Impact of triglyceride-glucose index on intracoronary thrombus burden in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We aimed to investigate the relationship between triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and intracoronary thrombus burden in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 468 consecutive patients who were admitted with STEMI and underwent primary PCI were included in the study. TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/2]. According to the angiographic reclassified thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) thrombus grade, patients were divided into two groups as small thrombus burden (STB) with TIMI thrombus grade 0-3, and large thrombus burden (LTB) with TIMI thrombus grade 4-5. TyG index was significantly higher in the LTB group than in the STB group (9.11 ± 0.86 vs 8.89 ± 0.62; p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, TyG index was found to be an independent predictor of LTB in STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI [OR (95 % CI): 1.470 (1.090-1.982), p = 0.012]. The area under the curve (AUC) of TyG index predicting LTB was 0.568 (95 % CI 0.506-0.631; p = 0.023), with the best cut-off value of 8.87. In the classification according to TyG index cut-off value, the frequency of LTB was found to be significantly higher in the high TyG index group than in the low TyG index group (33.6 % vs 21.2 %; p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: TyG index, a valid surrogate marker of insulin resistance, is an independent predictor of LTB in STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI and can be used as an indicator of increased intracoronary thrombus burden.

Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a real-life evidence from BioSTAR nationwide registry.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities. The association of CV diseases (CVD) and traditional CV risk factors has been debated, depending on patient and RA characteristics. This study aimed to find the prevalence of CVD and CV risk factors in patients with RA. A multi-center cross-sectional study was performed on RA patients using the BioSTAR (Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Registry) in September 2022. Socio-demographic, clinical, and follow-up data were collected. Myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disorders, congestive heart failure, ischemic stroke, and transient ischemic attack were regarded as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). CVD was defined as the presence of at least one clinical situation of MACE. Group 1 and Group 2 included patients with and without CVD. Prevalence rates of CVD and traditional CV risk factors were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were the differences in the clinical characteristics between patients with and without CVD. An analysis of 724 patients with a mean age of 55.1 ± 12.8 years diagnosed with RA was conducted. There was a female preponderance (79.6%). The prevalence rate of CVD was 4.6% (n = 33). The frequencies of the diseases in the MACE category were ischemic heart disease in 27, congestive heart failure in five, peripheral vascular disorders in three, and cerebrovascular events in three patients. The patients with CVD (Group 1) were significantly male, older, and had higher BMI (p = 0.027, p < 0.001, and p = 0.041). Obesity (33.4%) and hypertension (27.2%) were the two CV risk factors most frequently. Male sex (HR = 7.818, 95% CI 3.030-20.173, p < 0.001) and hypertension (HR = 4.570, 95% CI 1.567-13.328, p = 0.005) were the independent risk factors for CVD. The prevalence of CVD in RA patients was 4.6%. Some common risk factors for CVD in the general population, including male sex, older age, and hypertension, were evident in RA patients. Male sex and hypertension were the independent risk factors for developing CVD in patients with RA.

Cross-sectional analysis of cardiovascular disease and risk factors in patients with spondyloarthritis: a real-life evidence from biostar nationwide registry.

