Angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with versus without diabetes mellitus after revascularization with BioMime sirolimus-eluting stent.

INTRODUCTION: Drug-eluting stents (DES) significantly improved angiographic and clinical outcomes compared with bare-metal stents in patients with diabetes. The clinical effects of BioMime sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in patients with diabetes have not been evaluated. Therefore, we compared the efficacy of BioMime DES in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with versus without diabetes. METHODS: This prospective analytical study compared angiographic in-segment late loss and clinical effectiveness of BioMime SES stents in treating patients with (patients: 77 and lesions: 83) versus without (patients: 154 and lesions: 162) diabetes. The purpose of this study was the comparison of angiographic in-segment late loss at 12 months. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were also monitored as secondary outcomes 24 months after the index procedure. RESULTS: Of 231 patients enrolled in the study, the mean age was 63.3 years and 153 patients were male. Angiographic follow-up rate was 84.8% (patients: 196) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) follow-up rate was 67.9% (patients: 157) at 12 months. Diabetic patients were comparable to nondiabetic patients for 12-month in-segment late loss (0.01 ± 0.31 mm for the nondiabetes group versus 0.04 ± 0.11 mm for the diabetes group; P = 0.158; P < 0.05). At 24 months, MACEs, including death, myocardial infarction and ischemic-driven target lesion revascularization were not statistically different between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: BioMime SES stents in treating patients with diabetes were comparable in reducing angiographic restenosis at 12 months and MACEs at 24 months compared to nondiabetic patients with CAD.

A wafer-like apparatus for two-dimensional measurement of plasma parameters and temperature distribution in low-temperature plasmas.

A wafer-type monitoring apparatus that can simultaneously measure the two-dimensional (2D) distributions of substrate temperature and plasma parameters is developed. To measure the temperature of the substrate, a platinum resistance temperature detector is used. The plasma density and electron temperature are obtained using the floating harmonics method, and incoming heat fluxes from the plasma to the substrate are obtained from the plasma density and electron temperature. In this paper, 2D distributions of the substrate temperature, plasma density, and electron temperature are obtained simultaneously for the first time in inductively coupled plasma. The shapes of the 2D distributions of the substrate temperature and incoming heat flux are similar to each other, but some differences are found. To understand that, an energy balance equation for the substrate is established, which shows good agreement with the experimental results. This apparatus will promote the understanding of surface reactions, which are very sensitive to the temperatures and plasma densities in plasma processing.

Subclinical cardiac perforation by cardiac implantable electronic device leads detected by cardiac computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the characteristics of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) leads and subclinical cardiac perforations remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of subclinical cardiac perforation among various CIED leads using cardiac computed tomography (CT). METHODS: A total of 271 consecutive patients with 463 CIED leads, who underwent cardiac CT after CIED implantation, were included in this retrospective observational study. Cardiac CT images were reviewed by one radiologist and two cardiologists. Subclinical perforation was defined as traversal of the lead tip past the outer myocardial layer without symptoms and signs related to cardiac perforation. We compared the subclinical cardiac perforation rates of the available lead types. RESULTS: A total of 219, 49, and 3 patients had pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy, respectively. The total subclinical cardiac perforation rate was 5.6%. Subclinical cardiac perforation by screw-in ventricular leads was significantly more frequent than that caused by tined ventricular leads (13.3% vs 3.3%, respectively, p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in the incidence of cardiac perforation between atrial and ventricular leads, screw-in and tined atrial leads, pacing and defibrillator ventricular leads, nor between magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional and MR-unsafe screw-in ventricular leads. Screw-in ventricular leads were significantly associated with subclinical cardiac perforation [odds ratio, 4.554; 95% confidence interval, 1.587-13.065, p = 0.005]. There was no case subclinical cardiac perforation by septal ventricular leads. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical cardiac perforation by screw-in ventricular leads is not rare. Septal pacing may be helpful in avoiding cardiac perforation.

