Impact of Induced Therapeutic Hypothermia by Intravenous Infusion of Ice-Cold Fluids After Hospital Arrival in Comatose Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With Initial Shockable Rhythm.

BACKGROUND: The effect of in-hospital rapid cooling by intravenous ice-cold fluids for comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is unclear.Methods and Results:From the J-PULSE-HYPO study registry, data for 248 comatose survivors with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (34℃ for 12-72 h) after witnessed shockable OHCA were extracted. Patients were divided into 2 groups by the median collapse-to-ROSC interval (18 min), and then into 2 groups by cooling method (rapid cooling by intravenous ice-cold fluids vs. standard cooling). The primary endpoint was favorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category of 1 or 2) at 30 days after OHCA. In the whole cohort, the shorter collapse-to-ROSC interval group had significantly higher favorable neurological outcome than the longer collapse-to-ROSC interval group (78.2% vs. 46.8%, P<0.001). In the shorter collapse-to-ROSC interval group, no significant difference was observed in favorable neurological outcome between the 2 cooling groups (rapid cooling group: 79.4% vs. standard cooling group: 77.0%, P=0.75). In the longer collapse-to-ROSC interval group, however, favorable neurological outcome was significant higher in the rapid cooling group than in the standard cooling group (60.7% vs. 33.3%, P<0.01) and the adjusted odds ratio after rapid cooling was 3.069 (95% confidence interval 1.423-6.616, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital rapid cooling by intravenous ice-cold fluids improved neurologically intact survival in comatose survivors whose collapse-to-ROSC interval was delayed over 18 min after shockable OHCA.

The association between neuromuscular blockade use during target temperature management and neurological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: To date, no study has comprehensively analyzed the association between neuromuscular blockade (NMB) during target temperature management (TTM) and the neurological outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) using a multicenter dataset. We aimed to examine the association between NMB during TTM after cardiac arrest and neurological outcomes after OHCA. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of the Japanese Population-based Utstein-style study with defibrillation and basic/advanced Life Support Education and implementation-Hypothermia (J-PULSE-HYPO) study registry. The exposure of the current study was the use of NMB during TTM. The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome, i.e., a cerebral performance category of 1-2, at hospital discharge. RESULTS: Of the 452 patients with OHCA enrolled in the J-PULSE-HYPO study, 431 were analyzed. NMB was used in 353 patients (81.9%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that NMB use was not independently associated with favorable outcomes [odds ratio (OR), 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.42-2.18; p = .918)] or survival at discharge (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.31-2.02; p = .688). After adjusting the covariates, the predicted probabilities did not reveal significant differences between NMB use and non-NMB use in the respective mean (95% CI) values for favorable neurological outcomes [53.6 (50.2-57.0) % vs. 58.0 (50.4-65.6) %, p = .304], and survival rates [77.1 (74.7-79.5) % vs. 75.8 (70.5-81.0) %, p = .647]. CONCLUSIONS: The NMB use during TTM was not associated with favorable neurological outcomes and survival rate in patients with OHCA.

Public-access defibrillation and neurological outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Japan: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: More than 80% of public-access defibrillation attempts do not result in sustained return of spontaneous circulation in patients who have had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and a shockable heart rhythm before arrival of emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. Neurological and survival outcomes in such patients have not been evaluated. We aimed to assess the neurological status and survival outcomes in such patients. METHODS: This is a retropective analysis of a cohort study from a prospective, nationwide, population-based registry of 1 299 784 patients who had an OHCA event between Jan 1, 2005, and Dec 31, 2015 in Japan. The primary outcome was favourable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category of 1 or 2) at 30 days after the OHCA and the secondary outcome was survival at 30 days following the OHCA. This study is registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000009918. FINDINGS: We identified 28 019 patients with bystander-witnessed OHCA and shockable heart rhythm who had received CPR from a bystander. Of these, 2242 (8·0%) patients did not achieve return of spontaneous circulation with CPR plus public-access defibrillation, and 25 087 (89·5%) patients did not achieve return of spontaneous circulation with CPR alone before EMS arrival. The proportion of patients with a favourable neurological outcome was significantly higher in those who received public-access defibrillation than those who did not (845 [37·7%] vs 5676 [22·6%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR] after propensity score-matching, 1·45 [95% CI 1·24-1·69], p<0·0001). The proportion of patients who survived at 30 days after the OHCA was also significantly higher in those who received public-access defibrillation than those who did not (987 [44·0%] vs 7976 [31·8%]; adjusted OR after propensity score-matching, 1·31 [95% CI 1·13-1·52], p<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: Our findings support the benefits of public-access defibrillation and greater accessibility and availability of automated external defibrillators in the community. FUNDING: None.

