Importance of measurements at or after the J-point for evaluation of ST-segment deviation and resolution during treatment for acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Determination of ST-segment deviation (STdev) and its resolution (STR) by reperfusion strategies have become important tools in the assessment of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). STdev has been measured at different time-points, i.e. at 20-80 ms after the J-point. There are no data comparing STR at different time-points. METHODS AND RESULTS: STdev was measured using a new computer-assisted workflow. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for validity and agreement vs. classical manual measurements (n=1020) were both 0.996 (p<0.0001). The reliability indices were 0.991 (95% CI 0.990-0.992) for the manual vs. 0.995 (95% CI 0.995-0.996) for the computer-assisted method, indicating superiority of the latter. 12-lead STdev were determined on ECGs before (baseline) and 180 min after start of thrombolytic therapy, measured both at the J-point (STdev(J)) and 20 ms after the J-point (STdev(J20); n=2400). STdev(J20) was on average 0.01+/-0.03 mV higher than STdev(J) (p<0.0001) with a tendency towards larger differences for higher ST-elevations (p<0.001). Although the average STR calculated from STdev(J20) and STdev(J) was not statistically different in any infarct location group, in 26% of the patients the difference was >10%, and 11% of the patients were classified into another ST-resolution group. Analysing STdev only in the single lead with the highest ST-elevation at baseline (a simplified measurement which may eliminate the confounding effect of ST-depressions) showed an even higher classification discordance (14% of the patients). CONCLUSIONS: The time-point of STdev measurement is an important variable to be accounted for when evaluating ST resolution data. Uncontrolled extrapolation of classification schemes based on STdev(J20) to other time-points cannot be justified.     

Clinical spectrum and short-term outcome of adult patients with purpura fulminans: a French multicenter retrospective cohort study

Purpose

Data on purpura fulminans (PF) in adult patients are scarce and mainly limited to meningococcal infections. Our aim has been to report the clinical features and outcomes of adult patients admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) for an infectious PF, as well as the predictive factors for limb amputation and mortality.

Methods

A 17-year national multicenter retrospective cohort study in 55 ICUs in France from 2000 to 2016, including adult patients admitted for an infectious PF defined by a sudden and extensive purpura, together with the need for vasopressor support. Primary outcome variables included hospital mortality and amputation during the follow-up period (time between ICU admission and amputation, death or end of follow-up).

Results

Among the 306 included patients, 126 (41.2%; 95% CI 35.6–46.9) died and 180 (58.8%; 95% CI 53.3–64.3) survived during the follow-up period [13 (3–24) days], including 51/180 patients (28.3%, 95% CI 21.9–35.5) who eventually required limb amputations, with a median number of 3 (1–4) limbs amputated. The two predominantly identified microorganisms were Neisseria meningitidis (63.7%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (21.9%). By multivariable Cox model, SAPS II [hazard-ratio (HR)?=?1.03 (1.02–1.04); p?<?0.001], lower leucocytes [HR 0.83 (0.69–0.99); p?=?0.034] and platelet counts [HR 0.77 (0.60–0.91); p?=?0.007], and arterial blood lactate levels [HR 2.71 (1.68–4.38); p?<?0.001] were independently associated with hospital death, while a neck stiffness [HR?0.51 (0.28–0.92); p?=?0.026] was a protective factor. Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae [sub-hazard ratio 1.89 (1.06–3.38); p?=?0.032], together with arterial lactate levels and ICU admission temperature, was independently associated with amputation by a competing risks analysis.

Conclusion

Purpura fulminans carries a high mortality and morbidity. Pneumococcal PF leads to a higher risk of amputation.

Trials registration

NCT03216577.

     

Definition of left ventricular remodelling following ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic review of cardiac magnetic resonance studies in the past decade

Heart Failure Reviews - An increase in left ventricular volumes between baseline and follow-up imaging is the main criteria for the quantification of left ventricular remodelling (LVR) after...     

Monogenic and syndromic diabetes due to endoplasmic reticulum stress

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lies at the crossroads of protein folding, calcium storage, lipid metabolism, and the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. Accordingly, dysregulation of ER homeostasis leads to β-cell dysfunction in type 1 and type 2 diabetes that ultimately culminates in cell death. The ER is therefore an emerging target for understanding the mechanisms of diabetes mellitus that captures the complex etiologies of this multifactorial class of metabolic disorders. Our strategy for developing ER-targeted diagnostics and therapeutics is to focus on monogenic forms of diabetes related to ER dysregulation in an effort to understand the exact contribution of ER stress to β-cell death. In this manner, we can develop personalized genetic medicine for ERstress-related diabetic disorders, such as Wolfram syndrome. In this article, we describe the phenotypes and molecular pathogenesis of ERstress-related monogenic forms of diabetes.     

Characteristics and management of cleft mitral valve

OBJECTIVES: We sought to highlight the clinical, morphologic, and pathogenetic features in patients with a cleft mitral valve (MV). BACKGROUND: Few studies have addressed the morphologic features of cleft MV and the outcome of these patients. The pathogenetic features, including the developmental relation to an atrioventricular (AV) septal defect, remain unclear. METHODS: We reviewed the patients with cleft MV that were diagnosed by echocardiography since 1980. Patients with an AV canal, ventriculo-arterial discordance, and hypoplastic ventricles were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were identified at a median age of 0.5 years (range 0 to 10.6). In three patients, no chordal attachments of the cleft to the ventricular septum were seen. Ten patients had significant mitral regurgitation (MR), and three had subaortic obstruction by the cleft. Associated cardiac lesions and extracardiac features were present in 13 and 10 patients, respectively. During the median follow-up period of 1.5 years (range 0 to 11.8), two patients died of extracardiac causes, and one neonate died of severe subaortic obstruction. Surgical repair was performed in 10 patients at a median age of 5.2 years (range 1.3 to 10.6). Multivariate analysis showed no predictors for MV surgery. One patient was re-operated for mitral stenosis associated with aortic valve stenosis. Follow-up echocardiography demonstrated moderate MR in two unoperated patients and moderate MV stenosis in two operated patients. CONCLUSIONS: A cleft of the MV comprises a wide spectrum. Important morphologic differences exist with an AV septal defect, although the two lesions may be pathogenetically related. Surgical repair always seems possible. Long-term echocardiographic follow-up is warranted.     

Heart failure and diabetes mellitus: epidemiology and management of an alarming association

Diabetes mellitus is a growing epidemic with a prevalence among patients with heart failure (HF) approaching 30%. Diabetes worsens the prognosis of HF, and the pathophysiology is complex and multifactorial. Early detection of subtle alterations in cardiac function by modern tools, such as Doppler echocardiography or brain natriuretic peptide dosage, is thus important in these patients. All drugs known to be effective in HF with systolic dysfunction are also effective in patients with diabetes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists also seem particularly useful. Overall, however, little is known about the treatment of diabetic patients with HF, especially in case of preserved systolic function. Ongoing and future trials should help to determine the best treatment for these patients with or without associated diabetes. This review assesses the relationships between diabetes mellitus and HF and discusses the various medical strategies.