Correlation of lipoprotein (a) levels and plaque morphology in very young acute coronary syndrome patients using optical coherence tomography

Introduction: Levels of lipoprotein (LP) (a) are useful marker for risk stratification of cardiovascular disease. This genetic biomarker is suggestive of patient predisposition to acute coronary event. The present study was to study correlation of LP(a) levels and plaque morphology in very young patients (<35 years) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: A prospective, single-center, observational study consisting of very young patients with ACS and fit for optical coherence tomography (OCT) guided invasive coronary angiography was conducted at tertiary-care centre. LP(a) levels were compared between healthy controls and very young ACS patients. Correlation of LP(a) levels and plaque characteristics in very young ACS patients was done using OCT imaging. Results: Out of enrolled 80 subjects, 40 were very young ACS and 40 were matched healthy controls. In very young patients, plaque rupture and erosion were mechanism of ACS in 67.5% and 32.5% patients, respectively. Mean levels of LP(a) were 28.10 ± 13.96 nmol/l in healthy controls and 47.19 ± 29.85 nmol/l in very young patients with ACS (p ¼ 0.022). Among very young ACS patients, patients with LP(a) levels<75 nmol/l and 75 nmol/l had mean thin cap fibroatheroma thickness of 117.08 ± 52.542 mm and 95.00 ± 36.286 mm, respectively (p ¼ 0.2355). Conclusion: Higher levels of LP(a) were seen in younger patients with ACS compared with matched healthy individuals. Plaque rupture was the commonest mechanism of ACS in very young ACS patients. Patients with high LP(a) levels had lesser thickness of fibrous cap in OCT imaging compared with low levels of LP(a).

Cathepsin S as an early biomarker for cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease patients / Catepsina S como um biomarcador precoce para doença cardiovascular em pacientes com doença renal crônica

Abstract Introduction: A high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and premature mortality is observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thus, new biomarkers that may help predict the development of CVD in early stages of CKD are being investigated along with other traditional risk factors. Objective: To investigate cathepsin S as an early biomarker for CVD in patients with CKD. Methods: A total of 64 patients with CKD were included and classified into 2 groups: CKD patients with established CVD and CKD patients with non-established CVD. All patients were submitted to routine investigations including complete blood count, random blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum electrolytes, urea, creatinine, total protein, total albumin, calcium total, phosphorous, uric acid, vitamin D, parathormone, lipid profile, liver function test, measurement of serum cathepsin S (Cat S), and 2D Echo of the heart. Results: The level of serum Cat S was increased in CKD patients with CVD (p <0.05) as well as in later stages of CKD (p <0.05). CVD was also more common in patients in early stage CKD. In early stages CKD, Cat S and CVD were positively correlated. Conclusion: These findings suggest that serum Cat S might be useful as an early biomarker for CVD in CKD patients.

Resumo Introdução: Uma alta incidência de eventos de doença cardiovascular (DCV) e mortalidade prematura é observada em pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC). Assim, novos biomarcadores que podem ajudar a prever o desenvolvimento de DCV nos estágios iniciais da DRC estão sendo investigados juntamente com outros fatores de risco tradicionais. Objetivo: Investigar a catepsina S como um biomarcador precoce para DCV em pacientes com DRC. Métodos: Um total de 64 pacientes com DRC foram incluídos e classificados em 2 grupos: pacientes com DRC com DCV estabelecida e pacientes com DRC com DCV não estabelecida. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a investigações de rotina incluindo hemograma completo, glicemia aleatória, hemoglobina glicada (HbA1C), eletrólitos séricos, ureia, creatinina, proteína total, albumina total, cálcio total, fósforo, ácido úrico, vitamina D, paratormônio, perfil lipídico, teste de função hepática, medição da catepsina S sérica (Cat S), e Eco 2D do coração. Resultados: O nível de Cat S sérica esteve aumentado em pacientes com DRC com DCV (p <0,05), bem como em estágios posteriores da DRC (p <0,05). A DCV também foi mais comum em pacientes com DRC em estágio inicial. Em estágios iniciais da DRC, a Cat S e a DCV foram positivamente correlacionadas. Conclusão: Estes achados sugerem que a Cat S sérica pode ser útil como um biomarcador precoce para DCV em pacientes com DRC.