Association Between Prehospital Supraglottic Airway Compared With Bag-Mask Ventilation and Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Category 1 in Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the association between prehospital supraglottic airway (SGA) and/or epinephrine compared with bag-mask ventilation (BMV) and Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category (CPC) 1 status in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) using a large, nationwide, population-based registry dataset.Methods and Results:This was a post hoc analysis of the All-Japan Utstein Registry. We included patients with OHCA of cardiac origin aged ≥18 years with resuscitation performed by emergency medical services (EMS) between January 2011 and December 2015. The primary endpoint was favorable neurological outcome (CPC 1). The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the prehospital management performed by EMS: BMV group received only basic life support (BLS); epinephrine group received BLS plus epinephrine; SGA group received BLS plus SGA; and combined group received BLS plus epinephrine and SGA. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed for the primary endpoint. Among the 106,434 patients with OHCA, 48,847 received only BMV, 8,958 received BLS+epinephrine, 25,467 received BLS+SGA, and 15,551 received BLS+epinephrine+SGA. Using the BMV group as the reference, multivariable analysis showed that the epinephrine, SGA, and combined groups were independently associated with a reduced incidence of favorable neurological outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that compared with BLS, patients in the prehospital SGA and/or epinephrine groups had a significantly reduced incidence of CPC 1 status.

The Impact of Heart Rate Response During 48-Hour Rewarming Phase of Therapeutic Hypothermia on Neurologic Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Bradycardia during therapeutic hypothermia has been reported to be a predictor of favorable neurologic outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. However, bradycardia occurrence rate may be influenced by the target body temperature. During therapeutic hypothermia, as part of the normal physiologic response, heart rate decreases in the cooling phase and increases during the rewarming phase. We hypothesized that increased heart rate during the rewarming phase is another predictor of favorable neurologic outcomes. To address this hypothesis, the study aimed to examine the association between heart rate response during the rewarming phase and neurologic outcomes in patients having return of spontaneous circulation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. DESIGN: A secondary analysis of the Japanese Population-based Utstein style study with defibrillation and basic/advanced Life Support Education and implementation-Hypothermia registry, which was a multicenter prospective cohort study. SETTING: Fourteen hospitals throughout Japan. PATIENTS: Patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who received therapeutic hypothermia after the return of spontaneous circulation from 2005 to 2011. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This study enrolled 452 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, of which 354 were analyzed, and 80.2% survived to hospital discharge, of which 57.3% had a good neurologic outcome. Heart rate response was calculated using heart rate data recorded during therapeutic hypothermia in the abovementioned registry. Heart rate response in the rewarming phase (heart rate response-rewarming) was calculated as follows: (heart rate [post rewarming]-heart rate [pre rewarming])/heart rate (pre rewarming) × 100. The primary outcome was an unfavorable neurologic outcome at hospital discharge, that is, a Cerebral Performance Category of 3-5. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between heart rate response-rewarming and unfavorable neurologic outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that heart rate response-rewarming was independently associated with unfavorable outcomes (odds ratio [per 10% change], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.96; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Increased heart rate in the approximately 48-hour rewarming phase during therapeutic hypothermia was significantly associated with and was an independent predictor of favorable neurologic outcomes during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Duration of Prehospital Resuscitation Efforts After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: During out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, it is unclear how long prehospital resuscitation efforts should be continued to maximize lives saved. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2012, we enrolled 282 183 adult patients with bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from the All-Japan Utstein Registry. Prehospital resuscitation duration was calculated as the time interval from call receipt to return of spontaneous circulation in cases achieving prehospital return of spontaneous circulation or from call receipt to hospital arrival in cases not achieving prehospital return of spontaneous circulation. In each of 4 groups stratified by initial cardiac arrest rhythm (shockable versus nonshockable) and bystander resuscitation (presence versus absence), we calculated minimum prehospital resuscitation duration, defined as the length of resuscitation efforts in minutes required to achieve ≥99% sensitivity for the primary end point, favorable 30-day neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Prehospital resuscitation duration to achieve prehospital return of spontaneous circulation ranged from 1 to 60 minutes. Longer prehospital resuscitation duration reduced the likelihood of favorable neurological outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.838-0.844). Although the frequency of favorable neurological outcome was significantly different among the 4 groups, ranging from 20.0% (shockable/bystander resuscitation group) to 0.9% (nonshockable/bystander resuscitation group; P<0.001), minimum prehospital resuscitation duration did not differ widely among the 4 groups (40 minutes in the shockable/bystander resuscitation group and the shockable/no bystander resuscitation group, 44 minutes in the nonshockable/bystander resuscitation group, and 45 minutes in the nonshockable/no bystander resuscitation group). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of time intervals from the shockable arrest groups, prehospital resuscitation efforts should be continued for at least 40 minutes in all adults with bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/. Unique identifier: 000009918.

