[Cardiac biomarkers prior to noncardiac surgery]. / Kardiale Biomarker vor nicht-kardiochirurgischen Eingriffen.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac biomarkers, such as high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N­terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are measured perioperatively to improve the prognosis and risk prediction. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC), European Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) and the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) have recently published guidelines on the use of cardiac biomarkers prior to surgery. OBJECTIVE/RESEARCH QUESTION: This article provides an overview of the available evidence on perioperative troponin and BNP/NT-proBNP measurements. Current guideline recommendations are presented and discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MEDLINE, Cochrane and google.scholar were searched for relevant keywords. Titles and abstracts of identified papers were checked for relevance and published results were summarized. Guideline recommendations from the ESC, ESAIC and DGAI are presented, compared and evaluated based on the available literature. In addition, the significance of new perioperative cardiac biomarkers is discussed based on the existing evidence. RESULTS: The definitions, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular events in the perioperative context differ from those in the nonsurgical setting. The evidence for the measurement of hs-cTn and BNP/NT-proBNP is evaluated differently in the guidelines and the resulting recommendations are partly contradictory. In particular, recommendations for changes in perioperative management based on biomarker measurements diverge. The ESC guidelines propose an algorithm that uses preoperative biomarkers as the basis for additional cardiac investigations. In particular, invasive coronary angiography is recommended for patients with stable chronic coronary syndrome who have no preoperative cardiac symptoms but elevated biomarkers. In contrast, the ESAIC guidelines emphasize that the available evidence is not sufficient to use perioperative biomarker measurements as a basis for a change in perioperative management. DISCUSSION: Treating physicians should coordinate interdisciplinary (surgery, anesthesiology, cardiology) recommendations for clinical practice based on the aforementioned guidelines. If cardiac biomarkers are routinely determined in high-risk patients, this should be done in accordance with the ESC algorithm.

Is having a moderate or low history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, troponin risk score a handicap for long-term mortality?

OBJECTIVE: History, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, troponin risk score and troponin level follow-up are used to safely discharge low-risk patients with suspected non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome from the emergency department for a 1-month period. We aimed to comprehensively investigate the 6-month mortality of patients with the history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, troponin risk score. METHODS: A total of 949 non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome patients admitted to the emergency department from 01.01.2019 to 01.10.2019 were included in this retrospective study. History, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, troponin scores of all patients were calculated by two emergency clinicians and a cardiologist. We compared the 6-month mortality of the groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67.9 (56.4-79) years; 57.3% were male and 42.7% were female. Six-month mortality was significantly lower in the high-risk history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, troponin score group than in the low- and moderate-risk groups: 11/80 (12.1%), 58/206 (22%), and 150/444 (25.3%), respectively (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: Patients with high history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, troponin risk scores are generally treated with coronary angioplasty as soon as possible. We found that the mortality rate of this group of patients was lower in the long term compared with others. Efforts are also needed to reduce the mortality of moderate and low-risk patients. Further studies are needed on the factors affecting the 6-month mortality of moderate and low-risk acute coronary syndrome patients.

Addition of High-Sensitivity Troponin to Perioperative Risk Assessment Improves the Predictive Ability of Death in Non-Cardiac Surgery Patients. / Adição da Troponina Ultrassensível à Avaliação de Risco Perioperatório Melhora a Capacidade Preditiva de Morte em Pacientes Submetidos à Cirurgia Não Cardíaca.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification is an important step in perioperative evaluation. However, the main risk scores do not incorporate biomarkers in their set of variables. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the incremental power of troponin to the usual risk stratification. METHODS: A total of 2,230 patients admitted to the intensive care unit after non-cardiac surgery were classified according to three types of risk: cardiovascular risk (CVR), Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI); and inherent risk of surgery (IRS). The main outcome was all-cause mortality. Cox regression was used as well as c-statistics before and after addition of high-sensitivity troponin (at least one measurement up to three days after surgery). Finally, net reclassification index and integrated discrimination improvement were used to assess the incremental power of troponin for risk stratification. Significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 63.8 years and 55.6% were women. The prevalence of myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) was 9.4%. High CVR-patients had a higher occurrence of MINS (40.1 x 24.8%, p<0.001), as well as high IRS-patients (21.3 x 13.9%, p=0.004) and those with a RCRI≥3 (3.0 x 0.7%, p=0.009). Patients without MINS, regardless of the assessed risk, had similar mortality rate. The addition of troponin to the risk assessment improved the predictive ability of death at 30 days and at 1 year in all risk assessments. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MINS is higher in the high-risk population. However, its prevalence in lower-risk population is not negligible and causes a higher risk of death. The addition of high-sensitivity troponin increased the predictive ability of risk assessment in all groups.

