Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors clustering among suburban residents in Beijing, China

Background

The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) has been increasing in urbanization areas of China. The article aims to estimate the up-to-date prevalence and clustering of major modifiable CRFs among suburban residents in Beijing.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey in a representative sample of 16371 suburban residents aged 35 to 74 years was carried out in 2007, and results were compared with counterparts of China and the United States. Data was collected by questionnaires, blood pressure, anthropometric, and laboratory measurements.

Results

The age-standardized prevalence of investigated major CRFs (overweight/obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and current smoking) in the study was 36.2%, 6.5%, 36.9%, 35.4%, and 36.3%, respectively. Overall, 83.5%, 47.2% and 17.5% of participants in the study had ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3 major CRFs, which were higher than total China (80.5%, 45.9%, and 17.2%) and lower than the United State (93.1%, 73.0% and 35.9%), respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3 CRFs for men compared with women was 3.4 (3.0 to 3.9), 4.3 (3.7 to 5.0), and 5.4 (4.6 to 6.5), respectively. In addition, older age groups were more likely to have ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3 of these modifiable cardiovascular risk factors compared with younger age groups, respectively.

Conclusions

High prevalence and clustering of major modifiable CRFs are commonly present in suburban residents in Beijing. More effective population-based interventions, such as smoking cessation, healthy diet, increased physical activity are required to reduce the prevalence of these CRFs and the increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases in China.     

Motivational interviewing delivered by diabetes educators: does it improve blood glucose control among poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients?

Aim

To determine whether glycemic control is improved when motivational interviewing (MI), a patient-centered behavior change strategy, is used with diabetes self management education (DSME) as compared to DSME alone.

Methods

Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients (n = 234) were randomized into 4 groups: MI + DSME or DSME alone, with or without use of a computerized summary of patient self management barriers. We compared HbA1c changes between groups at 6 months and investigated mediators of HbA1c change.

Results

Study patients attended the majority of the four intervention visits (mean 3.4), but drop-out rate was high at follow-up research visits (35%). Multiple regression showed that groups receiving MI had a mean change in HbA1c that was significantly lower (less improved) than those not receiving MI (t = 2.10; p = 0.037). Mediators of HbA1c change for the total group were diabetes self-care behaviors and diabetes distress; no between-group differences were found.

Conclusions

DSME improved blood glucose control, underlining its benefit for T2DM management. However, MI + DSME was less effective than DSME alone. Overall, weak support was found for the clinical utility of MI in the management of T2DM delivered by diabetes educators.     

Axillary approach for transcatheter aortic valve implantation: optimization of the endovascular treatment for the aortic valve stenosis

Introduction and objectives

To validate the axillary approach as a safe and efficient option for the transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients who have contraindication for femoral approach at three Spanish hospitals.

Methods

We included patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis at very high or prohibitive surgical risk, selected by a multidisciplinary team, for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and had contraindication to the femoral approach.

Results

We included 19 of 186 (10.5%) patients, who were implanted a percutaneous aortic valve, between November 2008 and March 2010. The mean age was 78.3 (standard deviation [SD] ± 8.65) years and 73.7% were males. The mean logistic EuroSCORE was 28.7% (SD ± 16.3%). The procedural success rate was 100%. After the procedure the maximum transvalve gradient decreased from 81.7 mmHg (SD ± 21.5) to 15.8 mmHg (SD ± 5.5), and no patient presented residual aortic regurgitation >2. The all-cause mortality, with a mean follow-up time of 9.2 (SD ± 3.2) months was 10.5%, and the in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 0%. The global incidence of major complications due to the procedure was 15.7%. Definitive pacemaker implantation was carried out for atrioventricular block in 8 patients (44.4%).

Conclusions

The axillary approach for transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the CoreValve^® and contraindication to the femoral approach is safe and efficient for selected patients, with excellent results in terms of success implantation and in hospital and 30-day mortality.Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org     

N-terminal Pro brain natriuretic peptide is a reliable biomarker of reduced myocardial contractility in patients with lamin A/C gene mutations

Background

Recently, concerns have been raised about a possible lack of sensitivity of biomarkers to detect left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with myopathies. We examined the ability of the N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to detect LV or right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in patients with lamin A/C (LMNA) gene mutations.

