Cardiovascular Reviews

Comparative Efficacy of Drug-Coated Balloon and Drug-Eluting Stent in Patients with Hemodynamically Stable Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study Focusing on Long-Term Vascular Structure and Function

2026-03-19T12:19:49+08:00

Objective: To compare the differences in long-term vascular structure and function after treatment with drug-coated balloons (DCB) versus drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with hemodynamically stable acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients admitted for ACS between November 2022 and June 2025, with Killip class 1–2, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and completed 6–12 months of angiographic follow-up were consecutively enrolled. Patients with cardiac arrest, those requiring mechanical ventilation, or those with severe non-cardiovascular comorbidities were excluded. Based on the final interventional technique, patients were divided into the DES group (n = 62) and the DCB group (n = 42). The primary endpoint was late lumen loss (LLL) measured by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). Secondary endpoints included coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP), coronary restenosis, and repeat revascularization during follow-up. Multivariable rank regression was used to adjust for confounding factors such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) status. Results: After multivariable adjustment, the extent of LLL was significantly lower in the DCB group than in the DES group (β = 21.90, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that this advantage persisted across different LVEF levels. Importantly, the incidence of CSFP was significantly lower in the DCB group than in the DES group (2.4% vs. 17.7%, p = 0.016). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of restenosis rate and repeat revascularization rate. Conclusion: In patients with hemodynamically stable ACS, the DCB interventional strategy demonstrates significant advantages over DES in suppressing LLL and preventing CSFP.

Analysis of the Effective Rate of Amlodipine Besylate Combined with Metoprolol in the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Essential Hypertension

2026-03-19T12:19:48+08:00

Objective: To analyze the therapeutic effect of amlodipine besylate combined with metoprolol in elderly patients with essential hypertension. Methods: A total of 600 elderly patients with essential hypertension who were treated from August 2023 to August 2024 were selected as samples and grouped by random number table. Group A was treated with amlodipine besylate combined with metoprolol, while Group B was treated with metoprolol. Cardiovascular function indicators, vascular endothelial indicators, blood viscosity indicators, and adverse reactions were compared. Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) in Group A were lower than those in Group B, with P < 0.05; Nitric oxide (NO) in Group A was higher than that in Group B, while endothelin-1 (ET-1) was lower than that in Group B, with P < 0.05; Plasma viscosity (PV), low-shear whole blood viscosity (LBV), and high-shear whole blood viscosity (HBV) in Group A were lower than those in Group B, with P < 0.05; There was no significant difference in adverse drug reactions between Group A and Group B, with P > 0.05. Conclusion: The combination of amlodipine besylate and metoprolol in the treatment of elderly patients with essential hypertension results in stable hemodynamic indicators, improved vascular endothelial function, reduced blood pressure and heart rate, and is highly effective and feasible.

Research Advances in Cardiac Rehabilitation Following Coronary Interventions

2026-03-19T12:19:47+08:00

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common chronic cardiovascular condition that significantly impacts public health. With the accelerating trend of population aging in China, the prevalence of CHD continues to rise. Currently, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) serves as the primary method for revascularization in CHD, effectively improving patient prognosis and quality of life. However, cardiac rehabilitation nursing, a crucial component of the PCI system, remains underemphasized and underutilized in clinical practice. This paper systematically reviews research advances in post-PCI cardiac rehabilitation and nursing, aiming to integrate existing evidence and provide scientific, standardized references for clinical practice, thereby promoting the standardized implementation of secondary prevention for CHD.

Correlation Analysis Between Inflammatory Markers and Stroke Prevalence: A Cross- Sectional Analysis from NHANES 2017–2023

