Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Stenting versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Stable Coronary Artery Disease

The debate over coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent placement for the treatment of stable multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) continues in spite of numerous studies investigating the issue. This paper reviews the most recent randomized control trials (RCT) and meta-analyses of pooled RCT data to help address this issue. General trends demonstrated that CABG was superior in all-cause mortality and fulfilling the need for repeat revascularization. These advantages tended to be more pronounced in multivessel CAD and diabetes, and less so in left main CAD. PCI showed a consistently lower rate of cerebrovascular events. CABG continues to offer significant advantages over PCI, even as drug-eluting stent technology continues to evolve. The ideal endpoint for comparing PCI and CABG remains to be determined. Furthermore, additional research is required to further refine patient selection criteria for each intervention.     

miRNA-146a and miRNA-126 as Potential Biomarkers in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Generalized Periodontitis

The present study aims to compare the levels of micro-RNA-146a and micro-RNA-126 in oral subgingival plaque and coronary plaque from artery walls in patients with coronary artery disease who suffer from generalized periodontitis. A total of 75 participants were selected and grouped into three categories of 25 patients each: GP+CAD, GP, and HP groups. GP+CAD consisted of patients diagnosed with generalized periodontitis (GP) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The GP+CAD group was further divided into two groups—GP+CADa: where subgingival plaque samples were collected; GP+CADb group: where coronary plaque samples were collected while the patient underwent a coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The GP group consisted of 25 patients diagnosed with only generalized periodontitis. The HP group consisted of 25 systemically and periodontally healthy controls. miRNA-146a and miRNA126 levels were assessed in subgingival plaque (SP) samples from all groups. Results revealed that miRNA-146a was expressed at higher levels and miRNA-126 was downregulated in the GP+CAD group. microRNAs in subgingival plaque samples showed a significant correlation with the coronary plaque samples in the GP+CAD group. miRNA-146a and miRNA-126 were present in coronary artery disease patients with periodontitis. These micro-RNAs may serve as risk biomarkers for coronary artery disease and generalized periodontitis.     

Presence of Anomalous Coronary Seen on Angiogram Is Not Associated with Increased Risk of Significant Coronary Artery Disease

It is unclear if anomalous coronary arteries are at higher risk for atherosclerosis. The link between anomalous coronary artery and early coronary artery disease has been suggested. The aim of this study is to determine whether the coronary artery anomaly predisposes to development of significant coronary disease. Using retrospective chart review, patients with documented anomalous coronary arteries recognized during coronary angiography between years 2000 to 2007 were analyzed. Prevalence of significant atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (defined as more than 50% luminal narrowing) was compared between normal and anomalous coronaries. A total of 147 patients with anomalous coronary arteries were found. Right coronary artery was the most common anomalous artery 128 of 148 (86.5%) in our dataset. There was no difference in the occurrence of atherosclerosis between anomalous and nonanomalous coronaries. Significant atherosclerosis was present in 59 of the 148 anomalous coronary arteries (37.8%), and 112 of the 293 nonanomalous coronary arteries (38.2%, p = 0.9). On the basis of our study, there is no evidence that anomalous coronary arteries predispose to significant coronary artery disease in comparison to normal coronary arteries.     

Echocardiographic Evaluation of External Iliac Artery Doppler Waveform in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Visual interpretation of the Doppler waveform in the common femoral or distal external iliac artery (EIA) was reported to be useful in screening for proximal peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) in patients with lower limb ischemia. Commonly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for echocardiography have coexistent arterial pathology. Therefore, we decided to study whether echocardiographic evaluation of the distal EIA flow can be useful for detection of PAOD in patients with CAD. We studied 150 consecutive patients (pts) with CAD referred for echocardiography. At the end of an echocardiographic examination, evaluation of the flow in the distal EIA with an echocardiographic probe was performed. The Doppler waveform was classified as normal—with early diastolic flow reversal or abnormal–without early diastolic flow reversal. Echocardiographic findings were compared in a blinded fashion with the results of the ankle brachial index measurements (ABI). Based on the ABI ≤ 0.9, peripheral artery disease was diagnosed in 54 pts (36%) and abnormal external iliac Doppler waveform was found in 27 pts (18%). Sensitivity of abnormal external iliac Doppler waveform in predicting PAOD was 48%, specificity 99%, positive predictive value (PPV) 96%, and negative predictive value 77%. Peripheral arterial occlusive disease is common in patients with CAD referred for echocardiographic study. Echocardiographic assessment of distal EIA Doppler waveform has low sensitivity, but high specificity and high PPV in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial occlusive disease.     

