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Background Controversy remains regarding the efficacy of folic acid supplementation in reducing the risk of stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of folic acid supplementation on stroke prevention in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Materials and Methods We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases through October 2016 to identify randomized clinical trials of folic acid supplementation to prevent stroke in patients with CVD. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs were used to examine the association between folic acid supplementation and the risk of stroke with a fixed-effect model. Stratified analyses were performed according to modifiers that may affect the efficacy of folic acid supplementation. Results Eleven studies with a total of 65,790 participants were included. Folic acid supplementation was associated with a significant benefit in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with CVD (RR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.84-0.97; P = 0.005). In the stratified analysis, greater beneficial effects were observed in participants with a decrease in homocysteine concentrations of 25% or greater (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.97; P = 0.03), those with a daily folate dose of less than 2mg (RR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68-0.89; P = 0.01), and populations in regions with no or partly fortified grain (RR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.81-0.94; P = 0.04). Conclusions Our meta-analysis demonstrated that folic acid supplementation is effective in stroke prevention in patients with CVD.

Previous studies have identified high on treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) as a potent factor predicting ischemic events for patients with coronary heart disease. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor (90 mg twice-daily) and double-dose of clopidogrel (150 mg once-daily) among Chinese patients for elective percutaneous coronary intervention. We enrolled 40 patients with HTPR from among 317 patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes after a successful elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Platelet reactivity was measured by VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. Platelet reactivity was significantly lower for both groups when compared with baseline platelet reactivity after medication adjustment (all P0.001). The mean platelet reactivity units (PRU) was significantly lower for the ticagrelor group compared with that of the clopidogrel group over time (all P0.001). The differences in the rate of sustained HTPR at different time points between the two groups were significant (2 hours: 0% versus 60%; 8 hours: 5.6% versus 50%; 24 hours: 5.9% versus 43.8%, all P0.05). Genetic variation of CYP2C19*2 had no impact on PRU means or rate of HTPR in the ticagrelor group (P0.05). During the 30-day follow-up, no MACE occurred in any patient, and the overall risk of bleeding showed no difference between the two groups (35% versus 21%, P = 0.48). Our results suggest that ticagrelor may achieve a more rapid and greater platelet inhibition than double-dose clopidogrel. Further studies are still needed to assess the differences in efficacy and safety between ticagrelor and double-dose clopidogrel administration for Chinese patients post elective PCI.

What is the central question of this study? The concentrations of βIncreasing attention is being given to the role of immunological mechanisms in the development of heart failure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of serum β

In this study, the endometriosis rats model was randomly divided into 6 groups: model control group, ovariectomized group, Gestrinone group, and quercetin high/medium/low dose group. Rats were killed after 3 weeks of administration. The expression levels of serum FSH and LH were detected by ELISA. The localizations and quantities of ERα, ERβ, and PR were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The results showed that the mechanism of quercetin inhibiting the growth of ectopic endometrium on rat endometriosis model may be through the decreasing of serum FSH and LH levels and then reducing local estrogen content to make the ectopic endometrium atrophy. Quercetin can decrease the expression of ERα, ERβ, and PR in hypothalamus, pituitary, and endometrium, thereby inhibiting estrogen and progesterone binding to their receptors to play the role of antiestrogen and progesterone.

Data on children with left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is sparse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its clinical profiles in a population of Chinese children.From January 2010 to March 2016, consecutive Chinese children (aged18 years) with LVNC diagnosed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) were prospectively recruited at Fuwai Hospital.A total of 41 Chinese children (male: 28%; mean age: 14±4years) were included in this study. Left ventricular non-compaction was not detected in 13 (32%) patients at initial echocardiographic evaluation. Congenital heart disease (CHD) was found in 11 (27%) patients. Four (10%) patients had Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 41±15%. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was detected in eight (20%) subjects. During a mean follow-up of 2.9 years, four (9%) patients died or received heart transplantation. These patients had lower systolic blood pressure (91±10 vs. 108±14mmHg; p=0.02), diastolic blood pressure (57±7 vs. 68±8mmHg; p=0.007) and LVEF (19±7 vs. 44±12%; p=0.002) than the survivors. In addition, advanced heart failure (100% vs. 16%; p=0.002) and LGE (50% vs. 5%; p=0.04) were detected more in these subjects.Left ventricular non-compaction is easily overlooked at echocardiographic assessment. Congenital heart disease and WPW syndrome were relatively common in LVNC children. The prognosis of children with LVNC seemed to be better than previous studies reported, and its long-term prognosis needs to be further investigated.