High Level of Real Urban Air Pollution Promotes Cardiac Arrhythmia in Healthy Mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ambient particulate matter (PM) in real urban air pollution (RUA) is an environmental health risk factor associated with increased cardiac events. This study investigated the threshold level to induce arrhythmia, as well as arrhythmogenic mechanism of RUA that mainly consisted of PM <2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter close to ultrafine particles. METHODS: RUA was artificially produced by a lately developed pyrolysis based RUA generator. C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups: a control group (control, n=12) and three groups with exposure to RUA with the concentration of 200 µg/m³ (n=12), 400 µg/m³ (n=12), and 800 µg/m³ (n=12). Mice were exposed to RUA at each concentration for 8 hr/day and 5 day/week to mimic ordinary human activity during 3 weeks. RESULTS: The QRS and QTc intervals, as well as intracellular Ca2+ duration, apicobasal action potential duration (APD) gradient, fibrosis, and inflammation of left ventricle of mouse hearts were increased dose-dependently with the increase of RUA concentration, and significantly increased at RUA concentration of 400 µg/m³ compared to control (all p<0.001). In mice exposed to RUA concentration of 800 µg/m³, spontaneous ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 42%, with significant increase of inflammatory markers, phosphorylated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and phospholamban (PLB) compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: RUA could induce electrophysiological changes such as APD and QT prolongation, fibrosis, and inflammation dose-dependently, with significant increase of ventricular arrhythmia at the concentration of 400 µg/m³. RUA concentration of 800 µg/m³ increased phosphorylation of CaMKII and PLB.

Body Mass Index Variability and Long-term Risk of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in the General Population: A Korean Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of body mass index (BMI) variability on the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, and CV outcomes in a general Asian population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening cohort in Korea were used: 171,324 patients without AF were included, and BMI measurements occurred biennially from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2009. Patient outcomes were followed through 2013. The BMI intraindividual variability between visits was measured. RESULTS: During mean ± SD follow-up of 47.4±3.9 months, 1959 patients (1.1%) developed new-onset AF. Overweight or obesity (BMI ≥25) had a greater risk of new-onset AF compared with BMI of 20 to 22.5, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.24 (95% CI, 1.10-1.41; P<.001). In underweight or normal-weight participants (initial BMI <25), a 1-kg/m2 increase of BMI variability increased the risk of new-onset AF, with an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.13 (95% CI, 1.01-1.25; P=.02). Weight gain increased the risk of new-onset AF (aHR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.01-1.71; P=.04) and myocardial infarction (aHR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.06-2.18; P=.02) but not stroke. In this group, blood pressure, glucose level, and total cholesterol level were higher in individuals with the greatest BMI variability compared with those with stable BMI. CONCLUSION: In the underweight and normal-weight Asian population, BMI variability, especially weight gain, was related to increased risk of new-onset AF and myocardial infarction. Avoiding weight gain is important to improve CV outcomes.

Serial measurements of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: prognostic value in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: There are no previous data on serial changes in neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients before and after a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of serial NGAL measurements in patients with STEMI treated by pPCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 169 STEMI patients who underwent pPCI within 12 h of symptom onset and had plasma NGAL measurements before (pre-NGAL) and 6 h after (post-NGAL) pPCI. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality, including cardiac death, whereas the secondary endpoint was the change in NGAL levels from before to after pPCI. RESULTS: The mean pre-NGAL and post-NGAL levels were 109.2±76.1 and 93.3±83.8 ng/ml, respectively. Thirty-day mortality occurred in 12 (7.1%) patients. In terms of changes in serial NGAL levels, post-NGAL levels were decreased in 132 (79%) patients. Patients with elevated post-NGAL levels showed increased mortality compared with patients with decreased post-NGAL levels (P=0.005). Multivariate analyses indicated that old age and high post-NGAL levels were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: In a large percentage of STEMI patients, plasma post-pPCI NGAL levels were decreased compared with pre-pPCI NGAL levels, even with the administration of potentially nephrotoxic contrast medium. Post-NGAL levels seemed to be superior to pre-NGAL levels for the prediction of 30-day mortality outcome.

Clinical implication of an impaired fasting glucose and prehypertension related to new onset atrial fibrillation in a healthy Asian population without underlying disease: a nationwide cohort study in Korea.

