Aortic Arch Calcification in Predicting Unfavorable Angiographic Outcomes for Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in treatment, no-reflow, large thrombus burden (LTB), and myocardial blush grade (MBG) are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Aortic arch calcification (AAC) is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and adverse cardiovascular events. We aimed to examine the relationship between AAC and unfavorable angiographic outcomes such as no-reflow, MBG, and LTB in STEMI patients undergoing PCI. METHODS: A total of 269 consecutive patients who presented with STEMI and underwent primary PCI were included in the study prospectively. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to AAC degree: grade 0, grade 1, and grade 2/3. The relationship between AAC and the predictors of unfavorable angiographic outcomes, including LTB, no-reflow, and MBG, was specifically examined. RESULTS: LTB, no-reflow, and MBG 0/1 were significantly higher in the grade 2/3 AAC group compared to the grade 0 and grade 1 groups (all p < 0.05). Moreover, grade 2/3 AAC was found to be an independent predictor for LTB, MBG 0/1, and no-reflow (p = 0.002, p = 0.005, p = 0.004, respectively). Patients were then classified according to thrombus burden, MBG, and no-reflow status. Grade 2/3 AAC was significantly higher than grade 0/1 AAC in the LTB, MBG 0/1, and no-reflow groups (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AAC can be used as a reliable indicator in predicting no-reflow, MBG 0/1, and LTB in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Prognostic role of systemic immune-inflammation index versus other cardiac markers in acute myocarditis in young adults.

Aim: Myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the myocardium, can range from asymptomatic cases to severe forms such as fulminant myocarditis. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has emerged as a potential biomarker for various inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to determine the effect of SII on the prognosis of young adults with acute myocarditis and compare it with other cardiac markers.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients aged 18-40 years who were admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of acute myocarditis between January 2014 and January 2024. Patients were divided into non-fulminant and fulminant myocarditis groups based on diagnostic criteria.Results: SII, troponin I and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were significantly higher in the fulminant myocarditis group (p < 0.001 for all). Logistic regression analysis identified SII and NT-proBNP as independent predictors of fulminant myocarditis but not for troponin I (p = 0.064). The optimal cutoff value for SII in diagnosing fulminant myocarditis was 1020, with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 83%, outperforming troponin I. Patients with SII ≥1020 had a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes.Conclusion: The SII enables early detection of adverse outcomes and is an independent predictor of prognosis in young adults with myocarditis.

[Box: see text].

The Prognostic Value of the Triglyceride-Glucose Index in Forecasting Ten-Year Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Non-Diabetic Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over a ten-year period in non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We included 375 consecutive non-diabetic patients presenting with acute MI who underwent primary PCI. The TyG index was calculated and patients were divided based on a cut-off value of ≥ 8.84 into high and low TyG index groups. The incidence of MACE, including all-cause mortality, target vessel revascularization, reinfarction, and rehospitalization for heart failure, was assessed over 10 years. RESULTS: Over the next 10 years, patients who underwent PCI for acute MI experienced a significantly higher incidence of MACE in the group with a high TyG index (≥ 8.84) (P = 0.004). Multivariable analysis revealed that the TyG index independently predicted MACE in these patients [odds ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-2.21; P = 0.002]. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the TyG index effectively predicted MACE in patients with acute MI following PCI, with an area under the curve of 0.562 (95% CI: 0.503-0.621; P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: This study established a correlation between high TyG index levels and an elevated risk of MACE in non-diabetic patients with acute MI. The findings suggest that the TyG index could be a reliable indicator of clinical outcomes for non-diabetic acute MI patients undergoing PCI.

The association of hemodynamic markers of right ventricular dysfunction with SII index and clinical outcomes in reduced ejection fraction heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome with various etiologies and presentations. The role of the inflammatory pathway in HF prognosis is not fully understood. We investigated the association between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and HF complicated by right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and whether the SII is related to compromised hemodynamic volume status. A total of 235 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were enrolled and divided into 2 groups according to the presence of RVD. The relationship between the SII score, hemodynamic parameters, and clinical endpoints was evaluated. Higher SII scores and neutrophil counts (P < .001 and P = .017, respectively) were observed in the RVD group (n = 120). In the high SII score group (≥590.4), hospitalization and the need for positive inotrope treatment were significantly higher (P = .026 and P = .009, respectively), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly lower (P = .015). In addition, in the high SII score group, right heart catheterization values, including cardiac output and index, were significantly impaired compared with those in the lower SII score group. There was a significant negative correlation between the SII score and the LVEF, cardiac output, and cardiac index in the correlation analyses. A significant relationship was observed between indirect inflammation and RVD in patients with HFrEF. The hemodynamic volume status and functional capacity were impaired in patients with high SII scores. These results indicated that advanced HF with worse outcomes may be related to the inflammatory process.