FUNDAMENTO: A estratificação ode risco é uma importante etapa na avaliação perioperatória. No entanto, os principais escores de risco não incorporam biomarcadores em seus conjuntos de variáveis. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o poder incremental da troponina à estratificação de risco tradicional. MÉTODOS: Um total de 2230 pacientes admitidos na unidade de terapia intensiva após cirurgia não cardíaca foram classificados de acordo com três tipos de risco: Risco Cardiovascular (RCV), Índice de Risco Cardíaco Revisado (IRCR), e Risco Inerente da Cirurgia (RIC). O principal desfecho foi mortalidade por todas as causas. A regressão de Cox foi usada, assim como a estatística C antes e após a adição de troponina ultrassensível (pelo menos uma medida até três dias após a cirurgia). Finalmente, o índice de reclassificação líquida e a melhoria de discriminação integrada foram usadas para avaliar o poder incremental da troponina para a estratificação de risco. O nível de significância usado foi de 0,05. RESULTADOS: A idade média dos pacientes foi 63,8 anos e 55,6% eram do sexo feminino. A prevalência de lesão miocárdica após cirurgia não cardíaca (MINS) foi 9,4%. Pacientes com um RCV elevado apresentaram uma maior ocorrência de MINS (40,1% x 24,8%, p<0,001), bem como pacientes com alto RIC (21,3 x 13,9%, p=0,004) e aqueles com IRCR≥3 (3,0 x 0,7%, p=0,009). Pacientes sem MINS, independentemente do risco avaliado, apresentaram taxa de mortalidade similar. A adição de troponina à avaliação de risco melhorou a capacidade preditiva de mortalidade em 30 dias e de mortalidade em um ano em todas as avaliações de risco. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de MINS é mais alta na população de alto risco. No entanto, sua prevalência na população de risco mais baixo não é desprezível e causa um maior risco de morte. A adição da troponina ultrassensível melhorou a capacidade preditiva da avaliação de risco em todos os grupos.

Altered Arterial Stiffness, Ventricular-Arterial Coupling and Troponin Levels in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), leading to elevated mortality rates among patients. We aimed to evaluate the levels of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), global longitudinal strain (GLS), ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC), and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hsTnI) in SLE patients and to explore their relationship with clinical parameters. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 82 SLE patients without evident cardiac or kidney impairment and 41 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We comparatively evaluated CAVI, GLS, VAC, and hsTnI between SLE patients and controls, and we assessed their association among SLE patients with disease activity based on the SELENA-SLEDAI Activity Index. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of CAVI and hsTnI within the SLE cohort. Results: In comparison to healthy controls, SLE patients presented with significantly higher CAVI, GLS, and hsTnI levels, while VAC was significantly reduced (p < 0.001). Furthermore, SLE patients with active disease (SELENA-SLEDAI ≥ 4) exhibited higher levels of CAVI and troponin than those with inactive disease (p < 0.001). SLEDAI was an independent predictor of CAVI, while VAC and SLEDAI were independent determinants of hsTnI in the SLE cohort. Conclusions: SLE patients displayed abnormal levels of CAVI, VAC, GLS, and troponin compared to healthy individuals. Our findings implicate the potential of those CV novel CVD risk factors to refine screening and therapeutic strategies for this specific population.

