Oxidative Stress,Inflammation and Neutrophil Superoxide Release in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: Distinction Between Active and Non-active Disease

Increased oxidative stress has been previously demonstrated in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, to date, this parameter has not been assessed in a comparative study of patients in prolonged remission and those with the active disease. We report here our study of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant and inflammation status in serum derived from 16 active CD patients, 27 clinically stable patients, and 15 healthy controls. Results The extent of lipid peroxidation was higher in CD patients than in the healthy controls, while the levels of lipid peroxides (PD) and of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in serum obtained from patients with active CD (22 and 30%, respectively) than in that obtained from patients in remission. An analysis of the antioxidant status revealed that the beta-carotene levels in sera derived from all CD patients - patients with active or stable CD (49.4 +/- 15 and 95.6 +/- 25 mg% beta-carotene, respectively) - were higher than that in the controls (145 +/- 40 mg%). Serum activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher (by 31%) in the patients with active CD than in the control group. There was no significant difference in GSH-Px activity between patients in remission and the controls. In terms of the inflammatory status, we found significantly (P < 0.01) higher levels of C-reactive proteins (CRP) and of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in patients with active CD than in CD patients in remission. There was a significant correlation between those parameters and the extent of lipid oxidation. Neutrophils, which are a potential source of oxygen-free radicals, were activated by incubation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Superoxide and lysozyme release were significantly reduced in neutrophils derived from patients with active CD (by 25 and 28%, respectively) in comparison to the control group. However, stimulated neutrophils from stable patients demonstrated only a minimally non-significant lower release of superoxide and lysozyme compared to the controls. Conclusion The results obtained in this study demonstrate an enhanced inflammatory and oxidative stress and a decreased antioxidant status in patients with active CD. As the patients improved and became clinically stable, the oxidative parameters decreased, approaching normal values. As neutrophil activation was also lower in patients with active disease, neutrophil activation may represent a possible defense mechanism of the body against tissue injury.     

Off-pump Coronary Endarterectomy and Bypass Grafting in Patients With Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention are effective therapeutic modalities for patients with ischemic heart disease. However, many patients referred for CABG nowadays had experienced failed percutaneous intervention…     

The Study on the Correlation Between Plasma Adiponectin Level and Coronary Heart Disease

Objectives To investigate the relationship between plasma adiponectin level and coronary heart disease （CHD）, and some established cardiovascular risk factors and to probe its probable pathogenesis which adiponectin results in CHD. Methods The levels of plasma adiponectin, fasting plasma insulin （FINS）, C-reactive protein （CRP） and P-selectin were measured by ELISA, plasma ET-1 was measured by radioimmunoassay （RIA） in 75 male patients with CHD and 30 healthy male people. Body mass index （BMI）, waist / hip ratio （WHR） and insulin resistance index （Homa-IR） were calculated respectively. Results （1）The plasma adiponectin levels in CHD group were lower compared with control group[（5.18±2.57）mg / L vs（8.94±2.59）mg / L, P〈 0.001 ], there was no significant difference of plasma adiponectin levels in CHD sub-groups （P 〉 0.05）.（2） Based on multinominal stepwise logistic regression analysis, adiponectin was one of significant and independent risk factors for CHD. （3） Multivariate liner stepwise regression analysis showed that adiponectin had significant correlation with BMI and TG, BMI and TG were independent factors influencing on plasma adiponectin levels. （4） Pearson correlation analysis indicated plasma adiponectin levels were inversely related to FINS levels , Homa-IR, CRP, P-selectin and ET-1. Conclusions （ 1 ）Plasma adiponectin levels are lower in CHD patients compared the control　subjects, there are no significant difference of plasma adiponectin levels in patients with SAP, UAP and AMI. （2） Plasma adiponectin levels are relative with CHD. Hypoadiponectinemia is an independent risk factor for CHD. （3）Established cardiovascular risk factors such as BMI and TG have an obvious influence on adiponectin. （4）The probable pathogenesis by which adiponectin involves in CHD is suggested that adiponectin relates to insulin resistance, inflammatory reaction and dysfunction of vessel endothelium.     

