Anomalous circumflex artery encircling the aortic annulus: implications for mitral valve repair.

Injury to coronary arteries during mitral surgery is a rare but life-threatening procedural complication, an anomalous origin and course of the left circumflex artery (LCx) increase this risk. Recognizing the anomaly by the characteristic angiographic pattern and identifying its relationship with the surrounding anatomical structure using imaging techniques, mainly transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) or coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), is of crucial importance in setting up the best surgical strategy. We report a case of anomalous origin of a circumflex artery (LCx) from the proximal portion of the right coronary artery (RCA) with a pathway running retroaortically through the mitro-aortic space. An integrated diagnostic approach using a multidisciplinary team with a cardiologist and an imaging radiologist allowed us to decide the surgical strategy. We successfully performed a mitral valvular repair using a minimally invasive minithoracotomic approach and implanting a complete semirigid ring.

Celiac Disease and Cardiovascular Risk: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: The association of celiac disease (CD) with premature atherosclerosis, including increased carotid artery intima-media thickness and cardiovascular disease (CVD), is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate this relationship. METHODS: Clinical records of patients from Northern Sardinia referred to the Gastroenterology section of the Department of Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy, were analyzed. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for CVD with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated according to established risk factors, including age, sex, diabetes, dyslipidemia, overweight/obesity, blood hypertension, and cigarette smoking, as well as a possible risk factor such as H. pylori infection. RESULTS: In a total of 8495 patients (mean age 52.1 ± 17.3 years; 64.7% females), 2504 reported a diagnosis of CVD and 632 of CD. Logistic regression analysis showed a significantly reduced risk of CVD among patients with CD (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.22-0.41). Moreover, the long duration of the gluten-free diet (GFD) was able to lower the risk of CVD in celiac patients. Finally, CD significantly decreased the frequency of carotid plaques (11.8% vs. 40.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective study demonstrated that CD reduces the risk of CVD in general and more specifically of carotid lesions after adjusting for potential confounders, especially in those on GFD for a long time.

Clinical and Hemodynamic Outcomes of Rapid-Deployment Aortic Bioprostheses.

Aim of this retrospective, multicenter study was to evaluate early and mid-term clinical and hemodynamic results of patients who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with Intuity rapid-deployment bioprostheses (RDB) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA). We analyzed data from the Italian Registry of Intuity Valve (INTU-ITA registry) that is a national, real-world and independent from the industry registry. Preoperative variables were defined according to EuroSCORE and postoperative outcomes according to Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC). Survival distribution was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier approach. A Cox-Proportional Hazard Model was employed to assess the effect of the covariates on patients' survival. The registry included 1687 patients from 23 centers (June 2012-September 2019). Aortic cross clamp time for isolated SAVR was 55 minutes (IQR: 45-70 minute). Postoperative pace-maker rate was 6.3%. At discharge transaortic peak and mean gradients were: 18 mm Hg (IQR: 14-23 mm Hg) and 10 mmHg (IQR: 8-13 mm Hg), respectively. Indexed effective orifice area was 1.10 cm2/m2 (IQR: 0.91-1.31 cm2/m2) and the incidence of severe patient-prosthesis mismatch was 0.6%. Hemodynamic data for all valve sizes remained stable during follow-up. Thirty-day overall mortality was 1.8% (30 patients), and at follow-up it was 5.3% (89 patients). Kaplan-Meier overall survival was 95.5% (94.3-96.7%); 90.7% (88.3-93.1%); 86.4% (82.6-90.4%) at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Serum creatinine (HR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.04-1.81; p = 0.0397) and cross-clamp time (HR: 1.01; 95%CI: 1.002-1.017; p = 0.0077) were identified as independent predictors of mortality. According to our data from the INTU-ITA registry, SAVR with RDB provides good early clinical and hemodynamic results that are confirmed at follow-up.

