Increasing age does not affect time to appropriate therapy in primary prevention ICD/CRT-D: a competing risks analysis.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of age on the clinical outcomes in a primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) population. Methods and Results: A retrospective, multicentre analysis of patients aged 60 years and over with primary prevention ICD/CRT-D devices implanted between 1 January 2006 and 1 November 2014 was performed. Survival to follow-up with no therapy (T1), death prior to follow-up with no therapy (T2), delivery of appropriate therapy with survival to follow-up (T3), and delivery of appropriate therapy with death prior to follow-up (T4) were measured. In total, 424 patients were eligible for inclusion in the analysis, mean follow-up of 32.6 months during which time 44 patients (10.1%) received appropriate therapy. The sub-hazard ratio (SHR) for the cumulative incidence of appropriate therapy (T3) according to age at implant was 1.00 (P = 0.851; 95% CI 0.96­1.04). The SHR for cumulative incidence of death (T2) according to age at implant was 1.06 (P < 0.001; 95% CI 1.03­1.01). Age at implant, ischaemic aetiology, baseline haemoglobin, and the presence of diabetes mellitus were predictors of all-cause mortality. Conclusion: Age has no impact on the time to appropriate therapy, but risk of death prior to therapy increases by 6% for every year increment. As the ICD population ages, the proportion who die without receiving appropriate therapy increases due to competing risks. Characterizing competing risks predictive of death independent of ICD indication would focus therapy on those with potential to benefit and reduce unnecessary exposure to ICD-related morbidity.

Entrapment of the circular mapping catheter in the mitral valve in two patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation.

The circular catheter is a useful tool to guide and test pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in atrial fibrillation ablation. However, its shape may facilitate entrapment in cardiac structures. We describe the entrapment of a circular mapping catheter within the mitral valve apparatus after transseptal catheterization and mapping of the left atrium and PVs in two of our patients.

E2 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism is predictive for obesity status in Roma minority population of Croatia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Roma (Gypsies) are a transnational minority, founder population characterized by unique genetic background modeled by culturally determined endogamy. The present study explores whether the widely found cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk effects of ACE I/D, APOE (ε2, ε3, ε4), eNOS-VNTR and LEP G2548A polymorphisms can be replicated in this specific population. METHODS AND RESULTS: The community-based study was carried on 208 adult Bayash Roma living in rural settlements of eastern and northern Croatia. Risk effect of four CVD candidate polymorphisms are related to the most prominent classical CVD risk phenotypes: obesity indicators (body mass index and waist circumference), hypertension and hyperlipidemia (triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol). For all of them the standard risk cut-offs were applied. The extent to which the phenotypic status is related to genotype was assessed by logistic regression analysis. The strongest associations were found for ε2 allele of the APOE as a predictor of waist circumference (OR 3.301; 95%CI 1.254-8.688; p = 0.016) as well as for BMI (OR 3.547; 95%CI 1.471-8.557; p = 0.005). It is notable that ε3 allele of APOE gene turned out to be a protective genetic factor determining low lipid levels. CONCLUSION: The strength of the relation and the similarity of the results obtained for both tested indicators of obesity provide firm evidence that APOE plays an important role in obesity development in the Roma population.

Age trends in prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Roma minority population of Croatia.

The Roma (Gypsy) are the largest European minority population characterized by poverty, social exclusion as well as by numerous life-style and cultural specificities, which all could have an adverse impact on their cardiovascular health. This study assesses the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors in community-based sample of 430 adult Roma, living in rural area of Croatia, by providing the actual and age-adjusted estimates using the European standard population. The most prominent classical CVD risk phenotypes (blood pressure, obesity, smoking, glucose and lipid profile) were selected, and the standard risk cut-offs were applied. The study has shown that compared to general population of Croatia, the Roma population bears a high CVD risk factors load related to smoking and high glucose level. The CVD risk factors prevalence in Roma also showed important sex and age patterns, the most imposing of which are the findings of higher prevalence of CVD risks in women (especially obesity and triglyceride levels) and the trend of higher body mass index (BMI) level in younger age group (18-34 years) which both stand in contrast to the trends characterizing the general population of Croatia. These findings are complemented by the trend of decreased risk in the oldest age group (65+ years) for all investigated CVD risk factors (with exception of triglycerides level) compared to the 50-64 age group. We conclude that the age and sex CVD risks pattern point to the health transition of this rural Roma population. As we expect the proportion of CVD in the Roma minority of Croatia to increase in the future along with further modernization of their lifestyle, the CVD prevention measures in this population are urgent and should be primarily targeted at women and at the younger segment of this population.

Expression of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 and 3, T-cell factor 1 and lymphoid enhancer factor 1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Frequency and mortality of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are increasing for decades. However, the molecular background of RCC tumorigenesis is still poorly understood. In current study we investigated the expression of TCF/LEF and SFRP family members (SFRP1 and SFRP3) to gain a better understanding of biological signaling pathways responsible for epidemiology and clinical parameters of clear cell RCC (cRCC). Thirty-six pairs of paraffin-embedded clear cRCC and adjacent nontumoral tissues samples using immunohistochemistry (IHC) were analyzed and compared with corresponding clinicopathological parameters. Immunohistochemistry indicated statistically significant decreased SFRP3 expression in tumor tissues but no consistency in SFRP1 expression in analyzed normal and tumor tissue. The TCF1 expression level was significantly weaker in normal tissue compared to tumor samples while LEF1 protein levels were significantly weaker in tumor tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first report on analysis of the expression of transcription factors TCF1 and LEF1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and their comparison with Wnt signal pathway antagonists belonging to SFRP family.