Time to Reperfusion in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients With vs. Without Pre-Hospital Mobile Telemedicine 12-Lead Electrocardiogram Transmission.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital ECG improves survival following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Although a new International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations placed new emphasis on the role of prehospital ECG, this technology is not widely used in Japan. We developed a mobile telemedicine system (MTS) that continuously transmits real-time 12-lead ECG from ambulances in a prehospital setting. This study was designed to compare reperfusion delay between STEMI patients with different prehospital transfer pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2012, 393 consecutive STEMI patients were transferred by ambulance to hospital (PCI-capable center); 301 patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled prospectively. We compared time to reperfusion between patients transferred to PCI-capable hospital using the MTS (MTS group, n=37), patients directly transferred from the field to PCI-capable hospital without the MTS (field transfer group, n=125) and patients referred from a PCI-incapable hospital (interhospital transfer group, n=139). Times to reperfusion in the MTS group were significantly shorter than in the other groups, yielding substantial benefits in patients who arrived at a PCI-capable hospital within 6 h after symptom onset. On multivariate analysis, MTS use was an independent predictor of <90-min door-to-device interval (OR, 4.61; P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Reperfusion delay was shorter in patients using MTS than in patients without it. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1624-1633).

Association between accessibility to emergency cardiovascular centers and cardiovascular mortality in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between accessibility to cardiovascular emergency centers and cardiovascular mortality in Japan. DESIGN: A semi-ecological study. SETTING: Three databases were generated: accessibility to emergency cardiovascular centers, population records and death records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for cardiovascular disease was adjusted by age and sex. Accessibility was represented by transfer time, number of cardiovascular emergency hospitals, and the proportion of habitable areas. Combinations of the three were divided into Categories 1-8 from the worst to the best, and the association with SMR was analyzed. RESULTS: There were 1998 cardiovascular emergency hospitals. The median of crude mortality was 0.16%. The median SMR of the reference Category 8 (transfer time <30 min and habitable area ≥50% with cardiovascular emergency hospitals) was 0.96, but that of the low accessibility Category 1 (transfer time ≥30 min and habitable area <50% without cardiovascular emergency hospitals) was 1.10. The SMR of accessibility Category 1 : Category 8 was 1.18 (95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.21). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased accessibility to cardiovascular emergency hospitals was associated with increased SMR. Areas with less accessibility and higher cardiovascular mortality were characterized by geographical variability in Japan.