Metformin Therapy Effects on the Expression of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2, Leptin, and SIRT6 Levels in Pericoronary Fat Excised from Pre-Diabetic Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: pericoronary fat over-inflammation might lead to the development and destabilization of coronary plaque in patients with pre-diabetes (PDM). Notably, pericoronary fat could over-express the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) and leptin, along with decreased sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) expression in PDM vs. normoglycemic (NG) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, in the current study, we evaluated inflammatory markers, SGLT2, SIRT6, and leptin levels in pericoronary fat and, subsequently, 12-month prognosis comparing PDM to NG subjected to CABG for AMI. In addition, we evaluated in PDM patients the effects of metformin therapy on SIRT6 expression, leptin, and SGLT2 levels, and assessed its beneficial effect on nitrotyrosine and inflammatory cytokine levels. METHODS: we studied AMI patients referred for CABG, divided into PDM and NG-patients. PDM patients were divided into never-metformin users and metformin users. Finally, we evaluated major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at a 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: the MACE was 9.1% in all PDM and 3% in NG patients (p < 0.05). Metformin users presented a significantly lower MACE rate in PDM than never-metformin users (p < 0.05). PDM showed higher inflammatory cytokines, 3-nitrotyrosine levels, SGLT2, and leptin content, and decreased SIRT6 protein levels in pericoronary fat compared to NG-patients (p < 0.05). PDM never-metformin-users showed higher SGLT2 and leptin levels in pericoronary fat than current-metformin-users (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: metformin therapy might ameliorate cardiovascular outcomes by reducing inflammatory parameters, SGLT2, and leptin levels, and finally improving SIRT6 levels in AMI-PDM patients treated with CABG.

Water Quality and Mortality from Coronary Artery Disease in Sardinia: A Geospatial Analysis.

The role of water hardness on human health is still debated, ranging from beneficial to harmful. Before the rise of drinking bottled water, it was a common habit to obtain supplies of drinking water directly from spring-fed public fountains. According to the geographic location, spring waters are characterized by a variable content of mineral components. In this ecological study, for the first time in Sardinia, Italy, the spatial association between spring water quality/composition and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the decade from 1981 to 1991 was investigated using data retrieved from published databases. In a total of 377 municipalities, 9918 deaths due to CAD, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ICD-9 code 410, and ischemic heart disease (IHD), ICD-9 code 411-414, were retrieved. A conditional autoregressive model with spatially structured random effects for each municipality was used. The average SMR for CAD in municipalities with a predominantly "soft" (<30 mg/L) or "hard" (≥30 mg/L) water was, respectively, 121.4 ± 59.1 vs. 104.7 ± 38.2 (p = 0.025). More specifically, an inverse association was found between elevated calcium content in spring water and cardiovascular mortality (AMI: r = -0.123, p = 0.032; IHD: r = -0.146, p = 0.009) and borderline significance for magnesium (AMI: r = -0.131, p = 0.054; IHD: r = -0.138, p = 0.074) and bicarbonate (IHD: r = -0.126, p = 0.058), whereas weak positive correlations were detected for sodium and chloride. The lowest CAD mortality was observed in geographic areas (North-West: SMR 0.92; South-East: SMR 0.88), where calcium- and bicarbonate-rich mineral waters were consumed. Our results, within the limitation of an ecological study, confirm the beneficial role of waters with high content in calcium and bicarbonate against coronary artery disease.

The Controversial Role of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency on Cardiovascular Disease: A Narrative Review.

