Category: News & Events

Prognostic Value of Optical Flow Ratio among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease after Percutaneous Coronary Treatment: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cohort Investigation

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.  The goal of this study was to examine the prognostic performance of optical flow ratio (OFR) among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Patients with CAD undergoing optical coherence tomography (OCT)-directed PCI were recruited between January 2019 and June 2021 for a single-center, hospital-based, retrospective cohort investigation. The link between post-PCI OFR and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was assessed via multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the best post-PCI OFR threshold for MACE was 0.91, and introduction of OFR into the baseline profile and OCT results markedly enhanced MACE identification after PCI. On the basis of survival curves, patients with OFR ≤0.91 (P < 0.001) and thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (P = 0.007) exhibited higher MACE incidence, and myocardial infarction (MI) incidence was considerably greater among patients with OFR ≤0.91 (P < 0.001), compared with OFR >0.91. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that OFR ≤0.91 (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–10.44; P = 0.019), and TCFA (HR: 3.63; 95% CI: 1.42–9.20; P = 0.007) were independent risk factors for MACE, and OFR ≤0.91 was independently associated with MI (HR: 14.64; 95% CI: 3.27–65.54; P < 0.001).

OFR after PCI is an independent MACE bio-indicator among patients with CAD. Adding OFR to post-PCI OCT results may potentially enhance MACE prediction.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2024.0012

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Chuliang Hong, Sicheng Chen and Tianyu Hu et al. Prognostic Value of Optical Flow Ratio among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease after Percutaneous Coronary Treatment: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cohort Investigation. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2024.0012

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Overview of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) for General Cardiologists

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.  Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic autonomic disorder characterized by excessive heart rate elevation upon standing or head-up tilt, in the absence of orthostatic hypotension. This debilitating condition affects primarily young to middle-aged individuals, particularly women, and substantially influences quality of life. The main presenting symptoms are lightheadedness, palpitations, exercise intolerance, and cognitive impairment. POTS is of particular importance to cardiologists, given its prominent cardiovascular symptoms. The diagnostic criteria for POTS include a sustained heart rate increase of more than 30 beats per minute upon standing or head-up tilt; symptoms of orthostatic intolerance lasting at least 3 months; and exclusion of other causes. The exact etiology of POTS is unknown, but multiple possible etiologies leading to a similar clinical phenotype have been proposed. Early intervention and appropriate management can improve symptoms. Treatment strategies include lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, and tailored conditioning programs. Non-pharmacologic options are the first line treatment. Prognosis varies widely: POTS can be a temporary condition for some individuals but a chronic and debilitating condition for others. Further research is necessary to elucidate the pathophysiology and optimize treatment strategies for this condition.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0098

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Ali Nassereddin, Ethan Kramer and Artur Fedorowski et al. Overview of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) for General Cardiologists. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0098

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Clinical Features and Etiology of Recurrent Hypertension after Adrenalectomy

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.

Patients who undergo adrenalectomy for unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA) may still develop post-surgery hypertension; however, the clinical characteristics and etiology of patients developing recurrent hypertension after adrenalectomy are unclear. We analyzed the records of 43 patients with recurrent elevated blood pressure after adrenalectomy, who were treated at our center. Standard routine clinical screening workup was used to identify the cause of recurrent hypertension. Causes of recurrent hypertension after adrenalectomy included essential hypertension, primary aldosteronism, obstructive sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, and Takayasu arteritis. Before adrenalectomy, 39.5% of patients were diagnosed with confirmed or suspected PA, primarily through CT imaging.

Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) tests were not conducted on any patients, and 72.1% patients underwent partial adrenalectomy. Among all patients, elevated blood pressure was observed in 44.2% immediately post-operation, 18.6% within 1 month, 16.3% in 1–6 months, and 20.9% >6 months after operation. Most patients had hypertension of grade 2 and above. Standard endocrine functional assessment and AVS tests should be performed before adrenalectomy to ensure more accurate diagnosis and favorable post-operative outcomes. Additionally, individuals often develop essential hypertension regardless of past adrenal disease.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0092

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Xilan Dong, Qianhui Ling and Jin Bian et al. Clinical Features and Etiology of Recurrent Hypertension after Adrenalectomy. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0092

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Canagliflozin Alleviates Atherosclerosis Progression through Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Autophagy in Western Diet-fed ApoE −/− Mice

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of canagliflozin (Cana) on atherosclerosis and further exploring its potential mechanism. ApoE−/− mice were fed a Western diet (WD) and randomly divided into a WD group and WD+Cana group. After 15 weeks of canagliflozin treatment, serum levels of fasting insulin and inflammatory cytokines were determined with ELISA kits. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson staining were used to estimate the extent of atherosclerosis. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ROS staining, and RT-PCR were used to further investigate Cana’s potential mechanism.

