Heart failure affects quality of life and life expectancy of tens of millions of individuals. There are no available economic and effective treatments for end-stage heart failure. Hydrogels are novel tissue engineering materials, which have the potential to ameliorate myocardium remodeling, increase cardiac output, improve quality of life and prolong life span by implantation into myocardium. The preclinical experiments and clinical trials have greatly explored the function of hydrogels in heart failure. In this review, we summarized the approaches of implantation, mechanism and clinical outcomes of the hydrogels.
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of mindfulness-based stress reduction in improving anxiety and depression in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.MethodsFrom August 2016 to August 2018, a total of 196 elderly patients with chronic heart failure were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group, with 98 cases in each group. The control group received routine care. The treatment group received routine care plus mindfulness-based stress reduction in two 60-minute sessions a week for 8 weeks. The level of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured by echocardiography before intervention and at week 8 of intervention; the effective rate was calculated. Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and General Well-Being scale (GWB) were used to assess the degree of anxiety, depression, and well-being of patients before intervention and at week 8 of intervention.ResultsThe serum NT-proBNP levels at week 8 of intervention in the two groups were lower than those before intervention, and the LVEFs were higher than those before intervention (P<0.05). The treatment group showed significant changes when compared with the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (89.80% vs. 69.39%, P<0.05). Before intervention, the SAS scores in the treatment group and the control group were 56.61±8.25 and 55.98±6.32, respectively, the SDS scores were 59.98±7.21 and 58.86±6.17, respectively, and the GWB scores were 53.19±12.38 and 54.06±10.93, respectively; at week 8 of intervention, the SAS scores in the treatment group and the control group were 40.56±8.17 and 46.25±5.43, respectively, the SDS scores were 42.85±5.77 and 48.34±8.01, respectively, and the GWB scores were 76.17±9.63 and 68.58±13.30, respectively. At week 8 of intervention, the SAS and SDS scores of the two groups were both lower than those before intervention, and the GWB scores were higher than those before intervention (P<0.05). The treatment group showed significant changes when compared with the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionMindfulness-based stress reduction can improve the anxiety and depression of elderly patients with chronic heart failure, improve their well-being and promote the recovery of heart function.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of Tai Chi on patients with heart failure.MethodsDatabases including CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase and The Cochrane Library (Issue 8, 2016) were searched from inception to August, 2016 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Tai Chi for heart failure patients. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 10 RCTs involving 689 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the heart failure patients in Tai Chi group had better score of minnesotaliving with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) (MD=–9.37, 95%CI –13.09 to –5.65, P<0.000 01), longer six minute walk test (6MWT) (MD=40.37, 95%CI 9.48 to 71.27, P=0.01), higher left ventricular ejectionfractions (LVEF) (MD=7.89, 95%CI 3.01 to 12.77, P=0.002) and lower level of BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) (MD=–10.75, 95%CI –13.20 to –8.30, P<0.000 01); however, as to the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) (MD=0.29, 95%CI –1.223 to 1.81, P=0.71), systolic pressure (SBP) (MD=–2.81, 95%CI –8.52 to 2.90, P=0.33) and diastolic pressure (DBP) (MD=0.37, 95%CI –3.73 to 4.48, P=0.86), there were no significant differences between both groups.ConclusionThe current evidence shows that Tai Chi is feasible for patients with heart failure as it has positive effects on life quality, physiological functions. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above conclusion should be validated by more high quality studies.
ObjectivesTo systematically assess the efficacy and safety of nitrates for patients with chronic heart failure. MethodWe searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2016), CBM, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cross-over studies about nitrates in the treatment of heart failure from inception to January 4th 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsTen trials were included involving 414 patients (195 patients in the nitrates group and 219 patients in the control group). The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the nitrates group could reduce arterial blood pressure (MD=-1.91, 95%CI -3.66 to -0.16, P=0.03), pulmonary wedge pressure vessels (PCWP) (MD=-2.00, 95%CI -3.84 to -0.15, P=0.03), increase cardiac index (CI) (MD=0.25, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.42, P=0.003), treadmill exercise time (MD=70.14, 95%CI 55.22 to 85.05, P < 0.000 01); but easily emerge side effects (OR=5.21, 95%CI 2.60 to 10.41, P < 0.000 01). ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that nitrates treatment could improve the hemodynamic effect, enhance cardiac output and increase exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure.
Objective To assess the efficiency and safety of pulsatile catheter (PUCA) pump support during acute ischemic heart failure in sheep. Methods After heart failure model was induced successfully in 10 sheep, PUCA pump was inserted through aorta and the aortic valve orifice with its tip located in the left ventricle. It was then activated to support the hemodynamics for 3 hours. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored and recorded before thoracotomy, heart failure, and every 60 min after the support. Platelet and plasma free hemoglobin were tested during the experiment. Thrombosis in kidney, membrane-pump, and catheter were examined at the end of study. Results PUCA pump support was successful in 7 sheep for 3 hours and failed in 3 due to technical problems. During support with the PUCA pump, mean arterial pressure(MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) increased gradually and close to the baseline at the end of experiment. No significant change in platelet and plasma free hemoglobin were found during the whole period of the PUCA pump support. No thrombosis was found as well by means of examining kidney, membrane-pump and catheter. Conclusions PUCA pump can successfully maintain the hemodynamics in a sheep acute heart failure model associated with few blood destruction and thrombosis. It is thus suitable for clinical application to heart failure patients for the maintenance of hemodynamics.