The association between spondyloarthritis and cardiovascular (CV) diseases is complex with variable outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence rates of CV diseases and to analyze the impact of CV risk factors on CV disease in patients with spondyloarthritis. A multi-center cross-sectional study using the BioSTAR (Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Registry) database was performed on patients with spondyloarthritis. Socio-demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were collected. Patients with and without major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were grouped as Group 1 and Group 2. The primary outcome was the overall group's prevalence rates of CV disease and CV risk factors. The secondary outcome was the difference in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between the groups and predictive risk factors for CV disease. There were 1457 patients with a mean age of 45.7 ± 10.9 years. The prevalence rate for CV disease was 3% (n = 44). The distribution of these diseases was coronary artery disease (n = 42), congestive heart failure (n = 4), peripheral vascular disorders (n = 6), and cerebrovascular events (n = 4). Patients in Group 1 were significantly male (p = 0.014) and older than those in Group 2 (p < 0.001). There were significantly more patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, dyslipidemia, and malignancy in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Smoking (36.7%), obesity (24.4%), and hypertension (13.8%) were the most prevalent traditional CV risk factors. Hypertension (HR = 3.147, 95% CI 1.461-6.778, p = 0.003), dyslipidemia (HR = 3.476, 95% CI 1.631-7.406, p = 0.001), and cancer history (HR = 5.852, 95% CI 1.189-28.810, p = 0.030) were the independent predictors for CV disease. A multi-center cross-sectional study using the BioSTAR (Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Registry) database was performed on patients with spondyloarthritis. Socio-demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were collected. Patients with and without major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were grouped as Group 1 and Group 2. The primary outcome was the overall group's prevalence rates of CV disease and CV risk factors. The secondary outcome was the difference in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between the groups and predictive risk factors for CV disease. There were 1457 patients with a mean age of 45.7 ± 10.9 years. The prevalence rate for CV disease was 3% (n = 44). The distribution of these diseases was coronary artery disease (n = 42), congestive heart failure (n = 4), peripheral vascular disorders (n = 6), and cerebrovascular events (n = 4). Patients in Group 1 were significantly male (p = 0.014) and older than those in Group 2 (p < 0.001). There were significantly more patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, dyslipidemia, and malignancy in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Smoking (36.7%), obesity (24.4%), and hypertension (13.8%) were the most prevalent traditional CV risk factors. Hypertension (HR = 3.147, 95% CI 1.461-6.778, p = 0.003), dyslipidemia (HR = 3.476, 95% CI 1.631-7.406, p = 0.001), and cancer history (HR = 5.852, 95% CI 1.189-28.810, p = 0.030) were the independent predictors for CV disease. The prevalence rate of CV disease was 3.0% in patients with spondyloarthritis. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cancer history were the independent CV risk factors for CV disease in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Clinical performance of rheumatoid arthritis impact of disease score: a real-life evidence from the multicenter nationwide registry BioStaR.

The rheumatoid arthritis impact of disease (RAID) score was developed as a patient-derived composite response index for the evaluation of the disease impact on cases with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and performance of RAID score in the real-life settings. Cases with RA from our multi-center, nationwide registry called Biologic and targeted Synthetic antirheumatic drugs Registry RA (BioStaR RA) were included in this cross-sectional observational study. Demographic data, disease duration, pain, patient's global assessment (PGA) and physician's global assessment (PhyGA) were recorded. DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, the simplified disease activity index (SDAI) and the clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were assessed as disease activity evaluations. The health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI) and RAID were completed by all the participants. The construct validity was tested by the analysis of correlations between RAID score and scores of PGA, disease activity indexes and HAQ-DI. We also evaluated the discriminatory ability of RAID to distinguish patients with different levels of disease activity and disability and the cut-off values were calculated by ROC analysis. 585 cases with RA were included in this investigation. The RAID score was significantly positively correlated with PGA, all disease activity indexes and HAQ-DI (p < 0.001). The discriminatory ability of RAID score in different disease activity and disability groups was also demonstrated (p < 0.001). To estimate DAS28-ESR (remission/low + moderate + high), RAID score cut-off points were 2.88 (sensitivity 73%, specificity 62%), 3.23 (sensitivity 75%, specificity 60%) and 3.79 (sensitivity 74%, specificity 58%), respectively. Our study indicated that RAID was a reliable tool in daily clinical practice by presenting its correlations with disease activity and disability assessments and by showing its discriminatory ability in these parameters in the real-life experiences.