Cardiovascular outcomes for people hospitalised with COVID-19 in Australia, and the effect of vaccination: an observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the frequency of clinical cardiovascular outcomes for people hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the impact of vaccination. STUDY DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: All index admissions of adults with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 to 21 hospitals participating in the Australian Cardiovascular COVID-19 Registry (AUS-COVID), 4 September 2020 - 11 July 2022. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of elevated troponin levels, new arrhythmia, new or deteriorating heart failure or cardiomyopathy, new pericarditis or myocarditis, new permanent pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, and pulmonary embolism. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: impact of COVID-19 vaccination on likelihood of in-hospital death, intubation, troponin elevation, and clinical cardiovascular events. RESULTS: The mean age of the 1714 people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 was 60.1 years (standard deviation, 20.6 years); 926 were men (54.0%), 181 patients died during their index admissions (10.6%), 299 required intensive care (17.4%). Thirty-eight patients (2.6%) developed new atrial fibrillation or flutter, 27 (2.6%) had pulmonary embolisms, new heart failure or cardiomyopathy was identified in 13 (0.9%), and pre-existing cardiomyopathy or heart failure was exacerbated in 21 of 110 patients (19%). Troponin was elevated in 369 of the 986 patients for whom it was assessed (37.4%); in-hospital mortality was higher for people with elevated troponin levels (86, 23% v 23, 3.7%; P < 0.001). The COVID-19 vaccination status of 580 patients was known (no doses, 232; at least one dose, 348). The likelihood of in-hospital death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.79) and intubation (aOR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.15-0.61) were lower for people who had received at least one vaccine dose, but not the likelihood of troponin elevation (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.80-2.58) or clinical cardiovascular events (aOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 0.59-4.16). CONCLUSIONS: Although troponin levels were elevated in a considerable proportion of people hospitalised with COVID-19, clinical cardiovascular events were infrequent, and their likelihood was not influenced by vaccination. COVID-19 vaccination, however, was associated with reduced likelihood of in-hospital death and intubation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12620000486921 (prospective).

Discovery of Nelutroctiv (CK-136), a Selective Cardiac Troponin Activator for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases Associated with Reduced Cardiac Contractility.

Cardiac myosin activation has been shown to be a viable approach for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Here, we report the discovery of nelutroctiv (CK-136), a selective cardiac troponin activator intended for patients with cardiovascular conditions where cardiac contractility is reduced. Discovery of nelutroctiv began with a high-throughput screen that identified compound 1R, a muscle selective cardiac sarcomere activator devoid of phosphodiesterase-3 activity. Optimization of druglike properties for 1R led to the replacement of the sulfonamide and aniline substituents which resulted in improved pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles and a reduced potential for human drug-drug interactions. In vivo echocardiography assessment of the optimized leads showed concentration dependent increases in fractional shortening and an improved pharmacodynamic window compared to myosin activator CK-138. Overall, nelutroctiv was found to possess the desired selectivity, a favorable pharmacodynamic window relative to myosin activators, and a preclinical PK profile to support clinical development.

Pericardial fluid troponin in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pericardial Fluid (PF) is a rich reservoir of biologically active factors. Due to its proximity to the heart, the biochemical structure of PF may reflect the pathological changes in the cardiac interstitial environment. This manuscript aimed to determine whether the PF level of cardiac troponins changes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases were electronically searched for primary studies using the keywords "pericardial fluid," "troponin," and "cardiac surgery." The primary outcome of interest was changes in troponin levels within the PF preoperatively and postoperatively. Secondary outcomes of interest included comparisons between troponin level changes in the PF compared to plasma. RESULTS: A total of 2901 manuscripts were screened through a title and abstract stage by two independent blinded reviewers. Of those, 2894 studies were excluded, and the remaining seven studies underwent a full-text review. Studies were excluded if they did not provide data or failed to meet inclusion criteria. Ultimately, six articles were included that discussed cardiac troponin levels within the PF in patients who had undergone cardiac surgery. Pericardial troponin concentration increased over time after surgery, and levels were significantly higher in PF compared to serum. All studies found that the type of operation did not affect these overall observations. CONCLUSION: Our review of the literature suggest that the PF level of cardiac troponins increases in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, irrespective of the procedure type. However, these changes' exact pattern and clinical significance remain undefined.