Methods

We prospectively measured plasma NT-proBNP in consecutive patients with documented LMNA mutations and age-sex matched controls. All patients underwent standard echocardiography implemented by pulsed tissue-Doppler echocardiography (TDE).

Results

Twenty-three patients were included (10 males, mean age 39.2 ± 18.9 years);10 had previous atrial arrhythmias, 8 had been implanted with cardioverter defibrillator for primary prevention of sudden death, 5 patients were of NYHA class II and 18 of NHYA class I. Sinus rhythm was recorded in all. NT-proBNP was increased in LMNA patients versus controls (123 ± 229 versus 26 ± 78 pg/ml, p = 0.0004); 7 patients had depressed LV and/or RV contractility. Patients with reduced LV or RV contractility had increased mean NT-proBNP (341 ± 1032 pg/ml versus 80 ± 79 pg/ml in patients with normal myocardial contractility, p = 0.004). Receiver-operating-characteristics analysis shows that NT-proBNP reliably detected depressed contractility (area under the curve 0.889 [0.697-1.000]). Sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 83% respectively, applying manufacturer's recommended cut-off concentration of 125 pg/ml.

Conclusion

NT-proBNP reliably detected the presence of reduced LV/RV contractility in LMNA patients.     

Pathophysiology of coronary blood flow in congenital heart disease

Objectives

The aim was to investigate the effects of volume and pressure overload and increased coronary perfusion pressure on coronary flow (CF) in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients.

Background

The effects of CHD on CF are poorly mapped.

Methods

A total of 65 patients with acyanotic CHD and 49 age-matched healthy controls were examined by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Posterior descending artery flow was measured in patients with pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) and atrial septal defects (ASDs) i.e. in lesions with right ventricular pressure or volume overload, and left anterior descending artery flow in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD), in lesions with left ventricular pressure or volume overload. The CF data in each patient group were expressed as the percent of the median for healthy controls from the same age group.

Results

The CF values were in VSD 172%, ASD 185%, PS 233%, and CoA 773% patients. In CoA patients body surface area (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.77, p < 0.0001), systolic wall tension (r = −0.77, p = 0.004), and signs of inflammation (log CRP, r = −0.75, p = 0.007) correlated with CF.

Conclusions

The increase in CF and velocity was most significant in patients with CoA. In newborns, increased coronary perfusion pressure seems to be the most important factor for increased CF, even if the pressure is not assumed to cause a significant increase in flow over the auto-regulatory range of 70-130 mm Hg. We also showed that inflammation decreases CF.     

Are shock index and adjusted shock index useful in predicting mortality and length of stay in community-acquired pneumonia?

Background

Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a common infection which is associated with a significant mortality. Shock index, heart rate divided by blood pressure, has been shown to predict mortality in several conditions including sepsis, acute myocardial infarction and traumatic injuries. Very little is known about the prognostic value of shock index in community acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Objective

To examine the usefulness of shock index (SI) and adjusted shock index (corrected to temperature) (ASI) in predicting mortality and hospital length of stay in patients admitted to hospital with CAP.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted in three hospitals in Norfolk & Suffolk, UK. We compared risk of mortality and longer length of stay for low (=<1.0, i.e. heart rate =< systolic BP) and high (> 1.0, i.e. heart rate > systolic BP) SI and ASI adjusting for age, sex and other parameters which have been shown to be associated with mortality in CAP.

Results

A total of 190 patients were included (males = 53%). The age range was 18-101 years (median = 76 years). Patients with SI & ASI > 1.0 had higher likelihood of dying within 6 weeks from admission. The adjusted odds ratio for 30 days mortality were 2.48 (1.04-5.92; p = 0.04) for SI and 3.16 (1.12-8.95; p = 0.03) for ASI. There was no evidence to suggest that they predict longer length of stay.

Conclusion

Both SI and ASI of > 1.0 predict 6 weeks mortality but not longer length of stay in CAP.     

Clinical impact of screening for sleep related breathing disorders in atrial fibrillation

Objective

The aim of this study was to quantify daytime symptoms in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with and without sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD).

Background

SRBD are common in patients with AF but little is known about daytime symptoms among those with SRBD.