Cardiovascular disorders (CVD) are highly prevalent and the leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is responsible for most cases of CVD. The plaque formation and subsequent thrombosis in atherosclerosis constitute an ongoing process that is influenced by numerous risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, inflammation, and sedentary lifestyle. Among the various risk and protective factors, the role of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, the most common inborn enzyme disorder across populations, is still debated. For decades, it has been considered a protective factor against the development of CVD. However, in the recent years, growing scientific evidence has suggested that this inherited condition may act as a CVD risk factor. The role of G6PD deficiency in the atherogenic process has been investigated using in vitro or ex vivo cellular models, animal models, and epidemiological studies in human cohorts of variable size and across different ethnic groups, with conflicting results. In this review, the impact of G6PD deficiency on CVD was critically reconsidered, taking into account the most recent acquisitions on molecular and biochemical mechanisms, namely, antioxidative mechanisms, glutathione recycling, and nitric oxide production, as well as their mutual interactions, which may be impaired by the enzyme defect in the context of the pentose phosphate pathway. Overall, current evidence supports the notion that G6PD downregulation may favor the onset and evolution of atheroma in subjects at risk of CVD. Given the relatively high frequency of this enzyme deficiency in several regions of the world, this finding might be of practical importance to tailor surveillance guidelines and facilitate risk stratification.

Incidental finding and conservative management of left main coronary atresia in an adult patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Left main (LM) coronary atresia (LMCA) is a rare coronary anomaly where the LM is congenitally absent and a variable clinical spectrum can follow. The diagnosis of LMCA is generally made in youth because of the development of symptoms, but very rarely in adulthood. In symptomatic patients, surgical revascularization is recommended, whereas, in asymptomatic patients with LMCA and without inducible myocardial ischaemia, preventive surgical treatment is controversial. CASE SUMMARY: A 58-year-old male patient with aortic ectasia detected during an echocardiogram performed to evaluate a hypertension-related preclinical cardiac damage and, due to this finding, an echocardiographic follow-up was suggested. Three years later, he was admitted to undergo coronary angiography (CA) after the computed tomography finding of a suspected occlusion of the LM with collateral circulation from right coronary artery (RCA) to left anterior descending and circumflex arteries. CA confirmed an LMCA and the RCA provided blood supply to the left coronary artery through collaterals whose calibre was similar to that of the target left-sided vessels. No obstructive coronary artery disease was detected. In order to detect potential myocardial ischaemia, a technetium-tetrofosmin cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography during maximal exercise-stress test was performed and it did not show a perfusion defect. Medical management with scheduled follow-up visits was deemed to be the best therapeutic option. DISCUSSION: LMCA is a rare anomaly where LM is absent and the RCA provides collateral circulation for left coronary artery. In asymptomatic patients, preventive surgical treatment is controversial.

Microbiota thrombus colonization may influence athero-thrombosis in hyperglycemic patients with ST segment elevation myocardialinfarction (STEMI). Marianella study.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the association of the coronary thrombus microbiota and relative metabolites with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in hyperglycemic patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia during STEMI may affect both development and progression of coronary thrombus via gut and thrombus microbiota modifications. METHODS: We undertook an observational cohort study of 146 first STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and thrombus-aspiration (TA). Patients were clustered, based on admission blood glucose levels, in hyperglycemic (≥140 mg/dl) and normoglycemic (<140 mg/dl). We analyzed gut and thrombus microbiota in all patients. Moreover, we assessed TMAO, CD40L and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) in coronary thrombi. Cox regressions were used for the association between Prevotellaspp. and TMAO terziles and MACE. MACE endpoint at 1 year included death, re-infarction, unstable angina. RESULTS: In fecal and thrombus samples, we observed a significantly different prevalence of both Prevotellaspp. and Alistipesspp. between patients with hyperglycemia (n = 56) and those with normal glucose levels (n = 90). The abundance of Prevotella increased in hyperglycemic vs normoglycemic patients whereas the contrary was observed for Alistipes. Interestingly, in coronary thrombus, the content of Prevotella was associated with admission blood glucose levels (p < 0.01), thrombus dimensions (p < 0.01), TMAO, CDL40 (p < 0.01) and vWF (p < 0.01) coronary thrombus contents. Multivariate Cox-analysis disclosed a reduced survival in patients with high levels of Prevotella and TMAO in coronary thrombus as compared to patients with low levels of Prevotella and TMAO, after 1-year follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia during STEMI may increase coronary thrombus burden via gut and thrombus microbiota dysbiosis characterized by an increase of Prevotella and TMAO content in thrombi. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03439592. September 30, 2016. Ethic Committee Vanvitelli University: 268/2016.