ACUTE MYOCARDITIS IN YOUNG AGE MIMICKING AS ST-ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: CASE REPORT.

Acute myocarditis remains a diagnostic issue with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that could mimic ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We present a case of a 26-year-old male with left-sided intense squeezing chest pain associated with elevated troponin, ST-segment elevations, and reduced ejection fraction. The patient was initially suspected of having a STEMI with non-obstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA). However, due to positive pair troponin tests, increased inflammatory markers there was suspected myocarditis and cardiac MRI confirmed this diagnosis. This case highlights the clinical significance of assessment of laboratory markers and cardiac MRI in diagnostics of myocarditis.

Preclinical identification of acute coronary syndrome without high sensitivity troponin assays using machine learning algorithms.

Preclinical management of patients with acute chest pain and their identification as candidates for urgent coronary revascularization without the use of high sensitivity troponin essays remains a critical challenge in emergency medicine. We enrolled 2760 patients (average age 70 years, 58.6% male) with chest pain and suspected ACS, who were admitted to the Emergency Department of the University Hospital Tübingen, Germany, between August 2016 and October 2020. Using 26 features, eight Machine learning models (non-deep learning models) were trained with data from the preclinical rescue protocol and compared to the "TropOut" score (a modified version of the "preHEART" score which consists of history, ECG, age and cardiac risk but without troponin analysis) to predict major adverse cardiac event (MACE) and acute coronary artery occlusion (ACAO). In our study population MACE occurred in 823 (29.8%) patients and ACAO occurred in 480 patients (17.4%). Interestingly, we found that all machine learning models outperformed the "TropOut" score. The VC and the LR models showed the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for predicting MACE (AUROC = 0.78) and the VC showed the highest AUROC for predicting ACAO (AUROC = 0.81). A SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analyses based on the XGB model showed that presence of ST-elevations in the electrocardiogram (ECG) were the most important features to predict both endpoints.

DANSPOT: A Multicenter Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Trial of the Reclassification of Acute Myocardial Infarction: Rationale and Study Design.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponins are the preferred biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Although sex-specific 99th percentile thresholds of troponins are recommended in international guidelines, the clinical effect of their use is poorly investigated. The DANSPOT Study (The Danish Study of Sex- and Population-Specific 99th percentile upper reference limits of Troponin) aims to evaluate the clinical effect of a prospective implementation of population- and sex-specific diagnostic thresholds of troponins into clinical practice. METHODS: This study is a nationwide, multicenter, stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial of the implementation of population- and sex-specific thresholds of troponins in 22 of 23 clinical centers in Denmark. We established sex-specific thresholds for 5 different troponin assays based on troponin levels in a healthy Danish reference population. Centers will sequentially cross over from current uniform manufacturer-derived thresholds to the new population- and sex-specific thresholds. The primary cohort is defined as patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome having at least 1 troponin measurement performed within 24 hours of arrival with a peak troponin value between the current uniform threshold and the new sex-specific female and male thresholds. The study will compare the occurrence of the primary outcome, defined as a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization, and all-cause mortality within 1 year, separately for men and women before and after the implementation of the new sex-specific thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: The DANSPOT Study is expected to show the clinical effects on diagnostics, treatment, and clinical outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction of implementing sex-specific diagnostic thresholds for troponin based on a national Danish reference population. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05336435.