Recently, poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-co-HFP)) has drawn the attention of many researchers as an excellent material for polymer electrolytes. In this paper, the homogeneous P(VDF-co-HFP) films were prepared by volatilizing solvent method. The swelling behaviors of P(VDF-co-HFP) films in four kinds of carbonate esters (dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, propylene carbonate, and ethylene carbonate) and the permeation behaviors of the four carbonate esters in P(VDF-co-HFP) films were investigated at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50°C under atmospheric pressure. It was found that the liquid content and degree of elongation of P(VDF-co-HFP) films in the carbonate esters increased with the increasing temperature, following the order of DMC > PC > DEC > EC. The order of permeation flux of the carbonate esters in the P(VDF-co-HFP) films was DMC > DEC > PC = EC = 0. The swelling behaviors of P(VDF-co-HFP) films were explained by Hansen Solubility Parameter (HSP) theory.

Aims: We evaluated the safety and feasibility of an intracardiac echocardiography probe through the oesophageal route (ICE-TEE) for the monitoring of left atrial appendage (LAA) closure to avoid general anaesthesia. Methods and results: The study included 16 consecutive patients (75±7 years) in atrial fibrillation with high embolism (CHADS-VASc=5±1.4) and bleeding risk (HAS-BLED=4±0.9) referred for LAA closure (Amplatzer Cardiac Plug [ACP]). Standard TEE was performed before device implantation for LAA analysis. During the procedure, ICE-TEE was used under local anaesthesia to determine LAA size and monitor ACP positioning. Maximum and minimum LAA diameter by standard TEE averaged 21±3 mm and 18±1 mm, respectively. Eccentricity index (1.1±0.2) increased with LAA diameter (r=0.73, p=0.001). Maximum LAA size (21±3 mm) obtained by ICE-TEE during the procedure closely correlated with standard TEE measurement (r=0.9, p

The electronic and geometrical structures of the ground and possible low-lying isomers of Si n Cl and Si n Cl– (n = 1–6) were investigated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-311+G(d) levels. The natural populations and natural electron configurations are presented and discussed for the most stable structures. The impact of internal electron transfer between the (Si n ) subsystem and the Cl atom of Si n Cl− (Si n Cl) clusters is investigated. Furthermore, the three different types of electron affinities for all chlorine-doped silicon clusters are reported, and the dissociation energies are also evaluated for both series using Moller–Plesset and coupled cluster methods.

Hypertension is a chronic disease with a high prevalence, and is associated with a high risk of vascular disease and premature death. Traditional Chinese medicine has been administered to treat hypertension for many years. In the present study, the effects of Yiqi Huaju formula (YQ; a compound used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine) were observed in salt‑sensitive hypertension, which was induced by a high‑salt and high‑fat (HSF) diet and the potential mechanism was investigated. YQ was prepared from five plant extracts and was dissolved in normal sodium chloride prior to use. Male Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, and fed either a normal diet (control), an HSF diet or an HSF diet with YQ. At week eight, blood pressure was measured and 24‑h urine samples were collected from all of the rats. The rats were subsequently sacrificed, and their blood was collected for biochemical analyses and kidney tissue samples were dissected for the immunohistochemical assay. YQ was observed to decrease the high arterial pressure and serum total cholesterol level, which had been induced by the HSF diet. It also enhanced the excretion of urinary angiotensinogen, Na+, and decreased the loss of urinary aldosterone, K+ and microalbuminuria. In addition, YQ inhibited the high mRNA expression level of renal renin, angiotensin II (Ang II), and Ang II receptor, type 1 (AT1R), and inhibited the protein expression of renal AT1R and Ang II receptor type 2, which had been induced by the HSF diet. These results indicate that YQ may reduce the arterial pressure in salt‑sensitive hypertension via the inhibition of renin‑angiotensin system activation.