Textbook Outcomes Among Medicare Patients Undergoing Hepatopancreatic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To define and test "Textbook Outcome" (TO)-a composite measure for healthcare quality-among Medicare patients undergoing hepatopancreatic resections. Hospital variation in TO and Medicare payments were analyzed. BACKGROUND: Composite measures of quality may be superior to individual measures for the analysis of hospital performance. METHODS: The Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) Inpatient Files were reviewed to identify Medicare patients who underwent pancreatic and liver procedures between 2013 and 2015. TO was defined as: no postoperative surgical complications, no prolonged length of hospital stay, no readmission ≤ 90 days after discharge, and no postoperative mortality ≤ 90 days after surgery. Medicare payments were compared among patients who achieved TO versus patients who did not. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate patient factors associated with TO. A nomogram to predict probability of TO was developed and validated. RESULTS: TO was achieved in 44% (n = 5919) of 13,467 patients undergoing hepatopancreatic surgery. Adjusted TO rates at the hospital level varied from 11.1% to 69.6% for pancreatic procedures and from 16.6% to 78.7% for liver procedures. Prolonged length of hospital stay represented the major obstacle to achieve TO. Average Medicare payments were substantially higher among patients who did not have a TO. Factors associated with TO on multivariable analysis were age, sex, Charlson comorbidity score, previous hospital admissions, procedure type, and surgical approach (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Less than one-half of Medicare patients achieved a TO following hepatopancreatic procedures with a wide variation in the rates of TO among hospitals. There was a discrepancy in Medicare payments for patients who achieved a TO versus patients who did not. TO could be useful for the public reporting of patient level hospital performance and hospital variation.

Clinical performance of ASAS Health Index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: real-world evidence from Multicenter Nationwide Registry.

The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society Health Index (ASAS HI) is used as a new instrument in measuring the function, disability and health of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). However, the real-world evidence of ASAS HI is very limited. In the present study, our objective is to evaluate the psychometric properties and performance of ASAS HI in the real-world setting as well as comparing ASAS HI with the current instruments to assess the construct validity and determine the cut-off points in patients with both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). A total of 991 patients with axSpA who fulfilled either the ASAS classification criteria for axial SpA (axSpA) or the Modified New York Criteria (mNY) for AS were recruited from the Biologic and targeted Synthetic antirheumatic drugs Registry (BioStaR) SpA. The construct validity of ASAS HI against the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activities Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-Reactive Protein (ASDAS-CRP) the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional index (BASFI) was performed. Using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis, the cut-off points were calculated. Of all the recruited patients, 851 (85.9%) were AS and 140 (14.1%) were nr-axSpA. The difference in the mean ASAS HI scores of the patients with AS and the ones with nr-axSpA were not statistically significant (6.12 ± 4.29 and 6.42 ± 4.86, respectively). The mean ASAS HI score was significantly higher in females and small city residents. The ASAS HI had a strong construct validity against ASDAS-CRP, BASDAI and BASFI. A cut-off point of ≤ 4 was determined to discriminate good and moderate, as well as ≥ 12 to discriminate moderate and poor health status. In conclusion, ASAS HI is a reliable instrument to evaluate health and functioning for both patients with AS and nr-axSpA in clinical practice.

Time to Readmission and Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Liver and Pancreatic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The impact of time to readmission (TTR) on post-discharge mortality has not been well examined. We sought to define the impact of TTR on postoperative mortality after liver or pancreas surgery. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of liver and pancreas surgical patients was conducted using 2013-2015 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review database. Patients were subdivided into TTR groups: 1-5 days, 6-15, 15-30, 31-60, 61-90, and no readmission. The association of index complication, readmission causes, TTR, and mortality was assessed. RESULTS: Among 18,177 patients, a total of 4485 (24.7%) patients were readmitted within 90 days of discharge. Major causes for readmission differed across TTR groups. Patients readmitted within 1-15 days were more likely to be readmitted for postoperative infection compared with patients who had a late readmission (1-5 days: 63.1% vs. 6-15 days: 65.0% vs. 61-90 days: 39.3%; P < 0.001). In contrast, causes of late readmissions were more likely related to gastrointestinal complications (1-5 days: 28.9% vs. 61-90 days: 39.7%; P < 0.001). Compared with no readmission, 180-day mortality was highest among patients readmitted within 16-30 days (aOR 3.60; 95% CI 2.94-4.41). Among patients with index complications, patients who were readmitted within 1-5 days had a higher risk-adjusted 180-day mortality than late readmission (1-5 days: 37.3% vs. 61-90 days: 27.1%) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients who were readmitted, the incidence of mortality increased with TTR up to 60 days after discharge yet decreased thereafter. The relation of TTR and mortality was particularly pronounced among those patients who had an index complication. Future efforts should consider TTR when identifying specific approaches to decrease readmission.

