ervention.
  This study aimed to assess the effect of folic acid combined with pravastatin on atherosclerosis-related indexes in elderly patients with hypertension complicated with lacunar cerebral infarction.A total of 134 elderly hypertensive patients with lacunar cerebral infarction were randomly divided into 3 groups using the random number table method. Group A, the folic acid group, had 45 cases and received low-dose folic acid (0.8 mg/d) treatment on the basis of antihypertensive treatment. Group B, the pravastatin group, had 45 cases and received pravastatin (20 mg/d) treatment on the basis of antihypertensive treatment. Group C, the folic acid combined with the pravastatin group, had 44 cases. Members of this group received pravastatin (20 mg/d) and low-dose folic acid (0.8 mg/d) based on antihypertensive treatment. Levels of folic acid, homocysteine (Hcy), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by E  .05). These patients also showed significantly decreased IMT levels compared with those in the other groups (P  less then  .05).Low-dose folic acid combined with pravastatin in elderly patients with lacunar cerebral infarction can reduce the level of homocysteine, improve the degree of carotid atherosclerosis, protect vascular endothelium, and reduce blood lipids and blood pressure, presenting better benefits than pravastatin alone.
  Corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation has been associated with poor patient prognosis. In this study, we assessed the effects of different drugs and cardiac injury on QTc interval prolongation in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).The study cohort consisted of 395 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the Wuhan Union Hospital West Campus. All hospitalized patients were treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), quinolones, interferon, Arbidol, or Qingfei Paidu decoction (QPD) and received at least 1 electrocardiogram after drug administration.Fifty one (12.9%) patients exhibited QTc prolongation (QTc ≥ 470 ms). QTc interval prolongation was associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality (both P < .001). Administration of CQ/HCQ (odds ratio [OR], 2.759; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.318-5.775; P = .007), LPV/r (OR, 2.342; 95% CI, 1.152-4.760; P = .019), and quinolones (OR, 2.268; 95% CI, 1.171-4.392; P = .015) increased the risk of QTc prolongation. In 8]; P = .042). The QTc interval was positively correlated with the levels of cardiac biomarkers (creatine kinase-MB fraction [rho = 0.14, P = .016], high-sensitivity troponin I [rho = .22, P  less then  .001], and B-type natriuretic peptide [rho = 0.27, P  less then  .001]).In conclusion, QTc prolongation was associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. The risk of QTc prolongation was higher in patients receiving CQ/HCQ, LPV/r, and quinolones. QPD had less significant effects on QTc prolongation than other antiviral agents.
  The clinical significance of hemoglobin-to-red blood cell distribution width (Hb/RDW) for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has not been reported yet. This study aimed to evaluate the value of preoperative Hb/RDW, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for the diagnosis of NPC.A total of 180 NPC patients (NPC group) and 149 healthy subjects (control group) were recruited to assess the value of Hb/RDW, NLR, and PLR for the diagnosis of NPC.It was noted that NLR and PLR were significantly higher in the NPC group than those in the control group (P < .001); however, Hb/RDW was lower in the NPC group compared with that in the control group (P < .001). NLR was also remarkably different between patients of stage I+II and those of stage III+IV (P = .043), and that was different in patients with lymph node metastases or not (P = .030).  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/acetylcysteine.html  Besides, PLR was significantly different in patients with serosal invasion or not (P = .031). In receiver operating characterist.851, 95% CI 0.808-0.888, P = .0002) had a greater AUC value for the diagnosis of NPC compared with Hb/RDW alone (AUC 0.781, 95% CI 0.732-0.824).Hb/RDW can be used as a valuable indicator for auxiliary diagnosis of NPC. Preoperative Hb/RDW combined with NLR or PLR is of great significance in the auxiliary diagnosis and pathological staging of NPC.
  Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation sometimes encounters difficulty in passing the interatrial septum. This study reports a modified percutaneous atrial balloon septoplasty with short balloon to gain access to left atrium (LA) during challenging transseptal puncture (TSP).We retrospectively analyzed 20 patients (61.75 ± 7.31 years, 45% male) who received modified percutaneous atrial balloon septoplasty from August 2015 to October 2018. Soft-headed balance middle weight (BMW) guidewire was inserted into left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) and short non-compliant balloon (15 mm in length and 4.0 or 5.0 mm in diameter) was used for atrial balloon septoplasty (ABS). Interatrial septum was located with inflated balloon and contrast "Hitting Wall" sign. All patients were followed-up for iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) and other related complications.ABS and LA access were performed successfully without complications in all 20 patients. Time needed for ABS was correlated to the number of prior TSP (P =d with inflated balloon and contrast "Hitting Wall" sign. All patients were followed-up for iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) and other related complications.ABS and LA access were performed successfully without complications in all 20 patients. Time needed for ABS was correlated to the number of prior TSP (P = .007). During the 6-month follow-up, no remaining iASD was found by echocardiography.For atrial fibrillation patients with difficulty in passing the interatrial septum, this modified percutaneous ABS might be an alternative strategy which is safe to obtain transseptal access without short or long term complications.