Potential for using simulated altitude as a means of prehabilitation: a physiology study.

The current pandemic of surgical complications necessitates urgent and pragmatic innovation to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality, which are associated with poor pre-operative fitness and anaemia. Exercise prehabilitation is a compelling strategy, but it has proven difficult to establish that it improves outcomes either in isolation or as part of a multimodal approach. Simulated altitude exposure improves performance in athletes and offers a novel potential means of improving cardiorespiratory and metabolic fitness and alleviating anaemia within the prehabilitation window. We aimed to provide an initial physiological foundation for 'altitude prehabilitation' by determining the physiological effects of one week of simulated altitude (FI O2 15%, equivalent to approximately 2438 m (8000 ft)) in older sedentary volunteers. The study used a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover design. Eight participants spent counterbalanced normoxic and hypoxic weeks in a residential hypoxia facility and underwent repeated cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Mean (SD) age of participants was 64 (7) y and they were unfit, with mean (SD) baseline anaerobic threshold 12 (2) ml.kg-1 .min-1 and mean (SD) peak V̇O2 15 (3) ml.kg-1 .min-1 . Hypoxia was mild (mean (SD) Sp O2 93 (2) %, p < 0.001) and well-tolerated. Despite some indication of greater peak exercise capacity following hypoxia, overall there was no effect of simulated altitude on anaerobic threshold or peak V̇O2 . However, hypoxia induced a substantial increase in mean (SD) haemoglobin of 1.5 (2.7) g.dl-1 (13% increase, p = 0.028). This study has established the concept and feasibility of 'altitude prehabilitation' and demonstrated specific potential for improving haematological fitness. Physiologically, there is value in exploring a possible role for simulated altitude in pre-operative optimisation.

A comparison of postoperative respiratory complications associated with the use of desflurane and sevoflurane: a single-centre cohort study.

Sevoflurane and desflurane are the most commonly used volatile anaesthetics for maintenance of anaesthesia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between choice of volatile anaesthetic and early postoperative respiratory complications, and to address a critical knowledge gap in safety outcomes between these two commonly used agents. We performed a retrospective analysis of adult (non-cardiac surgery) patients who received sevoflurane or desflurane for the maintenance of general anaesthesia at our institution between 2005 and 2018. We evaluated the association between desflurane exposure (when compared with sevoflurane) and the primary outcome of postoperative respiratory complications, defined by early post-extubation desaturation (Sp O2  < 90%) or re-intubation within 7 days postoperatively. Multivariable regression analyses were performed and adjusted for confounding factors, including patient, anaesthetic and surgical factors. Propensity matched, interaction and sub-group analyses were performed to assess outcomes in high-risk groups: morbidly obese (BMI > 35 kg.m-2 ); elderly (age > 65 years); and high risk of respiratory complications as well as the primary outcome at 24 h. Desflurane was used for 23,830 patients and sevoflurane for 84,608 patients. Patients exposed to desflurane did not demonstrate a reduced risk of postoperative respiratory complications when compared with sevoflurane (adjusted odds ratio 0.99, 95%CI 0.94-1.04, p = 0.598). These findings were consistent across all sub-groups of high-risk patients and in the propensity score matched cohort. In summary, desflurane use was not associated with reduced postoperative respiratory complications when compared with sevoflurane. In the context of environmental and cost concerns with volatile anaesthetic agents, our study provides important data to support organisational decisions regarding the use of desflurane.

The development and validation of the Score for the Prediction of Postoperative Respiratory Complications (SPORC-2) to predict the requirement for early postoperative tracheal re-intubation: a hospital registry study.

Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with an increase in mortality, morbidity and healthcare utilisation. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends risk assessment for postoperative respiratory complications in patients undergoing surgery. In this hospital registry study of adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery between 2005 and 2017 at two independent healthcare networks, a prediction instrument for early postoperative tracheal re-intubation was developed and externally validated. This was based on the development of the Score for Prediction Of Postoperative Respiratory Complications. For predictor selection, stepwise backward logistic regression and bootstrap resampling were applied. Development and validation cohorts were represented by 90,893 patients at Partners Healthcare and 67,046 patients at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, of whom 699 (0.8%) and 587 (0.9%) patients, respectively, had their tracheas re-intubated. In addition to five pre-operative predictors identified in the Score for Prediction Of Postoperative Respiratory Complications, the final model included seven additional intra-operative predictors: early post-tracheal intubation desaturation; prolonged duration of surgery; high fraction of inspired oxygen; high vasopressor dose; blood transfusion; the absence of volatile anaesthetic use; and the absence of lung-protective ventilation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the new score was significantly greater than that of the original Score for Prediction Of Postoperative Respiratory Complications (0.84 [95%CI 0.82-0.85] vs. 0.76 [95%CI 0.75-0.78], respectively; p < 0.001). This may allow clinicians to develop and implement strategies to decrease the risk of early postoperative tracheal re-intubation.

