Plasma sLRP-1 Level Independently Relates to a Higher Risk of Moderate-Severe Stenosis by Gensini Score in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients.

Soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (sLRP-1) plays a crucial role in facilitating inflammation, lipid accumulation, and atherosclerosis, and the latter factors are involved in the pathology of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the ability of plasma sLRP-1 for reflecting stenosis degree in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. sLRP-1 was detected from plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 169 ACS patients and 77 non-ACS subjects (as controls) after admission. Our study illustrated that sLRP-1 was increased in ACS patients versus controls (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, sLRP-1 was positively correlated with body mass index (P = 0.021), white blood cells (P = 0.009), neutrophils (P = 0.002), cardiac troponin I (P = 0.009), and brain natriuretic peptide (P = 0.008) in ACS patients. Notably, sLRP-1 was positively associated with the Gensini score (P = 0.002) and Gensini score stratified stenosis severity (P = 0.004) in ACS patients. After adjustment, sLRP-1 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.333, P = 0.045] independently estimated a higher risk of moderate-severe stenosis, so did numbers of coronary artery lesions (OR = 2.869, P = 0.001), but ejection fraction forecasted a lower risk (OR = 0.880, P = 0.012). Interestingly, a combination of sLRP-1, ejection fraction, and numbers of coronary artery lesions exhibited a good ability to estimate moderate-severe stenosis risk with an area under the curve (95% confidence interval) of 0.845 (0.783-0.906). In summary, increased plasma sLRP-1 represents an aggravated inflammation, impaired cardiac function, and especially a higher stenosis severity in ACS patients.

Association of Epicardial and Pericardial Adipose Tissue Volumes with Coronary Artery Calcification.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) are anatomically close to the myocardium and may influence cardiovascular pathology. Thus, in this study, we aim to assess whether EAT and PAT volumes were associated with coronary artery calcification score (CCS) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), especially in overweight and obese individuals.We included consecutive patients with suspected CAD in whom EAT volume, PAT volume, and CCS were measured via computed tomography between September 2015 and June 2017 at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, China. Logistic regression models were applied to analyze the risk factors for CCS ≥ 100 Agatston units (AU) and in different body mass index (BMI) subgroups.EAT and PAT volumes were noted to be higher in people with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2, BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and CCS ≥ 100 AU (P < 0.05). After adjusting for the traditional CAD factors, we found that EAT and PAT volumes were independent risk factors for CCS ≥ 100 AU (odds ratio, 3.001; 95% confidence interval, 1.900-4.740, P < 0.001). In patients with CCS ≥ 100 AU, the EAT and PAT volumes were noted to be greater in the BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 subgroups than in the BMI < 24 kg/m2 and BMI < 28 kg/m2 subgroups, respectively (P < 0.05).Our results indicate that EAT and PAT volumes may be clinical predictors for a CCS ≥ 100 AU, especially in overweight and obese individuals.

The Association of Triglyceride Glucose index for Coronary Artery Disease in Postmenopausal Women.

This study aimed to explore the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and coronary artery disease (CAD) in postmenopausal women. This study enrolled 869 postmenopausal women and classified them into two groups: CAD group (n = 538) and control group (n = 331). The TyG index was significantly higher in patients with CAD than in controls (P < 0.05).Receiver operator characteristic curves showed that the TyG index was more discriminative for CAD than for control group, and after adjusting for the traditional clinical prognostic factors, including age (>60 years), diabetes, ischemic stroke, systolic blood pressure (≥140), and ejection fraction (<50%), we found that the TyG index could be an independent risk factor for CAD (P < 0.05). The risk of increased TyG index was greater in the <50 years subgroup than in the >50 years subgroup (P < 0.05). The TyG index may be a valuable clinical predictor of CAD risk in postmenopausal women.

Predictive Value of CHA2DS2 -VASc-HSF Score for Severity of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores have been used to assess the prognostic risk of thromboembolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients. Recent studies have shown the utility of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for evaluating the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The newly defined CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score evaluates atherosclerosis and is associated with CAD severity. This study investigated the association between the CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) severity as assessed by the Gensini score and the number of vessels. Furthermore, this study also compared the diagnostic value of the CHADS2, CHA2 DS2-VASc, and CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score for ACS. A total of 2367 eligible inpatients (ACS group [n = 2030]; non-CAD group [n = 337]) were consecutively enrolled in this study. Receiver operating characteristic curve diagnostic tests and logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for ACS. The CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF scores were significantly higher in the ACS group than those in the control group. After adjusting for numerous traditional CAD risk factors, an increased CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score was found to be an independent risk factor for patients with ACS (odds ratio 1.401, 95% confidence interval 1.044, -1.879; P < 0.05). A newly diagnosed CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score predicts the severity of ACS.

