Early left atrial dysfunction is associated with suboptimal cardiovascular health.

AIMS: Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography can assess left atrial (LA) function by measuring atrial volumes and deformation parameters (strain, strain rate). This cross-sectional analysis explores the association between ideal CV health (CVH), LA function, and systemic biomarkers in healthy individuals from the Chilean MAUCO Cohort. METHODS: We enrolled 95 MAUCO participants with different levels of CVH (mean age: 51 ± 8 years). We categorized participants into low or high CVH groups: A: 0-2, or B: 3-6 CVH risk factors. 2D echocardiography, glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, proBNP, hsCRP, insulin resistance index (HOMA), and right and left atrial strain (RASs and LASs, respectively) were determined. RESULTS: LASs was lower in Group A, while systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), insulin, HOMA, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LV and RV end-diastolic volume were significantly higher in Group A than Group B (P < .01). Change in LASs was inversely correlated with insulin (P = .040), HOMA (P = .013), total cholesterol (P = .039), glycemia (P = .018), and BMI (P = .0.037). CONCLUSION: LASs during the reservoir phase was diminished in subjects with a lower level of CVH. Higher insulin, HOMA, total cholesterol, glycemia, and BMI values were associated with decreased LA deformation during the reservoir phase. Morphofunctional alterations of the LA were also identified in the group with suboptimal CVH, as well as BP values in the range of hypertension. LA dysfunction in an asymptomatic population, along with metabolic syndrome, could be an early event in the continuum of CV damage.

First trimester prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus using plasma biomarkers: a case-control study.

Objectives To evaluate the first trimester maternal biomarkers for early pregnancy prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods The study was a case-control study of healthy women with singleton pregnancies at the first trimester carried out at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Clinica Davila, Santiago, Chile. After obtaining informed consent, peripheral blood samples of pregnant women under 14 weeks of gestation were collected. At 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, women were classified as GDM (n=16) or controls (n=80) based on the results of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In all women, we measured concentrations of fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin, uric acid, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), adiponectin, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), leptin and placental growth factor (PGF). Results The GDM group displayed an increased median concentration of cholesterol (P=0.04), triglycerides (P=0.003), insulin (P=0.003), t-PA (P=0.0088) and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) (P=0.003) and an increased mean concentration of LDL (P=0.009) when compared to the control group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for significant variables achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.870, a sensitivity of 81.4% and a specificity of 80.0%. The OGTT was positive for GDM according to the IADPSG (International Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group) criteria. Conclusion Women who subsequently developed GDM showed higher levels of blood-borne biomarkers during the first trimester, compared to women who did not develop GDM. These data warrant validation in a larger cohort.

Patients with acute cervical insufficiency without intra-amniotic infection/inflammation treated with cerclage have a good prognosis.

Background The frequency of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI/I) in patients with midtrimester cervical insufficiency is up to 50%. Our purpose was to determine the perinatal outcomes of cervical cerclage in patients with acute cervical insufficiency with bulging membranes, and to compare the admission-to-delivery interval and pregnancy outcomes according to the results of amniotic fluid (AF) analysis and cerclage placement. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study including singleton pregnancies with cervical insufficiency between 15 and 26.9 weeks in two tertiary health centers. IAI/I was defined when at least one of the following criteria was present in AF: (a) a white blood cell (WBC) count >50 cells/mm3; (b) glucose concentration <14 mg/dL; and/or (c) a Gram stain positive for bacteria. Three different groups were compared: (1) absence of IAI/I with placement of a cerclage; (2) amniocentesis not performed with placement of a cerclage; and (3) IAI/I with or without a cerclage. Results Seventy patients underwent an amniocentesis to rule out IAI/I. The prevalence of IAI/I was 19%. Forty-seven patients underwent a cerclage. Patients with a cerclage had a longer median admission-to-delivery interval (33 vs. 2 days; P < 0.001) and delivered at a higher median gestational age (27.4 vs. 22.6 weeks; P = 0.001) than those without a cerclage. The neonatal survival rate in the cerclage group was 62% vs. 23% in those without a cerclage (P = 0.01). Patients without IAI/I who underwent a cerclage had a longer median admission-to-delivery interval (43 vs. 1 day; P < 0.001), delivered at a higher median gestational age (28 vs. 22.1 weeks; P = 0.001) and had a higher neonatal survival rate (67% vs. 8%; P < 0.001) than those with IAI/I. Conclusion The pregnancy outcomes of patients with midtrimester cervical insufficiency and bulging membranes are poor as they have a high prevalence of IAI/I. Therefore, a pre-operative amniocentesis is key to identify the best candidates for the subsequent placement of a cerclage.

[Obesity: risk factor or primary disease?] / Obesidad: ¿Factor de riesgo o enfermedad?