The Elderly with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency are More Susceptible to Cardiovascular Disease.

AIM: Recent studies suggest that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetically inherited condition causing hemolytic anemia, may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to perform a retrospective case-control study in Sardinia taking advantage from clinical records of patients undergoing upper digestive endoscopy and screened for H. pylori infection. METHODS: A total of 9,604 patients with a known G6PD status and a complete clinical history, encompassing CVD, and leading CVD risk factors, including H. pylori infection, undergoing upper endoscopy between 2002 and 2017 were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed an increased CVD risk in subjects with G6PD deficiency [odd ratio (OR), 3.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44-4.30] after adjusting for potential confounders and effect modifiers, including H. pylori infection. Cardiovascular risk was similar in subjects with and without G6PD deficiency before age 60 (OR, 1.26; 95% CI 0.78-2.04, P=0.562), whereas it increased after age 60 in the former group (OR, 3.05; 95% CI 2.22-4.19, P＜0.0001) especially in males (OR 3.67; 95% CI 2.19-6.14) compared with females (OR, 2.96; 95% CI 1.89-4.64) by sex-specific logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The risk of CVD was greater in G6PD-deficient subjects after age 60, both in males and females, than those with normal enzyme activity, after adjusting for conventional CVD risk factors and H. pylori infection. The reduction of important protective mechanisms against oxidative stress in the elderly might explain the study findings.

Minimally Invasive vs Conventional Aortic Valve Replacement With Rapid-Deployment Bioprostheses.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to compare early and midterm clinical and hemodynamic results of aortic valve replacement with rapid-deployment bioprostheses performed through conventional full-sternotomy vs mini-sternotomy. METHODS: Data from the Italian multicenter registry of aortic valve replacement with rapid-deployment bioprostheses (INTU-ITA registry) were analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: full sternotomy (FS) and ministernotomy (MS). Primary endpoint was the comparison of early and midterm mortality. Secondary endpoints were: comparison of intraoperative variables, complications, and hemodynamic performance. A propensity score weighting approach was used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1057 patients were analyzed: 435 (41.2%) and 622 (58.8%) in group FS and MS, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 1.6% and 0.6% in FS and MS groups, respectively (P = .074). cardiopulmonary bypass time was 78.5 minutes and 83 minutes in FS and MS groups, respectively (P = .414). In the overall cohort, the incidence of intraoperative complications and of device success was 3.8% (40 patients) and 95.9% (1014 patients), respectively, with no significant differences between groups. Survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 94.1%, 98.1%, 88.5% and 91.8%, 85.2%, and 84.8% in FS and MS groups, respectively (P = .412). The 2 groups showed similar postoperative gradients (median mean gradient, FS: 10.0 mm Hg, MS: 11.0 mm Hg; P = .170) and also similar incidence of patient-prosthesis mismatch (FS: 7%, MS: 6.4%, P = .647). CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, rapid-deployment bioprostheses allow the performance of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with similar surgical times and similar clinical and hemodynamic outcomes to conventional surgery and should be considered the first choice in these procedures.

Right ventricular assessment can improve prognostic value of Euroscore II.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicenter prospective study was to evaluate the prognostic weight of preoperative right ventricular assessment on early mortality in cardiac surgery. METHODS: This is a multicenter prospective observational study performed by the Italian Group of Research for Outcome in Cardiac Surgery (GIROC) including 11 centers. From October 2017 to March 2019, out of 923 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, 28 patients with some missing data were excluded and 895 patients were enrolled in the study right ventricular dilatation was defined as a basal end-diastolic diameter >42 mm. The right ventricle (RV) function was assessed using the combination of three parameters: fractional area changing (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and S'-wave using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI-S'); RV dysfunction was defined as the presence of at least two of the following cutoffs: FAC <35%, TAPSE <17 mm, and TDI S' <9.5 mm RESULTS: Among the entire cohort, 624 (70%) showed normal RV, 92 (10%) isolated RV dilatation, 154 (17%) isolated RV dysfunction, and 25 (3%) both RV dilatation and dysfunction. Non-surviving patients showed a significantly higher rate of RV alteration at multivariable analysis, RV status was found to be an independent predictor for higher in-hospital mortality beside Euroscore II. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective multicenter observation study shows the importance to assess RV preoperatively and to include both RV function and dimension in a risk score model such as Euroscore II to implement its predictivity, since PH cannot always mirror the status of the right ventricle.

