Ticagrelor versus Adjusted-Dose Prasugrel in Acute Coronary Syndrome with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor or adjusted-dose prasugrel has been used for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few studies have directly compared these two drugs. In this study, we compared the real-world applications and outcomes of these two drugs in patients with ACS who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the data of eligible patients with ACS who had undergone PCI at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital System between June 2019 and December 2021. The primary efficacy-related outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and the primary safety-related outcome was major bleeding. Inverse probability of treatment weighting based on propensity score was performed to reduce confounding effects. The study included 2,636 patients; of them, 429 received prasugrel and 2,207 received ticagrelor. No significant between-group difference was observed in the risk of MACE (13.1 vs. 13.1 events per 100 person-years, respectively, hazard ratio (HR): 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-1.43). Both groups exhibited similar rates of major bleeding (3.9 vs. 4.1 events per 100 person-years, respectively, subdistribution HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.68-1.35). In real-world settings, adjusted-dose prasugrel and ticagrelor exhibit comparable safety and efficacy profiles in East Asian patients with ACS after PCI. Our findings offer valuable insights for future clinical decision making and patient management strategies.

Evaluating the applicability of ivabradine in acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND: While ivabradine has demonstrated benefits in heart rate control and prognosis for chronic heart failure patients, its application in acute decompensated heart failure remains underexplored. HYPOTHESIS: For patients with acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who are intolerant to ß-blockers or unable to further titrate their dosage, the use of ivabradine is hypothesized to be effective and safe is improving outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter database analysis included patients with hospitalized decompensated heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤40% from June 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020. The exclusion criteria were a baseline heart rate of <70 bpm, previous use of ivabradine, mortality during admission, existing atrial fibrillation, or atrial flutter. The primary outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS: Of the 4163 HFrEF patients analyzed, 684 (16.4%) were administered ivabradine during their index admission. After matching, there were 617 patients in either group. The results indicated that ivabradine use was not significantly associated with the risk of the primary composite outcome (hazard ratio: 1.10; 95% confidence interval: 0.94-1.29). Similarly, the risk of secondary outcomes and adverse renal events did not significantly differ between the ivabradine and non-ivabradine cohorts (all p > .05). CONCLUSION: For hospitalized acute decompensated heart failure patients who are intolerant to ß-blockers or cannot further titrate them, ivabradine offers a consistent therapeutic effect. No significant disparities were noted between the ivabradine and non-ivabradine groups in heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death.

Cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease receiving direct oral anticoagulants: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

The role of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) is controversial. Electronic medical records from 2012 to 2021 were retrieved for patients with AF and stage 4-5 CKD receiving oral anticoagulants. Patients were separated into those receiving DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Primary outcomes included ischemic stroke (IS), systemic thrombosis (SE), major bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhagic stroke, acute myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death. Renal outcomes included eGFR declines, creatinine doubling, progression to dialysis, and major adverse kidney events (MAKE). The primary analysis was until the end of follow up and the results at 1-year and 2-year of follow ups were also assessed. 2,382 patients (DOAC = 1,047, VKA = 1,335) between 2012 and 2021 with AF and stage 4-5 CKD were identified. The mean follow-up period was 2.3 ± 2.1 years in DOCAs and 2.6 ± 2.3 years in VKA respectively. At the end of follow up, the DOAC patients had significantly decreased SE (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34-0.73), composite of IS/SE (SHR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62-0.98), major bleeding (HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66-0.90), hemorrhagic stroke (HR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.36-0.76), and composite of bleeding events (SHR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.69-0.92) compared with VKA patients. The IS efficacy outcome revealed neutral between DOAC and VKA patients (HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.79-1.39). In addition, DOAC patients had significantly decreased rates of eGFR decline > 50% (SHR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.64-0.87), creatinine doubling (SHR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67-0.95), and MAKE (SHR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71-0.93). In patients with AF and stage 4-5 CKD, use of DOAC was associated with decreased rates of a composite of ischemic stroke/systemic embolism, a composite of bleeding events, and renal events compared to VKA. Efficacy and safety benefits associated with apixaban at standard doses were consistent throughout follow-up.