Methods

Patients with AF admitted to clinics of two tertiary referral hospitals for a variety of different cardiovascular diseases were screened with a trans-nasal airflow measurement device allowing measurement of the apnea-hypopnea-index. Data on cardiac risk factors, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac medication were collected. Presence of SRBD was defined as an AHI ≥ 15/h. The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) was used to quantify daytime symptoms.

Results

Of 102 screened patients 8 were excluded due to device malfunction (n = 1), dislocation of nasal cannula (n = 6), or hyperthyroidism (n = 1). Among the remaining 94 patients, 40 (43%) were diagnosed with SRBD. Patients with and without SRBD had similar age, body mass index, LVEF and cardiac medication. The prevalence of coronary artery disease was higher in patients with SRBD than in those without (50 vs. 17%; p = 0.0007). ESS score was low and similar in both groups (no SRBD: median 4, interquartile range (IQR) 2-4 vs. SRBD: 5, IQR 3-8; p = 0.14). Only 6/40 (5%) of the patients underwent overnight polysomnography and 2 (5%) started CPAP ventilation during follow-up.

Conclusions

Even though SRBD are common in patients with AF, the prevalence of daytime symptoms is rare. Consequently, most patients will not initiate CPAP ventilation after positive SRBD screening.     

Polyenylphosphatidylcholine pretreatment protects rat liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury

Background

Hepatic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion following surgery, transplantation, or circulatory shock combined with resuscitation is a major clinical problem. Polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) has strong antioxidant, cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.

Aim

In this study, the influence of PPC pretreatment on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the liver was examined in rats.

Methods

The animals were divided into three groups: control (n = 10), I/R (n = 15) and I/R + PPC (n = 15). PPC was given 100 mg/day for 7 days before experiment. Several parameters of hepatic damage, oxidative stress, neutrophil infiltration and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) expression were measured as well as microscopic examination.

Results

We observed that a significant reduction in AST and ALT values in the PPC treated group when compared with the ischemic group. The increases in hepatic total NO₂ + NO₃ and MDA, and decreases in SOD and GSH levels after reperfusion were partially, but significantly, inhibited by PPC pretreatment. I/R induced increase in hepatic myeloperoxidase content and NF-κB expression were also lowered by PPC pretreatment. Animals pretreated with PPC presented minimal hemorrhage and reduced signs of liver injury.

Conclusion

PPC pretretament provided significant protection againts I/R injury to the liver. This treatment could be therapeutic in liver transplantation and other conditions associated with I/R injury.     

Acute myocardial infarction in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Background

Recent clinical and post-mortem reports suggests that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may participate in the process of atherosclerosis independent of other coronary risk factors. In this prospective and observational study, we investigated whether an associative link exists between HIV infection and coronary artery disease.

Methods

Of 690 patients admitted to our hospital in a 3-year period, 29 patients (28 men and 1 woman) with a mean age of 46 ± 10 years had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on the basis of acute prolonged chest pain, ischemic electrocardiogram abnormalities, and elevated serum markers of myocardial necrosis at presentation.

Results

ST-segment elevation MI was present in 15 patients, and non-ST-segment elevation MI was present in 14 patients. Twenty-two patients (76%) were <55 years; 17 of these patients had no or 1 coronary risk factor, and 5 patients had 2 or 3 risk factors. Five patients >55 years had 1 coronary risk factor, and 2 patients had 2 risk factors. Thirteen patients underwent a myocardial revascularization procedure, and 1 patient died during hospitalization.

Conclusions

HIV infection, as a cause of endothelial injury, may initiate the inflammatory process of early atherosclerosis and participate in the evolution of the atherothrombotic lesion responsible for AMI. This study suggests that the association of HIV infection and acute coronary syndrome may be more common than previously reported and underscores the need for further clinical studies.     

Impact of increased transmitral gradients after undersized annuloplasty for chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation

Introduction

It is unknown whether drug-eluting stents (DES), in comparison with bare-metal stents (BMS), improve clinical outcomes of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with renal insufficiency. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of BMS versus DES, as well as sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) versus paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), in STEMI patients with renal insufficiency.

Methods

From the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry, 874 STEMI patients with renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min) comprising 116 patients with BMS and 758 patients with DES (430 SES and 328 PES) implantation were selected. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within 1 year, defined as composite of all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization were compared. In addition to multivariate adjusted analysis, propensity analysis for stent choice was performed.

