Impact of revascularization in patients with post‐infarction left ventricular aneurysm and ventricular tachyarrhythmia

BackgroundVentricular arrhythmia is a leading cause of cardiac death among patients with post‐infarction left ventricular aneurysm (PI‐LVA). The effect of coronary revascularization in PI‐LVA patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmia remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the impact of revascularization therapy on clinical outcomes in these patients.MethodsA total of 238 PI‐LVA patients were enrolled, and 59 patients were presented with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Patients were classified into 4 groups by treatment strategies (medical or revascularization) and the presence of VT/VF: group 1 (n = 57): VT/VF− and revascularization−; group 2 (n = 122): VT/VF− and revascularization+; group 3 (n = 34): VT/VF+ and revascularization+; and group 4 (n = 25): VT/VF+ and revascularization‐. The clinical outcomes were compared, and the primary endpoint was cardiac death or heart transplantation.ResultsPatients were followed up for 45 ± 16 months, and 41 patients (17.2%) reached the primary endpoint. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that in VT/VF− patients, revascularization associated with higher cardiac survival compared with medical therapy (log‐rank p = .002), but in VT/VF+ patients, revascularization did not predict better cardiac outcome (log‐rank p = .901). Cox regression analysis revealed PET‐EF (HR 4.41, 95% CI: 1.72–11.36, p = .002) and moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (HR 2.32, 95% CI: 1.02–5.30, p = .046) as independent predictors of adverse cardiac outcome in patients with VT/VF.ConclusionPI‐LVA patients with VT/VF are at high risk of adverse cardiac outcome, and coronary revascularization does not mitigate this risk, although revascularization was associated with higher cardiac survival in PI‐LVA patients without VT/VF.     

3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scanning on different body regions in patients with pacemakers

Purpose

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3.0 T is becoming more common, but there is a lack of sufficient evidence on the safety of a 3.0 T scan in patients with pacemakers. This study aimed to investigate the safety and practical concerns of 3.0 T scans for patients with MR-conditional pacemakers.

Methods

Twenty consecutive patients were enrolled. A standardized protocol was developed by cardiologists, pacemaker engineers, and radiologists. Pacemaker interrogation was performed immediately before and after the scan. Scan-related adverse events were documented, and imaging quality was graded as level 1 to 4 by radiologists.

Results

Twenty-three MRI scans of different body regions (brain?=?13, lumbar spine?=?4, cervical spine?=?2, and heart?=?4) were performed, and the average time of a scan was 25?±?11 min. No significant changes in sensing amplitude (atrial 3.1?±?1.1 mV vs. 2.9?±?1.2 mV, P?=?0.71; ventricular 9.3?±?3.5 mV vs. 10.2?±?3.4 mV, P?=?0.46), lead impedances (atrial 647?±?146 Ω vs. 627?±?151 Ω, P?=?0.7; ventricular: 780?±?247 Ω vs.711?±?226 Ω, P?=?0.36), or pacing threshold (atrial 0.6?±?0.2 V/0.4 ms vs. 0.6?±?0.2 V/0.4 ms, P?=?0.71; ventricular 0.7?±?0.3 V/0.4 ms vs. 0.7?±?0.2 V/0.4 ms, P?=?0.85) were observed pre- and postscan. No adverse events were detected. Image quality review showed grade 1 quality in 16 patients and grade 2 quality in 4 patients with artifacts of pulse generators and leads in cardiac MRI scan and no impact on diagnostic value.

Conclusion

Our initial data indicated that 3.0 T scanning might be feasible under a standardized protocol with good diagnostic imaging quality irrespective of body region in patients with MR-conditional pacemakers.

     

冠状动脉旁路移植术：第二支动脉桥血管的应用进展

冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病的治疗方式主要是药物治疗,经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI）和冠状动脉旁路移植术（coronary artery bypass grafting, CABG） ;CABG是重症冠心病患者的主要治疗方式。近年来多支动脉或全动脉化旁路移植在冠状动脉外科兴起,但是除了左侧胸廓内动脉作为旁路移植黄金血管材料,第二支动脉桥血管的选择和使用仍存在很多挑战。本文将对临床常用的右侧胸廓内动脉,桡动脉,胃网膜右动脉和旋股外动脉降支应用进展作综述。     

Elevated lipoprotein (a) levels are associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background and aims

The role of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] in coronary artery diseases (CAD) with special clinical background such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been fully determined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation of Lp(a) to type 2 diabetic patients with or without CAD.

Prognostic significance of frequent premature ventricular complex early after implantation among patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Background

Premature ventricular complex (PVC) was mainly studied by 24-hour Holter in previous studies. However, the value of long-term Home Monitoring of PVC burden early after ICD implantation is unknown.

流行病学研究中“率”的标化和“率”的校正:方法探讨及SAS宏实现

目的 简述“率”的标化和“率”的校正的概念、区别以及计算方法,并用SAS宏程序实现直接标化率、间接标化率以及校正的率的计算,并以统计表格形式直接输出到rtf文件中.方法 对直接标化率、间接标化率以及校正的率的计算过程编写通用的SAS宏程序.结果 整理好相应的原始数据,设定好相应的宏参数,运行宏程序便可快速获得直接标化率、间接标化率以及校正的率的计算结果.结论 笔者编写的直接标化率、间接标化率以及校正的率的SAS宏程序具有通用、简便、实用的特点,在流行病学研究中具有一定的实用价值.     

Delayed remote preconditioning induces cardioprotection: role of heme oxygenase-1

Background

The role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the cardioprotection induced by delayed remote ischemic preconditioning (DRIPC) has not been investigated. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate whether HO-1 is involved in DRIPC-mediated cardioprotection in an isolated perfused rat heart model.

Materials and methods

Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion. DRIPC (four cycles 5-min occlusion and 5-min reflow at the unilateral hind limb once per day for 1, 2, or 3 d before heart isolation, abbreviated as D1RIPC, D2RIPC, or D3RIPC respectively). Infarct size, myocardial troponin levels, and heart function were measured. The protein and messenger RNA levels of HO-1 were determined.

Results

DRIPC facilitated postischemic cardiac functional recovery and decreased cardiac enzyme release. The infarct size-limiting effect of DRIPC was more pronounced in the D3RIPC group (10.22 ± 2.57%) than the D1RIPC group (22.34 ± 4.02%, P < 0.001) or the D2RIPC group (14.60 ± 3.13%, P = 0.034). These effects in the D1RIPC group could be blocked by Zinc Protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP) (an HO-1 specific inhibitor). DRIPC-mediated cardioprotection was associated with enhanced HO-1 protein expression (D1RIPC, 0.11 ± 0.03; versus 0.15 ± 0.06 in the D2RIPC group, P = 0.06; versus 0.20 ± 0.04 in the D3RIPC group, P = 0.04) and messenger RNA levels of HO-1 expression.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that HO-1 is involved in the cardioprotection induced by DRIPC, and that increase in the number of preconditioning stimuli may enhance cardioprotective effects accompanied with increased HO-1 level.