Comparing angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for heart failure with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Clinical comparisons of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) treatment in patients with HFrEF and T2DM are limited. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and treatment benefits of SGLT2i versus ARNI treatment in patients with HFrEF and T2DM in a large real-world data set. METHODS: We identified 1487 patients with HFrEF and T2DM who were undergoing ARNI or SGLT2i treatment for the first time (n = 647 and 840, respectively) between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, and with clinical outcomes of CV death, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), composite CV outcomes, or renal outcomes. RESULTS: The HHF risk reduction conferred by SGLT2i treatment was more significant than that conferred by ARNI treatment (37.7% vs. 30.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.41). SGLT2i use conferred significantly greater renal protection against the doubling of serum creatinine (13.1% vs. 9.3%; 95% CI 1.05-1.75), an estimated glomerular filtration rate decline of > 50% (24.9% vs. 20.0%; 95% CI 1.02-1.45), and progression to end-stage renal disease (3.1% vs. 1.5%; 95% CI 1.62-5.23). The improvements in echocardiographic parameters were comparable between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with ARNI treatment, SGLT2i treatment was associated with a more significant HHF risk reduction and greater preservation of renal function in patients with HFrEF and T2DM. This study also supports the prioritization of SGLT2i use in these patients when patients' conditions or economic resources need to be considered.

Associations of Three-Dimensional Anthropometric Body Surface Scanning Measurements and Coronary Artery Disease.

Background and Objectives: The relationship between three-dimensional (3D) scanning-derived body surface measurements and biomarkers in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were assessed. Methods and Methods: The recruitment of 98 patients with CAD confirmed by cardiac catheterization and 98 non-CAD patients were performed between March 2016 and December 2017. A health questionnaire on basic information, life style variables, and past medical and family history was completed. 3D body surface measurements and biomarkers were obtained. Differences between the two groups were assessed and multivariable analysis performed. Results: It was found that chest width (odds ratio [OR] 0.761, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.586-0.987, p = 0.0399), right arm length (OR 0.743, 95% CI = 0.632-0.875, p = 0.0004), waist circumference (OR 1.119, 95% CI = 1.035-1.21, p = 0.0048), leptin (OR 1.443, 95% CI = 1.184-1.76, p = 0.0003), adiponectin (OR 0.978, 95% CI = 0.963-0.994, p = 0.006), and interleukin 6 (OR 1.181, 95% CI = 1.021-1.366, p = 0.0254) were significantly associated with CAD. The combination of biomarker scores and body measurement scores had the greatest area under the curve and best association with CAD (area under the curve of 0.8049 and 95% CI = 0.7440-0.8657). Conclusions: Our study suggests that 3D derived body surface measurements in combination with leptin, adiponectin, and interleukin 6 levels may direct us to those at risk of CAD, allowing a non-invasive approach to identifying high-risk patients.

The cardiovascular and renal effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in patients with advanced diabetic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: To determine whether glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have cardiovascular and renal protective effects in patients with advanced diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2. METHODS: In this cohort study, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and eGFR < 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 with a first prescription for GLP-1RAs or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) from 2012 to 2021 (n = 125,392) were enrolled. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the cardiorenal protective effects between the GLP-1RA and DDP-4i groups. RESULTS: A total of 8922 participants [mean (SD) age 68.4 (11.5) years; 4516 (50.6%) males; GLP-1RAs, n = 759; DPP-4is, n = 8163] were eligible for this study. During a mean follow-up of 2.1 years, 78 (13%) and 204 (13.8%) patients developed composite cardiovascular events in the GLP-1RA and DPP-4i groups, respectively [hazard ratio (HR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval CI 0.68-1.13]. Composite kidney events were reported in 134 (38.2%) and 393 (44.2%) patients in the GLP-1RA and DPP-4i groups, respectively (subdistribution HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1RAs had a neutral effect on the composite cardiovascular outcomes but reduced composite kidney events in the patients with advanced DKD compared with DPP-4is.

