Speckle tracking echocardiography could be used in measurements of LAS and LASR. Decreased negative LASR was independently associated with PAF.

No abstract

Increased arterial stiffness is an important marker for target organ damage in essential hypertension. Both serum uric acid (UA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were reported to be associated with target organ damage. However, the influences of UA and CRP on large arterial stiffness were not well elucidated. This study included 200 essential hypertension patients (64 women) whose age was between 20 and 50 years old (mean age 41 +/- 8 years). None of the patients had diabetes mellitus or overt end-organ damage. Arterial stiffness was assessed by pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measured by tonometry from carotid to radial artery. Serum UA, high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles were measured at the same time in each patient. PWV levels were significantly correlated with mean blood pressure (r = 0.245, P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.323, P < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein (r = -0.169, P = 0.016), and UA (r = 0.234, P = 0.001), but not age, body mass index, blood sugar, insulin, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and hsCRP. Pulse-wave velocity levels were significantly higher in males (8.9 +/- 1.2 vs 8.2 +/- 1.2 m/s, P < 0.001) and smokers (9.3 +/- 1.1 vs 8.5 +/- 1.2 m/s, P < 0.001). Uric acid was significantly correlated with hsCRP (r = 0.294, P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis controlling for all possible confounding factors, UA (odds ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.61, P = 0.032) was still independently associated with increased PWV. In conclusion, UA but not hsCRP was independently associated with increased PWV in essential hypertension. Although UA was correlated with hsCRP, the association between UA and PWV was not through the effect of enhanced inflammation.

Ticagrelor treatment could provide a marginally favorable effect at the expense of an increased risk of dyspnea in real-life situations. This pilot study provides a scientific basis to call for a larger, suitably powered Phase 4 prospective or observational study in this ethnic population.

This study demonstrates the efficacy of a triad therapy involving the addition of PRP to bioimplants along with early CPM intervention for hyaline cartilage and subchondral regeneration. However, PRP alone (with or without PLGA implants) is limited to osteochondral defect repair without significant regeneration.

The present EPC-PLGA cell delivery system generates a suitable in situ microenvironment for osteochondral regeneration without the supplement of exogenous growth factors.

The Compliance Index was lower in patients with risk factors and was associated with poor exercise capacity. This index may be clinically useful for evaluating arterial stiffness.

Due to SB-NP's enhanced bioavailability, effective anti-HCV activity and an overall hepatoprotective effect, we suggest that SB-NP may be a cost-effective anti-HCV agent that merits further evaluation for the treatment of hepatitis C.