Histological analysis indicated that Cana restrained atherosclerotic plaque development. Furthermore, Cana decreased the percentage of F4/80 positive cells, and the areal density of ROS and relative fluorescence intensity of P62, but enhanced the relative fluorescence intensity of LC3 in the aortic root. Analysis of factors associated with the inflammatory response mediated by AP-1, oxidative stress mediated through the ROS/Nrf2 pathway, and autophagy in the aorta indicated elevated mRNA levels of F4/80, MCP-1, VCAM-1, AP-1, ROS, NOX4, P62, NLRP3, and IL-1β, but diminished mRNA levels of Nrf2, GST, eNOS, and LC3, in the WD+Cana group.

Canagliflozin may attenuate atherosclerosis by decreasing the inflammatory response mediated by AP-1, alleviating oxidative stress through the ROS/Nrf2 pathway, and enhancing autophagy in WD-fed ApoE−/− mice.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0093

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Qingjuan Zuo, Lili He and Sai Ma et al. Canagliflozin Alleviates Atherosclerosis Progression through Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Autophagy in Western Diet-fed ApoE−/− Mice. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0093

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Unveiling Mysteries in Congenital Diseases: A Case Report of Williams-Beuren Syndrome

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.      Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder closely associated with cardiovascular malformations, distinctive facial features, impaired cognitive ability, abnormal growth and development, endocrine dysfunction, and other related systems.

In patients with WBS, the presence of cardiovascular malformations often necessitates genetic testing. This testing not only confirms the diagnosis but also facilitates the identification of associated syndromic features. Early and accurate diagnosis through genetic testing is instrumental for guiding further investigations, and initiating targeted therapies and support services. Such proactive management can substantially improve prognosis and quality of life for patients with WBS. Although surgery remains the most effective approach for repairing cardiovascular malformations, its implementation entails notable surgical risks.

Clinicians should prioritize the identification and diagnosis of WBS, and strive to develop an effective management model involving collaboration among hospitals, families, and society. Here, we presented a case report of a patient with WBS and congenital heart disease, to contribute to a deeper understanding of this condition.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2024.0005

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Zixi Zhang, Cancan Wang and Qiuzhen Lin et al. Unveiling Mysteries in Congenital Diseases: A Case Report of Williams-Beuren Syndrome. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2024.0005

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Feasibility of an Integrated Digital and Pharmacological Approach Targeting Blood Lipids in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Management

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.     Strong evidence supports the importance of lipid-lowering and exercise therapies in the long-term therapy of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Establishing efficient comprehensive intervention programs that combine pharmacological and exercise prescription is crucial to investigate with the aid of digital technologies.

A convenience sample of 25 ASCVD patients (57.8 ± 9.5 years, 76% males) was gathered. All participants were prescribed with 12-week home exercise program supervised by an app and bimonthly 75mg alirocumab subcutaneous injections. Follow up visits were scheduled at the end of 4th and 12th week.

Nineteen participants completed the program with a retention rate of 76%. Sixteen (84.2%) participants received all six doses of alirocumab. The total management time of the 12-week program added up to 65.47 minutes per patient. Satisfaction score was 4.2 ± 0.6 and the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) overall objective quality score on the app was 3.4 ± 0.7. At the 4-week and 12-week follow-ups, LDL-C levels reduced compared to baseline (−1.5 ± 0.8 mmol/L, P < 0.001, −1.6 ± 0.8 mmol/L, P < 0.001, respectively), along with TC (−1.8 ± 1.2 mmol/L, P < 0.001, −1.6 ± 1.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001, respectively), but not TG, HDL-C, GAD-7 and PHQ-9.

The integrated pharmaceutical and digital ERx intervention program was feasible and well accepted in ASCVD patients.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2024.0002

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Xu Yi, Qiu Weiyu and Li Yan et al. Feasibility of an Integrated Digital and Pharmacological Approach Targeting Blood Lipids in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Management. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2024.0002

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Clinical Characteristics and Features of Idiopathic Premature Ventricular Contractions with an Enlarged Left Atrium in Patients Without Structural Heart Diseases

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Idiopathic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) may cause subtle changes in left atrium (LA) structure and function. The authors of this article investigated whether serum sodium, body mass index (BMI), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and other characteristics might be associated with LA in these patients.

A total of 268 consecutive patients diagnosed with idiopathic PVCs were retrospectively analyzed. We assessed associations of enlarged LA and with the clinical features obtained from 24-hour Holter monitoring, electrocardiography and serum data in patients with PVCs.

Patients with an enlarged LA (n = 101), compared with a normal LA (n = 167), had significantly lower serum sodium (140.9 ± 3.0 mmol/L vs 141.7 ± 2.8 mmol/L; P = 0.022), higher BMI (24.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2 vs 21.7 ± 2.5 kg/m2; P < 0.001), higher NT-proBNP [99.3 (193.6) pg/mL vs 77.8 (68.8) pg/mL; P < 0.001] and lower average heart rates (73.0 ± 8.0 bpm vs 75.3 ± 7.6 bpm; P = 0.019). No significant differences were observed in P-wave dispersion, QRS duration, PVC coupling interval, pleomorphism, circadian rhythm, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, serum potassium, serum magnesium, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, symptoms and PVC duration.