Prognostic value of peripheral blood inflammatory cell subsets in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of inflammatory cells in peripheral blood on the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patients (n=1558) were consecutively enrolled and the median follow-up was 1142 days. Patients were divided into the major adverse cardiac events (MACE) 1 group (n=63) (all-cause mortality [n=58] and rehospitalization for severe heart failure [n=5], no MACE1 group (n=1495), MACE2 group (n=38) (cardiac mortality [n=33] and rehospitalization for severe heart failure [n=5]), and no MACE2 group (n=1520). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were analyzed. RESULTS: The NLR, MLR, and PLR were higher in the MACE groups than in the no MACE groups. Different subsets of inflammatory cells had similar diagnostic values for MACE. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the survival time gradually decreased with an increase in the degree of risk as determined by the NLR, MLR, and PLR. The risk of MACE was highest in the extremely high-risk group. CONCLUSION: Peripheral blood inflammatory cell subsets can predict MACE in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. These cell subsets could be important laboratory markers for the prognosis and clinical treatment of these patients.

Association between new circulating proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and risk predictive value of emerging proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines on coronary artery disease (CAD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 259 inpatients suspected acute coronary syndrome who underwent coronary angiography. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and coronary artery stenosis rated by Gensini score were collected by cardiovascular doctors. The levels of serum inflammatory adipocytokines were evaluated by ELISA. The correlations of the cytokines with clinical parameters were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for the diagnosis of CAD. RESULTS: The 259 inpatients were assigned to the CAD (n = 180) and control groups (n = 79). Compared with the control group, the CAD group displayed significantly higher serum levels of retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4), pentraxin 3 (PTX3), galectin-3 (GAL-3), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and significantly lower levels of netrin-1 (NTN1), interleukin-37 (IL-37), and adiponectin (ADP) (all P < 0.05). PAI-1 was significantly upregulated, and IL-37 and ADP were significantly downregulated in the three-vessels CAD subgroup compared to the one- and two-vessels CAD subgroups (P < 0.05). The RBP4, PTX3, GAL-3, PAI-1, and IL-37 inflammatory cytokines were significantly positively correlated with Gensini score, and ADP was negatively correlated (all P < 0.001). IL-37 was a more accurate anti-inflammatory biomarker than NTN1 and ADP. Combining cytokines significantly increased the sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory adipocytokines GAL-3, RBP4, PTX3, NTN1, and IL-37 were more effective than the classical biomarkers PAI-1 and ADP in the diagnosis and risk assessment of CAD patients.

[Assessment of risk factors for patients with anatomical left ventricular aneurysm post acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction by use of multiple-risk-factor assessment models].

OBJECTIVE: To set up the multiple risk factors model of patients with anatomical left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) post acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and quantitatively assess the pathopoiesis of all the factors. METHODS: A total of 518 consecutive inpatients with acute STEMI hospitalized from June 2010 to December 2013 in our hospital were enrolled in this study, patients were divided into two groups: LVA group (n = 106, 20.5%) and non-LVA group (n = 412, 79.5%). All demographic and clinical data were collected by cardiologists. Finally, all of the risk factors for anatomical LVA in the acute STEMI patients were quantitatively analyzed by a binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: The multiple risk factors logistic regression model was set up for the anatomical LVA in patients with acute STEMI. Anterior wall myocardial infarction, occlusion of the left anterior descending branch, two or three vessels stenosis, high systolic blood pressure, sinus tachycardia and white blood cell count over 10 000 per microliter were all independent risk factors of the LVA in acute STEMI, with the odds ratio (OR) 18.21, 21.56, 4.22, 7.16, 1.98 and 1.57, respectively (all P < 0.05) . However, first medical contact less than 12 hours (OR = 0.60), collateral circulation of the coronary arteries(OR = 0.53), primary percutanous coronary intervention(OR = 0.23) and venous thrombolysis(OR = 0.12) were all protecting factors of the LVA in acute STEMI patients (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Anterior wall STEMI, occlusion of the left anterior descending branch, two or three vessels stenosis, high systolic blood pressure, sinus tachycardia and white blood cell count over 10 000 per microlitre are independent risk factors of the LVA in acute STEMI patients. However, first medical contact less than twelve hours, collateral circulation of the coronary arteries, together with the primary percutanous coronary intervention and venous thrombolysis are protective factors of the LVA in patients with acute STEMI. It is important for cardiologists to assess the risks of LVA and make emergent and suitable efforts to reduce the risk of developing LVA in STEMI patients.