Effect of Admission Glasgow Coma Scale Motor Score on Neurological Outcome in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Receiving Therapeutic Hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: Because the initial (on admission) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) examination has not been fully evaluated in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest (CA) who receive therapeutic hypothermia (TH), the aim of the present study was to determine any association between the admission GCS motor score and neurologic outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital CA who receive TH. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the J-PULSE-HYPO study registry, patients with bystander-witnessed CA were eligible for inclusion. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on GCS motor score (1, 2-3, and 4-5) to assess various effects on neurologic outcome. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of good neurologic outcome at 90 days. Of 452 patients, 302 were enrolled. There was a significant difference among the 3 patient groups with regard to neurologic outcome at 90 days in the univariate analysis. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the GCS motor score on admission, age >65 years, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the time from collapse to return of spontaneous circulation, and pupil size <4 mm were independent predictors of a good neurologic outcome at 90 days in cases of CA (GCS motor score, 4-5: odds ratio, 8.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.90-60.28; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: GCS motor score is an independent predictor of good neurologic outcome at 90 days in patients sustaining out-of-hospital CA who receive TH.

Therapy with immunoglobulin in patients with acute myocarditis and cardiomyopathy: analysis of leukocyte balance.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has been used to treat several autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. We conducted a clinical trial of immunoglobulin therapy for acute myocarditis. The study consisted of two projects: (1) a comparison of prognosis between patients treated with and those not treated with IVIG in a multi-center study; (2) analyses of inflammatory cytokines and blood cell profiles in a substudy. In (1), 15 patients were treated with IVIG (1-2 g/kg, over 2 days), whereas 26 were untreated. There was a statistically significant difference between the survival curves of the patients treated with IVIG and the survival curves of those not treated with IVIG. There was no significant difference between the IVIG-treated and untreated groups in terms of clinical parameters of the acute and chronic phases. In (2), 10 patients were treated with IVIG and 6 were untreated. In both groups, all of the data except for changes in the fraction of lymphocytes and the fraction of monocytes decreased due to the treatment or during the course. In patients in the IVIG group, the percentage of peripheral eosinophils was decreased and the percentage of peripheral monocytes was increased by this treatment when they were compared with the pretreatment data. Therefore, therapy with IVIG seems to be a promising treatment for acute myocarditis given that it improves the clinical course, which may be due to modulation of inflammatory cytokines and the peripheral leukocyte balance.

Association between defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval and short-term outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and an initial shockable rhythm.

Aim: The optimal timing of adrenaline administration after defibrillation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and an initial shockable rhythm is unknown. We investigated the association between the defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval and clinical outcomes. Methods: Between 2011 and 2020, we enrolled 1,259,960 patients with OHCA into a nationwide prospective population-based registry in Japan. After applying exclusion criteria, 20,905 patients with an initial shockable rhythm documented at emergency medical services (EMS) arrival who received adrenaline after defibrillation were eligible for this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to predict favourable short-term outcomes: prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 30-day survival, or a favourable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2) at 30 days. Patients were categorised into 2-minute defibrillation-to-adrenaline intervals up to 18 min, or more than 18 min. Results: At 30 days, 1,618 patients (8%) had a favourable neurological outcome. The defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval in these patients was significantly shorter than in patients with an unfavourable neurological outcome [8 (5-12) vs 11 (7-16) minutes; P < 0.001]. The proportion of patients with prehospital ROSC, 30-day survival, or a favourable neurological outcome at 30 days decreased as the defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval increased (P < 0.001 for trend). Multivariable analysis revealed that a defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval of > 6 min was an independent predictor of worse prehospital ROSC, 30-day survival, or neurological outcome at 30 days when compared with an interval of 4-6 min. Conclusion: A longer defibrillation-to-adrenaline interval was significantly associated with worse short-term outcomes in patients with OHCA and an initial shockable rhythm.