Evidence for Aggressive Blood Pressure–Lowering Goals in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Lowering blood pressure (BP) reduces the risk of major cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Current consensus targets for BP reduction are less than 140/90 mm Hg in uncomplicated hypertension and less than 130/80 mm Hg in those patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease or in those who are at high risk for developing coronary artery disease (defined as a Framingham risk score of ≥ 10%). There is solid epidemiologic evidence for lower BP targets, supported by some clinical studies with surrogate end points. On the other hand, there are meager data from clinical trials using hard end points, and there is a concern that overly aggressive BP lowering, especially of diastolic BP, may impair coronary perfusion, particularly in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and/or coronary artery disease. This review evaluates the evidence for the benefit of lower BP targets in hypertension management.     

Native T1 and ECV of Noninfarcted Myocardium and Outcome in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the major cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite the advances in treatment with coronary revascularization and modern antiremodeling therapy. Risk stratification in CAD patients is primarily based on left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction (LVEF), risk scores, and the presence and extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The prognostic role of T1 mapping in noninfarcted myocardium in CAD patients has not yet been determined.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Prescription in Symptomatic Patients with Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease—a Systematic Review

Purpose of review

Non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD) on coronary angiography is a common finding in patients with stable angina. Angina in NOCAD patients is thought to be caused by endothelial dysfunction of the epicardial coronary arteries and/or the microvasculature. Treatment is empiric, and 30% of patients remain symptomatic in spite of therapy. It is well known that physical exercise can improve endothelial function. The goal of this review was to assess the current literature on effects of physical exercise in NOCAD patients with angina. Therefore, a literature search was conducted to March 13, 2018 using the following search terms: syndrome X, microvascular angina, non-obstructive coronary artery disease and exercise training, cardiac rehabilitation, endothelial function. All original publications were included which examined the effect of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program or exercise training (ET) on patients with angina and NOCAD.

Recent findings

Eight studies, of which four were randomized controlled studies, examined 218 participants, 162 in an intervention and 56 in control groups. Most patients were women (97.7%). Exercise programs varied from 8 weeks to 4 months at moderate intensity and some included relaxation therapy. The studies examined the effect of CR on exercise capacity, quality of life (QoL), and perfusion defects. CR increased exercise capacity, oxygen uptake, symptom severity, and QoL. Myocardial perfusion improved.

Summary

CR appears to be beneficial in symptomatic patients with NOCAD, improving exercise capacity and QoL and reducing severity of symptoms and myocardial perfusion defects. Data is limited to a small number of predominantly female patients. Further larger trials are warranted to determine the optimal rehabilitation protocols and define its long-term benefits.

     

Coronary Hemodynamics in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis and Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Implications for Clinical Indices of Coronary Stenosis Severity

Objectives

In this study, a systematic analysis was conducted of phasic intracoronary pressure and flow velocity in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease, undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), to determine how AS affects: 1) phasic coronary flow; 2) hyperemic coronary flow; and 3) the most common clinically used indices of coronary stenosis severity, instantaneous wave-free ratio and fractional flow reserve.

Prognostic Implication of Functional Incomplete Revascularization and Residual Functional SYNTAX Score in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic implication of functional incomplete revascularization (IR) and residual functional SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score (rFSS) in comparison with 3-vessel fractional flow reserve (FFR) and residual SYNTAX score.

Safety and Effectiveness of Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients With Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

Background

Limited data are available on the relative performances between different types of drug-eluting stents (DES) for obstructive left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD).

Differences in Yeast Intolerance Between Patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Purpose Alimentary factors, especially those modifying the intestinal flora, may influence the course of inflammatory bowel disease. It is known that T and B cells of patients with Crohn’s disease can be stimulated with the yeast antigen, mannan. We evaluated the impact of eating habits with special respect to food containing yeast on the course of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Questionnaires were sent to 180 German-speaking patients of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Outpatient Clinic at the University Hospital Bern, Switzerland. The following information was obtained by the questionnaires: (1) course of disease, (2) eating habits, (3) environmental data, and (4) inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire. The survey was anonymous. Results A total of 145 patients (80.5 percent 95 with Crohn’s disease, and 50 with ulcerative colitis) responded. Food items containing yeast were better tolerated by patients with ulcerative colitis than by patients with Crohn’s disease. A significant difference between the two groups was observed concerning food containing raw yeast (dough, P = 0.04; and pastry, P = 0.001). Conclusions Food items containing raw yeast led to more frequent problems for patients with Crohn’s disease than for patients with ulcerative colitis. This observation supports our previous data, which showed the stimulatory effect of the yeast antigen, mannan, on B and T cells of patients with Crohn’s disease but not of controls. Poster presentation at Digestive Disease Week (DDW), organized by the American Gastrointestinal Association, Chicago, Illinois, May 14 to 19, 2005.