Sudden floating thrombus formation on the delivery cable before Amplatzer-Amulet device deployment during left atrial appendage occlusion: The need for a standardized anticoagulation.

Anticoagulation is of paramount importance during left atrial appendage occlusion procedure (LAAOP) to prevent periprocedural stroke. We present the case of a 66-year-old male patient who was scheduled to undergo LAAOP because of a prior intracranial bleeding. After transesophageal echocardiography-guided transseptal puncture, intravenous heparin 5,000 IUs were administered obtaining an ACT greater than 300 s. We planned to implant an Amplatzer-Amulet 25 mm LAA occluder through the dedicated 12F delivery sheath. After starting the tug test, TEE suddenly showed a floating thrombus whose proximal part was connected to the delivery cable. Because transesophageal echocardiography showed a good position of the device, we decided to release it and to quickly retrieve as a unit into the right atrium both the delivery cable with attached thrombus and the delivery sheath. We discuss about periprocedural anticoagulation dosing and monitoring and the importance to have specific studies in the setting of LAAOP.

Surgical aortic valve replacement with new-generation bioprostheses: Sutureless versus rapid-deployment.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to compare early clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of Perceval-S sutureless (Livanova, London, United Kingdom) and Intuity rapid-deployment (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif) bioprostheses. METHODS: Data from patients who underwent isolated or combined aortic valve replacement with Perceval-S and with Intuity bioprostheses at 18 cardiac surgical institutions were analyzed. Propensity matching was performed to identify similar patient cohorts. RESULTS: We included 911 patients from March 2011 until May 2017. Perceval-S and Intuity valves were implanted in 349 (38.3%) and in 562 (61.7%) patients, respectively. Propensity score identified 117 matched pairs. In the matched cohort, device success was 99.1% and 100% in Perceval-S and Intuity group, respectively (P = 1.000). Thirty-day Valve Academic Research Consortium mortality occurred in 2 (1.7%) and 4 (3.4%) patients in the Perceval-S and in Intuity group, respectively (P = .6834). The rate of postoperative new permanent pacemaker implantation was 6% (7 patients) and 6.8% (8 patients) in the Perceval-S and in Intuity group, respectively (P = .7896). Perceval-S valve implantation requires significantly shorter aortic crossclamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times than Intuity valve implantation (aortic crossclamp time for isolated, 52 ± 14 minutes vs 62 ± 24 minutes; P < .0001). Peak transaortic gradients were 22.4 ± 8.1 mm Hg and 19.6 ± 6.7 mm Hg (P = .0144), whereas mean gradients were 11.8 ± 4.7 mm Hg and 10.5 ± 3.9 mm Hg (P = .0388) in the Perceval-S and Intuity groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sutureless Perceval-S and rapid-deployment Intuity bioprostheses provide good and similar early clinical and hemodynamic outcomes. Perceval-S valve implantation requires shorter crossclamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, whereas Intuity valve implantation provides lower transaortic peak and mean gradients.