Influence of Intermittent Fasting During Ramadan on Circadian Variation of Symptom-Onset and Prehospital Time Delay in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Ramadan interferes with circadian rhythms mainly by disturbing the routine patterns of feeding and smoking. The objective of this study was to investigate the circadian pattern of ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the month of Ramadan. We studied consecutive STEMI patients 1 month before and after Ramadan (non-Ramadan group-NRG) and during Ramadan (Ramadan group-RG). The RG group was also divided into two groups, based on whether they chose to fast: fasting (FG) and non-fasting group (NFG). The time of STEMI onset was compared. A total of 742 consecutive STEMI patients were classified into 4 groups by 6 h intervals according to time-of-day at symptom onset. No consistent circadian variation in the onset of STEMI was observed both between the RG (P = .938) and NRG (P = .766) or between the FG (P = .232) and NFG (P = .523). When analyzed for subgroups of the study sample, neither smoking nor diabetes showed circadian rhythm. There was a trend towards a delay from symptom onset to hospital presentation, particularly at evening hours in the RG compared with the control group. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in STEMI onset time, but the time from symptom onset to hospital admission was significantly delayed during Ramadan.

Selvester score predicts implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The implantable cardiac defibrillator is the cornerstone of prevention of sudden cardiac death in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. The Selvester score, which is frequently investigated in ischemic cardiomyopathy, has not been investigated in the field of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Selvester score for determining appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator shocks in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 131 non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients were included in the study. A simplified Selvester score was calculated from ECG data. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received ICD shock. RESULTS: Of the patients, 28.2% received appropriate implantable cardiac defibrillator shock. The Selvester score was significantly higher in patients receiving appropriate shock when compared to patients with no implantable cardiac defibrillator shocks (8.8 ± 4.6 vs 7.2 ± 3.3, P = .040). The median QRS duration was significantly longer in patients receiving appropriate shock than in patients with no shocks (130.14 ± 35.08 ms vs 120.12 ± 20.57 ms, P = .045). We determined that the cutoff value for the Selvester score to predict ICD shocks was 6.5 with a sensitivity of 72.0% and a specificity of 83% (AUC = 0.717; %95 GA: 0.627-0.807, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Selvester score was higher in patients receiving appropriate shock than in patients who did not receive any implantable cardiac defibrillator shock. From this study, the Selvester score is associated with the risk of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy so that careful attention is necessary to manage the patients with high Selvester score.

Evaluation of Acquired Thrombocytopenia According to the Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expandable Valves in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

In patients with severe aortic stenosis, the data about the incidence of acquired thrombocytopenia according to the use of balloon-expandable or self-expandable valves are limited. We investigated the relationship between the post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) thrombocytopenia and the balloon-expandable or self-expandable valves. A total of 127 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR were retrospectively analyzed. Among the study population, 61 (48%) patients underwent TAVR with the balloon-expandable valve and the 66 (52%) patients with the self-expandable valve. Procedural success did not differ between the groups (P = .575). The access site complications and in-hospital mortality were the same across the groups (P = .225 and P = .466). However, paravalvular (PV) leaks were significantly higher in the self-expandable valve group (P = .007). Among all, 65 patients experienced thrombocytopenia, which was more frequent in the self-expandable valve group (63.6 vs 37.7%, P = .005). In multivariate analyses, admission platelet count, PV leak, and self-expandable valve deployment were the predictors of thrombocytopenia (P = .001, P = .002, and P = .021, respectively). The present study showed a higher incidence of acquired thrombocytopenia in the self-expandable valve group. Although the procedural success was similar between the groups, postprocedural PV leaks were more common in the self-expandable valve group.

The association between cardiac resynchronization therapy response and sexual activity in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Sexual activity is an important indicator of quality of life and is significantly impaired in patients with heart failure (HF). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has positive effects on cardiac dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction that lead to erectile dysfunction (ED). We aimed to evaluate whether CRT may improve sexual activity in patients with HF. METHODS: In total, 136 patients (mean age 61.8 ± 12.8 years) were evaluated for the study. All patients filled the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire for evaluation of their erectile functions before CRT device implantation. One hundred eighty days after CRT device implantation, the patients were re-evaluated with SHIM questionnaire. RESULTS: In the whole study population, SHIM test scores were significantly increased after CRT (12.99 ± 3.22 vs. 18.03 ± 5.00; p<0.001). The patients were divided into two groups according to the CRT response. The increase in SHIM test scores was significantly more in the response (+) group than in the response (-) group [response (+) group: 6.94 ± 3.36; p<0.001 vs. response (-) group: 0.81 ± 1.77; p = 0.465]. A positive CRT response was found to be an independent predictor of SHIM score (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that CRT had positive effects on ED of patients with HF.