To compare stent strut coverage using optical coherence tomography (OCT) at three-month follow-up between a PLGA-polymer with electro-grafting base layer sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) (BuMA) and a PLA-polymer SES (EXCEL).This prospective, single-centre, non-inferiority randomised BuMA-OCT trial enrolled patients with de novo coronary artery lesions, treated with either the BuMA or the EXCEL stent. The study primary endpoint was OCT-evaluated stent strut coverage at three months. Secondary endpoints were neointimal thickness of stent struts, and incomplete stent apposition evaluated with OCT. A total of 80 patients were randomly assigned to receive the BuMA (n=40) or the EXCEL (n=40) stent. In OCT follow-up (achieved in 86.3% of cases: BuMA, n=33; EXCEL, n=36), the percentage of stent strut coverage was significantly higher in the BuMA vs. the EXCEL group (strut level: 94.2% vs. 90.0%, p0.01; p(non-inferiority)0.0001; p(superiority)0.0001), while the proportion of malapposed struts (strut level: 1.28% vs. 1.80%, p=0.51) and the mean neointimal thickness (strut level: 0.07±0.03 mm vs. 0.06±0.02 mm, p=0.31) were similar. Rates of myocardial infarction (periprocedural non-Q-wave, 7.5% vs. 7.5%, p=1.00) and target lesion failure (7.5% vs. 7.5%, p=1.00) were similar between groups, with no cardiac death or stent thrombosis.In the BuMA-OCT randomised trial, the novel BuMA PLGA-polymer with electro-grafting base layer SES was superior to the EXCEL PLA-polymer SES in the primary endpoint of stent strut coverage at three-month follow-up.

To assess the clinical outcomes of rotational atherectomy followed by drug-eluting stenting via the transradial approach for the treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions.From January 2009 to October 2012, 114 consecutive patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions underwent rotational atherectomy and drug-eluting stents via transradial approach in our hospital were enrolled in this retrospective study. Characteristics of heavily calcified coronary lesions, the success rates of rotational atherectomy and stenting, rates of complication during perioperative treatments, and adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization and follow up were analyzed.All 114 patients were successfully treated with rotational atherectomy and drug-eluting stent placement, and totally 120 target lesions of type B or C were treated including 8 left main lesions, 93 left anterior descending and 2 circumflex, 17 right coronary lesions. No-reflow was observed in 7 patients during the procedure, there was one case of entrapped rotablator burr which was successfully retrieved together with guiding catheter without serious complication. During the 6 months (median) follow-up, angina was reported in 11 patients and revascularization was performed in 8 patients due to stent restenosis and intensified medical therapy was applied in 3 patients. There was no acute myocardial infarction and death during follow-up.Rotational atherectomy followed by drug-eluting stenting via transradial approach is feasible, effective and safe and the short-term outcome is satisfactory for patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions.

Space-based infrared system is an importance component of defense system. There are several difficult in detecting the midcourse target. Firstly the radiation of target is quit low. Secondly, the radiation of star field and upper atmosphere interact on the infrared image. A new algorithm for Air-to-space multi-band IR imagery is presented. The principal component analysis (PCA) is adapted to estimate the background endmembers. A filter weight vector is obtained based on least square criterion. Some computer simulations on two-dimensional infrared image are presented. The target is detectable at the signal-to-clutter ratio of -3dB in real time. Computer simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is smart and efficient.