AIMS: For healthy populations without comorbidities, whether prehypertension and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are associated with new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well known. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 366 507 subjects (age ≥20 years) not diagnosed with non-valvular AF from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) from 2003 to 2008. In total, 139 306 subjects diagnosed with AF-related comorbidities were excluded, and a 227 102 healthy population was followed up until 2013. The body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), and fasting blood glucose (BG) level were acquired during National health check-ups. Subjects with IFG [hazard ratio (HR) 1.16, P = 0.017] had a higher AF risk and the diastolic BP (HR 1.11, P = 0.045) was a stronger indicator for an AF incidence than the systolic BP. After dividing the subjects into two mutually exclusive groups, AF incidence was increased dramatically by the combination effect of both prehypertension and an IFG in BMI <25 kg/m2 group, but, in BMI ≧25 kg/m2 group, did not show this tendency. An IFG related to AF risk was more prominent in the BMI <25 kg/m2 population (HR 1.18, P = 0.025) than those with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2, and subjects with both an IFG and prehypertension had a greater AF risk (HR 1.27, P = 0.016) than those without. CONCLUSION: Even in a healthy Asian populations without comorbidities, prehypertension and IFG were important risk factors of AF. Specifically, when prehypertension, including systolic and diastolic BPs, was finally combined with the IFG, the risk of new onset AF was increased especially in the BMI <25 kg/m2 group.

Focal Atrial Tachycardia Arising from the Inferior Vena Cava.

The inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare site of focal atrial tachycardia (AT). Here, we report a 20-year-old woman who underwent catheter ablation for anti-arrhythmic drug-resistant AT originating from the IVC. She had undergone open-heart surgery for patch closure of an atrial septal defect 17 years previously and permanent pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction 6 years previously. The AT focus was at the anterolateral aspect of the IVC-right atrial junction, and it was successfully ablated under three-dimensional electroanatomical-mapping guidance. We suspect that the mechanism of this tachycardia was associated with previous IVC cannulation for open-heart surgery.

Delayed left atrial appendage contrast filling in computed tomograms after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard for the follow-up of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is performing transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) at 45 days after LAAO; however, the duration for complete LAA seal-off after percutaneous LAAO is unknown in humans. We retrospectively evaluated the LAA contrast-filling (CF) rate in follow-up cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans after LAAO. METHODS: We included 35 patients (age 67.5±10.9 years, CHA2DS2VASc 4.2±1.6, HAS-BLED 3.7±1.5) who underwent LAAO [16 WATCHMAN, 19 Amplatzer cardiac plug (ACP)] and follow-up cardiac CT within 6 months after LAAO, and evaluated the LAA-CF rates. Eighteen patients (51.4%) underwent multiple episodes of CT follow-up. RESULTS: 1. The proportions of patients with LAA-CF were 54.2% (19/35) at 6 months, 55.5% (5/9) at 6-18 months, and 33.3% (3/9) at >18 months after LAAO. 2. Among 23 patients with no peridevice leak at the 2 months TEE, LAA-CFs were found in 12 patients at 2.8±1.5 months (66.6% in WATCHMAN and 36.3% in ACP; p=0.158). 3. Among eight patients with consecutive follow-up CT (≥3 times), LAA-CFs were partially reduced in three; however, there was no complete LAA seal-off at 19.0±11.3 months. 4. A larger LAA landing zone diameter was independently associated with LAA-CF in follow-up CT [OR 1.45 (1.08-1.96), p=0.013, adjusted for age, sex, and device type]. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed LAA-CF is common after LAAO, with considerable discrepancies between cardiac CT and TEE findings. Although the clinical significance of LAA-CF is unclear, 45 days seem to be insufficient for complete LAA seal-off after LAAO.

Long-Term Prognosis of Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator in Korea.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to elucidate the long-term prognosis of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 405 patients (age, 57.7±16.7 years; 311 men) who had undergone ICD implantation. The patients were divided into three groups: heart failure (HF) and ICD for primary (group 1, n=118) and secondary prevention (group 2, n=93) and non-HF (group 3, n=194). We compared appropriate and inappropriate ICD therapy delivery among the groups and between high- (heart rate ≥200 /min) and low-rate (<200 /min) ICD therapy zones. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (58.9±49.8 months), the annual appropriate ICD therapy rate was higher in group 2 (10.4%) than in groups 1 and 3 (6.1% and 5.9%, respectively, p<0.001). There were no significant differences in annual inappropriate ICD therapy rate among the three groups. In group 1, the annual appropriate ICD therapy rate was significantly lower in patients with a high-rate versus a low-rate therapy zone (4.5% and 9.6%, respectively, p=0.026). In group 3, the annual inappropriate ICD therapy rate was significantly lower in patients with a high-rate versus a low-rate therapy zone (3.1% and 4.0%, respectively, p=0.048). CONCLUSION: Appropriate ICD therapy rates are not low in Korean patients with ICD, relative to prior large-scale studies in Western countries. Appropriate and inappropriate ICD therapy could be reduced by a high-rate therapy zone in patients with HF and ICD for primary prevention, as well as non-HF patients, respectively.