Beyond the burden of PVCs, attributes such as serum sodium, BMI, NT-proBNP and average heart beats may potentially correlate with LA enlargement in individuals with idiopathic PVCs.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0094

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Xue Kuang, Yuxiang Long and Jinhang Che et al. Clinical Characteristics and Features of Idiopathic Premature Ventricular Contractions with an Enlarged Left Atrium in Patients Without Structural Heart Diseases. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0094

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Effects of Scalene Muscle Stretching on Slow Vital Capacity and Chest Expansion in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: An Interventional Study

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a coronary revascularization technique associated with diminished pulmonary function. During the first week after CABG, slow vital capacity (SVC) decreases by 30%–60%. Scalene muscles affect pulmonary function because they attach to the 1st and 2nd ribs. Shorter scalene muscles can decrease inhalation volume and chest expansion. Very few studies have assessed the effects of scalene stretching on SVC and chest expansion in patients post-CABG. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the effects of scalene muscle stretching on SVC and chest expansion in such patients.

A total of 74 patients post-CABG (phase 2) meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to two groups: an intervention group (n = 30) performing scalene muscle stretching and a control group (n = 30) performing active neck exercise. Pre & Post SVC and chest expansion were measured in all patients. A total of 14 patients were excluded. Statistical analysis was conducted in SPSS software (version 20.0).

SVC showed significant increase (P < 0.05) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Chest expansion was statistically non-significant between groups (P > 0.05).

Scalene muscle stretching improves SVC in patients post-CABG (phase 2). Hence, scalene stretching should be included in programs for improving respiratory function.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0089

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Miral Vyas, Mihir Mehta and Falak Oza et al. Effects of Scalene Muscle Stretching on Slow Vital Capacity and Chest Expansion in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: An Interventional Study. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0089

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The Development of Ventricular Assist Devices over the Past 30 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.

A large gap exists between the needs of patients with end-stage heart failure and the number of gold-standard heart transplants. Over the past 30 years, a revolutionary treatment strategy using ventricular assist devices (VADs) has rapidly developed and become widely used in clinical practice. However, few analyses have assessed the application and publication trends in the VAD field.

The authors of this article used the Web of Science core collection to identify VAD research published between 1992 and 2022. Analysis and data visualization was performed with CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica, and VOSviewer.

13,274 articles published in 1129 journals were identified, describing work from 6351 institutions in 86 countries. Among them, the United States contributed the most to VAD research, and almost all the top ten authors and institutions contributing to VAD research were from the United States.

In the past 5 years, VAD research has focused on right heart failure, outcomes, effects and risk factors, societies of surgeons, and clinical guidelines. Because of the large number of patients with heart failure, it is expected that VAD development to peak in the next decade.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0088

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Zhou Liu, Siyue Zheng and Yazhe Zhang et al. The Development of Ventricular Assist Devices over the Past 30 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis. CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0088

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Model for Patients with Multivessel Coronary Artery Lesions in the Highlands Region (Qinghai Province, Northwest China)

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal.

The severity and prognosis of coronary artery disease are closely associated with treatment strategy choice. To achieve timely, accurate, early selection of a suitable treatment plan and assess patients’ prognosis, the authors of this article developed an effective predictive model for early identification of high-risk patients according to lesion severity.

Among the 510 patients with chest pain admitted to the Qinghai Red Cross Hospital between August 2018 and October 2019, 386 had coronary artery disease detected by coronary angiography. A total of 24 demographic characteristics and serum markers were analyzed in study participants. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to select variables, and multivariate logistic regression was used to build predictive models by using nominal plots. The discriminatory power of the models was evaluated with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Predictive models were calibrated with calibration plots and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Their clinical validity was evaluated via decision curve analysis.

Data were randomly divided (7:3) into training (358 cases) and test (152 cases) sets. The predictive model included sex, age, smoking status, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, albumin, urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as predictors. The AUCs for the training and test sets were 0.793 and 0.732, respectively. The predictive model showed a good fit, and decision curve analysis indicated the clinical validity of the predictive model.

An effective risk predictive model was developed with good clinical value for predicting multivessel disease. Smoking cessation, lowering creatinine, and increasing HDL cholesterol concentrations might decrease the risk of developing multivessel disease, thereby avoiding severe disease.

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/CVIA.2023.0084

CVIA is available on the ScienceOpen platform and at Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications is indexed in the EMBASE, EBSCO, ESCI, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Sherpa Romeo, NISC (National Information Services Corporation), DOAJ, Index Copernicus, Research4Life and Ulrich’s web Databases. Follow CVIA on Twitter @CVIA_Journal; or Facebook.

Jun Li, Haixia Qin and Jiuping Zhao et al. Model for Patients with Multivessel Coronary Artery Lesions in the Highlands Region (Qinghai Province, Northwest China). CVIA. 2024. Vol. 9(1). DOI: 10.15212/CVIA.2023.0084

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