Empagliflozin and Left Ventricular Remodeling in People Without Diabetes: Primary Results of the EMPA-HEART 2 CardioLink-7 Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors have been demonstrated to promote reverse cardiac remodeling in people with diabetes or heart failure. Although it has been theorized that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors might afford similar benefits in people without diabetes or prevalent heart failure, this has not been evaluated. We sought to determine whether sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition with empagliflozin leads to a decrease in left ventricular (LV) mass in people without type 2 diabetes or significant heart failure. METHODS: Between April 2021 and January 2022, 169 individuals, 40 to 80 years of age, without diabetes but with risk factors for adverse cardiac remodeling were randomly assigned to empagliflozin (10 mg/d; n=85) or placebo (n=84) for 6 months. The primary outcome was the 6-month change in LV mass indexed (LVMi) to baseline body surface area as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Other measures included 6-month changes in LV end-diastolic and LV end-systolic volumes indexed to baseline body surface area and LV ejection fraction. RESULTS: Among the 169 participants (141 men [83%]; mean age, 59.3±10.5 years), baseline LVMi was 63.2±17.9 g/m2 and 63.8±14.0 g/m2 for the empagliflozin- and placebo-assigned groups, respectively. The difference (95% CI) in LVMi at 6 months in the empagliflozin group versus placebo group adjusted for baseline LVMi was -0.30 g/m2 (-2.1 to 1.5 g/m2; P=0.74). Median baseline (interquartile range) NT-proBNP (N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide) was 51 pg/mL (20-105 pg/mL) and 55 pg/mL (21-132 pg/mL) for the empagliflozin- and placebo-assigned groups, respectively. The 6-month treatment effect of empagliflozin versus placebo (95% CI) on blood pressure and NT-proBNP (adjusted for baseline values) were -1.3 mm Hg (-5.2 to 2.6 mm Hg; P=0.52), 0.69 mm Hg (-1.9 to 3.3 mm Hg; P=0.60), and -6.1 pg/mL (-37.0 to 24.8 pg/mL; P=0.70) for systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and NT-proBNP, respectively. No clinically meaningful between-group differences in LV volumes (diastolic and systolic indexed to baseline body surface area) or ejection fraction were observed. No difference in adverse events was noted between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among people with neither diabetes nor significant heart failure but with risk factors for adverse cardiac remodeling, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition with empagliflozin did not result in a meaningful reduction in LVMi after 6 months. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT04461041.

Genetic Disruption of KLF1 K74 SUMOylation in Hematopoietic System Promotes Healthy Longevity in Mice.

The quest for rejuvenation and prolonged lifespan through transfusion of young blood has been studied for decades with the hope of unlocking the mystery of the key substance(s) that exists in the circulating blood of juvenile organisms. However, a pivotal mediator has yet been identified. Here, atypical findings are presented that are observed in a knockin mouse model carrying a lysine to arginine substitution at residue 74 of Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1/EKLF), the SUMOylation-deficient Klf1K74R/K74R mouse, that displayed significant improvement in geriatric disorders and lifespan extension. Klf1K74R/K74R mice exhibit a marked delay in age-related physical performance decline and disease progression as evidenced by physiological and pathological examinations. Furthermore, the KLF1(K74R) knockin affects a subset of lymphoid lineage cells; the abundance of tumor infiltrating effector CD8+ T cells and NKT cells is increased resulting in antitumor immune enhancement in response to tumor cell administration. Significantly, infusion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from Klf1K74R/K74R mice extends the lifespan of the wild-type mice. The Klf1K74R/K74R mice appear to be an ideal animal model system for further understanding of the molecular/cellular basis of aging and development of new strategies for antiaging and prevention/treatment of age-related diseases thus extending the healthspan as well as lifespan.

Combination of Thigh Circumference and Indices of Central Obesity Helps Predict Incident Chronic Kidney Disease: A 14-Year Prospective Cohort Study Using a Three-Dimensional Body Laser Scanner.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity, high body mass index, and visceral fat accumulation are associated with renal diseases. However, the association between body measurements and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is still unclear. METHODS: A cohort of 7,825 participants scheduled for follow-up of CKD was recruited from 2000 to 2008 in Taiwan. A questionnaire was developed to collect the basic demographics, lifestyle variables, personal disease history, and family disease history of the participants. A 3-dimensional body surface scanning system was used to take their body measurements. The participants underwent an average follow-up of 14.3 years for evaluation of the incidence of CKD. A multiple Cox regression model was built. RESULTS: Three body measurements, namely chest width (hazard ratio [HR] 1.059, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.011-1.110), waist circumference (HR 1.017, 95% CI 1.006-1.029), and thigh circumference (HR 0.941, 95% CI 0.922-0.961), were significantly associated with CKD. Two combinations of body measurements, namely the waist-to-thigh ratio and chest-to-thigh ratio, were derived to predict the occurrence of CKD. Participants with the highest quartile of waist-to-thigh ratio and chest-to-thigh ratio had a 2.175-fold and 2.182-fold risk of developing CKD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that along with central obesity, body limb measurements can be used as an indicator to predict the occurrence of CKD. The effects of limb measurements on CKD could help provide an innovative perspective regarding the intervention to be developed for the treatment of CKD and a preventive medicine for high-risk individuals. The association of thigh circumference with CKD warrants further investigation.