冠心病病人外周血单核细胞镁浓度对心室重塑的影响

目的观察冠心病病人外周血单核细胞镁浓度、血清基质金属蛋白酶-9水平变化及其与心室重塑、心功能的关系.方法对78例冠心病病人,根据左室射血分数(LVEF)分为3组,1组 LVEF>0.50,2组LVEF>0.35,3组LVEF<0.35.测定病人外周血单核细胞内镁(Mg)及血清白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)水平,超声测定左室收缩末期容量指数(LVESVI)、舒张末期容量指数(LVEDVI).结果随着LVEF降低,病人血单核细胞Mg降低,血清IL-6及MMP-9显著增高(P<0.05);LVEDVI、LVESVI与Mg均呈负相关(r=-0.49、-0.43,P<0.01),LVEDVI与IL-6、MMP-9呈正相关(r=0.41、0.47,P<0.01);Mg与IL-6及MMP-9均呈负相关(r=-0.47、-0.58,P<0.01).结论冠心病病人的心肌重塑及收缩功能障碍,可能与细胞内镁缺乏有关.     

冠心病病人血清脂联素水平的探讨

目的探讨冠心病病人血清脂联素的水平及其与肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF—α）、胰岛素之间的关系。方法38例冠心病病人和52名健康对照者常规测量体重、身高，计算体重指数。抽取空腹静脉血检测其血糖、血脂、空腹胰岛素、TNF-α、脂联素水平。结果冠心病组血清脂联素水平显著低于对照组，血清脂联素水平与TNF-α、空腹胰岛素、空腹血糖、三酰甘油呈负相关，与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇呈正相关。结论在冠心病病人中，脂联水平下降并与动脉粥样硬化之间存在一定的相关性。     

早发冠心病患者危险因素与冠状动脉病变的关系

目的探讨早发冠心病患者吸烟与冠状动脉病变的关系及其意义。方法选取经冠状动脉造影确诊的PCAD患者270例,其中男性158例、女性112例,采集患者吸烟史（吸烟年数、每日吸烟支数）、血脂水平（HDL—C、LDL—C、TG、TC）,记录患者冠状动脉造影结果。同时进行相关性分析。结果吸烟指数与冠状动脉慢血流之间存在正相关（r=0．156,P〈0．05）;HDL—C与吸烟指数及Gensini积分均呈负相关（r=-0．136、-0．156,均P〈0．01）;吸烟指数与Gensini积分之间无线性相关关系（r=0．084,P〉0．05）。结论早发冠心病患者吸烟与HDL—C水平下降和冠状动脉慢血流现象相关。     

外周动脉粥样硬化与冠心病相关性研究

研究证实,外周动脉粥样硬化与冠心病的发生发展关系密切。颈动脉内膜-中层厚度、踝-肱动脉压力指数、肱动脉依赖性血流介导的血管舒张反应、脉压、动脉弹性功能的测定可以作为非侵入性的检查方法,在一定程度上预测冠状动脉疾病的发生和发展。     

Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Valvular Heart Disease

ABSTRACT. To evaluate the usefulness of preoperative coronary angiography in patients undergoing preoperative investigation because of valvular heart disease, we performed coronary angiography in a consecutive series of 329 patients. The prevalence of significant coronary artery disease was 32%. Asymptomatic coronary artery disease was present in 13%. Angina pectoris proved to be a poor predictor of coronary artery disease in aortic valve disease. In mitral valve disease, however, the specificity was high. A cost-benefit calculation was carried out in order to assess what advantage routine coronary angiography might have. According to this, coronary angiography should be performed in all patients suffering from valvular heart disease with angina pectoris, whereas it can be omitted in younger patients without angina. A cut-off point of 60 years seems appropriate for aortic valve disease and 65 years for mitral valve disease.     