Role of lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein(a) phenotype in atherogenesis: prospective results from the Bruneck study.

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have suggested both atherogenic and thrombogenic properties of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], depending on Lp(a) plasma concentrations and varying antifibrinolytic capacity of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoforms. Epidemiological studies may contribute to assessment of the relevance of these findings in the general population. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study prospectively investigated the association between Lp(a) plasma concentrations, apo(a) phenotypes, and the 5-year progression of carotid atherosclerosis assessed by high-resolution duplex ultrasound in a random sample population of 826 individuals. We differentiated early atherogenesis (incident nonstenotic atherosclerosis) from advanced (stenotic) stages in atherosclerosis that originate mainly from atherothrombotic mechanisms. Lp(a) plasma concentrations predicted the risk of early atherogenesis in a dose-dependent fashion, with this association being confined to subjects with LDL cholesterol levels above the population median (3.3 mmol/L). Apo(a) phenotypes were distributed similarly in subjects with and without early carotid atherosclerosis. In contrast, apo(a) phenotypes of low molecular weight emerged as one of the strongest risk predictors of advanced stenotic atherosclerosis, especially when associated with high Lp(a) plasma concentrations (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% CI, 2.8 to 14. 9). CONCLUSIONS: Lp(a) is one of the few risk factors capable of promoting both early and advanced stages of atherogenesis. Lp(a) plasma concentrations predicted the risk of early atherogenesis synergistically with high LDL cholesterol. Low-molecular-weight apo(a) phenotypes with a putatively high antifibrinolytic capacity in turn emerged as one of the leading risk conditions of advanced stenotic stages of atherosclerosis.

Using static and dynamic canonical correlation coefficients as quantitative EEG markers for Alzheimer's disease severity.

We analyzed the relation between Alzheimer's disease (AD) severity as measured by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) markers that were derived from canonical correlation analysis. This allowed an investigation of EEG synchrony between groups of EEG channels. In this study, we applied the data from 79 participants in the multi-centric cohort study PRODEM-Austria with probable AD. Following a homogeneous protocol, the EEG was recorded both in resting state and during a cognitive task. A quadratic regression model was used to describe the relation between MMSE and the qEEG synchrony markers. This relation was most significant in the δ and θ frequency bands in resting state, and between left-hemispheric central, temporal and parietal channel groups during the cognitive task. Here, the MMSE explained up to 40% of the qEEG marker's variation. QEEG markers showed an ambiguous trend, i.e. an increase of EEG synchrony in the initial stage of AD (MMSE>20) and a decrease in later stages. This effect could be caused by compensatory brain mechanisms. We conclude that the proposed qEEG markers are closely related to AD severity. Despite the ambiguous trend and the resulting diagnostic ambiguity, the qEEG markers could provide aid in the diagnostics of early-stage AD.

The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration: analysis of individual data on lipid, inflammatory and other markers in over 1.1 million participants in 104 prospective studies of cardiovascular diseases.

Many long-term prospective studies have reported on associations of cardiovascular diseases with circulating lipid markers and/or inflammatory markers. Studies have not, however, generally been designed to provide reliable estimates under different circumstances and to correct for within-person variability. The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration has established a central database on over 1.1 million participants from 104 prospective population-based studies, in which subsets have information on lipid and inflammatory markers, other characteristics, as well as major cardiovascular morbidity and cause-specific mortality. Information on repeat measurements on relevant characteristics has been collected in approximately 340,000 participants to enable estimation of and correction for within-person variability. Re-analysis of individual data will yield up to approximately 69,000 incident fatal or nonfatal first ever major cardiovascular outcomes recorded during about 11.7 million person years at risk. The primary analyses will involve age-specific regression models in people without known baseline cardiovascular disease in relation to fatal or nonfatal first ever coronary heart disease outcomes. This initiative will characterize more precisely and in greater detail than has previously been possible the shape and strength of the age- and sex-specific associations of several lipid and inflammatory markers with incident coronary heart disease outcomes (and, secondarily, with other incident cardiovascular outcomes) under a wide range of circumstances. It will, therefore, help to determine to what extent such associations are independent from possible confounding factors and to what extent such markers (separately and in combination) provide incremental predictive value.