Procedure-Specific Volume and Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: Implications for Failure to Rescue Patients Following Liver Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The effect of various hospital characteristics on failure to rescue (FTR) after liver surgery has not been well examined. We sought to examine the relationship between hospital characteristics and FTR after liver surgery. METHODS: The 2013-2015 Medicare-Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) database was used to identify Medicare beneficiaries who underwent liver surgery. The effect of various hospital characteristics on FTR was compared among the highest mortality hospitals (HMH) and the lowest mortality hospitals (LMH). RESULTS: Among 4902 patients undergoing hepatectomy, patients treated at HMH had a higher risk of FTR (OR 3.08, 95% CI 2.03-4.66). Hospital factors such as total number of beds (OR 0.80, 95% 0.56-1.15), operating rooms (OR 0.81, 95% 0.57-1.14), and overall hospital surgical volume (OR 0.88, 95% 0.61-1.25) were not associated with FTR (all p > 0.05). In contrast, hospitals with a greater nurse-to-patient ratio had a markedly lower risk of FTR following a complication (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.54-0.91; p = 0.007) (Table 3). As volume of liver operations and nurse-to-patient ratio decreased the risk of FTR increased (p > 0.001). After risk-adjusting for patient characteristics, both the effect of surgical volume (adjusted OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46-0.94; p = 0.022) and nurse-to-patient ratio (adjusted OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51-0.90; p = 0.008) remained strongly associated with FTR. CONCLUSION: FTR rates varied considerably among hospital performing hepatectomy. Higher procedure-specific hepatectomy volume, as well as a higher nurse-to-patient ratio, accounted for a reduction in the FTR rates. These data highlight the importance of not only procedure volume, but also adequate nurse staffing in reducing FTR and improving mortality following complex procedures such as hepatectomy.

Variation in the cost-of-rescue among medicare patients with complications following hepatopancreatic surgery.

BACKGROUND: The relationship of expenditures related to rescuing patients from complications and hospital quality has not been well characterized. We sought to examine the relationship between payments for treating post-operative complications after liver and pancreas surgery and hospital quality. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent hepatopancreatic surgery was performed using claims data from 2013 to 2015 in the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) database. Medicare payments for index hospitalization and readmissions, as well as perioperative clinical outcomes were analyzed. Hospitals were stratified using average payments for patients who were rescued from complications (cost-of-rescue). RESULTS: A total of 13,873 patients and 737 hospitals were included in the analyses. Patient characteristics were similar across hospitals. Risk-adjusted rates of overall complications were higher at the highest cost-of-rescue hospitals (relative risk [RR], 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.58), as well as rates of serious complications (RR, 1.78, 95% CI 1.51-2.09), 30-day readmission (RR 1.21 95% CI 1.06-1.39), 90-day mortality (RR, 1.29, 95% CI 1.01-1.64), and rates of failure-to-rescue (RR, 1.50, 95% CI 1.14-1.97). CONCLUSION: Highest cost-of-rescue hospitals demonstrated worse quality metrics, including higher rates of serious complications, failure-to-rescue, 30-day readmission, and 90-day mortality.

Complications after liver surgery: a benchmark analysis.