Pericoronary fat inflammation and Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) in prediabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction: effects of metformin.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pericoronary adipose tissue inflammation might lead to the development and destabilization of coronary plaques in prediabetic patients. Here, we evaluated inflammation and leptin to adiponectin ratio in pericoronary fat from patients subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Furthermore, we compared the 12-month prognosis of prediabetic patients compared to normoglycemic patients (NG). Finally, the effect of metformin therapy on pericoronary fat inflammation and 12-months prognosis in AMI-prediabetic patients was also evaluated. METHODS: An observational prospective study was conducted on patients with first AMI referred for CABG. Participants were divided in prediabetic and NG-patients. Prediabetic patients were divided in two groups; never-metformin-users and current-metformin-users receiving metformin therapy for almost 6 months before CABG. During the by-pass procedure on epicardial coronary portion, the pericoronary fat was removed from the surrounding stenosis area. The primary endpoints were the assessments of Major-Adverse-Cardiac-Events (MACE) at 12-month follow-up. Moreover, inflammatory tone was evaluated by measuring pericoronary fat levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), and leptin to adiponectin ratio. Finally, inflammatory tone was correlated to the MACE during the 12-months follow-up. RESULTS: The MACE was 9.1% in all prediabetic patients and 3% in NG-patients. In prediabetic patients, current-metformin-users presented a significantly lower rate of MACE compared to prediabetic patients never-metformin-users. In addition, prediabetic patients showed higher inflammatory tone and leptin to adiponectin ratio in pericoronary fat compared to NG-patients (P < 0.001). Prediabetic never-metformin-users showed higher inflammatory tone and leptin to adiponectin ratio in pericoronary fat compared to current-metformin-users (P < 0.001). Remarkably, inflammatory tone and leptin to adiponectin ratio was significantly related to the MACE during the 12-months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Prediabetes increase inflammatory burden in pericoronary adipose tissue. Metformin by reducing inflammatory tone and leptin to adiponectin ratio in pericoronary fat may improve prognosis in prediabetic patients with AMI. Trial registration Clinical Trial NCT03360981, Retrospectively Registered 7 January 2018.

Traumatic mitral valve regurgitation: a case report and state-of-the-art review.

: Traumatic mitral valve regurgitation is a rare and often insidious condition. Clinical presentation is variable and influenced by the anatomic structures injured; when papillary muscles are damaged, the clinical presentation is often acute, whereas, in the case of involvement of other anatomic structures of the valvular apparatus (e.g. chordae tendinae), the onset of symptoms may be delayed (days, weeks, or months). Therefore, diagnosis may be belated because of the heterogeneous clinical presentation. Traumatic mitral valve injury should be excluded in patients admitted to the emergency services with blunt chest trauma, in particular when signs or symptoms of acute heart failure occur. Echocardiography, particularly with the transoesophageal approach, may play a pivotal role in this setting. Herein, we present a case of severe mitral regurgitation because of blunt chest trauma and a systematic review of the literature. We examined 192 described cases, classified according to epidemiology, aetiology, anatomic features, clinical presentation, diagnosis, surgical/clinical management and prognosis.

Effects of Metformin Therapy on Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients With Prediabetes With Stable Angina and Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Stenosis: The CODYCE Multicenter Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of metformin therapy on coronary endothelial function and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with prediabetes with stable angina and nonobstructive coronary stenosis (NOCS). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Metformin therapy may be needed to reduce coronary heart disease risk in patients with prediabetes. A total of 258 propensity score-matched (PSM) patients with stable angina undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Data from 86 PSM subjects with normoglycemia (NG), 86 PSM subjects with prediabetes (pre-DM), and 86 PSM subjects with prediabetes treated with metformin (pre-DM metformin) were analyzed. During coronary angiography, NOCS was categorized by luminal stenosis <40% and fractional flow reserve >0.80. In addition, we assessed the endothelial function, measuring coronary artery diameter of left anterior descending coronary (LAD) at baseline and after the infusion of acetylcholine, by means of an intracoronary Doppler guide wire. MACE, as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and heart failure, was evaluated at 24 months of follow-up. RESULTS: At baseline, NG patients had a lower percentage of LAD endothelial dysfunction compared with pre-DM patients (P < 0.05). The pre-DM patients had a higher percentage of endothelial LAD dysfunction as compared with the pre-DM metformin patients (P < 0.05). At the 24th month of follow-up, MACE was higher in pre-DM versus NG (P < 0.05). In pre-DM metformin patients, MACE was lower compared with pre-DM patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Metformin therapy may reduce the high risk of cardiovascular events in pre-DM patients by reducing coronary endothelial dysfunction.