Objective To analyze the substitution mechanism of surrogate endpoints for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical efficacy evaluation of chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods To obtain data from the occurrence of surrogate endpoints and cardiogenic death of patients with CHF in 7 hospitals. The causal relationship between surrogate endpoints and cardiogenic mortality was inferred by the Bayesian network model, and the interaction among surrogate endpoints was analyzed by non-conditional logistic regression model. Results A total of 2 961 patients with CHF were included. The results of Bayesian network causal inference showed that cardiogenic mortality had a causal relationship with the surrogate endpoints including NYHA classification (P=0.46), amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (P=0.24), left ventricular ejaculation fraction (LVEF) (P=0.19), and hemoglobin (HB) (P=0.11); non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that NYHA classification had interaction with NT-proBNP, LVEF, and HB prior to and after adjusting confounders. Conclusions The substitution capability of surrogate endpoints for TCM clinical efficacy evaluation of CHF for cardiogenic mortality are NYHA classification, NT-proBNP, LVEF, and HB in turn, and there is a multiplicative interaction between the main surrogate endpoint NYHA classification and the secondary surrogate endpoints including NT-proBNP, LVEF, and HB, suggesting that when the two surrogate endpoints with interaction exist at the same time, it can enhance the substitution capability of surrogate endpoints for cardiogenic mortality.
Congestive heart failure is a complication of myocardial infarction threatening human health. Although the pharmacotherapy is effective, it is still a worldwide challenge to thoroughly repair the injured myocardium induced by myocardial infarction. It has been demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can repair infarcted myocardium. Much evidence shows that MSCs can generate new myocardial cells in both human and animals' hearts. This review aims at discussing the therapeutic progress of the congestive heart failure treated with MSCs.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of ivabradine (IVA) for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy and safety of IVA for patients with CHF from inception to April, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 software.ResultsA total of 22 RCTs involving 2 010 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with control group, IVA group could decrease heart rate (HR) (WMD=−10.58, 95%CI −12.47 to −8.69, P=0.000) and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (WMD=−457.87, 95%CI −842.63 to −73.11, P=0.020). IVA group was superior in 6 minutes’ walk distance (6MWD) (WMD=40.49, 95%CI 27.83 to 53.15, P=0.000), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (WMD=5.11, 95%CI 3.74 to 6.48, P=0.000), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd) and incidence of endpoint events with significant difference. However, the total effective rate, the incidence of adverse reactions and blood pressures were similar between two groups.ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that IVA could significantly reduce HR, improve cardiac function and exercise tolerance in CHF patients with no significant increase of adverse events. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo compare the perioperative renal function changes in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HT) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. MethodsPatients with end-stage heart failure who underwent surgical treatment at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2019 to April 2024 were included. According to the surgical method, patients were divided into a HT group and a LVAD group, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of patients before surgery and postoperative 1, 7, 30, 60 days was compared between the two groups. The patients with preoperative renal dysfunction were subdivided into subgroups for comparison of eGFR changes before surgery and 30 days after surgery between the two groups. ResultsA total of 112 patients were enrolled. There were 78 patients in the HT group, including 61 males and 17 females, aged (44.42±18.51) years. There were 34 patients in the LVAD group, including 30 males and 4 females, aged (54.94±11.37) years. Compared with the HT group, the average age of patients in the LVAD group was greater (P<0.001), body mass index was higher (P=0.008), preoperative eGFR was lower (P=0.009), and the proportions of smokers (P=0.017), alcohol drinkers (P=0.041), and diabetes mellitus (P=0.028) patients were higher. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction [eGFR<90 mL/(min·1.73 m2)], compared with the HT group, the postoperative eGFR of the LVAD group was significantly higher than that of the HT group, and it was significantly increased compared with that before surgery; the postoperative eGFR of the HT group was comparable to that before surgery, and more than half of the patients had a lower eGFR than before surgery. Among patients with preoperative renal dysfunction, 11 patients in the HT group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 8 died early; 2 patients in the LVAD group received continuous renal replacement therapy, and 1 died early. ConclusionFor end-stage heart failure patients with combined renal dysfunction, compared with HT, LVAD implantation enables patients to obtain better renal function benefits.
Heart failure is a leading cause of death in human populations. Because of the insufficient numbers of donor hearts, ventricular assist as a way for the treatment of heart failure and its clinical use is increasing. Initially ventricular assist devices were approved as a bridge-to-recovery indication, and these systems are now increasingly being used as a bridge-to-transplant (BTT) , destination therapy (DT) or permanent support. According to the different structure and working mechanism, ventricular assist device is generally divided into three generation. This review makes a summary on the type of blood pump and its research progress in clinical application.