BACKGROUND: The best achievable short-term outcomes after liver surgery have not been identified. Several factors may influence the post-operative course of patients undergoing hepatectomy increasing the risk of post-operative complications. We sought to identify risk-adjusted benchmark values [BMV] for liver surgery. METHODS: The National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to develop Bayesian models to estimate risk-adjusted BMVs for overall and liver related (post-hepatectomy liver failure [PHLF], biliary leakage [BL]) complications. A separate international multi-institutional database was used to validate the risk-adjusted BMVs. RESULTS: Among the 11,243 patients included in the NSQIP database, the incidence of complications, PHLF, and BL was 36%, 5%, and 8%, respectively. The risk-adjusted BMVs for complication (range, 16-72%), PHLF (range, 1%-20%), and BL (range, 4%-22%) demonstrated a high variability based on patients characteristics. When tested using an international database including nine institutes, the risk-adjusted BMVs for complications ranged from 26% (Institute-4) to 43% (Institute-1), BMVs for PHLF between 3% (Institute-3) and 12% (Institute-5), while BMVs for BL ranged between 5% (Institute-4) and 9% (Institute-7). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors influence the risk of complications following hepatectomy. Risk-adjusted BMVs are likely much more applicable and appropriate in assessing "acceptable" benchmark outcomes following liver surgery.

Impact of histological subtype on the prognosis of patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: The effect of the histological subtype on the prognosis of patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer (CC) is not completely understood. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 2004-2014 database was used to compare the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing colon resection for classical adenocarcinoma (CA), mucinous adenocarcinoma (MUC), and signet-cell adenocarcinoma (SC). RESULTS: A total of 153 317 (89%) patients had CA, 16 660 (10%) MUC while 1810 (1%) patients had SC subtype. Patients with MUC and SC more frequently had a poorly differentiated CC and were more likely to present with advanced disease compared with CA patients (P < 0.001). Patients with CA had a 5-year OS of 62% versus 55% and 34% for patients with MUC and SC subtypes, respectively (P = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, site of cancer, tumor grade, and TNM stage were associated with prognosis (all P < 0.001). After controlling for these risk factors, patients with MUC (HR, 1.09, P < 0.001) and SC (HR, 1.47, P < 0.001) had a roughly 10% and 50% increased hazard of death, respectively, compared with CA patients. CONCLUSIONS: MUC and SC are distinct subtypes of CC associated with a worse prognosis. These data can help inform discussion about prognosis and possibly direct adjuvant management.

The impact of a malignant diagnosis on the pattern and outcome of readmission after liver and pancreatic surgery: An analysis of the nationwide readmissions database.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Reducing readmissions is an important quality improvement metric. We sought to investigate patterns of 90-day readmission after hepato-pancreatic (HP) procedures. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) was used to identify patients undergoing HP procedures between 2010 and 2014. Patients were stratified according to benign versus malignant HP diagnoses and as index (same hospital as operation) versus non-index (different hospital) readmissions. RESULTS: Among the 41 059 patients who underwent HP procedures, 26 563 (65%) underwent a liver resection while 14 496 (35%) pancreatic resection. Among all patients, 11 902 (29%) had a benign diagnosis versus 29 157 (71%) who had a cancer diagnosis. Overall 90-day readmission was 22% (n = 8 998) with a slight increase in readmissions among patients with a malignant (n = 6 655;23%) versus benign (n = 2 343;20%) diagnosis (P < 0.001). Readmission to an index hospital was more common (n = 7 316 81%) versus a non-index hospital (n = 1 682 19%). Non-index hospital readmissions were more frequent among patients with malignant HP diagnoses (OR, 1.41;P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Up to one in four patients were readmitted after HP surgery. Late readmission was more common among patients with a cancer-diagnosis. While most readmissions occurred at the index hospital, 19% of all readmissions occurred at a non-index hospital and were more frequent among patients with malignant diagnoses.