Prognostic value of preoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in non-cardiac surgery of elderly patients with normal left ventricular systolic function.

AIM: We investigated the prognostic value of preoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in non-cardiac surgery in elderly patients who showed normal left ventricular function on preoperative echocardiography. METHODS: We analyzed 1459 patients aged older than 70 years who had consulted a cardiologist for the evaluation of cardiovascular risk for non-cardiac surgery. Of the 721 patients who simultaneously underwent echocardiography and NT-proBNP assessments, 506 who showed normal left ventricular systolic function were included. The predictive power of NT-proBNP for the risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was evaluated. RESULTS: MACCE occurred in 40 (7.9%) of the 506 patients, and the median value of NT-proBNP was higher in patients with complications than in those without (MACCE group: 1700.5 pg/mL vs non MACCE group: 206.35 pg/mL; P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.804 (P < 0.001), with an optimal cut-off of 425.3 pg/mL. Multivariate analysis showed that increased NT-proBNP (>425.3 pg/mL; odds ratio 6.381; P < 0.001) was the only independent risk factor for the prediction of MACCE. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients who showed normal left ventricular systolic function on echocardiography, measurement of preoperative NT-proBNP concentration might be a useful test for predicting the occurrence of MACCE after non-cardiac surgery. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1109-1116.

Association of insulin resistance and coronary artery remodeling: an intravascular ultrasound study.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies that investigated the correlation between insulin resistance (IR) and the coronary artery remodeling. The aim of the study is to investigate the association of IR measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and coronary artery remodeling evaluated by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). METHODS: A total of 298 consecutive patients who received percutaneous coronary interventions under IVUS guidance were retrospectively enrolled. The value of HOMA-IR more than 2.5 was considered as IR positive. Metabolic syndrome was classified according to NCEP ATP III guidelines. The remodeling index was defined as the ratio of the external elastic membrane (EEM) area at the lesion site to the EEM area at the proximal reference site. RESULTS: A total of 369 lesions were analyzed (161 lesions in HOMA-IR positive and 208 lesions in HOMA-IR negative). Remodeling index was significantly higher in the HOMA-IR positive group compared with the negative group (HOMA-IR positive vs. negative: 1.074 ± 0.109 vs. 1.042 ± 0.131, p = 0.013). There was a significant positive correlation between remodeling index and HOMA-IR (p = 0.010). Analysis of HOMA-IR according to remodeling groups showed increasing tendency of HOMA-IR, and it was statistically significant (p = 0.045). Multivariate analysis revealed that only HOMA-IR was an independent predictor of remodeling index (r = 0.166, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Increased IR estimated by HOMA-IR was significantly associated with a higher remodeling index and positive coronary artery remodeling.

Delayed embolisation of amplatzer ASD closure device caused partial obstruction of left ventricular outflow tract.

A 54-year-old male presented with symptoms of dyspnoea, and oedema of the lower extremities. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed secondum-type atrial septal defect (ASD). He successfully received a 30-mm Amplatzer ASD closure device percutaneously. Echocardiography immediately after the procedure and the next day showed a well-positioned device. He was discharged the next day on 100 mg aspirin daily and warfarinisation due to atrial fibrillation. A month later, he revisited the hospital due to recurrence of dyspnoea and a grade 2 systolic murmur was heard on the left parasternal border. A chest X-ray showed abnormal location of the closure device and TTE revealed re-appearance of the ASD and an embolised Amplatzer device in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) with partial obstruction. He requested surgery to remove the Amplatzer device and received an ASD patch repair, tricuspid valve repair and modified Maze operation concurrently. He is now in routine follow up without any other complications.