Influence of Serum Cholinesterase Levels on Patients Suspected of Having Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Objective The serum cholinesterase (ChE) level has been used for the evaluation of the nutritional status in daily practice. It has been reported that the serum ChE level is significantly more elevated in patients with three-vessel coronary disease than in normal subjects. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of serum ChE levels in patients suspected of having stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods The relationship between myocardial ischemia and the serum ChE levels was evaluated in 559 consecutive patients suspected of having stable CAD without a history of cardiovascular disease admitted to our hospitals to undergo coronary angiography. Results This study revealed that, in patients suspected of having stable CAD, 1) the frequency of myocardial ischemia was significantly increased in accordance with the serum ChE levels (p<0.001); 2) higher ChE levels were associated with a higher body mass index (p<0.001) and the co-existence of dyslipidemia (p<0.001), including higher values of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p<0.001) and triglycerides (p<0.001) and serum albumin (p<0.001), as well as a younger age (p<0.001); 3) the specificity and sensitivity of myocardial ischemia were 0.599 and 0.658 at the ChE level of 286 IU/L, respectively; and 4) an increased serum ChE (OR=1.66, p<0.001) was an independent risk factor for myocardial ischemia, in patients suspected of having stable CAD. Conclusion The serum ChE level may be an important diagnostic biomarker in patients suspected of having stable CAD.     

Platelet-Derived MRP-14 Induces Monocyte Activation in Patients With Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease

Background

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a diffuse manifestation of atherothrombosis, is a major cardiovascular threat. Although platelets are primary mediators of atherothrombosis, their role in the pathogenesis of PAD remains unclear.

原发性高血压与冠状动脉造影病变程度相关性的研究

目的:探讨原发性高血压与冠状动脉造影病变程度的相关性。方法:回顾总结920例行冠状动脉造影者的临床资料,其中原发性高血压606例(65.87%),冠心病728例(79.13%),排除冠心病患者192例(20.87%)。冠状动脉造影病变程度由三方面表示:造影是否诊断冠心病、冠状动脉病变支数,冠状动脉病变Gensini总积分。采用单因素和多因素分析方法,分析冠状动脉造影病变程度与原发高血压发生率的关系。结果:冠状动脉造影病变程度随高血压发生率增加而加重。结论:冠状动脉造影病变程度随原发高血压发生率的增加而加重,故有效地控制高血压在干预冠状动脉粥样硬化发生和发展中具有重要意义。积极处理冠心病的其他相关危险因素也十分重要。     

冠心病合并2型糖尿病病人冠状动脉造影分析

目的观察冠心病合并2型糖尿病病人的冠状动脉病变特征.方法对155例冠心病病人进行回顾性分析,对合并糖尿病者及无糖尿病者的冠状动脉病变进行比较.结果冠心病合并2型糖尿病组与非糖尿病组相比,病变血管支数比率高(76.5%vs 55.5%,P<0.01),多支血管病变(85.1%vs 45.7%,P<0.01)、弥漫性病变(11.3%vs 3.8%,P<0.05)及左主干病变(22.2%vs 7.0%,P<0.05)发生率高;相关性分析显示冠状动脉血管病变支数与糖尿病的病程呈正相关.结论冠心病合并2型糖尿病病人多支病变、弥漫性病变、左主干病变比例高,血管受累支数多.     

Plasma Levels of Advanced Glycation End Products Are Related to the Clinical Presentation and Angiographic Severity of Symptomatic Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease

Evidence implicates a role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the development of atherosclerosis. The present study examined the relationship between plasma levels of AGEs and the clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). A total of 40 consecutive patients with symptomatic lower extremity PAD undergoing invasive evaluation were enrolled. Clinical history, angiographic data, and plasma levels of total AGE (tAGE), Nʹ-carboxymethyllysine (CML), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were obtained. In multivariate analyses, there were independent relationships noted between tAGE levels and the presence of critical limb ischemia (CLI) (r² = 0.195, p = 0.003), Rutherford stage (r² = 0.351, p < 0.001), and the average below the knee (BTK) score (r² = 0.119, p = 0.006). Presence of CLI (r² = 0.154, p = 0.012) and the Rutherford stage (r² = 0.194, p = 0.003) were associated with CML levels. We demonstrate a relationship between tAGE and the symptom profile of patients with PAD and an association between tAGE and infrapopliteal angiographic disease severity. Both tAGE and CML levels were related to the presence of CLI. These data suggest that AGE levels may reflect the severity of PAD and may be of importance in CLI.     