Implementation of high sensitivity troponin into routine clinical practice - results of the extended CARdiac MArkers guideline uptake in Europe group (CARMAGUE) survey.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of cardiac troponin (cTn) by a high sensitivity method is now the recommended strategy for the detection of myocardial injury. An international survey was undertaken to assess how this has been implemented. METHODS: A questionnaire based around 14 domains on cardiac biomarkers was distributed electronically with the aid of professional societies accessed by a web link within the invitation. Results were returned electronically then extracted into a relational database for analysis. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 663 laboratories across 76 countries ranging from 1 to 69 largest country. The majority of responses (79.6%) came from the European area. Responses were grouped into broad geographic areas for analysis. Most responses came from hospitals providing a local and regional service of which the majority provided angioplasty. cTn measurement was the dominant biomarker. The majority of laboratories include creatine kinase (CK) in their cardiac profile and approximately 50% also offer the MB isoenzyme of CK. The majority of laboratories (91.9%) measure cTn by a high sensitivity method. Sex specific reference ranges were typically implemented for cardiac troponin I but not for cardiac troponin T. The preferred unit of measurement was nanograms/L. A structured decision-making pathway utilising high sensitivity cTn measurement was used by 83.3% of laboratories who responded. Single sample rule out is common but the majority used serial sampling strategy based on measurement on admission and three hours. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of cTn by a high sensitivity method is now well established internationally, the use of rapid diagnostic protocols lags behind.

Surface plasmon resonance biosensors for early troponin detection.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the life-threatening causes that decrease blood flow to the heart, leading to increased mortality and related complications. Recently, the measure of blood concentration of cardiac biomarkers has been suggested to overcome the limitations of electrocardiography (ECG) analyses for early diagnosis of this disease. Troponins, especially cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T, with high sensitivity and specificity, are considered the gold standards in myocardial diagnosis. Recently, the use of new biosensors such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for early detection of these biomarkers has been greatly appreciated. Due to the rapid, sensitive, real-time, and label-free detection of SPR-based biosensors, they can be applied for selective and nonspecific absorption that is intended to be used as an in situ cardiac biosensor. Here, we exclusively discussed the updated developments of these valuable predictors for the possible occurrence of AMI detected by SPR.

Could paramedics use the HEART Pathway to identify patients at low-risk of myocardial infarction in the prehospital setting?

In the Emergency Department, patients with suspected myocardial infarction can be risk stratified using the HEART pathway, which has recently been amended for prehospital use and modified for the incorporation of a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin test. In a prospective analysis, the performance of both HEART pathways in the prehospital setting, with a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin test using 3 different thresholds, was evaluated for major adverse cardiac events at 30 days. We found that both low-risk HEART pathways, when using the most conservative cardiac troponin thresholds, approached but did not reach accepted rule-out performance in the Emergency Department.

Unstable Angina Risk Stratification Using High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin and Coronary Angiography.

Patients formerly diagnosed with unstable angina (UA) are being reclassified as non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction with the widespread adoption of high-sensitivity troponin (hsTn) assays, leading to significant changes in the incidence and prognosis of UA. This study aimed to evaluate the value of hsTn and the presence of significant obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in the risk stratification of patients with UA. We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of 742 patients hospitalized for UA between 2016 and 2021. The primary end point of this study was all-cause mortality. The secondary outcome (major adverse cardiac events [MACEs]) was defined as a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), hospitalization for heart failure (hHF), and repeated coronary angiography because of recurring UA (rUA) after the index event. The outcomes were assessed within 1 month, 1 year, and up to 5 years of follow-up. The average follow-up duration was 45 ± 24 months, and 37.2% (n = 276) of patients completed a 5-year follow-up. No in-hospital death was observed, and 6.9% of patients died during follow-up, which was more commonly a late event (>12 months). The composite secondary end point (MI+hHF+rUA) was observed in 16.7% of the patients. There were 3.2% nonfatal MI, 2.3% hHF, and 11.6% rUA during follow-up. We developed a risk model (UA mortality risk) using variables with the highest discriminatory power: age, hsTn, and ST-segment deviation. Our model performed well against the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction risk scores in predicting death during follow-up. Obstructive CAD on coronary angiography was the only independent predictor of MACEs during follow-up. In conclusion, a contemporary cohort of patients with UA presented with favorable prognosis, particularly, within the first year after the index event. Nonsignificant increases in hsTn levels add to the risk stratification of patients with UA, and the presence of obstructive CAD was the only independent predictor of MACEs, highlighting the potential importance of assessing coronary anatomy.