Dynamic Echocardiographic Assessments Reveal Septal E/e' Ratio as Independent Predictor of Intradialytic Hypotension in Maintenance for Hemodialysis Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a frequent and grave complication of hemodialysis (HD). However, the dynamic hemodynamic changes and cardiac performances during each dialytic session have been rarely explored in patients having IDH. METHODS: Seventy-six HD patients (IDH = 40, controls = 36) were enrolled. Echocardiography examinations were performed in all patients at the pre-HD, during-HD and post-HD phases of a single HD session. A two-way analysis of variance was applied to compare differences of echocardiographic parameters between IDH and controls over time. The risk association was estimated by using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The IDH patients had a higher ejection fraction during HD followed by a greater reduction at the post-HD phase than the controls. Significant decreases in septal ratios of transmitral flow velocity to annular velocity (E/e') over times were detected between IDH patients and controls after adjusting for gender, age and ultrafiltration (p = 0.016). A lower septal E/e' ratio was independently associated with IDH (OR = 0.040; 95% CI = 0.003-0.606; p = 0.02). In contrast, significant systolic and diastolic dysfunctions over time were found in diabetic IDH compared to non-diabetic counterparts. CONCLUSION: The septal E/e' ratio was a significant predictor for IDH.

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Identification of Genetic Factors Predisposing High-Risk Individuals to Asymptomatic Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic public health burden affecting one in five of the general population in their lifetime. For high-risk individuals, early detection and prediction of HF progression reduces hospitalizations, reduces mortality, improves the individual's quality of life, and reduces associated medical costs. In using an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted genome-wide association study of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) database from 117 asymptomatic high-risk individuals, we identified a SNP signature composed of 13 SNPs. These were annotated and mapped into six protein-coding genes (GAD2, APP, RASGEF1C, MACROD2, DMD, and DOCK1), a pseudogene (PGAM1P5), and various non-coding RNA genes (LINC01968, LINC00687, LOC105372209, LOC101928047, LOC105372208, and LOC105371356). The SNP signature was found to have a good performance when predicting HF progression, namely with an accuracy rate of 0.857 and an area under the curve of 0.912. Intriguingly, analysis of the protein connectivity map revealed that DMD, RASGEF1C, MACROD2, DOCK1, and PGAM1P5 appear to form a protein interaction network in the heart. This suggests that, together, they may contribute to the pathogenesis of HF. Our findings demonstrate that a combination of AI-assisted identifications of SNP signatures and clinical parameters are able to effectively identify asymptomatic high-risk subjects that are predisposed to HF.

Higher Leptin-to-Adiponectin Ratio Strengthens the Association Between Body Measurements and Occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Aim: This case-control study aimed to investigate the interrelations of body measurements and selected biomarkers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We recruited 98 patients with T2DM and 98 controls from 2016 to 2018 in Taiwan. Body measurements were obtained using a three-dimensional body surface scanning system. Four biomarkers related to insulin resistance, adipokines, and inflammation were assayed. A multiple logistic regression model was used to perform multivariable analyses. Results: Four body measurements, namely waist circumference (odds ratio, OR = 1.073; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.017-1.133), forearm circumference (OR = 1.227; 95% CI = 1.002-1.501), thigh circumference (OR = 0.841; 95% CI = 0.73-0.969), and calf circumference (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.076-1.451), were significantly associated with T2DM. Leptin (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.036-1.146) and adiponectin (OR = 0.982; 95% CI = 0.967-0.997) were significantly associated with T2DM. Six body measurement combinations, namely body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-thigh ratio, forearm-to-thigh ratio, and calf-to-thigh ratio (CTR), were significantly associated with T2DM. CTR had the strongest linear association with T2DM. Moderating effects of significant biomarkers, namely leptin and adiponectin, were observed. Participants with high leptin-to-adiponectin ratios and in the fourth CTR quartile were 162.2 times more prone to develop T2DM. Conclusions: We concluded that a combination of leptin and adiponectin modulated the strength of the association between body measurements and T2DM while providing clues for high-risk group identification and mechanistic conjectures of preventing T2DM.