左心室功能下降冠心病患者的血运重建治疗

冠心病是充血性心力衰竭的最常见病因。无瓣膜性病变的冠心病患者中,心力衰竭最常见由左心室收缩功能下降（左心室射血分数下降）导致,伴有左心室射血分数下降的冠心病患者预后不良。目前认为血运重建可以改善左心室射血分数下降的冠心病患者的预后,同时左心室射血分数下降患者血运重建风险高。现对左心室功能障碍的冠心病患者的血运重建治疗作一综述。     

Hemodynamic, Antiischemic, and Neurohumoral Effects of Tedisamil and Atenolol in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Clinical drawbacks of beta-blocker treatment in stable angina have motivated researchers to provide alternative heart-rate-lowering agents, such as tedisamil, which additionally exerts antiischemic and antiarrhythmic effects by blockade of cellular repolarizing K⁺ currents. Forty-eight patients with stable angina pectoris were investigated (doubleblind, randomized, parallel grouped) comparing the hemodynamic, antiischemic, metabolic and neurohumoral effects of tedisamil 100 mg b.i.d. and atenolol 50 mg b.i.d. after a single dose and over 6 days of treatment. Tedisamil and atenolol produced a decrease in heart rate both at rest [day 1:-13.6 versus –15.4 bpm; day 6: –14.8 versus –22.2 bpm, resp.; p > 0.05] and exercise [day 1; –9.1 versus –18.3 bpm; p = 0.001; day 6; –12.0 versus –24.8 bpm, resp.; p = 0.001], while anginal threshold increased. Cardiac output decreased with tedisamil and atenolol at rest [day 1: –1.01 versus –1.19 l/min; p > 0.05; day 6: –0.86 versus –1.10 l/min, resp.; p > 0.05] and exercise [day 1: –0.82 versus –1.28 l/min; p > 0.05; day 6: –0.65 versus –2.68 l/min, resp.; p = 0.03], while stroke volume remained unchanged. Right atrial pressure changed during exercise only: it decreased with tedisamil (–1.7 mmHg) and increased with atenolol (+3.7 mmHg) (p < .001). Mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressures decreased both at rest (–0.5 mmHg) and exercise (–6.9 mmHg) in the tedisamil group but tended to increase with atenolol on day 6 of treatment [rest: +1.7; exercise: +3.7 mmHg) (p = 0.03). Arterial pressure decreased under atenolol treatment only. Exercise-induced plasma norepinephrine levels were reduced by tedisamil (–93 pg/ml) but elevated by atenolol (+172 pg/ml) (p = 0.001). As compared to atenolol, tedisamil produced a prolongation of QT_c interval [+31 versus 8 ms] at initial values of 0.408 ± 0.018 s with PQ and QRS remaining unaltered. In patients with stable angina, tedisamil (100 mg b.i.d.) as compared to atenolol (50 mg b.i.d.) generated similar hemodynamic, neurohumoral and antiischemic effects. The antiischemic efficacy of tedisamil, as measured by ST segment depression and angina threshold, was comparable to that of atenolol.     

老年冠心病、高血压无症状性心肌缺血及缺血发生时的心率与血压变化

目的评价老年冠心病及高血压无症状心肌缺血（ＳＭＩ）及相应的心率与血压反应。方法冠心病组５３例，高血压组４５例，同步进行动态心电图、动态血压监测。结果二组缺血型ＳＴ改变为７１．７％与２８．９％，ＳＴ降低幅度２．９±１．４与１．５±０．５ｍｍ，心肌缺血６２７与１０５阵次，其中ＳＭＩ４９３与９３阵次（Ｐ＜０．０５～０．０１）。缺血发生时心率９８±１６ｍｉｎ比发作前６８±８ｍｉｎ、发作后７７±９ｍｉｎ都高（Ｐ＜０．０１），缺血程度与心率呈显著正相关（ｒ＝０．８６５３，Ｐ＜０．００１）；伴心率增加的心肌缺血发作时ＳＢＰ增加２１±１６ｍｍＨｇ，缺血程度与ＳＢＰ改变呈正相关（ｒ＝０．６２５，Ｐ＜０．０５），心率增加不明显或下降者缺血发生时ＳＢＰ改变不明显。结论老年冠心病及高血压患者常出现短暂性心肌缺血，而且多为ＳＭＩ，心肌缺血时常伴有心率、血压的改变。同步动态心电图、动态血压监测能了解心肌缺血时心率及血压的变化情况，为临床治疗选择动态的给药方法提供可靠的依据。