Background and Purpose-Atrial cardiomyopathy is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. P-wave terminal force in lead V 1 , P-wave duration, and maximum P-wave area are electrocardiographic parameters that have been used to assess left atrial abnormalities related to developing atrial fibrillation. The aim of this systematic review and metaanalysis was to examine their values for predicting ischemic stroke risk. Methods-PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched until December 2016 for studies that evaluated the association between P-wave indices and stroke risk. Both fixed-and random-effects models were used to calculate the overall effect estimates. Results-Ten studies examining P-wave terminal force in lead V 1 , P-wave duration, and maximum P-wave area were included. P-wave terminal force in lead V 1 was found to be an independent predictor of stroke as both a continuous Key Words: atrial fibrillation ◼ electrocardiography ◼ heart atria ◼ odds ratio ◼ stroke P-Wave Indices and Risk of Ischemic Stroke

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The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is responsible for protein synthesis and calcium storage. ER stress, reflected by protein unfolding and calcium handling abnormalities, has been studied as a pathogenic factor in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of ER stress on mechanical and electrophysiological functions in the heart and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. A total of 30 rats were randomly divided into control, ER stress inducer (tunicamycin[TN]) and ER stress inhibitor (tunicamycin+4‐phenylbutyric acid [4‐PBA]) groups. ER stress induction led to significantly systolic and diastolic dysfunction as reflected by maximal increasing/decreasing rate of left intraventricular pressure (±dp/dt), left ventricular peaksystolic pressure(LVSP) and LV end‐diastolic pressure(LVEDP). Epicardial mapping performed in vivo revealed reduced conduction velocity and increased conduction heterogeneity associated with the development of spontaneous ventricular tachycardia. Masson’s trichrome staining revealed marked fibrosis in the myocardial interstitial and sub‐pericardial regions, and thickened epicardium. Western blot analysis revealed increased pro‐fibrotic factor transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), decreased mitochondrial biogenesis protein peroxlsome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ coactlvator‐1α （PGC‐1a）, and decreased mitochondrial fusion protein mitofusin‐2 (MFN2). These changes were associated with mitochondria dysfunction and connexin 43(CX43)translocation to mitochondria. These abnormalities can be partially prevented by the ER stress inhibitor 4‐PBA. Our study shows that ER stress induction can produce cardiac electrical and mechanism dysfunction as well as structural remodelling. Mitochondrial function alterations are contributed by CX43 transposition to mitochondria. These abnormalities can be partially prevented by the ER stress inhibitor 4‐PBA.

The aim of the present study was to identify the effect of swimming on nerve root pain in rats with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). A total of 72 male Sprague Dawley rats (215±15 g) were randomly divided into three groups (n=24/group): The sham operation, model and exercise intervention groups, with the latter undergoing 4 weeks of swimming training. On days 0, 7, 14 and 28 following surgery, the changes in the post-limb mechanical claw threshold, the phospholipase A2 (PLA2), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA expression levels, the secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) expression, the IL-6 and TNF-α content, the nuclear factor (NF)-κBp65 protein expression level in the nucleus pulposus, and the apoptotic rate of the nucleus pulposus cells were detected. The results demonstrated that, in the model group, the threshold of hind paw withdrawal was decreased, and that the sPLA2 expression, IL-6 and TNF-α content, PLA2, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA and NF-κBp65 protein expression levels in the nucleus pulposus were increased. The apoptotic rate of the nucleus pulposus cells was increased from day 7 following surgery, as compared with the sham operation group. In the exercise intervention group, the hind paw withdrawal threshold increased and the TNF-α and IL-6 content, sPLA2 expression and PLA2, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA and NF-κBp65 protein expression levels were decreased from day 14 following surgery, and the apoptotic nucleus pulposus cells were decreased from day 7 following surgery, as compared with the model group. Collectively, the present data suggest that swimming can significantly reduce nerve root pain and inhibit inflammatory reaction in LDH, which can have positive effects on the treatment of LDH.

Background and aimsBleeding is one of the common adverse events of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which is mainly caused by endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). At present, it remains unclear whether proton pump inhibitor (PPI) should be used to prevent post-EST bleeding. Therefore, we performed a randomized controlled trial to investigate whether PPI is effective in the prevention of post-EST delayed bleeding.MethodsConsecutive eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to experimental group (PPI group) or control group (normal saline, NS group). The patients in PPI group received intravenous esomeprazole 40  mg and normal saline 100  mL every 12  h for 2  days after ERCP immediately, and followed by oral esomeprazole (Nexium) 20  mg once a day for 7  days. Correspondingly, patients in the control group received intravenous normal saline 100  mL and did not take PPIs or any acid-suppressing drugs during hospitalization and after discharge. All patients were followed up for 30  days after ERCP. The primary endpoint was the incidence and severity of post-EST delayed bleeding.ResultsBetween July 2020 and July 2022, 290 patients were randomly assigned to PPI group (n = 146) or NS group (n = 144). 5 patients from each group were excluded from the final analysis. There were 6 patients with post-EST delayed bleeding, with an incidence rate of 2.14%. The median time of delayed bleeding was 2.5  days after ERCP. 3 cases (2.12%, 3/141) occurred in the PPI group, with 1 case of mild and 2 cases of moderate bleeding. 3 cases (2.16%, 3/139) occurred in the NS group, with 2 cases of mild and 1 case of moderate bleeding. There was no significant difference in the incidence and the severity of post-EST delayed bleeding between the two groups (p = 1.000).ConclusionProphylactic use of PPI after EST does not reduce the incidence and severity of post-EST delayed bleeding in patients.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx, identifier ChiCTR2000034697.

ObjectiveTo compare the diagnostic value of cytobrush, ERCP-guided biopsy, SpyGlass direct visual impression and SpyGlass-guided biospy (SpyBite) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant bile duct strictures.MethodsThe data of 1,008 patients who were clinically diagnosed with indeterminate biliary strictures and underwent ERCP-guided biopsy, cytobrush, SpyGlass direct visual impression or SpyBite at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2010 and December 2019 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The final diagnose was determined by surgical pathological specimen or follow-up (Malignant stricture can be identified if the stricture showed malignant progression during one year of follow-up). The differential diagnostic value of the above endoscopic diagnostic methods was evaluated by means of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, etc. and safety was evaluated by the incidence rate of adverse events.ResultsIn terms of sensitivity, standard biopsy group (48.6%) and SpyBite group (61.5%) were significantly higher than cytobrush group (32.0%), and visual impression group (100%) was significantly higher than any other group. As far as specificity was concerned, cytobrush group (99.0%), standard biopsy group (99.3%) and the SpyBite group (100%) were significantly higher than visual impression (55.6%), but there was no statistical difference among the three groups above. As far as accuracy was concerned, standard biopsy group (65.3%), and SpyBite group (80.0%) were significantly higher than cytobrush group (44.4%), and SpyBite group (80.0%) was significantly higher than visual impression group (54.8%). In terms of safety, visual impression group and SpyBite group were significantly higher than cytobrush group and standard biopsy group in post-ERCP cholangitis.ConclusionSpyBite combined with SpyGlass-guided visual impression was better for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant bile duct strictures in terms of sensitivity and accuracy compared with conventional endoscopic diagnostic methods such as cytobrush and standard biopsy. Furthmore, the incidence rates of adverse events after SpyGlass examination was similar to those after conventional endoscopic diagnostic methods except for higher cholangitis, which could be controlled by antibiotics and might be avoided by adequate biliary drainage.