPER expression may be responsible for sex differences in the pressure overload-induced LVH. In other words, the female heart seems to unleash stronger protection against pressure overload than that of males in light of a higher GPER expression.

Wellens syndrome, an ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) equivalent, is also known as T-wave left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease. Wellens syndrome is characterized by a unique electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern that suggests a significant stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery that warrants immediate intervention. Hereby, we present a case report of Wellens syndrome in a patient with a history of hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that may be potentially mistaken for pseudo- Wellens syndrome because the ECG pattern mimics left ventricular strain pattern (LVSP) in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Thus, cautious examination of recent chest pain and ECG is important to differentiate Wellens syndrome and LVSP in patients with hypertension and COPD to perform early detection and aggressive intervention since they may help to lessen the adverse results.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with aortic dissection have a high prevalence of left ventricular structural alterations, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but little is known about the impact of sex on this regard. This study compared clinical, cardiac, and prognostic characteristics between men and women with aortic dissection.
METHODS: We retrospectively assessed clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, and 1-year mortality in 367 aortic dissection patients (30% women; 66% with Stanford-A) who underwent echocardiography 60 days before or after the diagnosis of aortic dissection from three Brazilian centers.
RESULTS: Men and women had similar clinical characteristics, except for higher age (59.4 ± 13.4 vs. 55.9 ± 11.6 years; P  = 0.013) and use of antihypertensive classes (1.4 ± 1.3 vs. 1.1 ± 1.2; P  = 0.024) and diuretics (32 vs. 19%; P  = 0.004) in women compared with men. Women had a higher prevalence of LVH (78 vs. 65%; P  = 0.010) and lower prevalence of normal left ventricular geometry (20 vs. 10%; P  = 0.015) than men. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors showed that women were less likely to have normal left ventricular geometry (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 0.42, 0.20-0.87; P  = 0.019) and were more likely to have LVH (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 1.91, 1.11-3.27; P  = 0.019). Conversely, multivariable Cox-regression analysis showed that women had a similar risk of death compared to men 1 year after aortic dissection diagnosis (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval = 1.16, 0.77-1.75; P  = 0.49).
CONCLUSIONS: In aortic dissection patients, women were typically older, had higher use of antihypertensive medications, and exhibited a greater prevalence of LVH compared with men. However, 1-year mortality after aortic dissection diagnosis did not differ between men and women.