Preoperative prognostic nutritional index predicts survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after curative resection.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive malignancy. We sought to examine the association between preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and long-term overall survival among patients with ICC who underwent curative-intent resection. METHODS: Patients who underwent hepatectomy for ICC between 1990 and 2015 were identified using an international multi-institutional database. Clinic-pathological characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with PNI ≥ 40 and <40 were compared using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Among 637 patients, 53 patients had PNI < 40 (8.3%) and 584 patients had PNI ≥ 40 (91.7%). While there was no difference between PNI groups with regard to tumor size (P = .87), patients with PNI < 40 were more likely to have multifocal disease (PNI < 40, n = 16, 30.2% vs PNI ≥ 40, n = 65, 11.1%; P < 0.001), poorly differentiated or undifferentiated ICC (PNI < 40, n = 13, 25.5% vs PNI ≥ 40, n = 75, 13.1%; P = 0.020) and T2/T3/T4 disease vs patients with PNI ≥ 40 (PNI < 40, n = 38, 71.7% vs PNI ≥ 40, n = 265, 45.4%; P < 0.001). Patients with PNI ≥ 40 had better OS vs patients with PNI < 40 (5-year OS: PNI ≥ 40: 47.5%, 95% CI, 42.2 to 52.6% vs PNI < 40: 24.6%, 95% CI, 12.1 to 39.6%; P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, PNI < 40 remained associated with increase risk of death (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.53; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: A low preoperative PNI was associated with a more aggressive ICC phenotype. After controlling for these factors, PNI remained independently associated with a markedly worse prognosis.

Possible relationship between amino acids, aggression and psychopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Aggressive behaviour is associated with reduced serotonin metabolism in the brain, but there is not enough knowledge on potential changes of the serotonin precursor levels among violent offenders. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationships among the tendency of psychopathy, anger and the basic amino acids. METHODS: Fifty-two young adult male patients with antisocial personality disorder (APD) and 30 healthy men included the study. Serum amino acid levels were measured by HPLC method. Aggression questionnaire and Hare Psychopathology Scale were used for all participants. RESULTS: Blood levels of phosphoserine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, aminoadipic acid and 1-methylhistidine in group of patients with APD were significantly higher than the control group. Blood levels of TRP, asparagine, citrulline, cystine, isoleucine, tyrosine, histidine, hydroxylysine, lysine, ethanolamine and arginine in the group of patients were found lower than the control group. A significant positive correlation between anger scores and histidine, methionine and GABA was found. GABA and methionine showed a significant correlation with the indirect aggression score. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a relationship between serum amino acid levels and the scores of aggression and psychopathy. We think that this is a productive research area for understanding the relationship among biochemical factors, aggression and psychopathy.

Predictive value of a fragmented QRS complex in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of fragmented QRS (fQRS) on electrocardiography (ECG) patients with acute ST-segment elevation in myocardial infarction (STEMI), who are undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 414 consecutive STEMI patients (mean age of 55.2 ± 12.2 years old, range of 26-91-years old) undergoing primary PCI. The study patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of fQRS as shown by ECG in the first 48 hours. The presence of fQRS group was defined as fQRS(+) (n = 91), and the absence of fQRS group was defined as the fQRS(-) (n = 323) group. Clinical characteristics and the one-year outcome of the primary PCI were analyzed. RESULTS: The patients in the fQRS(+) group were older (mean age 60.7 ± 12.5 vs. 53.6 ± 11.6 years old, P < 0.001). Higher one-year all-cause mortality rates were observed in the fQRS group upon ECG (23.1% vs. 2.5%, P < 0.001, respectively). When using the Cox multivariate analysis, the presence of fQRS on the ECG was found to be a powerful independent predictor of one-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 5.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.43-19.2, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the presence of fQRS on ECG was associated with an increased in-hospital cardiovascular mortality, and one-year all-cause mortality in patients with STEMI who are under primary PCI.

High serum cancer antigen 125 level indicates perforation in acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is sometimes challenging, and prompt evaluation is required because of the risk of complications if not treated appropriately. AIM: We aimed to evaluate whether cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) has diagnositic accuracy and predictor of the severity in acute appendicitis. RESULTS: Sixty patients with acute appendicitis were recruited prospectively in this study between May 2014 and March 2015. Blood samples were obtained to measure CA-125 levels before appendectomy. Of the 57 patients, 10 had perforated or gangrenous appendicitis intraoperatively. The CA-125 levels were significantly higher in patients with perforated or gangrenous appendicitis than patients with uncomplicated appendicitis (49.9 vs 10.5 U/mL, P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer antigen 125 levels in patients with highly suspected or confirmed appendicitis could help clinicians determine the severity of the disease.

Discriminant validity of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: a cohort study.