Results

With a median follow-up of 342 days, 116 MACE occurred. MACE was more frequent in the BMS group than in the DES group before (HR [95% CI] = 2.3 [1.3-3.8]) and after propensity score matching (HR [95% CI] = 2.0 [1.0-3.8]). The difference of MACE was mainly driven by a higher rate of target lesion revascularization rate in the BMS group. In comparison between SES and PES, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in propensity score-matched populations (HR [95% CI] = 0.7 [0.4-1.1]).

Conclusions

In STEMI patients with renal insufficiency, DES implantation exhibits a favorable 1 year clinical outcomes than BMS implantation, however, no difference was found between SES and PES.     

Elevated levels of serum soluble E-selectin in patients with chronic hepatitis B: Correlation with T lymphocyte subsets, NK cells and liver inflammation

Background

It has been reported that serum soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) may be increased in some inflammatory liver diseases. The purpose of our study was to investigate changes of sE-selectin, T lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cells, and HBV load in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), analyze the relationship between them, and discuss their significances.

Methods

Fifty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B and fourteen controls were studied. Serum sE-selectin, T lymphocyte subsets, NK cells, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) load were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry (FCM), and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR), respectively.

Results

sE-selectin level in patients with CHB increased significantly than that in controls (p < 0.01). The percentages of CD4 positive cells and NK cells decreased while the percentage of CD8 positive cells increased significantly in CHB patients than in controls (p < 0.01, respectively). sE-selectin level significantly related to levels of T lymphocyte subsets, NK cells, serum alanine aminotransferase (sALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (sAST) (p < 0.01, respectively), but had no relationship with HBV level.

Conclusion

The sE-selectin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B increase significantly and correlate to liver inflammation, suggesting that sE-selectin can be considered as an additional useful marker of CHB inflammatory activity, and E-selectin may play part of role in pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B.     

Valeur prédictive comparée de mortalité hospitalière du peptide natriurétique de type B et de l’albuminémie chez le sujet âgé hospitalisé pour insuffisance cardiaque aiguë sévère

Objective

To address the clinical relevance of serum albumin and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration in the prediction of in-hospital death in elderly patients with acute severe heart failure.

Patients and methods

Seventy-four consecutive patients >70 years of age admitted for acute heart failure in NYHA class IV were prospectively included. BNP concentration was measured on admission and serum albumin concentration after clinical stabilization.

Results

Mean age was 86.6 ± 5.7 years. Sixty-five percent of patients had a normal left ventricular ejection fraction. Eighteen patients died during the in-hospital stay. Those patients who died were older, had higher blood urea nitrogen and BNP concentration, had lower systolic blood pressure and serum albumin concentration than patients who survived. Heart rate, rhythm, left ventricular ejection fraction, serum creatinine and hemoglobin did not differ according to outcome. By multivariate analysis, albumin (p = 0.0017), BNP (p = 0.016) and age (p = 0.03) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. Serum troponin I measured on admission in 71 patients was predictive of in-hospital death (p = 0.01), as well as serum total cholesterol measured after stabilization in 66 patients (p = 0.004). However, these two variables no longer predicted outcome in multivariate models, unlike serum albumin and BNP.

Conclusion

Serum albumin and BNP offer independent, additional information for the prediction of in-hospital death in elderly patient with acute severe heart failure regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction.     

Comparison of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells for treatment of diabetic critical limb ischemia and foot ulcer: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

Aims

To identify better cells for the treatment of diabetic critical limb ischemia (CLI) and foot ulcer in a pilot trial.

Methods

Under ordinary treatment, the limbs of 41 type 2 diabetic patients with bilateral CLI and foot ulcer were injected intramuscularly with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMNCs), or normal saline (NS).

Results

The ulcer healing rate of the BMMSC group was significantly higher than that of BMMNCs at 6 weeks after injection (P = 0.022), and reached 100% 4 weeks earlier than BMMNC group. After 24 weeks of follow-up, the improvements in limb perfusion induced by the BMMSCs transplantation were more significant than those by BMMNCs in terms of painless walking time (P = 0.040), ankle-brachial index (ABI) (P = 0.017), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcO₂) (P = 0.001), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) analysis (P = 0.018). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of pain relief and amputation and there was no serious adverse events related to both cell injections.