Effect of transitioning from conventional cardiac troponin to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin on resource utilization- a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Compared to conventional cardiac troponin (cTn), the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assay is associated with improved detection of myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: We performed a descriptive retrospective analysis of resource utilization at Rush University Medical Center over the transition period (July 1, 2021) from a cTn to a hs-cTn assay. Inclusion criteria included emergency department (ED) encounters between January 1 to December 31, 2021, with chief complaints of "chest pain" or "dyspnea" with associated troponin orders. The primary endpoint was the percentage of ED discharges. Secondary endpoints included the number of cardiac studies ordered. Univariable comparisons of these endpoints were performed using Student's t-test for continuous variables and Chi-square tests for binary/categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 5113 encounters were analyzed. Hs-cTn was associated with an overall increase in ED patient discharges with negative troponin tests (44.1% vs. 29.9%, P < 0.01). In terms of cardiac testing per encounter, hs-cTn was associated with significant increases in the number of troponin tests (1.9 vs. 1.6, P < 0.01), electrocardiograms (3.0 vs. 2.9, P = 0.01), and echocardiograms (0.5 vs. 0.4, P < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in the utilization of stress testing (0.21 vs. 0.26, P < 0.01). There was a significant increase in total coronary angiography use during the hs-cTn period compared to cTn (227/2471 (9.2%) vs. 195/2642 (7.4%), P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Transitioning from cTn to hs-cTn was associated with significantly increased ED discharges and an increase in troponin tests, ECG, echocardiograms, and coronary angiograms. There was a decrease in the number of stress tests.

Biochemical and Hematological Profile of Covid-19 Patients on Mechanical Ventilation.

Beakground: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in COVID-19 patients, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are the most common comorbid conditions in COVID-19 patients, is considered a risk factor for premature mortality in the population. The aim of the study is to compare the standard biochemical and hematological markers of COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation and those who have recovered, and to identify differences by gender and comorbidities, as well as the dominant marker in comorbidities that frequently shows statistical significance, in order to investigate its prognostic value in further research. METHODS: The study is a retrospective study of patients with RT-PCR confirmed presence of the Sars-CoV-2 virus who were hospitalized at the Zenica Cantonal Hospital. The study lasted from February to April 2021. RESULTS: The results of the study, which included a sample of 302 participants, indicate that men were more represented in both the mechanical ventilation group and the recovered group, with 59.6% compared to women with 40.4%. Among the investigated biochemical and hematological parameters, there was a significantly higher number of leukocytes, urea, creatinine, LDH, and troponin in patients on mechanical ventilation, while the number of platelets was significantly higher in recovered patients. The most common comorbidity was hypertension in both groups of patients, with 24.5%. In patients on mechanical ventilation with cardiovascular disease, there was a significantly higher number of leukocytes, urea, creatinine, LDH, and troponin. In the same patients with three comorbidities, there was a significantly higher number of leukocytes, troponin, and LDH, while recovered patients without comorbidities had a significantly higher number of platelets. CONCLUSIONS: The male gender and comorbidities remain a vicious circle in COVID-19 infection, while biochemical and hematological markers can help in forecasting and improve the clinical treatment of these high-risk patients.

Comparison of Del Nido (a different application) and crystalloid blood cardioplegia on arrhythmia and early results.