Thrombus aspiration in hyperglycemic ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients: clinical outcomes at 1-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluate whether the thrombus aspiration (TA) before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) may improve STEMI outcomes in hyperglycemic patients. BACKGROUND: The management of hyperglycemic patients during STEMI is unclear. METHODS: We undertook an observational cohort study of 3166 first STEMI. Patients were grouped on the basis of whether they received TA or not. Moreover, among these patients we selected a subgroup of STEMI patients with hyperglycemia during the event (glycaemia > 140 mg/dl). The endpoint at 1 year included all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality and re-hospitalization for coronary disease, heart failure and stroke. RESULTS: One-thousand STEMI patients undergoing PPCI to plus TA (TA-group) and 1504 STEMI patients treated with PPCI alone (no-TA group) completed the study. In overall study-population, Kaplan-Meier-analysis demonstrated no significant difference in mortality rates between patients with and without TA (P = 0.065). After multivariate Cox-analysis (HR: 0.94, 95% CI 0.641-1.383) and the addition of propensity matching (HR: 0.86 95% CI 0.412-1.798) TA was still not associated with decreased mortality. By contrast, in hyperglycemic subgroup STEMI patients (TA-group, n = 331; no-TA group, n = 566), Kaplan-Meier-analysis demonstrated a significantly lower mortality (P = 0.019) in TA-group than the no-TA group. After multivariate Cox-analysis (HR: 0.64, 95% CI 0.379-0.963) and the addition of propensity matching (HR: 0.54, 95% CI 0.294-0.984) TA was still associated with decreased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: TA was not associated with lower mortality in PPCI for STEMI when used in our large all-comer cohort. Conversely, TA during PPCI for STEMI reduces clinical outcomes in hyperglycemic patients. Trial registration NCT02817542. 25th, June 2016.

Correction to: Thrombus aspiration in hyperglycemic ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients: clinical outcomes at 1-year follow-up.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in Acknowledgment section. The last sentence should read as "All authors have read and approval the submission to Cardiovascular Diabetology.

Early and Mid-Term Results of Rapid Deployment Valves: The Intuity Italian Registry (INTU-ITA).

BACKGROUND: Rapid deployment bioprostheses (RDBs) have been recently introduced into clinical practice for the treatment of severe aortic valve stenosis. The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to assess early and mid-term clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of patients undergoing RDB implantation. METHODS: Data from a national registry that included patients who underwent isolated or combined aortic valve replacement with RDB in Italy were analyzed. Definitions of the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation were used for preoperative variables and updated definitions from the Valve Academic Research Consortium were used for postoperative outcomes assessment. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of mortality. Follow-up was performed with clinical and echocardiographic examinations at each study site and, if this was not possible, through telephonic interviews. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: A total of 902 patients (December 2012 through November 2017) from 20 national centers were included in the registry. Device success was 95.9%, and 30-day all-cause mortality was 2.8%. Postoperative pacemaker implantation was needed in 63 patients (6.9%). At discharge, peak and mean transaortic gradients were 19 ± 7 mm Hg and 11 ± 4 mm Hg, respectively. Mild and moderate aortic regurgitation were found in 71 patients (8.2%) and in 10 patients (1.2%), respectively. Median follow-up time was 357 days (interquartile range: 103 to 638 days). Survival at 4 years was 86% ± 1%. Preoperative conduction disturbances and history of previous myocardial infarction were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic RDBs provide good early and mid-term clinical and hemodynamic outcomes. These devices may be considered as a reasonable alternative to conventional bioprostheses, especially in minimally invasive and combined operations.