Conclusions

BMMSCs therapy may be better tolerated and more effective than BMMNCs for increasing lower limb perfusion and promoting foot ulcer healing in diabetic patients with CLI.     

No-reflow disrupts the expression and distribution of connexin 43 in a swine model

Introduction and objectives

Ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion can dephosphorylate and redistribute Connexin 43 (Cx43). But it is unknown whether no-reflow phenomenon has an effect on the expression and distribution of Cx43 after acute infarction and reperfusion.

Methods

21 open-chest pigs were divided into three groups. Left anterior descending artery (LAD) occlusion for 90 min before 180 min of reperfusion was made in ischemia/reperfusion group. The pigs in ischemia groups were either subjected to LAD ligation for 90 min or for 270 min. No-reflow and risk regions were determined pathologically by dye staining. Cx43 expression was measured by western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Cx43 spatial distribution was shown by immunofluorescence examination.

Results

The content of phosphorylated and mRNA of Cx43 were higher in reflow region than in the no-reflow or sustained ischemic region. The distribution of Cx43 was also altered in no-reflow region.

Conclusions

There are some differences in synthesis, expression and distribution of myocardial Cx43 at microvascular level after ischemia/reperfusion. Cx43 is partially rephosphorylated with reperfusion only in the reflow myocardium.     

Fibrosis in endstage human heart failure: Severe changes in collagen metabolism and MMP/TIMP profiles

Objectives

We studied fibrosis, collagen metabolism, MMPs/TIMPs and cytokine expression in various forms of human heart failure (HF) by quantitative immunofluorescent microscopy, Western blot, zymography, RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. In explanted human hearts with HF due to either dilated (DCM, n = 6) or ischemic (ICM-BZ-borderzone, ICM-RZ-remote zone, n = 7) or inflammatory (myocarditis, MYO, n = 6) cardiomyopathy and 8 controls MMP2, 8, 9, 19, and TIMP1, 2, 3, 4 as well as procollagens I and III (PINP, PIIINP), mature collagen III (IIINTP) and the cross-linked collagen I degradation product (ICTP) were measured.

Results

In comparison with controls, MMPs and TIMPs were significantly upregulated ranging (from highest to lowest) from ICM-BZ, DCM, ICM-RZ, MYO for all MMPs with the exception of MMP9 (highest in DCM), and for TIMPs from ICM-BZ, ICM-RZ, DCM and MYO. MMP2 and 9 were activated in all groups. The TIMP/MMP ratio was 1.3 for control, 1.9 in ICM-BZ (TIMP > MMP) and lowered to 1.0 in the other groups. Collagen I/collagen III ratio correlated significantly with the decrease in LVEDP. PINP was higher than ICTP in all groups. PIIINP elevation was present in DCM and ICM-RZ and IIINTP was up to 4-fold augmented in all groups. Fibrosin mRNA was upregulated in ICM-BZ, activin A in MYO but FGF1 and FGF2 remained unchanged. ANP mRNA was increased in all groups.

Conclusions

Although different degrees of severity of collagen metabolism, MMP/TIMP imbalance and cytokine expression in diverse forms of HF are present, the end product is collagen deposition. These findings suggest multiple mechanisms acting alone or in concert in fibrosis development in HF.     

Native QRS complex duration predicts paced QRS width in patients with normal left ventricular function and right ventricular pacing for atrioventricular block

Introduction

Prolonged paced QRS duration is a predictor of development of heart failure during chronic right ventricular pacing. One determinant of paced QRS width might be His-Purkinje system dysfunction, manifested in wide native (escape or conducted beat) QRS complexes in patients with atrioventricular (AV) block.

Methods

Fifty patients with normal left ventricular function who are undergoing implantation of a pacemaker for AV block were enrolled. The duration of the QRS complex was measured on the surface electrocardiogram during escape rhythm in 28 patients with total AV block and during conducted beats in 22 patients with second-degree, fixed ratio (2:1 or 3:1) AV block, as well as during ventricular paced rhythm after pacemaker implantation in all patients.

Results

A close, positive correlation was found between native and paced QRS duration in the second-degree AV block group (R = 0.74, P < .001). This association was also significant but less pronounced in the total AV block group (R = 0.46, P = .014).