The aim of this study was to assess discriminant validity of Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-C-reactive protein (-CRP) and ASDAS-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (-ESR) and to compare with The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) as clinical tools for the measurement of disease activity in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Also, the cut-off values for ASDAS-CRP in nr-axSpA and AS is revisited. Patients with axSpA were recruited from Erciyes Spondyloarthritis Cohort (ESPAC) and were assessed for disease activity, quality of life and functional measures. The discriminatory ability of ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-ESR was assessed using standardized mean differences and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis. Optimal cut-off values for disease activity scores were calculated. Two hundred and eighty-seven patients with axSpA (nr-axSpA:132, AS:155) were included in this study. Two ASDAS versions and BASDAI had good correlations with patient's and physician's global assessment in both groups. Discriminatory ability of ASDAS-CRP, ASDAS-ESR and BASDAI were similar in patients with nr-axSpA and AS when the patients were assigned into low and high disease activity according to the ASAS partial remission, patient's and physician's global assessment scores (based on the comparison of ROC curves). ASDAS cut-off values are quite similar between groups indicating that ASDAS-CRP works similarly well in nr-axSpA and AS. The performance of ASDAS to discriminate low and high disease activity and cut-off values are quite similar in patients with AS and non-radiographic axial SpA.

Diagnosis of pentacuspid aortic valve with severe regurgitation using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Monocuspid and quadricuspid aortic valves are a rare congenital valve malformation, and less common is the pentacuspid aortic valve (PAV). Echocardiography is a helpful noninvasive technique for their diagnosis. In this article, we describe a 48-year-old female patient with a PAV and severe aortic regurgitation that was diagnosed using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Assessment of mean platelet volume and soluble CD40 ligand levels in patients with non-dipper hypertension, dippers and normotensives.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Objective: Patients with a lack of nocturnal decline in blood pressure (BP) are at an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) are accepted biomarkers of platelet activation and considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether MPV and sCD40L levels are higher in non-dipper hypertensive (NDHT) patients than in dipper hypertensive (DHT) patients and healthy controls. METHODS: 124 consecutive patients were included to this study. Patients were divided into three groups: NDHT patient group [n = 43; mean age 51.8 ± 6.6; 31 males (72.1%)]; DHT patient group [n = 41; mean age 50.2 ± 7.3; 22 males (53.7%)]; and normotensive group [n = 40; mean age 49.9 ± 6.7; 22 males (55%)]. Physical examination, laboratory work-up and 24-h ABPM were performed for all participants. RESULTS: The sCD40L and MPV levels were significantly higher in the NDHT group than in the DHT and normotensive groups (p < 0.05). In correlation analysis, MPV, 24-h systolic blood pressure (SBP), 24-h diastolic blood pressure (DBP), night-time SBP and night-time DBP were positively correlated with sCD40L. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that MPV and sCD40L levels were significantly higher in NDHT patients compared to DHT and normotensive patients. sCD40L levels were positively correlated with MPV, 24-h SBP, 24-h DBP, night-time SBP and night-time DBP.

Comparison of periprocedural and long term outcomes of proximal versus distal cerebral protection method during carotid artery stenting.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the periprocedural and one-year outcomes of two different cerebral protection systems used during carotid artery stenting (CAS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 90 consecutive patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent CAS with a proximal flow blockage protection system (mean age 69.7 ± 8) or distal protection with a filter (mean age 70.8 ± 7). RESULTS: CAS was performed successively on 89 patients (99 %). Adverse events were defined as major stroke, minor stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), myocardial infarction, and death. Two strokes, one TIA, one death, and one myocardial infarction were observed in-hospital. There were no significant differences in safety or benefits between the proximal flow blockage embolic protection system (n = 45) and the distal filter protection system (n = 45) in terms of clinically apparent cerebral embolism, TIA, death, or myocardial infarction during the periprocedural stage or during the one-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Although it has been shown that the proximal flow blockage cerebral protection system decreases the risk of silent cerebral embolism, it has no advantage over the distal filter protection system in terms of adverse cerebrovascular or cardiac events during the periprocedural stage or during the long-term follow-up period.