Obesity is a global health problem. Its worldwide prevalence has tripled between 1975 and 2016, reaching a prevalence in Chile of 34.4%, according to the National Health Survey 2016-2017. If this condition corresponds to a risk factor or primary disease is a widely discussed issue. It is recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association and World Health Organization, based on its metabolic and hormonal features, such as dysregulation of appetite, abnormal energy balance and endocrine dysfunction, among others. Its main environmental risk factors are the consumption of ultra-processed foods and sedentariness. Preventive measures at the population level are fundamental, emphasizing promotion and prevention using a transdisciplinary approach. The individual approach in the management of obesity should improve the quality of life, avoid early mortality, reduce cardiovascular risk, and reduce the progression to type 2 diabetes and incidence of cancer. Thus, an adequate management and control of obesity would have a great impact in our society.

The association between walking pace and grip strength and all-cause mortality: A prospective analysis from the MAUCO cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the individual and combined association of walking pace and grip strength with all-cause mortality in Chilean adults. STUDY DESIGN: 8813 participants (54.6 % women) from the MAUCO population-based cohort were included in this prospective study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Individual and combined associations of grip strength (normal or low grip) and walking pace (normal or slow walking) with all-cause mortality were investigated using Cox proportional-hazard models. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 4.74 years, 151 and 206 participants included in the analyses of walking pace and grip strength died. Individuals with low grip strength had a risk of dying 2.40 times (95 % CI: 1.64 to 3.51) higher than their counterparts with normal grip strength. Similar results were identified for slow walkers (HR: 1.77 [95 % CI: 1.25 to 2.50]). When the two factors were combined and the associations investigated, individuals with normal walking pace but with low grip strength had a higher risk of all-cause mortality than those with normal walking pace and normal grip strength (HR: 3.56 [95 % CI: 1.99 to 6.36]). The associations remained even after including a 1- and 2-year landmark period in the analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Slow walking pace and low grip strength were associated with a higher risk of mortality (both in isolation and combined). These factors might be early markers of all-cause mortality, and should be measured more frequently in middle-aged and older adults in clinical practice.

Reduced FOXM1 Expression Limits Trophoblast Migration and Angiogenesis and Is Associated With Preeclampsia.

Trophoblast cells are often compared to highly invasive carcinoma cells due to their capacity to proliferate in hypoxic conditions and to exhibit analogous vascular, proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities. Thus, genes that are important for tumorigenesis, such as forkhead box M1 ( FOXM1) may also be involved in processes of trophoblast invasion. Indeed, we found Foxm1 protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels decreased as gestational age increased in rat's placentae. Accordingly, when mimicking early placental events in vitro, protein and mRNA expression of FOXM1 increased from 21% to 8% O2, reaching its highest expression at 3% oxygen tension, which reflects early implantation environment, and dropping to very low levels at 1% O2. Remarkably, FOXM1 silencing in JEG-3 cells was able to significantly decrease migration by 27.9%, in comparison with those cells transfected with control siRNA. Moreover, angiogenesis was compromised when conditioned media (CM) from FOXM1-siRNA -JEG-3 (3% O2) was added to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cells; however, when CM of JEG-3 cells overexpressing FOXM1 at 1% O2 was added, the ability of HUVEC to form tubule networks was restored. Additionally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of FOXM1 knockdown and overexpression experiments in JEG-3 cells revealed that the depletion of FOXM1 at 3% O2 and overexpression of FOXM1 at 1% O2 led to downregulation and upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor transcriptional (VEGF) levels, respectively. Conversely, we also observed deregulation of FOXM1 in placentae derived from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (PE). Therefore, we demonstrate that FOXM1 may be a new regulatory protein of early placentation processes and that under chronic hypoxic conditions (1% O2) and in patients with severe PE, its levels decrease.

Effects of earthquake on perinatal outcomes: A Chilean register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Natural disasters increase the level population stress, including pregnant women, who can experience prenatal maternal stress, affecting the fetus and triggering perinatal complications, such as low birth weight, smaller head circumference, etc. However, little is known about effects of earthquake on perinatal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of earthquake occurred on February 27, 2010 and perinatal outcomes of Chilean pregnant women, and to examine these effects by timing of exposure during pregnancy and newborn gender. METHODS: A register-based study was performed using data collected from women who had a vaginal delivery in a large private health center in Santiago, Chile, during 2009 and 2010. The study population was categorized according to exposure to earthquake and timing during gestation. Primary perinatal outcomes were gestational age at birth, birth weight, length and head circumference. Analyses adjusted for gender, gestational age at exposure, parity, maternal age and income. RESULTS: A total of 1,966 eligible vaginal deliveries occurred during 2009 and 2,110 in 2010. Birth weight was not affected by the trimester of exposure; however, length, head circumference and gestational age at birth were significantly different according to trimester of exposure and gender of newborn. In multivariable analysis, newborns were shorter by 2 mm, 5 mm and 4.5 mm, if they were exposed during their first, second and third trimester, respectively. Furthermore, newborns had a smaller head circumference by 1.2 mm and 1.5 mm if they were exposed during first and second trimester of gestation. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, exposure to the February 2010 earthquake resulted in earlier delivery and reduced length and head circumference in the offspring. This association varied according to trimester of exposure and fetal gender. Health workers should include exposed to high levels of stress associated with natural disasters when assessing pregnancy risk factors.