Conclusion

Native QRS width, especially in case of fixed ratio (2:1 or 3:1) second-degree AV block, is a predictor of paced QRS duration in patients with AV block and normal left ventricular function. Wide QRS complex before implantation may carry a higher risk of developing heart failure with right ventricular pacing.     

Left ventricular lead position and nonspecific conduction delay are predictors of mortality in patients during cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment of severe systolic heart failure with intraventricular conduction delay. The influence on mortality of the left ventricular (LV) pacing site and the type of bundle-branch block during CRT is unclear.

Objectives

This study investigates the clinical significance of LV lead position, as well as nonspecific conduction delay, in CRT.

Methods

143 consecutive patients (mean age, 63.9 ± 8.9 years; 121 men) underwent implantation of a CRT device according to established criteria. At the time of implantation, the LV lead position and the type of bundle-branch block were recorded. The etiology of the heart failure was ischemic in 49 patients (34.3%) and nonischemic in 94 patients (65.7%).

Results

After a median follow-up of 19 months, 39 patients (27.3%) died, most of them (72%) of cardiovascular causes. The mortality was significantly higher in patients with an anterior or anterolateral LV lead position (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis suggests that an anterior or anterolateral LV lead position, a nonspecific conduction delay, male sex, and a New York Heart Association functional class worse than III, are all independent predictors of mortality during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

LV lead position and nonspecific conduction delay are predictors of mortality in patients during cardiac resynchronization therapy.     

Diastolic ventricular interaction in patients after atrial switch for transposition of the great arteries: A speckle tracking echocardiographic study

Background

We tested the hypothesis that diastolic ventricular interaction occurs after atrial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and that subpulmonary LV diastolic function is influenced by septal geometry.

Methods

Twenty-nine patients (male 19) after atrial switch operation for TGA aged 20.8 ± 4.1 years and 27 healthy controls were studied. Two-dimensional longitudinal systolic strain, systolic (SRs), early diastolic (SRe), and late diastolic (SRa) strain rates of both ventricles were determined using speckle tracking echocardiography. Early diastolic trans-atrioventricular velocity (E) and myocardial early diastolic myocardial velocity (e) at the ventricular free wall-annular junction were measured. Geometry of the morphologic left ventricle was quantified by the diastolic eccentricity index (EI).

Results

In both systemic and subpulmonary ventricles, SRe and SRa were significantly lower and trans-atrioventricular E/e ratios higher in patients than controls (all p < 0.001). In patients, RV SRe correlated with left ventricular (LV) SRe (r = 0.49, p = 0.008), and RV SRa correlated with LV SRa (r = 0.46, p = 0.01). Significant leftward shifting of the septum in patients was reflected by the greater LV EI (p < 0.001). In patients, LV EI correlated with age- and sex-adjusted z score of LV end-diastolic volume. As a group, LV EI correlated negatively with LV SRe (r =−0.62, p < 0.001) and LV SRa (r = − 0.51, p < 0.001), and positively with mitral E/e ratio (r = 0.33, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Systemic RV diastolic dysfunction occurs after atrial switch operation and correlates with subpulmonary LV diastolic dysfunction. The observed diastolic ventricular interaction may potentially be mediated through alteration of septal geometry.     

ANCA are detectable in nearly all patients with active severe Wegener's granulomatosis

Background

The pathogenic significance of antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in Wegener’s granulomatosis is controversial. Their presence is influenced by the extent, severity, and activity of the disease at the time of sampling. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of ANCA in patients with active Wegener’s granulomatosis and to assess the influence of disease severity on test results.

Methods

Baseline serum samples from the 180 participants in a multicentric prospective trial were tested for ANCA by indirect immunofluorescence, direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and capture ELISA. Disease activity was measured using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener’s granulomatosis. All patients had active disease at enrollment. Patients were categorized as having severe (n = 128) or limited (n = 52) Wegener’s granulomatosis.

Results

When all ANCA detection methods were combined, 166 patients (92%) were ANCA positive, including 96% with severe disease and 83% with limited disease.

Conclusion

ANCA are detectable in nearly all patients with active severe Wegener’s granulomatosis, but approximately 1 of 5 patients with active limited disease are ANCA negative. Immunofluorescence and both direct and capture ELISAs are required for optimal detection, suggesting that ANCA are not recognized equally well by all testing methods.