BACKGROUND: The results of the use of del-Nido(DN) solution using a different method or crystalloid blood cardioplegia in coronary bypass patients were compared. We aimed to investigate the effects on intraoperative and postoperative arrhythmias, arrhythmia durations and early results. METHODS: The study included 175 patients using crystalloid blood cardioplegia (Group 1) and 150 patients using DN solution(Group 2). In the DN group, 75% of the calculated plegia dose was given first. the remaining part was applied by giving from grafts. Intraoperative/postoperative data were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics. Preop troponin level was similar.(p = 0.190) However, there was a statistical difference between the postoperative 6th hour.(p = 0.001) There was no difference in troponin values at the postoperative 24th hour. (p = 0.631) Spontaneous rhythm occurred at the cardiopulmonary by pass (CPB) weaning stage in most of the patients in Group 2 (95.3%). Although the need for temporary pacing was less in Group 2, it was not significant.(p = 0.282) No patient required permanent pacing. CPB duration, cross clamp times and intraoperative glucose levels, intensive care follow-up times and hospitalization times were found to be shorter in Group 2. Although the postoperative atrial fibrillation frequency was similar (p = 0.261), the time to return to sinus was lower in Group 2.(p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of DN cardioplegia solution provides significant positive contributions to avoid arrhythmias compared to crystalloid blood cardioplegia. DN solution applied with this method may contribute to reducing the anxieties associated with its use in isolated coronary artery bypass surgery.

Myosin's powerstroke transitions define atomic scale movement of cardiac thin filament tropomyosin.

Dynamic interactions between the myosin motor head on thick filaments and the actin molecular track on thin filaments drive the myosin-crossbridge cycle that powers muscle contraction. The process is initiated by Ca2+ and the opening of troponin-tropomyosin-blocked myosin-binding sites on actin. The ensuing recruitment of myosin heads and their transformation from pre-powerstroke to post-powerstroke conformation on actin produce the force required for contraction. Cryo-EM-based atomic models confirm that during this process, tropomyosin occupies three different average positions on actin. Tropomyosin pivoting on actin away from a TnI-imposed myosin-blocking position accounts for part of the Ca2+ activation observed. However, the structure of tropomyosin on thin filaments that follows pre-powerstroke myosin binding and its translocation during myosin's pre-powerstroke to post-powerstroke transition remains unresolved. Here, we approach this transition computationally in silico. We used the myosin helix-loop-helix motif as an anchor to dock models of pre-powerstroke cardiac myosin to the cleft between neighboring actin subunits along cardiac thin filaments. We then performed targeted molecular dynamics simulations of the transition between pre- and post-powerstroke conformations on actin in the presence of cardiac troponin-tropomyosin. These simulations show Arg 369 and Glu 370 on the tip of myosin Loop-4 encountering identically charged residues on tropomyosin. The charge repulsion between residues causes tropomyosin translocation across actin, thus accounting for the final regulatory step in the activation of the thin filament, and, in turn, facilitating myosin movement along the filament. We suggest that during muscle activity, myosin-induced tropomyosin movement is likely to result in unencumbered myosin head interactions on actin at low-energy cost.

Incidence and associated in-hospital mortality of myocardial injury characterised by elevated cardiac troponin in adult patients with traumatic brain injury: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Myocardial injury is a relatively common complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the incidence and clinical impact of myocardial injury characterised by elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) levels after TBI are still poorly known. The objective of our study is to assess the global incidence of myocardial injury characterised by elevated cTn in adult patients with TBI and its association with in-hospital mortality. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The protocol of our systematic review and meta-analysis is performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. We will search the Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science databases from inception to 1 January 2024, for observational studies in any language that reported the incidence of elevated cTn and/or in-hospital mortality associated with elevated cTn among adult patients with TBI. Two reviewers will independently assess study eligibility, extract the data and assess the risk of bias. ORs and 95% CIs will be used with a random-effects or fixed-effects model according to the estimated heterogeneity among studies assessed by the I2 index. We will perform a quantitative synthesis for the incidence of elevated cTn and in-hospital mortality data. If sufficient data are available, we will perform subgroup analysis and meta-regression to address the heterogeneity. In addition, we will perform a narrative analysis if quantitative synthesis is not appropriate. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was not required for this study. We intend to publish our findings in a high-quality, peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023454686.