2026-03-19T12:19:46+08:00

Systemic chronic inflammation drives cerebrovascular disease, and composite hematological inflammatory indicators, including Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Neutrophil + Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NMLR), Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI), and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), have proven prognostic in acute stroke. However, their comparative value for predicting stroke risk in the general population remains unaddressed. We conducted a cross-sectional study using NHANES 2017–2023 data, including 15,253 adults (658 with self-reported stroke). Survey-weighted analyses compared baseline characteristics, while weighted univariate logistic regression assessed associations between inflammatory indices and stroke risk. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated diagnostic performance, and a composite scoring system ranked the indicators. Subgroup analyses tested consistency across demographics and comorbidities. All five inflammatory markers were significantly higher in stroke patients (all P < 0.01). NLR, MLR, NMLR, and SIRI correlated positively with stroke risk (OR range: 1.04–1.06, all P < 0.05), but SII did not. SIRI had the largest area under the curve (AUC = 0.597) and the highest composite score (integrating AUC, OR, sensitivity, and specificity). Associations remained consistent across genders, age groups, and individuals with or without diabetes or hypertension. Composite inflammatory indicators, particularly SIRI, may serve as potential biomarkers for stroke risk assessment in the general population. Their moderate diagnostic performance, however, limits standalone use; they are best employed as auxiliary tools in comprehensive risk evaluation.

Exploring Treatment Approaches for Cervical Spondylosis Based on the Theory of “Bone Xuanfu-Collaterals-Marrow”

2026-03-19T12:19:45+08:00

Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative disease primarily characterized by neck pain, limited mobility, upper limb numbness, and even functional impairment. It falls within the scope of traditional Chinese medicine classifications such as “neck impediment syndrome,” “bone impediment syndrome,” and “sinew impediment syndrome.” Traditional Chinese medicine predominantly addresses this condition through macro-level differentiation and treatment approaches such as liver and kidney deficiency, invasion by wind-cold-damp pathogens, and blood stasis obstructing collaterals. While these methods yield reliable therapeutic outcomes, they offer relatively limited systematic interpretation of the local microstructures and functional states of the cervical spine. Based on the theory of Bone Xuanfu-Collaterals-Marrow, this paper explores the pathogenesis and treatment approaches of cervical spondylosis from an integrated perspective of macroscopic holism and microscopic structure. The theoretical connotations of “Bone Xuanfu”, “Collaterals” and “Marrow” are elaborated, as well as their internal relationships in the physiology and pathology of the cervical spine. After that, the pathogenesis and progression of cervical spondylosis are analyzed from three aspects: “obstruction of Bone Xuanfu,” “stasis of collaterals,” and “deficiency and malnourishment of marrow.” Finally, a staged treatment approach of “opening Xuanfu, nourishing collaterals, and replenishing bone marrow,” is proposed, which is discussed with corresponding therapeutic methods and herbal formulas. This aims to provide a novel theoretical perspective for the syndrome differentiation and treatment of cervical spondylosis within traditional Chinese medicine.

Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation of the Mechanisms of Zhenwu Tang in Treating Viral Myocarditis

2026-03-19T12:19:44+08:00

Background: Zhenwu Tang is a typical Chinese medicinal preparation for the treatment of viral myocarditis (VMC) with remarkable clinical efficacy in alleviating symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and fatigue in some patients, and reducing the frequency of episodes. Nonetheless, the exact mechanism by which it acts remains unclear. This research employed network pharmacology to investigate the therapeutic impact of Zhenwu Tang’s relevant targets on VMC, along with molecular docking validation. Methods: The primary components of Zhenwu Tang and their respective targets were sourced from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the UniProt database, GeneCards and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases were used to identify targets related to VMC. Disease Ontology (DO), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to evaluate the common ‘Zhenwu Tang-VMC’ targets. Using Cytoscape software, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, ‘compound-target-pathway’ network, and ‘target-organ’ network were developed, and their network parameters were thoroughly examined. The interactions between core targets and active compounds were evaluated and validated by molecular docking. Results: A total of 93 targets of Zhenwu Tang active compounds and 2,243 VMC-related targets were screened, and 37 Zhenwu Tang-VMC common targets were obtained. DO analysis of these 37 common targets indicated that the “Zhenwu Tang-VMC” common targets showed high enrichment in respiratory system diseases. According to the molecular docking results, 60 VMC ligand-receptor pairs and 47 respiratory-associated VMC ligand-receptor pairs had binding energies lower than -7 kcal/mol. Conclusion: The present study suggests that Zhenwu Tang is a promising Chinese medicinal preparation for the treatment of viral myocarditis, especially respiratory-associated viral myocarditis. Our illustration of the particular molecular mechanism of Zhenwu Tang against VMC and its potent active compounds offers a theoretical foundation for further basic experimental validation, clinical translation, and application.