Adverse body measurements are superior to sarcopenia-associated measurements in predicting chronic diseases.

Few studies have demonstrated an association of sarcopenia-associated body measurements with chronic diseases through a comprehensive methodology. This study aims to examine the relationship between sarcopenia-associated body measurements and chronic diseases. This is a cohort study. We recruited 316 community dwellers, including 76 patients with sarcopenia and 240 controls, and obtained their body measurements associated with sarcopenia. We collected three-dimensional anthropometric body-surface measurements from 11,158 participants during 2000-2008 and followed up this cohort for 15 years to examine the association of these measurements with the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), heart disease, and nephrotic syndrome. Univariate analysis, canonical correlation, and Cox regression analysis were performed to explore the associations. Decreased waist width, upper left arm circumference, and left thigh circumference were significantly associated with sarcopenia. The adverse body measure score (ABMS) was derived by combining significant measurements, namely left upper arm circumference, waist width, and left thigh circumference, and used to predict the risk of hypertension, T2DM, heart diseases, and nephrotic syndrome. A positive association was observed between the ABMS and chronic diseases. Considering the first quartile of the ABMS as a reference, we determined hazard ratios of 2.259, 2.495, 1.332, and 1.595 for hypertension, T2DM, heart disease, and nephrotic syndrome, respectively, in the fourth quartile. Chronic diseases were more strongly associated with the ABMS than with sarcopenia-related body measurements alone. A high ABMS, which includes higher upper arm circumference, higher waist width, and lower thigh circumference, can significantly predict chronic diseases.

Comparative risk evaluation for cardiovascular events associated with dapagliflozin vs. empagliflozin in real-world type 2 diabetes patients: a multi-institutional cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To compare the cardiovascular event risk in type 2 diabetes patients newly receiving dapagliflozin vs. empagliflozin. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by analyzing a multi-institutional electronic medical records database (Chang Gung Research Database) in Taiwan and included adult type 2 diabetes patients who were newly receiving sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors from 2016 to 2017. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and heart failure. We followed up patients from initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors until the occurrence of cardiovascular events before December 31, 2018. We performed multivariable Cox proportional hazard modeling, adjusting for patients' age, sex, laboratory data, co-morbidities, and concomitant medications. RESULTS: We identified 12,681 new SGLT2 inhibitor users with a mean age of 58.9 (SD 11.8) years, of whom 43.9% were female and 45.8% were new dapagliflozin users. A total of 10,442 person-years of dapagliflozin use and 12,096 person-years of empagliflozin use were included. Compared to empagliflozin users, new users of dapagliflozin were found to have similar risks for primary composite outcome (adjusted HR: 0.91; 95% CI 0.73-1.14), cardiovascular death (adjusted HR: 0.54; 95% CI 0.14-2.12), myocardial infarction (adjusted HR: 0.77, 95% CI 0.49-1.19) and ischemic stroke (adjusted HR: 1.15; 95% CI 0.80-1.65), but a lower risk of heart failure (adjusted HR: 0.68; 95% CI 0.49-0.95). CONCLUSION: The risk of cardiovascular events was similar between dapagliflozin and empagliflozin new users, but dapagliflozin may have a better outcome in the reduction of heart failure in type 2 diabetes patients. Future prospective studies are required to confirm the findings.