Identifying high risk patients post myocardial infarction with reduced left ventricular function using loop recorders INSPIRE-ELR clinical study

Aims: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) continues to be a devastating complication amongst survivors of myocardial infarction (MI). Mortality is high in the initial months after MI. The aims of the INSPIRE-ELR study were to assess the proportion of patients with significant arrhythmias early after MI and the association with mortality during 12 months of follow-up. Methods: The study included 249 patients within 14 days after MI with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) _x0001_35% at discharge in 11 hospitals in India. Patients received a wearable external loop recorder (ELR) 5 ± 3 days after MI to monitor arrhythmias for 7 days. Results: Patients were predominantly male (86%) with a mean age of 56 ± 12 years. In 82%, reperfusion had been done and all received standard of care cardiovascular medications at discharge. LVEF was 32.2 ± 3.9%, measured 5.1 ± 3.0 days after MI. Of the 233 patients who completed monitoring (7.1 ± 1.5 days), 81 (35%) experienced significant arrhythmias, including Ventricular Tachycardia/Fibrillation (VT/ VF): 10 (4.3%); frequent Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs): 65 (28%); Atrial Fibrillation (AF): 8 (3.4%); chronic atrial flutter: 4 (1.7%); 2nd or 3rd degree Atrioventricular (AV) block: 4 (1.7%); and symptomatic bradycardia: 8 (3.4%). In total, 26 patients died. Mortality was higher in patients with clinically significant arrhythmia (at 12 months: 23.6% vs 4.8% with 19 vs 7 deaths, hazard ratio (HR) ¼ 5.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3 to 13.0, p < 0.0001). Excluding 7 deaths during ELR monitoring, HR ¼ 4.5, p < 0.001. Conclusion: ELR applied in patients with acute MI and LV dysfunction at the time of discharge identifies patients with high mortality risk.

Evaluation of only heparin-based rota-flush solution against alternative rota-flush solution in patients with severe coronary artery calcification undergoing rotational atherectomy

Objective: There is limited evidence on feasibility and safety of only heparin rota-flush(OHRF)solution in rotational atherectomy (RA). We compared the safety and efficacy of OHRF solution with alternative rotaflush (ARF) solution in patients who underwent RA. Methods: A total of 48 patients who underwent RA were enrolled in the study. In 25 patients OHRF solution and in 23 patients ARF solution was utilized. The study end points were procedural success rateandrota-related adverse cardiovascular event (RRAE) including slow flow, no reflow, bradycardia, and hemodynamic instability. Results: Procedural success was achieved in all patients in both the OHRF and ARF groups. There was no statistically significant difference in RRAE between the two groups(32.0% vs. 34.7%, p ¼ 0.83). Conclusion: OHRF solution appears a more simplistic solution while performing rotablation as compared to ARF solution. Side effects such as hypotension and bradycardia can be circumvented with OHRF solution during rotablation

Calcified left atrial myxoma with osseous metaplasia.

An intracardiac myxoma is the most common tumour of the heart with an estimated incidence of 0.5 per million population per year. Extensive calcification is rare in these tumours.1 We describe a rare case of a large left atrial myxoma, visible on the chest radiograph, with extensive calcification and osseous metaplasia.

Endoscopic jejunal biopsy culture: a simple and effective method to study jejunal microflora.

Background Jejunal fluid culture is the gold standard for assessing jejunal microflora. Aspiration of jejunal fluid is sometime difficult. As the microorganisms rests on the mucosal surface, culture of the mucosal biopsy may be a possible alternative method. Aim To study the role of jejunal mucosal biopsy culture to assess jejunal microflora and to compare it with jejunal fluid culture. Methods Thirty adult subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease requiring endoscopy underwent enteroscopy. Jejunal fluid aspirate and mucosal biopsy were cultured. The procedure was repeated after omeprazole therapy in 18 patients. Results Forty-eight pairs (30 preomeprazole therapy and 18 postomeprazole therapy) of fluid and mucosal biopsies were cultured. In 45 of the 48 pairs (94%), both the culture of jejunal biopsy and jejunal fluid yielded similar results with respect to the presence (n=27) or absence of growth (n=18). In the remaining 3 pairs, the growth was present either in the biopsy culture (n=2) or in the fluid culture (n=1) only. Among those pairs in which growth was present, microorganisms isolated were identical in 53%, differed by ≤2 organism in 37% and different by >2 organisms in 10%. Ten of the 12 patients who were detected to have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) on fluid culture were also detected to have SIBO on biopsy culture. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of biopsy culture in diagnosing SIBO was 83.5%, 97.2%, 94.7%, and 91.6%, respectively. Conclusion Culture of unwashed endoscopic jejunal mucosal biopsy is an effective and simple alternative to jejunal fluid culture for assessing jejunal microflora.