Comparison of hematologic data in world elite junior speed skaters and in non-athletic juniors.

During the world junior speed skating championship 2002 all athletes (60 males, 56 females) were subjected to hematologic blood testing one day before the competition as requested by International Skating Union--ISU. This study aimed to obtain hematological reference values for junior athletes, whilst the influence of endurance training on hematologic variables of young athletes was studied. Hematologic results of athletes were compared to results of non-athletes matched by age and gender (14 males, 17 females). The blood analysis was done on an ADVIA 120. To compare measurement of ferritin, erythropoietin, and soluble transferrin receptor in serum as well as in EDTA-plasma, serum and EDTA-blood was obtained from the control group. In hemoglobin and hematocrit we found no significant difference between the two groups, whereas the number of erythrocytes was lower in athletes. The mean corpuscular volume was higher in athletes, whilst the corpuscular hemoglobin content was only marginally higher in athletes than in non-athletes. Consequently corpuscular hemoglobin concentration mean was lower in athletes than in non-athletes. There was no difference of erythropoietin and soluble transferrin receptor, whilst in ferritin we found a difference between the groups. Endurance training does not change the values of hemoglobin and hematocrit. Increased mean corpuscular volume and decreased corpuscular hemoglobin concentration mean could be a result of changed properties of red blood cell-membrane caused by acidosis and higher osmolality during the training. In junior athletes we did not find an iron overload as described in some adult athletes.

Lipoprotein(a) and asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Evidence of a prominent role in the evolution of advanced carotid plaques: the Bruneck Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] have been reported in association with symptomatic coronary and carotid artery disease. Relevancy of Lp(a) as a risk predictor of presymptomatic atherosclerosis in general populations is not well established. METHODS: Serum Lp(a) distribution and its relation to sonographically assessed carotid atherosclerosis were examined in a random sample of 885 men and women aged 40 to 79 years (Bruneck Study). RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis revealed a binary-type association between Lp(a) and carotid artery disease, with the threshold level of Lp(a) for an enhanced atherosclerosis risk defined at 32 mg/dL. The strength of relation increased with advancing severity of carotid atherosclerosis (odds ratios for Lp(a), 1.8 for nonstenotic and 4.7 for stenotic carotid artery disease; P < .001). Lp(a) was unaffected by environmental factors except for a significant decrease in women taking hormone replacement therapy (P < .05). In a multivariate approach, Lp(a) turned out to be an independently significant predictor of carotid atherosclerosis (P < .001). No differential effect of Lp(a) on atherosclerosis (effect modification) was observed for sex, age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I and B, fasting glucose, diabetes, or hypertension. However, the Lp(a)-atherosclerosis relation was significantly modified by fibrinogen (P < .01) and antithrombin III (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates a strong and independent association between elevated Lp(a) levels and carotid atherosclerosis in a large randomized population and provides evidence of a potential role of Lp(a) in the evolution of carotid stenosis. Apart from atherogenicity of Lp(a) cholesterol, interference with fibrinolysis of atheroma-associated clots and fibrin deposits in the arterial wall may achieve pathophysiological significance.

Poor response to activated protein C as a prominent risk predictor of advanced atherosclerosis and arterial disease.

BACKGROUND: The potential role of activated protein C (APC) resistance in arterial thrombosis and disease is a matter of ongoing controversy. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present population-based survey, a random sample of 826 men and women underwent high-resolution duplex ultrasound scanning of the carotid and femoral arteries. Response to APC was expressed in APC ratios. Subjects were tested for the factor V Leiden mutation. The risk of carotid stenosis increased gradually with decreasing response to APC (adjusted OR [95% CI] for a 1-U decrease of response to APC, 1.6 [1. 2 to 2.2]), as did the risk of femoral artery stenosis (1.7 [1.3 to 2.3]) and prevalent cardiovascular disease (1.4 [1.1 to 2.0]). The association between low APC ratio and atherosclerotic vascular disease applied equally to subjects with the factor V Leiden mutation and those without. Our study identified various nongenetic determinants of poor response to APC in the general population, including behavioral, hormonal, and environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed an independent and gradual association between low response to APC and both advanced atherosclerosis (stenosis) and arterial disease. Resistance to APC due to factor V Leiden mutation was only one facet of this relationship.