Impact of Updating the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines on Out-of-Hospital Shockable Cardiac Arrest: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: International consensus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care science and treatment recommendations (CoSTR) have reported updates on CPR maneuvers every 5 years since 2000. However, few national population-based studies have investigated the comprehensive effectiveness of those updates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to shockable rhythms. The primary objective of the present study was to determine whether CPR based on CoSTR 2005 or 2010 was associated with improved outcomes in Japan, as compared with CPR based on Guidelines 2000. METHODS AND RESULTS: From the All-Japan Utstein Registry between 2005 and 2015, we included 73 578 adults who had shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest witnessed by bystanders or emergency medical service responders. The study outcomes over an 11-year period were compared between 2005 of the Guidelines 2000 era, from 2006 to 2010 of the CoSTR 2005 era, and from 2011 to 2015 of the CoSTR 2010 era. In the bystander-witnessed group, the adjusted odds ratios for favorable neurological outcomes at 30 days after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by enrollment year increased year by year (1.19 in 2006, and 3.01 in 2015). Similar results were seen in the emergency medical service responder-witnessed group and several subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with CPR maneuvers for shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest recommended in the Guidelines 2000, CPR maneuver updates in CoSTR 2005 and 2010 were associated with improved neurologically intact survival year by year in Japan. Increased public awareness and greater dissemination of basic life support may be responsible for the observed improvement in outcomes. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; Unique identifier: 000009918.

Nationwide improvements in survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the nationwide trend in the survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Japan and the differences in incidence and survival by age group and origin of arrest. METHODS AND RESULTS: A nationwide, prospective, population-based observation covering the whole population of Japan and involving consecutive OHCA patients with resuscitation attempts was conducted from January 2005 to December 2009. The main outcome measure was 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcome. The nationwide trends in OHCA incidence and outcome by age and origin of arrest were assessed. Multiple logistic regression analysis for bystander-witnessed OHCA was used to adjust for factors that were potentially associated with favorable neurological outcome. During 5 years, 547 153 overall OHCAs and 169 360 bystander-witnessed OHCAs were enrolled. The annual incidence significantly increased among overall OHCAs and bystander-witnessed OHCAs. Neurologically favorable survival significantly increased from 1.6% (1676/102 737) in 2005 to 2.8% (3280/115 250) in 2009 (P<0.001), from 2.1% (638/30 556) to 4.3% (1558/36 361) (P<0.001), and from 9.8% (437/4461) to 20.6% (1215/5906) (P<0.001) among overall OHCA, bystander-witnessed OHCA, and bystander-witnessed ventricular fibrillation OHCA, respectively. Public-access automated external defibrillator use, either bystander-initiated chest compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation or conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and earlier emergency medical services response time were associated with a better neurological outcome. Favorable neurological outcome among adult OHCA subjects significantly improved, but the outcome among younger children and very elderly subjects did not improve and was poor irrespective of origin of OHCA. CONCLUSIONS: Nationwide improvements of favorable neurological outcome from OHCA were observed in Japan and differed by age group and origin of OHCA.

Chest compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with public-access defibrillation: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear which is more effective to increase survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in those with public-access defibrillation, bystander-initiated chest compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or conventional CPR with rescue breathing. METHODS AND RESULTS: A nationwide, prospective, population-based observational study covering the whole population of Japan and involving consecutive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with resuscitation attempts has been conducted since 2005. We enrolled all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of presumed cardiac origin that were witnessed and received shocks with public-access automated external defibrillation (AEDs) by bystanders from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2009. The main outcome measure was neurologically favorable 1-month survival. We compared outcomes by type of bystander-initiated CPR (chest compression-only CPR and conventional CPR with compressions and rescue breathing). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the type of CPR and a better neurological outcome. During the 5 years, 1376 bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of cardiac origin in individuals who received CPR and shocks with public-access AEDs by bystanders were registered. Among them, 506 (36.8%) received chest compression-only CPR and 870 (63.2%) received conventional CPR. The chest compression-only CPR group (40.7%, 206 of 506) had a significantly higher rate of 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcome than the conventional CPR group (32.9%, 286 of 870; adjusted odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.70). CONCLUSIONS: Compression-only CPR is more effective than conventional CPR for patients in whom out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is witnessed and shocked with public-access defibrillation. Compression-only CPR is the most likely scenario in which lay rescuers can witness a sudden collapse and use public-access AEDs.

