Relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and plaque components in patients with coronary artery disease: virtual histology intravascular ultrasound analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and plaque components assessed by virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound in 399 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with 471 coronary lesions. We classified the lesions into two groups according to the NLR on admission {low NLR group (NLR≤2.73 [n=370]) vs. high NLR group (NLR>2.73 [n=101])}. By volumetric analysis, total atheroma and the absolute necrotic core (NC) volumes were significantly greater in high NLR group (249.9±149.7 µL vs. 192.5±127.7 µL, P=0.001, and 32.7±26.8 µL vs. 22.8±19.4 µL, P=0.001, respectively) and thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was observed more frequently in high NLR group (33% vs. 18%, P=0.001). ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (odds ratio [OR], 2.159; 95% CI, 1.000-4.660, P=0.050) and NLR>2.73 (OR, 1.848; 95% CI, 1.016-3.360, P=0.044) and total atheroma volume (OR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001-1.004, P=0.004) were the independent predictors of TCFA. CAD patients with high NLR had more vulnerable plaque components (greater NC-containing plaques) than those with low NLR.

The association of socioeconomic status with three-year clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the clinical outcomes were associated with socioeconomic status (SES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The author analyzed 2,358 patients (64.9 ± 12.3 yr old, 71.5% male) hospitalized with AMI between November 2005 and June 2010. SES was measured by the self-reported education (years of schooling), the residential address (social deprivation index), and the national health insurance status (medical aid beneficiaries). Sequential multivariable modeling assessed the relationship of SES factors with 3-yr major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and mortality after the adjustment for demographic and clinical factors. During the 3-yr follow-up, 630 (26.7%) MACEs and 322 (13.7%) all-cause deaths occurred in 2,358 patients. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression modeling, the only lower education of SES variables was associated with MACEs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.91) and mortality (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.16-3.20) in the patients with AMI who underwent PCI. The study results indicate that the lower education is a significant associated factor to increased poor clinical outcomes in patients with AMI who underwent PCI.

Relationship between coronary artery calcium score by multidetector computed tomography and plaque components by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and plaque components assessed by virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) in 172 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with 250 coronary lesions. CACS was assessed according to Agatston scoring method by MDCT and patients were divided into four groups: Group I (CACS = 0 [n = 52]); Group II (CACS = 1-100 [n = 99]); Group III (CACS = 101-400 [n = 84]); and Group IV (CACS > 400 [n = 15]). Total atheroma volume was greatest in Group IV (152 ± 132 µL vs 171 ± 114 µL vs 195 ± 149 µL vs 321±182 µL, P < 0.001). The absolute dense calcium (DC) and necrotic core (NC) volumes were greatest, and relative DC volume was greatest in Group IV (5.5 ± 6.6 µL vs 11.0 ± 10.3 µL vs 15.6 ± 13.6 µL vs 36.6 ± 18.2 µL, P < 0.001, and 14.8 ± 18.2 µL vs 19.5 ± 18.9 µL vs 22.5 ± 19.1 µL vs 41.7 ± 27.9 µL, P < 0.001, and 6.4 ± 5.3% vs 11.0 ± 6.2% vs 14.0 ± 6.5% vs 20.0 ± 7.8%, P < 0.001, respectively). The absolute plaque and DC and NC volumes and the relative DC volume correlated positively with calcium score. CAD patients with high calcium score have more vulnerable plaque components (greater DC and NC-containing plaques) than those with low calcium score.

Evaluating the Korean version of the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Although the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire are useful tools for assessing and monitoring patients with rheumatic diseases, they have a "floor effect" and do not fully reflect the psychological status of patients. Recently, the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) was developed to overcome these shortcomings. We translated the MDHAQ into the Korean language and evaluated its reliability and validity for use with Korean-speaking patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The questionnaire was translated into the Korean language by three translators, who were aware of its objectives, and it was translated back into the English language by three different translators. One question was modified to reflect Korean culture, and imperial measures were changed to metric measures because most Koreans use the metric system. The Korean MDHAQ was administered to 136 patients with RA who were attending the outpatient rheumatology clinic at the Chonnam National University Hospital (Gwangju, South Korea). Test-retest reliability was assessed in 101 patients after 1 week. To assess criterion validity, we compared MDHAQ scores with HAQ scores and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) functional class. To test construct validity, the MDHAQ was compared to ACR core criteria (tender and swollen joint count, pain, patient's global assessment, physician's global assessment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The test-retest reliability was analyzed by computing kappa statistics, which ranged from 0.60 to 0.76. Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged from 0.892 to 0.938. The MDHAQ was significantly correlated with the HAQ and ACR functional class (all p<0.001). The correlations between the MDHAQ scores and the ACR core set, BDI, and STAI were all high and statistically significant. The Korean version of the MDHAQ is a reliable, valid tool for assessing Korean patients with RA.

Effects of combination therapy of statin and N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a risk factor for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). We investigated whether pretreatment with statin, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) reduces the risk of CIN. METHODS: We conducted a prospective trial and enrolled a total of 334 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Patients were divided into four groups: Group I (statin 40mg), Group II (statin 80mg), Group III (statin 80mg plus NAC 1200mg) and Group IV (regimen of group III plus NaHCO3 154mEq/L). CIN was defined as ≥25% or ≥0.5mg/dL increase in serum creatinine from the baseline within the 72h after PCI. RESULTS: CIN occurred in 72 (21.6%) patients. The incidence of CIN was the lowest in the group III (14.3%), and multivariate analysis showed the lower incidence of CIN in group III compared to Group I [odds ratio (OR) 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.64, p=0.002]. Admission hyperglycemia [(AHG)>198mg/dL] (OR 2.20, 95% Cl 1.20-3.68, p=0.011) and the use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) (OR 4.20, 95% CI 1.38-12.78, p=0.016) were independent predictors for CIN. The CIN (OR 9.00, 95% CI 1.30-62.06, p=0.026) was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of high-dose statin plus NAC was associated with lower incidence of CIN in patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI compared to statin only.

Endothelial dysfunction, increased carotid artery intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity, and increased level of inflammatory markers are associated with variant angina.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation may be associated with variant angina (VA). Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are widely used as non-invasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 254 patients with chest pain were divided into three groups according to coronary angiogram (CAG) finding. There were 76 patients (VA group: 53.5+/-10.2 years, 41 males) with normal CAG with positive ergonovine-provocation test (EPT), 58 patients (control group: 55.3+/-8.7 years, 30 males) with normal CAG with negative EPT, and 120 patients with angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD group: 56.3+/-9.7 years, 79 males). The level of FMD was lower in the VA group than in the control group (7.7+/-3.5% vs. 9.4+/-3.8%, p=0.014). Carotid IMT was higher in the VA group than in the control group (0.58+/-0.1 mm vs. 0.54+/-0.1 mm, p=0.029). The brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) was higher in the VA group than in the control group (1445.3+/-211.8 cm/s vs. 1396.7+/-394.5 cm/s, p=0.020). The levels of monocyte cell counts was higher in patients of the VA group than in the other two groups (7545.7+/-2611.1/mm(3) vs. 6548.2+/-2156.4/mm(3) vs. 6740.9+/-1730.4/mm(3), p=0.015, respectively; monocyte cell counts: 657.2+/-242.6/mm(3) vs. 442.5+/-219.3/mm(3) vs. 490.0+/-172.0/mm(3), p=0.025). CONCLUSION: VA is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased carotid IMT, baPWV, and inflammatory markers.