Aim: To identify the exact molecular markers related to coronary slow flow syndrome (CSFS) and its prognosis. Patients & methods: Data from 54 patients with CSFS diagnosed by coronary angiography and 101 normal control patients were collected and analyzed. Results: Logistic regression analysis confirmed that homocysteine (Hcy; odds ratio: 1.107; 95% CI: 1.018–1.205; p = 0.018) was associated with CSFS. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis identified an Hcy value of 17.1 μmol/l as an effective cut-off point for predicting CSFS. Cox survival analysis showed a relationship between high admission Hcy level (odds ratio: 1.19; 95% CI = 1.05–1.34; p = 0.005) and recurrent angina. Conclusion: Our results showed positive correlations of Hcy with CSFS and cardiac events.

In elderly patients with hypertension, poor sleep quality individuals were more prone to reverse dipper BP rhythm. Even adjusting for the effect of known risk factors of hypertension, poor sleep may contribute to attenuated BP dipping in elderly hypertensive.

Thrombotic diseases have the characteristics of long latency period, rapid onset, and high mortality rate, which seriously threaten people’s life and health. The aim of this research is to fabricate a novel indocyanine green complex of urokinase (ICG@uPA) and employ the amphiphilic PEG-PLGA polymer to deliver the complex as an enzyme-phototherapeutic synergistic thrombolysis platform. The noncovalent indocyanine green (ICG) complex of urokinase (ICG@uPA) was prepared via supramolecular self-assembly and then encapsulated into cRGD decorated polymeric nanoparticles (cRGD-ICG-uPA NPs) by double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. Then the nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized in terms of particle size, optical properties, in vitro release, etc. The targeting and thrombolytic effect of the nanoparticles were studied both in vitro and in vivo. ICG@uPA and cRGD-ICG-uPA NPs displayed significantly higher photostability and laser energy conversion efficiency than free ICG. Concomitantly, the NPs exhibited selective binding affinity to the activated platelets and specific accumulation in the mouse mesenteric vessel thrombus. Significant thrombolysis was achieved in vivo by photo-assisted synergistic therapy with reduced dose and systemic bleeding risk of uPA. Our results prove that the functional PLGA nanoparticle loaded with the ICG@uPA offers a novel option for effective and safe thrombolytic treatment.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Xinmailong injection on rats with myocardial infarction. Thirty-six rats were induced myocardial infarction by operation, and six underwent sham operation. The myocardial infarction rats were randomly divided into three groups, 12 in each, and administered intraperitoneal injection of Xinmailong 5 mg/(kg·d), sodium creatine phosphate 80 mg/(kg·d), or normal saline as control respectively for 14 days. When the treatments were completed, the hemodynamic parameters of the rats were observed, and blood samples were taken to examine blood routine, blood coagulation index, liver and kidney function, inflammatory index, myocardial marker, thrombo-elastography, and other indicators. The morphology of cardiomyocytes was observed through light microscopy, and the microstructure of the myocardial cells was observed under electron microscope. No significant difference was found in blood routine, liver and kidney function, and blood coagulation index between the Xinmailong and sodium creatine phosphate groups compared with the saline control group. However, the inflammatory index and levels of myocardial markers were significantly decreased, and cardiac function was significantly improved. In terms of the morphology of myocardial cells, the Xinmailong group was similar to the sodium creatine phosphate group, the myocardial cell membrane was protected, and myocardial cell damage was reduced. In conclusion, Xinmailong is safe and had anti-inflammatory, heart-improving, and myocardial-protective effects. Its effectiveness is not inferior to that of sodium creatine phosphate.