Obesidad: ¿Factor de riesgo o enfermedad? / Obesity: risk factor or primary disease?

Obesity is a global health problem. Its worldwide prevalence has tripled between 1975 and 2016, reaching a prevalence in Chile of 34.4%, according to the National Health Survey 2016-2017. If this condition corresponds to a risk factor or primary disease is a widely discussed issue. It is recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association and World Health Organization, based on its metabolic and hormonal features, such as dysregulation of appetite, abnormal energy balance and endocrine dysfunction, among others. Its main environmental risk factors are the consumption of ultra-processed foods and sedentariness. Preventive measures at the population level are fundamental, emphasizing promotion and prevention using a transdisciplinary approach. The individual approach in the management of obesity should improve the quality of life, avoid early mortality, reduce cardiovascular risk, and reduce the progression to type 2 diabetes and incidence of cancer. Thus, an adequate management and control of obesity would have a great impact in our society.

En el Infarto agudo al miocardio los niveles plasmáticos de microvesículas extracelulares se elevan más precozmente que el aumento de la Troponina-I / Plasma levels of extracellular macrovesicles are elevated earlier than troponin-I in patients with myocardial infarction

Introducción: La Troponina I (TnI) plasmática es el biomarcador "Gold" estándar utilizado en diagnóstico de Infarto Agudo al Miocardio (IAM), indicando necrosis cardíaca. Las microvesículas extracelulares (MVEC), participan en comunicación celular, por lo que estudiar su distribución entregaría información respecto del evento isquémico, antesala del infarto. Objetivo: Estudiar las MVECs plasmáticas en pacientes con Síndrome Coronario Agudo (SCA) y compararlas con los niveles de TnI. Métodos: Plasma de 22 pacientes controles se recolectó 0-2hrs post-ingreso a urgencia. Plasma de 45 pacientes SCA se recolectó 0-2, 6-8 y 10-14hrs post ingreso, junto con la toma de muestra para estudio de TnI. Las MVECs plasmáticas fueron enriquecidas mediante kit comercial. La determinación de la concentración y tamaño MVECs se realizó por NTA (Nanoparticles Tracking Assay) usando el equipo Nanosight. Resultados: La concentración promedio de MVECs 0-2 hrs post ingreso fue 7,2 veces superior en plasma de pacientes con SCA vs controles y la moda del tamaño disminuyó en pacientes con SCA. La TnI no mostró diferencias significativas en 0-2 hrs post ingreso en el grupo estudiado. La concentración de las MVEC disminuyó significativamente después de 10-14 hrs post ingreso, mientras que la concentración promedio TnI se mantuvo invariable demostrando el aumento de MVECs previo al incremento de TnI. Conclusión. El aumento de MVECs previo al incremento de la TnI en pacientes infartados, sugiere que las MVECs aumentan en la fase previa del IAM, como respuesta al daño tisular. Actualmente, estudiamos el contenido molecular de las MVECs, para establecer un método diagnóstico del Síndrome Coronario Agudo basado en MVECs.

Background: Troponin I (TnI) is the gold standard used to establish the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (AMI), indicating the presence of myocardial necrosis. Extracellular micro vesicles are involved in cellular communication. Their distribution may provide information relating to the development of AMI in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) Aim: to study plasma levels of ECMV compared to those of TnI in patients with ACS. Methods: The plasma levels of TnI and ECMV from 22 control patients coming to the emergency units was compared to plasma from 45 patients with ACS. Levels of both parameters were determined 0-2, 6-8 and 10-14 hours post admission. ECMVs were enriched by means of a commercial kit. Concentration and size of ECMV was determined by NTA (Nanoparticles tracking assay) using the Nanosight equipment. Results: Plasma concentration of ECMV was 7.2 times higher than that of TnI 0-2 hrs post admission. The mode of ECMV size was lower in patients with ACS. Concentration of ECMV had decreased significantly 10-14 hrs post admission, whereas the TnI levees remained stable. Conclusion: The increase in ECMV earlier than TnI in AMI suggests that ECMV are elevated in the pre-AMI phase, as a response to early tissue damage. A study of cellular content of ECMV, being carried out, may lead to develop a method for the early diagnosis of AMI in patients with ACS.