MicroRNA 210 as a biomarker for congestive heart failure.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small RNAs that are 18-23 nucleotides long. Recently, plasma miRNAs were reported to be sensitive and specific biomarkers of various pathological conditions. In the present study, we focused on miR-210, which is known to be induced by hypoxia and might therefore be an excellent biomarker for congestive heart failure. Plasma miR-210 levels and expression levels in mononuclear cells and skeletal muscles were elevated in Dahl salt-sensitive rats with heart failure. We also assessed miR-210 expression in patients with heart failure. The miR-210 expression levels in the mononuclear cells of patients with NYHA III and IV heart failure according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system were significantly higher than those with NYHA II heart failure and controls. Although no significant correlation was observed between plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and plasma miR-210 levels in patients with NYHA II heart failure, patients with an improved BNP profile at the subsequent hospital visit were classified in a subgroup of patients with low plasma miR-210 levels. Plasma miR-210 levels may reflect a mismatch between the pump function of the heart and oxygen demand in the peripheral tissues, and be a new biomarker for chronic heart failure in addition to plasma BNP concentrations.

Impact of number of defibrillation attempts on neurologically favourable survival rate in patients with Out-of-Hospital cardiac arrest.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Defibrillation plays a crucial role in early return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and shockable rhythm. Prehospital adrenaline administration increases the probability of prehospital ROSC. However, little is known about the relationship between number of prehospital defibrillation attempts and neurologically favourable survival in patients treated with and without adrenaline. METHODS: Using a nationwide Japanese OHCA registry database from 2006 to 2020, 1,802,084 patients with OHCA were retrospectively analysed, among whom 81,056 with witnessed OHCA and initial shockable rhythm were included. The relationship between the number of defibrillation attempts before hospital admission and neurologically favourable survival rate (cerebral performance category score of 1 or 2) at 1 month was evaluated with subgroup analysis for patients treated with and without adrenaline. RESULTS: At 1 month, 18,080 (22.3%) patients had a cerebral performance category score of 1 or 2. In the study population, the probability of prehospital ROSC and favourable neurological survival rate were inversely associated with number of defibrillation attempts. Similar trends were observed in patients treated without adrenaline, whereas a greater number of defibrillation attempts was counterintuitively associated with favourable neurological survival rate in patients treated with prehospital adrenaline. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, a greater number of prehospital defibrillation attempts was associated with lower neurologically favourable survival at 1 month in patients with OHCA and shockable rhythm. However, an increasing number of shocks (up to the 4th shock) was associated with better neurological outcomes when considering only patients treated with adrenaline.

Neurological benefit of therapeutic hypothermia following return of spontaneous circulation for out-of-hospital non-shockable cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Although therapeutic hypothermia is an effective therapy for comatose adults experiencing out-of-hospital shockable cardiac arrest, there is insufficient evidence that is also applicable for those with out-of-hospital non-shockable cardiac arrest. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 452 comatose adults treated with therapeutic hypothermia after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) subsequent to an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac etiology, 372 who had a bystander-witnessed cardiac arrest, target core temperature of 32-34°C and cooling duration of 12-72 h were eligible for this study (75 cases of non-shockable cardiac arrest, 297 cases of shockable cardiac arrest). The median collapse-to-ROSC interval was significantly longer in the non-shockable group than in the shockable group (30 min vs. 22 min, P=0.008), resulting in a significantly lower frequency of 30-day favorable neurological outcome in the non-shockable group compared with the shockable group (32% vs. 66%, P<0.001). However, an analysis of data in quartiles assigned to varying lengths of collapse-to-ROSC interval revealed a similar frequency of 30-day favorable neurological outcome among both groups when the collapse-to-ROSC interval was ≤16 min (90% non-shockable group vs. 92% shockable group; odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.09-7.24, P=0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Post-ROSC cooling is an effective treatment for patients with non-shockable cardiac arrest when the time interval from collapse to ROSC is short.