Predicting Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Occurrence Using Three-Dimensional Anthropometric Body Surface Scanning Measurements: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: An accurate and comprehensive anthropometric measure for predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not yet been depicted. METHODS: A total of 8450 nondiabetic participants were recruited during 2000-2010 in Taiwan. The cohort was followed up to the end of 2013, over an average of 8.87 years. At recruitment, participants completed a questionnaire related to basic demographics, lifestyle variables, personal disease history, and family disease history. 3D body surface scanning was used to obtain 35 anatomical measurements. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to conduct multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2068 T2DM cases at an incidence rate of 27.59 × 10-3 (year-1) were identified during the follow-up period. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) demonstrated that neck circumference (NC) (HR = 1.048; 95% CI = 1.033-1.064), waist width (WW) (HR = 1.061; 95% CI = 1.040-1.081), and left thigh circumference (TC) (HR = 0.984; 95% CI = 0.972-0.995) were significant predictors of the occurrence of T2DM. While dividing body measurement into median high/low groups, an increased risk of T2DM was observed among participants with a larger NC and smaller TC (HR = 1.375; 95% CI = 1.180-1.601) and a larger WW and smaller TC (HR = 1.278; 95% CI = 1.085-1.505) relative to other participants. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that as well as using traditional waist and TC measurements, NC can be used as an indicator to provide an early prediction of developing T2DM, while providing clues for future mechanistic investigations of T2DM.

Circulating Klotho levels can predict long-term macrovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Type 2 diabetes is a global health problem that is associated with a wide variety of vascular complications and associated morbidity and mortality. Klotho is an enzyme and transmembrane protein, and increasing evidence suggests that Klotho may contribute to reduced oxidative stress, improved endothelial function, and vasoprotection. To date, the physiological role of Klotho in vascular complications associated with diabetes is unclear. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 252 patients with type 2 diabetes, who visited an outpatient clinic at our hospital between 2009 and 2011. Patients in the top and bottom tertiles of circulating Klotho levels were enrolled for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 168 patients enrolled, 45.8% were male, the mean age was 57.2 years, and the average duration of diabetes was 7.58 years. In multiple regression analysis, a high Klotho level was associated with a reduced risk of developing coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular accidents. Klotho level was also an independent predictor for the development of macroangiopathies within the 7-year study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that circulating Klotho level is a predictor of long-term macrovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Mortality prediction using CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc/R2CHADS2 scores in systolic heart failure patients with or without atrial fibrillation.

The CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and R2CHADS2 scores are well-known predictors of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation (AF), but no studies have evaluated their use for stratifying all-cause mortality risk in patients discharged for systolic heart failure (SHF) with or without AF.This study analyzed data in the Taiwan Society of Cardiology-heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (TSOC-HFrEF) registry. These data were obtained by a prospective, multicenter, observational survey of patients treated at 21 medical centers in Taiwan after hospitalization for acute, pre-existing or new onset SHF from May, 2013 to October, 2014. During 1 year follow-up, 198 patients were lost follow-up, and final 1311 (86.8%) patients were included for further analysis. During the follow-up period, 250 (19%) patients died. Multivariate analysis revealed that body mass index, thyroid disorder, valvular surgery history, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and scores for CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and R2CHADS2 were significant independent predictors of mortality in the overall population of SHF patients (all P < .05) The c-indexes showed that CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and R2CHADS2 scores were significantly associated with mortality in SHF patients with or without AF (all P < 005). However, R2CHADS2 had significantly higher accuracy in predicting mortality in all SHF patients compared with CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc (DeLong test, P < .0001), especially in SHF without AF (DeLong test, P = .0003).Scores for CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and R2CHADS2 can be used to predict 1-year all-cause mortality in SHF patients with or without AF. For predicting all-cause mortality in SHF patients, R2CHADS2 is more accurate than CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc.

Metastatic cardiac tumor presenting as atrial fibrillation in a previously healthy woman: A case report.

RATIONALE: Metastatic cardiac tumor (MCT) is rare in clinical practice. MCT presenting initially as atrial fibrillation (AF) is even rarer. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a 47-year-old woman with no previous medical history presented with intermittent palpitation for 3 days. DIAGNOSES: The electrocardiography showed AF with rapid ventricular rate. The transthoracic echocardiography showed a 4 × 4 cm mass occupying the left atrium (LA). The contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a left lower lung mass with invasion to the LA and left upper pulmonary vein (PV). The chest CT guided biopsy revealed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Further workup including bone scan showed no significant findings. The diagnosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma with cardiac invasion was made. INTERVENTIONS: She went on to received palliative chemotherapy. OUTCOMES: She is being followed up regularly at the outpatient department. LESSONS: Tumor invasion of the LA and PV was thought to be the cause of the AF. This condition is rare, but clinically important. Physicians should be alert that MCT could be an important differential diagnosis in patients presenting with unexplained AF.